[alho]

This weekend i watched my lad playing in the Brampton tournament and next weekend we celebrate his 15th birthday and we,ll go and watch the friendlies looking forward to the forthcoming season and we will bicker and argue about whos playing well and who isnt and who should be dropped and who shouldnt etc and Alls well with the world!!!!and then i watched the news and heard about more troops killed in Afghanistan over the weekend and it brings things into perspective, 3 of the lads killed this weekend were just 18,3 years ago it could have been their dads proudly watching them play in a junior football tournament and it just made me think.I dont want to start a should the troops be there or not debate but would just like to give one moments thought amidst the banter of this message board, to all the brave troops putting thier life on the line in Afghanistan

[Cheshunt Spireite]

Agreed, its sad that all these soldiers are dying so young. I'm 18, and its scary to think people my age are dying in a war.

Agreed, its sad that all these soldiers are dying so young. I'm 18, and its scary to think people my age are dying in a war.

[kevspireites]

our armed forces dont want sympathy from the public they need our support
and they have mine 110% irrespective of the reasons they were sent there

[DIFH]

alho, on Jul 13 2009, 09:55 AM, said:

This weekend i watched my lad playing in the Brampton tournament and next weekend we celebrate his 15th birthday and we,ll go and watch the friendlies looking forward to the forthcoming season and we will bicker and argue about whos playing well and who isnt and who should be dropped and who shouldnt etc and Alls well with the world!!!!and then i watched the news and heard about more troops killed in Afghanistan over the weekend and it brings things into perspective, 3 of the lads killed this weekend were just 18,3 years ago it could have been their dads proudly watching them play in a junior football tournament and it just made me think.I dont want to start a should the troops be there or not debate but would just like to give one moments thought amidst the banter of this message board, to all the brave troops putting thier life on the line in Afghanistan

My view is that the issues surrounding Afghanistan are so 'clouded'. The government seem to be the whipping boys of our European 'partners' and as such our troops are bearing unbelievable conditions without being given the necessary equipment. This is unforgiveable when we hear there are 39,000 politicians/staff costing hundreds of millions of pounds per year. If our boys and Girls are expected to put their lives on the line they should have every necessary aid to stay safe. Personally my family are not in a position of having anyone out there but I feel so sorry for families who lose members and also sustain horrendous injuries also. Even seriously injured guys seem to have to rely on families for support when this should not be the case.
.
If you recall the game at Mansfield when we had the minutes silence for the 2 local lads, it seems so little for someone to give that ultimate sacrifice.

If any of our guys or their families are reading our posts, we do care guys and think about you. Stay safe everyone and good luck.

[spyright]

Dave In Footie Heaven, on Jul 13 2009, 12:46 PM, said:

My view is that the issues surrounding Afghanistan are so 'clouded'. The government seem to be the whipping boys of our European 'partners' and as such our troops are bearing unbelievable conditions without being given the necessary equipment. This is unforgiveable when we hear there are 39,000 politicians/staff costing hundreds of millions of pounds per year. If our boys and Girls are expected to put their lives on the line they should have every necessary aid to stay safe. Personally my family are not in a position of having anyone out there but I feel so sorry for families who lose members and also sustain horrendous injuries also. Even seriously injured guys seem to have to rely on families for support when this should not be the case.
.
If you recall the game at Mansfield when we had the minutes silence for the 2 local lads, it seems so little for someone to give that ultimate sacrifice.

If any of our guys or their families are reading our posts, we do care guys and think about you. Stay safe everyone and good luck.

Agree 100% with that sentiment. And I'm sure I'm not the only person who is disgusted with our mealy-mouthed politicians for putting more importance on saving a few million pounds than they do on saving a few lives. Ge trid of half the politicians and give the savings to the armed forces!

[stanleyspireite]

Ive got family who have served in afghanistan and some have returned just recently. From what i hear the place is like hell on earth. The goverment need to do all they can by helping them out with the very best equipment.Its the very least they can do. It makes me mad to think that while our young lads are earning just over minimum wage to put there necks on the line in Afghanistan are politicians are fiddling expenses for swimming pools and duck houses back in the safety of there 2 houses. I believe all politicians found guilty of fiddling the books should be made to serve a stint on the front line in helmand.

I best stop i can feel my blood pressure rising.......

[lindo-spireite]

most deaths do come from road side bombs, one question is, do our troops have the correct equipment to protect against these? obviously not if they are getting killed. The goverment should be doing all they can to keep the troops safe, no matter what the cost is, even if it means them being flown from A to B, would protect a lot of young lives

[Ernie Ernie Ernie]

kevspireites, on Jul 13 2009, 12:19 PM, said:

our armed forces dont want sympathy from the public they need our support
and they have mine 110% irrespective of the reasons they were sent there

and if someone said our taxes were going up to pay to support them there would be uproar

[Eddie63]

Ernie Ernie Ernie, on Jul 13 2009, 08:28 PM, said:

and if someone said our taxes were going up to pay to support them there would be uproar

dont give gordon brown any daft ideas like that........

[lindo-spireite]

Ernie Ernie Ernie, on Jul 13 2009, 08:28 PM, said:

and if someone said our taxes were going up to pay to support them there would be uproar

maybe we should stop giving so much money to the immigrants, migrants and dole scroungers, and give more to the troops and back to the tax payers, and this country might just be ok

simple

[Doughnut]

MP-Spire, on Jul 13 2009, 07:43 PM, said:

Spot on mate.

Sadly those lads that are killed hardly get a mention, yet Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, the most senior person to be killed to date was plastered all over the papers. Sadly in the eyes of those that count, our boys don't matter.

A disgrace.

Whilst it rightly makes the news that our personnel are being killed in theatre it is rare you hear of those who lose limbs or parts of them, or those who get badly burn't, or those who are maimed and badly disfigured for the rest of their lives. These guys and gals will continue to suffer yet never get a mention!

[Goku]

true blue, on Jul 13 2009, 08:28 PM, said:

most deaths do come from road side bombs, one question is, do our troops have the correct equipment to protect against these? obviously not if they are getting killed. The goverment should be doing all they can to keep the troops safe, no matter what the cost is, even if it means them being flown from A to B, would protect a lot of young lives

I doubt there's a certain piece of equipment that instantly lets you know whether there's a bomb in a car. It could be very small and attatched to a pressure device which activates when a door opens or the alarm goes off... so I think it's harsh to judge without knowing exactly what happens in the field.

People are going to die regardless of equipment.

I don't claim to know a lot about the war situation but I just hope there's a minimum amount of casualties as humanly possible.

This post has been edited by Haslandboi: 13 July 2009 - 08:33 PM

[lindo-spireite]

Haslandboi, on Jul 13 2009, 09:42 PM, said:

I doubt there's a certain piece of equipment that instantly lets you know whether there's a bomb in a car. It could be very small and attatched to a pressure device which activates when a door opens or the alarm goes off... so I think it's harsh to judge without knowing exactly what happens in the field.

People are going to die regardless of equipment.

I don't claim to know a lot about the war situation but I just hope there's a minimum amount of casualties as humanly possible.

no, but if the trucks are armored up correctly ...

[Goku]

true blue, on Jul 13 2009, 10:03 PM, said:

no, but if the trucks are armored up correctly ...

I'm sure if it was that easy, then the problem wouldn't exist.

What about infantry patrols?

This post has been edited by Haslandboi: 13 July 2009 - 08:53 PM

[lindo-spireite]

Haslandboi, on Jul 13 2009, 10:05 PM, said:

I'm sure if it was that easy, then the problem wouldn't exist.

What about infantry patrols?

no, it isnt that easy, but full armour is better than none,

i was talking to former soldier today at work (hes a voluntary gardener now at a school) and he says some of the trucks are from belfast... and the best armor on them was to protect from bottles being thrown

[TB.CFC]

Bit of a hot topic this is fgor me really. Government have got it wrong in so many ways. Got family just returned from Iraq and family heading out to Afghanistan in the next 6 months, can't bare to think about it, as for me i dont agree with it.

[DIFH]

Haslandboi, on Jul 13 2009, 10:05 PM, said:

I'm sure if it was that easy, then the problem wouldn't exist.

What about infantry patrols?

It is that easy - it has been reported that the land rovers in use are totally unsuitable for that type of work, there is a lack of will from the government in all areas to supply the correct equipment. Not long back families were purchasing body armour and sending it to thewir family members out there.

Disgusting to say the least.

[dtp]

true blue, on Jul 13 2009, 08:44 PM, said:

maybe we should stop giving so much money to the immigrants, migrants and dole scroungers, and give more to the troops and back to the tax payers, and this country might just be ok

simple

Or rather than posh prisons why not put offenders in the army to serve their sentence fighting for the country - we need more numbers in the forces and paying offenders the minimum wage would be a cheaper option than keeping them rent free.

Such a move does not involve capital punishment so no arguments there but might just act as a incentive to keep out of trouble in the first place - something which doesn't seem to be in place at present.