A very powerful piece of writing by Bryan Forbes

[Keith]

Sadly I have to correct you David - another Marine died 1 hour ago and the total is now 304.

The tragic statistic is now 40 killed in 40 days.

However, there has been only ONE DAY since the end of WWII that a British Soldier HASN'T been killed somewhere on active service.

This also puts into perspective the 1,000 dead soldiers in the Northern Ireland conflict -trying to protect the population...

Sounds pretty familiar.

 

[David Morton]

N.I. was policing. I shudder to think who we were policing against and I for one
thought it rather immoral and often extremely one sided. None of the often rotund loyalists were incarcarated in the H blocks on hunger strike but it wasn't my place to question at the time. At the time, but now it's slightly different and some of 1 Para are a bit worried about their actions all those years ago and, some would argue, so they should be.

 

[Keith]

Policing - nice convenient term David - and so was Korea. However, we cannot (should not) judge the actions of the past applying the knowledge of the present. (IMO).

NI was (is) a part of the United Kingdom and of course, any presence of armed soldiers on the streets is almost an admission of failure, however, in 1969, they were sent there as a result of a cry for help from the Nationalists.

The honeymoon period of course didn't last too long and the squaddies were then subject to abuse and murder from ALL sides. Paras were seen to be an answer to the militants, (Paras never mind what flavour their targets are) unfortunately their aggressive hands were tied after 'ketchup Sunday'. Moral is, never bring a knife to a gunfight (as long as the Paras are there) :laugh:

I'm bound to say I'm proud to know many serving Paras, and thank God for them.

Has anyone ever intervened in a domestic row between husband and wife? If you have, you'll know they will (whatever their differences) turn against you. So it was, and , so it is now...

David, while I'm here, I'm just trying to figure out the sleeping arrangements mate. How tall are you? Deal is almost done but I have asked for a substantial reduction in price in order to allow for the substantial wine storage issues.

 

[David Morton]

I need six feet two inches minimum with a tempura mattress,two duck feather pillows from Budapest and a Tog 12 Eiderdown duvet. The batman (Scrubbs) can sleep anywhere provided he can hear his name being shouted. By the way I always do the forenoon watch and retire from 11:00 until at least 17:00. 11:00 gives me time for a G+T or two before tiffin. (It has to be Gordons and S.)
By the way again , is there an icemaker on board ? If not I'll ask Scrubbs to bring a dry ice box. Should give us about 36 hours or so and I guess you'll be refuelling by then.

 

[Keith]

Gordon's? :stunned:

Pinkers mate - pure Plymouth Gin with just a hint of bitters. Push comes to a shove Bombay Sapphire hits the mark. Gordons is, like, er, "shall I terminate darling - do you have a crochet hook to hand?" Hot bath etc - you know the drill... :laugh:

And now, back to the forum...

Thanks for the sleepover info. I'll get my man to talk to your man re: details..Roger. Out.

BTW: HARDY <<<<<<<

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

An email I received today.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com

<st1lace w:st="on">Canberra</st1lace></st1:City>!!! Why is it that afghan men are sitting on boats trying to illegally get into our country??? While our diggers are dying in <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1lace> for them. I thought refugee's had no money to pay people smugglers.<o></o>

<o></o>

Yesterday we lost two more Aussie diggers and their faithful bomb dog . These afghan men should be shipped straight home to Afghanistan on the first flight out of Australia and trained in the army to defend their OWN country.What must the families of the 13 Aussie diggers killed so far be thinking, in a war Afghan men wont stay and fight for.<o></o>

<o></o>

Instead these men jump a boat leave their families behind ( How UN-Australian is That ) and head for the land of milk and honey ( <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Australia</st1lace></st1:country-region> ) . Its has nothing to do with them being in danger back in their homeland of Afghanistan as I'm told things are much better there, its about taking the opportunity to enter a country far better than their own and being helped by a handful of "Do Gooders". <o></o>

<o></o>

How much more dangerous could it be other than serving along side our Aussie diggers on the battle field !! Not much as was evident yesterday with the death of two Australian Combat engineers and their dog. Am I missing something? We are dying while they are running!!.<o></o>

<o></o>

I have sent am email similar to this one around a month ago and never got a reply, wonder why.<o></o>

This problem seems simple to this ole digger. Its only a matter of having the guts to put them back on a plane to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region> or <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Pakistan</st1lace></st1:country-region>. So I don't understand why the government is having such a problem with this.<o></o>

<o></o>

How do you think the families of these 13 diggers KIA must feel when on the nightly news they see these so called refugees living it up in motels three meals a day cooked for them pay TV our diggers don't get that in the battle field so think how they feel knowing this is going on back home.<o></o>

<o></o>

If you reckon!! What would this fella know!! Well this bloke was lying in the paddy fields in south Vietnam in 1968 and back at Task force HQ we were addressed by the then Prime Minister <st1ersonName w:st="on">John</st1ersonName> Gordon and he was telling us how much the country was behind us.<o></o>

But we knew that was a lie as we were getting newspapers from our families back home showing anti war protests. <o></o>

<o></o>

That was 1968 and now in 2010 our troops fighting in Afghanistan will be watching their TV's and in days of high Tech Computers and how these Afghan men are living it up in motels and other safe havens around Australia. Our governments need to toughen up on this matter instead of pussy footing around show some leadership for goodness sake.<o></o>

<o></o>

Regards a 4Th generation Australian and Proud to have served my country make no mistake about that.<o></o>

Bob "Bomber" Gibson
Gold Coast <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">AUSTRALIA</st1lace></st1:country-region>.<o></o>


Aussie Vietnam vet 1967-Oct 1968.
Infantry Rifleman D&E Platoon 1ATF.
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">VIETNAM</st1lace></st1:country-region>.<o></o>

 

[Keith]

Nothing to add to that Pete....:huh:

 

[David Sturch]

Pete,
Too many good people being lost. We lost one one on Monday. Here is some good reading and one of the reasons we should be pulling out. The Afghan Gov is corrupt.
Dave

thestar.com iPhone : Canadians ignored repeated warnings about Afghan security firm

 

[David Morton]

After the change at the top in the US Forces I think there is a chance all of our guys may be coming home. This war is just about over but keep the pressure on by writing to your politicians . The Russians pulled out - it was the similar fate for them as well. Build up our defences at home and let the corrupt government in Afghanistan swing.

 

[David Morton]

307 as of today.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new.../5827340/British-war-dead-in-Afghanistan.html

 

[David Morton]

309 now

 

[David Sturch]

150 now

 

[David Morton]

Makes 450 - all needlessly wasted young men.
1144 from the U.S.A. and 1889 in total.
How many more do we have to lose?

And for what - I ask myself and my MP.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

Sadly this seems to be another war similar to Vietnam where the Generals are hobbled by the politicians and the "Rules of engagement" And young men and women are the ones paying the price.
I would turn the whole area to glass and get out.

 

[Jack]

+1 Pete!

Regarding ROE. etc. "Been there, done that"

 

[David Morton]

311 now.

 

[David Morton]

312...............

 

[David Morton]

313 as of today. Start sending those letters please and keep sending more and more until they all come home again.

 

[David Morton]

314. A marine lost his life today, the 101st fatality in Sangin. Ask your self why and then pick up your pen.

 

[David Morton]

317. Three of our guys died in one attack by a rogue Afghan army /Taliban Infiltrator. 6 wounded as well. He fired a R.P.G. into their midst and then escaped. We have to do something sensible very very soon. Please keep writing to who ever will listen. Just address it to Cameron /Clegg at number 10,Dowing Street, London. It will get there - believe me. If it's stamps you need let me know.