Hi Peter, I also had the pleasure of being shot at and blown up in N Ireland and with no return fire from us. I do despair when I see the title of articles like this as I think it should read Special Forces and not just SAS, after all, the SBS and SRR were also operating over there along with the security services. And to the average Afghan unless they speak English then all parties sound the same? Also the SAS are not there to specifically kill, but gain information primarily, and disrupt any future enemy operations where possible. I find it hard to believe summary executions were carried out and the rebels were far far more vicious with anybody they caught, but you never see that in the press or being investigated so you?
The truth will out eventually, but we should all be wary of what we hear in the press. as they only write and publish what they want us to see, whether for sensationalism or fact.
And finally with Afghanistan behind us we would all do well to remember the Orwellian quote to the effect of “People sleep safely in their beds at night only because rough men are willing to do violence on their behalf”
Delete violence, insert prevention or similar and that is what is happening now 24/7, except we know nothing of it. And rightly so.
Lewis, you are quite right of course. We mustn't jump to conclusions. I am not pre-judging the enquiry - it may have limited merit, as we discovered with the Iraqi enquiries, but it is important nevertheless to assert the principle that all soldiers need to be entirely accountable for all their actions. The line between what is acceptable and what is not, as you will know, is very thin. Having well-meaning enquiries (again, I'm not pre-judging this one) are important in a democracy, or we're all tainted. Some of the stories coming out of Australia at the moment about the misbehaviour of some is very disheartening for all professional soldiers keen to uphold the highest standards of professional military conduct. Rob
Hi Peter, I also had the pleasure of being shot at and blown up in N Ireland and with no return fire from us. I do despair when I see the title of articles like this as I think it should read Special Forces and not just SAS, after all, the SBS and SRR were also operating over there along with the security services. And to the average Afghan unless they speak English then all parties sound the same? Also the SAS are not there to specifically kill, but gain information primarily, and disrupt any future enemy operations where possible. I find it hard to believe summary executions were carried out and the rebels were far far more vicious with anybody they caught, but you never see that in the press or being investigated so you?
The truth will out eventually, but we should all be wary of what we hear in the press. as they only write and publish what they want us to see, whether for sensationalism or fact.
And finally with Afghanistan behind us we would all do well to remember the Orwellian quote to the effect of “People sleep safely in their beds at night only because rough men are willing to do violence on their behalf”
Delete violence, insert prevention or similar and that is what is happening now 24/7, except we know nothing of it. And rightly so.
Lewis, you are quite right of course. We mustn't jump to conclusions. I am not pre-judging the enquiry - it may have limited merit, as we discovered with the Iraqi enquiries, but it is important nevertheless to assert the principle that all soldiers need to be entirely accountable for all their actions. The line between what is acceptable and what is not, as you will know, is very thin. Having well-meaning enquiries (again, I'm not pre-judging this one) are important in a democracy, or we're all tainted. Some of the stories coming out of Australia at the moment about the misbehaviour of some is very disheartening for all professional soldiers keen to uphold the highest standards of professional military conduct. Rob
Apologies Robert, I was writing to a Peter as I wrote this. Just goes to prove I still can’t walk and whistle at the same time!!