Do you view soldiers as heroes?

why you mad?

Hero is an overused word. However, I fully support our armed forces and admire and appreciate what they are doing.

Anyone who would willingly give up their life for their country is held in high-regards by me.

Disgaree, your run of the mill soldier has no input into who they shoot - they would shoot unarmed labrador puppies if they were told to. And however horrific bomb injuries are, the casualties per solider in afganistan are low compared to other proper wars - the afganis dont have the capapbility or expertise to be a miliatary threat to a well equiped and trained us or european soldier.

Soldiers ( basic level troops) join the army largely on the basis that they want to shoot things with high tech guns. They have no input into whether their efforts are moral or not.

The real heroes ( and villans) are the politicians that decide who and when we as a country go to war against.

Do you have any experience on which to base your opinions?

yes in as much i know guys that have done their service in the idf, british armed services and few other countries.

And also have a basic knowledge of international politics

Fair enough. I think you have been badly informed, then. To suggest that the threat to troops in Afghanistan is low due to the training and equipment of the soldiers seems to ignore the casualties rate amongst British troops; this is actually pretty high.

Also, I think you have a very 2 dimensional concept of the role of a junior soldier. It isn't a question of just shooting anything that they get told to.

In terms of other major international largescale conflicts, uk losses in afganistan - although regrettable- have not come close to any other of the major conflicts over a similar time scale

in a decade of fighting less than 400 casualties to uk armed forces ( and that has not sperated out those KIAs in friendly fire or accidents on maneovers)
Is not in reality a high rate. More than 40 civilians of the same age a year die in this country no?

This refelcts the fact that the afgans are resticted to primitive guerrlia and terrosit tactics to fight the british and americans.


Also, I think you have a very 2 dimensional concept of the role of a junior soldier. It isn't a question of just shooting anything that they get told to

I think thats exactly the role of a junior soldier ( i count straight forward peace keeping activities and training as a minor part of a modern soldiers role) Without leaving the armed forces, a soldier cannot decide who they are suppossed to be firing at. they have joined knowing that and are happy with that fact.

Soldiers ( basic level troops) join the army largely on the basis that they want to shoot things with high tech guns. They have no input into whether their efforts are moral or not.

It's so tedious you decided to not only read it, but also join in the discussion?

I never understand why this stuff bothers people. Is someone sitting next to you forcing you to read the thread? Don't like it, don't read it.

The media constantly cram down our throats the idea that every member of the armed forces is a hero. I recently saw on facebook some who is in the army talking about how "killing p*kis" in Afghanistan.

What is your view?

That is a very stupid, and incredibly uneducated thing to say.

Your basically saying everyone in the infantry is an emotionless war junky, which is highly disrespectful.

it is not stupid. I just don't understand how they can sleep at night knowing that they killed innocent people and destroyed countries? What gives the right to some humans to end the lives of others?
I am anti-violence/killing btw. It is not necessary. God gave us life to all. We should not mess up with others'.

That is a very stupid, and incredibly uneducated thing to say.

Your basically saying everyone in the infantry is an emotionless war junky, which is highly disrespectful.