One British soldier killed and another Nato combatant died too, may they RIP. Of course the real miracle is that so far only two have perished, not that this would be a comfort to the families involved.
Seemingly the Talliban have scarpered but have left scores and scores of hidden explosive devices to do their bidding anonymously. The considered opinion is that this is a 'honeymoon', what an apt analogy on St Valentine's day.
Can't eat, can't sleep and bursting into tears for no reason yet again.
Heard from H and he's working very hard, knows about the operation but is trying to put it out of his mind and is very busy. R asleep upstairs, and I'm off to spend the night with my gorgeous cousin and her partner in their beautiful house in the country.
No news from or about C, thank God.
God speed and good luck to them indeed.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Day 133 Week 18
Well it's finally begun for real. The biggest operation out there ever. Four thousand British involved and they started flying them in last night. Moshtarak means together and let's hope it doesn't rip us apart.
Actually haven't slept - News 24 a mixed blessing. It keeps you informed minute by minute, hour by hour, but it's completely addictive. Fellow soldier's Mum been up all night too and wonder how many nocturnal mothers, wives and girlfriends there were keeping the digital vigil. And of course fathers, brothers and boyfriends, wonder if the masculine version of removed involvement manifests itself in the same reaction.
The prior publicity was a calculated risk to try and prevent as many civilian casualties as possible, but the 'signposting' has been controversial. Telling your enemy just exactly what you intend to do runs contrary to the usual strategy of warfare. Pre-emptive strike or 'blitzkrieg' meaning lightning-war, with the element of the totally unexpected has long been acknowledged as the most efficient method of attack. But the new policy out there is to try to build bridges with the locals and not regard them as separate from the struggle, 'hearts and minds' being the tactic to long term success. Well that's the theory.
Although, mercifully, things seem to have gone better than expected so far, it would appear that the local population have fled the battlezone along with the Talliban, so despite a larger area being secured than expected, there are no hearts and minds left to be nurtured. Panther's Claw was the last big push and although it was nominally successful, with horrendous consequences for the casualty rate, gradually the Talliban have returned to their homeland as there was no policy of maintaining stabilisation after the hostilities ceased. This time though, the ANA will step in and that should hopefully fill the gap.
The sight of the soldiers amassed in front of their commanding officer on the eve of battle, with the roll call of regiments included was the key to the tears flowing. They look so young and we expose them to such horrors.
On a lighter note it's the twenty-first party of a dearest friend's son tonight, and he's one of C's oldest and best buddies so will go along to wish him well on the symbolic entrance to his adult life, and toast absent friends.
Can't decide whether to go for a walk or snuggle up for snooze this afternoon. Do I sound old? Probably, but it's the fall out from watching TV all night.
A poor athlete from Georgia was killed in a training session prior to the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics yesterday RIP, but after much soul-searching the luge event will go ahead in his honour. Who would have thought that he would be the headline death today, the twist of cruelty which fate imparts just goes to show you never really know.
R just arrived home afterall, and she looks very tired. Not heard from H but am about to e-mail him. Phone welded to my side but somehow think C may not be able to ring home today.
God bless them all.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum
Actually haven't slept - News 24 a mixed blessing. It keeps you informed minute by minute, hour by hour, but it's completely addictive. Fellow soldier's Mum been up all night too and wonder how many nocturnal mothers, wives and girlfriends there were keeping the digital vigil. And of course fathers, brothers and boyfriends, wonder if the masculine version of removed involvement manifests itself in the same reaction.
The prior publicity was a calculated risk to try and prevent as many civilian casualties as possible, but the 'signposting' has been controversial. Telling your enemy just exactly what you intend to do runs contrary to the usual strategy of warfare. Pre-emptive strike or 'blitzkrieg' meaning lightning-war, with the element of the totally unexpected has long been acknowledged as the most efficient method of attack. But the new policy out there is to try to build bridges with the locals and not regard them as separate from the struggle, 'hearts and minds' being the tactic to long term success. Well that's the theory.
Although, mercifully, things seem to have gone better than expected so far, it would appear that the local population have fled the battlezone along with the Talliban, so despite a larger area being secured than expected, there are no hearts and minds left to be nurtured. Panther's Claw was the last big push and although it was nominally successful, with horrendous consequences for the casualty rate, gradually the Talliban have returned to their homeland as there was no policy of maintaining stabilisation after the hostilities ceased. This time though, the ANA will step in and that should hopefully fill the gap.
The sight of the soldiers amassed in front of their commanding officer on the eve of battle, with the roll call of regiments included was the key to the tears flowing. They look so young and we expose them to such horrors.
On a lighter note it's the twenty-first party of a dearest friend's son tonight, and he's one of C's oldest and best buddies so will go along to wish him well on the symbolic entrance to his adult life, and toast absent friends.
Can't decide whether to go for a walk or snuggle up for snooze this afternoon. Do I sound old? Probably, but it's the fall out from watching TV all night.
A poor athlete from Georgia was killed in a training session prior to the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics yesterday RIP, but after much soul-searching the luge event will go ahead in his honour. Who would have thought that he would be the headline death today, the twist of cruelty which fate imparts just goes to show you never really know.
R just arrived home afterall, and she looks very tired. Not heard from H but am about to e-mail him. Phone welded to my side but somehow think C may not be able to ring home today.
God bless them all.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum
Friday, 12 February 2010
Day 132 Week 18
Goodness it's cold, real brass monkey's weather as they used to say up north.
Work interesting. Friday usually presents in the form of late adolescent boys who hated school and want to work in the Construction industry and are totally hacked off to find out that involves passing the equivalent of a 'C' grade at GCSE in English and Maths. Slowly you have to first convince them that with the necessary application it may well happen, and secondly that you really like them and are on their side and genuinely want them to succeed. It's surprising how many have been loathed by teachers in school and invariably reminded on a regular basis how stupid they are. They think nothing of telling you how 'thick' they are and at the end of the year one of the best aspects of the job is seeing them burst with pride when they pass what is often their very first exam.
As it's another fun-Friday am off to meet everyone in the local pub and hopefully start the weekend on a cheery note.
Not heard from H. R not coming home as a contingent from our local village are going to see her for the weekend. No news from C.
Please Lord look after my children.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x
Work interesting. Friday usually presents in the form of late adolescent boys who hated school and want to work in the Construction industry and are totally hacked off to find out that involves passing the equivalent of a 'C' grade at GCSE in English and Maths. Slowly you have to first convince them that with the necessary application it may well happen, and secondly that you really like them and are on their side and genuinely want them to succeed. It's surprising how many have been loathed by teachers in school and invariably reminded on a regular basis how stupid they are. They think nothing of telling you how 'thick' they are and at the end of the year one of the best aspects of the job is seeing them burst with pride when they pass what is often their very first exam.
As it's another fun-Friday am off to meet everyone in the local pub and hopefully start the weekend on a cheery note.
Not heard from H. R not coming home as a contingent from our local village are going to see her for the weekend. No news from C.
Please Lord look after my children.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Day 131 Week 18
Yet another soldier killed. This one from the Coldstream Guards RIP. A few weeks ago my dear friend and I were in Windsor and there was a group of them collecting for Help for Heroes, and we chatted to them and they told us they were due to go out in a couple of weeks. Oh Lord, hope it wasn't one of them, but then by wishing that I'm passing the loss onto a different group of people just like us. That's four taken in the last five days and apparently Moshtarak hasn't actually begun yet after all. How can we sustain such losses? How will this end?
Fellow soldier's Mum really fraught too and we just keep sending each other messages of support, and then last night Another soldier's Mum called and she's constantly hoping and praying for a safe return for C, and her boy goes back out in October. During his last stint when he came home on his leave he also told his mother he didn't want to go back, and how nobody knows why we're there. He said it's not a war that follows the accepted rules in that the Talliban and insurgents, in their everyday dress with their absence of uniform look just like the local population. That must explain all the accidental killing of innocents.
If C returns home safely and I remain sane then the Guardian Angels really will have been working overtime. Just hope they keep putting in the extra hours, not for me, just for him.
I see on the news that the former US Congressman Charlie Wilson has died aged 76. He was a vociferous campaigner during the seventies and eighties against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and working on the assumption that 'my enemy's enemy is my friend', he went on to raise thousands and thousands of dollars to fund covert operations to support what was then the Mujahadeen in their fight against Communism. The Mujahadeen were embryonic and in the years since then evolved into a much more effective force, now known as the Talliban.
What goes around comes around.
Work was really good, apart from the fact I cocked up one of my registers and failed to notice I was dealing with the correct day but in the month of September, not January. Then had an axious young student who couldn't complete her assessment so had the privilege of having the most relaxing facial imaginable. Came home and as it was still sunny if not bitterly cold went for a walk around our village, and mulled over the roller coaster of a ride that the last fourteen years of single-parent life have been.
Heard from H and he's fine. Not heard from R but think she could be home this weekend. And no news from C, which is to be expected so long as everything is OK.
Please look after them Lord.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x
Fellow soldier's Mum really fraught too and we just keep sending each other messages of support, and then last night Another soldier's Mum called and she's constantly hoping and praying for a safe return for C, and her boy goes back out in October. During his last stint when he came home on his leave he also told his mother he didn't want to go back, and how nobody knows why we're there. He said it's not a war that follows the accepted rules in that the Talliban and insurgents, in their everyday dress with their absence of uniform look just like the local population. That must explain all the accidental killing of innocents.
If C returns home safely and I remain sane then the Guardian Angels really will have been working overtime. Just hope they keep putting in the extra hours, not for me, just for him.
I see on the news that the former US Congressman Charlie Wilson has died aged 76. He was a vociferous campaigner during the seventies and eighties against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and working on the assumption that 'my enemy's enemy is my friend', he went on to raise thousands and thousands of dollars to fund covert operations to support what was then the Mujahadeen in their fight against Communism. The Mujahadeen were embryonic and in the years since then evolved into a much more effective force, now known as the Talliban.
What goes around comes around.
Work was really good, apart from the fact I cocked up one of my registers and failed to notice I was dealing with the correct day but in the month of September, not January. Then had an axious young student who couldn't complete her assessment so had the privilege of having the most relaxing facial imaginable. Came home and as it was still sunny if not bitterly cold went for a walk around our village, and mulled over the roller coaster of a ride that the last fourteen years of single-parent life have been.
Heard from H and he's fine. Not heard from R but think she could be home this weekend. And no news from C, which is to be expected so long as everything is OK.
Please look after them Lord.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Day 130 Week 18
The government has improved the levels of compensation to be paid to the injured and they have also ordered another thirty beds to be installed at the rehabilitation unit for amputees in Surrey. This is to cope with the ever increasing numbers. Two hundred and fifty six have now been killed and just over five hundred have been seriously wounded and heaven only knows the figures for those harmed less brutally. The field hospital at Camp Bastion is working to capacity and the impact has been felt with hospitals at home beginning to struggle with the logistics of it all.
Heard someone on the radio saying that one of our areas of weakness is that we don't plan ahead sufficiently and that many crucial decisions are taken in a knee-jerk reaction rather than a measured analysis of what is really required. Also because of time-lapse between procurement and deployment, it often transpires that the wrong choice was made anyway. Hence no helicopters, shortage of hospital beds, personnel stretched beyond limits (and let's not forget initially fighting on two fronts and we know what happened to Napoleon and Hitler when they tried that one), lack of equipment, transportation shortcomings, funding difficulties, unexpected credit crunch adding to aforementioned lack of funding, hence the whole bloody can of worms.
Work was good, am really glad to be back in the thick of it and it's a tremendous source of distraction and support at the moment. Cannot put Afghanistan out of my mind for a second and heard from fellow soldier's Mum and she thinks she's going round the twist with it all. Would appear the dreaded big push is underway.
Heard from H and my e-mails are mysteriously identified as junk and consequently he now calls me 'spam'. Not heard from R, but hope she's OK as we are expecting more of the white stuff. Not heard from C, and just wishing a praying all's OK there.
Got a headache, but suppose that means I'm a very lucky person compared with what some people are going through just now.
Keep going please Lord.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x
Heard someone on the radio saying that one of our areas of weakness is that we don't plan ahead sufficiently and that many crucial decisions are taken in a knee-jerk reaction rather than a measured analysis of what is really required. Also because of time-lapse between procurement and deployment, it often transpires that the wrong choice was made anyway. Hence no helicopters, shortage of hospital beds, personnel stretched beyond limits (and let's not forget initially fighting on two fronts and we know what happened to Napoleon and Hitler when they tried that one), lack of equipment, transportation shortcomings, funding difficulties, unexpected credit crunch adding to aforementioned lack of funding, hence the whole bloody can of worms.
Work was good, am really glad to be back in the thick of it and it's a tremendous source of distraction and support at the moment. Cannot put Afghanistan out of my mind for a second and heard from fellow soldier's Mum and she thinks she's going round the twist with it all. Would appear the dreaded big push is underway.
Heard from H and my e-mails are mysteriously identified as junk and consequently he now calls me 'spam'. Not heard from R, but hope she's OK as we are expecting more of the white stuff. Not heard from C, and just wishing a praying all's OK there.
Got a headache, but suppose that means I'm a very lucky person compared with what some people are going through just now.
Keep going please Lord.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Day 129 Week 18
Another soldier killed. This one from the Engineers. They're the ones involved in bomb disposal. Apparently he was helping clear and area when a device exploded and that was that for the poor lamb RIP. The officer in charge refused to say whether this sudden escalation implied that the Moshtarak offensive was actually underway. Apparently it means working together.
The local Afghan population are finding it almost impossible to escape the danger zone because of all the IEDs and in total it is expected fifteen thousand coalition troops will take part, of which four thousand are to be British. When I spoke to C last night he said that the push was supposed to be a hush-hush as stealth was the soldier's friend, but that this was the most open secret of all time.
This is truly horrible.
Mulling over C's call last night, and how odd it was that he should receive a message from his Regiment's HQ to ring home. To go to all that effort usually signifies some sort of urgency and so whilst am heartily pleased it's not to do with us on this occasion, as my colleagues at work pointed out maybe it was sent in error to C and the person who should have received it is completely unaware of the need to contact his family. So it was at half past eight this morning that I firstly rang Winchester and was given the number of a Major in Edinburgh, who I then explained events to. He was terribly nice, if not a little vague, but he did say he'd call Helmund immediately and sort things out. Totally surreal. Ringing Sangin was as mundane to him as it would be for us to pop to the shops.
Work been good but alas there is more threat of the white stuff in the air. There was a smattering of it this morning but the promised deluge has thankfully kept at bay.
Heard from fellow soldier's Mum and she too is paralysed with fear over the upcoming operation. How on earth did people cope during the global wars - six months (if you're very lucky) is long enough to test the sanity without it dragging on for year after year after year.
Well mystery solved. The awfully nice but not so vague Major rang back and it would transpire the children's father has contacted the Regimental Welfare people to express concern over C's condition. I said I thought he sounded tired but fine, which was to be expected under the circumstances, and the Major agreed. They are, however keeping an eye on him. Hard as it is, the homefront must hold it together for the sake of those in peril.
H sent a text saying all was fine and couldn't understand how we'd been contacted in error, but now that one's dealt with. R in good form and I'm going for a long walk after work to try and work off the adrenaline that's pumping through my agitated nervous system.
God love them and keep them safe. Please.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x
The local Afghan population are finding it almost impossible to escape the danger zone because of all the IEDs and in total it is expected fifteen thousand coalition troops will take part, of which four thousand are to be British. When I spoke to C last night he said that the push was supposed to be a hush-hush as stealth was the soldier's friend, but that this was the most open secret of all time.
This is truly horrible.
Mulling over C's call last night, and how odd it was that he should receive a message from his Regiment's HQ to ring home. To go to all that effort usually signifies some sort of urgency and so whilst am heartily pleased it's not to do with us on this occasion, as my colleagues at work pointed out maybe it was sent in error to C and the person who should have received it is completely unaware of the need to contact his family. So it was at half past eight this morning that I firstly rang Winchester and was given the number of a Major in Edinburgh, who I then explained events to. He was terribly nice, if not a little vague, but he did say he'd call Helmund immediately and sort things out. Totally surreal. Ringing Sangin was as mundane to him as it would be for us to pop to the shops.
Work been good but alas there is more threat of the white stuff in the air. There was a smattering of it this morning but the promised deluge has thankfully kept at bay.
Heard from fellow soldier's Mum and she too is paralysed with fear over the upcoming operation. How on earth did people cope during the global wars - six months (if you're very lucky) is long enough to test the sanity without it dragging on for year after year after year.
Well mystery solved. The awfully nice but not so vague Major rang back and it would transpire the children's father has contacted the Regimental Welfare people to express concern over C's condition. I said I thought he sounded tired but fine, which was to be expected under the circumstances, and the Major agreed. They are, however keeping an eye on him. Hard as it is, the homefront must hold it together for the sake of those in peril.
H sent a text saying all was fine and couldn't understand how we'd been contacted in error, but now that one's dealt with. R in good form and I'm going for a long walk after work to try and work off the adrenaline that's pumping through my agitated nervous system.
God love them and keep them safe. Please.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x
Monday, 8 February 2010
Day 128 Week 18
Two more taken on Sunday. From a Scottish regiment, may God rest their souls. As many now killed in Afghanistan as during the Falklands war.
Saw the news last night and was woken up with the same information reiterated by the calm, unruffled voice of Radio 4 this morning, it would appear the next phase is to begin. This is going to involve a big push in Southern Helmund to clear an area which at present is beyond the control of the Afghan government and lorded over by drug barons, insurgents and the Taliban. Seemingly the local population have got wind of the impending bloodshed and have abandoned their villages to goodness knows where. The officer controlling Nato forces has warned casualties will undoubtedly escalate exponentially and the Defence Secretary has prepared the homefront to expect the worst.
The ANA are spearheading operations and once 'targets' have been achieved the area will be handed over to the Afghan police force to maintain order. Well, that's the hope, because it is accepted that whilst the ANA has improved enormously, the police are another matter.
Am numb. Cannot describe the sense of utter foreboding consuming my every waking moment. The anonymity of the word 'casualties' belies a trail of destruction strewn into every nook and cranny of our very existence. Can only imagine an uninhabited wasteland of deserted structures beckoning the placement of IEDs and snipers and mines. Then if the action is successful, and the coalition succeeds with its aims, the newly gained territories will be subsequently handed over to an organisation most probably in cahoots with the very people God knows how many will have died or been maimed to remove.
It just gets worse, and worse, and worse. Can only pray, and pray and pray. We now appear to be well and truly in the land of miracle wishing.
Work was a salvation. When you have to be busy you respond accordingly and then for short bursts of time the mind is occupied by more mundane and therefore bearable thoughts.
The most incredible thing has just happened. The landline rang, and I answered it expecting it to be one of those dreary robotic advertisements and it wasn't, it was C. C never rings the house phone, he always rings my mobile but bizarrely his Regimental headquarters in Edinburgh had contacted the front line to tell him he had to ring home. Assured him all was well here, rang R and H whilst speaking to him, and just told him not to worry and that everything was fine with us back here. Am obviously now perplexed as to why this has happened and whilst being grateful to speak to him and hear his voice, it's made me uneasy.
He did tell me that everyone knows about the big push, and no parcels have got through from home because of all the equipment shifting that's going on.
Heard from fellow soldier's Mum and her boy's back and feeling tired.
Please Lord keep us strong and them safe.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x
Saw the news last night and was woken up with the same information reiterated by the calm, unruffled voice of Radio 4 this morning, it would appear the next phase is to begin. This is going to involve a big push in Southern Helmund to clear an area which at present is beyond the control of the Afghan government and lorded over by drug barons, insurgents and the Taliban. Seemingly the local population have got wind of the impending bloodshed and have abandoned their villages to goodness knows where. The officer controlling Nato forces has warned casualties will undoubtedly escalate exponentially and the Defence Secretary has prepared the homefront to expect the worst.
The ANA are spearheading operations and once 'targets' have been achieved the area will be handed over to the Afghan police force to maintain order. Well, that's the hope, because it is accepted that whilst the ANA has improved enormously, the police are another matter.
Am numb. Cannot describe the sense of utter foreboding consuming my every waking moment. The anonymity of the word 'casualties' belies a trail of destruction strewn into every nook and cranny of our very existence. Can only imagine an uninhabited wasteland of deserted structures beckoning the placement of IEDs and snipers and mines. Then if the action is successful, and the coalition succeeds with its aims, the newly gained territories will be subsequently handed over to an organisation most probably in cahoots with the very people God knows how many will have died or been maimed to remove.
It just gets worse, and worse, and worse. Can only pray, and pray and pray. We now appear to be well and truly in the land of miracle wishing.
Work was a salvation. When you have to be busy you respond accordingly and then for short bursts of time the mind is occupied by more mundane and therefore bearable thoughts.
The most incredible thing has just happened. The landline rang, and I answered it expecting it to be one of those dreary robotic advertisements and it wasn't, it was C. C never rings the house phone, he always rings my mobile but bizarrely his Regimental headquarters in Edinburgh had contacted the front line to tell him he had to ring home. Assured him all was well here, rang R and H whilst speaking to him, and just told him not to worry and that everything was fine with us back here. Am obviously now perplexed as to why this has happened and whilst being grateful to speak to him and hear his voice, it's made me uneasy.
He did tell me that everyone knows about the big push, and no parcels have got through from home because of all the equipment shifting that's going on.
Heard from fellow soldier's Mum and her boy's back and feeling tired.
Please Lord keep us strong and them safe.
Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x
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