Afghanistan

[Gypsydog94 4,593]

I see the taliban are making big advances. Does this mean the last 20 years and loss of British soldiers was worth it? 

Afghanistan: UK troops sent to get Britons out as Taliban advances

WWW.BBC.COM

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Around 600 troops will be deployed on a short-term basis after the Taliban seized several cities.

 

[Ken's Deputy 4,459]

They've just discovered absolutely unimaginable deposits of the 'Rare Earth Metal' - or what ever they call the shit the likes of Huawei and Elon Musk crave, right there in one of the most hideous parts of the stan.

You watch China now .....

[DIDO.1 22,838]

They reckon kabul might fall. 

 

[THE STIFFMEISTER 15,949]

Let it burn to the ground 

[Gypsydog94 4,593]

4 minutes ago, THE STIFFMEISTER said:

Let it burn to the ground 

As long as they keep there shit out there leave them to it. Did you serve out there? 

[THE STIFFMEISTER 15,949]

5 minutes ago, Gypsydog94 said:

As long as they keep there shit out there leave them to it. Did you serve out there? 

Twice 

[Gypsydog94 4,593]

Just now, THE STIFFMEISTER said:

Twice 

Fair play. My cousin done two tours  

[WILF 46,865]

10 minutes ago, Gypsydog94 said:

I see the taliban are making big advances. Does this mean the last 20 years and loss of British soldiers was worth it? 

Afghanistan: UK troops sent to get Britons out as Taliban advances

WWW.BBC.COM

---

Around 600 troops will be deployed on a short-term basis after the Taliban seized several cities.

 

There’s blokes on here who can speak with genuine authority on the subject, I’m not one of them.

I can only offer my view, to me 1 British soldiers life was never worth the lives of every rag head in the Hindu Kush……however, I don’t think you can think about it in terms of “worth it”……it’s an insult to lads that were there.

I look at it like this, these lads are by and large the very best of us, they are professional blokes who have a very specific job, they get tasked with that job and they go and do it for their mates and their honour…..they ain’t letting anyone down.

Thats always worth it.

Sounds a bit twee, but I genuinely think it’s the case.

We ain’t cry baby Vietnam war movie Americans……we are British, f**k it,  have a cup of tea and let’s get on with it types.

Long may it continue 

[WILF 46,865]

4 minutes ago, THE STIFFMEISTER said:

Twice 

And gave me a heart attack once !

[Born Hunter 17,763]

I don’t think Afghanistan was just about the taliban. It was also about al-qaeda. And they’ve been leathering them anywhere they can find them.

Which is arguably what should’ve been the limit of policy there and everywhere. Hindsight….

Go on, someone tell us all about opium trade and oil pipelines….

[waltjnr 6,790]

Stiff, and you guys on here that went there ,how do you feel ,lost mates ,and achieved?? 

[tatsblisters 9,782]

Get all the british out and also those who have helped british forces at least they have earned the right for help from us and like has been said let it burn I reckon Pakistan has a lot to answer for regarding the taliban. 

[keepdiggin 9,561]

I don’t know much about not going to pretend I do but I always wondered why India didn’t play a bigger role over there

[mC HULL 12,538]

52 minutes ago, Born Hunter said:

I don’t think Afghanistan was just about the taliban. It was also about al-qaeda. And they’ve been leathering them anywhere they can find them.

Which is arguably what should’ve been the limit of policy there and everywhere. Hindsight….

Go on, someone tell us all about opium trade and oil pipelines….

Simple it was to get the heroin back flowing and stock up plus have a forward base close to invade Iraq

[THE STIFFMEISTER 15,949]

I can’t talk in a way that will not open a can of worms . I can’t pretend that I was all call of duty black ops , kicking doors and taking names .
but I can tell you some truths 

im a combat engineer , I served in 16 air assault brigade for 14 years . I was once part of a brotherhood and I turned away from it 2 years ago to serve my family and myself better. 

ive spoken before about leadership , about belonging , influence and the effect people can have on your life every once in a while . 
 

there’s been probably 5 people , in the military who have shaped and formed me into the person I am at home and at work . I’ve spoken before about my little mate who  has and continues to place himself in the way of hurt against the uks people . 
 

instead now I’ll write about another guy , every so often you meet a person who raises your standards . I was lucky , I was part of a very very competent section , from the lowest private , to the highest ranked snco . 
 

we had a new snco arrive ,  a staff seargeant called joe . We were aware of him , he had iconic status already , he was big , switched on , and incredibly fit . Like double Ironman man , swim the channel , up mount blanc and Everest Fit. He came in in his first day and brought paint into work . 
 

the next morning at phys he ran us harder than I’ve ever ran or heard of . We were pretty fit . But f**k me it was howling . Afterwards he said that’s the new standard , get with it or get out . 
 

it was like manner from heaven . We grew, slicker , faster , meaner until I can honestly hand in heart say we were the best troop to have ever pulled on a uniform in that Corps . Yes I  mean that . 
1 lad has an mbe 

2 at special forces 

5 with professional qualified degrees 

2 of the most junior lads are currently excelling as phase one instructors . all that was definitely done to the attitude joe imbued into us . A culture of fraternity and excellence steered by his lead from the front style . 
 

Me and my mate got it worst , I’ve lost count of the amount of times we’d get thrown about , “stop being f***ing clowns , your airborne Lance corporals , act like it ! “

As we rose through the ranks we found it easier and easier , we’d fight together , literally , and die together . On pt , on exercise , on operations . He did simple things , we got a new t shirt , an emblem of our own , you never went anywhere alone , always together , even to meals , we’d sit until everyone was finished then rise as one . It sounds cartoonish but it wasn’t . It lead to a culture , an ethos , an identity that we all still hold . 
 

his knowledge , his coaching , all led to the bettering of us as soldiers and indeed people . I ve been stood on a cliff in Dartmoor at night , with the clag all around us , holding a map and looking back at the 8 loaded lads behind me. And remembered his words . “Red in the bed , turn the dial and count your paces “ 

every tine I encounter adversity at work , it may sound twee , but regardless how little or big the challenge is the words he painted  on the wall that first day at work come to mind . 
“you have done this before “ 

now you may ask what does this have to do with Afghanistan etc . I speak to joe quite often , most weeks , just a whats app or a voice note or a picture from old . 
 

hes f****d . We were dispersed as a troop across the battle group . He was caught in an ied blast . Part of a three team . He walked away without a scratch , one lad was vapourised , the other was badly hurt. He suffers huge survivors guilt , never sleeps uninterrupted and has suffered for his reluctance to seek professional mental assistance . 
 

that’s what Afghanistan did to people . It destroyed great people and turned them into shells of them selves . 
 

they can f***ing keep it .