KAJAKI

[Basil]

Just received the following:

A FILM CALLED KAJAKI

We wish to bring to your attention the recent release of a recently released and highly critically acclaimed movie called Kajaki. The True Story which will see 10% of profits going to military charities, including The British Legion, Help for Hereos and Walking with the Wounded. It recounts an incident that happened to British soldiers in Afghanistan and has been very highly acclaimed by critics, being called perhaps the best war film ever made. The film is currently showing at Vue cinemas and will be released to the Odeon chain very soon. There is also a 20% discount on tickets at Vue cinemas for serving personnel.
(Which I guess is a copy of an advertising blurb)

Which led me to this in ARRSE:

I suspect most ARRSE users are aware of the events of 6 Sep 2006 (doesn't that seem like an age ago?) which led to Cpl Mark Wright of 3 Para losing his life and winning a posthumous George Cross.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=aJo29XoIt94

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Situation report as of June 10,2014
http://www.sigar.mil/pdf/special%20projects/SIGAR-14-68-SP.pdf

The turbine delivered in 2006 is still in bits.
The completion date has slipped a year, in a year. That's a nice way of saying zero progress.
The US Inspector considers the intermediate "bridging solution to the bridging solution" to be unrealistic.

Report as of Aug 8, 2014
USAID?s $500 million dam project circling the drain in Afghanistan | GlobalPost (http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/groundtruth/usaid-kajaki-dam-afghanistan-failure)

Likely the dam will never be completed. Cost of the project so far $575 million (includes latest bill of $75million).

[KenV]

All those deaths.....for want of a winch equipped helicopter. Sad.

[Lynxman]

Kajaki was released on 28 Nov so it's been and gone already unless you're lucky, or wait for the DVD.

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Gordon Brown cut UK Defence spending in real terms that year, then lied about it.

BBC News - Brown misled Iraq inquiry over defence budget - Cameron (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8573664.stm)

What was the winch money spent on?
Full text: Gordon Brown's budget speech 2006 | Politics | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/mar/22/budget2006.budget)

From his own budget speech, the money probably went on fancy new school buildings.
Result?
UK drops (2006-2010) in International PISA rankings from 17th to 23rd in Reading and 24th to 28th in Maths. Back in 2000, the UK was 9th in reading.

Great work Gordo!

[Basil]

Kajaki was released on 28 Nov so it's been and gone already unless you're lucky, or wait for the DVD.
I'd missed any reference to it until today. I guess I'll have to watch it alone; I doubt Mrs Bas would like it.

[TheWizard]

Kajaki was released on 28 Nov so it's been and gone already unless you're lucky, or wait for the DVD.


Not so. It has been on wider release since Fri 12th Dec.

Kajaki » In Cinemas (http://kajakimovie.com/in-cinemas/)

[SUPER JOLLY GREEN]

Following the failed rescue attempt by the non-winch equipped Chinook, a USAF HH-60G Pave Hawk was despatched to the scene. Two PJ's were winched down into the minefield (Balls of steel!) to extract the casualties.

The Operational Honours List of 15 December 2006 listed the posthumous award of the George Cross to Cpl Wright and also listed the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in the Air to the two Pararescuemen: Staff Sergeant Cameron Hystad and Senior Airman Jason Broline.

[Sandy Parts]

Let's not forget the bravery of the convoy driver's and escorts who took all that heavy gear up through Helmand :ok:. Driving all day in a slow lumbering convoy through bandit country and then camping up at night miles from assistance = big cahoonas. Yes, they had overwatch and air support on call, but even so, makes the "Ice Road Truckers" antics look like a joyride in comparison. Lucky for us there may have been some sort of political deal (allegedly) to allow safe passage. I suspect it was sphincter factor 10 even so!
As another poster has said, what a shame all that loss of life from the troops at the Dam, risk to life in the convoy and overall cost has resulted in c*ck-all!

[Basil]

Let's not forget the bravery of the convoy driver's and escorts who took all that heavy gear up
Hear, hear!
Such an obvious target. Just as well the bad guys don't have GA aircraft.