Afghanistan – is the public mood changing?
by Alan Tyers
The news that Britain has lost eight troops in 24 hours has brought home how tough the situation is out there for our forces.
Underfunded and undersupplied, they are fighting a war to… er… a war to bring democracy and the rule of law to Afghanistan.
Whether this goal could be achieved under any circumstances is debatable, but it certainly doesn’t seem to be working out at the moment.
A public mood of distant disinterest is gradually turning to one of real worry about our troops, a view echoed by former Army chief Sir Mike Jackson on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Even people who are unsure whether Britain should be in Afghanistan in the first place found themselves galvanised by the despicable protests of Muslim extremists at the memorial parade for dead soldiers a couple of months ago.
And the drip-drip of stories about underfunding and shoddy equipment foisted on the troops is further building public support for the individual soldiers, while hardening opposition to their presence there.
How many more dead soldiers will the public put up with before there is a concerted movement to withdraw from Afghanistan?
Q-WHY do we have a democratic society?
A-So all the people can have a say in how we are governed.
Q_Why do we have elections for our councils and parliament?
A-So the people elected can govern the country in the way the electors want.
Q-Why do we always end up with so many dishonest and dishonourable people in our councils and government who DO NOT listen to the wishes of the electors who put them there and ONLY do what they want?
A- WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHYWHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY ??????????????????????????????????????????????????
Posted by: WHY ???? | 24 July 2009 at 12:23
Sending troops into a war zone with substandard equipment must be a case for the government being charged with murder. Oh sorry I forgot they're all on holiday for 82 days spending the expenses they stole from the country!
Posted by: Zeb | 21 July 2009 at 12:44
The song said
Mad dogs and Englishmen
Now it is
LAPDOGS OF ENGLISHMEN
Tell the world where to get off and LOOK AFTER OUR OWN FIRST.
Posted by: LAPDOGS OF ENGLISHMEN | 16 July 2009 at 20:28
Link the following three words together and what have we got? Another one of America's wars that the UK has got involved in.
Afghanistan heroin USA
Posted by: Anon | 16 July 2009 at 12:53
Just what are we doing there anyway? Sure - the Taliban are religious nutters, their laws are mediaeval and cruel and subjugate women, but what's that got to do with us?
There are plenty of regimes around the world where people aren't treated in quite the way we'd like but we're not maintaining an occupying force in China or North Korea.
There must be more to this. It's got to be something to do with either heroin or the arms industry. There's not much else there.
Have a look at which MPs responsible for the decisions about where our troops go are on the boards of arms companies. The terrorist angle is a smoke-screen.
Posted by: The terrorist angle is a smoke-screen | 16 July 2009 at 09:51
even the title " the satanic verses " is far to politically correct to really instil and explain to the layman the hatred of the christian faith that the islamic children have indoctrinated into them from birth ........
multiculturalism... political correctnes .. and health and safety are indeed the three things that have desroyed this once great country ........
COURTESY OF THE SCOTTISH LED NEW LABOUT PARTY !!!
Posted by: mohammeds nemesis | 16 July 2009 at 09:09
The thought of Brown covered in brown fills me with glee
Posted by: Mike | 15 July 2009 at 22:15
ALL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT should be forced to serve time in the armed forces on real active service before serving their country on their BACKSIDES.
NO EXPENSE FIDDLES ALLOWED.
Posted by: NO EXPENSE FIDDLES ALLOWED. | 15 July 2009 at 15:55
The term service men obviously includes our service womwn as well.
These terrorists when they are captured are whinging about our soldiers shouting at them.
What a shame.
Just think of what those terrorists would do with our soldiers if they capture them.
That is the difference between good and EVIL.
And they are EVIL !!!
ALL OF THEM.
Posted by: And they are EVIL | 15 July 2009 at 15:09
The people who are noticeable by their absence to join the war as soldiers in Afghanistan are Tony Bliars children?
If it was so convincing a cause why are they not out there instead of these 18 year olds?
Time to put your money where your mouth is B liar.
Posted by: ... ... ... | 15 July 2009 at 13:45
Isn't it funny how all these islamic countries are at the root of all the worlds problems.
Posted by: Isn't it funny | 15 July 2009 at 13:26
Bring ALL British service men HOME.
Then NUKE the place and all the other places that harbour these terrorists.
But clean our country of them first.Repatriate them before disposing of them.
They dont deserve anything.
Why should we force our troops to be killed by a bunch of religious tosspots????
Posted by: Bring ALL British service men HOME. | 15 July 2009 at 13:23