.

[Artist]

Well put Druadan.

Ref the Poles. Their going to the north of the country so as per usual the Brits and the Cannucks are going to have to keep bearing the brunt of the fighting.

Artist

[Alfa]

According to the article on the BBC they'll be operating in the East, which is where kandahar is right? Plus it sounds as if they're anticipating joining in a combat role. The only problem is it'll be early next year, around Febuary in fact.

Finally someone else in NATO has the balls to get stuck in.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5344596.stm

[tom_06]

The poles have been one of the countries along with canade and the netherlands that consistently seems to back up the UK/USA in the war on terror. They were in Iraq aswell. Unlike the germans and french who both have highly capable armies which are nowhere near as overstrecthed as ours and yet the french only have 1,000 in KABUL, the germans only 2,500 (i think) in the north. I'm not just using this as an oppurtunity to slate the germans and french , there are other countries too but i really think its time that our allies started backing us up. Its very frustrating as a potential member of the armed forces to watch the news and see stories of us being put through the ringer while other countries sit back and relax.
Mabye im overeacting a little but thats how its seems from where im sitting!

[Ajax86]

The International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) needs to be seen to be winning the war against the Taleban before the onset of winter, when the fighting will slow down, our correspondent says. But without the extra troops they wanted straightaway, that could be more difficult.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5344596.stm (at the end of the article)

As stated above, it reamins unclear whats going to happen or to even put a prediction on it. As for the mountain combat, obviously they will have the advantage as we are on their terms (as stated in your post duradan) , it immediately puts our lot on a disadvanatge. And yes the winter could even make mountain operations a no-go, not simply because of the taliban, but the biggest enemy at the time - the weather (as you have stated)

we're already in the enemy's back yard, going into his house is asking for trouble.

I don't think the commando's will be going inside the caves to fight them. I believe that will be more the job of special forces, SBS & SAS etc. They were already in there doing it before the initial invasion of Afghanistan began so the American and British special forces will continue to do so.

The Americans have spent a countless amount of money on trying to develop some sort of goggles like NVG's that detect tripwires..... So, what do our lot in the special forces do? Go out and purchase silly string!

It obviously works with the right tactics!

These are all very interesting and good points which are being made but i think we can only wait and see what the commanders on the ground are going to do, some with military experience on here might be able to testify to that or even give a different perspective hopefully.

[Banch]

the germans only 2,500 (i think) in the north.

To be fair they have the second largest contingent in the country with 2700 troops on the ground.

[harry hackedoff]

It certainly is ironic that one of the stalwarts of the old WPA is now to fight alongside NATO, their onetime enemy.
Shows how far both EEC and NATO have moved since the end of the Cold War.

[borisimo]

In France's defence, they have lots of people in Africa, Europe and now Lebanon but yep the Germans could probably afford to do a lot more, along with the other countries that have only sent a dozen soldiers.

[Alfa]

To be fair they have the second largest contingent in the country with 2700 troops on the ground.

It's not about how many troops they have in country it's about what they're doing there.

The German and the French troops are basically just sitting there in their bases doing nothing while other NATO troops are involved in intense combat missions and won't do anything to help them out.

Even if they don't want to send their Infantry, the Germans have a large helicopter fleet which, if they sent a few squadrons, would be a huge benefit to the mission in the south.

They are making a conscious decision to NOT come to the aid of the people they call allies. They are there under the same mission yet they don't think they have to get their hands dirty.

If the shoe was on the other foot there is no way the British or Canadian armies would sit back and leave them too it like the Germans/French are doing now.

[borisimo]

Indeed, although they are doing a job there with reconstruction which is just as important.

[Banch]

I agree with both of the above comments.
I think Italy should be doing a lot more but then again how much can be expected of the worlds biggest cowards, along with Spain of course!!

[Ajax86]

Hmm, begs the question 'could we be seeing even more private contractors in Afghan?' It's happened in Iraq, and speaking in contingency size, the 'private armies' are the second largest in Iraq, not the British.

[Sully]

PMC's have been out there for a while but where things click up a few notches like they seem to be in Helmand then they're probably as useful as a carrying handle on a tank.

Here's an old thread......

viewtopic.php?t=8256

[Ajax86]

Slightly off topic but it does tie in with what artist had posted earlier in the thread. Either this is sorted out or theres going to be trouble.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5349578.stm

In Iraq, the comments were condemned at Friday prayers by followers of radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr

Back on the subject: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/5349822.stm

[Artist]

I have heard tell that the fiendish wallahs in India have developed a Pork Bomb for use against the Pakistani Army if India ever goes to war against them again.

It seems that the bomb detonates 500 feet above the enemy lines releasing 5,000 packets of Pork Scratchings and 2,000 gallons of liquid lard. Early results have been inconclusive stated the Indian MOD due to the Pork Scratchings not being released from their plastic bags correctly so tests are now being carried out to see if brown paper bags would be better suited for the job.

Artist

[fodd]

:laola: lol