At Kandahar Airfield, Rocket Attacks Part Of Life -- CTV News
The Canadian Press
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Sirens announcing Taliban rocket attacks have sent thousands of soldiers and civilians at the headquarters of Canada's Afghan mission scurrying to shelters six times over the past eight days.
Several injuries resulted from the recent blasts, but the officer in charge of base security says the attacks don't represent a new level of threat to the base and maintains that the hundreds of rockets lobbed into Kandahar Airfield over the past three years haven't affected its operations -- or its safety.
"We are under a degree of threat," said Air Commodore Andy Fryer of Britain's Royal Air Force, in charge of base security. "But when you compare it other areas, the threat here is considerably less."
The wailing call of the rocket attack alert is a fact of life at the base.
The sirens come at any time -- afternoon, evening or the small hours of the morning. When they do, everyone is expected to seek shelter until the Joint Defence Operations Centre gives the OK.
"This is the J-DOC," boom loudspeakers everywhere on the base. "All clear. All clear."
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My Comment: What a way to live. Unfortunately, there will come a day when a rocket attack will be lucky and there will be a great loss of life.
2 comments:
The above comment makes a good point.
I agree that it is surprising that sophisticated antiaircraft missiles have not been introduced into the battlefield.
I think the problem is that much of this equipment is traceable. If the Pakistanis, Iranians, Russians, or Chinese start supplying weapons there will be hell to pay.
Russia and China are now dependent on Western business relations to flourish. Pakistan receives billions in aid from the U.S., and if the Iranians start supplying their weapons, the Russians will probably cut them off. In addition, the Americans will start to mess around in Iran's internal affairs big time as pay back.
The Taliban .... if they get these missiles .... will be on the black market, and they probably will be American.
People stationed at Kandahar Air Field ARE in constant danger. I cannot identify myself as the Australian government wants this covered up. Australia has 75 or more R.A.A.F. personnel at Kandahar Air Field operating the radar. The official R.A.A.F. spiel is they are in a 'safe compound' and there is no danger. During attacks, those not on duty must take cover, but those on duty stay at their posts. The sirens do not sound until the first rocket has already hit the ground. How good is that? A friend of my son or daughter (I fear being identified and harassed over this) had a rocket explode 3 metres in front of him while he was walking on the base. There have been several injuries in the past. The Aussie accommodation tent was hit by a rocket but by chance no-one was in there at the time. These airmen and women ARE very brave and will suffer PTSD in future years. In my opinion if you are being attacked and you are carrying a Steyr to defend yourself then you are on the front line.
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