Originally Posted by WarMachine

Scroll down in this article to the chart http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0523/p04s01-wosc.html
It shows that about 75% of the troops in afghanistan are natives. If that's the case then what are the coalition forces role at the moment?

lol I know alllllllllll about Afghanistan.

Again, I say to you:

Just because you do not hear about it, doesn't mean it isn't happening, you only get the news the media deems interesting. Look harder and you will find a few reported accounts. The media isn't interested in what the Afghans are doing, only what US and ISAF are doing.

How's the verse go... eyes to see and ears to hear? Sorry, was thinking aloud again... carry on, nevermind the ramblings of this hubristic old man.

Originally Posted by PJ24

Just because you do not hear about it, doesn't mean it isn't happening, you only get the news the media deems interesting. Look harder and you will find a few reported accounts. The media isn't interested in what the Afghans are doing, only what US and ISAF are doing.

The more I look at it, the more it seems that the media is only interested in what the US is doing; they give a rats ass on ISAF in general. You have to dig so hard to find some good news from Afghanistan that you can start as an undertaker if you want too.

Originally Posted by sunb!

The more I look at it, the more it seems that the media is only interested in what the US is doing; they give a rats ass on ISAF in general. You have to dig so hard to find some good news from Afghanistan that you can start as an undertaker if you want too.

There is more news about the US in the main stream media than about ISAF lately, definitely. That's not a good thing though. Like you said, the media isn't really interested in reporting the facts or the "good" stuff that comes out of there so the less attention given, the better it is for guys on the ground.

Up until recently, most of the US media has forgotten the US was even in Afghanistan.

A good way to check out a lot of articles on one particular subject is it hit up Google News.

I searched "ISAF Afghanistan" and these are the results I got for today. They have a lot of different media sources (print and otherwise) they search, very good for finding obscure news and checking stories to see if they match etc.

Thanks for the feedback PJ, and thanks for the tip on Google News - most appriciated!

Originally Posted by bulldogg

If your neighbour is making IED's and you don't move house... sorry but you are a dumb donkey.

You think your neieghbor would tell you if he was making IEDs? And if he was, would you move out overnight if you earned 400$ a year?

Originally Posted by phoenix80

Those dead were Taliban and I am glad they are gone

Yeah it helps to sleep at night if you define everybody you kill as an enemy posthumously. "Who was that we killed? I dunno, we killed them, so they must've been the enemy."

Originally Posted by Mohmar Deathstrike

You think your neieghbor would tell you if he was making IEDs? And if he was, would you move out overnight if you earned 400$ a year?

They don't have to tell you, it's pretty obvious to the community when they are.

Yes I would move, my family is more important than anything. All it takes is a jackass and a few carpets to roll up the stuff. In fact at that low of an income there isnt much to move so all the easier. And Mohammar in these communities, everyone knows what their neighbour is up to. You aren't there so how very arrogant of you to sit in judgement of soldiers on the ground thousands of kilometers from whence you sit and spew. To rectify this I would humbly suggest putting your arse where your heart is and go pop round for a visit.

Here's a couple items for those who feel bad about this to stew over...

Package-Type Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
Concealed Mortar/Artillery Projectiles

The enemy in Iraq has used IEDs consisting of mortar and artillery projectiles as the explosive device. The most common explosives used are military munitions, usually 122 mm or greater mortar/tank/artillery.

The use and characteristics of these have included the following:

* Thrown from overpasses.
* Thrown in front of approaching vehicles from roadside.
* Usually thrown by males—who are not always adults.
* Emplaced in potholes (covered with dirt).
* Emplaced along MSRs and alternate supply routes (targeting vehicles).
* Employed along unimproved roads (targeting patrols).
* Employed with 120-mm and larger artillery or mortar projectiles.
* Found alone or in groups.
* IEDs behind which are placed cinder blocks or piles of sand to direct blast into the kill zone.
* Command detonated—either by wire or remote device.
* Time-delay triggered IEDs. IEDs that can be detonated by cordless phone from a car (allows for mobile firing platform and prevents tracing or triangulation).

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...d-packaged.htm

Survivability

A study of the Soviet/Afghan war has proven extremely useful in addressing medical issues associated with mine strikes. Throughout the course of that war, 30 to 40 percent of trauma cases treated by Soviet medical personnel were caused by mine strikes. Necessarily, the Soviets adopted measures to improve force protection, gained a greater understanding of the effects of a mine strike on the body, improved casualty evacuation techniques, and implemented measures to plan for medical contingencies at the lowest level.

Some simple mine countermeasures that increase mine strike survivability include—

* Training (refresher) in first aid.
* Training in mine awareness.
* Wearing flak jackets.
* Sandbagging the vehicle floors using fine aggregates because large particles become missiles.
* Riding on top of armored vehicles when the tactical situation permits.
* Leaving vehicle hatches cracked with the latch pin in place to permit dispersion of the concussive effects of a mine blast.
* Disseminating information through intelligence channels and/or the mine information coordination cell.

Injuries sustained during a mine strike are caused by the pressure wave of the primary blast, the penetrating and nonpenetrating wounds of the secondary blast, and the injuries associated with being thrown some distance. The combat medic or lifesaver must be aware of multiple wounds and combination wounds that usually result from a mine strike and must know how to thoroughly treat the patient. Additionally, treatment of shock becomes important, especially since 86.5 percent of Soviet mine strike victims went into shock. Fifteen percent of shock cases were irreversible, and the victim died in a short period of time.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/ied.htm

These are nasty, unstable and intended to kill indiscriminately.

I'll say it again... if my neighbour is engaged in building these devices and I don't move I am a dumb donkey. Even if you aren't worried about coalition forces turning your neighbourhood into a crater you should be worried about the dumb ass next door turning it into a crater.