[RosieBear]

Another of our most valuable resource, our young men and women under arms, was lost and another injured by a IED. IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING, WHY AREN'T THEY PROVIDED WITH ONE OF THESE TO TAKE OUT ON EVERY PATROL, AND FITTED IN EVERY VEHICLE Bomb Jammer - portable backpack IED ground protection - ManPack Christ its only $$$ after all, and a little bit of rocket science.

It then means that it is more difficult to set off a targeted IED. Aussies were the only ones injured and killed, no Afganis', probably targeted. Cowardly Bastards.

 

[heyhey]

Couldn't see that working too well with comms, etc. All the *****s that set the IEDs would have to do is configure their trigger frequency to the same as their comms and then it would either render the comms useless or the jammer as they won't jam their own comms.

 

[RosieBear]

I would not think that it is as simple as that............... 'cause the ****s dont have the technology, and I am sure the manufacturers have been through all that during development.

 

[Chopsy]

Could be the device wasnt radio triggered. Apparently they're quite good at adapting their techniques quickly to avoid the countermeasures. Easy enough to trigger a device using a long wire instead of radio.

 

[Jamus]

Sad, but what is the current purpose of our forces even being there?
Originally it was Al Queda, but these days what is the real purpose?
(Surely not the human rights argument because that is under worse attack in many countries where no intervention is taking place.)

 

[heyhey]

I would not think that it is as simple as that............... 'cause the ****s dont have the technology...

Yet :wink:

 

[heyhey]

Sad, but what is the current purpose of our forces even being there?
Originally it was Al Queda, but these days what is the real purpose?
(Surely not the human rights argument because that is under worse attack in many countries where no intervention is taking place.)

Im having the same thought, is the progress and outcome worth the price? Could we be spending money and life more efficiently elsewhere?

 

[Whitey]

Another sad loss.. Lest we forget.

 

[geeyoutoo]

Sad, but what is the current purpose of our forces even being there?
Originally it was Al Queda, but these days what is the real purpose?
(Surely not the human rights argument because that is under worse attack in many countries where no intervention is taking place.)

Taliban, with Al Queda support and Pakistan has to play a central role in controlling the Taliban. This could go on for years and with what is happening in Egypt the whole face of it could change very quickly if we get a bad outcome there.

Another sad loss.. Lest we forget.

Too true ******, Lest We Forget.

 

[rumcajs]

Sad, but what is the current purpose of our forces even being there?

Exactly, bring them home now! Cheers.

 

[KGB]

I think it is time to bring them home also. But all of us sitting on our clackers saying/agreeing with each other over the net is going to do jack shyte. We need to let the Fed Gov know what we want, otherwise we're just full of hot air. Let your Federal members know what you want done.

 

[Dirt Devil]

As a father of a son who has just come back from there, I would have to say I agree with lets bring them home.
But after talking to my son, I can see why we are there. The compassion our soldiers have for the normal people and the injustices that go on there. he came back a different man and soon puts me in my place when I say things about what where doing there.
He has seen many soldiers not come back from patrol and even had breakfast with one the morning he was killed. Now thats a real wake up call.

These people can use anything and every thing to make their bombs and even to the stage that no aircraft, machinery, or any kind of vehicle is left to be used as scrap by who ever.
Its all picked up and returned to base.
Even the coins used in the camp had to be swapped for paper, like casino chips because they were being collected to put in bombs as shrapnel.
Our young soldier was not the only one killed yesterday, the people helping us lost their own as well but its not reported. So a thought to their family is deserved also.

My son has been put on notice that he may be going back around the end of Feb and even writing this my throat is swelling up, but to my son he is making a difference and to me that makes me one proud dad.

Shane.

 

[micks4x4]

Bring'em home, the've had enough target practice.

 

[LittleJohn]

An utter waste of a good man.
we have all lost.
Bring em home.

 

[bennoGU28]

Bunch of defeatists, fark me.

 

[bennoGU28]

I really tire of your encyclopedias of posts, I really couldnt care less about what some 60 year old does with a broomstick or what you read in a paper about 'Nam or whatever.

I did wear our nations uniform, yes I have been to area of operation, worn body armour, salad bowl helmet and a steyr. I couldnt care less about your troubles coping with a cushy life.

What ****s me is people saying that the soldiers dont want to be there, its a volunteer force. By all means argue about the mission but dont plead the soldiers suffering card.

The point of the mission in Afghanistan is not really what we gain but we deprive the other side of. The other side is the enemies of freedom and liberty. And who would use anything and everything at thier disposal to strike at our home nations. They are out there and they must be stopped, if that a field in a remote village in afghanistan they cant use to teach militants on how to rig a dirty bomb for New York, Tel Aviv, London, Moscow, Berlin, Sydney or a corner store in punchbowl then that is a victory.

As for a question of how long, as long as it takes. As a question of how many, as many as it takes. As a question of the cost, whatever the cost. Victory was never gained by setting a pullout date, withdrawing after XX amount was killed or because the rations tasted like crap or someones feet hurt. Victory has always been gained by either annhilation from afar or by enduring the enemies fire, overcoming it, flogging the piss out of them and taking the field/creek/paddock/ocean. A successful war is very rarely achieved by a single victory, but a succession of victories. A tactical retreat can be executed but there is ABSOLUTELY no reason for such an action. To contemplate one at such a point in the war is cowardly and defeatist. You want retreat then you are a coward and a defeatist, no if buts or maybes.

Australia's role in Afghanistan is the same as it was in Iraq, supporting our allies and refusing to give ground to our and our allies enemies.

 

[Grafe]

Intersesting points of view.

I had a brother who was in Vietnam. He wasn't wounded in action but was screwed totally for the rest of his life as were many more and I knew a few of them.

War is a politician's game.

The soldiers carry out the orders of their government.

The soldiers, I would bet, don't give a **** about the politicians.

They care about themselves and their mates/comrades and remaining sane and safe.

If you think that El Qaeda and the various entities that abound can be beaten you know nothing about Middle Eastern politics/demographics/culture and aspirations. Read English history, Russian history, Middle eastern history.

You need to read about Australian military history in WW2 and the so called "mopping up" operations in Northern New Guinea and the Solomans. There was nearly a mutiny of Australian soldiers in many areas because of operations that had no military significance and were resulting in pointless deaths.

These operations were suspended in WW2 when the soldiers started to talk to the media much to the chagrin of the politicians and the upper eschelons of the military.

Nothing changes.

Lest we forget.

This is not to denigrate in any way the service and sacrifice our troops make in Afghanistan.

 

[Kitchenwise]

Unfortunately I have to agree with Grafe and other! War its just like a business on higher level, and we are all spendable in the name what ever they want to call or create it !

Lest we forget !

 

[dbsep]

I was in Afghanistan from 07 to 08 doing back to back tours serving in mob. This gives me some good reasons to express my views on were we are at and were I feel we are heading.

We really need to look at the big picture here and lets not be blinded by the news and the internet.

1) What are our real interests in Afghanistan? -oils, minerals and military bases for ever increasing Indian, Chinese, Pakistan and Iran.
2) Why have we built FOB on the border of Afghanistan and Iran - Because we’re going there next so if you think this going to be short term then dream on?
3) What is the relationship with Taliban and the Western world? More complex then Joe blogs could understand and we need an excuse to do things that would otherwise not be very text book. Once in the CIA always in the CIA. Trained by us to fight like us!
4) All major bases are built near large deposits of minerals or open mines - True
5) We have little value to the government. Compared to minerals and getting them by force yes. We need to start mining these minerals (started in 2007), sell the oil, sell the diamonds and in return this will raise capital to continue the war effort into Iran.
6) Why Afghanistan - Its land locked, it’s the perfect gateway for a mega force. It has everything a country needs to be self sustainable. What it does not have is the infrastructure.
7) Taliban closely linked to 911 - We all need an excuse to start something and why not do in the home land. People cannot believe that government could do it to their own, people cannot prove they did. The master plan is now executable with good reasons.
8 ) Could we win this so called war in Afghanistan - It will never be won and will never be lost.
9) Causalities. This has to be a very miss leading part of this issue and sad one at that. For example 350 personnel have been killed in Afghanistan. But look at the real facts and work it out that they are NOT all combat related. Car accidents, self suicide, missing, air borne disease, blue on blue and so on the list is long and complex.
10) I would say that we will still be very active in this region for the next 20 to 30 years. The UK needs it as training ground as like we did with Northern Ireland and we also need to mine it and drill it. The US really needs it more than anyone and they know it. Until the Western World has made sure it has in place who it wants only then will we see a more stable world. But until then more blood will be shed on faraway lands, more people will come home injured. Just so we can continue to drive our cars, run our factory’s and keep the wheels of steel spinning. This not a war a holy war, it's not a war on muslims, it’s a war of minerals and nothing and I mean nothing must stop the western powers from getting it.

 

[Jamus]

Have you ever thought of writing a book oilrig?
Might be an option that you could look into.