British army hails Afghanistan withdrawal as 'historic moment'

[dipsydoodle]

A hugely symbolic moment in the British involvement in Afghanistan has been was reached when forces completed their withdrawal from all but two of its bases in Helmand province, scene of some of the bloodiest fighting.

At the peak of the violence, there were 137 bases in the province. The last of the equipment was brought from of one of the biggest bases on Saturday.

British forces are due to end their combat role at the end of the year but there has been a gradual withdrawal over the last six months, largely free from publicity.

Soldiers serving in Helmand spoke of nostalgia, sentimentality and also relief. Helmand will not be missed by many of those who served there. The British death toll in Afghanistan stands at 448 since the first casualty in 2002.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/16/british-army-afghan-withdrawal-helmand

[Downwinder]

1. Lucky to get out without becoming the subject for another poem.

The Young British Soldier
by Rudyard Kipling

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-young-british-soldier/

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Isn't this like about the third time the Brits have withdrawn from Afghanistan having accomplished

nothing?

[Downwinder]

3. 1838-1842 and 1878-1880

[Jeneral2885]

4. Yes victory

which tortured the army and forced it to eventually reduce its size in the future.