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If,as you say it was solely an American decision as retribution for 9/11 how come we didn't flatten the place in the first instance instead of sending young people to certain death.The Russians and Chinese would not have given a toss unless fall-out became an issue.
Read this.
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_8189.htm

Tab wrote:There are 83.000 civil servants in the MoD and we have of 180.00 people in all three armed forces and many of these are not combat related. During WW2 there were 33.000 civil servants running the armed forces which ran into millions of men and women and who were in action in every part of the Globe.

That's a very good point and I have no idea why there is a much larger civilian staff these days but it's not just our MOD the US DOD employ over 700,000 civilian staff so it seems to be the norm these days.

Tab wrote:On Pay well even the most junior civil servant gets paid more than a Private Soldier and on top that every one gets a bonus for a job well done, and regardless what happens they always get their bonuses.

The most junior civil servants are paid approx £13,000 which is less than a trained soldier, also they don't get any subsidies for food and accomodation like the forces do. Also you're wrong about bonuses, most civil service departments don't automatically give out bonuses and especially if you dont get a good appraisal. Occasionally there are bonus schemes for meeting specific targets but thats not the norm. It's usually only the senior civil servants who routinely get a bonus.

Im not trying to make out that the MOD has got things right at all but the vast majority of people in the CS aren't well off, they're low paid and undervalued and just cause they don't wear a uniform doesn't mean they should be paid peanuts for doing their job.

Wholley wrote:If,as you say it was solely an American decision as retribution for 9/11 how come we didn't flatten the place in the first instance instead of sending young people to certain death.The Russians and Chinese would not have given a toss unless fall-out became an issue.

Well if you are unwilling to believe that it was an American decision to invade Afghanistan and not a NATO one then there's very little I can say that will change your mind.

However, I will point out, according to your own link "NATO took command of ISAF in 2003" Which begs the question, who was in charge before then?

Ever heard of Operation Enduring Freedom? American troops asigned to this command are still operating independantly of NATO/ISAF. It's funny how there should be a seperate military force if, as you say, NATO was the driving force behind decision to invade from the begining?

As to why you didn't flatten it from the begining, well, there wasn't a lot to flatten that you didn't. Reports from the time were commenting on how the USAF was running out of targets to bomb.

Hi basically i failed my medical over asthma they said i need a huge 3 more years to wait now I have been asthmatic since I was very very young say 4-12 but since then I have been fine I'm now 18 and I have never had a single asthma attack in my life I've been fit my whole life and now I'm properly the fittest I have ever been in order to join the marines it says I have the option to appeal I don't really no how to go about this because anything fitness wise I would pass with flying colours. Do I simply just explain on a letter i have not ever had a asthma attack and i am fit enough or do I need to go see my doctor and try and get written letter off him proving me medically fit?? please help

At one time Civil Servants where on PRP [Performance Related Pay] where you had to prove that you had done more than was expected of you and that you attendance at work was the best. These days the Bonus seem to get paid regardless of what happens in your Department.
If these departments are coming in at over budget and years late, troops are not get paid on time, Equipment is not getting to them on time, Equipment is not always fit for purpose, Tanks not converted for desert warfare, still using Snatch Land Rovers which have been declared not git for service, yet they get there bonuses regardless. Now this is not the only department and I can list a number of other Departments who have failed miserably and they have been awarded there bonuses.

just got home on day one of selection after being medically deferred due to a 'suspected' heart murmur, i have to go to birmingham next week to get it checked.
it doesnt make sense how they wont let you complete selection and get the checks afterwards yet they let you complete pre-selection without any checks.
have to say, worse day off my life, never been so gutted that my little ticker doesnt work properly.
to all the lovely ladies I met today, Best of luck to you, I however, will be a little longer getting to where I want to be,
so so gutted.
Any advice on whats to come?

Many Thanks
Zonic.