Afghanistan

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by regular.joe

Happy, I know I've been a dick and an arrogant ass lately. I am not coming from that space right now. I just really need to let you know that we do indeed volunteer to do everything asked of us when we join the military. Man, speaking as a former Drill Sergeant, it takes all of the nine weeks of Basic Training to get this idea out of the heads of new soldiers.

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Reg Joe, I think you and HM are actually in agreement, witha slight miscommunication.

Right. What I was saying was that people going on multiple tours weren't necessarily volunteering for each tour individually. Once you join, you're volunteering to do whatever they lawfully require.

But in this case, I'm got impression from one discussion on NPR that he had in fact volunteered for the fourth tour after having trouble in civilian life after the first three. But I only caught part of the discussion.

[Lamplighter]

For what it's worth...

KOMO 4 NEWS and the ASSOCIATED PRESS
March 16, 2012

Suspect in Afghan massacre identified as local soldier

His lawyer, John Henry Browne of Seattle, also says that when the 11-year veteran heard
he was being sent to Afghanistan late last year, he did not want to go.
He also said that a day before the rampage, the soldier saw a comrade's leg blown off.

The 38-year-old staff sergeant is married with two small children.
He lost part of one foot because of injuries suffered in Iraq during one of his three tours of duty there.

The soldier was en route Friday to the maximum-security military prison
at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., a senior defense official said.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of security surrounding the move.
Browne said the sergeant is originally from the Midwest
but now lives near Joint Base Lewis-McChord. His children are 3 and 4.

The sergeant's family says they saw no signs of aggression or anger. "They were totally shocked,"
by accounts of the massacre, Browne said. "He's never said anything antagonistic about Muslims.
He's in general very mild-mannered."
<snip>

[ZenGum]

Well, his shooting ability is beyond question... (going straight to hell)

[infinite monkey]

Oh I don't know, it was like fish in a barrel, eh...(following Zen straight to hell)

[ZenGum]

The US soldier accused of shooting dead 16 Afghans had received body and brain injuries while serving in Iraq and was unhappy about going for another tour of duty, a lawyer has said.

John Henry Browne said the 38-year-old soldier, who has not been named, had already completed three tours in Iraq.

He also said the accused had witnessed his friend's leg blown off the day before the killings.

From da Beeb: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17395066

[infinite monkey]

It's a goddam shame.

[sexobon]

It could have been worse: the guy could have burned a Koran.

[Happy Monkey]

Yeah, I heard that on NPR on the way home...

[ZenGum]

New Zealand have just lost three more soldiers in Afghanistan, bringing their losses to ten.

The bodies of the fallen were received back at their base by a giant haka or ceremonial dance. This video shows it very well, not too intrusively, and with absolutely no inane commentary.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-2...mrades/4225346

Spine chilling.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

New Zealand have just lost three more soldiers in Afghanistan, bringing their losses to ten.

The bodies of the fallen were received back at their base by a giant haka or ceremonial dance. This video shows it very well, not too intrusively, and with absolutely no inane commentary.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-2...mrades/4225346

Spine chilling.

Even more impressive. Thanks for that post.

[Lamplighter]

This is the latest, but perhaps not the most relevant, thread
with "Afghanistan" in the title... So I'm posting this here.

It is my opinion that Bin Laden spoke explicitly on the objectives
of his opposition to the US, and within were the reasons he was so effective in recruiting.

This reasoning appears again as "Two" in the five objectives
seen below in today's Statement from the Taliban:

The Guardian
Tuesday 18 June 2013

Taliban agree to peace talks with US over Afghanistan – full statement

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wants good relations
with all the countries of the world including the neighbouring countries,
on the basis of mutual respect and while desiring security at the country level,
the Islamic Emirate wants security and justice at the world level.

Of course the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considerers it
its religious and national duty to gain independence from the occupation
and for that purpose has utilised every legitimate way and will utilise it in future too.

Similarly at world level, it considers the struggles and efforts by the
miserable and oppressed nations for achievement of their legitimate rights
and independence as their due rights, because people have
the right to liberate their countries from colonialism and obtain their rights.

In order to elucidate this policy the Islamic Emirate has
deemed it essential to open the political office in the
Islamic country of Qatar, for the attainment of the following objectives.

One: to reach understanding and initiate talks with countries
of the world for the purpose of improving relations with them.

Two: to support a political and peaceful solution which
includes the end of the occupation of Afghanistan
and the establishment of an independent Islamic system and
true security which is the want and aspiration of the nation.

Three: to hold meetings with Afghans as times may demand.

Four: to initiate contact with the United Nations as well as
with the international, regional and non-governmental organisations.

Five: to put political statements at the disposal of media regarding current
political developments.

It is worth mentioning that to thank the Emir of Qatar,
his highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani who agreed
to the opening of the political office of the Islamic Republic
in his country and provided facilities in this regard.

These ideas also have relevance for for current discussions of US involvement in Syria

[footfootfoot]

That is exactly what my country is missing. We beat each other up in parking lots for backing the wrong team instead.

reminded me of this:

[Big Sarge]

The haka was awesome. I wish we had something similar

[regular.joe]

I was thinking, what would it be like here if we brought our soldiers home with such passion. Instead we bury ours under a cultural love affair with apathy, greed, selfishness, embodied in such things as fake reality tv shows and fake politicians.

[footfootfoot]

The passion was edited out when images of coffins, and such were banned from free speech.

As much as I hate the media for using tragedy to line their pockets, it is very hard to create passion if we are blinkered.

I really feel sometimes just how unbearably white bread (and white bred) our country is. I remember visiting Paris in the mid 80s and my host was telling me about the various riots and demonstrations that were going on. I asked what they were about. She said sort of dismissively, "It's always something, we're very passionate about things and we love to have protests and demonstrations."

Where is our outrage? Who will lead us in our Haka?