Afghanistan war veterans demand apology from US
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This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. If journalism is the first draft of history, what happens if that draft is flawed? In 1999, four Russian apartment buildings were bombed, hundreds killed. But even now, we still don't know for sure who did it. It's a mystery that sparked chilling theories. I'm Helena Merriman, and in a new BBC series, I'm talking to the reporters who first covered this story. What did they miss the first time? The History Bureau, Putin and the apartment bombs.
Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service.
I'm Will Chalk, and in the early hours of Saturday, January 24th, these are our main stories. The White House has made its first comments since President Trump started a row by saying NATO troops had stayed a little off the front lines during the war in Afghanistan. The issue of territory takes centre stage at trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US in Abu Dhabi. The UN urges Tehran to end brutal repression after thousands were killed during anti-government protests.
Also in this podcast... I'm going to be freestyling Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world. No ropes, no gear, just me and the building.
Rock climber Alex Honnold is about to go sky high, but not everyone's impressed. Well, the angry reaction to Donald Trump's comments that NATO allies didn't pull their weight and stayed a little off the front line during the war in Afghanistan doesn't seem to be dying down. The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, normally treads carefully around the US president, but he called it insulting and frankly appalling. Around a third of coalition soldiers who were killed during the Afghan conflict were non-American. Mick Mulroy is a former US Marine who served in Afghanistan and Iraq and was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence during Donald Trump's first presidential term. He thinks the US should be grateful for the input of NATO allies during these conflicts.
I can say from firsthand that we saw not only the bravery and courage of our NATO allies, but the professionalism and, quite frankly, expertise, particularly of the combat forces and special operations. They were as good as we are, and we like to think that we're pretty good. I think everybody, especially in my country, should take the time to really understand the sacrifices that were made by our allies during the course of those two conflicts.
Our defence correspondent, Jonathan Beale, has more.
Oh, he's on! Back up! Go that way!
British troops fought and died in Afghanistan, right on the front line. For eight years in Helmand, the most dangerous province of all, Taliban heartland. There to answer America's call in 2001 to join its war on terror. Hundreds of British personnel died. Hundreds more were injured, among them Ben Parkinson. He lost his legs and is still in need of constant medical care and support. His mother, Diane Durney, left to express their anger at President Trump. It's disgraceful. It's disrespectful. These are the rantings of a child.
This is somebody who is deflecting from other things that he's said, and it's not acceptable in a supposed leader of the free world.
Andy Reid was another casualty of a roadside bomb. He lost three limbs.
I think it's extremely disrespectful. Some of my colleagues and 457 other people made the ultimate sacrifice for that conflict that we was in and thousands of guys like myself were injured and are still bearing that sacrifice every single day.
457 UK military personnel never came back alive. Rifleman William Aldridge, the youngest British soldier to be killed, was just 18 when he returned in a coffin. His mother, Lucy Aldridge, says there's no excuse for President Trump's comments. Trump isn't known for his historic prowess, but this isn't just misspeaking. He has deeply... offended certainly the families of those who never came home. Britain was with America from the start of the war in Afghanistan right up until the chaotic end 20 years later.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–8:08
2
What did President Trump say about NATO troops in Afghanistan?
8:08–12:09
3
Why are Afghanistan war veterans demanding an apology from the US?
12:09–13:32
4
What was the response from UK officials regarding Trump's comments?
13:32–30:18
Speakers
9 identifiedMore from Global News Podcast
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