What Afghanistan is like for Green Berets

Videos »Watch videos including a special behind-the-scenes interview with the program’s producer.

Description »Learn more about this program featuring unprecedented access to the Green Berets.

Photos »View photos documenting the filmmakers’ intense embed at Firebase Cobra.

Blog »Get more details about the program at the NGC Blog.
About the Green Berets »Facts about this select group of soldiers.

Last night the National Geographic Channel gave us glimpse of what life is like for the Special Forces in Afghanistan. The Green Berets are trying to "win the hearts and minds" as well as kill the "bad guys" as they face IEDs and ambushes.

Many serving in Afghanistan, no matter what country's flag they serve under, feel as if Afghanistan is the forgotten war. Can you blame them? All the attention, the bulk of the money, equipment and force levels from the US rest on the occupation of Iraq. While American forces risk their lives in Iraq, the Coalition falls apart, the Iraqi continue to suffer instead of fighting back. When they do take on the security of their own country, they are involved with sectarian revenge. This was all known in advance. The "planners" knew exactly what the outcome of the invasion would be. You need only look back at the history following the end of engagement in Iraq to know this is a fact. In all of this, the primary goal of defeating the Taliban and capturing or killing Al-Qaeda, is failing. Afghanistan is the forgotten war for the American people, but not the nations within NATO.

(August 2007)
Afghan security forces:
~5,820 killed
~5,000 wounded
725 captured
Northern Alliance:
~200 killed[5][6][7]
Coalition:
730 killed
(US:466, UK: 83, Canada:73, Others: 110[8])
1,693 wounded (US 1,472, Canada 270+, UK 131, Other 100+ [9])
'Contractors
83 KIA
2,428 WIA[10]


International support
Further information: Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan: Allies, Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006, and Afghanistan War order of battle
The first wave of attacks were carried out solely by American and British forces. Since the initial invasion period, these forces were augmented by troops and aircraft from Australia, Canada, Spain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway amongst others. In 2006, there were about 33,000 troops in Afghanistan.


The International Security Assistance Force
Main article: International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is an international stabilization force authorized by the United Nations Security Council on December 20, 2001. As of 5 October 2006, ISAF was consisting of about 32,000 personnel of 34 nations. [57]

On July 31, 2006, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force assumed command of the south of the country, and by October 5, 2006, also of the east Afghanistan.

for more go here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_(2001%E2%80%93present)

The other nations are sending more into Afghanistan while they are pulling forces out of Iraq. With the US, it is the other way around. Many of the forces serving today have done tours in both occupations.

If you are ever going to understand why there are so many with PTSD involved in the occupations of these nations, you need to watch programs like this.

The National Georgraphic Channel did not do a a recreation of the events. The film crew was imbedded. The interviews and coverage of a couple of days covering Camp Cobra were originally supposed to last ten days. Following an attack at night, the assignment ended. Go to the links to learn more and then maybe you will understand why there are so many with PTSD, not just from right here in America, but in all nations within the Coalition. This was the deadliest year in Afghanistan as well as in Iraq. If you think we've seen the worst of PTSD, you need to know why this is just the beginning of what is coming. Both occupations are ongoing. Both occupations are producing deaths as well as wounded solders and the numbers of "post conflict" wounds will only rise. We cannot even begin to take care of the wounded we already have.

This nation has to mobilize behind the wounded and the families of the fallen. While Washington has their battle of words, they have their battles of life or death. They should not have to come home and face fighting Washington to have their wounds taken care of.
Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com