39th service personnel to die.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.express.co...-in-Afghanistan-blast

Yet another British soldier killed, while on foot patrol in Afghanistan.

When are the idiots responsible for these unnecessary deaths from makeshift bombs going stop these lethal foot patrols?

We are a 21st century technically equipped modern army, and yet these 'rag-tag' tribesmen, are constantly causing the deaths of our soldiers with their primitive home made bombs, haven't we anything to combat this deadly threat?

If they must have foot-patrols, why couldn't they be proceeded by a chain flaying machine?

[THECORBYLOON]

The vehicles do not have a 100% clearance rate and some mines are designed not to detonate when hit by the chains. The terrain is often not suitable for the vehicles and they are difficult to maintain.

[saxy_jag]

Perhaps they should take the very worst, sickest British and American criminals and make them do the job. I mean, after all, they would at least get a sporting chance, they'd be doing something useful for taxpayers' money and it would lead better, less crowded and safer prisons for the rest.

[anotheoldgit]

peteflipps Yes of course, even 30 is 30 too many.

[andy-hughes]

"When are the idiots responsible for these unnecessary deaths from makeshift bombs going stop these lethal foot patrols?"

When they realse that this is not a 'war', it's simply another invasion which will be waited out by the incumbents until the invaders realise that there is nothing to 'win' here, and they leave.

The 'idiots' you refer to are the government that allow this attrocity to continue, coupled with the military top brass who'se raison d'etre is to fight, however impossible the odds.

Time to say enough is enough.

[THECORBYLOON]

Why was the first answer removed, it only corrected the figure from 39th to 390th?

[rov1100]

When these gung-ho politicians like Blair and Bush invade certain countries their narrow minded attitude stops them from thinking 'if we invade this country what other nearby country will join in'.

They thought by attacking a rag tag group of Taliban they could easily be wiped off the Earth. But now other countries such as Pakistan and even Iran have joined in making the winning of the conflict impossible.

We should admit we got it wrong and pull out troops out immediately to stop further lives being lost.

[anotheoldgit]

THECORBYLOON

/// Why was the first answer removed, it only corrected the figure from 39th ///

Yes I was wondering this, strange.

[anotheoldgit]

andy-hughes

Although I am much against us being in Afghanistan as the next fellow, I do not class it as an invasion seeing that we remain there at the request of the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

The rag tag lot who are killing our service personnel are not defending their country, they are the invaders and are not particular about killing innocent Afghan civilians, Afghan soldiers, and police officers.

But having said that, it is not our responsibility (and that also includes the other participating nations of NATO to) to use our armed forces and all other resources, to protect a foreign country from it's invaders.

[anotheoldgit]

Interesting to note that on the same day that this soldiers death was announced, the self inflicted death of a certain football manager was also in the news.

But which tragic death was given wall to wall coverage by the media, with minutes silence at football matches, and condolences announced by media, sports personalities and even our Premier Mr Cameron?

Yes you've got it, not the young man who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, but the football manager who decided to kill himself.

Regardless of the living's unjustness, RIP to both these young men.

[whatmeworry]

They will not bring all the armed forces home from the Middle East until Iran is taken care of one way or another.

Unless by some strange happening Iran suddenly becomes a democratic goody two shoes (never goiung to happen) then there is no point bringing the armies back and then having to ship them all back out there.

Everything is all nicely in place and settled in.

And as for the legitimate government of Afghanistan "asking us to stay" well dont make me laugh, its not because they like us its because they are no more than a puppet government kept in power because of our presence

[ichkeria]

AOG I agree with you up to a point - certainly it is not fair to class the military campaign in Afghanistan as an "invasion", especially as it is being carried out in conjunction with a non-military campaign to stabilise and advance the lives of the people.
However you must know as well as I do that the justification for the campaign is not the altruistic desire merely to rid the country of the influence of the Taliban but the belief that in so doing we are improving our own security. That is the theory anyway.

whatmeworry: "And as for the legitimate government of Afghanistan "asking us to stay" well dont make me laugh, its not because they like us its because they are no more than a puppet government kept in power because of our presence "
They don't have to like us, but we are there at their behest. To an extent they are a puppet government, but they are the best government Afghanistan has had for a while. It is, even without the Taliban, a seriously divided country.