Post by luke6745 on Apr 20, 2011 18:36:29 GMT 12
What a beat up 
tvnz.co.nz/national-news/sas-deadly-afghan-counter-attack-revealed-4135669
SAS' deadly Afghan counter attack revealed
A secret mission by New Zealand's elite SAS troops to hunt down the insurgents responsible for the death of a New Zealand soldier has been revealed by ONE News.
Tim O'Donnell died on patrol last year but a deadly counter attack involving NZ troops has only been confirmed tonight.
Lieutenant O'Donnell was the first New Zealand soldier killed in combat in Afghanistan and the tragedy was major news in early August last year.
But action after his death has been kept secret until now.
In an astonishing admission, the government has confirmed to ONE News political editor Guyon Espiner that the SAS was involved in hunting down Taliban insurgents believed to be responsible for O'Donnell's death.
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said New Zealand was taking an active interest in the region and New Zealand forces "were involved".
It is believed 12 insurgents died during the counter-attack, which Mapp said was not a revenge killing, but was carried out "to secure the area".
"It is a war and military operations do take place," Mapp said.
O'Donnell died on patrol in north-east Bamiyan and it is believed insurgents who attacked the convoy had come in from neighbouring Baghlan province.
About two weeks later the SAS mobilised from their base in Kabul and, with American assistance, launched a counter-attack in Baghlan.
"We have our special forces to be able to undertake military operations - that is part of their overall remit," Mapp said.
O'Donnell was part of the provincial reconstruction team of about 140 New Zealand troops who do a mixture of aid work and military patrols in Bamiyan province.
"It is in the remit of the special forces to be able to undertake operations at the direction of ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and Nato and in this case, particularly to protect our people," Mapp said.
There have been claims civilians died in the counter-attack but Mapp said that has been investigated and "proven to be false".
tvnz.co.nz/national-news/sas-deadly-afghan-counter-attack-revealed-4135669
SAS' deadly Afghan counter attack revealed
A secret mission by New Zealand's elite SAS troops to hunt down the insurgents responsible for the death of a New Zealand soldier has been revealed by ONE News.
Tim O'Donnell died on patrol last year but a deadly counter attack involving NZ troops has only been confirmed tonight.
Lieutenant O'Donnell was the first New Zealand soldier killed in combat in Afghanistan and the tragedy was major news in early August last year.
But action after his death has been kept secret until now.
In an astonishing admission, the government has confirmed to ONE News political editor Guyon Espiner that the SAS was involved in hunting down Taliban insurgents believed to be responsible for O'Donnell's death.
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said New Zealand was taking an active interest in the region and New Zealand forces "were involved".
It is believed 12 insurgents died during the counter-attack, which Mapp said was not a revenge killing, but was carried out "to secure the area".
"It is a war and military operations do take place," Mapp said.
O'Donnell died on patrol in north-east Bamiyan and it is believed insurgents who attacked the convoy had come in from neighbouring Baghlan province.
About two weeks later the SAS mobilised from their base in Kabul and, with American assistance, launched a counter-attack in Baghlan.
"We have our special forces to be able to undertake military operations - that is part of their overall remit," Mapp said.
O'Donnell was part of the provincial reconstruction team of about 140 New Zealand troops who do a mixture of aid work and military patrols in Bamiyan province.
"It is in the remit of the special forces to be able to undertake operations at the direction of ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and Nato and in this case, particularly to protect our people," Mapp said.
There have been claims civilians died in the counter-attack but Mapp said that has been investigated and "proven to be false".
