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Another bad day in Afghanistan
// At 2.30pm on Wednesday, Corporal Channing Day was on foot patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province when her unit came across an Afghan man wearing ordinary clothes. The man apparently had a weapon and was washing his hands.
Precisely what happened next is shrouded in confusion, but the result was a firefight in which Cpl Day lost her life at the age of 25. While the Ministry of Defence was unable to produce a definitive account of the incident, Afghan officials suggested that the British soldiers, no doubt in a state of heightened alert, had mistaken the man for a Taliban insurgent and opened fire.
In fact, they said, he was an Afghan policeman who had left his checkpoint nearby to clean himself before prayer.
According to one official, the policeman’s colleagues saw him come under attack and returned fire. One source said the British even began firing rockets.
Amid the confusion, three people, Cpl Day, Cpl David O’Connor, a Royal Marine from 40 Commando, and the policeman, were killed. //
It is bad enough to lose lives due to 'friendly fire', but this sounds totally avoidable and a mess.
Have we reach a point in Afghanistan where we are part of the problem, rather than part of the solution?
Precisely what happened next is shrouded in confusion, but the result was a firefight in which Cpl Day lost her life at the age of 25. While the Ministry of Defence was unable to produce a definitive account of the incident, Afghan officials suggested that the British soldiers, no doubt in a state of heightened alert, had mistaken the man for a Taliban insurgent and opened fire.
In fact, they said, he was an Afghan policeman who had left his checkpoint nearby to clean himself before prayer.
According to one official, the policeman’s colleagues saw him come under attack and returned fire. One source said the British even began firing rockets.
Amid the confusion, three people, Cpl Day, Cpl David O’Connor, a Royal Marine from 40 Commando, and the policeman, were killed. //
It is bad enough to lose lives due to 'friendly fire', but this sounds totally avoidable and a mess.
Have we reach a point in Afghanistan where we are part of the problem, rather than part of the solution?
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In time honoured fashion, this poster has only posted this in a vain attempt to once again criticise the British and their troops.
Note also that he has gone to the trouble of naming Corporal Channing Day, but it wasn't until the OP's fourth paragraph that he took the trouble to mention the other young life that was lost, that being Cpl David O’Connor, of the Royal Marines.
As pointed out by em10 a completely wrong worded headline, no mention at the sorry lost of two young lives, who were unnecessarily killed fighting an unwinable war, against a people that can't be defiantly classed as either a friend or foe.
And before fingers are pointed in any particular direction let us wait until we hear the findings of any inquiry that may take place, because there is sure to be one.
Note also that he has gone to the trouble of naming Corporal Channing Day, but it wasn't until the OP's fourth paragraph that he took the trouble to mention the other young life that was lost, that being Cpl David O’Connor, of the Royal Marines.
As pointed out by em10 a completely wrong worded headline, no mention at the sorry lost of two young lives, who were unnecessarily killed fighting an unwinable war, against a people that can't be defiantly classed as either a friend or foe.
And before fingers are pointed in any particular direction let us wait until we hear the findings of any inquiry that may take place, because there is sure to be one.
-- answer removed --
AOG
// In time honoured fashion, this poster has only posted this in a vain attempt to once again criticise the British and their troops. //
I have not criticised anyone. It is in your imagination.
// Note also that he has gone to the trouble of naming Corporal Channing Day, but it wasn't until the OP's fourth paragraph that he took the trouble to mention the other young life that was lost, that being Cpl David O’Connor, of the Royal Marines. //
That is because it is the story as reported in the Daily telegraph, hence the // at the front and end. They are not my words. I am sure the DT meant no sleight in mentioning Cpl O' Connor in the four paragraph.
// In time honoured fashion, this poster has only posted this in a vain attempt to once again criticise the British and their troops. //
I have not criticised anyone. It is in your imagination.
// Note also that he has gone to the trouble of naming Corporal Channing Day, but it wasn't until the OP's fourth paragraph that he took the trouble to mention the other young life that was lost, that being Cpl David O’Connor, of the Royal Marines. //
That is because it is the story as reported in the Daily telegraph, hence the // at the front and end. They are not my words. I am sure the DT meant no sleight in mentioning Cpl O' Connor in the four paragraph.
<In time honoured fashion, this poster has only posted this in a vain attempt to once again criticise the British and their troops.>
aog
perhaps you could point out precisely which part of the OP is 'criticising the British and their troops' and how exactly it is critical of them
and when did you qualify as a mindreader?
I only ask for this clarification to prevent any suspicions people might have that your post was mischievous or a deliberate lie
Or was it, as the OP suggests, simply 'in your imagination'?
aog
perhaps you could point out precisely which part of the OP is 'criticising the British and their troops' and how exactly it is critical of them
and when did you qualify as a mindreader?
I only ask for this clarification to prevent any suspicions people might have that your post was mischievous or a deliberate lie
Or was it, as the OP suggests, simply 'in your imagination'?
I do find threads like this quite tedious.
1. As personnel in theatre have been advised to not speculate on what occurred I don't think speculating on news reports is going to serve much purpose.
2. Terms like God forsaken hell-hole are inappropriate, it is neither. It is a remarkable country full of hope.
3. Constant carping that our troops shouldn't be there and they are fighting a losing battle does nothing for their morale. They have been sent to do a job and want to do their best and are trying to achieve that, irrespective of the politics of the war.
1. As personnel in theatre have been advised to not speculate on what occurred I don't think speculating on news reports is going to serve much purpose.
2. Terms like God forsaken hell-hole are inappropriate, it is neither. It is a remarkable country full of hope.
3. Constant carping that our troops shouldn't be there and they are fighting a losing battle does nothing for their morale. They have been sent to do a job and want to do their best and are trying to achieve that, irrespective of the politics of the war.
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