Cheetah
Deity
Norwegian soldiers in Afghanistan are getting emotionally involved in a war that was only supposed to be political...
This is Norwegian news, but I'll try to give you the important story points:
A new Norwegian magazine for guys, called Alfa, is supposed to be launched this Friday.
One of the big stories in this release version is reports from and interviews with Norwegian soldiers fighting in Afghanistan. Because Norway is such a huge peace-nation (nobody mention that we're one of the world's greatest weapons exporters per capita), the government was very careful about where Norwegian forces are operating (dead soldiers from a Not-A-Real-War-war isn't good for the polls):
Basically, we've been in the more peaceful areas of Afghanistan while Americans and other have been dealing with the tougher parts (Norwegian special forces excluded, from what I can gather they're all over the place). Of course, these political limitations has been annoying for the NATO commanders who can't fully utilise the Norwegian forces where they are most needed. However, the situation has slowly changed and Norwegian forces now have a tougher job than they had a year of two ago.
Now, Norway does have conscription, but the soldiers in Afghanistan are purely professional. Most of them enlisted after their conscription period ended, and are now serving in the only professional part of the army, Telemark Battalion.
From the interviews, several of the soldiers give statements that is shocking to our politicians and several top-members of the Norwegian military. Personally, I'm not exactly surprised, I see it more as something inevitable when one sends young men to fight in a war, or possibly also the type of people who do enlist to go to war. Selected quotes from the interviews:
The headline reads: "Norwegian soldiers about killing in Afghanistan: Fighting [war] is better than sex.
The article also tells that many of the soldiers have adopted an unofficial emblem of a skull and crossbones, that they decorate their uniforms and vehicles with.
Now lots of politicians, generals, psychologists and others are running each other down to criticise these statements, which they find surprising, unacceptable, shockingly brutal, a danger for fellow soldiers and a disregard for human life. And they're surely going to deal with it.
Because of the criticism, the editor of Alfa has decided to defend the soldiers:
Keep in mind that these are only statements and thoughts made by the soldiers. There are no reports that these soldiers have attacked civilians or otherwise done anything illegal.
Personally, I think people who didn't expect soldiers in Afghanistan to think in these ways are deluded. I don't think people can exist in a war zone and continuously think "killing is bad", "all human life is sacred", "I'm a soldier for peace"...
So once again, I'm disappointed by our cowardly politicians who refuse to admit we are in a war, who don't want to contribute soldiers to the war effort, and when they do only want them in safe areas, think that Norwegian soldiers should think and act like Sunday-school teachers and who seem to be unable to grasp how the reality really is.
Thoughts?
Oh, and a fun tidbit at the end:
Mods: I'm sorry for tripping the auto-censor. But I felt it was correct to have the actual quotes presented. The equivalent Norwegian words were used in the actual magazine and the newspaper articles.
This is Norwegian news, but I'll try to give you the important story points:
A new Norwegian magazine for guys, called Alfa, is supposed to be launched this Friday.
One of the big stories in this release version is reports from and interviews with Norwegian soldiers fighting in Afghanistan. Because Norway is such a huge peace-nation (nobody mention that we're one of the world's greatest weapons exporters per capita), the government was very careful about where Norwegian forces are operating (dead soldiers from a Not-A-Real-War-war isn't good for the polls):
Basically, we've been in the more peaceful areas of Afghanistan while Americans and other have been dealing with the tougher parts (Norwegian special forces excluded, from what I can gather they're all over the place). Of course, these political limitations has been annoying for the NATO commanders who can't fully utilise the Norwegian forces where they are most needed. However, the situation has slowly changed and Norwegian forces now have a tougher job than they had a year of two ago.
Now, Norway does have conscription, but the soldiers in Afghanistan are purely professional. Most of them enlisted after their conscription period ended, and are now serving in the only professional part of the army, Telemark Battalion.
From the interviews, several of the soldiers give statements that is shocking to our politicians and several top-members of the Norwegian military. Personally, I'm not exactly surprised, I see it more as something inevitable when one sends young men to fight in a war, or possibly also the type of people who do enlist to go to war. Selected quotes from the interviews:
The headline reads: "Norwegian soldiers about killing in Afghanistan: Fighting [war] is better than sex.
Major Kristian Simonsen said:
Soldier said:To be in a fight is worth the three months withouting. Maybe it sounds silly, but it's better than to
Soldier said:
Soldier said:
The article also tells that many of the soldiers have adopted an unofficial emblem of a skull and crossbones, that they decorate their uniforms and vehicles with.
Now lots of politicians, generals, psychologists and others are running each other down to criticise these statements, which they find surprising, unacceptable, shockingly brutal, a danger for fellow soldiers and a disregard for human life. And they're surely going to deal with it.
Because of the criticism, the editor of Alfa has decided to defend the soldiers:
Magnus S. Rønningen said:
Keep in mind that these are only statements and thoughts made by the soldiers. There are no reports that these soldiers have attacked civilians or otherwise done anything illegal.
Personally, I think people who didn't expect soldiers in Afghanistan to think in these ways are deluded. I don't think people can exist in a war zone and continuously think "killing is bad", "all human life is sacred", "I'm a soldier for peace"...
So once again, I'm disappointed by our cowardly politicians who refuse to admit we are in a war, who don't want to contribute soldiers to the war effort, and when they do only want them in safe areas, think that Norwegian soldiers should think and act like Sunday-school teachers and who seem to be unable to grasp how the reality really is.
Thoughts?
Oh, and a fun tidbit at the end:
Spoiler :
Mods: I'm sorry for tripping the auto-censor. But I felt it was correct to have the actual quotes presented. The equivalent Norwegian words were used in the actual magazine and the newspaper articles.
