I eliminated his last name for privacy purposes, this guy is my brother in law. Also this happened a few days ago so it's old news, just a different perspective than CNN. I wanted to let everybody know that I am fine, as our my counterparts. The Associated Press will release a story in the paper tomorrow titled U.S. Paratrooper Killed in Afghanistan. In the article, it will also reference an attack on the British here in Mazar-e-Sharif. I was nowhere near the attack. At the time, I was safe within Camp Spann (formerly Camp Tillman). What happened was that a British convoy was going through town, when two gunman came out of the Blue Mosque and opened fire on the Brits. One Brit was hit in the chest and killed. Eight others wounded. The attackers were captured and identified as Taliban. In recent days, there have been signs of growing unrest in this region, to include Afghans throwing stuff at a convoy I was in, while traveling through Mazar-e-Sharif. So, I think our period of self-assurance that this is a quiet region has come to an end. That being said, I want to emphasize that the Brit who died today did not have on his body armour or helmet when he was hit. The Americans go nowhere without our body armour and kevlar helmets. The Brits and other allies in the ISAF forces do not. In recent months, American and British diplomats have tried to persuade the Americans that we are scaring the local population by always wearing body armour, helmets and carrying weapons at the ready. We told them to go to hell. It is the perception that the ISAF forces were hit because they were perceived as soft targets. I agree with this. I once asked an interpreter what he thought about the Americans always being armed and ready. He said it does not frighten the Afghans (as the diplomats would have us believe) but it assures them that the Americans suspect there will be trouble and they are ready to respond with serious force. That being said, it is a strange day. I guess our innocence is gone. I have had the benefit to work with the Brits a lot lately and got to know some of them well while I was in Sheberghan. We've also played them twice in soccer in the last few weeks (including a game yesterday), and last night I had dinner with two British majors in their camp on the otherside of Mazar-e-Sharif. So, even though it was a Brit that was killed, I cannot help but be a little stunned by it all. I only hope that it does not turn out to be one of our friends that we have made. Several Americans rushed to the scene to provide support, but none of them could tell me tonight any details about who the casualties were. Nevertheless, my point is this. I am deeply saddened by this tonight and a bit unnerved. The Brits are fine soldiers and they don't deserve to die at the hands of Taliban thugs. Please keep them in your prayers tonight. Take care, Michael MICHAEL XXXXXXXX MAJ, FA, USA XXX X-X-XXXth Corps Sheberghan, Afghanistan
I think Americans are getting a little desensitized to the fact that many of our military are living in countries where their life is in danger at all times. I for one will say a prayer for all our military service men and women and their families tonight and every night. Every single one of them is a hero in my book. God Please watch over our military personnel and keep them safe. Give their families your strength and please help our troops complete their mission so they can come home . They are doing your work and seek only to make it safe and free for people who cant defend themselves. In your name i pray for all those away from their loved ones. Amen
This is a damn good point. The Brits have had a lot of success around the world with their "soft hat" approach to dealing with civilians. But I've always thought that it must cost them unnecessary casualties in places where the locals are not all friendly. The letter indicates that many determined guerrillas are smartly avoiding the heaviliy armored and hair-triggered American troops. It also makes good sense that the civilians, who are quite used to heavily armed fighters, are not especially frightened by the US tactics.
Why isn't the media giving us a daily death count of troops in Afghanistan? Are those deaths acceptable in their minds?
I think these two insights are related. One gets the feeling that we're not even in Afghanistan now, and IIEDs are the only danger facing our troops. Thanks for sharing that note JSRacing. I'd much rather hear that our guys and gals are staying strapped and ready than trying to make friends with these people.
War is not something new... why would we only now be being desensitized to it? Nolimit, what is IIED?
They are. US Casualties in Afghanistan Isn't it obvious? It's not about military casualties, it's about unnecessary military casualties, waste of $ billions that are badly needed elsewhere, loss of international prestige, and distraction from the war on Al Qaida. Many, probably most, of the opponents of the Iraq war are supporters of the Afghanistan War. I certainly am. The Afghan conflict has been smartly fought, using our local militia allies backed up by our airpower. It's a guerrilla war and we are fighting it properly using special forces and airpower. We did not try to occupy the country and get involved in nation-building. The miilitary was allowed to fight this war their own way and it enjoys widespread popular support because: 1. It was a just war directly against the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. 2. It has been smartly managed, relatively cheap, and well-led. 3. Casualties have been kept low. 4. We are winning.
IIED is a tort known as intentional infliction of emotional distress. In the context of my post, however, it's a typo. :hihi: I meant IED (Improvised Explosive Device), one of the military acronyms that the media has latched onto as one of their own.
