Five British soldiers shot dead in Afghanistan

[stockhausen]

Erm heroin production fell to almost zero under the Taliban. It has soared in production since we invaded.

. . . and will doubtless be legalised in the UK by Lord Snooty next year following a startling new scientific study

 

[jas72]

oh nice find I stand corrected then.

Just read this part

Despite its own figures showing the Taleban had cut Afghanistan's heroin production by about 95%, the report claimed that heroin had "financed the former Taleban regime".

they are even contradicting their own data?

That's it time to pull the troops out.

Just so long as we can get the taliban not to support AL Queda.

 

[Tefal]

or is an easy way for suicide.

surely you could just use your rifle for this?

 

[clv101]

Another 5 die in a war that serves no purpose and is not needed, damn.

Indeed, whilst it's obviously sad news etc that much really should go without saying. The important discussion is what we're doing there at all. Our nation is dead broke. We absolutely can't afforded the financial cost let alone the human cost that events like this remind us of.

The breaking point will come soon enough - I expect by next summer (after the election), we'll be pulling out. Unfortunately 10s more people are likely to die in the meantime.

 

[Django x2]

It is shocking, yes. Expected? No, not really. Worse things happened in WW1 and 2 we just never had the means to hear about it.

If you're serving, the only people you trust are yourself and the guys you go on tour with. You certainly don't trust some Afghany who used to be bad and is now good, it doesn't work like that.

 

[dirtydog]

they are even contradicting their own data?

Not sure, not wanting to go too off topic, but there is plenty about the ban on opium production if you google it.

Such as this, from before 9/11, in May 2001:

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/20/world/taliban-s-ban-on-poppy-a-success-us-aides-say.html

Taliban's Ban On Poppy A Success, U.S. Aides Say


The first American narcotics experts to go to Afghanistan under Taliban rule have concluded that the movement's ban on opium-poppy cultivation appears to have wiped out the world's largest crop in less than a year, officials said today.

The American findings confirm earlier reports from the United Nations drug control program that Afghanistan, which supplied about three-quarters of the world's opium and most of the heroin reaching Europe, had ended poppy planting in one season.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/20/world/taliban-s-ban-on-poppy-a-success-us-aides-say.html

My point is simply, some think the Taliban are responsible for the drugs trade and us being there is combating it. The reverse is true, they are strongly opposed to it on strict religious grounds, and since our forces loosened their grip on the country, production has resumed - IIRC it is the main source of foreign currency for the whole country isn't it?

 

[wordy]

I really am in two minds about the whole thing, we pull all troops out and the ones that died will have died for nothing, but to leave them there means more deaths are inevitable.

Also if we leave now the country will go back to the horrifically opressive regime that was in place before we got there.

 

[Glaucus]

Also if we leave now the country will go back to the horrifically opressive regime that was in place before we got there.

If only. it will turn into a massive civil war and far worse off then they where before. Which is just one reason why we should not leave till they have sufficiently trained man power.

 

[fadetoblack]

with all due respect the guy that killed the british soldiers will be hailed a hero to the taliban!

so heres my point..if a british soldier had infiltrated a taliban camp and shot 5 people dead and wounded more would also be hailed a hero by all the media here..and no doubt a major story in the sun "I lived and breathed with the taliban then killed than after im leet!"

so you have to look at this in perspective and this should not have happened becuase we shouldnt be there in the first place!

Sorry but it's not the time to say pap like that.

RIP Lads

 

[xJcBx]

I really am in two minds about the whole thing, we pull all troops out and the ones that died will have died for nothing, but to leave them there means more deaths are inevitable.

Also if we leave now the country will go back to the horrifically opressive regime that was in place before we got there.

I think the same really, poor lads. RIP.

 

[leoncc]

"The gunman opened fire on the soldiers with an AK47 after they had removed their body armour and helmets."

God damn coward

 

[Uther]

It is shocking, yes. Expected? No, not really. Worse things happened in WW1 and 2 we just never had the means to hear about it.

If you're serving, the only people you trust are yourself and the guys you go on tour with. You certainly don't trust some Afghany who used to be bad and is now good, it doesn't work like that.

But they must have felt fairly comfortable around him for him to get the drop on them.A real tragedy.
RIP

 

[Mikoyan]

I was watching Ross Kemp when he was in afghanistan once and thought that this could 'possibly' happen and it did :/

 

[platinum87]

I'm sure it will as are tactics are totally wrong. Not that it is un-winnable.

I have thought about this, and i am convinced that only Nazi style tactics would work, which isnt an option.

 

[ivrytwr3]

surely you could just use your rifle for this?

It all depends with your rank and branch. A lot of Forces hand in their weapons after their duty, those with pistols may keep hold of them.

So if you're sat in your room with depressive thoughts and your rifle/weapon is in the armoury, then tough. However, if you're sat with your pistol, it would be very tempting to pull the trigger.

Like i said though, different units, different rules.

 

[fadetoblack]

No they don't they keep there rifle on them at all times ( in a warzone)

 

[ivrytwr3]

Like i said, different units have different rules. And considering i only got back from there a short time ago, i do know this as fact.

 

[teaboy5]

Looks like they were not in their own base, but inside a police compound. Might explain why they could get away.

 

[Glaucus]

I have thought about this, and i am convinced that only Nazi style tactics would work, which isnt an option.

Flooding the country with troops to stop movement of man power and supply chains along with napalming or equivalent opium crops. Would be more than likely be more than enough to get Afghan up to required manpower. remember we aren't trying to get total peace. we are trying to get Afghan man power and training upto a point where they can take over security.

 

[derkaderka]

I find it funny that people mention taliban and opium production
While they were in power it was frowned upon it and they punished those doing it

Its sad when anyone dies , but then again they were soldiers , they knew what they were
getting into , when you sign up your agreeing to kill others or be killed yourself