General Sir Richard Dannatt is a dangerous man

General Sir Richard Dannatt is a professional soldier, an early (aged 22) recipient of the MC in Northen Ireland. He is a devout Christian and besides being responsible for the whole of the UK military forces is also vice-president of the Officers' Christian Union and president of the Soldiers' and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association. He is also a supporter and endorser of the curious Christian Alpha program .... "Alpha has been so wonderfully used over the years, and I am delighted that it has expanded into the Armed Forces."


Two weeks into his post, wearing a uniform that Herr Goering would have envied ,he seized public attention in highlighting the situation in Afghanistan. UK troops were doing "more than their share" .... "We are running hot, certainly running hot. Can we cope? I pause. I say 'Just'." Cheered the lad up in Helmland no end... of course it got Tony Blair to make even more promises that he cannot possibly fulfill.

Now in a comedic scene of solitary pomposity (No backing group to this soul singer) on the steps of the MOD, a portly portent, he seeks to justify his irregular and public outburst in the columns of the Daily Mail. We then have the absurdity of the other architect of this Judaeo- Christian Crusade Tony Blair claiming that everyone in the Church is singing from the same hymn sheet. Which resolves nothing.

General Sir Richard Dannatt is a dangerous man, he exemplifies the muddled and chronically myopic vision of the modern MOD who cannot seem to procure the necessary weapons of war, nor execute their use, usefully or successfully. Nor do their leaders appear able to cope with the lunatic ambitions of their political masters either nationally or collectively through NATO and the EU.

Whatever the failings of the leadership, ... and one must remember the old saw, "There are no bad soldiers, only bad officers" ... this balding, overweight, pompous, conceited Schweik, reminds me of Sassoon's majors,

"If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath, I'd live with scarlet Majors at the Base, And speed glum heroes up the line of death."

Whatever flash of Messianic light that has lit up his landscape, I remain convinced that his unorthodox, illegitimate and essentially counterproductive remarks, suggest that General Sir Richard Dannatt is more a part of the problem than even the start of the solution.

Whatever the failing of our Democratic process, the debate about our foreign policy and military endeavours should not be conducted in the columns of the Daily Mail, impromptu gatherings al fresco with the Press or on State radio.

I repeat. General Sir Richard Dannatt is a dangerous man.

Update later today after posting the above ...In support of this argument go to here and read with interest this youthful supporter of General Sir Richard Dannatt's muscular Christianity, set against the nonsensical fears that England is about to become some sort of Eurabian Caliphate.

Sir Richard Dannatt - War Criminal

This man in the curious Ruritanian Uniform, of which Reichsmarshal Goering would have been envious, is Sir Richard Dannatt. He bears the responsibility for the whole of the Britsh Armed forces.

He has just discovered that his soldiers earn less than traffic wardens. Now is that the fault of ;

1. Traffic wardens
2. The people given the resonsibility for running the armed forces

Sir Richard has refrained from comparing the salaries paid to the Air Marshals to say shelf fillers at Tesco, who oversee the delayed introduction - by years and at hummingous costs of ;

1. 40 year old Fuel tankers
2. 42 year old Troop transports
3. 38 year old Nimrod replacements

Former Chief of the Defence Staff Field Marshal the Lord Inge of Richmond (Clubs :Boodle's, Beefsteak, Army and Navy, MCC ) KG, GCB, DL, ( and good pals of Dickie Dannatt, sharing as they do the trough at the Army & Navy) spoke in the House of Lords on 29th June last year.

Britain's Armed Forces have to face not only in Iraq and Afghanistan probably the most demanding, dangerous and complex operational challenges that they have faced for many years, but major funding problems and concerns about the shortcomings of equipment currently in service on operations and, in particular, the vulnerability of the old Northern Ireland Snatch Land Rovers, which was starkly illustrated in last week's Sunday Times. This is not a new problem which has suddenly arisen.

He brought attention to another aspect of military procurement..

.... will the Minister give us a progress report on the future rapid effect system vehicle, FRES which was given a very high profile as a vehicle, was critically important to the re-organised, more mobile Army, and was a key element of the Strategic Defence Review in 1998? I could be wrong, but I understand that no prototype has been designed, yet this vehicle is due in service in five years' time—in 2012. In the same year, the Lynx and Puma helicopters are due to come out of service. Both are critical for the Army's and the Royal Air Force's operational effectiveness.

The more alert readers will note that Gormless Gordon put this 13 year old FRES project out to grass last week after squillions has been pissed away without them even agreeing what was wanted - merely a vehicle to carry troops around the battlefield - not a difficult concept.

Billions squandered by these stupid generals, air marshals and admirals on new toys whilst they "make do and mend" .. fill up the wall with our English dead.

Then on top of that you read this sort of sinister rubbish from Dannatt...

"When I see the Islamist threat in this country I hope it doesn’t make undue progress because there is a moral and spiritual vacuum in this country."

"Our society has always been embedded in Christian values; once you have pulled the anchor up there is a danger that our society moves with the prevailing wind."

"There is an element of the moral compass spinning. I think it is up to society to realise that is the situation we are in." (Vide Tony Blair after 9/11 and his kalaedoscope being shaken.. Sedgefield)

"We can’t wish the Islamist challenge to our society away and I believe that the army both in Iraq and Afghanistan and probably wherever we go next, is fighting the foreign dimension of the challenge to our accepted way of life."

"We need to face up to the Islamist threat, to those who act in the name of Islam and in a perverted way try to impose Islam by force on societies that do not wish it."

"It is said that we live in a post Christian society. I think that is a great shame. The broader Judaic-Christian tradition has underpinned British society. It underpins the British army."

General Dannatt says he has "more optimism" that "we can get it right in Afghanistan."

Dannatt claims to be a devout Christian and besides being responsible for the whole of the UK military forces is also vice-president of the Officers' Christian Union and president of the Soldiers' and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association. He is also a supporter and endorser of the curious Christian Alpha program .... "Alpha has been so wonderfully used over the years, and I am delighted that it has expanded into the Armed Forces."

Whilst researching the shambles over the retro-fitted Chinooks (They are called that as the US call all helicopters after the Indian tribes that they slaughtered - Apache , Kiowa, Commanche etc., ***) it was noticed that RAF Odiham in Hampshire where the few remaining aircraft are run from has a webpage where you can find the Mess page (Mess is RAF speak for dining / club). From there you can access the Officers Mess page, the Warrant Officers and Sgts Mess and Junior Ranks Mess. (No flip flops, cut offs or singlets to be worn) .

Perhaps if the feudal class system that permeates the military was removed, the man at the top might be a trifle more conscious of the pay and conditions of the troops he gaily sends, under trained, ill equipped to bolster, support and maintain,"The broader Judaic-Christian tradition (that) has underpinned British society. It underpins the British army."

*** Interesting factoid all US helicopters have even number of blades, Russians all have odd numbers.

UPDAE Sunday 8th June Good article by Libby Purves in Times 7/6/08 "Why we should be on th soldiers side.

What is Dickie Dannatt up to ?

There was a special re-union Fifty years after the 2nd Battalion of the Green Howards was formed, at Darlington on Saturday 6 April 2002.

Special guests included former Chief of the Defence Staff Field Marshal the Lord Inge of Richmond (Clubs :Boodle's, Beefsteak, Army and Navy, MCC ) KG, GCB, DL, the Colonel of the Regiment and Assistant Chief of the General Staff Major General Richard Dannatt who spoke after the lunch.

Listeners to the BBC Radio cannot have missed the fruity military tones of Lord Inge boosting the reputation, honesty, integrity of his pal Dickie and fellow Green Howard ,although his comments in the House of Lords on 29th June this year are more worthy of consideration considering the "unexpected" contribution to public debate by Dickie Dannatt.

His contribution covers several columns in Hansard and is well worth reading. Sufficient to provide the odd paras below .. probably more interesting was the announcement by AEGIS Ltd 4th November 2005 that My Lord Inge, Privy Councillor and KCMG had joined the Board as non-executive Chairman..... He is an adviser to Investcorp ( US$32 Bn of funds) and BAE Systems, and a consultant to OWR AG (Germany) (world leaders in NBC de-contamation).

This is part of what my Lord said in June

Britain's Armed Forces have to face not only in Iraq and Afghanistan probably the most demanding, dangerous and complex operational challenges that they have faced for many years, but major funding problems and concerns about the shortcomings of equipment currently in service on operations and, in particular, the vulnerability of the old Northern Ireland Snatch Land Rovers, which was starkly illustrated in last week's Sunday Times. This is not a new problem which has suddenly arisen.

Re : Iraq

...While I am certainly not suggesting that we should pack our bags and come home with our tail between our legs, it does not help that the war has become increasingly unpopular and no longer commands the support which it did.

He moved on to the subject of Afghanistan

.... a country which exports a very high proportion of the heroin on the streets of this country, and I accept that it is a noble objective to want to greatly reduce the Afghan heroin crop. But I wonder if we have thought through the implications of our policy. I believe that it is a huge long-term challenge and I have very serious reservations about the size and fighting capability of our deployment, and about our operational objectives in Afghanistan.

He brought attention to one aspect of military procurement..

.... will the Minister give us a progress report on the future rapid effect system vehicle, which was given a very high profile as a vehicle, was critically important to the re-organised, more mobile Army, and was a key element of the Strategic Defence Review in 1998? I could be wrong, but I understand that no prototype has been designed, yet this vehicle is due in service in five years' time—in 2012. In the same year, the Lynx and Puma helicopters are due to come out of service. Both are critical for the Army's and the Royal Air Force's operational effectiveness.

I would like a clearer understanding of the Government's plan for the removal of the poppy crop and what the replacement economy will be.

...... we need to recognise that even from a cursory glance at our force levels in Helmand province, we do not have an adequate reserve in theatre ready and available.

Interestingly he was followed by My Lord Truscott who commenced by declaring an interest as an associate fellow of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI).

Joining the Dots,

Inge, Aegis, RUSI, CGS ...General Sir Roger Wheeler , Knight Grand Cross of the Bath , CBE was CGS1997 and 2000. Sir Roger is the current 'Constable of the Tower of London'. He also joined the Aegis Board at the same time as Lord Inge .. and is also a Board member of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (AKA National Police Service in embryo) . Another chap who makes his own modest contribution is Fatty Soames, MP happily joining Aegis at the same time who is also a member of Council of the RUSI.

Now if anyone suspected a military ...well...er...congruence of interest in affecting ...er ... shall...we say political affairs where would it be ?

AEGIS ... just exactly what do they do ? .. and what plans have they got ?

HAKLUYT & COMPANY LIMITED 34 Upper Brook Street, London W1K 7QS is also said to be a company that can call on the expertise of My Lord Inge and his pals who get involved in the most extraordinary business activities.


What exactly is Dickie Dannatt up to ?

Jon Fraser speaks for us all .....

The Daily Telegraph invited comment at their Speakers Corner on the question did General Dickie Dannatt go too far ? ...

The majority response was support, with a lesser but smaller response from those who criticised the General for breaking the chain of command and speaking out of turn. There were a few, a very few who criticised the Military of which he is the head... the following is worth a wider audience.

"It’s no good being in Iraq for years and then claiming its not going to plan. I’m not a professional soldier and I haven’t been to Sandhurst but like many members of the public knew this conflict would end in civil war between the various factions. If Dannatt had any moral fibre and courage he would have resigned earlier and then made his thoughts known. This is just petulance. And to say we have a better chance in Afghanistan, which has always been wild and backward, as opposed to a rich secular state like Iraq shows a level of ignorance only matched by our politicians.
Posted by Jon Fraser on October 13, 2006 11:40 AM

It was always noticeable to me that when the illegal invasion took place, the Navy - Ark Royal were back in record time, closely followed by the Tornadoes. The PBI were simply stuck in the destert 13 Km outside Basra at the airport.

The British Bluntschli's voted with their feet.

For those interested in seeing the Videos of General Dannatt explaining himself to the various news organisitions they will find 13 Videos here.

The Wit and Wisdom of General Sir Richard Dannatt

Evidently, after listening to the BBC Radio 4 "Any Question" there is some confusion / ignorance about what the leader of the UK military forces said to the Daily Mail...which they described / reported as follows ... "Sir Richard warned that the consequences will be felt at home, where failure to support Christian values is allowing a predatory Islamist vision to take hold."

"When I see the Islamist threat in this country I hope it doesn’t make undue progress because there is a moral and spiritual vacuum in this country."

"Our society has always been embedded in Christian values; once you have pulled the anchor up there is a danger that our society moves with the prevailing wind."

"There is an element of the moral compass spinning. I think it is up to society to realise that is the situation we are in." (Vide Tony Blair after 9/11 and his kalaedoscope being shaken.. Sedgefield)

"We can’t wish the Islamist challenge to our society away and I believe that the army both in Iraq and Afghanistan and probably wherever we go next, is fighting the foreign dimension of the challenge to our accepted way of life."

"We need to face up to the Islamist threat, to those who act in the name of Islam and in a perverted way try to impose Islam by force on societies that do not wish it."

"It is said that we live in a post Christian society. I think that is a great shame. The broader Judaic-Christian tradition has underpinned British society. It underpins the British army."

General Dannatt says he has "more optimism" that "we can get it right in Afghanistan."

How on Earth do we end up with a military leader who can (with an apparently straight face), say this sort of nonsense and a Prime Minister who says there is not a "cigarette paper" between them ? Then compare this Messianic zeal with the shambles of military procurement, preparedness, logistics in the field, inadequate planning and ill concealed ill discipline, where "force protection" long overtook rigorous military endeavour in support of clear, determined and agreed objectives.

Pic (C) Big Pictures of the New Messiah in his Ruritanian new suit of Clothes.

Where are they Now? Pt 341 General Sir "Mike" Jackson

"Let me make it clear that it was important to retrieve those two soldiers.The British Army looks after its own.” (General Sir Michael Jackson, Chief of the General Staff ,Basra S. Iraq quoted in the Times, 12 Oct 2005)

There will be few who forget the curious incident when 2 allegedly undercover SAS men wearing comical Arab style clothing were arrested, photographed and imprisoned by Iraqi Police in Basra on September 19th 2005 driving a car loaded with weapons, ammunition and a brand new car jack.

They will also remember the derring do raid on the local prison involving 10 tanks and supporting helicopters to rescue them that night. The raid resulted in the death of 7 Iraqis and a further 43 injured.

On the 14th October HMG formally almost apologized to Iraq and confirmed that it "will pay compensation for injuries and damage" (Times October 12th)

In the same article John Reid, the Defence Minister,is quoted and insisted the Army’s actions had been “absolutely right” and declared: “When it is necessary to protect British servicemen, we will take that action. And by God it was effective.” Brigadier John Lorimer, the British commander in Basra, insisted that his forces “won’t hesitate” to act against those endangering coalition troops.

In the aftermath of these events, still unexplained and shrouded in military secrecy, Captain Ken Masters (40) Commanding Officer of the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police and "responsible for the investigation of all in-theatre serious incidents, plus investigations conducted by the General Police Duties element of the Theatre Investigation Group." (Statement of Britain's Ministry of Defense, 16 Oct 2005) undertook an investigation into circumstances of the arrest of two alleged undercover SAS men.

On that evening Capt Masters sent an e-mail sent to his wife (timed 5.20am 14 October) "U and the girls are keeping me going, I can tell you. Love you all very much. Daddy xxxooo."

On the day following the apology by HMG, and 2 weeks before he was due leave in the UK, Masters , a man who ran every morning, was found dead ... hanging by a bootlace in his barracks room. He had left two suicide notes: one to the Army, blaming himself for his death, and the other to his wife the inquest was later told. This was a few days after General Sir Michael Jackson, Chief of the General Staff was in Basra and met and discussed the matter with him.

"Let me make it clear that it was important to retrieve those two soldiers.The British Army looks after its own.” (General Sir Michael Jackson, Chief of the General Staff ,Basra S. Iraq quoted in the Times, 12 Oct 2005)

27/06/2006

An inquest at Swindon Coroner's Court, which was heard on 27th June 2006, found that Capt Ken Masters, a senior military police investigator in Iraq, took his own life. At the time he was
suffering from depression brought on by increasing workload and stress.

Warrant Officer Philip Floyd told the court: “He was very conscientious. He had a sense of frustration in that the procedures we had to conduct in the inquiries were hindered by
forces outside of our control.”

Further Refs re the Inquest
Independent

Suicide in Basra: The unravelling of a military man by Ian Herbert
Times
Stress of Army officer found hanged in Iraq By Michael Evans

Texts of e-mails Masters sent to his wife and shown at the inquest are available here.The "boss" mentioned in them is / was Lieutenant Colonel Ian Stenning, the Provost General who some will remember personally took charge of the investigation into the abuse by the Queens Lancashire Regiment (QLR) after photographs appeared in the Daily Mirror and General Sir
Michael Jackson, Chief of the General Staff appeared on UK TV the same night promising a full inquiry and when Lieutenant Colonel John Downham, regimental secretary of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment was gagged by the MOD. Curiously the investigation by Lieutenant Colonel Ian Stenning has yet to see the light of day. Neither has the Basra SAS investigation report been completed or published. The Editor of the Mirror lost his job.


General Sir Michael Jackson, Chief of the General Staff ? He has just retired and the CGS is chap called Sir Richard Dannatt. The Guradian report today in his first interview since taking up his post as chief of the general staff, General Dannatt warned: "We are running hot, certainly running hot." He added: "Can we cope? I pause. I say 'just'."

General Sir Mike Jackson was awarded the MBE in 1979, the CBE in 1992, the CB in 1996, the KCB in 1998, the DSO in 1999 and ADC Gen in 2001. He is married to Sarah, and has 2 sons, a daughter and three grandchildren. His interests include music, reading, travel, skiing and tennis. His predecessor Lord Guthrie joined the Board of Directors of military, aviation and law enforcement training solutions company Advanced Interactive Systems in May 2004.

The photograph of General Sir Mike Jackson is somewhat misleading, the prominent bags under his eyes have been removed by surgery.

Royal Navy cancel last nights booze up at brewery

Voltaire satirised the scapegoating of Admiral Byng in Candide, whose prudence at the Battle of Minorca, in which the French escaped and the force at Fort St Philip were left in peril, led to the surrender of the garrison and eventually to the loss of the island to the French. This temerity in action led to his court martial and he was shot on board HMS Monarch ,14th March 250 years ago.

Candide's judgement as he watches an officer shot at Portsmouth .."Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autre " , is usually quoted as, "In England they shoot an admiral every now and then to encourage the others".

If this were the case then the widow of Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Adrian Johns would already be collecting his well upholstered widows pension entitlement.

Let us just recap the sitrep re the ongoing UN Shatt al Arab Interdiction and Anti Arms Smuggling Force or UNSAIAASF scenario.

1. A Corvette, the HMS Cornwall, with probably the most fearsome sea to air missile armoury of MRAAM and SRAAM (Medium and Short range Anti Aircraft Supersonic missiles - 60 miles plus range) with supporting targetting radar but low manouverability and deep draft unsuitable for the shallow waters of the Gulf is on station for traffic duty onnthe Shatt al Arab. They have two inflatable lightly armed assault craft and one Lynx helicopter.

2. The Royal Navy has destroyers and frigates and crews, mothballed in Portsmouth that are more suitable for such coastal patrolling. 21 of the 44 RN vessels are currently mothballed. When asked in December, Adam Ingram, Defence Minister refused to name the vessels that were out of action. (This is part of a grand money saving policy to save £1 Bn by April 1st 2008 in the "jam tommorrow" policy which will deliver Astute submarines (on which there are serious build problems through skill shortages), Type 25 Destroyers (behind schedule) and 2 aircraft carriers (increasingly looking like sparkles in daddies eye).

3. On January 11th ,in Erbil, US forces seize 6 Iranians, after a tense stand off with Kurd forces they release one and detain the remaining 5. The US claim the 5 are suspected of carrying out illegal operations in Iraq. The Iranians say they have diplomatic credentials and were there with the sanction of the regional and national Iraqi Government.

Mr. Jalal Sharafi, the second secretary of the Iranian Embassy is held by American forces / Iraqi / Police (?) in unexplained circumstances.

4. In March the RN report some 40 interdictions, none of which appear from public reports to have discovered anything of any consequence. Sky news does hoever film the indertiction in process in which Captain Air, soon to be captured explains how they are vusy also maintaining "intel" surveillance on the Iranians.

5. On March 23rd the 15 RN/Marines board an Indian (?) flagged vessel that is Indian / Iranian owned, apparently with no name, carrying cars. The Boarding party are left undefended by the top cover Lynx helicopter, (which is recalled for an as yet unexplained official reason) except for small arms (Assault rifles and side arms) the party have.

6. Iranian coastal vessels of unstated size, with unknown numbers of crew but reportedly with heavy machine guns approach and demand surrender.

7. 4 /5 (?) further vessels arrive, the boarding party decide not to resist, are arrested and hauled off to prison.Their Assault craft disappear never to be seen again.

8. They are (sans uniform) fillumed on Iranian TV, smoking chatting, eating wholesome food and explain on camera they were in Iranian waters with a modest attempt at dissimulation. Leading Seaman Faye Turney writes letters dictated to her which are sent to her family and displayed on world wide TV news.

9. In 2 separate events Jalal Sharafi is returned in some cofort from "house arrest" in Iraq and returned to Teheran and 5 Iranian National Guard officers previously arrested in Erbil by the US forces are allowed access by their consul. This is is explained has no connection with endles diplomatic visiting (FO Minister, Lord Treisman sees the Iranian Ambasssador 13 times).

9a. Tony Blair and Geroge Bush make sabre rattling speeches, Bush calls the prisoners "hostages".

10. IN a masterstoke of staged PR, the prisoners are unexpectedly released, flown to London, then to RN Chivenor in Devon treated to press adulation at a well scripted and satge managed Pres Conference. Unexpectedly and confidentially they and proceed with the support and help of the Royal Navy Press officers and it appears Celebrity PR guru Max Clifford to sell their stories to the world's press. (“The Ministry of Defence are very keen for them to do it ... The public are more likely to believe them than they are the Ministry of Defence or the politicians,” he told the BBC. ) The assistance also involves actually writing the stories because half those allowed to peddle their tales of derring do, cannot form a coherent thought, a decent sentence or a satisfactory vowel sound.

10a It appears that since March 23rd this UN mandated searching of vesels has stopped because ..er..well they have no more assault craft... they probably also accept it was pretty fucking worthless exercise anyway.

11. The ordure hits the air conditioning and Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Adrian Johns who is prosaically and insultingly described as the Royal Navy's Senior Personnel Officer appears non-plussed and incapable of telling the world whether the Minister of Defence (take your pick from several) knew of this decision to sell their stories or approved it when interviewed on BBC TV News.

12. General Dannatt the current hooligan in charge of the Army, deepens the depths of ordure of inter service rivalry , and says his men would never sell their stories to the press, although he has never succeeded in getting the Prime Minister to meet the families of his dead soldiers, attend any funerals or visit the wounded.

12. Finally this evening The Minister of Defence, Des Brown lets it be known that an urgent review of the rules governing sales of stories by serving personnel will be undertaken , by whom , under what arrangements, and when they start and when they will report is left unsaid and presumably unknown.

13. 8.00 ITB "Tonight" Sir Trevor McDonald talks to Faye Turney

This is a tale unbelievable incompetence. A wholly worthless long term defence strategy which leaves the Navy with less than half it's combat fleet at sea. Expenditure of effort on worthless traffic control and simultanesously hazarding manpower to seizure, even death.

In the middle of this the Government are eager to pre-commit to the extension of the US owned Trident MIRV nuclear missile systems for squillions of Pounds.

Not only have they failed militarily, a Government which prides itself on it's PR capabilities are ...er .. well all at sea.

£20MN has just been spent court martialling Royal Lancs Regiment officers and ranks who are all acquitted after tales of unspeakable and unjustifiable brutality and even murder of citizens. Inoffensive people whom they claim to have arrived to liberate and defend in the name of Freedom and Liberty. Their collective amnesia breached only by one ranker who pleaded guilty from the off leaving the others to sing a chorus of "Don't know", "can't remember" , 10 witnesses used the phrases 667 times - one told the court martial 201 times that he could not remember events during over 3 hours of cross-examination.

Of course the State chose Julian Bevan, that ornament of the Bar who made such a hash defending Sally Clark, they must have put a lame duck in to bat for them in the reasonable (and it proved to be fruitful) expectation that they would be acquitted.

Now the whole of this shabby and illegal enterprise in Iraq will focus on the absurd fantasies of a young woman who should be at home nurturing her child, not in the front line of defending her country. Already she has used the 'R' word the red tops have been slavering over , she admits to fearing rape. A recent case against 30 yr old Naval Petty Officer Philip Coates of raping a 24 yr old rating suggest she has no need to leave her ship to suffer that fate.

In the interview, the close ups concentrate on her unhealthy pallor, that the sunshine of Arabia has left untouched, lank hair and teeth that require serious and urgent attention. Reasonably, she has after all had a harrowing experience, Trevor McDonald handles her lightly (does he ever do anything else?).

We learn nothing, other than she describes her job as a boat driver whch must go down well as a jpb description in the seamn's Mission. For most viewers it will ony re-inforce the view that we should not send women to do a man's job in the military. .. and that this one should be at home looking after her child.

One thing is certain, it will swell the ranks of those who demand an answer to the question.. WTF are we doing in Iraq ? With it's afterburner kicking in fast, Why don't we get out NOW ?

UK Armed services get organised

Criticism of UK armed forces is mounting. It is present from within, from the newly appointed CGS, the pompous General Dannatt, who told the Daily Mail that the army was "running hot" . The deeply unpleasant hectoring ex CGS General Jackson who chose to direct his criticism from the safety of retirement, after presiding over waste and worse pay, and useless weaponry, has been swift in his much publicised BBC Dimblebore lecture to criticise his lords and masters at the MOD and the Treasury.

From the further reaches of the upholstered benches of the House of Lords Field Marshal Lord Bramall of Bushfield in the County of Hampshire and Field Marshal Lord Inge of Richmond, both ex-chiefs of the defence staff, have been sounding off for a long time in debates in the House of Lords about the overstretched Armed Forces.

Even the Minister of Defence, Blustering Des Browne joined in this week admitting to the Times that UK troops are understaffed, and undertrained and need to be increased to meet even current deployments because there was too little time for training exercises.He noticeably missed out the bit about underpaid.

It is surprising therefore that the Independent on 12th December was the only paper to report the formation and launch of the The British Armed Forces Federation (BAFF), the new independent staff association for service personnel at the House of Commons (Website)

BAFF Chairman Douglas Young said at the press launch (Word Doc. here) that
two of BAFF’s closest models are the Armed Forces Federation of Australia, and the Association of the United States Army and they had constituted themselves as a Company Limited by Guarantee on 30th October, 2006. Annual membership is open to anyone who is eligible, by current or past service in HM Armed Forces of the United Kingdom...although Friends may also join.

They want to provide collective representation (including lobbying and media relations); a private web forum as a means of sharing knowledge and advice; and a Personal Injury Claimline.

They point to the 1995 Bett Review team which stated :

“We have not been able to ignore a growing strength of feeling, apparent on our visits and in the responses to our survey, that the time may be approaching when some form of representation outside the chain of command may be required.

”In a survey carried out as part of the Review, 66% of Servicemen had agreed to some extent with a statement that the Services would benefit from an organisation providing representation outside the chain of command.

Visit their website http://www.baff.org.uk, read it, maybe even spring them a few quid. Only the Independent covered their launch . Lord Patel has a feeling in his water that you are going to read a lot more about the BAFF.

They have 3 current issues ;

These 3 things BAFF want to take up and "get sorted" are :

1. The backlog in the holding of inquests into the deaths of personnel repatriated through RAF Brize Norton.

2. Unacceptable and excessive charges to bereaved relatives for copies of papers supplied by MOD to the Coroner.

3. Disgraceful discrimination against personnel and their families who are in need of social housing on leaving the service.

The ever attentive staff of Lord Patel will report progress

The Iraqi Post War shambles - Tim Cross the crux that cracked under the strain.

Tonight BBC 2 Newsnight had one of their 10 minute fillums about the illegal Iraqi invasion. Star was General Tim Cross ...this is what we posted last year 2nd September ... we wouldn't change a word.
Major General Tim Cross - crucified .. or he fucking well ought to be

Major General Tim Cross,CBE, the most senior British officer involved with Jay Garner and one of his three deputies within the Pentagon's Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance is mentioned once in Paul "Call me Jerry" Bremer's " My Year in IRAQ". He appears once in it's pages, on Page 17 his presence is noted at the first meeting of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad. He apparently had an impressive history in logistics and He became the first Commander Logistic Support of 3 (UK) Division in preparation for the formation of the Royal Logistic Corps in April 1993.

It was at this meeting (described on Page 19) that "Jerry" told them that he was going to introduce an order on De-Baatification - anathematised by General Janus Jackson - "Jerry" doesn't record that there was a single peep of resistance to the idea.

On Page 20 he records at the end of the meeting..."Some .. at the table looked inspired some faces showed no emotion and a few seemed dubious" Who knows , Tim maybe looked dubious.

In today's Sunday Mirror, sandwiched between a Brazilian call girl's steamy encounter "Our Orgy with Man United Aces" and "Big brother faces Axe" , now retired, Major General Tim Cross follows (and endorses his every word) his retired ex - boss General Janus Jackson in an arse covering article attempting to absolve the blame for the post invasion fiasco on the shoulders of anyone and everyone but him.

" I had lunch with Rumsfeld in Washington before the invasion in 2003 and raised concerns about the need to internationalise the reconstruction of Iraq and work closely with the United Nations."

"I also raised concerns over the numbers of troops available to maintain security and aid reconstruction. He didn't want to hear that message. The US had already convinced themselves that Iraq would emerge reasonably quickly as a stable democracy"

"Anybody who tried to tell them anything that challenged that idea - they simply shut it out. Myself and others were suggesting things simply would not be as easy as that."

"But he ignored my comment. He dismissed it. There is no doubt with hindsight the US post-war plan was fatally flawed - and many of us sensed that at the time."

Ex Major General Tim Cross, General Janus Jackson , Major General Patrick Cordingley, ( who led the Desert Rats in the 1991 Gulf War the Mirror reminds us) , Malcolm Rifkind, Menzies Campbell, William Hague, foreign affairs spokesman for the Conservatives .... it is not sufficient to make the argument - it is necessary to win it.

The British politcial and military leadership signed off, indeed Parliament approved the illegal invasion which millions marched against. They signed up willingly, as brothers in arms with Dubya's gang, they accepted and often promulgated lies. They deceived the public with dossiers - they cannot cast off their responsibilities, conceal their cowardice by now calling the US policies , "intellectually bankrupt" or looking for a handy scapegoat.

This Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy will not wash. The whole illegal military endeavour, the invasion , designed to outflank diplomacy - merely a continuation of a rape that started with sanctions and no-fly zones was a conspiracy.

It was a conspiracy that the military leaders (however unwilling) failed to modify, it was a compact with a flawed and dishonest leadership - across all parties. Mealy mouthed apologies and casuistic explanations re-directing the blame cannot and must not be allowed.

Major General Tim Cross had a choice, he could have resigned his commission - he would of course not be enjoying quite the serene and safe financial benefits he might now enjoy (Pension £36,000 p.a plus a nice little earner from Nottingham University) - but at least he could relax, satisfied that he had stood up against the folly of the invasion and all that ensued. That Major General Tim Cross , a specialist in logistics failed to make an impression on Donald Rumsfeld is hardly news - that he was party to the UK Government machine being bullied is a memory of his disservice to it's citizens - he could have stood up to be counted.

He didn't. Now his squalid apology fights for attention with the sordid capers of drink fuelled whores in a 4 hour hour footballers sex orgy - hardly the public arena for a resolute Christian, (like anothor gobby General, - Dannatt, his old boss) who spoke at the Association of Military Christian Fellowships' (AMCF) European conference in 2002.

It makes one wonder how his fee from the Mirror compares with that of 24 year old Brazilian Blonde Bombshell , Juliana Baltrusch.

PS Let's not forget that the desert booted and suited, clean cut, Mr Bremer (call me "Jerry") who of course so carefully laid the plans for the current disaster, destruction of the Army, de-Baatification, looting, incredible Allied corruption etc etc., was of course ex Managing Director of Kissinger Associates

Salsa dancing gay lover gets pokey for betrayal of ... er secrets and a very user friendly Welsh Judge

The Mills of the Law grind find ... and it appears mighty fast. The Jury found Iranian-born Army interpreter Daniel James of spying yesterday but couldn't agree on verdicts to charges of collecting documents useful to an enemy (namely Mohammad Hossein Heydari, an Iranian military assistant based at Tehran's embassy in Kabul) and wilful misconduct in public office (offering salsa lessons to a General whilst in uniform).

As a consequence and without further delay or deliberation 62 year old Mr Justice Roderick Evans discharged them and the CPS will "consult" glass tirling and colour co-ordinated Attorney General Baroness Scotland on whether James should be re-tried.Mr Justice Rod Evans is one of Wales' most senior judges and is famous (?) for freeing a Rapist as the victime, a girl, aged 10, 'looked older' (reported in Apr 5 2007 Western Mail ***)

Gen David Richards, who is so dumb that the exotic gay, salsa dancing polylingual elderly but surprisingly athletic sergeant was behaving in a rather unsoldierly fashion has been appointed head of the British Army by the deeply Christian General Dannatt.

A discreet veil will now be drawn over the activities of General Richards and Sergeant James.

*** A 20-year old who had sex with a girl of 10 was yesterday spared jail after a High Court judge agreed his victim looked older.Mr Justice Roderick Evans said he understood why Liam Edgecombe, of Haverfordwest, thought the girl was 16.Taking that into account, he granted Edgecombe a conditional discharge despite him having admitted rape - an automatic charge for anyone who has sex with a child under 13. See here

The judge, Mr Justice Roderick Evans sentenced Edgecombe to a conditional discharge.

He said he had considered ordering Edgecombe to do unpaid community work but he already had a full-time job. Edgecombe was also made to sign the sex offenders' register.

Passing sentence at Swansea crown court, Judge Evans said it was a "wholly" exceptional case and he had to balance the need to protect young girls with the need to punish Edgecombe.

He told Edgecombe: "She was a girl of 10 and you are a man of 20. Those bald facts do not properly represent the true facts of this case.

"The prosecution accepts that you believed she was 16 and that that belief was reasonable. "She was looking for a man and got what she wanted."

Daily Mirror 5th April 2007

Why does a Welsh Judge get called to the Old Bailey for such a major Official Secrets Trial ?

Walter triumphant

As it was Yom Kippur on Sunday, Walter Wolfgang was unable to join the march, but hesent a message of support.

Yesterday, he sat (and remained so during the periods of rapture) in stony silence throughout the Dear Leader's performance.

Interviewed on the Today programme (BBCRadio4) this morning, he raised the sole voice of dissent heard this week... " Like a Bourbon Prince, he has learnt nothing, and forgotten nothing" ...." he has pursued an Atlanticism reminiscent of the Cold War at it's worst, with a nation run by a a mad man," ...." Brown is no different, another reactionary in substance ".

He identified the spirit of Imperialism which drives the UK Foreign Policy - a policy which we have neither the economic resource to support, nor the manpower and materiel to sustain.

This acheived it's climax last week when the newly installed CGS General Dannatt appeared on TV interviews in a uniform of which Reichsmarshal Coering would have been envious, to defelct the detailed and frighteing criticism of the serving soldiers and officers.

Walter takes his seat on the NEC today as the Constituency representative - let us hope that the tens of thousands who marched on Saturday have their voice heard, about Iraq, Afghanistan, Trident, and the way this Government have pawned our future in Washington.

Major General Tim Cross - crucified .. or he fucking well ought to be

Major General Tim Cross,CBE, the most senior British officer involved with Jay Garner and one of his three deputies within the Pentagon's Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance is mentioned once in Paul "Call me Jerry" Bremer's " My Year in IRAQ". He appears once in it's pages, on Page 17 his presence is noted at the first meeting of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad. He apparently had an impressive history in logistics and He became the first Commander Logistic Support of 3 (UK) Division in preparation for the formation of the Royal Logistic Corps in April 1993.

It was at this meeting (described on Page 19) that "Jerry" told them that he was going to introduce an order on De-Baatification - anathematised by General Janus Jackson - "Jerry" doesn't record that there was a single peep of resistance to the idea.

On Page 20 he records at the end of the meeting..."Some .. at the table looked inspired some faces showed no emotion and a few seemed dubious" Who knows , Tim maybe looked dubious.

In today's Sunday Mirror, sandwiched between a Brazilian call girl's steamy encounter "Our Orgy with Man United Aces" and "Big brother faces Axe" , now retired, Major General Tim Cross follows (and endorses his every word) his retired ex - boss General Janus Jackson in an arse covering article attempting to absolve the blame for the post invasion fiasco on the shoulders of anyone and everyone but him.

" I had lunch with Rumsfeld in Washington before the invasion in 2003 and raised concerns about the need to internationalise the reconstruction of Iraq and work closely with the United Nations."

"I also raised concerns over the numbers of troops available to maintain security and aid reconstruction. He didn't want to hear that message. The US had already convinced themselves that Iraq would emerge reasonably quickly as a stable democracy"

"Anybody who tried to tell them anything that challenged that idea - they simply shut it out. Myself and others were suggesting things simply would not be as easy as that."

"But he ignored my comment. He dismissed it. There is no doubt with hindsight the US post-war plan was fatally flawed - and many of us sensed that at the time."

Ex Major General Tim Cross, General Janus Jackson , Major General Patrick Cordingley, ( who led the Desert Rats in the 1991 Gulf War the Mirror reminds us) , Malcolm Rifkind, Menzies Campbell, William Hague, foreign affairs spokesman for the Conservatives .... it is not sufficient to make the argument - it is necessary to win it.

The British politcial and military leadership signed off, indeed Parliament approved the illegal invasion which millions marched against. They signed up willingly, as brothers in arms with Dubya's gang, they accepted and often promulgated lies. They deceived the public with dossiers - they cannot cast off their responsibilities, conceal their cowardice by now calling the US policies , "intellectually bankrupt" or looking for a handy scapegoat.

This Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy will not wash. The whole illegal military endeavour, the invasion , designed to outflank diplomacy - merely a continuation of a rape that started with sanctions and no-fly zones was a conspiracy.

It was a conspiracy that the military leaders (however unwilling) failed to modify, it was a compact with a flawed and dishonest leadership - across all parties. Mealy mouthed apologies and casuistic explanations re-directing the blame cannot and must not be allowed.

Major General Tim Cross had a choice he could have resigned his commission - he would of course not be enjoying quite the serene and safe financial benefits he might now enjoy (Pension £36,000 p.a plus a nice little earner from Nottingham University) - but at least he could relax, satisfied that he had stood up against the folly of the invasion and all that ensued. That Major General Tim Cross , a specialist in logistics failed to make an impression on Donald Rumsfeld is hardly news - that he was party to the UK Government machine being bullied is a memory of his disservice to it's citizens - he could have stood up to be counted.

He didn't. Now his squalid apology fights for attention with the sordid capers of drink fuelled whores in a 4 hour hour footballers sex orgy - hardly the public arena for a resolute Christian, (like anothor gobby General, - Dannatt, his old boss) who spoke at the Association of Military Christian Fellowships' (AMCF) European conference in 2002.

It makes one wonder how his fee from the Mirror compares with that of 24 year old Brazilian Blonde Bombshell , Juliana Baltrusch.

PS Let's not forget that the desert booted and suited, clean cut, Mr Bremer (call me "Jerry") who of course so carefully laid the plans for the current disaster, destruction of the Army, de-Baatification, looting, incredible Allied corruption etc etc., was of course ex Managing Director of Kissinger Associates

See UPDATE

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

The Iraqi Post War shambles - Tim Cross the crux that cracked under the strain.

John Reid : “We hope we will leave Afghanistan without firing a single shot” 100 dead,unknown shattered limbs and broken lives , children + women dead

When Britain deployed 3,300 troops to Helmand province in June 2006, then Defence Secretary John Reid said: “We hope we will leave Afghanistan without firing a single shot.”

Earlier on February 27th , Anne Milton MP (Guildford, Conservative) asked John Reid if he was satisfied that there are enough troops in Afghanistan, bearing in mind the lessons from Iraq that ground troops are essential in order to complete missions adequately?

John Reid (Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence; Airdrie & Shotts, Labour) answered ..."Yes, I am satisfied. The hon. Lady will be pleased to know that the Chiefs of Defence Staff fully endorse the force package we are sending. One of the three or four criteria that I laid down before the move south was that the military configuration and size desired by the Chiefs of Staff should be provided, and that was done."

Let us remember the first troops the UK sent to operate outside Kabul was early in 2003 when 60 troops were sent to Mazar-e-Sharif, working as a "provincial reconstruction team". The then Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon said the team would , "focus on improving dialogue between local warlords and politicians."

Since the success n creep has set in and troop deployment soared.

The first move into Helmand by UK forces was in February 2006. An advance party of 850 personnel from 39 Regiment, Royal Engineers and 42 Commando, Royal Marines, with three Chinook helicopters presence.

On July 2006 it was announced that 900 extra military personnel would be deployed to Afghanistan increasing the size of the UK taskforce in Helmand province to around 4,500 by October, from the (then) current level of 3,600.

On the 1st February last year the part Time Defence Secretary Des Browne , ordered out more troops for southern Afghanistan, so that the total UK forces in Afghanistan under ISAF would be 6,300 by April. Less than 4 weeks later on February 26th he ordered a further 1,400 troops bringing the total up from 5,500 in February to 7,700 by .."the summer".

It is worth remembering that John Reid, when asked by Ann Milton in February 2006 to"list the aims of the UK deployment to southern Afghanistan", answered :

"The international community's involvement in Afghanistan is aimed at ensuring that Afghanistan will never again...
1. Become a breeding ground for international terrorism,
2. (and will do this) By helping the Afghan people to rebuild their
3. Democracy
3. Security
2. Economy

United Kingdom deployment to southern Afghanistan is part of the UN-mandated, NATO - led international security assistance force, which is expanding across the country in support of this commitment.

Let's hope that the grandparents, parents, brothers, wives, children, friends, sweethearts think that the the sacrifice of 100 dead, the maimed, crippled and damaged survivors has been worth helping the corrupt and criminal gangsters who run this country desolated by war.

Who is more of a threat - John “We hope we will leave Afghanistan without firing a single shot.” Reid or the mythical international terrorists?


UPDATE 8.30 am 9th June - BBC4 Today prgramme had Professor Michael Clarke big cheese at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and prominent member of the (recently very quiet) Lady Dame Baroness Jane Pauline Neville-Jones Fan Club. He described the position in Afghanistan as "a stalemate".

He was followed by the blathering Scots solicitor who ,when he is not Minister for Scotland, gets involved in muddling through at the Ministry of Defence. He said "we are making progress" many times and said ,"we have the Taliban on the back foot".

When it was put to him by Mr Stourton that people described the President Mr Karzai as "The Mayor of Kabul" whose writ ran no further than his Palace and who headed a corrupt Government. he replied he was glad that Mr Stourton talked about the "challenges that lie ahead" and repeated that "progress was being made" .. 3 mn Children in school, some of them girls, roads built ("the Taliban start where the road ends")and a "democratic Government".

It was a pity that Mr Stourton didn't ask about the democratic policy of excludimg elected members such as Malalai Joya Wednesday, June 04, 2008 Malalai Joya - telling it like it is in Afghanista. President Karzai - telling lies, more lies and getting unqualified support from the West or the activitoes of the Presidents brothers Mahmoud Karzai ,Qayum and Ahmed Wali who are as he would say "meeting challenges and making progress" in the international drugs trade.

It was also a pity that Mr Stourton didn't ask about the much delayed Minrod replacement which limits the troops ISTAR capabilities - much reduced by the crashing of one of the 2 replacement Reapers - 7th June Grim future for the Reaper - crashed in Afghanistan, short of money in Whitehall- Watchkeeper along real soon now

It ws a pity he didn;t ask about ISTAR capability and the remarks of the coroner at the inquest on the crashed Nimrod - Friday, May 23, 2008 Coroner grounds entire RAF Nimrod Fleet Des Browne another Scots politician , part time Defence Minister ready for a lonely walk in the countryside ?

It was also apity that Mr Stourton didn't ask about his remarks about Dickie Dannatt 's remarks about his brave soldiers being paid less than traffic wardens, and his own unfortunate remarks last year explaining that they were so low paid they couldn't get decent jobs like traffic wardens in civvy street - 6th June Sir Richard Dannatt - War Criminal - Sunday, June 08, 2008
Running the Armed Forces and insulting them simultaneously - a Politicians trick

It was a pity that Mr Stourton didn't ask about sending ships with nothing to launch but a book because their missiles had been stored to "save money" - Saturday, June 07, 2008 Royal Navy ships at sea without Sea Dart guided missiles - to save money - but helping Sebastian Faulks to make lots of it

Nor did he ask any unwelcome questions about replacement tankers ( whose PFI funding is threatened even further by the unwelcome news that "monoline" insurers Ambac and MBIA who insure such PFI projects lost their "AAA" rating from Standard & Poor's last week) - Wednesday, January 30, 2008 AirTankers - MOD PFI financing suffers from Ambac credit rating downgrade - will / can the banks agree a financing deal ?

Nor was he asked about the aerial war and the loss of civilian lives and maiming of women and children as a result of the intensive bombing / strafing ... Saturday, December 22, 2007 Massive escalation in aerial bombing in Iraq and Afghanistan. and see Tuesday, February 19, 2008 Bomb,Bomb,Iran ! Why bother there's plenty of Iraq and Afghanistan left yet

Nor was he asked about the unbeleivable cock up over supply of helicopters and pilots and the massive and incredibly costly shambles of supplying Chinooks - which will happen ..er... well probably ..er.. next year Chinook - National Audit Office - yet more MOD procurement shambles exposed Helicopter suppotr for lifting men and material forcing troops on to roads (leading to looses from mines and IED's has not improved since 2006 - Wednesday, June 04, 2008
We need more, newer helicopters, say stressed pilots (2006)

Professor Clarke and Secretary Browne had 15 minutes running time and blathered, Stourton gave them an easy ride except from asking about the Mayor of Kabul.

Royal Navy fuck up their story .. again .. time travellers ..

James Sherwin, of the Directorate of Joint Comunications, Iraq, based in Zone K, Floor 4 , MOD Main Building, Whitehall SW1A 2HB (Tel 020 7218 9000) is a very remarkable man.

He received an enquiry from a Mr Seale dated 3rd April 2007 regarding the position of the (still unnamed) merchant vessel from which a Royal Naval boarding party was spectactularly seized in March.

James Sherwin answered Mr Seale's enquiry with a letter dated the day prior to Mr Seale's enquiry - April 2nd 2007. (click here to enlarge)

This should not suprise because Mr Sherwin's helpful letter revealed the 2 sets of co-ordinates released to locate the (stil unnamed) boarded vessel, both in text and as a photograph of a civilian GPS device viz;

Text - 29 Deg 50.36 min. N - 048 Deg 43.55 min E
Photo- 29 Deg 50.174 min. N - 048 Deg 43.544 min E

It also reveals that the helicopter photo was taken 2 DAYS later and that the ship had dragged it's anchor by ..er .... UP TO 300 metres....which explained the possible discrepancy in the two locations... No time/date stamped dataloggers in the Royal Navy !

All this is revealed at Friends of Craig Murray who show how, according to their evidently very precise and standardised calculations. that the distance between the 2 points is actually 820 metres.... er .. not "up to 300 metres". Does this remind you of the BBC R4 comedy program with John Pertwee in the '6's "Up Shit Creek without a Paddle"

The Friends conclude ..

Firstly, the efforts to present the British case appear shabby and amateurish. It is also plainly dishonest. A publicity photograph was blatantly misrepresented by the MOD as being the site of the incident when it is actually a photograph of a position nearly one kilometer away. Secondly, the mainstream media fell for the publicity photograph very nicely, failed to check the accuracy of the MOD press release and allowed inaccurate information to be widely disseminated without correction.

This demonstrates that the Royal Navy are incompetent or dishonest or both. Collectors of Civil Service letters that are received the day for they are sent will of course remember when Sir Ian Blair wrote to Sir John Geive about the murder by the Metropolitan Police of Mr de Menezes he received it the day before Sir Ian sent it.

Or do these liars simply live on another planet .. part of the Space / Time continuum ? Or do they simply don't know which day of the fucking week it is.

PS Toni Fabuloso is to make an FOI request to see if Mr Sherwin is a candidate for the curious "Alpha" program that General Dannatt is so keen on.

Watch last Monday's blog for a reply.

Iraq - OUT - OUT- OUT Blair - OUT- OUT- OUT

In February 2003 Tony Blair ignored a million marching citizens.

It is evident from Blunkett's indiscretions, Clare Short's spurned woman's vitriol, Robin Cook's measured remarks and Michael Meacher's ramblings he also ignored (and rode roughshod over it) hisCabinet and most of his backbenchers (courtesy HM Opposition).

It remains to be seen if the remarkable, constitutionally groundbreaking broadside from the new CGS, General Sir Richard Dannatt in today's Daily Mail is dealt with in the same way.

Such sniping at HMG in the pages of the Daily Mail is usually conducted in an arcane code by ex-Generals from the cozy perlieus of St James, or broad Sussex acres.

Sir Richard's knees were hardly under his desk and he was pointing out the immense problems in Afghanistan.

Now he says, the jig is up in Iraq, we should never have been there, and now (3 years and 650,000 dead Iraqis later) he says we should get out.

Time for another march on the citadel.

...... or another terrist "outrage".

Running the Armed Forces and insulting them simultaneously - a Politicians trick

Des Browne the intellectually challenged Scots solicitor spoke to the Royal British Legion's Scottish annual conference last June. His dull speech has now been published as part of the papers for the 2008 conference ending today in Perth. His remarks, about servicemen' s pay, unreported at the time, have timely appeal to historians , military amputees and the guys who tighten up the nuts, wipe an oily rag over the engine and kick the tyres of the Tornado GR7A's, Chinooks, Merlins, Apaches in the balmy and delightful region of Kandahar.

The part time Defence Secretary last year asked hundreds of delegates from Legion branches: "Why don't we pay servicemen and women in a comparative rate to uniformed organisations in civilian street?"

They cheered him to the rafters when he replied ;

"I have to say the honest answer to that, for a number of young people, particularly those who join the Army, before they join the Army, they would not have been accepted by any of these organisations. "

So, Tommy Atkins is too stupid to be a Traffic warden, Community walker abouter with a yellow jacket, maybe, even a school crossing attendant .... a word of advice Des, keep that to yourself when you next visit Bagram wiith a massive security detail.

Wat Tyler (who sounds supiciously like an accountant on the loose) @ Burning our Money in his post on Thursday "The Army And The Navy Need Attention " provides a detailed and usefully annotated breakdown of squaddies pay

According to the cash-strapped MOD, Dannatt's pay discrepancy claims are simply untrue. According to their version, an 18 year old private in Afghanistan gets a fairly healthy sounding £26 grand package, comprising:

• Salary: £16,227
• Operational Allowance: (182 days) £2,380.56 (during six month tour of Afghanistan)
• Longer Separation Allowance: (182 days) £1,132.04
• Other perks including dental care and free eye tests: £510
• Financial assistance for learning costs: £2,175
• Subsidised living accommodation: £425.83
• Estimated annual employers' pension contribution: £3,148.04
• Total: £25,998.47

Which is more than a traffic warden, widely reported today to be on £17,000 pa. So the General is way offbeam. .. well up to a point Lord Copper says Wat.

The average pay of traffic wardens is higher than £17 grand. According to the Office of national Statistics ONS, in April 2007 it was running at £20,526 pa - call it £21 grand today. Wat then proceeds to break down the supposed benefits our squaddie enjoys in a detailed and devstating analysis , from cockroach infested flats to being provided with a hospital bed when his legs are blown away. Wat calculates the squaddie ends up net,net with less than the overworked and well liked and respected traffic warden. Read it.

He also supplies the following (MOD ?) chart which reveals a fascinating tale of decline and a continuing recruitment and retainment problem...

As Wat says, ".. our armed forces have been under strength thoughout the last decade - at current rates of pay, they just can't attract and retain enough Tommies and jolly Jack Tars."

Which Dickie Dannat and his gold braided predecessors have, from the evidence of the above chart, have been keenly aware about this accelerating problem for years decades.

Those interested in recent history might like to ponder why we are throwing more ill eqipped, ill trained troops, with insufficient ISTAR capability, helicopter lifting capability wich is putting such an enormous strain on the guys who couldn't hold a job down issuing parking tickets.

They may also like to reconsider why we are in Afghanistan especially after reading Des Browne's fellow scot John "we won't fire a single shot" Reid's response to the question Anne Milton raised 27th Feb 2006 in the House of Commons .

"If he will list the aims of the UK deployment to southern Afghanistan. "

There is an interesting set of pics from Afghanistan / Helmand / Gordon Brown etc on Flikr by Jim Birt - from which the above has been taken. Thanks Jim.

General Sir David Richards -- fit for purpose ???

Chief of the General Staff General Sir Richard Dannatt is pleased to announce that Her Majesty The Queen has graciously approved his recommendation that he be succeeded by General Sir David Richards. Currently serving as Commander-in-Chief Land Forces, General Sir David Richards will take up post as Chief of the General Staff in August 2009.

This was the same General Sir David Richards who as Lieutenant-General David Richards was the the commander of the British contingent of Nato forces in Afghanistan and whose gay club bouncer and dance instructor from Brighton and salsa-dancing Territorial Army interpreter Corporal Daniel James, 44, (AKA "General James " and originally Esmail Mohammed Beigi Gamasai)a military intelligence officer is currently in the Old Bailey charged under section one (1) (C), of the Official Secrets Act 1911 - that on 2 November 2007, for a purpose prejudicial to the safety of the state, he “communicated to another person information calculated to be directly or indirectly useful to the enemy” ...plus a charge of wilful misconduct, .

General Sir David Richards who as Lieutenant-General David Richards was the the commander of the British contingent of Nato forces in Afghanistan and was referred to by American supreme commander of NATO at the time, General Jim Jones, who was happy to let it be publicly known , that Lieutenant-General David Richards "would have been sacked if he had been an American officer". and that he was "too political". December 6th 2006

In a fascinating performance last week at the Old Bailey General Richards, appeared as a prosecution witness and said that on occasions he had whispered to James, telling him to lower his voice and stop acting the part of a general.

Asked whether he knew that Corporal James had begun calling himself General James, he said: “I didn't know that but it doesn't surprise me.”

General Richards, now Commander-in-Chief Land Command, said that the corporal had a character that “bordered on the bizarre”. He admitted that he was “completely dependent” on him because there was no alternative, and his previous interpreter, a captain, had not been good enough.

"He was very ebullient, something of a Walter Mitty character," said Gen Richards. "He obviously didn't mind being pointed out. "We have a floppy sun hat to keep the sun off and he would wear a cape-y thing at the back. He would also go to the gym a lot and he was keen to look after himself. He liked the limelight a lot."

Maj James Driscoll, who worked as the general's military assistant, said he found Mr James to be "always polite" although he sometimes had a "slightly overinflated opinion of himself".