This is just not right!

[Harry Genshaw]

Now I'm not suggesting they print that, because I do truly believe we should honour all those killed on our behalf. My point is, you know the papers WOULD print it if they thought that's what would sell. There are five pages of rant against this guy from one tiny NOTW article without any direct quotes, and without even going fully into what he is saying. Objectivity folks.

Top post imo but this was the only thing I couldn't agree with. They're dying for all sorts of reasons (poor equipment amongst them) but I can never accept that they are dying in Afghanistan on my behalf.

[boltonboris]

Now I'm not suggesting they print that, because I do truly believe we should honour all those killed on our behalf. My point is, you know the papers WOULD print it if they thought that's what would sell. There are five pages of rant against this guy from one tiny NOTW article without any direct quotes, and without even going fully into what he is saying. Objectivity folks.

Top post imo but this was the only thing I couldn't agree with. They're dying for all sorts of reasons (poor equipment amongst them) but I can never accept that they are dying in Afghanistan on my behalf.

I'm with you there, they're not a 'direct' threat to us all. I know people with go down the terrorism route here, but we're fighting an army there not just a bunch of extremist, haters of the West. We invaded their country, they're defending it, by any means possible. I'd do the same if someone stormed my home

[William the White]

Now I'm not suggesting they print that, because I do truly believe we should honour all those killed on our behalf. My point is, you know the papers WOULD print it if they thought that's what would sell. There are five pages of rant against this guy from one tiny NOTW article without any direct quotes, and without even going fully into what he is saying. Objectivity folks.

Top post imo but this was the only thing I couldn't agree with. They're dying for all sorts of reasons (poor equipment amongst them) but I can never accept that they are dying in Afghanistan on my behalf.[/quote]

So right... They are dying for people who don't deserve their courage. And when they are wounded, these people will trail their way through the legal system to avoid paying them compensation they more than deserve. Despicable.

[superjohnmcginlay]

So right... They are dying for people who don't deserve their courage. And when they are wounded, these people will trail their way through the legal system to avoid paying them compensation they more than deserve. Despicable.

Fook. I agree with WtW. I must be going soft.

[Worthy4England]

Now I'm not suggesting they print that, because I do truly believe we should honour all those killed on our behalf. My point is, you know the papers WOULD print it if they thought that's what would sell. There are five pages of rant against this guy from one tiny NOTW article without any direct quotes, and without even going fully into what he is saying. Objectivity folks.

Top post imo but this was the only thing I couldn't agree with. They're dying for all sorts of reasons (poor equipment amongst them) but I can never accept that they are dying in Afghanistan on my behalf.

So right... They are dying for people who don't deserve their courage. And when they are wounded, these people will trail their way through the legal system to avoid paying them compensation they more than deserve. Despicable.

Which of the 2,964 US families that lost loved ones on Sept 11 fall into this category? Or the 56 grieving families in the UK when London was bombed in 2005?

[Harry Genshaw]

So right... They are dying for people who don't deserve their courage. And when they are wounded, these people will trail their way through the legal system to avoid paying them compensation they more than deserve. Despicable.

It certainly is despicable. Its also despicable that they have been sent to fight an unwinnable fight for reasons that are at best, tenuous.

[BWFC_Insane]

So right... They are dying for people who don't deserve their courage. And when they are wounded, these people will trail their way through the legal system to avoid paying them compensation they more than deserve. Despicable.

It certainly is despicable. Its also despicable that they have been sent to fight an unwinnable fight for reasons that are at best, tenuous.

Agreed!

[Worthy4England]

What are the tenuous reasons?

[TANGODANCER]

We need to get out of Afghanistan and Iraq like yesterday. These are backward, tribal societies with deep irreconcilable divisions due to artificial national boundaries. We'll never impose true democracy or equality on them. We're just throwing our money into a 13th century hole.

You should not talk about Scotland and Wales like that.

[Harry Genshaw]

What are the tenuous reasons?

I think your post before this one answered that Worthy.

How did us fighting in Afghanistan prevent the atrocity in London?

We'd have been better off invading Yorkshire.

[superjohnmcginlay]

You think 3000 dead people is tenuous? Are you hobo's brother?

[Harry Genshaw]

You think 3000 dead people is tenuous? Are you hobo's brother?

No & No.

I think our reasons for being in Afghanistan are tenuous and I dont think it will help the fight against terrorism one iota.

You obviously do. Fair enough.

[superjohnmcginlay]

You think 3000 dead people is tenuous? Are you hobo's brother?

No & No.

I think our reasons for being in Afghanistan are tenuous and I dont think it will help the fight against terrorism one iota.

You obviously do. Fair enough.

I think the original reason for going in was valid yes. What's happened since is a bit of a mess. But I dont think we can leave at present without creating an even bigger mess.
I also think support for this conflict would be a lot higher were it not for the Iraq debacle.

[americantrotter]

It could've been sorted by now if Bush had just concentrated on Afghanistan. W. made us all unsafe. I do believe that rooting out the truly complicit governments that harbor the worst of the terrorists helps. The Taliban should not be allowed to take control in afghanistan again. They were never freely elected, are not supported by the majority, and have brutalized an overall population that was moving forward and was the most progressive of the middle east.

[William the White]

Now I'm not suggesting they print that, because I do truly believe we should honour all those killed on our behalf. My point is, you know the papers WOULD print it if they thought that's what would sell. There are five pages of rant against this guy from one tiny NOTW article without any direct quotes, and without even going fully into what he is saying. Objectivity folks.

Top post imo but this was the only thing I couldn't agree with. They're dying for all sorts of reasons (poor equipment amongst them) but I can never accept that they are dying in Afghanistan on my behalf.

So right... They are dying for people who don't deserve their courage. And when they are wounded, these people will trail their way through the legal system to avoid paying them compensation they more than deserve. Despicable.

Which of the 2,964 US families that lost loved ones on Sept 11 fall into this category? Or the 56 grieving families in the UK when London was bombed in 2005?

A significant number of those people, murdered by terrorists, might well have opposed sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq. Neither of us can claim their support for what happened after their murder.

The point Harry is making, and I support him, is that they are not fighting for me. I don't want them to be there. I didn't want them in Iraq (which state certainly had nothing to do with the al Qaida attacks in USA, London or Spain). I think a government that sent them there and then refused to compensate the maimed properly is despicable.

[Hoboh]

You think 3000 dead people is tenuous? Are you hobo's brother?

Unfair!!


For me I'd Nuke feckin place and Northern Pakistan, no need to send troops then!

BTW I support our troops for doing a good job in whatever shithole politicians, whom some of you voted for send them to!

Wars happen and always will.

[superjohnmcginlay]

Unfair? Didn't you want to send in the tanks on a load of unarmed hippies? Not that I didn't agree.


Edit - You added the bottom bit after. Thats more like it.

[William the White]

You think 3000 dead people is tenuous? Are you hobo's brother?

Unfair!!


For me I'd Nuke feckin place and Northern Pakistan, no need to send troops then!

BTW I support our troops for doing a good job in whatever shithole politicians, whom some of you voted for send them to!

Wars happen and always will.

Good thinking.

Given that Pakistan is a nuclear power. And is next door to another nuclear power. And Afghanistan borders Russia.

Where's the emoticon for kiss your ass goodbye?

[TANGODANCER]

The Taliban want a way of life that can never gel with most of modern society. The problems in Afghanistan seem too complex and unsolvable by any outside influence. The points against us even being there are totally valid. The soldiers way of going about protesting it whilst a serviceman was a wrong one imo. That's what this is really about is it not?

[Prufrock]

"Good men must not obey the law too well"

I'm with HP I think. The man has taken a stand, there is a punishment in place for taking that stand. He still thinks it is worthwile, and fair play to him.

As for the wars themselves, I agree with SJM (blimey). I agreed with Afghanistan, I disagreed with Iraq. However now, to leave either would leave things worse than before.