Slaughter of the innocents
Thursday, 18 September 2008
LIVES of local service personnel serving in the Middle East are being put on the line as US aggression creates a new generation of young people with a 'pathological hatred' of the West, a South Antrim Assemblyman has warned.
Thomas Burns has just returned from a top secret tour of Afghanistan with 13 Assemblymen and Parliamentarians from across the UK - and he admitted last night that he has been 'deeply affected' by the catalogue of human suffering he observed.
Travelling with Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, the SDLP man saw at first hand the work of local soldiers and healthcare staff deployed to work in field hospitals in Helmand Province.
The delegation met with members of the Royal Irish Regiment and some of the 70 reservists who are members of the 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) and who have been deployed to the UK Medical Group hospital at Camp Bastion.
Though he was impressed by their compassion and professionalism, Mr Burns said he was struck by the futility of the escalating violence that has claimed thousands of lives since the 'war on terror' began back in 2001.
And he has laid the lion's share of the blame on the US, who he has accused of gauging success on the streets by the quantity of ammunition used.
But during his seven-day stay, the SDLP man discovered that behind each skirmish is an all too real human tragedy being quietly played out behind the smoke and ash of the 'shock and awe' of the Allied military machine.
“I was a bit apprehensive about heading out to Afghanistan, but it has been an amazing and emotional experience," he told the Antrim Guardian.
“Like most people I had paid very little attention to a war being fought in our names after it slipped from the front pages, but this has given me a real insight. It was a real eye opener.
“From day one it was all too clear that the Americans were running the show - and it was also clear that they were there to fight.
“While the British troops were working to win the respect of the people by putting up turbines to create electricity and provide clean water, many of their American counterparts wanted a shoot-out session.
“There was some fear, of course there was, but I got a sense that they were almost disappointed if they didn't 'engage with the enemy'.
“I saw children with terrible bullet wounds and little babies scarred and orphaned by the endless bombing raids. As a father those images hurt me deeply and will remain with me forever.
“My fear is that these are the children of Afghanistan, and they will grow up to hate the West. They will be the next generation driven to blind hate by despair.
“The Americans may have the muscle to shoot everyone who crosses their path. They may have the bombs to reduce the mountains to rubble. But, as the Russians discovered to their cost, they will not impose a military solution on these people.
“There's no point spending billions on a military operation if you can't back it up with a political solution. You can't starve, shoot and frighten these people into accepting a western style of government they neither want nor need."
During his time at the front lines, Mr Burns said the might of the Allies was quite a contrast to the poverty on the streets - and at home.
“The people living in Afghanistan live, by our standards, very primitive lives. They have very few personal belongings. Yet these are the people left to pick up the pieces after their homes are destroyed by laser-guided bombs.
“The money being spent out there is astronomical - and the Americans want to spend more. They want bigger camps, more roads, another runway. The irony, of course, is that many families in the UK and the United States are feeling the pinch in these hard times.
“Money can't be found for health care or schools but it's no object when it comes to an unpopular war on foreign soil."
Indeed, Mr Burns' experiences have increased the local rep's determination to see the troops return home.
“I want to see an endgame, with a far greater emphasis on finding a settlement. I support our service men and women, but I don't want to see more young people sent out to take part in a war where many aren't even sure what they're fighting for.
“I spoke to a lot of soldiers and medics from Northern Ireland and was amazed by their expertise. They are there to do a job, and do it well, but let's bring them home - and soon."
Michael McGimpsey heartily agreed that the local troops were 'doing the province proud'.
“It is incredible to see the reach of our health service into such a conflict-ridden country as Afghanistan," he said.
“It was a privilege to meet with all those reservists and those soldiers who are working in very difficult conditions to care for and treat those who have been injured in the conflict. I was deeply impressed by their bravery and the compassion and care they showed for all their patients."
Since they arrived in Afghanistan in June, the Ulster reservists have dealt with around 600 admissions to the field hospital and carried out almost 400 operations.
One third of those treated were Afghan civilians, a further third were Afghan police or army and the final third were coalition forces.
