In the first ever unauthorised dispatch from an officer on the frontline, one young Captain offers a brutally honest account of life in Afghanistan

[bullin82 0]

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it's very simple - if you don't want to be sent to die in a pointless, needless war then don't join the military - duh!

I only quote you because i joined in June 2001 obviously before 9/11. I joined because i love America and i always wanted to be in the Army hence where i am now. As you may notice from other posts im deployed for my 3rd time to Iraq. I cant agree with everyone here but i do know there are MANY of civi's that deserve respect and recognition for there efforts. I also know now days there are relaxed standards to join the military so alot of undesirable people join, hell there was even a special on about how there are tons of gang members that have been joining the military which frightens and worries me. So we cant put ALL military on a hero status and civi's on a crap list but instead take on the difficult and strenuos job of giving INDIVIDUALS there own recognition.

[shropshire 0]

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Of course, we're more than happy to instead wait for 62 (?) Westland Wildcats (Future Lynx) to come into service by 2014 (??) for a reported price of around £1 Billion and reject offers from Sikorsky for 60 Blackhawks which we could have received in 2008 & 9 for around £480 million. . . .

Y'shouldn't have to wait. The gap has been known about for years. The MOD & HMG have dropped the ball

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[vortexring 0]

Indeed it's been known about for years. Tory leader David Cameron has already denounced the shortage of helicopters as a scandal, accusing Mr Brown of slashing the helicopter budget when he was Chancellor.

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[rickjump1 0]

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Any opinions will be, as always, appreciated.

Ok...

Boohoo my friends are dying or losing three of their limbs because we joined a nation state military and then invaded other people's land.

Suck it up or don't join.

Errico, being the revolutionary, Marxist patroit, have you ever considered participating in the stuggle against US imperialism overseas? If you don't like getting your hands dirty with the fighting and all, maybe the Taliban could use you in the entertainment business. You know, kind of the opposite of the USO. Just a thought.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[sundevil777 102]

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it's very simple - if you don't want to be sent to die in a pointless, needless war then don't join the military - duh!

The use of that term, "needless war" is interesting. What war would you say has been necessary? I think there have been some that have been justified, and moral, but none that have been necessary.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[shropshire 0]

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it's very simple - if you don't want to be sent to die in a pointless, needless war then don't join the military - duh!

You are of course entitled to your opinion, no matter how repugant many others find it and more still will fight to ensure that you keep that right to free speach.... In the quite moments before you fall asleep... think of them and their sacrifice... It wont cost you a thing.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[dreamdancer 0]

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it's very simple - if you don't want to be sent to die in a pointless, needless war then don't join the military - duh!

You are of course entitled to your opinion, no matter how repugant many others find it and more still will fight to ensure that you keep that right to free speach.... In the quite moments before you fall asleep... think of them and their sacrifice... It wont cost you a thing.

so you would have joined the german army?

stay away from moving propellers - they bite
blue skies from thai sky adventures
good solid response-provoking keyboarding

[shropshire 0]

why would I do that ? ... I'm British and joined the RAF

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[dreamdancer 0]

and if you'd been born in germany you would have been german and thus joined the german army.

stay away from moving propellers - they bite
blue skies from thai sky adventures
good solid response-provoking keyboarding

[shropshire 0]

Pehaps

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[vortexring 0]

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If you don't like getting your hands dirty with the fighting and all, maybe the Taliban could use you in the entertainment business.

Errico; if you're wishing to put your support of the Taliban into some action, why not do some entertaining for them on a thursday night:

http://sheikyermami.com/2008/06/22/afghanistan-thursday-night-is-boyz-night/

I'm sure they'll appreciate it, and you can tell them what pieces of shit your fellow country men are as well.

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[downwardspiral 0]

The sacrifices you and your countrymen make on our (USA's) behalf is truly admirable.

www.FourWheelerHB.com

[vortexring 0]

Thanks, but I prefer the sacrifices we make for our own country and NATO Hippy.

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[downwardspiral 0]

With friends like us....who needs enemies?

www.FourWheelerHB.com

[vortexring 0]

As usual, it seems erricomalatesta, having discharged his peculiar brand of poison, is no longer willing to remain within its domain.

That isn't a PA either. I'd consider calling your nations servicemen and women pieces of shit a PA. Especially in regards to those of us here, who serve or have served. And for those of us who've lost friends and family through their service to their nation.

Despite how loathesome certain politicians can be, isn't it truly honerable and worthy to serve ones country, to put that country before themselves?

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[rickjump1 0]

YES

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[vortexring 0]

Perhaps little erricomalatesta was fed a diet of lemons and crab apples throughout his life by an authoritive figure, hence making him so bitter?

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[shropshire 0]

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With friends like us....who needs enemies?

You got that right You'd have thought that we'd know by now

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[rickjump1 0]

It's got to be Fidel. He's the liberals favorite dictator. Funny how a big shot communist like Fidel mimicked the speeches of Hitler and Mussolini to get his point across. What a piece of work...

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[vortexring 0]

Maybe little erricomalatesta is Fidel!?

'for it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "chuck 'im out, the brute!" But it's "saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot.'

[warpedskydiver 0]

How do you say "bite the pillow" in Pushtun?

[ErricoMalatesta 0]

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How enlightening. So should NATO have been better off doing nothing and allow the Taliban to harbour Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan?

NATO didn't initiate international terrorist threats and bombings against Afghanistan, the US did.

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edit: Thanks for calling many of my close friends who recently died serving their countries in Iraq and Afghanistan pieces of shit. I'm sure their wives and children will appreciate that as much as I do.

You are welcome.

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I am curious as to why you hold your nations military in such disdain. Care to explain?

Not just mine.

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If you don't like getting your hands dirty with the fighting and all, maybe the Taliban could use you in the entertainment business.

Errico; if you're wishing to put your support of the Taliban into some action, why not do some entertaining for them on a thursday night:

http://sheikyermami.com/2008/06/22/afghanistan-thursday-night-is-boyz-night/

I'm sure they'll appreciate it, and you can tell them what pieces of shit your fellow country men are as well.

We have already covered this and it boils down to your child-like ability to read and comprehend other people's views.

At no point have I voiced any support for the Taliban and if anything, over the course of several threads, I have pointed out that I feel the exact same about the Taliban as I do Western intervention forces.

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As usual, it seems erricomalatesta, having discharged his peculiar brand of poison, is no longer willing to remain within its domain.

That isn't a PA either. I'd consider calling your nations servicemen and women pieces of shit a PA. Especially in regards to those of us here, who serve or have served. And for those of us who've lost friends and family through their service to their nation.

You consider it a PA because you are a hypocrite unable to even register the views of other people in the world.

Western military men and women who invade and occupy other people's lands are pieces of shit and no better than the Taliban or non-state terrorists.

It's the fact you cannot understand this and the fact that for you 'terrorism' is only the violence 'they' do to 'us' that leads to the stupidity of equating my position as that of support for the enemy.

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Despite how loathesome certain politicians can be, isn't it truly honerable and worthy to serve ones country, to put that country before themselves?

No, its for idiots who lack a basic level of understanding with regards to both history and the world around them.

[billvon 2,998]

Enough. Errico, Dream, Warped, Vortex - cut it out.

[dreamdancer 0]

what reply do you want me to cut out?

stay away from moving propellers - they bite
blue skies from thai sky adventures
good solid response-provoking keyboarding

[Rookie120 0]

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what reply do you want me to cut out?

If you have to be told it would be too hard to explain.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!