Thank God for our (very) Special Forces

If you're a Brit and you're stuck in a tricky situation in some war zone you might well hope and pray that the SAS will turn up to rescue you. You might even be a bit miffed if they didn't, so often do they seem to rescue people in such situations. However, if you're an Italian climber stuck 24,000 feet up the Himalayas, you haven't eaten for three days and acute mountain sickness means you can't move, you probably wouldn't in your wildest dreams imagine that a joint SAS/SBS team would come round the corner and rescue you from what was otherwise likely to be certain death. But that is precisely what happened to Roberto Marabotto. He just happened to have the very good fortune to fall ill on the route of a joint SAS and SBS team that is currently making an attempt on the "Seven Summits" challenge.

Not the least impressive aspect of this attempt on the "Seven Summits" challenge is that it is taking place against the most demanding operational challenges faced by UK special forces for some time, quite possibly since the Second World War. The SAS has squadrons rotating through Iraq on a constant basis and the SBS is facing a similar situation in Afghanistan. In between such jaunts you might imagine that even special forces might want to have a bit of a rest. But no. Off they go taking on one of the most demanding challenges ever set, climbing the highest peak in each of the seven continents. They have already climbed Elbrus in Russia, McKinley in Alaska, Aconcagua in Argentina and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The last two are the easiest so they probably did those before breakfast.

The team was climbing Cho Oyu, the world's sixth highest peak, in preparation for Everest. The remaining two summits are the Vinson Massif in Antarctica and the Carstensz Pyramid in Papua New Guinea, both of which are pretty tough climbs to say the least. They have been doing all this in total secrecy and presumably therefore without any of the usual sponsorship that accompanies such attempts, although no doubt the sponsors will be queuing up after this. There they are coming down the world's sixth highest mountain - which they are only climbing to train for something more difficult - and they just happen to stumble across someone who needs rescuing. It is after all what they do! There hasn't been much in the past year to make us proud but these guys and the Paras have managed it. Perhaps they could find time in 2007 to try their hands at cricket, rugby and football?

A very Happy New Year to you all.

Mick

Comments

[Colin R Purcell-Lee (ex-Regular Army)]

In between tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan a joint SAS/SBS team set about conquering the highest mountain on every continent in the world! Thank God the SAS/SBS and the paras are on our side! Feel proud; feel VERY proud.

[Bunduki]

Hats off to our Special Forces - best in the world, without doubt.
But they would have to be miracle workers to climb Kilimanjaro in Kenya. Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania...

[Mick says: Oops! Thanks Bunduki.]

[The 3rd Column]

Happy New Year Mick.

Agree, "Thank God for our (very) Special Forces"

[Gerald Moran]

I'm in 100% agreement, "Thank God for our VERY Special Forces." One of the few remaining things that make me proud to be Brirish.

[Neil Murphy]

It's worth remembering that most of the army involved in Afghanistan is emjoying the fighting. Tough operations is what these guys train for all their working lives, and don't often= get much chance to exercise thierr skills.

I think what pisses them off is being let down so badly by the politicians that they don't have proper or enough weapons, live in squalor when home and have in part lost the support of the UK population. At least the UK population knows the blame lies with the bloody politicians.