[HomoSapiensSap]

There are around 9,000 British soldiers currently in Afghanistan. We have recently heard that there will now be around 17,500 soldiers stationed in London (due to the G4S shambles) - and this figure was set to rise to more than 20,000 as Lord Coe mentioned reserves and was still deliberating whether 17,500 is still enough.

Does anybody else find it funny (if not strange) that we now have more troops for the Olympics than there are in Afghanistan (where we're currently at war)?

[Michaelj]

It's not just soldiers. It's navy, RAF, army, TA, navy reserve etc.

[Clip]

(Original post by HomoSapiensSap)
Does anybody else find it funny (if not strange) that we now have more troops for the Olympics than there are in Afghanistan (where we're currently at war)?

No, because we're in Britain. It's very easy to move a battalion of blokes from one part Tidworth to East London and have them stagging on around a series of car parks. They are already in this country - where they generally live for the 90% of the time that they are not deployed.

On the other hand, it's very difficult and expensive to move the same blokes halfway across the world and keep them supplied in one of the least accessible locations on earth.

[concubine]

What, using our military - which is primarily for 'defence' - to protect the largest sporting event in the world when it happens to be held in our capital?



MADNESS.




Oh wait. This makes perfect sense.

[bestofyou]

(Original post by HomoSapiensSap)
There are around 9,000 British soldiers currently in Afghanistan. We have recently heard that there will now be around 17,500 soldiers stationed in London (due to the G4S shambles) - and this figure was set to rise to more than 20,000 as Lord Coe mentioned reserves and was still deliberating whether 17,500 is still enough.

Does anybody else find it funny (if not strange) that we now have more troops for the Olympics than there are in Afghanistan (where we're currently at war)?

there were 30000+ in NI during the troubles (a part of the UK) so why is 17.5 so 'unbelievable?

[A level Az]

Well they think it's likely that the Olympic games are going to be the scene of an attack, so not really.

[onda]

I would feel more secure seeing a soldier who are well trained than G4S security guard tbf

[bestofyou]

(Original post by A level Az)
Well they think it's likely that the Olympic games are going to be the scene of an attack, so not really.

If anything it would be a prefect time to attack somewhere else in the UK/Europe. The games are the prefect decoy, its not like Al Qaeda care if they kill 1000 infidels at the olympics or 1000 infidels at a train station in some other UK city.

Not being from the UK I don't know what security is like outside London but I certainly hope security is tight all over...

[original_username]

There's a far greater threat to our country's security in our country than in Afghan.

The number of troops out there should be zero anyway.

[original_username]

(Original post by onda)
I would feel more secure seeing a soldier who are well trained than G4S security guard tbf

You clearly haven't seen the way they hold down the fort at job centres. Terrorists aint got **** on these guys mate.

[HomoSapiensSap]

(Original post by Clip)
No, because we're in Britain. It's very easy to move a battalion of blokes from one part Tidworth to East London and have them stagging on around a series of car parks. They are already in this country - where they generally live for the 90% of the time that they are not deployed.

On the other hand, it's very difficult and expensive to move the same blokes halfway across the world and keep them supplied in one of the least accessible locations on earth.

A couple of thousand are coming from Germany... after having just been in Afghanistan.

[Clip]

(Original post by HomoSapiensSap)
A couple of thousand are coming from Germany... after having just been in Afghanistan.

Well that'll be nice, won't it? Back in UK for a bit. It's not exactly a punishment tour is it?

There's a literal world of difference between Germany and Afghanistan.

[moonkatt]

So far the OP has made five different threads full of bull **** and conspiracy theories about the olympics. it's getting tedious.

[TheHansa]

Good good. British soliders belong in british defending the british olympics.

[ForensicShoe]

Good I'd feel more secure seeing soldiers compared to seeing G4S.

[prog2djent]

The smart terrorists will realise that with all the attention payed to London, what with the Army, Nazy, RAF, Police, security, and others, that this opens the gates for an attack elsewhere.

For anyone jihadi entrepreneurs out there.

[Dirac Delta Function]

There are probably more Islamic extremists in East London than Afghanistan. Makes perfect sense to me

[ESPORTIVA]

Its better that they are here defending instead of going to some foreign country fighting in a pointless war which is wasting money

[@Sam]

The usage of military forces in such events is an internationally accepted standard. Back in 2000 all three branches of the Australian Defence Force had substantial roles to play although they were not as visible as the British ground forces will be manning checkpoints and the like, that however was an intended situation and simply demonstrates the flexibility of the military to conduct a vast array of peacetime roles.

[DarkWhite]

What? G4S cocked up, sure, and our military are protecting our citizens, visitors, and infrastructure.

With regards to figures and Afghanistan - surly that's a good thing too. We're due to exit Afghanistan in 2014; it's quite right that we should have more troops on home soil.