So here it is.. messy Xmas

[bigtree]

Mirror UK
20/12/2008

A good friend whose son is on his first deployment to Afghanistan phoned me recently with a plea. He told me that in their bases on the frontline the troops can sometimes pick up TV sports broadcasts from the UK.

“They would just love the commentators to say ‘Hi’ to the guys spending Christmas fighting the Taliban and risking their lives,” he said.

Such a small thing and yet, it seems, it would mean so much.

How cut-off, how vulnerable they must feel . . .


read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/2008/12/20/so-here-it-is-messy-xmas-115875-20984714/

[riderinthestorm]

1. 6+ years into this thing, any soldier knows exactly the political and social climate

of their enlistment.

They intimately KNOW what and why people believe about their govt.'s military actions. The OP is all about a recent enlistment so I have no pity @ their social recognition.

This guy wants "attaboys" from sports commentatators??! WTF?

The whole premise of Western Civ's attack on the ME is a crapshoot, and this guy wants sports commentators to provide personal recs?

Your enlistee is SOL on that front.

[HopeFor2006]

2. Yes, but many enlist because of the opportunities promised

With the current economic situation I have no doubt enlistments will increase. The promise of a career and possible educational assistance when no other opportunities exit- I do have compassion for most of these young men and women. It is the current leaders who deserve our contempt.