Aircraft needed in Afghanistan
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Aircraft needed in Afghanistan
"High ranking British officers in Afghanistan say they need more air power to assist ground troops, who are facing increasing violence."
Full story on BBCi.
Perhaps this is one of those "I told you so" moments?
Full story on BBCi.
Perhaps this is one of those "I told you so" moments?
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More here.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...251664,00.html
Question is, where do we get the reinforcements from? all AT and RW assets are already working at max. capacity, so it HAS to come from international forces rather than us. This is what you get by cutting expenditure and investment in our armed forces over a prolonged period I suspect...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...251664,00.html
Question is, where do we get the reinforcements from? all AT and RW assets are already working at max. capacity, so it HAS to come from international forces rather than us. This is what you get by cutting expenditure and investment in our armed forces over a prolonged period I suspect...
"Rockets slam into coalition base in Afghanistan"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13647004/
Is it just me, or does anybody else think we are being sucked into something we really don't want to be getting involved in.
Right the way back to Alexander the Great, Darius III and the Mongols, history shows that Afghanistan has been a nightmare, with invading armies either trying and failing to dominate the region, or having dominated it for a short while, getting kicked out in the next invasion.
Apparently the fact that we fought and lost 3 Anglo-Afghan Wars between 1839 and 1919, the fact the Soviets couldn't cope, the fact that the country was destroyed by a civil war lasting almost a decade, has all been ignored by Bliar and his mob in favour of a token deployment to make this awful government look good to the rest of the world.
No one has managed to sort Afghanistan out in over 2000 years, may be that should have been a hint
Is it just me, or does anybody else think we are being sucked into something we really don't want to be getting involved in.
Right the way back to Alexander the Great, Darius III and the Mongols, history shows that Afghanistan has been a nightmare, with invading armies either trying and failing to dominate the region, or having dominated it for a short while, getting kicked out in the next invasion.
Apparently the fact that we fought and lost 3 Anglo-Afghan Wars between 1839 and 1919, the fact the Soviets couldn't cope, the fact that the country was destroyed by a civil war lasting almost a decade, has all been ignored by Bliar and his mob in favour of a token deployment to make this awful government look good to the rest of the world.
No one has managed to sort Afghanistan out in over 2000 years, may be that should have been a hint
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We do of course have other helo assets - just not green ones!
I'm of course more interested exactly who the 'sources' are here. Are these trusted, unusual or reliable or just a Col/Gp Capt/Capt Smith who has got to the end of his tether [having now read the Times bit I see it was 'just' a Lt Gen]
Clearly investment required from some quarter and in the very short term too.
More Op Tours anyone? But a really fine tightrope balance between requirement/capability and morale.
I am sure our NATO colleagues will help!!!!!!!!!!!!
Si
I'm of course more interested exactly who the 'sources' are here. Are these trusted, unusual or reliable or just a Col/Gp Capt/Capt Smith who has got to the end of his tether [having now read the Times bit I see it was 'just' a Lt Gen]
Clearly investment required from some quarter and in the very short term too.
More Op Tours anyone? But a really fine tightrope balance between requirement/capability and morale.
I am sure our NATO colleagues will help!!!!!!!!!!!!
Si
Originally Posted by mbga9pgf
More here.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...251664,00.html
Question is, where do we get the reinforcements from?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...251664,00.html
Question is, where do we get the reinforcements from?
Maybe Harry Windsor may get his frontline tour earlier than he thought....
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The Commons Defence Committee raised precisely these concerns back in April.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4881824.stm
The compulsive liar and former alcoholic communist John Reid claimed that
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4935532.stm
After Friday, there will be no opportunity for Parliamentary scrutiny of this Op until October. There are a lot of days and nights between then and now, and the liars in government will do their best to pretend all is well, regardless of human cost.
MPs fearful over Afghan mission
British troops preparing to deploy to Afghanistan face "fundamental tension" over their mission, MPs have warned.
The Commons Defence Committee said attempts to crack down on drug lords in the area, one of the troops' missions, could result in increased violence.
The MPs also expressed concern that the 3,300-strong force lacked close air support and transport helicopters.
British troops preparing to deploy to Afghanistan face "fundamental tension" over their mission, MPs have warned.
The Commons Defence Committee said attempts to crack down on drug lords in the area, one of the troops' missions, could result in increased violence.
The MPs also expressed concern that the 3,300-strong force lacked close air support and transport helicopters.
The compulsive liar and former alcoholic communist John Reid claimed that
it was "absolutely and completely untrue" that he had received requests from Army commanders for 600 more troops.
"Just in case there had been a request from any quarter which I had not yet received, I clarified the position this morning with the commander of British forces here."
He said the role of the British forces in Helmand was fundamentally different to that of the US forces elsewhere in Afghanistan.
He said: "We are in the south to help and protect the Afghan people construct their own democracy.
"We would be perfectly happy to leave in three years and without firing one shot because our job is to protect the reconstruction."
"Just in case there had been a request from any quarter which I had not yet received, I clarified the position this morning with the commander of British forces here."
He said the role of the British forces in Helmand was fundamentally different to that of the US forces elsewhere in Afghanistan.
He said: "We are in the south to help and protect the Afghan people construct their own democracy.
"We would be perfectly happy to leave in three years and without firing one shot because our job is to protect the reconstruction."
After Friday, there will be no opportunity for Parliamentary scrutiny of this Op until October. There are a lot of days and nights between then and now, and the liars in government will do their best to pretend all is well, regardless of human cost.
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JtheD, well done for digging out the appropriate quotes from various ministers, "not firing a shot"? Hmmm.
Is there a public statement from any government minister explaining exactly what the UK mission in Afghanistan is? I've followed this fairly closely, but I must admit I'm still in the dark about what UK forces are expected to achieve.
Is there a public statement from any government minister explaining exactly what the UK mission in Afghanistan is? I've followed this fairly closely, but I must admit I'm still in the dark about what UK forces are expected to achieve.
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I know that on this forum we are different to other groups of people in society. But are we so different??? Why Why Why did we vote Bliar and his croonies back in. Dont give me the 'There was no realistic alternative party c**p'. I would rather have voted for Lord Such of the Monster raving looney party than Bliar, Two punches prescott and Gorblimey Brown Nose (its just Lord Such pegged out on us!). I am sure that there are many people in the states with the same feelings.Is the rest of the population Fecking blind and deaf?? My girlie is in Afghanistan medevacing the troops out. You only hear about the small(but to many)number of poor troops that have been killed. There are MASSES of guys being expatriated that are wounded. Funny that Bliar has never been to vist a single one of them in hospital(or convalecsence sp? for that matter) from either Afghanistan or Iraq. He is a spinless liar that lacks any amount of moral courage, fortitude, leadership, blah blah blah. I dont have the energy to go on. He will kill hundreds of british servicemen and women, but he will get his slot in the european parliment and have a house in an acre or two of camp david or where ever the hell George Bushe's place is.
So bloody mad for all the dead and injured
Perhaps he could start off Veterans Day by visiting all the wounded who are missing limbs, confined to wheelchairs, Psyhcologically wrecked for life etc etc.
Please forgive all spelling mistakes as i am on a thirteen hour flight back to blighty trying out the new 'on-board internet' with probably too many G+T's. But hes still a Git whatever.
Rant Over
So bloody mad for all the dead and injured
Perhaps he could start off Veterans Day by visiting all the wounded who are missing limbs, confined to wheelchairs, Psyhcologically wrecked for life etc etc.
Please forgive all spelling mistakes as i am on a thirteen hour flight back to blighty trying out the new 'on-board internet' with probably too many G+T's. But hes still a Git whatever.
Rant Over
Champagne anyone...?
Very "interesting" article in the Sunday Times here.
Good reporting and a demonstration of the need for more "air".
Good reporting and a demonstration of the need for more "air".
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Essay question
So can anyone now tell me why the US didn't really do anything in Helmand since entering the country in late 2001?
Of course we need more assets as right now it's like trying to fight with all the situational awareness conferred by looking down a drinking straw (and it's not even one of the bendy ones). It isn't like Malaya where you could move the relatively ill-informed villagers into your specially made villages, this is the 21st Century where all the tribal links are supported by mobiles and the internet and although we are a 'force for good', no-one has told the Taliban that...
Of course we need more assets as right now it's like trying to fight with all the situational awareness conferred by looking down a drinking straw (and it's not even one of the bendy ones). It isn't like Malaya where you could move the relatively ill-informed villagers into your specially made villages, this is the 21st Century where all the tribal links are supported by mobiles and the internet and although we are a 'force for good', no-one has told the Taliban that...
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Originally Posted by BEagle
But whence the 'air'?
Champagne anyone...?
Dallas, that is not strictly true.
Whilst not wishing to discuss aircraft availability on here there would need to be some significant money spending before the C130 fleet could be used to it's maximum potential.
And that's not going to happen now is it?
Whilst not wishing to discuss aircraft availability on here there would need to be some significant money spending before the C130 fleet could be used to it's maximum potential.
And that's not going to happen now is it?
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It appears that they need more CAS and SH more than anything else at this point. A slack handful of Apache and Harrier to cover a province about the size of Wales is stretching it.
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Originally Posted by StopStart
Dallas, that is not strictly true.
Whilst not wishing to discuss aircraft availability on here there would need to be some significant money spending before the C130 fleet could be used to it's maximum potential.
And that's not going to happen now is it?
Whilst not wishing to discuss aircraft availability on here there would need to be some significant money spending before the C130 fleet could be used to it's maximum potential.
And that's not going to happen now is it?
The day before I had learnt that a private like him earns just over £1,000 a month, and that the British Army is the only one in the world whose soldiers pay tax while overseas.
Two questions
1. Could the Jaguars that are awaiting disposal be used for CAS, Tac Reece etc?
2. Could support helos be sent there from other, less dangerous, theatres eg the Balkans?
1. Could the Jaguars that are awaiting disposal be used for CAS, Tac Reece etc?
2. Could support helos be sent there from other, less dangerous, theatres eg the Balkans?
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Originally Posted by WE Branch Fanatic
Two questions
1. Could the Jaguars that are awaiting disposal be used for CAS, Tac Reece etc?
1. Could the Jaguars that are awaiting disposal be used for CAS, Tac Reece etc?
Who'd have thunk it eh? The Jag being binned whilst the hangar queen that is the Tornado soliders on (though not in Afganistan).
Champagne anyone...?
We're pissing money away keeping the Jags going for another year or so for no other reason, it seems, than to keep the pilots current prior to moving to Typhoon (?). Might as well as use them for something useful!