We Are In Afghanistan To Ensure Peace At Home

[pdq1]

So says David Cameron. But isn't because we're in Afganistan that threats from terrorists are prevalent?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2282540/British-bombers-plot-new-7-7-foiled-Muslim-terrorists-cell-plotted-murder-2-000-people-Al-Qaeda-backed-atrocity-supermarkets-town-centres.html

So how can we stop it rather than relying on our security services at home?

[TWR]

Let them fight their own bloody war, we have lost enough young lads to no avail, as soon as the troops are out, they will start again.

[sandyRoe]

Didn't we go in on the Americans coat tails? We'll leave the same way. If the Taliban then take over again we'll all be back to square one.

[tonyav]

Yep get our boys and girls back asap we have lost enough of them and for nothing imo, and when all of the forces have left that god forsaken hell hole I think it will be business as usual for the Taliban.

[TWR]

Hi Tony, that bloody Smart @rse fecking Cameron, I'm alright jack, we will tax your Mothers Extra Bedroom whilst you fight some other feckers war.

[tonyav]

Hi TWR, yep '' Were All In It Together '' Dave.

[Prudie]

We went into Afghanistan under Labour (and at least one of the Gulf wars, I haven't checked). At least have a valid argument against it rather than using it as a way to knock Cameron.

[TWR]

Put that to parents that has lost 18>>19>>20 Years old lads Prudie, whilst the knobs sits back & enjoys his party's.

[EcclesCake]

A significant part of the ISAF role is to hinder the Taliban's source of revenue, i.e. opium. This is a multi-agency and multi-national activity towards an overall improvement in a reduction of global terrorism. Considerable efforts have been made towards finding alternative sources of revenue for the farmers other than opium, this is an ongoing problem and much investment in the countries infrastructure is required to achieve this.

The UKs withdrawal is well under way with kit being sent home every week. Fewer and fewer of our troops are going out on patrols as the ANA have taken on a much more robust role having had extensive training from ISAF.

[Prudie]

Put what? I'm just saying that we went into these wars under both governments and various PMs, don't use it as a rod to just hit Cameron with. At least he's planning to get them home.

[tonyav]

So do you know when the last of our forces will leave Eccles ?.

[TWR]

There is a way to reduce the opium, bomb the bloody fields.

[TWR]

Does it take 2 years to get them out? sod them, let them fight their own stupid war. I forgot to state " we are in it together, my @rse.

[jackthehat]

It's reassuring to note that you give the same amount of consideration to other people's questions as you do your own, TWR.

[jake-the-peg]

Right

So if being in Afghanistan is ensuring peace at home - why are we pulling out?



When we went in there was a valid reason - To get at Al Qaeda

Somewhere along the line that became fighting the locals

Not 'insurgents' - that's foreigners rushing in to fight

The only insurgents now are Western forces



Did the Taliban attack London? or New York? No

Are the Taliban threatening us? No

[EcclesCake]

No Tony, but it is underway. From a practical point of view kit has been sent out there for the last 11yrs, you cannot withdraw that amount of kit in a oner!

TWR, bombing the fields is a ridiculous suggestion. You clearly don't understand the complexity of the situation. It is not for ISAF to completely trash the livelihoods of rural Afghans, we need to work with them to develop a more benign and sustainable income to replace the opium production.

[tonyav]

Right thanks Eccles, but the sooner the better I think.

[TWR]

Have you been Hibernating Jake? wake up, this is 2013.

[TWR]

I most certainly do understand Eccles, kill the source, lesson the problem

[jake-the-peg]

Hmm

So are we now in a war on drugs?

I thought it was a war on terror?

Or was it meant to be bringing democracy to the Afghans we were meant to be doing?



Seriously though - when we leave - will we have won?

What would winning look like exactly?


Maybe you have to know what you were trying to do before you know if you won or not

[EcclesCake]

Tony trust me it is underway, the complexity of the withdrawal is mind blowing!

And it is purely the logistics that make it complex nothing to do with the Afghans/Taliban/Al Qaeda/Wombles.

TWR, you have again demonstrated that you do NOT understand the complexity of the problem.