Dying for a mistake

14 comments on “Dying for a mistake ”

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1. Rijab 1

   28 September 2011 at 7:03 pm

   We must act responsibly and preserve life, of both our own soldiers and the Afghan people, who are telling us they’d rather we leave. As a New Zealander I hope we will end our role in bloodshed and become a Country of lifesavers.

   My thoughts are with the families of all our fallen soldiers, To all our soldiers, thank you, regardless of what our politicians say, many of us will always remember you choose to bravely serve our country. Hopefully we can avoid sending you into harms way.
   • Vicky32 1.1

     28 September 2011 at 7:25 pm

     We must act responsibly and preserve life, of both our own soldiers and the Afghan people, who are telling us they’d rather we leave. As a New Zealander I hope we will end our role in bloodshed and become a Country of lifesavers.

     Seconded and thirded!
     • Bored 1.1.1

       29 September 2011 at 12:49 pm

       Me too, the whole thing is too painful. I have a huge sense of relief (with another 3 years of these bastards coming up and global conflict likelier by the day due to economic and resource crises) that my son is leaving the forces shortly. I don’t trust these bastards with his, or any other serviceman’s life.
       • lprent 1.1.1.1

         29 September 2011 at 2:04 pm

         Still has 10 years on the reserves though…. If you don’t trust them or the general staff then suggest that a relocation of country could be safer.
   • NotinMyName 1.2

     28 September 2011 at 9:20 pm

     Speak for yourself, I don’t say “thank you” to his family or to any of them. I didn’t ask them to go Afghanistan, they are not defending any noble cause and I’ll be buggered if I can see why I should I should even feel that sad.

     They wear “New Zealand” on their shoulder flash and kill in my name but to my mind they are indistinguisable from mercenaries in their indiscriminate tranferring around into the pay of NZ/Aussie/UK and probably even US special forces to persue their trade in killing. By all accounts they revel in their reputation of being a blood thirsty bunch of hard bastards. They like being in Afghanistan, are happy in their bloody work and indeed lobby the government to stay there.

     I am glad they are in our pay and – at least for now – not a threat to us. But salute them? No, I curse them for what they are doing in my name, and for the enthusiasm with which they are doing it.

     Above all, I am disgusted with the craven bastard who is the PM of our country, a man who thinks having – literally – a Roman circus for the media in Afghanistan is a good price to pay to be allowed to suck on America’s dick.
2. Afewknowthetruth 2

   28 September 2011 at 8:28 pm

   Wars have little to do with the aspirations of ordianry people. Wars are always about the desires of megalomaniacs and the control of resources. And the first casualty in any war is the truth.

   “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities”
   — Voltaire (1694 – 1778)

   “Why of course the people don’t want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don’t want war: neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood.

   But it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along to fight a war, … Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy.

   All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”

   — Hermann Goering

   http://www.tribalmessenger.org/t-media/propaganda.htm
   • Puddleglum 2.1

     28 September 2011 at 10:00 pm

     That’s an excellent quotation, AFKTT.

     It’s right up there with HG’s leader who stated “What good fortune for those in power that people do not think.”

     (Of course, there are numerous versions of this quote – they all mean the same thing, though.)
3. logie97 3

   28 September 2011 at 9:09 pm

   Who is it that keeps telling us we are the best in the world? Is it just another example of cultural cringe? Sure we are good at Rugby, and we often “punch” above our weight on various international stages. But just who grades our special services? What qualities make a soldier wearing Kiwi kit any better than those wearing military kit from anywhere else?
   One thing is for certain we do not have a surfeit and we are losing these special ones.

   If we could get away from the jingoism and the feel good factor of some patronising foreign leadership telling us how good we are, then our government might find it harder to justify and convince us to commit and indeed consider withdrawing.

   (The expression “World famous in New Zealand…” comes to mind.)
   • Afewknowthetruth 3.1

     28 September 2011 at 9:33 pm

     ‘If we could get away from the jingoism and the feel good factor of some patronising foreign leadership telling us how good we are,’

     That reminds me of O’Bomber starting his speech in Ireland with: “I am an Irishman.”

     How people can applaud sich patronisong garbage still eludes me.

     I suppose ‘we’re all in this together’.

     And ‘all animals are equal but some are more equal than others’.
4. Hilary 4

   28 September 2011 at 9:32 pm

   There was a good photo opportunity with the first funeral. But the second? What if there are more? When will Key realise that it is just crazy risking NZers lives in a country where they are not wanted?
5. Colonial Viper 5

   28 September 2011 at 9:53 pm

   That desire to suck up to the hegemon has cost us two lives so far. How many more is Key willing to sacrifice?

   Actually, many Afghan uncounted civilian lives will also have been lost in and around the actions that our SAS troops have been engaged in.

   So, where exactly are all of Key’s (and the Afghan War) supporters in this thread?
   • Eddie 5.1

     28 September 2011 at 10:00 pm

     Well, CV, they are pretty quiet. The only attempt is on the other thread. Infused running the ‘I’ve never heard of sunk cost’ line – ie. we have to keep fighting to justify the losses we’ve incurred in fighting.

     Never go to a casino with infused.
6. gobsmacked 6

   28 September 2011 at 10:17 pm

   we have to keep fighting to justify the losses we’ve incurred in fighting.

   As usual, Shakespeare said it best:

   “I am in blood
   Stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more,
   Returning were as tedious as go o’er.”

   (Macbeth)

Links to post

1. Key’s ‘Honour’ « The Standard: posted on 30 September 2011 at 11:59 am

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