Touching a nerve!

[Snadger]

Maybe it's my simple mind but.............should we be hearing about all of our soldiers that are killed in action nearly every single day? We never seem to hear about how many are killed from the other side?

In this world of Internet news coverage etc surely the Taliban will be using this as propaganda and inciting their side to further attrocities?

[ginger ninger]

I have family over there as do other grape's, I myself try to avoid the news, I find it too upsetting when you see all the union jack covered caskets coming home, Its heart breaking, but I do see your point.

[pigletwillie]

I am sure Mr Brown would love for any news from Afghanistan not be aired or printed.

I think us being there stinks of double standards, especially when we do nothing in Somalia or Zimbabwe.

[Seahorse]

In this world of Internet news coverage etc surely the Taliban will be using this as propaganda and inciting their side to further attrocities?

Probably also a simple mind but not sure what you mean Snadge? Using as propaganda in what way?

I'm no militaristic flag waver but if I lost a family member out there, I'm sure I wouldn't want that to go unacknowledged or unreported.

[Snadger]

Probably also a simple mind but not sure what you mean Snadge? Using as propaganda in what way?

I'm no militaristic flag waver but if I lost a family member out there, I'm sure I wouldn't want that to go unacknowledged or unreported.

I realise this is a touchy subject SeaHorse, hence the title.

All I am saying is that any Taliban or for that matter anyone who is fighting against British/Nato or American troups reading the news where the emphasis always seems to be on our sides casualties, never the oppositions, could be using this to rally there troups.
I.e." look at all the casualties and damage we've done with very little damage to our own forces".

[kernowyon]

is it PC gone mad?
perhaps the media in this country are too obsessed with not upsetting anyone with a minority view or non-christian religion?

A very good friend of mine is being re-deployed next week and I pray that his regiment don't suffer the losses they did the last time and they all return safe and well.

[piskieinboots]

I find it hard to comment sensibly on this thread for obvious reasons - but I would say that our world is media-driven now, we cannot move backwards even should we want to.

If SD were in theatre in WWII I would never worry that I hadn't heard from him because that is how it was - now given the access the world has to media/communications I worry stupid if I don't hear for a week.

I do take your point Snadger

[weekendwellies]

It is heartbreaking. Some of my daughters friends are signed/thinking of signing up.
I pray that none of them come to any harm, and for those already out there - know that we are all praying they come back safe.

[bluemoon]

Do we even know how many have been killed/injured on the other side? Besides war has always been reported like this; we know more or less how many British were lost on the Somme, but I can't say I've ever even heard an estimate of the German lives lost in any campaign of either war. The fact is, from our perspective, we need to know about our own losses. I don't know anyone who has been to Afghanistan, but my son's best friend has been to Iraq, twice. His mum was a fairly portly woman, when he came home he walked past her at the airport because she'd lost 3 stones in the 6 months he was gone, without dieting, and he didn't recognise her. At least when losses are reported we have a reasonable idea of what is happening out there. If the press did not have the capability for almost instant reporting I doubt we'd be told by the powers that be even a tenth of what is going on. My own Great Grandfather died in WWI, 'in France'. My G Grandmother never knew where he was buried, the reason being that he was actually in Belgium, but this had been considered too secret to let her know. She never visited his grave because the War Graves Commission said they didn't know where it was. (obviously as they were looking in the wrong place). It took all the information to be put on the internet for a family member to find it and my mum was finally able to visit the grave on the 90th anniversary of his death. They've always said that the first casualty of war is the truth, but perhaps it's a little less the case these days.

[bobleponge]

Bluemoon,
Its very well recorded how many Germans died in WW1 and WW2, as well as how many Argentinians in the Falklands campaign etc etc, however, a balanced press in times of war is often difficult.

Allied losses are indeed used for propaganda by their enemies, I saw a video a fortnight ago, put onto a website for recruitment purposes, roughly as you say Snadger, "look at how well we are doing, come join us."

Should British/Allied deaths be reported? Purely from a personal point of view I think they should. They are doing (imho) a justified and legitimate job, a very difficult and dangerous one, and if they pay the ultimate sacrifice, I think the nation should know, in order to pay their respects.
Its very difficult to accurately report enemy losses straight away, more so in a guerilla type war (Afghanistan) than in a "standard" battle/war. The majority of engagements take place in enemy held territory, and apart from the last few minutes, take place at distance. The enemy are very adept in removing their dead and wounded, even during the fighting.
The one thing that should be remembered is that for every one soldier that actually fires a bullet towards the enemy in times of war, there are ten that wont get anywhere near the front line, and are thus in a lot less danger than the teeth arms.

[bluemoon]

Bob, I'm sure it is well recorded, but we aren't often told it, is what I was getting at. In this situation our own losses are, quite rightly, most important to us. I doubt that if the technology had been there to report what was actually happening quickly in the war where G Grandad died, then his actual location would have been such a mystery, and G. Grandma would have been spared a lifetime of sorrow. For these reasons I'm in favour of reporting everything possible (though obviously not if it puts our people in danger). Instant communication does mean that only that which truly needs to be withheld is kept back and possibly stops those in power keeping things secret for secrecy's sake.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Yep you have Snadger. I wouldnt have said so, before I sent parcels out to the troops via Piskie and her OH, Snowdrop a few weeks ago.
I know there are casualties on both sides, but if you read the thank you letters Ive had from the guys who got my parcels, then you'd know where Im coming from.
We all ought to be so proud of our chaps out there, doing what they are trained to do, and are so proud to be out there doing their stuff.
If anyone wants to send parcels to the chaps out there go to:
www.supportoursoliders.co.uk (hope ive spelt it right)
Excellent site, will tell you what you can and cant send.
PLEASE everyone, send one box if you can - it will make all the difference to our chaps out there.
Thanks for reading my post.
Bernie x