Amen to that!
Posted on 06/12/2006 11:40:31 PM PDT by MadIvan
Key quote
"There are people out there, after three decades of conflict, who are determined to stop us doing that. They will deploy any violence they can to stop us doing that, but they can't be allowed to succeed. We must achieve our objective of making this a better country not only for the Afghan people, but also we mustn't allow it to become a haven for terrorism again." - Defence secretary, Des Browne
Story in full
HUNDREDS of Scottish-based commandos are to be sent to Afghanistan to carry the fight against the Taleban and al-Qaeda into the winter.
Mountain warfare-trained soldiers from the Arbroath-based 45 Commando will be among 3,000 Royal Marines deployed to the southern province of Helmand in the autumn.
The decision to send another elite force to replace the paratroop regiments currently serving in Afghanistan will be seen as a sign of the government's determination to make a success of the perilous mission.
The dangers facing British forces in Helmand were spelled out over the weekend when one soldier was killed and two were seriously injured in a firefight with Taleban forces.
On a trip to Afghanistan in April, the then defence secretary John Reid told British troops that they faced "massive risks" in the province.
Yesterday his replacement, Des Browne, expressed his regret at the loss of life but insisted that opponents of peace in Afghanistan must be defeated.
Speaking on a visit to Helmand, he said Britain and its allies were determined to make it a safer place for the people of Afghanistan to live in.
"There are people out there, after three decades of conflict, who are determined to stop us doing that," he said.
"They will deploy any violence they can to stop us doing that, but they can't be allowed to succeed. We must achieve our objective of making this a better country not only for the Afghan people, but also we mustn't allow it to become a haven for terrorism again."
The soldier who died was serving with 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. An Afghan general estimated that ten Taleban fighters were killed in the exchange.
General Rehmatullah Raufi said 15 suspected militants, including Mullah Amanullah, the brother-in-law of Taleban leader Mullah Omar, also died in fighting in Uruzgan province, on Sunday. In a second raid early yesterday Afghan and coalition troops killed 12 suspected militants in a fierce battle in southern Kandahar province's Saidan village.
More than 3,300 British soldiers are currently serving in the country. Troops have been steadily deploying to Helmand since the beginning of the year as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Most are from the Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade. The UK took control of NATO's ISAF operations on 4 May.
Fighting has intensified in recent weeks, with clashes between coalition troops and Taleban forces.
Britain has previously denied that troops will be used to hunt down the Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters, but yesterday the Defence Secretary said their hands would not be tied.
"Providing a secure environment for reconstruction is central to NATO's contribution to stabilising Afghanistan. But make no mistake, our troops will use force when necessary to defeat threats to the security of Helmand," he said.
About 600 soldiers from 45 Commando will leave Scotland in the autumn to relieve paratroopers from 16 Air Assault Brigade who arrived in the lawless province last month.
British commanders want to have the mountain warfare- trained commandos on hand to allow them to continue operations against the Taleban through the severe winter.
Training for deployment has already begun.
Learning how to work alongside Apache helicopters will be a priority for the Arbroath commandos. The gunships have been in the thick of the action over the past month, providing fire support for British paratroopers in two large battles with Taleban fighters.
Sunday's battle was the most deadly incident to date. The engagement took place in the Sangin valley, which runs through the centre of Helmand and is reputed to be the centre of the Afghan heroin trade and a staging area for Taleban fighters.
British Army officers describe the valley as a route for Taleban supplies coming from Pakistan and for the export of heroin. US and Canadian forces established a base in the region earlier in the year in an attempt to wrest back control of it.
British troops have set up a large forward operating base at Grishk, to the south of Sangin, in an attempt to continue the US and Canadian strategy of trying to prevent the Taleban operating in the region. The base houses more than 100 paratroops and refuelling points for Apache and Chinook helicopters to allow them to mount intensive night- time patrols along the valley.
About 115 soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Battalion will also be deployed to Afghanistan in August and September to carry out security duties in Kabul.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
Like sheep to slaughter.
Britain is the exception to Churchill's statement that "nations have interests not friends" and may it always be so.
bump for later
Good luck and good hunting. Aren't the Highlanders the little guys?
Please clarify.
Any reference to Scotsmen requires a reference to sheep. This tradition goes back centuries!
Uh, OK. I remember a WW1 movie where Australian soldiers went "baa, baa" as they were marched into battle. A British general threw a tantrum.
yes and let us not forget "Rob Roy". Trust me - I'm scottish.
Little guys with BIG attitudes
Amen to that!
great SKAWT!
Except this time the sheep are shooting the wolves
Scottish Warriors, the ancestors of the Southern military tradition in the United States.
Scotland the Brave!
My gratitude and prayers to our allies for your unwavering support.
The photos in this thread are awesome images. Naturally, I'm reminded of 'Braveheart', only fiercer.
Love the 1st pic from WW1. I had a great uncle who fought in the trenches in a kilt.
The Germans called them "The Ladies From Hell"
God bless and protect these fine forces and their families. America is grateful.
(Well, except for the Democrats of course.)
;^D
God Bless... Onward to Victory!
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