Something about this latest row about helicopters in Afghanistan felt remarkably familiar to me. When Lord CND Mandelson said that British troops “will not go without whatever they need” a little bell rang in my head. I was certain that we had heard this promise before. The tiniest effort searching on the BBC News web site revealed that I am not hallucinating.
In OCTOBER 2006 the BBC reported that
UK forces fighting the Taleban in Afghanistan need more troop-carrying helicopters to carry out their mission, the British commander there has said. Brigadier Ed Butler requested more Chinook helicopters in response to a promise by Prime Minister Tony Blair of whatever extra resources were needed. Mr Blair praised troops’ courage during a “very tough” operation.
The Ministry of Defence says troops are to carry out a week-long review to see if additional equipment is needed. The study will be done by Royal Marines who are taking over duties in the south of the country. Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the Army was overstretched, and was already waiting for promised supplies. Mr Blair’s comments came in an interview on British Forces TV and Radio to mark the fifth anniversary of operations in Afghanistan. He acknowledged that the south of the country, where most troops were based, was still “lawless”, and pledged “every support and every protection” for the British force.
In response to Mr Blair’s offer of resources, Brig Butler, the outgoing commander of the troops in the southern Helmand province, said helicopters had always been his top priority.
It seems that the government simply forgot. Whoops, never mind, eh? The 185 dead weren’t your relatives so who cares, eh? If I was a cynic I might suggest that Gordon Fucking Brown only cares about funding our wars when there is a headline in it. I hope that hell does really exist for people like Blair and Brown.
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“I hope that hell does really exist for people like Blair and Brown.”
I’d rather see them both get what they deserve in this world, though. Just in case..!
There will indeed be a special corner of Hell for Messer’s Blair and Brown, but as I am keen to remind people, the military draw down is not a Nu-Labor thing, it started under the Tories, anyone remember all those regiments that disappeared. Under the Major Govt we would not have been able to repeat ‘The Falklands’.
As Samuel Johnson said “Each man feels meanly of himself that has not served”.
To the current crop of politicians the military stand for all they despise; honour, tradition, loyalty to Queen and country, camaraderie and guns.
They hate it and must destroy it, because every time they meet a soldier, sailor, airman. It reminds them of the worthless pieces of shit that they actually are.
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and don’t think ‘Call Me Dave’ is going to be any better, he talks a good show, but he’s not as yet said how he will change anything, he’s more than happy just scoring points at PMQ and it’s easy to kick a man when he’s down.
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It’s treachery. That’s what it is. They’ve betrayed our own men and service women. Nothing makes me angrier. Well bloody said as well Pavlov.
Yes of course hell exists for those people – it’s what they impose on others.
They are so utterly un-inspirational it hurts and as for this months Defence Secretary….oh dear
PS to Pavlov: Too generous in your praise, way to generous.
In the past fortnight, the most amazing story in the news is that Tony Blair is, once again, being touted as a potential President of Europe.
This is the man who would sell out his own grandmother if it gave him some degree of political or social advancement. As it was, he just sold out his own country to support an illegal war.
He deserves to be tried as a war criminal.
BTW: kind of you to list me as “gone but not forgotten” – I’m very well, thank you!
My blog is still to be found at: http://www.lakelandersview.blogspot.com
For some reason, that link to my blog address goes looking for the page on your site.
Sorry!
I think you must have moved your site!!! My link now updated, thanks for letting me know.
Cream and scum rise to the top. “Scum” as the title in this instance sounds spot on, BE.