The hidden cost of the Afghanistan war (Pt 1): Trauma
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 17 January 2022
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today's episode contains strong language, discussions of suicide, and descriptions of violence in war that some listeners might find distressing.
The first of a two-part investigation into the impact of the Afghanistan war for British troops. 55 soldiers from one regiment died in the campaign — 22 took their own lives back home. Why have so many suffered? War correspondent Anthony Loyd talks to members of 2 Rifles.
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Guest: Anthony Loyd, Foreign Correspondent, The Times.
Host: Manveen Rana.
Clips: BBC, Sky News.
If you've been affected by any of the issues discussed in today's episode, the following helplines can provide support:
Always A Rifleman: 0800 470 0941
Combat Stress helpline: 0800 138 1619 or text: 07537 173 683
PTSD Resolution: 0300 302 0551
SSAFA - the Armed Forces Charity helpline: 0800 260 6767
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Before we start a warning, today's episode contains strong language, discussions of suicide |
| 0:08.6 | and descriptions of violence in war that some listeners might find distressing. |
| 0:20.4 | We're at a boxing club in Liverpool, a meeting place for ex-soldiers who served in Afghanistan |
| 0:27.8 | and a support network for those scarred by the wall. |
| 0:33.4 | For some, it's the only way they have of processing the trauma and the defeat. |
| 0:57.8 | In the second second, jump by the wall, you're going to be a boi. |
| 1:18.8 | Last August. |
| 1:21.8 | In one provincial capital after another, the Taliban are running up their colours |
| 1:26.8 | and taking control. |
| 1:35.8 | The Taliban regain control faster than almost anyone expected. |
| 1:40.8 | After 20 years, British troops watched as everything they fought for crumbled. |
| 1:47.8 | The war gone by still haunts their memories and claims lives, even as it fades from the headlines. |
| 1:57.8 | You're listening to stories of our times from the Times and the Sunday Times. |
| 2:02.8 | I'm Manvin Rana. |
| 2:04.8 | Today, the first of a special two-part investigation, PTSD and the war, part one, the trauma. |
| 2:16.8 | I'm Anthony Lloyd and I'm a foreign correspondent for the Times. |
| 2:19.8 | And Aunt, since Afghanistan fell to the Taliban last summer, |
| 2:24.8 | you've been speaking to former members of two rifles, an infantry battalion in the Army, |
| 2:30.8 | who did tours of Afghanistan just over a decade ago. |
| 2:34.8 | Tell me why. |
| 2:36.8 | Why now? Why this battalion? |
| 2:39.8 | There are a number of reasons why I wanted to focus on two rifles. |
... |
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