Is that figure supposed to generate sympathy for the Army or is it to show their incompetence in fighting a ragtag irregular militia?
take your pick. depending upon your point of view and your personal biases.
one thing for sure
there is no expectation or demand for sympathy. its the proof of their sacrifices..
you chose to miss out the last part of my post which shows a different picture than your claim but hey I wont hold it against you for now. I will keep my fatwa in the later part of my post
what was the life expectancy of a soldier in WW1 in the tench? what was the body count of the soldiers that came out of the rafts on D day? we remember those days but we dont ask for any sympathy,
although your second part of the sentence is very patronizing and uncalled for (please dont spin your answer I am too old for that)
I will still respond anyway for the benefit of others. (sir you are too smart and know it already you just planted it I can just see your smug face right now)
COIN fight is a long and painful fight where the insurgent melds in with the population and fights a war of attrition. no defined enemy
things become much difficult when the regular military has to fight in its own land and is not in an occupied land where a Sargent walks off with his buddies enters a house executes everyone and burns their bodies (add rape too for Iraq) and his unit covers him and his mates and when word goes out gives him a slap on the wrist.). despite that we cleared tribal agencies and stepped aside for peace and democracy. not bad for a force fighting in its own country with fractions of the resources compared to what NATO achieved despite its technology & resources. (whats been the Taliban vs ANA count been regarding area of influence and control during the conflict?) apart from mowing down weddings , funerals , wood gatherers and sheep herders .. the success has been in opium bumper crops and Lithium extraction.. God of money & Capitalism be praised ( Hurrah)
our Swat operation was anything but incompetency. although our "allies" were bidding on the other side and to their bitter disappointment we didnt only clear the area but made the TTP take refuge in Kunhar and Nooristan where they are much closer to their hosts. the Afghan "rag tag militia" hasnt done that bad in Afghanistan so much so that its already recognized as a party and celebrating victory.
That backlash should tell us all that the old ways of expecting support from the people cannot be taken for granted any more.
sir, with all due respect (that is due for this sentence)
this sentence is such a fail that I think you are getting tired now.
you raped it
you molested it
you just committed blasphemy
(specially when you cut out the last bit which is contrary to your choice of words)
commonsense be praised
I have already pointed out about the radicalized society which is far more vocal than the rest that is in the perpetual struggle of bringing food on the table.
backlash was disappointing because of the spread of takfiri/ wahabism which is being spread by America's closest ally across the globe and goes beyond the scope of our involvement in Afghan Jihad.
finally,
no unlike Americans we dont take support for granted where the airport announces to stand up and give warm welcome to the troops just returning from their misadventure and massacres of civilians and prisoners from Iraq to Afghanistan