2000th US serviceman dies in Afghanistan.

[Grandad]

The US has lost its 2000th serviceman in action in Afghanistan since the US became involved 11 years ago.

It is true that all countries with military involvement have lost personnel but the extent of the American involvement is reflected in the extent of their loss. I always feel sad when another British serviceman is lost and think of the family he has left behind.

I also have to ask how much longer this un-winnable conflict will go on? I can understand and sympathize with the sentiments of those who have lost loved ones that to pull out would be failing those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Sadly I believe that after the last combat troops are withdrawn, the Taliban will quickly take over and prove once again that military conflict will never solve the Afghan problem.

Bring them all home now I say......

[Horus]

I second that Grandad, my heart goes out to all those soldiers families who have lost a loved one, but stopping this stupidity would not be failing those that have given their lives, rather acknowledging that we value them too much to see any more of them die in a futile conflict. The country is ungovernable by any system that we in the West perceive to be democratic, Afghanistan is not our problem, if the people of Afghanistan and elsewhere do not want to live under the rule of the Taliban or any other force that oppresses them, then they must do as everyone else through history has had to do and that is to rise up against the oppressor themselves. I really do think that biggest misnomer that is applied to that region is to call it a country, it is not a country, it is a jumble of various tribal areas and alliances and as such it has no feeling of nationalism in the way we would define it.

[Grandad]

Just checked and apparently there have been 433 British servicemen lost in Afgfhanistan which is probably disproportionately high for the level of our involvement compared to the US. Most have been in that 'hell hole' of Hal-man.

Our last death was that of Marine Captain Carl Manley, 41, who reportedly died of natural causes? Whatever those natural causes were I am sure that being in that theatre and not knowing who you can trust must have an effect on even the most hardened servicemen.

Don't get the impression that I am a pacifist, I am not, and I regret that in my own short service career I did not see front line service. I do however believe that this conflict is totally pointless and repeat my words to 'Bring them home now'....

[Horus]

I am the same as you Grandad and having been in a few iffy places myself consider myself to have made my contribution, but I would now actively discourage any of my family or friends from allowing themselves to be sacrificed for this political dogma by politicians who would sell their soul and yours to get a another vote. If my family or country was threatened I would willingly take up arms to defend them, but I refuse to be part of their ill thought out plans and schemes. When I see those same politicians and their sons and daughters being killed and maimed alongside of our soldiers in support of the wars they get us into, then and only then I may reconsider.

[LovelyLadyLux]

It is really time ALL the servicemen came home. Where I'm at here in the USA there are two major US bases that have now been combined into one mega base. The tragedy of passings is a regular happening now and has severely affected families, the community and all aspects of life - AND, to me, the question is "for what?"

I can understanding fighting for your country if bombs are dropping on your own head. I can justify even going into Iraq and removing a Dictator who is committing heinous crimes against humanity BUT once that 'task' at hand is completed GET OUT and COME HOME!!

I don't think it takes an advanced degree to figure out that 'we' are NOT going to effect change in Afghanistan and NOW those Afghanistan service men 'we' have trained are turning their guns onto OUR service men. What are we there for? What are the troops accomplishing? It would be different if they were coming in as a 'welcome force' but they're not. None of what 'we' are doing in this country is appreciated and troops we are sending into Afghanistan have to be much more than soldiers. They have to be medical soldiers, teaching soldiers, doctor and nursing soldiers, social work soldiers - they're not there for combat they are there to 'rehabilitate' a populace who doesn't trust them, can't ascribe to 'our ways' and only marginally are able to accept what is offered. WHAT ARE WE DOING THERE? This question just keeps ringing through my brain when I think of the situation but then I'm biased as Afghanistan and service men touches my own family in a very very close way.