.. This irritates me.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7245533.stm

Yes, it’s a shame, yes they should have the right equipment for the task, but at the end of the day, two basic facts remain:

1. They are soldiers… one of those risks you take when signing up for that shit is that you can get shot… and bullets kill.
2. The solider in question, and his superior (who I believe testified in court that they had insufficient equipment) are human beings… if you don’t feel the equipment is dequate, don’t follow through with the task.
   Granted, this is the armed forces, but Afghanistan is highly unlikely to invade the UK. You denying the mission does _not_ (whatever your propagandha may tell you) endanger British lives. It’s the Ministry of (fucking) Defence for a reason. Given the modern age in regards legal matters, you would be hard pressed to be prosecuted for disobeying orders, except maybe by the Yanks who may take you to Guantanemo on terrorist charges ( ). *sighs*

Sorry, but I felt it had to be said. Yes, a soldier has died fighting ‘for his country’. Yes, it appears he had inadequate equipment (I haven’t read a full report that details exactly what he did or didn’t have – my guess is he had more than the Afghans). Yes, he should have been better equipped. Yes, he was a soldier. It’s one of those ‘Risks of the Trade’.

Shit happens. If you want to blame anyone, why not look to America, who claimed the war there was won 4 years ago.

I have various friends who have served in the forces, and I have the utmost respect for each and every one of them. But each and every one of them were plain about the risks they faced – and fair play to them. I wouldn’t have the balls to go out and serve as they did.

But if I did, I wouldn’t expect such a fucking hoo-hah when the possibility became reality.