British Troops in Afghanistan

You —

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You — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 - 23:27

Five more UK dead in Afghanistan

Five more British soldiers have died in Afghanistan, bringing to eight the total killed over 24 hours, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The five, from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, were killed near Sangin, Helmand province, on Friday morning. Next of kin have been informed.

Their deaths take the number killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 184 - more than those killed in the Iraq war.

Earlier, the MoD announced the deaths of three other soldiers in Helmand.

Britain's Chief of Defence Staff, Sir Jock Stirrup, said it was important to "remember why our people are fighting in Afghanistan and what they are achieving through their sacrifice and their courage".

UK forces are engaged in an offensive in the region alongside US and Afghan troops.

Read more @ BBC News

You — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 - 23:10

I was just watching BBC News and the analyst was talking about how many "young lives were being lost" when talking about the eight British deaths. Just seemed crass as there are probably hundreds of others dying/being injured too - not all of them combatants.

You — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 - 20:34

That same piece of paper will want everything to be done to prevent their deaths, and also demand its utmost that they are not pointless - using people as cannon fodder is never fun.

Question is what are the troops trying to achieve? If they are actually helping the Afghans stand on their own two feet, that is a good thing. If they are hindering that, then it is a bad thing.

Even the poppy control is a good thing - this year farmers in Afghanistan actually decided to grow food! Due to that there has/will allegedly be(en) less need for food aid from abroad for the locals.