# SAS skirmishing with Taliban - any news ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 23, 2001, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326 "2001-09-23T12:23:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/1 "2001-09-23T12:23:35Z")
Been getting sketchy reports for the past few hours that the SAS have been ‘engaging’ with the Taliban. Not exactly knock-me-down-with-a-feather stuff (presumably been on the ground for a few days) but as details will always be difficult to come by… are any other non-UK news sources releasing information ? - can’t help but think of those guys out there on a mountain somewhere. Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/2 "2001-09-23T13:16:39Z")
Where did you see this? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/3 "2001-09-23T13:18:03Z")
According to [http://www.bloomberg.com](http://www.bloomberg.com) British ``SAS’’ soldiers clashed with forces from Afghanistan’s Taliban regime late on Friday, though nobody was hurt, the Sunday Times reported, citing an unidentified person close to the SAS. ---
**Author:** ![panzermanpanzerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9bcb4/32.png) [@panzermanpanzerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panzermanpanzerman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/4 "2001-09-23T13:31:56Z")
\<\\> Well, I’d hesitate to print that if I were running a news service, unless there were some way I could independently verify the report. It wouldn’t surprise me if there were boots on the ground already. But why British? Not questioning their commitment–only that every good specwar team deserves a good Quick Reaction Force offshore somewhere as backup, and where is theirs? Does the UK have a carrier group of their own in the region now, too? ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/5 "2001-09-23T13:46:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panzermanpanzerman \* > \<\\> > > Well, I’d hesitate to print that if I were running a news service, unless there were some way I could independently verify the report. That’s pretty much as ‘confirmed’ as you’ll get unless something particularly bad happens. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by panzermanpanzerman \* > Does the UK have a carrier group of their own in the region now, too? Yes, there’s a Brit Carrier Group of 17-18 ships plus support vessels, total 22,000 men in, and off, the coast of Oman. Although they presumably went in via UK\>Russia\>Uzbekistan/Tajikistan \> Northern Afghan Alliance. Why the SAS ? - Colin Powell has fond memories of their ‘ways’ from the Gulf War. Plus, it’s difficult to say “No” Thanks for the link, **China Guy** ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/6 "2001-09-23T13:54:30Z")
> **[Home - BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)** > > Visit BBC News for up-to-the-minute news, breaking news, video, audio and feature stories. BBC News provides trusted World and UK news as well as local and regional perspectives. Also entertainment, business, science, technology and health news. ---
**Author:** ![panzermanpanzerman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9bcb4/32.png) [@panzermanpanzerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panzermanpanzerman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/7 "2001-09-23T14:01:39Z")
London\_Calling: I knew you Brits were cool. (I don’t care what my militant Ulster bagpipe playin’ fiddle-fingerin’ Irish friends say about yas between tunes at the seisun) What is the premier Royal Navy carrier plane? Is it still the Harrier? Anybody know how far the Harrier can operate with a combat load? Anyway, here’s to the U.K. Thanks, guys. ``` <clink> Cheers! <gulp> ``` ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/8 "2001-09-23T14:19:37Z")
BBC is saying it was a recon unit outside Kabul. Most importantly: “No casualties” Lets hope. **panzermanpanzerman** - I’m not very good on the military details but the Aircraft Carrier is HMS Illustrious (with Harriers), the Helicopter Carrier is HMS Ocean It’s obviously the first major ‘war’ since the Internet took serious hold so the management of information by Governments will be an interesting dimension. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/9 "2001-09-23T14:23:10Z")
The carrier out there has a mixed load of Royal Navy FRS.1 Sea Harriers (fighters) and RAF GR.7 Harriers (ground attack). I think there’s only half-a-dozen of each, though. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/10 "2001-09-23T14:40:16Z")
Some operational details about the Harrier can be found at [http://www.leconsulting.com/arthurhu/doc/doc923/harrier.txt](http://www.leconsulting.com/arthurhu/doc/doc923/harrier.txt) The SAS are up there with the best and hopefully can do what’s needed without getting themselves killed. The SAS are not always thought off in a very good way by some Irish due to some of the things they have been ordered to do (Gibraltar springs to mind). Only a fool however would not respect them for their abilities and courage. [Aside] **L\_C** or anybody else, have you ever read [The Feathermen](http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0747510490/readyforitcom/202-8752185-7333457) by Sir by Ranulph Fiennes? I don’t know what to make of that book. Fact or Fiction? I was thinking of starting a thread about it for a while but I don’t think too many posters on this site would have read it. Don’t want to hijack your thread but this has made me think about it again.[/aside] ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/11 "2001-09-23T14:41:27Z")
by Sir by Ranulph Fiennes :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/12 "2001-09-23T14:51:14Z")
\ No, I haven’t read it **Yojimbo**. You know, I’ve often thought of Fiennes as being a bit of an odd egg – possibly with a small dose of the Jeffrey Archer’s (fantasist cum self-publicist). Not really firmed up a view, though. Was it the premise of the book you found to be curious ? \ ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/13 "2001-09-23T15:10:29Z")
The book describes the assasination of ex-SAS men. The 2nd reveiw in the Amazon link describes it better than I could. Fiennes puts himself in the story and reports it to be a true story. If true it’s incredible, the book isn’t very well written but the assasinations are amzingly clever (the deaths of the ex-SAS men have to look like accidents). If not he out Archers Archer IMO. I 100% agree with your description of the man BTW. E-mail me your addess if you want and I’ll send you my copy of the book. You can make your own mind up. It worth reading just for the clever assasinations alone. Hijack over. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/14 "2001-09-23T15:17:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > **Why the SAS ?** Why not the best? The French and Americans may disagree who’s best and toughest, but the SAS is awful damned good. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/15 "2001-09-23T22:40:03Z")
[Here](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1559000/1559084.stm)’s an article that says it was a four man recon that drew fire and withdrew without injury. And **yojimbo** , I’ve read and wondered about that book, as well. It’s presented as fact, but it’s an incredible tale. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/16 "2001-09-23T23:43:26Z")
Thanks **beatle**. The BBC stuff started to come online around lunchtime today but, as you’d expect, there are few facts and a lot of padding. I was quite interested in the non-UK reporting but there’s not much of it around, it seems. I’d imagine, at this point, it all traces back to one, maybe two, sources anyway. One imagines things will be warming up for the recon teams not spotted by the locals. I just hope they keep their bloody heads down. Thanks all. ---
**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2001, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/17 "2001-09-23T23:49:07Z")
There were (and still are) British Forces on exercise in the Middle East at the time of the attack on the WTC - my mate is one of them. The SAS would have been on their way out to Afghanistan within 24 hours of the the attack - they don’t wait to be asked these days! They were on their way out to South Georgia and the Falklands before anyone was really sure what was happening. (Sir Peter de la Billiere’s book on his service with them tells the full story - it’s worth a read.) Once in situ they let people know they are available! Why the SAS? Because, they have a history of Middle East operations going back long before the Gulf War, although their actions there alone would be sufficient to justify the question. They are widely recognised to be the best in the world at what they do. I’ve read Feather Men too. I found it possible, but only just. It is more likely to be a work of fiction, but who knows? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/18 "2001-09-24T01:26:10Z")
Check out Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab. Story of his SAS unit behind the lines in Iraq during desert storm. A riviting book. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/19 "2001-09-24T02:06:33Z")
Jeez, this is ‘got your back’ with a vengeance (I hope). God bless the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326/20 "2001-09-24T04:06:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Iguana Boy \* > **Why the SAS? Because, they have a history of Middle East operations going back long before the Gulf War, although their actions there alone would be sufficient to justify the question. They are widely recognised to be the best in the world at what they do.** The SAS were present in Afghanistan from as early as 1980, training the Mujaheddin during the war against the former Soviet Union. They have 4 squadrons with a total fighting strength of 200, plus about 500 back-up signals, helicopter crews and other support units. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sas-skirmishing-with-taliban-any-news/83326.md?page=2)