observer Posted August 8, 2009 Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 The new incoming Chief of the Army has said; that the stabilisation of Afghanistan could take as long as 40 years! How many body bags does that add up to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Original Posted August 8, 2009 Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 Far too many.. one bag is too many Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted August 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2009 Agreed - especially when the original objectives are clouded in suspicion. However, the "military" phase is estimated at around another 5 years, then they plan to move onto the political and economic reconstruction phase - what they don't mention of course is, that having paid the price in blood, the UK and EU tax-payer will then continue to pour money into this black hole. The idea that we can "westernise" such places and bribe away centuries of ingrained belief systems with consumer goods, may not work with the Islamic fundementalist ideology. At the end of the day, we are foreigners occupying THEIR Country, and the natural reaction will be to evict us; as they've evicted every foreign Army since Alexander the Great. It's taken over a 100 years for us to reach our level of democracy, why do we assume they can do it it in 10 years? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inky pete Posted August 9, 2009 Report Share Posted August 9, 2009 The General said that we could have "an involvement" in Afghanistan for decades, possibly as much as 40 years. In reality, once the purely military phase of the current operations is complete and elections have been held, that "involvement" is likely to draw down to little more than a couple of dozen training sergeants and liason officers to help develop the indigenous security forces. The Yanks will probably hang around in greater numbers, and will probably want permanent bases in the country to increase their strategic presence in the region, but that's the Yanks for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted August 9, 2009 Report Share Posted August 9, 2009 inky You went and ruined a rant from Obs by posting common sense and fact Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted August 9, 2009 Report Share Posted August 9, 2009 inky You went and ruined a rant from Obs by posting common sense and fact Hey good to see you are back from Magaluf there Sgt... was it bangin and sorted?? We have missed you.... we thought you'd emigrated or something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted August 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2009 Think if you folk read my posts properly, you'd discover I mentioned an estimated 5 years military phase,followed by a political economic phase - both will cost UK tax-payers ?billions. However, I wouldn't assume, that an ideology that's been around since the middle-ages will evaporate in 40- years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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