E-mails from a guy I know in the Navy, RE: Afghanistan

[ChicagoRonin]

Further proof that the situation in the Middle East is going FUBAR, follow the e-mail correspondence below that I recently received. The main sender is a coworker who is also in the U.S. Navy.

I have deleted all names and e-mail addresses to preserve anonymity.

-----Original Message-----
From: <SENDER 2>
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 6:54 PM
Subject: Re: OOPS!!

Due to the current adminstration and Department of Defense's complete mishandling of the situation in the Middle East, the Navy is there to pick up the slack of the Army. My specific role will be mentoring and training officers in the Afghan National Army.

Talk soon...

-----Original Message-----
From: <SENDER 3>

Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:54:46 -0600 (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Re: OOPS!!


That sucks. What does the Navy do in Afghanistan since it's surrounded by land?

-----Original Message-----
>From: <SENDER 2>
>Sent: Jan 14, 2008 1:52 PM
>Subject: Re: OOPS!!
>
>Involuntarily recalled to active duty as a Naval Officer, leaving for Afghanistan in late February. Hope all is well.
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: <SENDER 1>
>
>Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:52:24
>Subject: OOPS!!
>
>
>while we are e-mailing, how are you guys?

[Lint Head]

1. What does the Navy do in Afghanistan since it's surrounded by land?

It lobs missiles and kills civilians. My nephew forward to me photos of the Navy firing rockets into Iraq and saying we were kicking their ass. I replied with explicit photos of the civilians those rockets killed and maimed and said, "This is where those rockets landed. Do you feel good now?" :dem:

[Ahpook]

5. I have quickly lost faith in ...people

I don't even know what to type. I am so fucking sick and tired.

The shit we do to each other is something i can't comprehend.

[chelaque liberal]

12. Did he respond?

[jody]

2. Iraq trained its military for millenniums, they don't need us to teach them our tactics/strategy

that don't work for us.

FUBAR :bounce:

[Igel]

9. But did they train the Afghans? n/t

[jody]

10. No, the Afghans trained themselves for the past few thousand years. n/t

[Marrah_G]

3. The Navy reserves handle all the Customs in Iraq

At all times there are 500 Navy reservists on the ground in Iraq doing what was an Army job. My brother recently led one of these Batillions, he was also an involuntary recall to active duty officer. The current group arrived there in November- I think they are a Pacific fleet group.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. I've spoken to some soldiers home from Afghanistan

It's a mess and it just keeps getting worse.

You just know Russia is having a hearty belly laugh at our expense.

[Zywiec]

6. Why is Russia laughing at our expense?

There were 14,453 Russians killed in Afghanistan
There were 469,685 sick or wounded Russians in Afghanistan
Here's what they lost in Afghanistan:
118 aircraft
333 helicopters
147 tanks
1,314 IFV/APCs
433 artillery guns and mortars
1,138 radio sets and command vehicles
510 engineering vehicles
11,369 trucks and petrol tankers

Not sure they can really laugh.

[tabasco]

7. They actually tried to control the country.

We control Kabul and a few scattered bases.

[Canuckistanian]

8. Hey, the Russians gave it their best shot

And they were a second-rate military with a first-rate troop strength. Lots of men, very little training or effective equipment. And all those Stinger-equipped mujahadeen didn't help, either.

Never forget, Afghanistan was THEIR Vietnam.

Russia isn't laughing at anyone. They're STILL nursing their wounds after Afghanistan.

[UTUSN]

11. K&R #1 n/t