Taleban in Firefight with UK Paras

So much for a 'reconstruction' role.

The Taleban stand up and fight the Paras

UK soldiers 'killed 21 Taleban'

UK soldiers have become involved in counter insurgency work
Twenty-one Taleban fighters have been killed in a clash with British soldiers in southern Afghanistan, the BBC has been told.
The six-hour battle took place in the southern province of Helmand on Sunday

.....

British commanders say it is significant that the Taleban stood and fought and that they earned the grudging respect of the parachute regiment soldiers.

news.bbc.co.uk...

They may be religious nutters but they're brave religious nutters.

They may be religious nutters but they're brave religious nutters.

There's not much bravery in knowing that you are protected by a super-god that will instantly and painlessly transport you to heaven. Where's the bravery in giving nothing up?

Were the Taliban brave when they strung up women in the soccer stadiums?

Its the paratroopers that are brave.

They've left the peace and comfort of 'Bonnie old England" for the literal wasteland that is afghanistan, to fight against religious zealots who have no compunction about killing innocent civilians and women. They've given up their safe and familiar world for a violent, dangerous, foreign, and bizzare one.

[edit on 9-6-2006 by Nygdan]

But dear Nygdan, Brave UK Paras is not news

But i haven't heard about Taleban actually staying in a fight after initial ambushes for a while...

The central asiatic peoples seem to have a different take on war than westerners. I recall during the main battle phase of the Afghan-US war that the native troops would assemble on a taliban stronghold, and then be 'paid' to let the taliban go, but also allowing the alliance to re-take the city. The taliban fighters would disperse, some would go home, others re-group, go to try to take over another city in another region, etc. Whereas in the Western culture, its 'total war'. Perhaps a carry over from the romans, who'd make a point of annhiliating an enemy, rather than merley wrecking its effectiveness.

Interesting how cultural differences can influence something as 'raw' as war.