H09776
Headlines : "War on Terror"Sixth British soldier killed as Taliban lay siege to base
The deaths of two more British soldiers in Afghanistan shows that war continues to rage across much of the country.
When the government announced the deployment of large numbers of British soldiers to Afghanistan earlier this year, it was claimed that they would be acting in a peacekeeping capacity.
But British troops are engaged in active fighting, 12 have lost their lives so far – with five dying in the past three weeks.
British forces have gone to Helmand province to replace US troops who found themselves faced with resurgent Taliban fighters there.
Nearly five years after the war against Afghanistan was declared over, the Taliban is stronger than at any time since.
[Posted By us_and_them]Republished from Times Online
He was the sixth soldier to die in just over three weeks in the Sangin Valley, Helmand province. The fighting raged for hours and was so fierce that reinforcements from 3 Para, arriving by Chinook helicopter, had to be turned back because of intense gunfire.
Apache attack helicopters were called in to suppress the attack. Daily patrols in the town of Sangin have entailed regular ambushes and gunfights for members of the 200-strong unit from the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment battle group. The platoon house, a fortified building in the centre of town, is vulnerable because of its position.
The soldier was part of a patrol that came under fire from rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles. Sangin, by the fertile Helmand river, is made up of mud-walled compounds, poppy fields and orchards, ideal cover for ambushes. The last two soldiers to die before yesterday were killed in an assault on their platoon house. Because of their isolation, the British troops at Sangin have first call on the roving quick-reaction force.
A military source described the whole area as “Taleban central” and said all the British bases were coming under daily attack. Apart from the six Apaches, the 3,300-strong British battle group in…
Posted by us_and_them
Currently Hibernating ... Keep fighting the good fight!
The Young British Soldier
When the ‘arf-made recruity goes out to the East
‘E acts like a babe an’ ‘e drinks like a beast,
An’ ‘e wonders because ‘e is frequent deceased
Ere ‘e’s fit for to serve as a soldier. Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, So-oldier of the Queen!
Now all you recruities what’s drafted to-day,
You shut up your rag-box an’ ‘ark to my lay,
An’ I’ll sing you a soldier as far as I may:
A soldier what’s fit for a soldier. Fit, fit, fit for a soldier . . .
First mind you steer clear o’ the grog-sellers’ huts,
For they sell you Fixed Bay’nets that rots out your guts —
Ay, drink that ‘ud eat the live steel from your butts —
An’ it’s bad for the young British soldier. Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . .
When the cholera comes — as it will past a doubt —
Keep out of the wet and don’t go on the shout,
For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out,
A’ it crumples the young British soldier. Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier . . .
But the worst o’ your foes is the sun over’ead:
You must wear your ‘elmet for all that is said:
If ‘e finds you uncovered ‘e’ll knock you down dead,
An’ you’ll die like a fool of a soldier. Fool, fool, fool of a soldier . . .
If you’re cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,
Don’t grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind;
Be handy and civil, and then you will find
That it’s beer for the young British soldier. Beer, beer, beer for the soldier . . .
Now, if you must marry, take care she is old —
A troop-sergeant’s widow’s the nicest I’m told,
For beauty won’t help if your rations is cold,
Nor love ain’t enough for a soldier. ‘Nough, ‘nough, ‘nough for a soldier . . .
If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath
To shoot when you catch ‘em — you’ll swing, on my oath! —
Make ‘im take ‘er and keep ‘er: that’s Hell for them both,
An’ you’re shut o’ the curse of a soldier. Curse, curse, curse of a soldier . . .
When first under fire an’ you’re wishful to duck,
Don’t look nor take ‘eed at the man that is struck,
Be thankful you’re livin’, and trust to your luck
And march to your front like a soldier. Front, front, front like a soldier . . .
When ‘arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch,
Don’t call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch;
She’s human as you are — you treat her as sich,
An’ she’ll fight for the young British soldier. Fight, fight, fight for the soldier . . .
When shakin’ their bustles like ladies so fine,
The guns o’ the enemy wheel into line,
Shoot low at the limbers an’ don’t mind the shine,
For noise never startles the soldier. Start-, start-, startles the soldier . . .
If your officer’s dead and the sergeants look white,
Remember it’s ruin to run from a fight:
So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,
And wait for supports like a soldier. Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . .
When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
— Rudyard KiplingAnd the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An’ go to your Gawd like a soldier. Go, go, go like a soldier, Go, go, go like a soldier, Go, go, go like a soldier, So-oldier of the Queen!
But British troops are engaged in active fighting, 12 have lost their lives so far – with five dying in the past three weeks.
And what about civilians?
Fuck the military, they are trained to DIE, and their job is to DIE soon or later…
Peace.The Remnants of an Army
by Lady Elizabeth Butler