Posted on 07/24/2009 3:27:24 AM PDT by WesternCulture
Swedish military forces were involved in a battle in Aqchah in northern Afghanistan on Thursday night. No Swedish soldiers have been reported injured.
The battle began around 6.30pm on Thursday night when opposition groups ambushed the Swedish troops.
The Swedes were in armoured wheeled vehicles and later received reinforcements from several soldiers in a Combat Vehicle 90.
“The firefights were intermittant during the evening and night,” Veronica Sandström, press officer for the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten), told the TT news agency.
The Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper reported Friday that three members of the attacking troops were killed and an additional two injured.
Aqchah is approximately 40 kilometres west of Mazar-i-Sharif, the largest city in northern Afghanistan and the base for the Swedish force led by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
ISAF is a NATO-led security and development mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council in 2001. The base is home to Swedish and Finnish peacekeeping forces.
DN reported the attack came in the wake of several other incursions in the region.
“We have had three incidents within a month and it is more than usual. The violence in Afghanistan has ramped up due to the elections on August 20th,” Regnér told DN.
The exact number of Swedish soldiers involved in the battle remains unknown, but 40 to 50 Swedish military personnel are stationed in Aqchah.
In Afghanistan, there are a total of approximately 400 Swedish military personnel, according to the Armed Forces.
- What's that stain on your uniform?
- I got involved in some peace last night.
Let's face reality; USA, Europe and the rest of the civilized world is in a war together.
Even small, “peaceful” nations like Sweden and Finland.
Swedish soldiers ought to remember what Sweden was able to accomplish as a small, impoverished nation during her conflicts with Russia and with Catholicism (today the Catholics seem less hostile though and are good friends of ours!).
The Finns, on their behalf, ought to remember how Finland dealt with Stalin's forces some decades ago (like someone ought to remind them..)
Killing in itself has no purpose. Killing in itself does not please God.
But there IS a conflict between right and wrong going on today.
Whether we are American, French, British, Danish or whatever, we should quarrel less with other countries on our own side and give more of support to our troops!
We will win this war.
You know, we snicker at the Europeans sometimes, but if you recall, they were pretty much all champing at the bit to help us out in Afghanistan after 9/11. Especially their special forces. Can you blame them? Being in the Swedish or Dutch special forces would be like making the roster on a pro team, then never doing anything but drills and scrimmages. They were thrilled to come out and play.
Swedes carry weapons? Who knew?
::applause::
Good for them! Thanks for the help. This war would be over in 2 years max if the Pakis would cooperate fully. [Or get out of the way...]
Those damned "opposition groups" again. Whatever happened to chaining themselves to so APCs and chanting "Hell no, we won't go"?
::applause::
Good for them! Thanks for the help.”
- Every sane European (and there are millions of us, believe me) understands that the WOT is not between USA and Islamofascism.
It's my nation's war too.
We all know that after WW2, Western Europe was crippled and therefore USA had to do much of the work regarding the Soviet threat. In the end, as USA and Western Europe grew stronger, evil could not keep up with us.
Today all Germans, from the eastern as well as the western part of the country, all Poles and all Hungarians can speak their minds freely without having to fear they'll never see their loved ones again because of something they happened to say at work.
Presently, even smaller European nations than Sweden are sending troops to places like Afghanistan. Give them your support.
All of us could do more than posting comments on the Internet.
To begin with, we could agree to have a closer look at what kind of military equipment our governments buy for our tax money.
USA boasts the leading military apparatus of the world, yes, but there are several areas in which “tiny” Sweden is ahead.
Three major examples:
1. The JAS Gripen (fighter plane) probably delivers more “bang for the buck” than any competitor. A Raptor plane is a more lethal weapon, but it's more cost efficient to build a swarm of Gripens than one Raptor.
2. Stealth subs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khaa3y0i87s
3. Stealth warships:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2179640/posts
The Vikings were superior shipbuilders.
Even some centuries before the heydays of these ancestors of mine, we were known for being “good shipbuilders” by the ancient Romans.
Today we are very much in touch with this tradition and we furthermore know a little bit of building dangerous stuff that fly too (apart from the Gripen, we manufacture the range guided Bofors/Raytheon Excalibur shell for instance).
You ought to be lucky Sweden is on your side in this war..
Correction:
“You ought to be lucky Sweden is on your side in this war..”
I mean ought to FEEL lucky.
Being Scandinavian, perhaps I ought to feel lucky I’m not expected to express myself in perfect English 24/7:)
The battle began around 6.30pm on Thursday night when opposition groups ambushed the Swedish troops.
opposition groups???
They were engaged in a gameof rugby? Chess? Soccer?
What the heckhappened to calling terrorists terrorists? The enemy the enemy?
No offense intended...Just a wry observation.
And yet there are those same Germans who do not fight, nor do the French and I think the Italians don’t either.
They are there, yes, but their populations are rabidly against fighting so they do not.
The Euros are well known for their pacifism, a position one can adopt when the messy work of border protection is done by others.
Absolutely, well done to the Swedes.
bttt
I notice that the domain name is from Sweden. Perhaps the editorial directive in Sweden is to avoid using the word “terrorist” or “guerilla”? I don’t know, but it does seem likely as that stuff happens here in the US.
- While nothing is gained by bashing each other and we probably agree sheer mud throwing, per definition, is immature and childish, my opinion is Americans and Europeans should argue more over how to deal with the threat of Islamofascism.
Every now and then, I get called a “Socialist” on this forum for claiming Volvo Land is a better run place - despite its taxes - than Obama Land. On the other hand, what to expect? This is Free Republic, not a dinner with Hillary Clinton..
I am not offended.
Sooner, I think Sweden of today (although being a nation on the right track when it comes to tax policy and Capitalist spirit) could become even more livable and successful.
We could even learn how to stand up for freedom.
Sweden and the other European nations are doing too little in the WOT field.
Sweden alone could crush the Talibans once and for all, provided there was 100 000 of us prepared to defend the “human rights” we, verbally, hold sacred.
We are a small nation, but a small Swedish town like Karlskoga (home to Bofors) alone could rewrite Asian history if there just was the political will to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3hC0vsZ5-8&feature=PlayList&p=BD248A5DE944C62D&index=0
Presently, we Europeans are letting America down. I admit this.
But things will change. Sooner or later, Europe WILL understand it TOO is in a war.
Again;
We will win this war.
“We will win this war.”
Yessir, we will.
I have to ask: does Sweden have an issue with large Muslim populations like France et al do?
I recall the mess over the Denmark publication of cartoons “critical” of Mohammed.
- To some extent. But most politicians, journalists and others avoid addressing these matters. At work, among neighbors and in other everyday situations however, ethnic Swedes talk a lot about the situation over here.
Many native Swedes share a negative attitude towards traditional features of Islam, while many of us, simultaneously, seem to believe we can “educate” Muslims into becoming 21st century human beings.
In any case, there are definitely different kinds of Muslims in Sweden;
- Secularized ones who wish to have nothing to do with Islam
(around 15% or more of all Muslims, mostly Westernized Iranians)
- Moderate Muslims who interpret Islam as a religion, not a political movement and believe you can be “both Swedish and Muslim” (the vast majority of them, say 65% or something like that).
- Islamists, mostly Somalis under the influence of Saudi Arabia sponsored imams, people who refuse to mix with “infidels” (something like 20% of all Muslims living in Sweden today).
“Long Live Sweden!”
- Hrrm!
Just pile your gold in front of the door, set your house on fire, die now, and save yourself the aggravation.
Scandinavia!
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