Originally Posted by CrashTestDummy

Whilst I agree with the hearts and minds sentiment, the ulster analogy isn't a great one given the outcome for the PIRA head sheds.

I'd completely disagree with that. The fact that Adams and the like are now "respectable" politicians gives utter proof that doing it our way works.

any ol hoo.........im off out on the "piss"

Originally Posted by CrashTestDummy

Not on the home front we don't, that was his point.

We (the govt and press) trumpet the excesses of our troops, but hide the truth from the public the depth of our enemies atrocities.

The press do, I'm not convinced the govt do.

The press ultimately want to sell papers. There are plenty of angry liberals here who don't believe in war and will buy papers with this picture on the front of it.

Realistically people are less interested in the actions of a country on the other side of the world. The papers occasionally the papers will highlight something like the stoning of a teenage girl but generally people are not that interested in people they will never bump into in Notting Hill

moi civvy...........oh please

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

Who are we influencing? Afghanistan will implode once ISAF pulls out. Pushing western values and standards on a near medieval society is pissing in the wind (or on dead taliban).

I don't think some bits have risen to medieval yet.

Originally Posted by stabtoreg

I did read it and apologised. I understood he had only been shot.

The rest of my point still stands though.

You have certainly made me look facile though, although it would worry me slightly if I cared whether the other users on the Internet gave a fuck anyway. Maybe make it a slightly less prominent part of your life?

Only the fact that you have responded and apologised makes it, not a prominent part of my life, but a prominent part of the hour I am spending on the internet right now.

As for making you realise that your comments are facile.... as they say out here... bor pen yang .. never mind. You probably cant help being a twat.

Originally Posted by Fallschirmjager

Who are we influencing? Afghanistan will implode once ISAF pulls out. Pushing western values and standards on a near medieval society is pissing in the wind (or on dead taliban).

That's your opinion and I respect it. However cleverer people than me, not military or government people but independent liberal academics and researchers disagree. Exactly the sort of people who would love to see the military fail but now think they won't.

It's not the aim, and hasn't been for a few years to push western ideas on Afghanistan. That would be futile.
Oh except one, to become richer.

Originally Posted by stabtoreg

That's your opinion and I respect it. However cleverer people than me, not military or government people but independent liberal academics and researchers disagree. Exactly the sort of people who would love to see the military fail but now think they won't.

It's not the aim, and hasn't been for a few years to push western ideas on Afghanistan. That would be futile.
Oh except one, to become richer.

Yep. Can't find a fault with that ideal.
But then my name isn't Blair or Brown.

oh and while ur at it....civilians....hmm who made the decision to go in .............hm govt.......hmmmm civilians..............right i really am off now....theres a bars and a pert breasted bar maid with my name on it

Originally Posted by eodmatt

Only the fact that you have responded and apologised makes it, not a prominent part of my life, but a prominent part of the hour I am spending on the internet right now.

As for making you realise that your comments are facile.... as they say out here... bor pen yang .. never mind. You probably cant help being a twat.

A twat that can at least understand sarcasm.