New Zealand suffers first combat death in Afghanistan
New Zealand has suffered its first combat fatality in the war in Afghanistan, the New Zealand Defense Force reported Tuesday.
The incident occurred shortly after noon Tuesday in Afghanistan's Bamiyan province, when a Provincial Reconstruction Team patrol of three New Zealand vehicles was attacked by unknown assailants, said the defense force chief in a statement.
"We believe that an improvised explosive device or IED was detonated, and then the patrol came under fire from two positions with rocket propelled grenades and other small arms fire," he said.
MORE: Home and Away: Casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq
In addition to the fatality, two other members of the patrol suffered serious, but not life-threatening, wounds, he said.
The fatality leaves New Zealand with 207 personnel in Afghanistan. New Zealand has had forces in the country for seven years.
Mr. Evan Mark if you are so concerned with righting the evil in the world, how about invading Israel and stopping the war crimes that the Israelis commit against the Palestinian people. You do realize that Israel is occupying a foreign land, right?
People, people, please also steer clear of these evil teachings.
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/news/the-king-s-torah-a-rabbinic-text-or-a-call-to-terror-1.261930
Oh My God!!! I had no idea that there were Jewish people who believed that their religion allows the murder of anyone who is not Jewish. It amazes me how we have not destroyed our species yet. But I have to caution the people placing comments that this forum is not about religious extremists but about the death of a soldier. I also am of the opinion that New Zealand is just placing its sons in harms way for no reason. They have good relations with their neighbors. it is the US that is occupying foreign lands and conducting assassinations with unmanned drones in Pakistan and who knows where else.
Remember everyone, we know very little about the realities of the evil that exists in the form of those thugs (Taliban) that try to oppress the Afghan people through keeping them desolate, poor, ignorant, and brainwashed. You talk about the US and it's propaganda and use of information, but I'm telling you that's ALL THE TALIBAN DOES TO THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN. Realize this. Realize that the Taliban is a bunch of criminals to their own people, and to the United States of America whom they helped to attack. Plain and simple.
Come on Barney, you can't be that naive. You sound like an 11 year old girl opening a history book for the first time. Have you read our own history? Have you read about slavery, the genocide of our indigenous people, about the Monroe doctrine? You are embarrassing us in front of the world with your simplistic comments.
The worse thing is were going back wards instead of going forward some more!!!
They aren't the smartest People so how do you expect them to teach the Afghanistan anything??? It does not take brains to kill yourself and other People!!! If they had any brains they be learning and taking care of them selfs and Their Country!!!
Yes, I agree, sort of what some extremist rabbis teach their congregation; that it is allowed to kill people from other religions. Same idiotic statements. People who can't think for themselves will just play follow the leader.
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/news/the-king-s-torah-a-rabbinic-text-or-a-call-to-terror-1.261930
Yes, Larry Valencia has it correct. Screw the world or history, just worry about making money and living the American way of life. I got a fat bonus just this past Christmas. What financial Crisis? War is good, it means more profits for me. The best part is that I don't have any kids for the government to send to fight in those wars you talk about. I love America.
I sure wish we could say the same...
Yeah, a ton of civilians with bombs and guns, of course there isn't an "ARMY". They are terrorist, they look like normal people until they explode and your nothing but a blanket of body parts across the ground.
Billy reminds me of the Israelis. "Oh the victims are so evil, they make us shoot them and bomb them. Even though they are just little babies and mothers, they are still guerillas. Oh woe is me. bo hoo hooo" That is what they do, they kill little babies and then blame them for their own deaths. So disgusting. I am glad you are losing the wars and your country is going bankrupt.
Some US congressmen get their news at this website. I hope you find it useful as well.
http://www.democracynow.org/
Cheers,
Here is a link that might shed some light on the Afghan war.
http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Afghan_War_Diary,_2004-2010
Cheers.
Perhaps Fox News can make fun of the New Zealand army the way they made fun of the Canadian army.
It is amazing to me that they will scorn and laugh at the NATO allies who have shed much blood along with the Americans. ( Over 150 Canadian men and women at last count )
Let our thoughts and prayers go to the brave men and women of all nations who have laid it all on the line for freedom.
My country dragged your country into a criminal war. What don't you understand about it? Canadians and Kiwis should wise up like Holland and get out. My country has become Germany of 1940, don't make the mistake of following our example.
What do You mean with, nu con self styled God? Please explain in detail.
Does anyone know why all the NATO countries are here? I know its to find terrorists but how does that happen, you gonna knock on every afghans door and ask them if there terrorists? I wonder whats in afghanistan thats worth more than all the lives that are being taken.
"Right wing, Left wing, you need an Independent body before you attach the wings."
Now they have a good reason to take Their Troops Home!!!
Where are the U.S. Congress members sons and daughters on the battlefield?
Home sleeping!!! You really don't think the be fighting there with the poor do you???
Qyite right,Larry.If the right-wing thugs in Congress had their children in the military,thet'd think twice before sticking us with this obscene war!!!
Yes, Steve is right. We must look at the big picture. The US has been in Afghanistan for almost 10 years. The Taliban has grown stronger and the US military is paying the same Taliban so it won't attack the supply trucks going to supply our military. What a joke. Our young men are dying for some fat cats in Washington, and the Afghan guerrillas and Afghan bureaucrats are getting rich off of the US tax payer.
I also do not understand why the Kiwis are there. I respect New Zealand for its stand against French Nuke testing, but they need to get out of Afghanistan. They do not have a dog in that fight.
I dont think i have ever read so much rubbish. its no wonder the situation is getting worse there when people dont even understand why we are there in the first place. whats all this right wing crap.. open your eyes and look at the big picture
Here's Evan Mark,again,taking full advantage of this person's misery to beef up support for this obnoxious war.There ought to be a law against it!!!
You said it,Bledsoe!!!
Apparently you have not read the Wikileaks papers. The US is the country that is murdering civilians and then they lies about it. http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Afghan_War_Diary,_2004-2010
Very well put,Jones.
http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Afghan_War_Diary,_2004-2010 = BLOCKED!!! Also of course the US is killing civilians you really think the US is fighting an offical army of some sort?
Apparently you don't read headlines. 🙂 Took me 20 seconds to find this. Enjoy. http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/10/report-more-women-children-killed-by-taliban/
The U.S. is definitely committing war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq and Pakistan. It would be sad to see such a nice little country like New Zealand getting classified as an assessory to war crimes.
Hey, CNN, what about reporting : " ICE Union employees: ICE Director won't let us enforce U.S. immigration laws." ..... or our you still in Obama's back pocket?
And what the heck is NZ doing in Afghanistan? I do not remember reading that planes slammed into Oakland or Christ Church. They should mind their own business and get out of Afghanistan.
Its Auckland and Christchurch get it right. And there were Kiwis who died during the 911attack
By that logic if a thug kills a citizen of New Zealand in Australia, New Zealand should invade Australia. How dumb. The 911 attacks were directed at the US not New Zealand. I also do not see why New Zealand wants to be grouped with the shady company of the US and England. I thought Kiwis were better than that.
I agree, we must support all the troops and get them back to their own borders. It is funny that people complain when they lose soldiers and yet conveniently forget that they are in someone else's country. Of course they are going to be attacked.
In either case, my condolences for the family of the NZ soldier.
I concur with "lee" and a few others: As a NZ'er living in the US, I have my opinions about the futility of these wars, but the party-defined rants tend to miss the point. No matter who you feel is responsible for the chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan, the troops (US, NZ, UK et al) deserve respect support and admiration for their courage.
E haere ra, Mate (Goodbye in Maori)
What the hell is NZ doing in Afghanistan? They were on the right track when they protested French nuclear testing in the South Pacific, and refused US nuclear vessels in their ports. Why get involved in the failed and immoral neo-con, imperialist policies of their UK and US "allies?"
That was a very stupid move on part of the New Zealanders.It appears that moral principles have become a thing of the past there,too,sadly enough.
And sadly enough,I totally agree.It's terrible how people seem to abandonning their moral principles nowadays.
Just like to point out that most Kiwi service people are there to help the locals rebuild, not to fight.
Gods speed Kiwi. We appreciate your help, and my prayers to all of your loved ones.......
I am over here and know the Kiwi's are doing a great job and are some of the nicest people I know! God Speed mate!! It has touched alot of us here beacuse they are such nice people. No matter what people say, thanks for standing with us Americans.
God bless that ANZAC, may he find his way to the next life and live there in peace forever. Thank you, solider.
It was just on TV3 news that the solider was killed by the IED and not the shooting afterwards. He wasn't special forces for the NZ SAS are stationed near Kabul. He was a regular infantry officer and was part of the PRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team). NZ has approx 140 soliders as part of the PRT in Bamiyan and they have been there since 2003. In the last two years the situation has become more dangerous for the Taliban are moving into the more remote areas where there have been no problems before such as Bamiyan. Previously Bamiyan was a good example of how the PRTs could work but now the security situation is getting worse. The NZ PRT patrols have been fired on several times in the last year especially when they patrol the north eastern part of the province. My condolences to the family of the fallen Solider he served NZ well. The New Zealand Defence force is small with only about 10000 personal (that's army, navy and airforce combined) so his loss will be felt through the whole force.
Thank you for your sacrifice of one person.
....I assume you understand the obvious difference in scale.....to put it one way, if you work it out statistically in regards to troop numbers currently present in Afghanistan, it's like Ameica losing approx 390 troops in the one day.
And anyway, one's enough isn't it?
Just incase you misread me as saying 1 Kiwi = 390 Americans....
We're a small country. When we fight in battles alongside the US, don't bash us for the scale of our sacrifice...
Save the hashish & the heck with the rest. "Party on Wayne...Party on Garth..party on alone warlord."
Colonel Zig Zag
Unfortunately no country is exempt from Terrorists, sorry for your loss New Zealand. Our thoughts go out to the family.
Mine too!!!!!
The terrorists are the same as the drug lords in Mexico. They want to run the country so they can make everyone else poor and take the profit. You are a fool if you think this is a war against the people. The terrorists want the war to continue because they have something to gain. They don't want a normal government. It all about greed. They are using religion for greed (gee not the first time that ever happened). I support Obama and US and the war because if you let a bunch of rogue governments take control there will be more kiliing. The US is not bombing cafe's and markets the terrorists are. It is a bunch of steet thugs
EVERY dead Afghani is a father, mother, son or daughter. I salute all the lives lost. Afghan lives are not worth less than American or NZ lives.
Agreed, a life is a life. Given given that this article is about a kiwi killed in action, our thoughts should be focused upon that and not side tracked with personal agendas and immature rants.
As a New Zealand citizen living in the US, I salute the soldiers in Afghanistan. These guys are SAS, special forces and I know some of the guys there.They won't name the soldier because he is in special ops. I don't support the war, but I support bravery and I support honor. The comments here are infantile and you people need to respect the men and not your own BS. Who Dares Wins. This article is about a fallen soldier, a brother, a son and a father. This country is so narrow minded it makes me wonder why people get into every issue that isn't related to this story, give the guy respect.
What is secrefice?
Did you mean sacrifice?
We must mourn ALL the senseless deaths, the Afghan children and women blown apart by my country in the middle of the night as well as the young men being sent to their physical and moral doom.
What about the poor women and children who get blown apart by their own country men who also blew OUR men and women apart. And if our defense wasnt so good they would take as many lives here as they could. The people WE (America, as well as this brave soldier and his country) are trying to get are the very same cowards that go into market places and blow eveyone up.
Will you stop with the right-wing bla-bla-bla? It gets awfully old!!!
Any terrorist, whether it be Timothy McVeight or Alquada or the gun toting Christian Fundamentalists from Waco Texas are dangerous. All child killers whether Afghan or American should be jailed.
Wow it is really incredible for you as an afgani to come to such conclusions.
I'm sure all patriotic New Zealanders around the world will be greatly saddened at the loss of one of their own. Its hard to be away from family and friends, but this young man died in the service of his country. Respect that. We mourn his death.
I not only respect the fact of his service under such harsh conditions, but also respect that more of his comrades were not harmed, considering that they were attacked with an IED, as well as RPG's and small arms. It is sad to lose him but thank God more weren't killed.
New Zealand has to get out of this criminal war in Afghanistan. Eventually the American criminals will be prosecuted, New Zealanders do not want to be bunched together with the rest of the war criminals.
Let's just hope that you're right.They do need to be brought to justice and how!
So Andrew, when your mom dies and you show sadness and respect, is that right-wing bla-bla-bla? Idiot!!
It 's very terrible. I spend four year in bamyan province and saw New Zealand army that they have worked on security, education and etc for Afghans. They have worked well. I am deeply sad about it.
Cut the right-qing bla-bla-bla,will you???
So, respect for a foreign army and regret at ther loss is "right-wing bla-bla-bla"?
Cut the right-wing bla-bla-bla,will you???
Andrew Lubin, as a left-winger myself, I have to say that you are a genuine idiot.
Attacks in bamiyan province are unusual because its home to Hazara tribe of Afghanistan who are Shia Muslims and are not part of Taleban. The foreigner troops in Bamiyan walk freely unlike other provinces.This attack shows that Talebans are taking ground there because of soft targets...
Waiting is the best option
No,it's not.Getting out of there is! We need a victory there as much as one needs a case of hemorroids!Please!!!
I completely agree with you,Air Force Strong!!!
I spent a few days with the New Zealand Army a few years ago in Christchurch, they were gracious hosts and completely professional Soldiers. I gained a lot of respect for them in those few days and I was proud to serve with them. Unfortunately war does have casualties, but I'm sorry a Kiwi had to pay the price for this ware.
Cheers mate. Nice to read....
More right-wing mumbo-jumbo!
What's your problem Andrew Lubin? What do genuine expressions of respect for a professional Army by Craig and S. Musa Mohseni have to do with right-wing mumbo-jumbo/bla-bla?
I agree with mason if clear to the point, respectful english is right wing mumbo jumbo, then what the heck frothing at the mouth garbage do you speak?
The Kiwis are brave, tough and resilient. Their contribution to the battle of Monte Cassino was exceptional.
There were Kiwis at Monte Cassini? I am impressed.
Ebonics has nothing to do with afghans!
Gee,I didn't know that.Thanks for the enlightenment.
This is terrible!
Then the government of New Zealand should stop catering to the right-wing thugs in Washington,Johndro!!!
It's not 'right wing thugs' anymore. Bush is long gone.
New Zealand is supporting the rebuilding of a country torn apart by terrorism and extremism Larry. We dodged right wing extremism by not participating in Iraq.
You say right wing thugs, and then you have US Army Forever. Huh?
To Jesse:
Despite Conservative Opinion the Military is NOT 100 percent Republican/right wing nutjob. In fact, there is more evidence to show that they are indeed the minority...
Am I the only one to question, when exactly did RPG's become small arms. The article actually said RPG's and other small arms fire.
Well, I believe if its able to be carried and used by one man alone its small arms. Not sure though.