Wednesday, November 25, 2009

World

In Afghanistan, the NATO-led Force is 'Underresourced' For the Fight Against the Taliban

When it comes to combat, it is a coalition of the willing and not-so-willing

Posted June 5, 2008

Reader Comments

ISAF

Although there is a good relationship between British and American troops there is no doubt that the British army is under funded and under resourced.

This is a point of great shame for our nation(UK). It does not and should not be this way but has been a purposfull spending choice made by our current weak government. What makes it worse is that the UK government had PLENTY of money at the time but thinks the army is a political enemie and so has been undermining them.

I have watched video of British troops fighting and winning in Helmand, Afghanistan only to be told to give up the ground they gained because the UK government was not prepared to allow food or ammo to be sent in greater numbers. These guys were on patrol after patrol taking fire and they had to scavenge for old sweetcorn/maize to survive. People in the villages lost trust eventually and stopped returning home. MAKES ME REALLY ANGERY at TONEY BLAIR AND NOW GORDON BROWN our priminister.

ISAF

When I see the response to the lobbying of Gates,it makes me sick to call myself a European and as a Brit,it makes me damn angry to see those countries liberated by the english speaking world,turn their backs on us when their help is required.

May I suggest that America, bans all trade with said countries,removes itself from nato,asks France, Germany,Belgium etc.,to cough up their share of the expenditure incurred protecting them during the cold war,and as a final act accepts the Uk as a 51st State.

nato afganistan

what good is a military aliance with europe? we should withraw from nato and have an aliance with russia. they knew how to deal with chechnia. europe has about 400 milion people .if all they can spare is something like 37 and 1/2 combat soldiers then for what reason are we in this so called military aliance

ISAF

"I Suck At Fighting" has been an unfortunate, and even worse, true, derisive nickname given to our erstwhile allies in Afghanistan by US troops for years now. It is generally agreed among combat troops in the country, like myself, that this doesn't include the British, Canadians, Dutch, and smaller contingents from other countries, but the majority of ISAF nations have proven themselves unwilling, even when their very competent soldiers are more than able (notably Germany and France.) It is disappointing that these very good, very professional soldiers are prevented from giving the aid they would like to provide. On a military to military basis, most NATO troops want to be where the fighting is, it is just their home governments and populations that will not allow them to fight.

Some of them really do "suck", but they are hamstrung from their own capitals before they ever get a chance to prove otherwise.

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