Last night, Channel 4 9pm...

[easyrider]

The ANA in the show, while I'm sure didnt reflect the best of the ANA were shockingly not up to scratch from what I saw

But it was disturbing that they said most of the ANA are Tajiks, from the north, so they're like foreigners to the Pashtuns, who are the dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan and in the Taliban. Doesn't augur well....

[DeV]

The Marines basic drills, attitude and way of fighting.... was useless at times!

[knocker]

The Marines basic drills, attitude and way of fighting.... was useless at times!

Dev

Unless you have been in similar situation how about you keep your "combat experience" to yourself or better still stick to the assessments discussion

[knocker]

But it was disturbing that they said most of the ANA are Tajiks, from the north, so they're like foreigners to the Pashtuns, who are the dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan and in the Taliban. Doesn't augur well....

2 ways of looking at it - they are out of area so while they do not have the local knowledge or tribal connections it means that they are not gonna be leaned on and the levels of corruption compared with the ANP will be greatly reduced

[DeV]

Dev

Unless you have been in similar situation how about you keep your "combat experience" to yourself or better still stick to the assessments discussion

For example:
No interpreter (but couple of thousand dollars) for father who's child was killed by accident

"Ambushed" even though they were clearing an area of enemy

Not taking cover - standing on an embankment firing at the enemy

etc etc

[knocker]

For example:
No interpreter (but couple of thousand dollars) for father who's child was killed by accident

"Ambushed" even though they were clearing an area of enemy

Not taking cover - standing on an embankment firing at the enemy

etc etc

Interpreters like any other specialist are always in demand - not always there when needed

The money you mentioned is from a set of payment guidelines to deal with eventualities including the deaths of innocent locals

They were moving into an area to clear it of Taliban - the ground was not of their choosing , the Taliban knew it well so of course there would be opportunities to set an " ambush "

Two points to consider before you start comparing their skills to your times in the Glen

1 The footage was from a camera mans perspective
2 The footage was then passed to an editor who then had his input - showing the marines in whatever light he saw fitting

Etc etc

[Barry]

It's up on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p59YbljhDU&feature=hp_SLN&list=SL&has_verified=1