Kabul - 'KIA Napa'
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Kabul - 'KIA Napa'
Nato troops party while British die on the front line
By CHRISTOPHER LEAKE
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/...n_page_id=1770
Nato troops in Afghanistan are staging nightly drinking and karaoke sessions as British soldiers are dying on the front line.
Exhausted British Paras returning from four months of battles against the Taliban - while enduring meagre rations and shortages of clean water - have been 'disgusted' to find other European troops partying at Kabul International Airport, known as KIA.
The Paras have even dubbed the base "KIA Napa" after Cyprus's notorious party resort, Ayia Napa.
Most Nato troops in Kabul are not sent to the front line because their governments have refused to put their lives at risk. They protect the airport and the capital instead.
British soldiers from 3 Para Battle Group, who have seen 41 comrades die in Afghanistan since the spring, say the airport is a 'haven' for parties for Italian, Hungarian, French, German and Belgian troops.
They are held in giant tents designed to cover military aircraft, or in huge containers that are transformed into makeshift nightclubs.
One Para sergeant who stayed at the airport last week after a tour in Helmand Province said Kabul was "like something out of a Vietnam war film where everyone is oblivious to what is going on elsewhere".
He added: "The clowns at the airport had no idea of what was going on in Helmand. An Italian invited us to a party where he said there would be a lot of chicks and plenty of action, then his French mate tried to pick a fight. I told my boys to keep away from them - losers.
"At a bar in the airport, soldiers sat in their pressed uniforms with beer in one hand and women in the other. We stood there with our mouths open. What a waste of rations."
Another British officer said: "The situation is causing a major split in the Alliance, as the UK, the US and a handful of other nations are seen to be doing all the work."
And a corporal with 3 Para said: "It is an insult to the rest of us who are mixing it with the enemy at close quarters. These people should just go home. They are on the lash every night and delivering very little to the operation."
But Mark Laity, Nato's spokesman in Kabul, said comments made by British troops were "highly exaggerated", "inaccurate" and "misleading".
He added: "Alcohol is not banned and it is common to find women in Nato forces. It should therefore be no surprise that in off-duty hours, men and women mix together while sharing a drink."
British General David Richards, commander of Nato's force in Afghanistan, added: "Away from the front line, living conditions are inevitably better, although still austere.
"The troops are still separated from their families and still work long hours. So when their day's work is done it would be churlish to begrudge them a break from their duties that is as pleasant as possible. "But bad behaviour and excessive drinking will not be tolerated and are subject to disciplinary action."
By CHRISTOPHER LEAKE
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/...n_page_id=1770
Nato troops in Afghanistan are staging nightly drinking and karaoke sessions as British soldiers are dying on the front line.
Exhausted British Paras returning from four months of battles against the Taliban - while enduring meagre rations and shortages of clean water - have been 'disgusted' to find other European troops partying at Kabul International Airport, known as KIA.
The Paras have even dubbed the base "KIA Napa" after Cyprus's notorious party resort, Ayia Napa.
Most Nato troops in Kabul are not sent to the front line because their governments have refused to put their lives at risk. They protect the airport and the capital instead.
British soldiers from 3 Para Battle Group, who have seen 41 comrades die in Afghanistan since the spring, say the airport is a 'haven' for parties for Italian, Hungarian, French, German and Belgian troops.
They are held in giant tents designed to cover military aircraft, or in huge containers that are transformed into makeshift nightclubs.
One Para sergeant who stayed at the airport last week after a tour in Helmand Province said Kabul was "like something out of a Vietnam war film where everyone is oblivious to what is going on elsewhere".
He added: "The clowns at the airport had no idea of what was going on in Helmand. An Italian invited us to a party where he said there would be a lot of chicks and plenty of action, then his French mate tried to pick a fight. I told my boys to keep away from them - losers.
"At a bar in the airport, soldiers sat in their pressed uniforms with beer in one hand and women in the other. We stood there with our mouths open. What a waste of rations."
Another British officer said: "The situation is causing a major split in the Alliance, as the UK, the US and a handful of other nations are seen to be doing all the work."
And a corporal with 3 Para said: "It is an insult to the rest of us who are mixing it with the enemy at close quarters. These people should just go home. They are on the lash every night and delivering very little to the operation."
But Mark Laity, Nato's spokesman in Kabul, said comments made by British troops were "highly exaggerated", "inaccurate" and "misleading".
He added: "Alcohol is not banned and it is common to find women in Nato forces. It should therefore be no surprise that in off-duty hours, men and women mix together while sharing a drink."
British General David Richards, commander of Nato's force in Afghanistan, added: "Away from the front line, living conditions are inevitably better, although still austere.
"The troops are still separated from their families and still work long hours. So when their day's work is done it would be churlish to begrudge them a break from their duties that is as pleasant as possible. "But bad behaviour and excessive drinking will not be tolerated and are subject to disciplinary action."
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
One Para sergeant who stayed at the airport last week after a tour in Helmand Province... then his French mate tried to pick a fight. I told my boys to keep away from them - losers.
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Not only that but a frog wanting to fight? Pure fiction there if you ask me, unless he was going to break out the white flag before the first punch was thrown. Feckin' cheese eating surrender monkeys, it's no wonder I always saved taking a leak on the klassik hercs till over france. It's raining but there are no clouds in the sky, must be monkeybums we we.
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"Mission Creep"
I've said it before and I'll repeat it. NATO (including the UK) was NOT meant to be going on a Taliban bashing mission, but on a reconstruction and peace-keeping mission. It is not "NATO" troops who are in the wrong but the UK's who have allowed their mission to "creep" into the role the US was meant to perform.
Obviously this happened for the very sensible reason that the Taliban didn't do what the politicians thought/believed/hoped they would and stay out of peaceful areas (HA !) but don't blame "NATO" for the stupidity of the politicians.
I've said it before and I'll repeat it. NATO (including the UK) was NOT meant to be going on a Taliban bashing mission, but on a reconstruction and peace-keeping mission. It is not "NATO" troops who are in the wrong but the UK's who have allowed their mission to "creep" into the role the US was meant to perform.
Obviously this happened for the very sensible reason that the Taliban didn't do what the politicians thought/believed/hoped they would and stay out of peaceful areas (HA !) but don't blame "NATO" for the stupidity of the politicians.
Per my friend even as late as yesterday....talking about his time in Germany while serving in a US Army Nike Missile unit....."We learned to stay away from British Para's and Foreign Legion troops!"
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It's fairly naive to believe that anyone away from the sharp end won't be taking advantage of beer, women etc. I spent a couple of tedious mights in Kabul trying to get back to Blighty - dreadful mistake trying to get beer-fit (after 2 months off) all in one go though! I resisted the urge to grab the nearest drunk Belgian, Bulgarian, Brit, American, German.... to ask if they had any idea what was going on in Helmand - they're just doing the human nature thing?
What's Changed in Warfare?
Awright! Quit yer whinging! Name one war....any war....ever....that the REMF's did not live a good life compared to the guys standing toe to toe with the enemy?
Are the REMF's doing this in Kabul? Yes....why are you surprised? Would you ...given the opportunity? Yes!
You want to live life large....be a REMF! You want to be a soldier....then go out to the very point of the spear.
Last time I checked...when in REMF Land, Grunts did not share the sidewalks with REMFs. We would drink their beer and chase their women and engage in Recreational Boxing if invited.
MT,
As a Mr. Harry Callahan from San Franciso once said...."A Man must know his own limitations!"
Are the REMF's doing this in Kabul? Yes....why are you surprised? Would you ...given the opportunity? Yes!
You want to live life large....be a REMF! You want to be a soldier....then go out to the very point of the spear.
Last time I checked...when in REMF Land, Grunts did not share the sidewalks with REMFs. We would drink their beer and chase their women and engage in Recreational Boxing if invited.
MT,
As a Mr. Harry Callahan from San Franciso once said...."A Man must know his own limitations!"
