British Boots On The Ground In Afghanistan, Again.

[sandyRoe]

They're there in small numbers as advisers. Is there a danger of mission creep?

Afghanistan Taliban: British military deployed to Helmand
(Edited to fix link - ED)

[anotheoldgit]

sandyRoe

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/afghanistan-war-british-troops-sent-back-into-helmand-province-in-advisory-role-as-taliban-advance-a6782516.html

The BBC link doesn't work.

/// A spokesperson for the MoD said: “As part of the UK's ongoing contribution to Nato's Resolute Support Mission, a small number of UK personnel have deployed to Camp Shorabak in Helmand province in an advisory role. ///

/// "These personnel are part of a larger Nato team which is providing advice to the Afghan National Army. They are not deployed in a combat role and will not deploy outside the camp. ///

Why can't these countries learn to look after themselves, already we have lost too many of our young's lives, in their defence?

[andy-hughes]

AOG - //Why can't these countries learn to look after themselves, already we have lost too many of our young's lives, in their defence? //

The British government believes that its military presence helps to stabilise Middle Eastern countries, and they cling to this belief despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

When this has been discussed earlier in the year, I opined that all the Taliban needed to do was wait until the invaders went home. The Taliban have seen this play before - they aren't going anywhere, they are home.

Now, tragically, I am proved right.

That's nothing to boast about - it was as obvious as saying that the sun will rise tomorrow, but governments have a vested interest in propping up their faulty logic from the past, and carrying it on into the future.

God forbid that they waste more lives in order to save face.

[anotheoldgit]

andy-hughes

At last I fully agree with you, and if the ordinary man can see this, why can't those who we elect to lead us, see it also?

But what I can't understand is why this present action has not been previously debated on in Parliament?

[retrocop]

I really do not see the point of British/US troops trying to organise and train the ANA. They will never turn them into the Brigade of Guards whilst large sums of money is on offer by the Taliban.
The Taliban rely on production of opium for their finances.The money they offered to Afghan farmers was more than an Afghani soldier was paid.
Last time round the ANA were turning their weapons round and shooting their advisors in the back. Where money is God and corruption is rife the Taliban have the money.
Far better,imo, to periodically fly over and destroy the opium fields from the air. We were originally told that was the reason for UK involvement there. To halt the opium reaching the UK!! No opium. No revenue and a weakened Taliban. More importantly. No more British servicemen/women lost.

[andy-hughes]

AOG - //andy-hughes

At last I fully agree with you, and if the ordinary man can see this, why can't those who we elect to lead us, see it also? //

I think we both know that they can see it as well as us - it would be seriously worrying if they could not! But as I stated, I believe they have a vested interest in not seeing the truth, much less acting upon it.

I listened to a fascinating expert on Radio Four's PM last night who reckoned that the West have little or no conception of exactly how the tribal structures that govern Afghanistan actually work.

Specifically, there is so much seriously complex tribal in-fighting over land, drug routes, succession, water, land, and myriad other reasons, and that is why the notion that the entire nation can be knitted together under a government imposed by the West, is such arrant nonsense.

//But what I can't understand is why this present action has not been previously debated on in Parliament? //

It may well be mission creep, as we all must fear.

[andy-hughes]

retrocop - //I really do not see the point of British/US troops trying to organise and train the ANA. They will never turn them into the Brigade of Guards whilst large sums of money is on offer by the Taliban.
The Taliban rely on production of opium for their finances.The money they offered to Afghan farmers was more than an Afghani soldier was paid.
Last time round the ANA were turning their weapons round and shooting their advisors in the back. Where money is God and corruption is rife the Taliban have the money. //

I agree entirely.

What the West fails to grasp is that all the Afghan people want is some government structure, and some discipline, and both these are provided by The Taliban - as they did when they filled the vacuum left by the Russians when they left.

If the average peasant is offered a choice between someone who understands and speaks his language, grasps his culture, and is willing to offer him money and a future, as against a foreign army who invades and tries to force a democratic system he does not want and did not ask for - it's not hard to see where is support is going to lie.

That is why the West should face facts, cut losses, and walk away, and if they lose face, God knows, it's better than losing lives.

[anotheoldgit]

andy-hughes

Must put this down in my anniversary calender, the day Andy, AOG, and Retro, all fundamentally agreed with each other.

But what you have failed to address Andy is Retro's excellent suggestion, that of destroying the 'Poppy' fields from the air, are you also in agreement?

[sandyRoe]

Using something like Agent Orange? Didn't that have consequences for innocent Vietnamese when the Americans used it there?

[dannyk13]

They used in the forests where the Vietcong could have been concealed which is a bit different to using it on poppy fields

[retrocop]

No not Agent Orange.There are thousands of people in Vietnam now with hideous deformities which resulted in its use before they were actually born.
I am talking Weedol on an industrial scale or some othe killer which could be devised on herbage and not harm humans.

[Zacs-Master]

Wouldn't that just leave the Syrian Farmers with no source of income? The Taliban force the indigenous people to grow Poppys. Hardly helping the situation.

[sevenOP]

We probably just need one more atrocity.... aha ! that looks like a suitable destination

http://www.dw.com/en/greek-parliament-votes-to-officially-recognize-palestine/a-18934388