Afghan news blackout during the election.

Originally Posted by thulfi

I wonder how optimistic governments really are about 'winning' the war, whatever winning entails that is.

The Russians tried it with everything except nuclear weapons, they couldn't do it, why should a country with a fraction of the hardware, like the UK, think it can?

[yorkie_chris]

We thought we could win in 1840s, 80s and just after WW1.
Way to learn a lesson

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Id rather stand with who I thought was right than worry about if they were reds or not.Theres never been much in the way of reds in USA but it didnt prevent huge demos against the Vietnam war.Thats because thousands of young men were being killed there for no good reason.A bit like Afganistan now in fact.

What your own point of view on right is is one thing, but not when that would help people you dislike in their own agendas.
I disagree with this governments monetary policies, but that doesn't mean I will accept any socialist BS which I find even more repulsive.

depending on which accounts you believe the peace and CND movements have all been fairly left leaning, even to the point of providing intelligence to the USSR. Can't get much redder than that.

In the USA it was far more likely because of the draft than any disagreement with the war itself.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

British journalists and TV crews are to be banned from the Afghan front line once a date for the election has been set, while senior officers will be prohibited from making public speeches and talking to reporters.
MoD websites will also be “cleansed” of any “non-factual” material including anything containing troops’ opinions of the war.

Whilst I can understand the sentiment, I'm afraid this simply isn't 'news'. The period of pre-election purdah applies these rules of not engaging with the media to all public servants and all government business, which includes the military and current operations.

If the Telegragh wants to put the spin of 'media blackout' on it, then I think its a little disingenuous.

The older I get the more I see the human side. This isn't about socialists, pacifists, conservatives, or any other political grouping. It's about human guile and hubris against human suffering and human misery, of which British soldiers seem to be doing a disproportionate part.

Six young lads killed in a week.

I'm writing to Her Majesty on this terrible loss of life - and I encourage you all to do the same.

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by CoolGirl

Whilst I can understand the sentiment, I'm afraid this simply isn't 'news'.

It most certainly is, I bet you a whole pound that the great majority of people would have known precisely nothing about it.

Originally Posted by CoolGirl

If the Telegragh wants to put the spin of 'media blackout' on it, then I think its a little disingenuous.

I don't, I see it quite plainly as not wanting any negative stories while campaigning as the whole rotten business is an embarrassment to a incompetent government.

As to accusing a story about our present government of 'spin', well, am I really the only person that can see the irony it that? And even if one accepts that accusation for the sake of argument:

'As ye sow, so shall ye reap'

[Richie]

I not about winning the war, it's now about winning the "Hearts and Minds" of the local Afghans, so they trust the ISAF troops more than the insurgence so we can hand over the security of Afghanistan back to ANA or ANP like we did in Iraq not so long ago.
and that is all I'm allowed to say on this (subject to SyOps (security operating procedures)).

Brown and his homies strut the world stage while they send inadequately equipped 18 year olds into one of the most dangerous places on earth.

It's disgraceful. And then to try to hush it up - it stinks.

Originally Posted by CoolGirl

Whilst I can understand the sentiment, I'm afraid this simply isn't 'news'. The period of pre-election purdah applies these rules of not engaging with the media to all public servants and all government business, which includes the military and current operations.

+1 At my work we are under the same rules, so I don't think the bit about "senior officers will be prohibited from making public speeches and talking to reporters" is suspect. It's standard practice for every public body at every election, with the idea being that public bodies can't be used as propaganda machines. And note that the ban includes overly postive opinions/good news as well as bad.

I'm more surprised about the media not being allowed to report from there though, that seems to be tending towards a suppression of facts

I had a mate from quite a shi*tty school I used to go to between the age of 7 to 10. Anyway, we ended up being facebook friends and his statuses are most interesting.

He's a soldier whose been shipped off to Iraq. His facebook statuses so far:

"Andrew H is going to Iraq. Let's have it you sand N (this is too naughty an N word for this forum)".

"Andrew H - Iraq clearly is the ar*se hole of the world".

Tbh I kind of chuckle when I read these, as this is obviously a young soldiers way of conveying his views on Iraq and going there (perhaps lashing out in a way). Not that he is necessarily a bigot (though he could be, as you'll find bigots in all walks of life and careers), but negative statuses like that can only be the result of a soldier who probably does not believe in his cause.

All Rise for our wonderful leader