Britain s elite commandos lack the right altitude to take on Al-Qaeda

The Sunday Times (U.K.) ^ | 03/24/2002 | John Barry

[Fish out of Water]

index bump

[Always A Marine]

"Only one thing can equip men to live and fight at altitude and that’s altitude — at least a month of it."

Amen. I have worked with 45 Commando in Norway, and they are excellent. But Barry speaks the truth as one who knows it. No unit can fight effectively at altitude until it becomes acclimatized; let's hope that CINCUSCENTCOM is listening to Barry's sage advice (which General Franks and staff should already understand well). Excellent article...

[Jeff Chandler]

I'm just a layman, and this is just a shot in the dark, but what about supplying the troops with oxygenated water?

[Jeff Chandler]

On the other hand, couldn't we just remove the mountains?

[Jeff Chandler]

At the risk of sounding heartlessly pragmatic, this could become a vast and interminable war, and the sooner they get some meaningful experience the better. Training only gets you so far. May God bless and protect them.

[blam]

"It has been suggested ( by an American ex military TV talking head) that the British troops are being brought in because they are more willing to suffer casualties than are we or more precisely our government. I hope that is not the reason and it maybe that such a calculation, if true, would backfire, costing us our best ally in this fight."

I have wondered also why our troops are being replaced. I can only guess that they are needed in other 'upcoming' battles in other countries?

[McGavin999]

The Brits are being brought in because there is going to be a major fight in the next couple of weeks. We have been slowly but surely identifying the good guys and the bad guys and we'll soon be ready to exterminate the bad guys.

I'd be willing to bet that some US Marines are going to start turning up in the next couple of weeks as well.

[Hugin]

I keep wondering, if they want mountain troops, why don't they bring in the Gurkhas?

[aimlow]

A bn of Marines are in pakistan training with pki marines.

[blam]

"...with the British doing the heavy combat gets us out of Afghanistan and spares Blair the consequences of having to be involved with Iraq."

I thought Blair had already committed 25k troops to the Iraq battle? (..or was that just a request from us?)

[blam]

A prediction:

Musarraf, in Pakistan, will be assassinated and we will eventually wind up fighting serious battles in Pakistan. It could go nuclear because it seems their atomic scientists and the ISI are in bed with the Al Qaeda/Taliban. In fact, Pakistan may come before Iraq. The purpose of the 'quiet period' right now is to let the missle manufacturers replenish the military stocks. (This conflict will get a lot more serious before it gets better)

[blam]

See my prediction in post #14.

[centurion316]

The real, secret reason that the Brits are being brought in is that while 45 Commando was training in Norway, they encountered Alien life forms who embued them with paranormal powers that the CIA have determined will be decisive in this situation. In order to maintain their cover, before deployment, they will rebadge as a unit of the Catering Corps and fry up bangers for all hands at Bagram before yomping out to round up the foe.

I know this is true, I got it from a retired SP4 who used to be Norm Swarzkopf's company clerk and is now a military analyst on CNN.

For if you lie wounded on Afghanistan's plains,

And the women come out to cut up what remains,

Jest roll to yer rifle and blow out yer brains,

And go to yer Gawd like a Soldier!

Soldier of the Queen.

[Kermit]

Why not blood-doping? It works for athletes.

[RightWhale]

I hope that doesn't happen. It could happen. In the meantime enjoy life. Take some time to watch the trees grow. Don't beat the dog today, let somebody else watch the lion.

[Travis McGee]

Amen brother. I have to believe our side knows all this and plans to bring them up to Alpine altitudes in stages over a few weeks.

[Travis McGee]

My crystal ball is cracked and cloudy. I have no clue.