Territorials to Afghanistan

[anotheoldgit]

Should the UK be sending out part-time soldiers to further boost our troop numbers out in Afghanistan, while the other NATO members are still reluctant to fulfill their obligations and send their regular troops into action?

[metagirl]

i think NATO should send out equal amounts of troops or a certain percentage of their active force.

does anyone know which european countries backed the invasion? I would guess that Britain is called on to sacrifice more troops because of their initial backing.

I understand that it is completely political posturing that is keeping some NATO countries from increasing their troops - but when will they realise that we have gone beyond that critical point and if we want to see any improvement in the region - which benefits us all - we will all have to muck in?

[jake-the-peg]

Which obligations are these?

36 NATO countries have troops there. My understanding is that NATO want more and most of those countries have not volunteered any more.

I don't believe any NATO countries have an obligation to supply more troops just because NATO asks for them!

Personally I think we should tell the Americans that we will pull out of Iraq in 3 months time and redivert the troops to properly man the Afghan action.

As for the TA's well, what did they think they were joining? A paintball club?

[teag1rl]

how does even being in Afghanistan benefit us all??

[metagirl]

stability in the region - benefits us all.

the china comment is interesting - is there any movement to expand NATO participating countries?

[Lonnie]

I thjnk all our trooops should be taken out of Afghanistan. unfortunately, Iraq is a different matter.

[teag1rl]

The taliban is quite a scary matter but left to their own devices in Afghanistan would the warlords not keep a lid on them? Unfortunately I think the reason we are there is to screw up the poppy growing. Let them grow the poppies, let the smack heads kill themselves-THAT would benefit us all.

[anotheoldgit]

Well jake-the-peg you never fail to amuse. Let me explain :- Obligations / When one joins a club or an organisation one is expected to obey the rules and honour the obligations you signed up to, for the good of all of the other members. You cannot have just a few doing what they like. If your organisation says they want you to do your fair share then you do. The other alternative is to discontinue with your membership. Can I make it any clearer?

You state that 36 countries have troops out there, do you also know how many out of these are actual combat troops, serving in the thick of it. I think you will find not many. Germany for example will not alter their rules of engagement, that is to say keep well out of the "Muck & Bullets", and I think you will find they are not alone.

Finally your comments regarding the TA are best ignored except to say they should bring back consciption and send you out there, that is if you are old enough.

[anotheoldgit]

metagirl
NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. I think that China is a little too far away to qualify for membership.

[dummkopf]

has somebody's cage been rattled ?

[jno]

as to whether warlords would keep the Taliban in check - well, they didn't do so before 9/11, why should they now? It seems a pity that the TAs should have to do it for them, but they joined the army and now the country's at war that's their job.

[metagirl]

thanks oldgit - apt username, eh?

[Big Al1st]

Hi, I believe that the TAs should be sent out if they are needed. This is regardless of whether we should be out there in the first place. If our troops need back up and the TAs are all we have left then so be it.
The situation is that we have troops out there, and the Army as a whole is becoming fully stretched. We should have further support from NATO troops.
I know there are currently alot of them out there but they are not in the south where it is rather dangerous to say the least. The Poles are supposed to be sending troops out in February but only to the north.

I am afraid that if the TAs are required then they have to go.

On another matter I, quite often, say that they ought to bring back conscription and get some of the youngsters off the street. But I can remember when I was young I joined the Merchant Navy to get out of conscription. One of my arguments, at that time, was that Conscripts should not be fighting in Korea. They should only be fighting to defend Queen and Country and not in some Godforsaken Country that had nothing to do with us ( shades of Iraq and Viet Nam ) I suppose the way the Army is, Conscripts if they were still in existence, would be out fighting in Afghanistan. That I would not like to see! Rgds Al