British Pullout Of Afghanistan

[Gromit]

The slow retreat from Afghanistan continues...

// The British Army has made another significant move towards its final withdrawal from Afghanistan and has now pulled back to controlling just two bases.

Only 4,000 troops currently remain in the country. //

If we could turn back the clock 13 years and had to decide whether to invade or not, would we make the same decision (to go in)?

[mikey4444]

I was a supporter of the West going into Afghanistan, as the ghastly Taliban could not have been left alone any longer to get away with their horrible atrocities. But I think its time to bring our lads and lasses home now.

[Svejk]

agree with mike. remember the terrorist training camps too.

[Svejk]

agree with mike. remember the terrorist training camps too.

[Svejk]

i second him twice. lol.

[ToraToraTora]

we should never have even tried to help, the whole sorry sh1th0le is not worth the pinky on the hand of one soldier.

[Gromit]

3Tora

It has cost 448 lives so far.

[sandyRoe]

Are the Taliban pulling out, too? Or are they just standing in the wings waiting to come back on centre stage?

[ToraToraTora]

...yes, did you read my last post?

[Gromit]

3Tora

My reply was to your post, so yes I did read it.

[jno]

I thought it was worth going into Afghanistan; the Taliban had to be dealt with. We were responding to a direct attack on a major ally. I wasn't sure it would work - but it nearly did until we sabotaged our own operation by zipping off into Iraq as well. That was a criminal mistake and meant we lost wars on two fronts intead of winning on one.

[mikey4444]

Gromit....how many would have died at the hands of the Taliban, if the UN had not sanctioned the International Security Assistance Force in 2001 ? Some people have forgotten that it isn't just the US and the UK that have boots on the ground over there :::

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Security_Assistance_Force

[youngmafbog]

I think we should have gone in, but with a plan and an end game that was not necessarily the elimination of the Taliban. Short sharp and out would have been best and we should have learnt that from the Russians.

One thing we dont know though is how much extra terrorism would have been played out in the West. Whilst the Taliban (and potentially Al Qaeda) were occupied fighting forces in Afghanistan it must have reduced there ability to strike elsewhere.

[anotheoldgit]

This makes interesting reading especially if we are to assume that the Taliban are the only devils in Afghanistan.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/27/10-myths-about-afghanistan

[redman41]

It would have saved us a load of hassle if we had dropped a Bomb on them 13 Years ago.
The Taliban will be back in control within 5 Years after Troops leave.
Precious lives have wasted for nothing.

[Baldric]

///within 5 Years after Troops leave///

THAT long eh!.

[mikey4444]

You are right redman41... a nice big atom bomb would have sorted it all out, and no mistake !

[ToraToraTora]

Careful Mikey, advocating the use of Nukes, tut tut, Ed will not be amused!

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444

/// You are right redman41... a nice big atom bomb ///

Don't be so dramatic, who suggested an ATOM bomb?

That is just plain silly.

[mikey4444]

My reply to redman was meant to be sarcastic, which should have been obvious to everybody. And redman spelt the word Bomb, not bomb, and that is the normal way to indicate a nuclear device. Just to make it abundantly clear, I don't support the Bomb being used anywhere !

[ludwig]

I agree with jno.