• New Zealand has lost their first female soldier in Afgahnistan, 2 others killed
    19 replies, posted
[url]http://www.news.com.au/world/three-nz-soldiers-killed-in-afghanistan/story-fndir2ev-1226453771502[/url] [quote]NEW Zealand has lost its first female soldier in Afghanistan who was one of three killed by a roadside bomb. Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker, 26, Corporal Luke Tamatea, 31, and Private Richard Harris, 21, were killed in the northeast of Bamyan province at about 9.20am on Sunday local time, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) said. Their vehicle was the last in a convoy that was hit by a roadside bomb, northwest of Do Abe, on the road to Romero. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, AP reported. Prime Minister John Key also expressed his sorrow on learning of the deaths and added that the soldiers would have died instantly. "On behalf of New Zealanders, I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the three deceased," Mr Key said. Next of kin have been informed. "We are deeply saddened by this loss," Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Rhys Jones said. "On behalf of the entire New Zealand Defence Force, I extend my deepest sympathies to the families, colleagues and friends of the personnel involved." Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said the deaths would come as a deep shock to the nation. "My immediate thoughts are with the families of these three NZDF soldiers who lost their lives, and the wider NZDF community," he said. It was the deadliest day for New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan bringing the total number of New Zealand soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 10 since their mission began in 2003. The three deaths come just two weeks after Lance Corporals Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone were shot by Afghan insurgents near Do Abe.[/quote] Terrible. Won't be very good politically either
At least I can find solace in the fact that everyone will be out of there by 2014.
[QUOTE=SKEEA;37320306]At least I can find solace in the fact that everyone will be out of there by 2014.[/QUOTE] I wouldn't count on it.
Such a shame. Not often you see New Zealand fighting wars nowadays.
[QUOTE=wickedplayer494;37320330]Such a shame. Not often you see New Zealand fighting wars nowadays.[/QUOTE] We have a population of 4 million so I'm amazed we fight any wars at all. [editline]20th August 2012[/editline] [img_thumb]http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/552146_426231824080636_905346468_n.jpg[/img_thumb]
New Zealand teams up with Australia cause of the population iirc, we kicked ass in WW1 together
There's always a first for something, and this is an incredibly shitty first.
It seems more and more countries are allowing women to become ground combatants. I'm not sure what I think about it. Yes some of them could do the job well but when they get killed what about the effect it has on the soldiers around them? It sounds crappy to say but there is a whole different feel when a female dies in a situation like that or say a police shootout, you always feel worse.
You have my condolences New Zealand, yet more losses in this war. I'll be glad when its over. It would just be easier to use UAVs or espionage than having so many soldiers passing away while patrolling just because of a plastic bomb. Its terrible, the cost of losing a UAV is less than losing human lives.
[QUOTE=Teracotta;37321249]It seems more and more countries are allowing women to become ground combatants. I'm not sure what I think about it. Yes some of them could do the job well but when they get killed what about the effect it has on the soldiers around them? It sounds crappy to say but there is a whole different feel when a female dies in a situation like that or say a police shootout, you always feel worse.[/QUOTE] A lot of countries make no distinction between male and female combatants. Hell as far as western nations go I feel like the US is the only nation that legally forbids females from frontline infantry positions. Some countries have a policy about it, but legally?
[QUOTE=fruxodaily;37320642]New Zealand teams up with Australia cause of the population iirc, we kicked ass in WW1 together[/QUOTE] ANZAC spirit
[QUOTE=Araknid;37322400]ANZAC spirit[/QUOTE] I still love being told the story of the ANZAC's, so much brotherhood and courage in such tough times.
[QUOTE=Teracotta;37321249]It seems more and more countries are allowing women to become ground combatants. I'm not sure what I think about it. Yes some of them could do the job well but when they get killed what about the effect it has on the soldiers around them? It sounds crappy to say but there is a whole different feel when a female dies in a situation like that or say a police shootout, you always feel worse.[/QUOTE] One man plus ten women can produce ten babies. One woman plus ten men can produce one baby. So if survival of your people is the concern, women are more valuable than men. Therefore, if you must sacrifice some of your population in war, you send men. That's what it comes down to, although some countries may be so outnumbered that they really have no choice but to include women in combat roles. The US has a large enough population vs any potential enemy that women aren't a necessity in combat. That's not to say that women shouldn't have that choice, it's just to point out that we have the luxury of not being forced to do it.
[QUOTE=fruxodaily;37322436]I still love being told the story of the ANZAC's, so much brotherhood and courage in such tough times.[/QUOTE] [img]http://www.handofgod.com.au/attachments/Image/ANZAC.jpg[/img]
Lest we forget
I wish to see all forces leave the middle east and just sit aside and watch it burn. Close off the borders so they cannot leave and mess up the rest of the world.
[QUOTE=Teracotta;37321249]It seems more and more countries are allowing women to become ground combatants. I'm not sure what I think about it. Yes some of them could do the job well but when they get killed what about the effect it has on the soldiers around them? It sounds crappy to say but there is a whole different feel when a female dies in a situation like that or say a police shootout, you always feel worse.[/QUOTE] I don't see why you should, especially because these women signed up for the job. As far as the military is (or should be) concerned, a woman can shoot a rifle just as well as a man.
[QUOTE=SilverKnight;37327719]I wish to see all forces leave the middle east and just sit aside and watch it burn. Close off the borders so they cannot leave and mess up the rest of the world.[/QUOTE] The exact kind of dumbfuck attitude we don't need right now.
[QUOTE=fruxodaily;37320642]New Zealand teams up with Australia cause of the population iirc, we kicked ass in WW1 together[/QUOTE] Don't forget how in WWII they marched through a sandstorm to sneak up on the Italians in Libya, totally wrecking both their supply lines and troops located just outside Tripoli. Though it was early in the war, that battle was key to winning North Africa, since the Germans would be left to defend it on their own. Fuck yeah, ANZAC.
Many sympathy's, not often you hear about the New Zealander in the modern wars.
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