It brings a tear to your eye...

Original Home Page – And another very early post from this blog Current Latest Page All Contents of Site – Index Sign the Ban Blair-Baiting petition here Comment at end 16th August 2010 Reported at Tony Blair Office, and also at the Royal British Legion website, Mr Blair will donate all the proceeds of his book, including the £4.6M advance to the Royal British Legion’s Battle Back Challenge Centre. You can pre-order (at reduced price) Tony Blair’s ‘A Journey’ here. Due for release on 2nd September, 201o. Click picture to order From Tony Blair Office: The Royal British Legion is pleased to announce Tony Blair will be donating all of the proceeds from his forthcoming memoirs, A Journey, to the Battle Back Challenge Centre, a Legion funded project that will...

A memo released by the Iraq Inquiry today by Lieutenant General Sir Nicholas Houghton, then-Chief of Joint Operations at the military’s Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) to Ministers, shows that Labour ministers were formally warned that the military needed an alternative to the Snatch Land Rover in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tim Farron, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs & Defence, comments: This is yet another damning sign that the Labour Government ignored advice from its top military officials on their equipment needs. “As we long suspected, generals told ministers that they needed better equipment to protect their troops and to prevent more casualties. For years the Army had to make do with adding extra protection to their existing,...

In today's Belfast Telegraph I look at coalition foreign policy and the internal tensions which William Hague must overcome to make sure that his realist philosophy is pursued. Not only must the coalition determine how its new philosophical approach might translate into practice, there are also fault-lines within the Government, and within the Conservative Party, which could ensure tensions over foreign policy, rather than quarrels about the economy, are the greatest threat to its survival.Perhaps the most conspicuous source of disagreement between the Conservatives and their new partners remains Europe.Liberal Democrats champion a central role for the UK within the EU. By contrast, the Tories' manifesto promised to repatriate powers from Brussels to London and Hague is on the eurosceptic...

I was waiting for the chorus of disapproval generated by General Richard's comments about starting talks with the Taliban, but the didn't come.I would like to think that this wasn't just because everyone in the country, media included, was distracted by England's exit from the World Cup (which I haven't been able to bring myself to write about) but because people were being sensible and...

Predictably, there’s been an enormous quantity of analysis and reportage, following the publication of the Saville Report on Tuesday.  If posting has been light over the past couple of days, it’s because I’ve been making an effort to digest the best of it. There is a lot to commend the thrust of Turgon’s post on Slugger O’Toole, which examines unionist reaction to Saville.  He identifies two ’predictable’ responses which he believes are emblematic.One, as typified by Gregory Campbell, casts doubt on the report’s findings.  The other, as articulated by Sir Reg Empey and others, points to a disproportionate concentration of resources on the victims of Bloody Sunday, as opposed to victims of Republican violence.I accept that these arguments have been raised and...

The media is reporting that the Chief of the Defence Staff, the operational head of the armed forces, is stepping down early. The term "early" needs some context, it is only early if measured against his revised contractual end date but it is worth remembering that Sir Jock's term was extended by the the Labour government.The BBC report suggested that Sir Jock was seen as being "close to...

Nick Clegg will today set out plans to improve family homes for the Armed Forces and make troops’ pay fair. Announcing the plans, Nick said: The brave men and women of our Armed Forces have been left under-equipped and under-paid by Labour. The Liberal Democrats will change this. Gordon Brown has failed to give our troops all the kit they need to do their job. And he has failed to give them a decent wage for the work they do and a decent home to raise their kids in. “Someone spending six months fighting half way around the world to keep us safe should not have to worry about leaving their family in a shoddy, run-down home. They should not have to worry about whether they are paid enough to provide for their loved ones. “The Liberal Democrats will bring forces family homes up to...

Yesterday David Cameron and Dr Liam Fox launched the Conservative Party's Armed Forces Manifesto. As you can imagine I'm very pleased to see political commitment to support our troops.The Armed Forces Manifesto outlines how we will repair the Military Covenant and rebuild the bonds between the Forces and the people. We will:Give the Armed Forces clear leadership – we'll hold a Strategic...

Gordon Brown, TV leaders’ debate, 15th April 2010: “Let me say, first of all, my pride and my admiration for the armed forces, and our questioner who was in the Territorial Army, all those who serve our nation, and particularly at this time when we’re at war in Afghanistan, we’ve got to remember and we’ve got to do our best not just by the armed forces but by their families. And let us remember all those who lost their lives in Afghanistan. The important thing is that we’re doing the right thing by our troops. And that’s why we’ve increased the spending on equipment dramatically over these last few years. A thousand new vehicles, new helicopters brought into Afghanistan. We used to spend £600 million on Afghanistan three or four years ago....

“All that was going through my head was to knock him out. I decided I’d get his attention and let him know how I felt. When he offered his hand to me I just turned round and walked away. I wanted him to think about his actions and it worked.” - Victoria Cross hero Johnson Beharry, who revealed today he refused to shake Gordon Brown’s hand in protest at the PM’s ‘disrespect’ for the Armed Forces.  The lance corporal said he turned round and walked off as the Premier offered his hand during a Remembrance Day service last November.  L/Cpl Beharry became the first living VC recipient since 1965 for twice braving enemy fire to save comrades’ lives in Iraq six years ago. (full story...

The Royal British Legion is asking candidates from all parties to sign up to its manifesto ahead of the coming election campaign. Nick Clegg, along with the other two party leaders, has signed up to the Legion’s pledge, meeting recently with its Director General; while defence spokesman Nick Harvey has spoken at Legion fringe events. The Legion has been keeping a tally of the proportion of MPs from each of the parties who have signed up to its manifesto – and as they comment, “Lib Dem MPs are setting the pace!” As of 22nd March, the Lib Dems were in the lead with 79% of MPs. 64% of Conservative MPs and 50% of Labour MPs have pledged. (Click on the graph to see a larger version). They write: The Legion is very grateful for every single pledge, so let’s do our bit...

“I find it quite unusual for people to criticise me for doing what I consider to be my duty. …This was nothing to do with partisan politics.” - Gordon Brown, who said today that the criticism he received for visiting Afghanistan a day after giving evidence to the Iraq war inquiry was “incredibly unfair”. During his Chilcot inquiry appearance, Brown had mounted a robust defence of his record as chancellor, saying he had never refused a request from the armed forces for equipment or resources.  However, within hours, two former chiefs of the defence staff, Lord Guthrie and his successor Lord Boyce, had challenged that view.  (full story HERE)...

Sometimes Gordon Brown's brass neck literally makes the jaw drop. His latest spat with former soldiers comes smartly on the heals of the prime minister's appearance at the Chilcot Inquiry, during which he claimed that military commanders were always provided with the equipment they requested in Iraq and Afghanistan.The chronology is instructive, and tells us all we need to know about the veracity of Brown's statements. First the prime minister makes his claim. Lord Guthrie and Admiral Lord Boyce accuse Brown of disingenuous answers. At PM's questions Gordon reacts with the equanimity we have come to expect and rants about Tory officers. Soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq have persistently complained about the inadequacy of their equipment. Should we suppose that they too...

Thee BBC are reporting that Gordon Brown thinks the criticism of his Afghanistan visit is "unfair". As they say in the Army "dry your eyes princess!"Brown knew that he would have to spin like a top to come out of the Chilcot enquiry with any dignity and he know the defence chiefs that he'd been screwing over for the last decade would kick off. The Afghan trip was a blatant attempt to...

The Sun is running a story about a Royal Navy fleet being dispatched to the Falklands to defend any Argentinian aggression. Firstly one warship and it's fuel tanker is not a fleet! Secondly I cannot envisage an Argentinian attack like 1982 happening now. I'm sure the Argentinian government still feel that the Falklands should be theirs, I'm sure they will feel that any oil revenue from...

From the BBC: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has defended its use of more than 100 pigs in explosive tests in Wiltshire. Some 119 pigs were used in the research at the Government’s military research laboratory Porton Down, near Salisbury, between 2006 and 2009. The tests “saved many lives” in Iraq and Afghanistan due to improvements in post-traumatic techniques, junior defence minister Quentin Davies said. He said 25 pigs were used in 2006, 19 in 2007, 40 in 2008, and 35 in 2009. In a written reply to Stroud Labour MP David Drew, Mr Davies said the research had followed up on problems with “prolonged pre-hospital resuscitation following blast injury”. He added: “This research has led to significant advances in post-traumatic techniques, such as...

The Village Hotel in Walsall is offereing a special romantic dinner for two on Valentine's Day for a couple from the the armed forces to say thanks for their extraordinary efforts. The couple, one of whom should be a serving or former member of the armed forces, will enjoy an exclusive five course dinner, with wine, along with an overnight stay at the hotel with breakfast. The hotel's sous chef Michael Chambers is pictured with the sweet course for couples to share. The chosen couple will enjoy a fantastic dining experience. They will be part of an exclusive group of just 20 couples dining at the hotel's restaurant on Sunday February 14. The hotel is now appealing for couples, relatives or friends to suggest a deserving pair to award the romantic evening to. “The Village Hotel...

Imtiaz Ameen has written a thoughtful piece on ConHome about the threatened march by Islam4UK through Wooten Basset, he advocates banning the march. I understand his point but don't agree.It's clear that Islam4UK is trying to get as much publicity as possible and has chosen the most provocative place for a march. The route that carries fallen British service personnel has been lined by...

“I’m defending my staff who put their lives on the line for us.” - Phil Woolas, Home Office minister, paying tribute to our Armed Forces the UK Border Agency, who he praised for being made up of “very brave men and women who protect our borders” on Radio 4 this morning.  Critics said it was ‘deeply insensitive’ to compare desk-bound civil servants to British troops, and Woolas’s comments came as military chiefs prepared to name the 100th member of the Armed Forces to die in Afghanistan this year.  A recent Home Affairs Select Committee report said the UKBA was still ”not fit for purpose” years after revelations about foreign prisoners and the backlog of asylum claims.  The committee’s chairman, Keith Vaz, added that it...

Dear Tom Watson, After a very quiet period in your political career, you have bounced right back into the headlines.  As you know, yesterday saw the release of ‘Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 2′, which is expected to be the fastest selling computer game of all time.  However, there have been numerous complaints about the violent content of this game, which led you to set up a Facebook group to defend the game against such accusations.  While you may have a point, I think you have strayed into dangerous territory. Painful as it is for me to quote Keith Vaz MP on this blog, he has been one of the leading critics of the new ‘Call of Duty’ (COD).  He was said to be “absolutely shocked” by the violence portrayed in the game, although the game is...

Tomorrow is Armistice Day. Although commemorations are more commonly held on Remembrance Sunday, in the UK, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month is marked by two minutes silence, in memory, in particular, of those who died in the First World War. Hostilities ceased, on the Western Front, at that time in 1918, after four years of mechanised warfare had wrought devastation on a generation of young men. Yesterday, whilst recording an episode of Blogtalk NI, I was asked to consider the issue of remembrance and in particular controversy which often becomes attached to the simple act of remembering, in Northern Ireland. In retrospect, I am dissatisfied with the answer I gave and pre-emptively, I would like to add a few thoughts here.Slugger O’Toole provides a useful...

Dear The Sun, Yesterday, both Sky News and the BBC were fixated with your story detailing how the mother of a dead soldier was said to be upset by Gordon Brown’s letter of condolence to her, in which he made several spelling mistakes including the soldier’s name.  You also attacked Brown for failing to bow at the Cenotaph.  The story is still running today after you published the transcript of the conservation between Brown and the soldier’s mother from Sunday evening.  While these incidents are all regrettable, your suggestion that this amounts to evidence that Gordon Brown does not care about Britain’s armed forces is absurd. First, the Cenotaph.  I don’t think anyone will be particularly thrilled with Brown if questioned about it, but before you tried...

The trial of former President of Argentina Reynaldo Bignone has begun in Argentina, according to the BBC.Also on trial are five of his former army officers, including intelligence chief General Santiago Omar Riveros, and a Buenos Aires police commissione.The seven are accused of the kidnapping,torture and murder of 56 people, committed in the Campo de Mayo dentention centre between 1976 and 1978, according to Momento24Reynaldo Bignone was the last military ruler of Argentina, ending a long line of brutal dictators that began in March 1976 when the military junta first seized power.Human rights groups estimate that 30,000 people died or went missing during purges of junta opponents between 1976 and 1983.He had been under house arrest before the trial.The case has taken six years to reach...

I've written a post for the Conservative party's in house blog about the TA funding announcement and subsequent U-turn.You can read it...

Marking the fortieth anniversary of the commencement of Operation Banner, History (formerly the History Channel) is screening a documentary called ‘Soldiers’ Stories’ tonight, at 9pm.Bobballs has provided a positive review over at his site. I too enjoyed the programme. It doesn’t provide the most intricate analysis of Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles’, which are depicted in fairly broad strokes, but that is rather the point. This is a personal interpretation of events, by individual British soldiers who served here, and it reflects their confusion, as well as frustration, anger, fear and, occasionally, excitement. These are powerful, and occasionally harrowing tales, rendered all the more visceral by the ordinary men who tell...

Hat tip to Iain Dale and LabourList(Nothing...

The Times reports that the Conservative leadership is planning to review its commitments to defence spending, a prospect which ConHome believes will ‘unnerve’ many of its readers. Although suggestions that shadow defence secretary, Liam Fox, has differences with the shadow chancellor, George Osborne, are a legitimate source of concern for Tory supporters, it would be neither unreasonable, nor unwise, for a Conservative treasury to consider cuts to the defence budget. Despite Britain’s entanglement in Afghanistan, perhaps even because of it, substantial savings are possible. The former shadow home secretary, David Davis, has, for some time, maintained that the UK’s nuclear deterrent should be up for discussion. A Conservative government had been expected to remain committed to...

That was the tantalising invitation made by (the award winning) Wing Commander Sylvie Silver and how could I refuse?On the last Friday of August I joined members of 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron to see what the young glider pilots and instructors were up to. What and eye opener.The unit is run on a purely voluntary basis and trains cadets from across SE London to fly gliders and in a number...

Why should a contemptible republican rabble be allowed to spoil Belfast's Tall Ships event? The News Letter reports that a Royal Marine band will no longer take part in a parade scheduled to take place today, due to a protest planned by the tiny dissident group, eirigi. This is an organisation which acted as apologists for the murders of two soldiers and a policeman earlier this year. It's the group that intimidated students working in a Belfast shopping centre, as its 'protest' against against Israel's actions in Palestine. It organised an illegal demonstration when the city honoured troops returning from Afghanistan.The Marines were, quite appropriately, invited to play a small part in a maritime festival organised in a UK city. It would have formed a tiny proportion of the...

Earlier this week Jess the Dog an ex-RAF officer turned blogger highlighted the fact that our service men and women on active service are currently effectively disenfranchised under current election laws. As he points out that under the current voting system there are only 11 days, inclusive of weekends, from the point at which candidates’ names are confirmed, to printing in the UK, delivery...

2 Big Stories Troops need more, says Dannett The BBC has the interview and the story: The head of the UK Army has said better equipment is needed to protect troops from roadside bombs in Afghanistan. General Sir Richard Dannatt told the BBC troops “needed more” and added that he would be compiling a shopping list of what was required. … The general’s comments will be seen as careful “parting shots”. … In return for their service, he says more money needs to be spent on equipment for British forces in Afghanistan. Earlier this week, the general – on his last trip to Afghanistan before he stands down – revealed he was being flown around in an American helicopter because no British alternative was available. In response, ministers have...

This  is Joanna Birchall, walking past the coffin of her husband Major Sean Birchall after his funeral a few days ago in London. Major Sean Birchall of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards died on 19th June while on patrol near Lashkar Gah in central Helmand province, Afghanistan. Today, a Ministry of Defence source confirmed that ministers were...

Introduction One of the advantages of setting up an international or multilateral organisation these days is that one can understand and learn from the mistakes of the past. For example, because of the Cold War, ideological and religious differences, linguistic and imperialistic backgrounds, bureaucratic tensions, etc., the United Nations never managed to acquire its own security force. The result? Avoidable genocide, massacres and killings. As it is a joint responsibility, nobody loses their sleep over a few million Africans killed. But the African Union has learnt from the mistakes of the United Nations and has decided to set up a permanent African Standby Force (ASF), reporting to the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU). While this is a very good step, it is...

Although the official Armed Forces Day is on the 27th we held our celebration on Friday.The sun shone and band played and Deputy Mayor of London, Richard Barnes AM, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nicholas Houghton KCB CBE and Under Secretary of State Kevan Jones all gave speeches thanking serving and past members of the forces.I had a chance to talk to a number of veterans who...

Ahead of Armed Forces Day, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has set out five priorities the Government must meet to better support Britain’s service men and women. We must never forget the enormous sacrifices which our service men and women make on our behalf every day. I know from visiting them in Afghanistan that their selfless dedication is truly humbling. “Armed Forces Day is a chance to show our gratitude, but also to reflect on how we can best support our troops. This Government has failed them too often. That is why I am setting out five priorities Gordon Brown must meet if he wants this day to be more than just a gesture. “First, our forces in Afghanistan need a strategy they can believe in. If military commanders need more troops for this operation, they should have them....

Any regular reader will know that I am immensely proud of our Armed Forces and more than pleased to support the Armed Forces Day on the 27th of June. It was great to see General Dannatt and the Mayor raise a flag by City Hall.BUT....What the hell is going on with that flag?I managed to miss the announcement of its creation back in April and have to confess to being hugely underwhelmed having...

We live in an age where the United States is rapidly embracing gay marriage (take note California State Supreme Court), yet despite Obama’s campaign pledge to abandon the divisive ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ policy, nothing seems to be happening: This really is intolerable. If the Obama administration is supposed to be about the rule of law, then it’s an outrage that service people can still be dismissed merely for the fact of their sexual orientation; it’s bigotry.  How can a Commander-in-Chief who is black accept such discrimination under his watch for even a moment? As the report points out on a practical, business side it’s an unthinkable waste of training costs, it’s a waste of precious and vital resources, and is a ludicrous slap in...

“Despite the fact of driving through an ambush is actually routine for all military vehicles drivers in the British Army in Iraq, the politically correct Ministry of Defence decided to elevate this particular occasion to something worthy of the VC.” - an article on the BNP website, claiming that the Iraq war hero Johnson Beharry was...