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May 26, 2012
Two Swedes killed in Afghanistan
Published: 7 Feb 10 16:33 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/24844/20100207/
Two Swedish military officers and a local interpreter were killed on Sunday when their unit came under fire west of Mazar-e Sharif in Afghanistan.
- Lack of doctors for troops in Afghanistan (18 Nov 09)
- Injured soldiers back on Swedish soil (13 Nov 09)
- Swedish soldiers 'unstable' after Afghanistan explosion (12 Nov 09)
The Swedish officers, a captain and a lieutenant, and the interpreter were killed in an ambush 40-50 kilometres west of the Swedish army base, in an area where Swedish and Finnish peace-keepers confiscated 70 kilogrammes of narcotics and a quantity of explosives earlier in the week.
It was also the same area in which five Swedish soldiers were injured in a roadside bomb explosion in November.
Swedish forces have been operating in Afghanistan since 2002.
The Swedish ISAF-led force (FS18) is based in Mazar-e Sharif, 400 kilometres northwest of Kabul.
ISAF is a NATO-led security and development mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council in 2001. The base is home to Swedish and Finnish peacekeeping forces.
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People were killed while carrying out there duty, have some respect.
I have known a a few people who have done tours out there. I have seen the worry on there families faces when they go and the relief when they come back. Try putting yourself in there shoes.
They have lost loved ones. It is far from a subject for a balanced mind to make jokes about.
innocent people shouldn't pay for "politicians' mistakes"
Sweden needs to either bring in some firepower to patrol their AOR or at least defensive capabilities to ensure they won't get boxed in or no room to manuever in regard to insurgent activity. Special Forces could definitely help.
I read the Norwegians and Germans increasing troops in the North and the US is set to send a few thousand soon.
They have all my respect. In the unforgettable words of Michael Moore, which give tears in my eyes at this moment: " "They serve so that we don't have to. They offer to give up their lives so that we can be free. It is, remarkably, their gift to us. And all they ask for in return is that we never send them into harm's way unless it is absolutely necessary. "
Today they have killed Afghan and Swedes next day Swed Army would kill another day Taliban would kill. Until when?
I am really sad now to see an Afghan translator and Swedes lost their life and I hope they stay always in their Base and not go out, Afghanistan has became so dangerous recently. I hope all of them come back to Sweden safe and sound.
They have been killed by narcotics dealers or Taliban? I did not get that if by Taliban then Mazar e Sharif is no longer safe place. Swedes should come back.
The Taliban are heroin dealers. That is who they are funded in Afghanisatan.
Most of what Michale Moore produces is very forgettable.
Don't know about you, but to me removing regime that gives safe haven to the terrorist organization to plan and a train for terrorist attacks on other nations is as close to absolutely necessary as anything is ever likely to get.
I am really sad now. I have so much tonight to do but i am here.
I am sure every Scandinavian would be upset today for two life of Swede-afghan translator) and the poor Afghans who are being bombed by both sides (NATO-Taliban) everyday and losing family members every hour. How it is sad to loss family members you will notice when you loss someone.
Business companies which sell weapons /Oil benefits only from this war and politician takes their share. We should not be fooled and If we want to bring democracy to a Country we should not send troops f16, B52 to bomb mostly civilians. At least not in Afghanistan. History says nobody has won the war . then why people do not understand this?
We can bring democracy by respecting the people cultures and tradition and educate them if they do wrong. I am sure every culture has good and bad in it.
Education is more important . when you are educated you would respect women , old young and we need to educate them . not to invade or look into their oils or resources. it would result the collapse of NATO at the end.
War on terrorism has destroyed Afghanistan, Iraq and worsen Pakistan. It would have been a lot better to attack selected targets instead of launching a full scale war (which has resulted in death of more than a million people and has failed to achieve any of its goals (protect few hundred lives) ).
Man, you said it!
Just about wining the war there, you must understand this was could be over only if allies decide to wage a total war. "In war, moderation is madness"
But the NATO can t do that, and this is a good thing. Neither soviets hadn t tried the total war there.
About the soldiers, may God rest their brave souls!
Q1) What else were you expecting when you engage our kids in a War which is not ours?
Q2) Which logic are you using to defend the idea of putting outsiders in Afghani's land?
Q3) Why we are being used like shoes by the US ?
On a serious note! Sending people with medicine to others' land is way better, safer, and more respected than sending them with guns...
And the idea about outsiders is that if they attack you - you attack them back and bring in your allies, but being civilized, you cannot just leave them hanging there after the attack.
They should have been bombed and left alone trying to get up from the mud...
Shut the fuc up and stop trolling like a jester!
I can't recall any of your comments didn't make me puke.
-Does your sick comments as your sick personality will get back our two kids to their home among the people who they loved and loved by?
-Does your sick comments as your sick personality will speak out when we vote out any politician supports the idea of sending our kids out to be killed?
let us remember those families in our hearts, let us support them with our compassion, let us today forget polotics and stand with them as One, and let us pray to whatever God we believe in, that these men's souls rest in peace.
i am tired with this farce about never being able to win a war in Afghanistan. Google Maharaja ranjit Singh and you will realize they did rule over the pashtun tribes.
Besides the Russian campaign was a failure because the jihadis were supported by American technology , saudi money and pakistani intelligence. Now they just have opium cash and some radical recruits this war can be won if fought the right way.
There is no reason to be monkeying around in these peoples country. Many make fun of these people because they are living more primatively, calling them cave-dwellers or because they suppress their women but why should it matter to anyone but them. It certainly does not matter to these dead soldiers. I don't care what anyone says…it is a complete waste of time to send good men to die in some hell hole.
Some of you are touting causes that you may think you have some idea about what you are talking about but mostly you are full of hot air. Parrots trumpeting the latest propaganda. Kool aid drinking fools. Where is it going to stop? Are we going to participate in the war machines next adventure…in Iran? Wake up people.
Uncle...you are a complete idiot and what a jerk! Right on Nordic Prince.
Ferozpur and Benraph...go on, keep your heads buried in the sand. Maybe you will wake up in a Utopia tomorrow.
You see, a challenged person like you cannot decide on whether to love and cherish little innocent afghanis and withdraw from there or actually stay there and give them food and medicine... Because it is the ONE or the OTHER. Not BOTH. Therefore your arguments are as infantile as an argument of a 3 y/o.
The fact is that I am right is proved by governments that do not just pull out, like you, kids, suggest, but actually risk the soldiers in order to attempt to save an entire nation there.
But you know what? We actually agree (you missed it while spitting on the screen and trying to write with shaking hands).
I would like to pull out also. The difference is that you think that if the west pulls out - the life of afghanis will become sugar, while I realize that Taliban will first hang a few hundred thousand and then continue it's horrible rule! I just do not think that it is west's problem.
Sweden has around 500 or so troops. Not enough for their area so hopefully the US or Germany or Norway either send troops or trained Afghans to aid them.
To the poster who said it's best for Swedish troops to remain in their base? That is the worse thing. The Taliban would spread unchecked and eventually box the Swedes in.
I think it's a brave thing what Sweden is doing since it's not a NATO nation but it has to be realistic about the situation. This is war. If the people don't want it, speak your mind and let it be known. Don't just ignore the mission cause it's serious.
These Swedes and Afgans gave their todays for the Freedom and safety of our Tommorows. Them and alot of Brits, Canadians, Germans, Danes, French, Ghurkas, Americans and too many others. Maybe if your country has one we could all take a moment to reflect on them.
Who are you thinking of?
To all of you gungho war mongers...manup. Enlist...and if you cannot, make sure that your children enlist, OK? There, that should cure your big mouths.
Come join the Peace Train. Peace to all.
And not involved in Korea.. Who cares that South Koreans would become just Koreans and starve like the N. Koreans do? And Kuwait should not have been saved.. Who cares?
And Kosovo should have been allowed to be cleansed... Why endanger US soldiers?
Screw Somalis and Rhuandis. Let additional 5 million Congolese die. Let Sudan starve additional 2-3 million people!
So 3K people died in some falling buildings, so what? There are more dying in traffic per month. Let them attack without consequences. Maximum a note of protest can be submitted in the UN.
All of you peace lovers are so into Peace that you are ready to sacrifice millions for it. Worse than any war monger...
The important thing is that there is peace here, in the west..
If NATO were to leave afghanistan tomorrow, there would be killing on the likes of Cambodia three decades ago. Thousands would perish if not millions and to what effect? We have the opportunity to erase the insurgency and ensure the Afghans take charge. It requires patience. Afghans have been in constant war for the past 30 years so no wonder if it takes them a while to rebuild or come to the negotiation table. I just say to all those fed up, examine the situation 1 more time and see if you missed anything.