General Chat

we need to bring are lads home

I agree Kevin
enough is enough
Jenxx

TOTALY AGREE
BRING THEM ALL HOME

ALIVE

Kev/Jen/Rita
I have to agree with you.
My head tells me we have to do the "right thing" and protect the innocent out there, and believe me i do agree with that, but my heart tells me different , as i have a step grandson who has been to Afgan twice and is due to retuurn there for a third time in the near future, i have heard such horrendous stories from him , (call me selfish, i can cope with that), but when i'm told my grandson bought his comrade back in a carrier bag (been blown up in a road bomb) and the terriosts have no qualms about using innocent children to furthur their quests,(another story) they seem to have no regard for life as long as they achieve their goal, our losses are another victory for them, and after learning of Izzys tragic news........
I usually keep my opinions to myself , but just need to have my say on my this topic.

Couldn't agree more-they've done all they can-bring them back to their own families-Alive

I have a 12 year old grandson who wants to join the RAF. Will he have to go in 5 years time to try and end the trouble spots. I sincerely hope not! Bring them home now, there has been enough blood shed and for WHAT. I can't help thinking of Izzy even though I don't know her.

I understand the attitude that Britain is never defeated, but it doesnt apply in this case. This war will never be won, so leave NOW.

Oh Rita/ Maggie.
You have both hit the nail on the head.
Bless you both. i was worried that i may have been critized for getting personal on this topic, as everyone is entitled to their opinon, i accept that, but it seems you have both have the same thoughts as me, logic should prevail over "whims" the government are just saving face they cannot be seem to be "wrong" whatever the cost!!!
As you say Rita-would they have the same opinion if a member of their family were serving there- i think not......
(whatever they may say in public)
And-Maggie-ypur nephew will do anything he is told cos thats his job- to uphold what his country believes is right,and not to question it........
We will never change peoples beliefs, no matter what we do, no one will win as you say
My tummy turns at the thought that Matthew will have to return to the war zone again!!!
Jean x

This is not our war. Our brave lads and lasses are not defending us, they are invaders in a foreign land. Like it or not the Afgans are defending their land from a foreign army sent by Bush and Blair.
There can be no peace with muslims until the Jewish and Christian crusades in the middle east stop.
Having already lost an adopted son nearly one year ago I am terrified at the prospect of my daughter signing up in the next year or so.
Bring our troops home now - send Blair to a war crimes court.

Should we Petition our government and if the answer YES then should we start it now??

Bridget

'Our' Soldiers!. ( not Are)..being pedantic!

Our troops are over there because they joined up.

You can't scream to be home just because you get wounded/killed.which I am sure 'Our' Soldiers agree with.

My son was in the forces...he knew what he was getting into because we all let him know what was what......don't belittle them by being women son lovers....they are heroes for giving their all.....stop trying to molly coddle those who know the score....if they didn't...then they shouldn't have joined up.....The army/Navy/Airforce etc means WAR! if it happens......It is not just a job.....They know that.....stop molly coddling....they are Heroes! nothing less.

YES! YES! YES!
OUR TROOPS SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN SENT OUT THERE IF THE FIRST PLACE.
IT'S NOT OUR WAR, SO SEND BLOODY BLAIR AND HIS SUPPORTERS WHO SENT OUR TROOPS, STEP INTO THEIR BOOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!
YEAH, THESE MEN & WOMEN SIGNED UP OF THEIR OWN ACCORD, BUT YET AGAIN 3 MORE WERE KILLED BY A RENEGADE AFGHAN SOLDIER YESTERDAY. THEY WENT OUT THERE TO HELP THEM, TRAIN THEM, NOT TO BE DOUBLE CROSSED.
I'LL SAY NO MORE, AS THIS TOPIC REALLY GETS ME ON MY HIGH HORSE.

TO ALL OUT TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN, PLEASE TAKE CARE, AND BE VERY VERY PROUD OF YOURSELVES.
XX

I agree with Susan entirely,

and do you not think...NO war has been OUR war as such?

WW1 ..we could have stayed out
WW2...we could have been 'neutral' like Ireland
Crimea...
Boer
Korea
Northern Ireland ( yes I include that, soldiers died)
Bosnia as peace keepers ( soldiers still died)

But our troops are NOT conscripts...they go because they sign up to..if they chose not to and to leave the forces because they believe it is 'not our war' then they can do so without being shot for it.

We all want them home... if they come home now it will be wonderful for them and their families, and all who care even one iota about them ...but ...I think the price for that short term thinking, will be paid by everyone in the long term.

My father was there in the 1920's with the British Army fighting the mad Afghans!
After nearly 100 years nothing much has changed - there is no short term solution in that country!


xxxx mick

Rose, and Susan, I agree with both of you 100%

I will just add... regarding terrorists and suchlike.

If we swat one or two wasps in our garden, or wave your arms around like a windmill, it does little but get you a very cross couple of wasps.... if you want to sort out your wasp problem, you attack the nest, and stop it from there.

My hubby and his ilk Know that they can sign off if they wish. They do not HAVE to go. They are professionals, not conscripts. They choose their path, knowing what the outcome might be.

Tough as it is for those of us who love them and wish them safe, they are far more courageous and self sacrificing than you and me. They believe they can make a difference. And they have. They are, And they will.

They are heroes, because they know the dangers of their work and still do it... many of them volunteer to go back earlier than they have to, they feel so strongly about what they are doing.

I wish there was an end to it, and we could all walk safely, learn, live, and love as we choose... all over the world. But that is not the case.

We have a wonderful group of people in this country, dedicated to keeping us safe and nursing us back to health... the Armed Forces, the Police, Ambulance, Firebrigade, and our Doctors and Nurses.

Love

Daff xxx

No troops past or present ever 'deserve' to be killed by anyone... I used , Rita, to consider myself a pacifist but I grew up and learned from history that pacifism whilst a wonderful ideal is not possible, except on a personal and individual level...it takes two pacifists to make a peace, but only one war monger to make a war.

Addressing Afghanistan specifically, the troops were sent there to combat terrorism... terrorism already brought to our doorstep. To attempt to 'take out ' the terrorists without changing the country at it's heart would be pointless, the efforts to make Afghanistan a more stable country with a reasonable, fair infrastructure, are essential . It is not a 'change' of primary target ( ie removal of terrorists) but the logical 'extension' of that target...making sure it is a country which no longer breeds or tolerates terrorists...

You pose the question if it were my son? well he is not yet old enough, but we live in an army training area, I see 'kids' only a couple of years oldrer than him in their uniforms on a daily basis. Would I telll him not to join up...you bet! I would tell him every experience i have of the mental damage I have seen ex soldiers carry, I would show him every photo, every obituary, every newsreport I could muster showing the hurt... I would explain to the best of my ability the political nuances of all the past conflicts and what they were 'fought for'..... and then...I would tell him to keep his head down and that I would be very very proud of him.

You have a right to your opinion Rita, as does every one on here, aren't we 'lucky'.

For goodness sake Rita... I was an army wife for 34 years, and my hubby went to every major conflict and then a few more besides over the years... he came out aged 53, almost 5 years ago... he has more medals to go on his chest than any veteran of WW1 or 2, so believe me, I do not mean one of them harm... I waited, and prayed, and wept and cried many many times... on my son's birth my hubby was away, and on his wedding day he was going into Baghdad on the first day of the 2nd Gulf war... He totalled 10 years in NI altogether... twice in the first Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo and Yugoslavia (10 months in Bosnia, altogether)

So I have been there, done it, and worn the tee shirt.

And do you know what, Rita... he is STILL keeping this country a safe place for you and your family, even now. Because he chooses to.

So I resent the implication that I do not care about what happens to them... I sooooo do. I lived my entire adult life with that fear. So I know better than many what I am talking about. I do not wish a hair on their precious, heroe's heads to be harmed.

But I thank God that they are there to help keep this world a safer place, to try to encourage a safe world for all.

And if our troops move out Rita..... what would you have happen to those Afghans who are working to establish a democracy? Those who are bravely defying the Taliban? The women who have started sending their daughters to school?

You have already stated quite categorically on another thread that there is NO ROOM FOR ANY MORE ASYLUM SEEKERS in this country.

So... what will happen to them Rita? Will you turn your head away while they are stoned to death? Because it is not our problem? Pah!

Daff, Rose and Susan, I agree with you 100% but you have all put it much better than I could have done. MY OH was in the RN and for the time he served he was lucky, he was only near trouble spots twice for a short time in his career. But be sure about it, if there had been a war, he would have gone because that was what he was paid to do, it was what he signed up for. If you see any of the military interviewed they are all convinced they are doing the right thing, they don't say they should be brought home.

Of course we would like to see them home and the 'job' finished and they will be at the right time. It is unfortunate, although inevitable, that the only time we here about what is going on is when we see the hearses parading through Wootton Bassett, or hear of those injured or killed. We never get to hear of the positive side, the good that they are doing, if we did maybe then we'd understand.

I'm in total agreement with Daff, Rose and Ann.

I don't think we should have gone in the first place but having gone there it has to be seen through.

Gwynne

God Bless all our boys.