Why am I not surprised?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Interesting that this was on neither cnn.com nor msnbc.com when I checked them before saying "Erm... What?". But, then, I suppose the other thread already covers that, now.
And there are Canadians in Afghanistan? I didn't know that. I thought the US military invaded the country all by itself.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
Yes, well, we would have been, but we took the Canadian ambassador hostage, and well, you get the picture.....
Posted by BlueElectron (Member # 281) on :
quote: And there are Canadians in Afghanistan? I didn't know that. I thought the US military invaded the country all by itself.
I don't know if this was brought to discussion on other threads, but I always thought while fighting terrorism is good, the military operation that's taking place in Afganistan is actually illegal and could be interpret as a invasion on the part of the American...
If that's true, how come no one's is or was saying anything to stop it?
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Possibly, and I say this only tenetively, because it isn't?
Posted by EdipisReks (Member # 510) on :
well, 1: it's an international force, 2: an illegitimate/criminal regime was toppled, and 3: a legal government (which supports the action) was set up. i don't see any problems.
--jacob
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Well, I still call it an invasion.
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
quote:Originally posted by TSN: And there are Canadians in Afghanistan? I didn't know that. I thought the US military invaded the country all by itself.
Yep, and Brits. The Royal Marines are doing a lot of the fighting now.
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
For most of the larger actions the US Gov't does try to gain partners in crime, smaller ones, Panama and the like, they will do without others.... Call them live fire training exercises....
Posted by colin (Member # 217) on :
The tally as far as I can remember: American Death Toll 23 killed in accidents 10 killed by the enemy 3 killed by friendly fire
Many of those accidents were associated with a type of helicopter.
Frankly, I am dismayed. We are told that our military is the best. We are told the military equipment is the best. If true, why do we have so many dying from accidents? If true, why can't we do better at hitting targets or identifying targets before hitting said targets?
I remember an event from WWII where hundreds of American servicemen were killed in Europe when bombers bombed them inadvertently. We seem to have a long history of hitting our side, especially from the air.
Posted by Malnurtured Snayer (Member # 411) on :
Colin, just because something is the best doesn't mean there aren't accidents. Machines fail. Sometimes because they get shot up. Sometimes in the confusion of combat.
It happens.
It doesn't mean it's not the "best" ... it means its not perfect.
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
Actually ,while the US military is the best equipped in the world, its training is often a shambles and they're not exactly the most professional ever...
Posted by Ritten (Member # 417) on :
As far as accidents go you need to look at the numbers of helicopters in use, thousands..... Helicopters are very complex machines, prone to accidents just by the sheer number of moving parts...
I am looking for the International Institute of Strategic Studies, which publishes a great reference on all militaries information, based on a great many sources. The Air Force used to print NATOs info for their yearly almanac..... They may again, but they stopped in the mid 80's....
[ April 21, 2002, 09:09: Message edited by: Ritten ]
Posted by Fedaykin Supastar (Member # 704) on :
My dad's a fixed-wing aircraft pilot and he tells me he'll never set foot in a helicopter if he had a choice, he reckons the things shouldnt be allowed to fly!
Buzz
Posted by U//Magnus (Member # 239) on :
My uncle flies Rotorcraft, and he's a silly insane bastard who smells very badly.
But, I'm sure he'd have smarmy things to say about planes. But I don't know for sure. So, don't quote me or anything.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"...don't quote me or anything." -U//Magnus, 3. May 2002
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)