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"I wouldn't come here without a gun" - Afghanistan
Fri Jul 03 09:38AM
'Hurry up... and wait' remains the military way of doing things, despite all the sophistication of modern warfare.
On an embed with the US military in Afghanistan, we spent eleven hours in the back of an armoured truck bouncing across the desert. A day of waiting around in the heat and the dust. And then a surprise change of plan, and a return journey all the way back to where we came from.
Then there's a sudden chance of a ride in a helicopter, and a rush to get to the air field. Sure there's a flight... in 12 hours' time. And after eight hours, they cancel it.
For the US Marines deployed in Afghanistan, such delays and uncertainty are part of the job.
"We don't know what day it is, or think about what we are doing tomorrow," said Sergeant Heath Nall, a member of a Marine counter-IED (Improvised Explosive Device) unit. "We just keep working, and when it's time to go home, they'll tell us."
Being out in the desert, sleeping in hammocks hung between their parked vehicles, is where these small groups of 30 or so young fighting men like to be.
They refer to Camp Leatherneck, their headquarters in Helmand province, as the "funny farm" where too many people issue too many orders. Out in the field, they are closer to the action and free from the constraints of life on base.
When not clearing roads of bombs planted by Taliban insurgents, they spend their days tinkering with their MRAPs (Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected) trucks, sweating manically through the heat of the day.
Later, in the cool of the evening, they pump weights using full ammunition boxes hanging from either end of a heavy axe, clean their guns, or doze with their iPods.
They appear to survive on a balanced diet of PopTarts and Gatorade.
Embedded journalists, who are posted to live with the US Marines for a short time, are treated with curiosity and humour.
"Put it this way," said Lieutenant Mark Tucher as he surveyed the laptop bag slung over my shoulder. "I wouldn't come here without a gun."
In this blog, reporters and editors for global news wire AFP blog about the news they report and the challenges they face covering events from Baghdad to Beijing, the White House to Darfur. Ben Sheppard is an embedded reporter in Afghanistan.
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Agree Afghanistan is a bottomless pit, if it wasn't for the civilians I'd just say nuke it. The largest army in the world failed, we managed to hold the frontier and that is about it. Terrorist organisations tend to be almost fungal in that their infestation is almost impossible to eradicate.
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journos / reporters are a fkn nuisance and I for one don`t watch news programmes as there`s enough sht on telly without headbangers reporting about poor civilians and medics TREATING taliban al queda shi ite sunnis. Back 2 the crusades for me they aren`t friends they`re foes. Save Britain from the inside not the outside. PS. stop giving them fkrs money / aid, we`re skint here. mcghee.
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IRLAND,BOSNIA,CROATIA...ECT ECT AND THEN THE GULF!!!.Same old for us guys,we made a choice and we are all proud to serve...every day ive ever gone on a patrol it could be my day,as ive seen so many times the best equipment doesnt save lives!.You can be the best trained with the most combat experiance and the best equipment which many of us have access to,but if its your day then its your day.....we dont listen to the bollox back home,and we dont care about the politics of any war!.Just get behind us boys..
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America (or Britain) have no business in Afghanistan,they should let the Afghans sort things out themselves.
You can't force Western style democracy on these countries,despite killing and bombing countless civilians,as the US had done in Iraq.
The world is much more dangerous since America took upon itself to be the world's big-footed policemen,with Britain trailing behind,thanks to Blair.
America is no good at "nation building",they're only good at destroying them.
A lot of countries now dislike the West,all they do is meddle in their affairs,Pakistan,Iran,North Korea,Iraq, the list goes on and on,and we will all suffer the consequences!
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I was a Captain in the Parachute Regiment on deployment to Iraq in 2003. I was ordered to give my combat body armour to a seventeen year old soldier because he didnt have any. The military need to sort out the equipment the have, its either to old and unserviable or they dont have any.
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blade.solutions - There is no denial that we are not behind YOU! - We are just NOT behind the Politicians that sent you there!
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s.oneill413 - Some of us know the score - when you have to 'borrow' boots from dead Argentinian soldiers because they were better, - It's a sad state of affairs! .. But . .As they say "when needs . .. . must!"
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Hmmm -too many negatives in my first statement but you know what I mean!
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Afghanistan, and western Pakistan aka Waziristan, is where U.S. troops should have been to begin with. NATO nations know they need to shut Taliban down also -- found a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth
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mikewalker789 - Before our guys went to Afghanistan to tackle the Taliban - How many of our people did they kill?? - What threat did they pose the UK? - I hope you don't force me to answer this!
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errr....am I missing the point or -- is it the Journalist who is unarmed and the comment from the Lt. is a warning not to be in A'stan without a firearm for protection?
rgdz from ChiangMai Brewsta
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