Afghanistan 2006/07- an unpleasant scenario for British forces

Another book i read today was APACHE by Ed Macy, which detailed how, during his tour in 2006/07 in Helmand province, the Taliban had broadcasted their intention to treat a captured British serviceman by skinning him (or her) alive & recording the whole spectacle on video. Said Taliban statement was what motivated the rescue mission by Macy's Apache crew with 4 Royal Marine Commando volunteers, to recover a missing Marine during the Jugroom Fort operation (Jan 2007). Now, WI the unthinkable occurred, & this depraved scenario actually had- God forbid- happened ? How would the conduct of the war in Aghnistan, & public opinion in the UK & other Western countries, have been affected ?
 
There goes the antiwar movement, at least the Afghanistan portion.

However, I could imagine people saying Iraq was a distraction and this would not have happened if the President had been paying more attention to Afghanistan.
 
There goes the antiwar movement, at least the Afghanistan portion.

However, I could imagine people saying Iraq was a distraction and this would not have happened if the President had been paying more attention to Afghanistan.

Actually, I see the antiwar movement having the potential to increase as well. (I do think there would be a greater level of support too. Perhaps something like this would polarize the people more...)

Second, this thread has a British focus. Substitute "Prime Minister" for "President", and you may have a better idea... (Perhaps Brown does get an election...and either the Conservatives or Lib Dems win...)
 
If this incident did happen, something similar to the plot to kidnap a British solider in the UK perhaps. Then I think it would be gloves off time for the SAS. I am not suggesting they are been held back however, skinning a British soldier alive? On the internet? Any political leader, which doesn’t get fully behind a response, is going to get knocked over.

As a Brit, we like Americans have pride and faith in our armed forces. Can you imagine the kind of TV, which would be running in the UK? The tabloids? Interviews with the soldier’s wife and children? Public opinion IMO would backlash harshly against the government – Why weren’t there enough forces (and helicopters) to save this soldiers life? Does it have anything to do with Iraq? – And any political leader, which tries to make hay out of the soldier’s death. The Lib Dems under Clegg are working hard to get noticed and I think they are the most likely party in the UK to go anti war in Afghanistan eventually, however I cannot imagine them choosing to attack the government over the horrific way this soldier died.

I would think we would see, retribution in Afghanistan and perhaps have the army move into more offensive operations, despite been stretched, for political reasons. However my biggest concern would be how some elements in the UK react, we have seen those hooligans in the UK recently etc. How quickly it could spiral out of control, with some yob, taking advantage of the situation.
 
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