Not only that but we need to consider our responses to the happenings of the past week sensibly and in a measured and balanced manner.
Last night, during a 'Padre's hour' I asked the cadets what they thought about Afghanistan and the news and attitudes they'd either had or had heard. Some of the comments that came out of our conversation were:
"Unwinnable" "Time to get out" "Lost the battle"
"If we leave we deny the value of those lives that have been lost (404 personnel!)"
What was obvious was that the US forces have certainly not helped the situation with the serial errors that are: urinating on dead Afghanistan nations, burning Korans and the murder of sixteen civillians.
So before some of those who are continually bleating about warmongers, occupation, oppression and pulling out start to sharpen their knives, let us consider the situation and our response (especially our response as Christians if the cap fits) to the situation.
What is happening in Afghanistan (with regard to the British forces, and these are the only group I feel competent to have an opinion on) is that we are giving Afghanistan nationals the opportunity to live free from fear. We are also making inroads to weakening the influence of the Taliban (or we were until the serial sadnesses) and we are training the ANA/ANP (Afghan National Army/Afghan National Police) to manage and control their own nation's security. All of which is positive and good.
I think the commissioning of the same legal eagle who represented the infamous serial killer, Ted Bundy, is a massive error for a number of reasons (including guilt ny association with Bundy. It's easy to think, "Oh yeah, John Henry Browne, the bloke who defends proven killers!")
The call for the man to be tried in Afghanistan has been ignored by having him taken out of the area and he's now on his way (I assume) to the good old US of A. His brief sums up my fears when he says:
"He's one of our boys and we have to treat him fairly . . . He has no animosity towards muslims!"
Wow, I'd hate to see what would have occurred if their had been animosity!!
Other defend the actions taken by pointing to a friend having lost a leg the day before whilst others claim he was unfit and 'didn't want to go' or was suffering 'battle fatigue'
The reality is that much ground has been lost, something clearly demonstrated by the fact that President Karza, in a strategy designed to reduce civilian deaths, has told the US to pull its troops out of village areas and let Afghan forces take the lead. The reality is that trust has been lost at all levels of the people of Afghanistan.
So, what do we do?
1. We pray for the families of those who have had their loved ones murdered,
2. We pray for those who are on the ground and seeking to do their duty (and their families),
3. We pray that the right thing would be done regarding this sad episode - I fear for the responses should the man be brought (as some reports claim) to a trial of sort in some eighteen months or so and found 'not guilty' or in some way exonerated and I am fearful that others seek his death to show that some sort of 'justice' has been seen to have been done. Justice, Mercy and Humility!
4. We pray for the comrades and family of the yet to be named soldier as it's obvious he isn't in a good place, and
5. We pray that the actions of wicked men who might use the Friday prayer to arouse and inflame passion through corrupting the Koran coms to nothing.
I've tried to keep this short and realise that there is much more that can be said but think there is enough here for people to join the dots for themselves.
Pax
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