Gurkha ordered back to UK after beheading dead Taliban fighter

Originally posted by spy66
Not at all. But if they were told to bring home evidence and it was a high priority to do so, Planing to do that without the body would be a major part of the planning process. Remember these soldier are professionals.

Professionals always bring the right tools to get the job done professionally, not like this.

Well it was obviously not the case now was it?

He/they didn't have a camera. Who are you to judge whether or not a well known and quite frankly one of the best fighting forces on the planet were not being professional?

They closed with, engaged and killed the enemy. That's what they are trained and known for. Not photography. I don't like the war there anymore than the next guy. If we want it to end then I'd suggest that both sides of this argument get on the politicians rears and increase the heat.

Otherwise when soldiers are given a task and not provided the proper equipment to carry out said task, then that shouldn't be seen as a failure on the soldiers part.

[edit on 18-7-2010 by SLAYER69]

Originally posted by SLAYER69

Originally posted by spy66
Not at all. But if they were told to bring home evidence and it was a high priority to do so, Planing to do that without the body would be a major part of the planning process. Remember these soldier are professionals.

Professionals always bring the right tools to get the job done professionally, not like this.

Well it was obviously not the case now was it.

He/they didn't have a camera. Who are you to judge whether or not a well known and quite frankly one of the best fighting forces on the planet of not being professionals?

They closed with, engaged and killed the enemy. That's what they are trained and known for. Not photography. I don't like the war there anymore than the next guy. If we want it to end then I'd suggest that both sides of this argument get on the politicians rears and increase the heat.

Otherwise when soldiers are given a task and not provided the proper equipment to carry out said task, then that shouldn't be seen as a failure on the soldiers part. pfft.



[edit on 18-7-2010 by SLAYER69]

Right, it was poorly planed and executed by the Gurkha's. That's why the soldier was sent home. The allied forces wont have anything to do with that kind of action. No matter what honer it brings to the Gurkha unit for what he did.

Originally posted by Kram09

As another user said, we're supposed to have the moral high ground and NOT be doing the kinds of things the Taliban have allegedly done, i.e. cutting heads off.

I don't think there is a single human on planet Earth who has this fabled mythological "Moral High Ground".

Not even me, for sure.

I have never met someone who was totally moral or correct. It's impossible no one can be.

Therefore we are immoral as hell.

War? Really?

I am surprised that someone thought anyone could have a "Moral High Ground" in a War of all places.

It is a paradox.

Originally posted by spy66
Right, it was poorly planed and executed by the Gurkha's. That's why the soldier was sent home. The allied forces wont have anything to do with that kind of action. No matter what honer it brings to the Gurkha unit for what he did.

Wrong, we have no idea when the order for "ID" of the target came down. It could have been given while the battle was hot. If anything the one who gave the order should also be held accountable for not realizing the situation on the battlefield.


ETA: He improvised. He should not be held accountable.




[edit on 18-7-2010 by SLAYER69]

Originally posted by SLAYER69

Originally posted by spy66
Right, it was poorly planed and executed by the Gurkha's. That's why the soldier was sent home. The allied forces wont have anything to do with that kind of action. No matter what honer it brings to the Gurkha unit for what he did.

Wrong, we have no idea when the order for "ID" of the target came down. It could have been given while the battle was hot. If anything the one who gave the order should also be held accountable for not realizing the situation on the battlefield.


ETA: He improvised. He should not be held accountable.




[edit on 18-7-2010 by SLAYER69]

Ok lets say you are right. We dont know when the order was given. But that does not change the fact that his way of improvising got him sent home. Because that kind of improvisation is not what was demanded of him "clearly".

I bet he was briefed on that as well by his Gurkha superiors before he was sent home.

[edit on 27.06.08 by spy66]

reply to post by muzzleflash


But it wouldn't be good for the public's morale, when fighitng a war if the government just turned round and said well actually we're just as bad as them if not worse.

I don't think we have the moral high ground. I said we're "supposed" to have the moral high ground. I don't think we do and it's a joke if people think we do have some kind of moral superiortiy.

Originally posted by spy66
I bet he was briefed on that as well by his Gurkha superiors before he was sent home.

Yes yes, Elbows off the table, Don't talk with your mouth full. Oh and by the way don't take body parts off the battlefield our enemy who is trying to kill you anyway they can may get offended.

If anything I'll question this...

Were they informed that removing body parts from the field would hurt the Talibans feelings before hand?

[edit on 18-7-2010 by SLAYER69]

Originally posted by SLAYER69

Originally posted by spy66
I bet he was briefed on that as well by his Gurkha superiors before he was sent home.

Yes yes, Elbows off the table, Don't talk with your mouth full. Oh and by the way don't take body parts off the battlefield our enemy may get offended.

If anything I'll question this...

Were they informed that removing body parts from the field would hurt the Talibans feelings before hand?


[edit on 18-7-2010 by SLAYER69]

Its common knowledge my friend, The Gurkha's know more about Afghan/Taliban traditions and behaviour then most people do.

These soldiers are professionals. They are more then just educated with fighting skills.

[edit on 27.06.08 by spy66]

Originally posted by spy66
Its common knowledge my friend, The Gurkha's know more about Afghan/Taliban traditions and behaviour then most people do.

These soldiers are professionals. They are more then just educated with fighting skills.

Exactly.

I know their reputation is legendary but I highly doubt he was out there all by himself. One would have thought that somebody in his unit would have advised against such action. OR Somebody somewhere down the line?

No?
Remember they are professionals after all.

Originally posted by SLAYER69

Originally posted by spy66
Its common knowledge my friend, The Gurkha's know more about Afghan/Taliban traditions and behaviour then most people do.

These soldiers are professionals. They are more then just educated with fighting skills.

Exactly.

I know their reputation is legendary but I highly doubt he was out there all by himself. One would have thought that somebody in his unit would have advised against such action. OR Somebody somewhere down the line?

No?
Remember they are professionals after all.

I dont think he was alone and i also dont think the fire fight at the time of the beheading was as intense as told. Beheading for evidence under a intense fire fight is not your first priority.

There is a reason for the action he took. But i am not going to speculate in what it is. But for the sake of evidence no way.

Originally posted by spy66
I dont think he was alone and i also dont think the fire fight at the time of the beheading was as intense as told. Beheading for evidence under a intense fire fight is not your first priority.

It became a priority when the order came down. The Kukri is more than capable of making very quick work of a humans neck. It was designed for dismemberment a long time ago.

There is a reason for the action he took. But i am not going to speculate in what it is. But for the sake of evidence no way.

I wouldn't either, but if he had been thinking of what you and I are possibly thinking of, I personally wouldn't blame him.

But that's just me.

Originally posted by SLAYER69

Originally posted by spy66
I dont think he was alone and i also dont think the fire fight at the time of the beheading was as intense as told. Beheading for evidence under a intense fire fight is not your first priority.

It became a priority when the order came down. The Kukri is more than capable of making very quick work of a humans neck. It was designed for dismemberment a long time ago.

There is a reason for the action he took. But i am not going to speculate in what it is. But for the sake of evidence no way.

I wouldn't either, but if he had been thinking of what you and I are possibly thinking of, I personally wouldn't blame him.

But that's just me.

I bet the intense fire fight started when they saw the Gurkha soldier started to be head the man. I personally think it was a collective agreement to honer the 4 comrades killed earlier. This was all done in anger and in plain sight of the aggressors to piss them off. They beheaded the man in plain sight to give a signal of hate and no mercy.

This had nothing to do with evidence, that is just an excuse to justify the reason for a quick beheading. But the story didn't hold ground after everyone was debriefed.

When i served, We were told to keep our cool no matter what. That takes a lot of strength and a lot of hard mind work. But it's also that cool that also makes you professional worth being proud of.




[edit on 27.06.08 by spy66]

I am sure there is a really hot curry in his honour being eaten at ghurka barracks .........

Originally posted by spy66
I bet the intense fire fight started when they saw the Gurkha soldier started to be head the man. I personally think it was a collective agreement to honer the 4 comrades killed earlier. This was all done in anger and in plain sight of the aggressors to piss them off. They beheaded the man in plain sight to give a signal of hate and no mercy.

Pure speculation and conjecture on your part. There was a firefight and people died. I seriously doubt the Taliban soldier in question just pranced his way into the line of fire for the pure pleasure of it.

This had nothing to do with evidence, that is just an excuse to justify the reason for a quick beheading. But the story didn't hold ground after everyone was debriefed.

Do you have proof of this accusation or are you still speculating here?

Originally posted by SLAYER69

Originally posted by spy66
I bet the intense fire fight started when they saw the Gurkha soldier started to be head the man. I personally think it was a collective agreement to honer the 4 comrades killed earlier. This was all done in anger and in plain sight of the aggressors to piss them off. They beheaded the man in plain sight to give a signal of hate and no mercy.

Pure speculation and conjecture on your part. There was a firefight and people died. I seriously doubt the Taliban soldier in question just pranced his way into the line of fire for the pure pleasure of it.

This had nothing to do with evidence, that is just an excuse to justify the reason for a quick beheading. But the story didn't hold ground after everyone was debriefed.

Do you have proof of this accusation or are you still speculating here?

No, what i just said was nothing but pure speculation. But i dont think i am to far of. This is not the first time soldiers of this kind have tried to cover up their actions with an excuse.

And this is something new?

I think you will find that in the 50's during the Malaysian Emergency, it was not uncommon for Commonwealth Forces to relive dead communist 'Bandits' of their heads for 'verification' purposes. One National Service man told me about this requirement being dropped after complaints over the unpleasantness of a patrol having to carry heads around for days in tropical jungle conditions.

I'm a peaceful, easy going sort of bloke but the Gurhka's are a bit special, aren't they.

Originally posted by spy66
No, what i just said was nothing but pure speculation. But i dont think i am to far of. This is not the first time soldiers of this kind have tried to cover up their actions with an excuse.

Well you're offline at the moment but when you come back consider this bit of speculation....


The Taliban believing in their own propaganda of their mythical invincibility from god. Tangled with the wrong group.

The Gurkhas being Gurkhas opened a giant Can-O-Woopass on them.



[edit on 18-7-2010 by SLAYER69]

reply to post by muzzleflash


ww2history.suite101.com...

think thats why people fight in citys they make good defensive structures and you can hold out against insurmountable odds and signing something that says we wont fight in citys wouldnt do anything as alota people out there dont follow the geneva convention to the letter so its kinda moot point civilians dieing is bad either way but some people will hide behind them

Originally posted by jonny2410
Crazy. Political Correctness again.

I'm glad he did it. Those scum behead innocent aid workers so its about time they took it themselves. Shame he was dead first.

Private military contractors are not innocent aid workers. Really, how else would the world realize the insane amount of mercenaries the Americans employ in the middle east?

reply to post by SLAYER69


and if he draws his blade it must bite down on flesh and blood regardless of some of the people attacking him its in his culture and religion to honor that blade above all other things he was exoressing freedom of religion now if the gurka in question put the dudes head on his belt or on a pike it might be something diffrent but he was doing what he was told to do get id so he did his job and if he was out of ammo props to him for useing his knife shows he truly shows no fear


[edit on 18-7-2010 by KilrathiLG]