Afghanistan is 'our' Vietnam
Re: Mick Thompson's letter.
I would hope he is not suggesting that National Service men were not as good as regulars.
They had the same training and fought in all the same conflicts as regulars.
In any war it is tragic at the loss of life whichever side a fallen one is on.
Everyone has family, even the enemy. There are quite a number of parents who have lost sons in Afghanistan who have voiced their opinion that we should not be there.
To compare the Soviet troops of 1989 with the West's military of today is ludicrous. At the time of the Russian involvement in Afghanistan the arms used were modern to that time, just as the arms used today are relevant to now.
From time immemorial invading forces of Afghanistan have been defeated. The British had two goes in 1839/42 and again in 1878/80.
Common sense says it is sadly, a war that will never be won by military force.
The only way any sort of peace will be achieved is by negotiation with all the elements of the Afghani people, regardless of who they may be.
It is a bitter pill to swallow, but we know behind the scenes talks of this nature are happening with some Taliban.
Mick Thompson, like the rest of us, knows full well that if the "might" of the West with all the modern arms we have cannot after nine years defeat a force with home made bombs (IED's), rocket launchers and old AK 47s then it is time to talk and stop the needless waste of life.
He comments on Vietnam and lack of support back in the USA at the time.
That was an unwinnable war as the French found out before the USA and the other covert forces started operating there.
Afghanistan is the Vietnam of 2010.
If he suggests that had we remained in all our Middle East and Far East posts, problems would not have ensued then he really is out of touch.
Most of these places were relevant to when we had an "Empire" or occupation after WW2.
The countries we were in and withdrew from were through negotiation to allow those countries to govern themselves.
All had their own indigenous peoples.
The major difference with the Middle and Far East countries and the Falklands is that the Falklands were settled by the British in 1833 and has remained so. On January 1 1983 the residents of the Falklands were granted full UK citizenship. They are the indigenous people of the Falklands.
PJS Waller
Woodville Ave
Newby
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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