to wonder what's so heroic about being in the British army?

[poppylongstocking]

Both my brother in laws are in the army and spend 6 months at a time away from their wife & kids in a country we are under no direct threat from fighting a war which was started on dubious grounds. They are risking their lives, yes, but I don't see it as heroic, I see it as a bit stupid to be honest. I could understand the label 'hero' if we were under direct threat and having our homes bombed as in WW2, but it's very different nowadays, aibu?

I think we would all be a lot safer if America stopped interfering in the politics of teh middle East

The German army of today has publically admitted that the German army in WWII was involved in the atrocities and that it was not just the SS. In face of overwhelming evidence (we all know how well documented Nazi atrocities were), there is just no doubt about it, they could not realistically have done anything other than admit it happened.

Guardian reader>>>>>> Pedants corner. Thank god you aren't out there if you can't even find the correct place to post here!

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have undoubtedly lead to the radicalisation of many muslims and increased the risk of terrorist acts in this country.

I don't blame the serving men and women for that, it wasn't their choice, but IMO it's naive to think otherwise.

There was no justification for the war in Iraq. Even if we are (now) supposed to believe it was done for humanitarian purpose, we really cannot pretend we've done the Iraqi people any favours.

And how many people, on both sides, have died to achieve the chaos that exists there today?

ChippingIn - I know, I know - it was a cheap shot.

Correcting people's English on MN is akin to shooting fish in a barrel.

theevildead2 - you may well be right. That said, I'd be more concerned with your moral relativism concerning German soldiers of WW2 than my pedantry, if I were you

I've no concerns at all. Thanks for your concern though

'Correcting people's English on MN is akin to shooting fish in a barrel.'

Snob!

'Correcting people's English on MN is akin to shooting fish in a barrel.'

Oooooooh, get a load of Ms clever Trousers!

wotnochocs - you may not agree with the political intent behind the wars in Afganistan/Iraq, but calling all the British Armed Forces fighting out there 'thugs' is utterly uncalled for.

On what scientific basis do you rest this analysis? And exactly how many soldiers, sailors and airmen do you know personally ?

I think the thread started off offensive and has just got worse.

Either things have been badly worded (I truly hope so) or there are some very deluded people on MN, enough to quite frankly make me flounce.

wotnochocs, I find your post's insuling and wonder how many thugs as you call them you know in the British army

I don't think everyone in the army is a thug (although I am very glad I don't live in a barrack town any more). But I don't think they are all heroes either.

It does them a disservice to demonize or sanctify them - they are people doing a job.

Back again, after getting totally het up on this thread last night when armed forces were called thickos/stupid and now I fine we have been labelled thugs words fail me. The people I have the pleasure and privilige to serve with are intelligent, compassionate and sensitive when required. Until you have walked a mile in our boots you haven't got a fucking clue. Must be nice sat in your pc ivory tower, passing judgement.

gemmummy - I couldn't agree more.

My soldiers (when I served) were an exotic mix. Some of them I wouldn't exactly want to date my sister...but would be willing to have any of them next to me on the battlefield!

I am really struggling to see how someone who has family who are out there fighting for our country can be anything but proud of them! My ex did a tour of Afghanistan while we were together and i never for one second thought he was selfish or stupid. No matter how insanely worried about him i was i couldn't have been moe proud of him and every other soldier who was out there living through the most horrific experiences!

I am utterly disgusted by this thread!

I have just realised my first post in this thread was deleted. That's a MN first for me!

Couldn't have put it any better gemmummy. well said

Can anyone explain to me how our being in Iraq and/or Afghanistan is serving our country? I am genuinely baffled by this.

How is the UK a better place for it?

tis the war against t errorism don't ya know? for those of you that are unaware, in the forces, us thick squaddies call that 'aving a larf in the face of adversaty trubble danger cryticisim bad shit.

Now this is laughable, poppylongstocking has started an other thread on this forum about people smoking week around their children bla bla bla, NOW is this not part of the reason her brother-in-laws are fighting a war in the Afghanistan to prevent our country being flooded with the drugs
You would make me laugh poppylongstocking if I wasn?t so angry at your post

Ahh Gemmummy, didnt you know. Mners are allowed to call us Serving parents or spouses stupid and thugs, but if we call them names back we get deleted....

Ya gotta love the hypocracy!

(excuse me whilst I take my thuggish stupid self back to work - personal attack, no?)

dallas, try not to start any fights on your way in won't you?

I take it you are refering to me BeerTricksPotter, yes I agree with you I am being very bad this time (don't usualy do this) but what an idiot/and down right rude poppylongstocking is being so yes I will be bad sorry if I have ofended you in anyway, but I resent our British Forces being called THUGS

So you feel that our being in Iraq has made the UK less likely to be a target for terrorism, Gemummy?