The UK in Afghanistan

[Granite_State]

Good find, thanks David.

"The Junior Officer's Reading Club" (and many other Helmand memoirs, I'm sure) includes some stories of how dire things were for over-extended British units in 2006.

[davidbfpo]

Catching up. This excellent, if sad and embarrassing documentary is available via Channel Four's video on demand, for nineteen days via:http://www.channel4.com/programmes/heroes-of-helmand

I don't know if the C4 option will work beyond the UK.

There is a possible alternative via YouTube, which does not display in the UK:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ILW0zBiszM

Please update with a post whether either them work.

Moderator adds: 238,851views when three smaller threads merged in (ends).

[davidbfpo]

The 'Daily Mail' reports on the:

The truth about SAS shoot-to-kill night raids, by the hero of 200 secret ops: Soldier breaks ranks to defend elite unit from witch-hunt but says illegal killings were ‘unwritten rule of our job’

The report relies on an ex-SAS member coming forward, his views are summarised as:

A former SAS soldier has admitted to The Mail on Sunday that illegal killings were 'an unwritten rule of our job' but strongly defended the regiment's actions; His account comes after claims emerged that SAS members killed unarmed civilians in cold blood and falsified mission reports; He revealed how he took part in 200 night raids between 2010 and 2013, many investigated as potential war crimes by the RMP

Link:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ght-raids.html

An official MoD response:

They have found no evidence of criminal behaviour by the Armed Forces in Afghanistan, have discontinued over 90 per cent of the 675 allegations made and less than ten investigations now remain.

[davidbfpo]

Professor Theo Farrell, Kings War Studies, has written and advised the UK's effort in Afghanistan and now has published a book 'Unwinnable: Britain’s War in Afghanistan 2001 - 2014 (Pub. Bodley Head).

Robert Fox, ex-BBC and now London's Evening Standard has a critical review:

His title says it all — for the British campaign, almost by design, and despite several stabs at retuning, reinforcing and adjusting, had little chance of success. At almost every level — international, national and the peculiar nature of Helmand and its narco-politics — the odds were against. The book started out as an official history..... it is a tour de force and a must read for anyone interested in how and why Britain became enmeshed by such a cockeyed intervention, and might do so again.

Link:https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle...-a3652561.html

I'd better get a copy, even if I have four other books waited to be read.

Amazon UK, with glowing publisher reviews:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unwinnable-...e+theo+farrell