A yank in the British army

By WND Staff

The first Western forces sent into Afghanistan after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were not from the United States. Rather, it was a four-man British Special Air Service, or SAS, reconnaissance and intelligence team known as “Brick.” These elite SAS special-forces troops exchanged automatic gunfire with Taliban soldiers in the foothills of Kabul and set up a communications link with the British intelligence and military in the UK.

It was with British soldiers that WorldNetDaily’s international correspondent Anthony C. LoBaido trained last summer in the jungles of Belize. His first-person account of his experience provides unique insight into the esprit de corps enjoyed by the United Kingdom’s fighting forces.

From LoBaido’s story:


My adventure began in the jungles of Belize in late August. I flew nap of the Earth along the Macal River, flying in a Gazelle helicopter into the approaching Hurricane Chantal. After a turbulent flight, I landed on the small bridge at the Guacamalo Bridge Camp in the dense jungles of Belize. I was issued my gear, had my face painted with black, brown and green Camtec paint and began the adventure of a lifetime. …

Visits by American journalists to the British army are not unlike the sighting of a comet. They emerge from nowhere, pass by quickly and invariably inspire pagan celebrations. A typical day in the jungle for a visiting journalist is long and hard. It might involve mundane tasks such as sharpening one’s machete, which actually was more like a butter knife when first issued. You will learn to shoot the light, almost toy-like SA 80 assault rifle right-handed, even if you are left-handed like myself, unless you want hot brass ejected into your face.

You will learn the difference between jelly and Jell-O and come to understand that hookers play rugby. You clean your weapons and wash your clothes, but never shave, because even the smallest nick can turn septic.

Find out how LoBaido fares in the jungle, both with the training and in his colorful conversations with the multi-faceted British warriors. Don’t miss his report in tomorrow’s edition of WorldNetDaily.