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BREAKING NEWS New Zealand soldier killed in Afghanistan

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Newtown-Fella
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« on: August 04, 2010, 07:25:01 am »

NZ soldier killed in Bamyan

LATEST: A New Zealand soldier has been killed in an attack on a patrol in Bamyan in Afghanistan, the Defence Force says.

Two others have been wounded and a local interpreter in the patrol was also injured.

The NZDF said they are informing next of kin.

The killed soldier and the wounded two were part of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team patrol in Bamyan province.

The NZDF say they will hold a media conference in Wellington at 7am.

"This is New Zealand's first combat loss in Afghanistan and reinforces the danger faced daily by our forces as they work tirelessly to restore stability to the province," Prime Minister John Key said in a statement.

"It is with enormous sadness that I acknowledge that this soldier has paid a high price and my thoughts are with his family and the families of the injured."

The death in Afghanistan today is New Zealand's first combat fatality since Private Leonard Manning was killed in East Timor in 2000.

New Zealand has around 140 Army, Navy and Air Force personnel as part of a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) operating in Bamiyan Province.

North-west of the capital Kabul, the area has been regarded as much quieter than the south and east of the country.

The sixteenth rotation of the PRT, commanded by Colonel John Boswell arrived in Afghanistan in April and were expected to remain in the country for about six months.

The death coincides with a whistle stop visit to Wellington US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who is due to hold a series of meetings with senior government ministers before heading to the Pacific Forum in Vanuatu where he will meet Prime Minister John Key and other Pacific leaders.

The US has repeatedly expressed its thanks to New Zealand for its ongoing military contribution in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister John Key visited Bamyan earlier this year, and the Government has announced that the PRT will extend their secondment until September 2011.

The force works on maintaining security in Bamyan Province, and carries out frequent patrols throughout the area.

It also supports the provincial and local government by providing advice and assistance to the Provincial Governor, the Afghan National Police and district sub-governors.

The PRT also identifies, prepares and provides project management for NZAID projects within the region.

It consists of four liaison (LNO) teams supported by infantry, engineers, staff officers, communications and logistic staff.

The first PRT deployment to Afghanistan departed in August 2003 on a four month rotation.

New Zealand also has 80 Special Air Service soldiers in Kabul

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3988764/NZ-soldier-killed-in-Bamyan

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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2010, 11:30:24 am »


That's unfortunate news, but not exactly unexpected.....it was only going to be a matter of time before Kiwis got hurt or killed.

NZ should have been out of Afghanistan a long time ago.

It was a worthy cause following 9/11, but then the neocons switched to their real agenda, which was invading Iraq in an attempt to secure their oil for American use, and they consigned the Afghanistan war to a sideshow. Because of that, Afghanistan has become an unsolveable quagmire that the Americans created, yet expect everyone else to clean up their mess.

John Key should have told the Americans to get stuffed and clean up their own mess when they pressured him to keep NZ involved.
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guest49
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« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2010, 11:36:54 am »


That's unfortunate news, but not exactly unexpected.....it was only going to be a matter of time before Kiwis got hurt or killed.

NZ should have been out of Afghanistan a long time ago.

It was a worthy cause following 9/11, but then the neocons switched to their real agenda, which was invading Iraq in an attempt to secure their oil for American use, and they consigned the Afghanistan war to a sideshow. Because of that, Afghanistan has become an unsolveable quagmire that the Americans created, yet expect everyone else to clean up their mess.

John Key should have told the Americans to get stuffed and clean up their own mess when they pressured him to keep NZ involved.

Agreed - except I dont believe NZ had any business being in Afghanistan - or Iraq - at all.
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Magoo
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« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2010, 02:30:50 pm »

I suppose he was proud to be doing what he was.   A waste of a life in my opinion.
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Crusader
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« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2010, 05:41:39 pm »

Afghanistan is the deployment most people in the NZDF fall over each other to get on. It is the place to go to put into practice all the training we go through. It is a major draw card for recruiting and retaining personnel. I notice it is those that haven't actually served calling for it to be removed.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2010, 06:25:26 pm »


The wall-to-wall TV news coverage is interesting.

Just as well we didn't have today's TV news services during WWII.

There wouldn't have been enough hours in the day to give each death even a fraction of the amount of TV news time given to the death of a soldier in Afghanistan early today.

The backlog of news stories would have taken many decades to clear.

Perhaps people back then were more stoical and made of sterner stuff?
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Magoo
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« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2010, 06:32:34 pm »

Quote
Perhaps people back then were more stoical and made of sterner stuff?
I don't think so.     That is like comparing apples with oranges.     
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2010, 08:15:52 pm »


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DidiMau69
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« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2010, 08:16:11 pm »


The wall-to-wall TV news coverage is interesting.

Just as well we didn't have today's TV news services during WWII.

There wouldn't have been enough hours in the day to give each death even a fraction of the amount of TV news time given to the death of a soldier in Afghanistan early today.

The backlog of news stories would have taken many decades to clear.

Perhaps people back then were more stoical and made of sterner stuff?

KTJ makes a good point. Had there been the current level of news coverage during WWII Hitler would have won around 1943.

Later on, the Viet Nam War 'five o'clock follies' in Saigon was a major factor in helping the Americans to lose that war. It encouraged political interference based on misinformation that cemented defeat into place. Media in the field were few and far between - it was too scary out there. I saw one reporter out on Ops - from an Australian Newspaper -  in 12 months. Although, some brave souls made it to the base at Nui Dat....during daylight hours!
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« Reply #9 on: December 09, 2014, 05:03:29 pm »



Great work guys..well done Wink


SAS soldiers awarded for actions in fatal firefight

5:49 PM Tuesday Dec 9, 2014

Defence National New Zealand... Special Air Service (SAS) Terrorism

Two of New Zealand's elite soldiers have received rare bravery awards for their actions during a fatal firefight in Afghanistan.

The unnamed SAS soldiers were today awarded the New Zealand Gallantry Star, the second-highest honour for bravery in New Zealand.

They were among nine members of the 1NZSAS regiment to be honoured for bravery and gallantry while serving in Afghanistan.

The soldiers could not be named for security reasons.

The two recipients of the Gallantry Star were both injured during a five-hour battle with Taliban insurgents at Kabul's InterContinental Hotel in June 2011, which left ten civilians dead.

The first, known as Serviceman J, was recognised for exposing himself to enemy fire while providing medical support to a wounded comrade.


The second, Serviceman D, faced repeated heavy fire during the siege and sustained several wounds while protecting civilians.

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said the performance of the two servicemen was "of the highest order and in keeping with the finest tradition of New Zealand's military record".

The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration was awarded to two SAS soldiers who showed "exceptional gallantry" under heavy fire at the hotel siege, one of them sustaining an injury.

The New Zealand Gallantry Medal was awarded to five other members of the regiment who displayed bravery at the hotel attack and at a separate incident at the British Council Office Compound in Kabul in September 2011. SAS soldier Corporal Doug Grant was killed at the attack on the British diplomatic offices.

Mr Brownlee said: "Our NZSAS personnel operate in dangerous and volatile situations and all of these men have demonstrated extreme courage in the face of a determined enemy."

- NZ Herald

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Donald
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« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2017, 03:49:24 pm »

...excellent idea from Trump😜


Afghanistan speech: Trump rejects ‘timetables,’ ups pressure on Pakistan, refocuses on ‘killing terrorists’

President Trump outlined a comprehensive new strategy Monday night for achieving a “lasting peace” in Afghanistan – rejecting what he called “arbitrary timetables” for the U.S. troop presence, ratcheting up pressure on Pakistan to stop harboring militants and vowing to refocus the mission on “killing terrorists,” not nation-building.

“From now on, victory will have a clear definition: attacking our enemies, obliterating ISIS, crushing Al Qaeda, preventing the Taliban from taking over Afghanistan, and stopping mass terror attacks against America,” Trump said, in a primetime address to the nation.

The speech made clear he is keeping U.S. troops in the country – he said they will “fight to win” – and scrapping any consideration of a hasty withdrawal.

Speaking to servicemembers at Fort Myer, Va., though, Trump tried to draw a sharp distinction between his approach and that of his predecessors. Pointedly, the president vowed not to openly discuss troop numbers, withdrawal dates, or attack plans.

“Conditions on the ground, not arbitrary timetables, will guide our strategy from now on,” he said, vowing, “America’s enemies will never know our plans."

Ahead of the speech, a senior U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that Trump has in fact signed off on sending an additional 4,000 troops to Afghanistan, apparently listening to appeals from his generals. But Trump’s address to the nation was focused on more than troop levels.

He stressed that the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan is not a “blank check” and the American people expect “real results.” He declared the days of democracy-building abroad are “over.”

 “We are not nation-building again,” Trump said. “We are killing terrorists.”

Trump is now the third commander-in-chief to attempt to bring stability to the war-torn country and seek a U.S. victory in what is now America’s longest war. He acknowledged the American people are “weary of war without victory.” 

But he sought to bring new focus to the fight Monday night, highlighting the threat that must be eradicated from upwards of 20 terror groups active in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Trump’s warning to the latter nation marked perhaps the most significant rhetorical – and diplomatic – shift.

He said bluntly that Pakistan “often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror,” a situation made worse by the tensions between Pakistan and India, two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Trump said a “pillar” of the new strategy is a change in approach to Pakistan. “We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond,” he said. 

Complaining that Pakistan houses the terrorists the U.S. is fighting as they take billions in aid, Trump said, “That will have to change.”

Trump’s stance on Afghanistan has shifted over the years. Prior to his candidacy, Trump called for U.S. troops to “leave Afghanistan immediately” and “rebuild the US first” on Twitter in 2013, even agreeing with then-President Barack Obama on withdrawing troops.


But since taking office, Trump has been stepping up military action in Afghanistan. The Trump administration has ramped up airstrikes in the region with 1,984 U.S. bombs dropped in Afghanistan between January and July of this year, compared with 705 dropped during the same time period in 2016 – that’s a 181 percent increase, according to U.S. Air Force data.

In his address, Trump admitted his “original instinct” was to pull out of the warzone. But he said he studied the issue and held “many meetings, over many months” with the Cabinet and generals to complete the new military plan. He said a “rapid exit” would be unacceptable, citing the example of Iraq as a cautionary tale.

“In the end, we will win,” Trump said.

The president began his address with words of unity, after a week of political turbulence and racial and cultural divide after attacks in Charlottesville, Va.

“Loyalty to our nation demands loyalty to one another. Love for America requires love for all of its people. We cannot remain a force for peace in the world if we are not at peace with each other,” Trump said.

Ahead of his primetime address, Fox News learned that the president had signed off on sending an additional 4,000 troops to Afghanistan, adding to the current estimated 8,400 U.S. troops already stationed in the region.

"I'm proud, I'm relieved. I'm proud of the fact that President Trump made a national security decision, not a political decision. I'm proud of the fact that he listened to the generals and most proud of the fact that he shows the will to stand up to radical Islam. I'm relieved that he did not take the advice to withdraw which would've been disastrous, or create a mercenary army," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who often has been critical of Trump, told Fox News after the address.

“Tonight, the President said he knew what he was getting into and had a plan to go forward. Clearly, he did not. The President’s announcement is low on details but raises serious questions," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., reacted.

The stakes are high for the new strategy, which follows months of deliberations including a top-level meeting at Camp David last week. Nearly 16 years after the 9/11 terror attacks, which first drew U.S. forces into Afghanistan, the local government controls just half the country – beset by the Taliban insurgency and terrorist factions. An Islamic State affiliate has been hit hard, but continues to attempt major attacks in the region.

Vice President Mike Pence spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier Monday, ahead of the president’s remarks.

Politically speaking, the president also is seeking a reset after what was perhaps the rockiest stretch of his presidency thus far, one that saw multiple staff shakeups and an all-consuming controversy last week over his response to the violence in Charlottesville. The president took heat for repeatedly blaming “both sides” for the clashes at a white supremacist rally, where a counter-protester was killed in a car attack. The response was met with a bipartisan rebuke from members of Congress and a wave of resignations from various corporate and other advisory boards.
Fox
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