I spent summer 2012 serving with the British armyin Afghanistan, a vehicle mechanic based in Camp Bastion. I did many airfield guard duties and five top-covers for combat logistic patrols (resupply convoys). EVERYTHING I saw was the opposite of what was reported - on my first guard duty I was protecting farmers harvesting opium 400-meters from our airfield's perimeter fence, from poppy fields irrigated by NATO's effluent outlet. I witnessed £400-million of procurement corruption - General Dynamics selling us a desert patrol vehicle that broke down in hot weather. We used a human shield against a possible IED and were given illegal escalation of force orders against children. We were allied to the very worst of the Afghan War Lords and our own commanders were corrupt half-wits who lost the battle for Helmand before it'd begun.
