The Ambiguous and Dirty Afghan War

 

 Give thousand chances to your enemy to become your friend,

But don't give a single chance to your friend to become your enemy

Going to war

 

Going to war

On patrol

Vital protection

The soldiers are equipped with body armour, radios and personal medical kit.

Attacks can come with little warning and soldiers must be prepared for everything.

IEDs are one of the most dangerous threats faced. When discovered, specialist disposal teams are often called in to make the devices safe.

On patrol

Ground patrol

Each soldier spends about four hours a day out on patrol. This is called "ground domination" by the army and is intended to prevent the Taliban from operating. The threat of ambush, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and sniper fire is constant, so light armoured vehicles such as the Scimitar are used to cover the terrain.

The cost of war

64

UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan during the Lancers' tour of duty
(1 Apr - 31 Oct 10)

£11.1bn

Spent on the war in Afghanistan by the UK since 2001
(up to June 2010)

From: Major Jim Walker
To: Jackie Walker, 14 April 2010

Got back into Bastion at lunchtime today.

Its a great area, full of opportunity and promise. To the west of the Capital Lashkah Gar (Lash Vegas they call the camp for its dullness!). The area closest to Lash is the fertile 'green zone' around the Helmand River - can be a bit like Kent - fruit trees and wheat, cucumbers, courgette, tomatoes etc. The west of my area is Dasht - desert. The people who live there are gypsies and dispossessed who have no land rights or ID cards and benefit from no government recognition. They are subsistence farmers who work an arid and salt ridden land which taps off the irrigation systems of its neighbours to the north, east and west.

These dispossessed are a ripe breeding ground for insurgency - the challenge is to deliver progress for them and get them on the government side - land rights, id cards, water and electricity are the basic needs.

The Patrol Bases are basic and in desperate need of 'summerisation' - shade, power and fridges! They can and will be improved, so there is plenty to get ur teeth into, troop by troop, to make our lives better. When out on the patrol bases, we have satellite phones and the textlink service - this allows me to send short messages to either your phone or e-mail. Jonny said he got the Ginger cake and sent a 'Troop letter' back as a thank you!

Life in camp

Keeping in touch

For both the soldiers and their families at home, keeping in touch is vital for morale. They are each allowed 30 minutes of call time per week on a satellite phone. A text messaging facility and occasional access to mobile internet for email is also available. This email was sent from Major Jim Walker to his wife.

Daily routine

Life in camp

Close quarters

Facilities vary depending on the size of camp, although all have power and some have TVs.

At small checkpoints the soldiers usually share two toilets, which consist of a box with a hole in it, and one solar shower.

Air conditioning? That consists of opening the side of a tent

Tony Gould

Life in camp

At home in Helmand

'Home' for UK soldiers in Helmand is one of several different types of camp. Many spend most of their six-month deployment time operating from checkpoints. These are the smallest kind of camp housing up to 20 people.

Going to war

Basic training

Before being sent to Afghanistan troops are put through a rigorous training schedule lasting more than 18 months.

Soldiers learn to deal with everything from weapons handling to interacting with the local people.

From basic training at their base in Catterick in North Yorkshire, the soldiers move to Wales for live-firing drills and even experience a simulated 'Afghan village' to prepare them for their deployment.

The soldiers flew out from RAF Brize Norton in April 2010.

Going to war

Between December 2009 and 2010, BBC News followed the progress of four soldiers from the Queen's Royal Lancers from basic training to deployment in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Filmed by the soldiers themselves and army camera crews, as well as by the BBC, the footage captured everything from the shock of coming under fire to coping with harsh conditions.

Follow Major Jim Walker, Lance Corporal Cheryl Fray, Trooper Ian Baird and Warrant Officer Class Two Tony Gould [R to L] as they take us through their year.

The enemy came prepared"

End Quote Mawlana Sayed Khel Kunduz police chief.

Foreign troops toll in Afghanistan in 2010 passes 700

Taliban insurgents attacked Kabul and a major city in the north on Sunday as the toll for foreign troops killed in 2010 passed 700, nearly a third of the total killed in over nine years of war.

Special Report: Is America the sick man of the globe?

 Best DRUG provider in UK.London,U.S.A streets,N.YW.D.C,100 % Genunine,is putting Spain & Mexican drug dealers out of business, in total coordination and agreement with opposing forces, under direct sponger & patronage of RAW, sixteen consulates Indian in Afghanistan.

 

Same pattern of Vietnam,Thiland & Laous,all key sponsors' from HK,directly under patronage of Pentagon with protection of MI 6,CIA,A.N.P & PPP providing safe passage for Iran.

 

Remember USA Army, and Tommie's are the lowest paid, their attrition in war is maximum, how are they to survive? Any act done outside USA or UK is not accountable by their law's like killing, extortion gang rape etc,so drug business is a unimportant action to supplement their livelihood values

                                                                 

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