You could make a pretty good case that the British empire was built by the Scots. Their soldiers were the meanest toughest bunch of all the redcoats, and they played a crucial role in campaign after campaign. I think they feel quite at home in Afghanistan. Not only have they served there before, I remember reading an account of a Scotish reporter who went into the country many years ago (the book was called Behind Russian Lines, which helps to date it), and one comment he made always stuck with me ... feuding clans in neighboring valleys? Add golf courses and it would be Scotland. Or something like that.
Nothing much has changed really. Scotish sniper Corporal Reynolds (any relation to Instapundit?) recently took out a Taliban commander at 1500 meters:
"He had been given a lead sleeping tablet. I was quite proud of that shot - it is the longest recorded kill in Afghanistan. I am going to use that fact as a chat-up line in the pub when I get back home."His squad-mate also had a memorable kill, getting to take out a Taliban sniper with a rocket launcher:
"It was a real bullseye. The missile never even did any damage to the other wall - it just took out our target. "A patrol later went to the position and confirmed the kill. There was nothing left but a lot of blood and rags."I've never been prouder of my Scotish ancestry.
