Tonights Ross Kemp on Afghanistan...

[Eric Mc]

It's better to have rules of engagement and stick to them than none at all.

[Legend83]

Carl_Spackler said:

Tony*T3 said:

sadoksevoli said:

The Londoner said:

minerva said:

I missed being shot by yards (I felt the heat of the round as it passed me). I returned fire (actively aiming shots at the enemy) and I was terrified for long periods.

Not knocking in any way but curious about this. I have noticed from both the RK films and a couple of other programmes on this war that medics are going out armed. I have possibly watched too many war films, but I have always assumed that battlefield medics do not carry weapons. Presumably the Taliban don't bother to discriminate over who they try to shoot?

Under the Geneva Convention medical personnel are allowed to carry weapons entirely for self protection as not all enemies respect the Geneva Convention.

They did say that they dont even bother painting a red cross on the MERTS chopper as it just presents a more interesting target to the taliban....

And they're not allowed to fire back if the taliban down guns and bugger off in a taxi, what a joke.

Absolutely - they are not UN fking peace-keepers, this is a war!

[Jgtv]

I have got respect for him, It would have been easy for him to go across there and just sit in the bases and do a voice over. He is putting himself in a fair amount of danger, Civilian or not IED's and mines don't discriminate.

I cannot put across how much respect I have for the lad and lasses in the Forces. If I was able to do there job I would do it. Fair play to them.

I would be very happy if old one eye turned round in the budget and stuck 5p tax on the pound as long as it all went to the forces.

[ninja-lewis]

Tony*T3 said:

sadoksevoli said:

The Londoner said:

minerva said:

I missed being shot by yards (I felt the heat of the round as it passed me). I returned fire (actively aiming shots at the enemy) and I was terrified for long periods.

Not knocking in any way but curious about this. I have noticed from both the RK films and a couple of other programmes on this war that medics are going out armed. I have possibly watched too many war films, but I have always assumed that battlefield medics do not carry weapons. Presumably the Taliban don't bother to discriminate over who they try to shoot?

Under the Geneva Convention medical personnel are allowed to carry weapons entirely for self protection as not all enemies respect the Geneva Convention.

They did say that they dont even bother painting a red cross on the MERTS chopper as it just presents a more interesting target to the taliban....

There was also talk last year of giving chaplains a side arm as a last resort.