Originally Posted by
skippyroo
i am left wondering after reading everyone's comments in this thread, we all seem to be of the opinion that this conflict was justified, and i have to agree whole-heartedly. So what has changed so dramatically in the past 25 years that we as a nation think Iraq or Afghanistan are not, let alone to mention Bosnia and the state of the other Balkans not so long ago.
I was just finishing basic training at Pirbright with the Guards when the 1st Iraq conflict broke out, and at the time i was just a typical squaddie, all full of "well, they've trained me, now let me loose", as was everyone i served with. Maybe this was just the lust of youth talking, but i was raring to go.
Now, i dont think that the present Iraq or Afghanistan deployments are justified, in lay-man terms "we should'nt be there", but even more dis-heartening is the way relatives of the sadly fallen feel it necessary to petition the armed forces, or rather the government for enquiries into their deaths and looking for compensation, when these servicemen and women were quite happy to accept the wages in peace-time.
I think it demeans the memory of all our true heroes who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Maybe, we should not be in certain places, but we are, and at least our armed forces are the best trained in the world.
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