Military operations in Afghanistan during the election

[Mr_B]

Is anything happening out there, are all the boys and girls sitting in their camps doing nothing ? Just wondering because I've hardly heard a thing on Afghanistan in the news since the election was called.
Call me suspicious, but have they scaled back things so there's no bad news or the sight of those killed being driven through the streets of Wootton Basset, or a happy coincidence that while there was on average one soldier killed a week before the election was called, there is now a quiet period with no losses.

[HillfootsBadger]

They're in Purdah !


General Election 2010: Restrictions on Armed Forces and MOD websites
A Defence Policy and Business news article
6 Apr 10


A United Kingdom General Election is being held on 6 May 2010. Like all Government Department websites, the Ministry of Defence's websites will be subject to some restrictions during the pre-election period.


Ministry of Defence
Cabinet Office guidelines require the MOD not to publish any new content on our websites which could draw public attention away from the election campaign, call the political impartiality of the Armed Forces or the MOD into question, or give rise to criticism that public resources are being used for party political purposes.

[Taita]

Plenty of Internet access in Kaf and Bastion, it is also poppy season so things quieten down - look at past years figures.

There isn't massive op to keep fatalities secret IMO

[sadoksevoli]

The reporting from Afghanistan is largely dependent on anodyne MOD press releases or embedded reporters (no sane reporter can survive out there otherwise) - the election blackout means the former, as stated, are muted to the point of utter silence. Also bear in mind our puerile, narrow-minded, pettiness-obsessed, liberal-left media is not remotely interested in military operations unless it's having to add to the gruesome tally of deaths so far or there's some st to stir (civilian deaths, allegations of racism, torture or some other kind of discrimination). The Labour government, in its cynicism and desperation to manage all flows of information, has used sophistry and spurious argument to suppress any informaiton from Afghanistan, in order to avoid the risk of any negative news that might damage its own election chances, given what an absolute political and strategic mess they've made of it. Senior officers are not in a position to challenge this nor may they want to.
So our men and women,thousands of miles from home are probably facing some pretty hairy siutations at times, even without there being deliberate operations going on but they know they've been forgotten about by the media and most of the politicians who are going through this sham of an election. Meanwhile I don't think the Taleban obey diktats from Labour spin-doctors but seasonal lulls in activity could also be happening. Overall it's a disgrace - someone could at least be helping us remember they're there and some of what's happening.

[ninja-lewis]

Taita said:

Plenty of Internet access in Kaf and Bastion, it is also poppy season so things quieten down - look at past years figures.

There isn't massive op to keep fatalities secret IMO

April 2010: 3 Deaths
April 2009: 1 Death
April 2008: 3 Deaths
April 2007: 1 Death

Even taking into account the lower losses in earlier years, April has always been one of, if not the quietest month.

[Puggit]

Sad news which disproves any tinfoil hat theories:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Afghan...

[ben_h100]

As has already been said; it's the poppy harvesting season so Mr Taleban is busy picking poppies which he'll sell to buy more IED components.