Dear Sir John,

Since Gordon Brown’s session last Friday (5 March 2010) two former Chiefs of the Defence Staff (Admiral Lord Boyce and General Lord Guthrie) and a former Chief of the General Staff ( General Sir Richard Dannatt), all highly respected men of great integrity, have made public statements completely contrary to, and directly challenging, what Gordon Brown said during his session regarding resourcing and equipping our Armed Forces.

‘There is a strong case for you to recall Gordon Brown for further testimony in front of your inquiry after the upcoming General Election.

‘I fully understand why you do not want your inquiry to be involved with party politics but I do think that it is important to get the truth in this matter even if this cannot happen until after the election.

Yours Sincerely
Dr Liam Fox MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

The case for seeking this clarification?

Lord Guthrie

‘The military wanted to do many things but because of his attitude they were unable to fund properly the Strategic Defence Review (1998) which the Cabinet had approved, especially at a time when other departments were being showered with money.

The Ministry of Defence received the bare minimum from the chancellor, who wanted to give the military as little as he could get away with. The increases that we had in budget were small and did not take into account the above-inflation cost rises of defence….He ‘cannot get away with saying, “I gave them everything they asked for.” That is simply disingenuous’ (The Daily Telegraph, 6 March 2010).

Lord Boyce

‘He’s dissembling, he’s being disingenuous. It’s just not the case that the Ministry of Defence was given everything it needed. There may have been a 1.5 per cent increase in the defence budget but the MoD was starved of funds’ (The Times, 6 March 2010).

General Dannatt

‘In front of Chilcot, he did not address the issue of the underlying underfunding of defence that has been endemic since the Strategic Defence Review of 1997/98.

Implementation of that otherwise excellent Review was hobbled from the start by the Treasury under Gordon Brown not only not fully funding the outcome of the Review, but imposing a three per cent year on year efficiency savings target. To that deficient baseline needs to be added the reopening of the MoD’s budget in 2003, a re-examination of the rules and the effective removal of a £1 billion year on year – what Sir Kevin Tebbit referred to as “guillotining” of the defence budget… Furthermore, despite the Government increasing the headline figure of the defence budget on an annual basis, the uplift to match general inflation was below that of defence inflation, which habitually runs at several percentage points higher.

So the net effect over recent years has been that the real value – the purchasing power – of the defence budget has decreased every year, and the pressure on the MoD and the Armed Forces has increased’ …no amount of rewriting history can compensate for the years when he neither understood defence properly nor was persuaded to pay for it fully’ (The Sunday Telegraph, 7 March 2010).

Seem pretty clear to me!

This video is worthy of your attention.

This week his mother (Jacqui) received a personal letter of acknowledgement from the Prime Minister for his part in protecting the streets of Britain.

Describing the content and the state of the letter she said it was

[a] hastily scrawled insult

Further stating

[the letter was] scrawled so quickly I could hardly even read it [and] some of the words were half-finished

As if this wasn’t insult enough Gordon Brown even spelt Guardsman Janes name incorrectly!

That’s as disrespectful as you can get Gordon, you should be very ashamed of yourself.

A Downing St source said

[PM] took a great deal of time writing to bereaved relatives

One can only assume then that there are far too many families of far too many murdered Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen for the Prime Minister of Great Britain to keep on top of.

If that’s the case Gordon, pull our troops out and while you’re at it stand down and let someone with some basic human respect and competence do the job!

In his statement he said

Brown’s either a liar or hasn’t a clue about what’s going on. He should do the right thing and quit

It was revealed within the past few days that Colonel Thorneloe had previously (less than a month before his death) warned about the shortage of helicopters available and in service.

In a briefing for his superior officers he made clear his concerns that British troops would die because they were being forced to travel by road instead of air, effectively making them sitting ducks for the Taliban.

Prior to their death by roadside bomb Colonel Thorneloe, 39, described in June that helicopter operations in the war zone not fit for purpose. Further claiming that he had access to virtually no helicopters that would facilitate him moving up to 800 troops by air.

Exactly 3 weeks after the bomb that killed Colonel Thorneloe and Trooper Hammond the Prime Minister told Parliament

It is completely wrong to say that the loss of lives has been caused by the absence of helicopters

Unsurprisingly Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell said he did not believe any UK troops had lost their lives in Afghanistan due to a lack of helicopters.

It is the role of the Armed Forces Minister to be briefed by senior military figures and act on that advice weighing up time, cost and performance. Clearly Bill Rammell is being briefed as to the grave consequences of the savage Defence cuts but failing to correctly apply the formula for preservation of life and application of common sense.

Whilst one man clings on to his job because he is so arrogant in his misguided beliefs more innocent members of HM Forces will continue to die in vain.

Gordon, listen to Peter Hammond, do the right thing and resign, now!

Taxi for the Defence Secretary?

The Defence Secretary had sought to get the TA cut under the barrier without too much fuss but had forgotten to inform his boss that such choices were in the offing, if he did inform the PM then somebody is not telling the truth. This became evident when a Downing Street spokesman claimed

The Prime Minister is not going to be aware of every single proposal in every single department. Clearly the TA is one that has been of interest to people both inside and outside Parliament

Quite what the PM has in mind for the Defence Secretary will become clear within the next few days but Bob who’s clearly never been comfortable in the role (and more importantly never been up to the challenge) will never again hold such a powerful role in the Government or even in the official Opposition.

What you don’t do when your leader is as weak and desperate as Gordon Brown currently is is to sideline him in your decision making process unless you have delusions of grandeur or unless you are totally inept and not fit for purpose.

I don’t think Bob Ainsworth MP has any desires to be leadership material so that just leaves…

Immediately following a routine air-to-air refuelling (15:30hrs) XV230 a Nimrod MR2 from 120Sqn RAF Kinloss suffered a fire within the Bomb bay (15:41hrs) minutes later a second fire spread throughout the fuselage (15:46hrs) before XV230 exploded (15:47hrs) immediately killing all 12 crew and 2 passengers:

May they be at peace with their Creator

Flight Lieutenant Allan James Squires, 39, from Clatterbridge (Pilot and Captain)

Flight Lieutenant Steven Johnson, 38, from Collingham, Notts. (Weapon System Officer (Navigator))

Flight Lieutenant Gareth Rodney Nicholas, 40, from Redruth, Cornwall (Weapons Systems Officer (Air Electronics Officer))

Flight Lieutenant Steven Swarbrick, 28, from Liverpool (Pilot)

Flight Lieutenant Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, 28, from Bournemouth (Weapon System Officer (Navigator))

Flight Sergeant Adrian Davies, 49, from Amersham, Bucks. (Air Engineer)

Flight Sergeant Gary Wayne Andrews, 48, from Tankerton, Kent (Weapon System Operator)

Flight Sergeant Gerard Martin Bell, 48, from Ely, Cambs. (Weapon System Operator)

Flight Sergeant Stephen Beattie, 42, from Dundee (Weapons Systems Operator)

Sergeant Gary Paul Quilliam, 42, from Manchester (Weapons Systems Operator)

Sergeant Benjamin James Knight, 25, from Bridgewater (Weapons Systems Operator)

Sergeant John Joseph Langton, 29, from Liverpool (Weapons Systems Operator)

Marine Joseph David Windall, aged 22, Royal Marines

Corporal Oliver Simon Dicketts, 27, Parachute Regiment

Why am I choosing to write this now?

Today, finally, the results of an independent review into the tragedy carried out by Charles Haddon-Cave QC will be published.

We already know that following an inquest in 2008, a coroner ruled that a serious design flaw in the ageing aircraft meant the entire Nimrod fleet was unsafe to fly and it never had been airworthy [causes of the accident listed at foot of post]

Why am I overly concerned? Because this time it’s personal!

When you read the list of names above that is probably all it is to you, a list.

To me it is a walk down memory lane.

I can count at least 3 on the list that I call friends.

I can count 12 on the list who would come into my office on a daily basis to collect certain equipment to allow them to do their job.

I can count 5 on the list who I have served overseas with on Operations. Furthermore, I have flown in XV230 on a number of occasions courtesy of 120Sqn.

Every name on the list was and in my opinion still is a professional. Doing the job they chose, the job they loved and I can assure you they all had a great time doing what they loved.

The crew knew the state of the aircraft, the RAF knew the state of the Nimrod fleet, we all knew but it was still damned good at its job so it kept on doing it.

I am proud to say I served the Nimrod fleet on my penultimate tour within the RAF towards the end of 24 years service and it was one of the best times I had.

You can be assured that I shall be reading the findings this afternoon with a little more interest than most and hoping that it goes someway to comforting the families and loved ones of my friends and colleagues.

RIP.

CAUSES:
As the Board was unable to investigate XV230′s wreckage at the crash site and it proved impossible to recover more than a few small components from the aircraft, the Board has been unable to determine positively the source or cause of the fire which led to the loss of XV230 and its crew. Nonetheless, through investigation of the limited data available, the Board was able to deduce the most probable location of the fire, a number of probable causes of that event and factors which possibly contributed to it:
a. The escape of fuel during AAR, occasioned by an overflow from No 1 tank, or a leak from the fuel system (fuel coupling or pipe), led to an accumulation of fuel within the No 7 tank dry bay. Although of a lower probability, the fuel leak could have been caused by a hot air leak damaging fuel system seals.
b. The ignition of that fuel following contact with an exposed element of the aircraft’s crossfeed/ SCP pipe work.
CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS:
a. The age of the Nimrod MR2′s non-structural system components.
b. Nimrod MR2 maintenance policy in relation to fuel and hot air systems.
c. The lack of a fire detection and suppression system within the No 7 tank dry bay.
d. The fact that hazard analysis did not correctly categorize the potential threat to the aircraft caused by the collocation of fuel and hot air system components within the No 7 tank dry bay.
e. The formal incorporation of AAR capability within the Nimrod did not identify the full implications of successive changes to the fuel system and associated procedures.
AGGRAVATING FACTOR:
a. The loss of flying controls through fire damage to the hydraulic systems or cables and pulleys.

However, given that these reviews come around every 7 years or so in one form or another they should always be completely independent.

The problem is though, the PLP is in danger of briefing out certain parameters before any review is conducted or even sourced.

The Royal Navy has an order in place for 2 65,000 ton Aircraft Carriers (Queen Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales) that will carry up to 40 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) and have been billed as the biggest and most powerful warships ever constructed for the Royal Navy.

It’s just that it isn’t likely to happen. It is too late for the RN to pull out of the contract due to financial penalties so the Government are likely to propose that the Prince of Wales be downgraded to a commando ship that would carry only helicopters and troops.

If this act of sabotage comes to pass this once great sea-faring nation will be forced to ‘borrow’ an Aircraft Carrier from the French! This has already been addressed by French president Nicolas Sarkozy when he suggested to Gordon Brown that both countries ‘co-ordinate’ carrier building programmes.

Dr Liam Fox MP the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence went on record as saying

any decision to axe a carrier before the review would be absolutely unacceptable and typical of the Government’s chaotic, inconsistent and incompetent defence procurement policy.

He further stated

The Government is saying it is fully committed-to the carriers while at the same time forcing them to be cut…it is confusing for the Navy, it is confusing for industry and it is completely inconsistent with the whole concept of running an independent defence review.

An MOD spokesman stated that Bob Ainsworth MP ‘remained 100% committed’ to the Aircraft Carriers.

Why is the MOD briefing out for the Defence Secretary? Is there something he is not telling us?

I fear for our Armed Forces, Civil Servants and Public Services in the coming months as the Government does what it can to cling to power whilst using all and sundry as their pawns resulting in the Conservative Government post General Election having their hands tied with terrible financial restriction as Darling and Brown attempt to spend every last penny this country has to its name.

As the title suggests, it is logical to conclude that a Defence Review should be just that, a review undertaken without prejudice and a series of findings produced for which to act upon, NOT the other way around.

Bloggers and the mainstream Media are joining them in their joyful celebrations.

Certainly, on the face of it, today’s announcement that there will be a deciding round of the presidential poll on 7 November, pitting Hamid Karzai against Abdullah Abdullah for one last time is a pretty big thing.

Perhaps something worth celebrating?

Perhaps, some may even see it as justice for the myriad of deaths that were caused (from all sides) during Panther’s claw.

Personally I am not celebrating, I would like to think that the whole situation would better itself and peace and harmony can preside over a nation that has seen more than its fair share of bloodshed.

Alas, we do not live in a Utopian society and last time I looked no other system of Government offered those values either.

The nub of the problem for me is that the August election took many months of planning, many thousands of heavily armed troops on the ground securing areas so that honest people could go and place a tick in a box (that’s why I get passionate about voter apathy in the UK) and as a result many deaths occurred.

Ballot papers were sold cheaply, ballot papers were sold by the handful, by the hundred, thousand. Multiple ballot papers were issued to individuals. Valid papers were withdrawn after the poll closed. The list of corruption is almost endless.

No amount of intervention could secure an honest election let alone an honest result on the day so why are people so willing to believe it will be any different this time around after only 17 days planning? Simple answer: it won’t!

I know that the Media and the bloggers have faith and hopes and that is a good thing to have; even old sceptical me had those once but I have learnt to look closer at the details, read the small print and I certainly don’t sign unless I damn well have to.

Let’s take a look at a remarkably similar situation that took place elsewhere quite recently, Zimbabwe.

Robert Mugabe has held the office of Head of State in a variety of forms since 1980. In the 2008 election the main Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai (it is believed) defeated the incumbent but faced charge upon charge of false accusations as Mugabe clung to power.

In the face of horrific treatment and overwhelming personal tragedy Morgan Tsvangirai stood by and never faltered, his people backed him to win and win he did, but not in the conventional way.

By facing up to the truth and doing the very best he could he accepted the role of Prime Minister in a Unity Government with President Mugabe.

Afghanistan: It is quite clear that something must be done Very soon hence the extremely short time frame. The alternative option is to sit and wait until the spring but President Obama has made it clear his commitment of 40,000 troops is dependent on having a working Government solution in place.

I personally believe by the first week in November there will be draft plans in place with all Party support for a Unity Government which will form the basis of a broad based coalition governing body thereby allowing both Karzai and Abdullah to share power and more importantly to give the Afghan people a better chance than what is on the table at this moment in time without the need for the vote-off.

Gordon Brown is expected to announce a further 500 troops are to be sent to Afghanistan in the House today but that announcement will be overshadowed by something far grimmer.

During the 82 day holiday enjoyed by our [for the large part] elected representatives the War continued unabated in Afghanistan.

During the conference period brave men were dying.

During the {silly} season brave men were being maimed.

In the House of Commons today the Prime Minister will read out the roll call of those who have laid down their lives in the name of our country, in the name of our Government in the name of the vain.

His words promise to bring a tear to hundreds if not thousands of people across the land as they remember those that perhaps they never knew.

My only hope is that the Prime Minister does not stoop to his general low standards in the minutes following this reading with his usual partisan rhetoric whilst failing to answer any and all questions put to him in the House.

The fallen:

July

Rifleman Aminiasi Toge
Corporal Joseph Etchells
Captain Daniel Shepherd
Guardsman Christopher King
Bombardier Craig Hopson
Warrant Officer Class2 Sean Upton
Trooper Phillip Lawrence

August

Craftsman Anthony Lombardi
Corporal Kevin Mulligan
Lance Corporal Dale Hopkins
Private Kyle Adams
Private Jason Williams
Captain Mark Hale
Rifleman Daniel Wild
Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton
Private Richard Hunt
Sergeant Simon Valentine
Fusilier Simon Annis
Fusilier Louis Carter
Lance Corporal James Fullarton
Sergeant Paul McAleese
Private Johnathon Young
Fusilier Shaun Bush
{An unnamed Royal Marine}
Sergeant Stuart Millar
Private Kevin Elliott

September

Lance Corporal Richard Brandon
Private Gavin Elliott
Corporal John Harrison
Kingsman Jason Dunn-Bridgeman
Trooper Brett Hall
Acting Sergeant Stuart McGrath
Acting Sergeant Michael Lockett
Private James Prosser

October

Acting Corporal Marcin Wojtak
Guardsman Jamie Janes
Lance Corporal James Hill

The good people of Great Britain, whatever your faith, whatever your politics, whatever your desires I implore you, PLEASE NEVER FORGET.

Corporal Lockett, a father of three, was the first holder of the Military Cross to be killed in the war and had recently received the honour from the Queen for his ‘absolutely exceptional leadership and supreme courage’ in a clash with the Taliban in Helmand.

This picture was taken of 1 Platoon in 2007 now 2 years later it is wise to see where the individuals are:

1 Platoon (2007) click to enlarge

1 Michael Lockett. Then aged 27, from Angus. Vowed never to leave any of his men behind on the battlefield and did not. The body of colleague Private Botha was recovered from the Taliban and other wounded British soldiers saved. Promoted to sergeant. Received his MC from the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Killed on September 21.

2 Private ‘Ginge’ Jones. Territorial Army soldier from Hastings, East Sussex. Now studying military history at university.

3 Corporal Ben Umney, 25. A section commander from Chesterfield. During an ambush, a bullet pierced his helmet but not his skull, stunning him. Has just left the Army after 11 years service. Now runs his own plumbing business.

4 Corporal Lee ‘Al’ Hodson from Worcester. On active service again in Helmand.

5 Private Matthew Farr from the West Midlands. Promoted to lance corporal. Returned to active service in Helmand.

6 Lance Corporal Jonathan McEwan, 27, from Retford, Nottinghamshire. On active service again in Helmand.

7 Christopher Bell, 20, from Redditch. Left the Army last year.

8 Lance Corporal Lee Weston. Shot and wounded in the shoulder during the night ambush. Has now left the Army and is a qualified mechanic.

9 Lance Corporal Wayne Russen, 24, from Redditch. Avoided the ambush, having been injured in an attack a few days before. Has since left the Army and is looking for work.

10 Private Kyle Drury, 22. Temporarily blinded by phosphorous during ambush and shot in chest, but was saved by his body armour as bullets deflected off his radio. Since promoted to lance corporal and still in the Army.

11 Private ‘Trout’ Stout, 20, from Nottingham. On active service again in Helmand.

12 Private Latham, 20, from Nottingham. Since promoted to lance corporal. Back on the Helmand frontline.

13 Private Luke Cole, 24, from Wolverhampton. Territorial Army reservist. Shot and wounded in initial ambush, but refused morphine treatment and continued to fire at Taliban and tend to even more seriously hurt colleague Private Cooper.

Shot again, through hip and stomach, before being evacuated several hours later. Awarded the Military Cross for his bravery. Permanently disabled by leg wound, he has spent time in a wheelchair and can no longer run. Unable to return to his former job of fork-lift truck engineer.

Currently retraining at specialist college for the disabled.

14 Private Sam Cooper, 18, from Chesterfield. Youngest soldier in regiment. Shot in head and suffered brain damage in the ambush, which affects his speech and one side of his body. Treated at Headley Court rehabilitation centre.

15 Private Daniel Hammer, 19, from the West Midlands. On active service again in Helmand.

16 Lieutenant Simon Cupples, 25, from Chesterfield. Officer in command of the platoon during ambush. At times, was less than 20 metres from Taliban lines as he fought to remove his men from the ‘killing zone’.

Awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, second only to the Victoria Cross. Now promoted to Captain and second in command of A (Grenadier) Company, 2 Mercians.

17 Privater Ben Johnson, 23. Temporarily blinded by phosphorus during the night ambush. Still serving. Has been on active service again in Helmand.

18 Private Matthew Carling, 21, from Derby. Left the Army last year.

19 Private ‘Dunc’ Dunkley, from Nottingham. No longer in the Army.

Whilst it seems the Government is content to treat our Forces with contempt and will forget their sacrifice the British public never will.

It is but a simple gesture but one worthy of support. Consider that these guys and girls have been dry for up to 6 months living in turmoil with shelling and fighting almost on a daily basis. What easier way to say THANK YOU?

Reach For The Beer!

Steve Chadwick explains

The principle is that a single can of cold beer thrust into the hand of a soldier once the TriStar is safely away from the ground and out of harm’s way marks the point at which he knows he is going home after six months of fighting.

It is just a token, but an important one

On average 216 Squadron carries approximately 1,000 servicemen and women a week between Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan and RAF Brize Norton. That’s a lot of beer by anyone’s standard.

Dutch brewer Grolsch have offered up 10,000 cans to assist this cause whilst previously support has come from Scottish and Newcastle, Veterans’ Associations and City of London guilds.

With RAF Brize Norton nestling neatly in the midst of Witney which boasts David Cameron MP as their Parliamentary representative it is the supposition of this Parlez~me~’n~Tory that this may make bigger headlines in the months to come which can only be a good thing.

Anyone who wants to contribute to the Beer for the boys fund can either support via the site or send a cheque, made payable to ”SIF Funds, RAF Brize Norton” and with ”Beer for the boys” written on the back, to Wing Cdr Chadwick at 216 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire OX18 3LX.

It is customary for tales of woe and utter rubbish to come out in swathes during August as our gracious ministers trek the landscape in search of photo opportunities or in Hattie Harman’s case any opportunities.

Some things though should be off the menu, untouchable and fit into the retract that now bracket. Attempting to gain Political points out of our Troops at War is one that fits squarely in the latter category.

First of all we have the Defence Secretary, Bob Ainsworth (Numpty Dumpty) stating 5 days ago that it is this country that is letting down the troops in Afghanistan!

Numpty Dumpty will have a great fall!

Some in the UK believe the fight is not worth it

In what was seen as an obvious attack on the Conservative Party he claimed

This defeatism has been exacerbated by political arguments about British troop levels, vehicles and helicopters that often misunderstand the nature of coalition warfare

Well, Mr Ainsworth, I have seen coalition warfare first hand, I do not misunderstand it but have to tell you straight up that you so very clearly do!

Couple that little nugget bluff with yesterday’s ludicrous statement from Numpty Dumpty that troops will be out of Afghanisan ‘in a year or so’ and you begin to see how out of his depth this guy really is.

Less than 24 hours later and we have General Sir Richard Dannatt batting for the opposition so to speak by announcing British troops face five more years in Afghanistan. Considering this is the Head of The British Army that is quite a stance to take and follows on from last months battles between the Government and Senior Military figures.

However, and it would seem that General Sir David Richards who takes over General Dannatt slot at the end of the month is siding with the Defence Secretary by claiming There is no difference between my views and those of the Secretary of State.

Quite a stark contrast to your recent claim that

Britain would remain in Afghanistan for 30 or 40 years

Which leads Parlez~me~’n~Tory to wonder just what other perks came with the new job?

The Nation will NOT forget you

TOP ROW: Pte Darren John George, 23; Cpl John Gregory, 30; Sgt Robert Busuttil, 30; Pte Jonathan Kitulagoda, 23, Lance Cpl Steven Sherwood, 23; Cpl Mark Cridge, 25; Lance Cpl Peter Edward Craddock, 31; Capt Jim Philippson, 29; Sgt Paul Bartlett, 35; Capt David Patten, 38; Lance Cpl Jabron Hashmi, 24; Cpl Peter Thorpe, 27; Pte Damien Jackson, 19; Lance Cpl Ross Nicholls, 27; Second Lieutenant Ralph Johnson, 24; Capt Alex Eida, 29; Pte Andrew Barrie Cutts, 19; Pte Leigh Reeves, 25

SECOND ROW: Lance Cpl Sean Tansey, 26; Cpl Bryan James Budd, 29; Lance Cpl Jonathan Peter Hetherington, 22; Ranger Anare Draiva, 27; Marine Joseph David Windall, 22; Cpl Oliver Simon Dicketts, 27; Sgt Gary Paul Quilliam, 42; Sgt John Joseph Langton, 29; Sgt Benjamin James Knight, 25; Flight Sgt Adrian Davies, 49; Flight Sgt Gerard Martin Bell, 48; Flight Sgt Stephen Beattie, 42; Flight Sgt Gary Wayne Andrews, 48; Flight Lieutenant Steven Swarbrick, 28; Flight Lieutenant Allan James Squires, 39; Flight Lieutenant Gareth Rodney Nicholas, 40; Flight Lieutenant Leigh Anthony Mitchelmore, 28; Flight Lieutenant Steven Johnson, 38

THIRD ROW: Pte Craig O’Donnell, 24; Cpl Mark William Wright, 27; Lance Cpl Luke McCulloch, 21; Lance Cpl Paul Muirhead, 29; Marine Gary Wright, 22; Marine Jonathan Wigley, 21; Marine Richard J Watson, 23; Lance Bombardier James Dwyer, 22; Marine Thomas Curry, 21; Lance Cpl Mathew Ford, 30; Marine Jonathan Holland, 23; Marine Scott Summers, 23; Lance Bombardier Ross Clark, 25; Lance Bombardier Liam McLaughlin, 21; Marine Benjamin Reddy, 22; Warrant Officer Class 2 Michael ‘Mick’ Smith, 39; Pte Chris Gray, 19; Guardsman Simon Davison, 22

FOURTH ROW: Lance Cpl George Russell Davey, 23; Guardsman Daniel Probyn, 22; Cpl Darren Bonner, 31; Cpl Mike Gilyeat, 28; Lance Cpl Paul ‘Sandy’ Sandford, 23; Guardsman Neil ‘Tony’ Downes, 20; Drummer Thomas Wright, 21; Capt Sean Dolan, 40; Sgt Dave Wilkinson, 33; Guardsman Daryl Hickey, 27; Lance Cpl Alex Hawkins, 22; Guardsman David Atherton, 25; Sgt Barry Keen, 34; Lance Cpl Michael Jones, 26; Pte Tony Rawson, 27; Capt David Hicks, 26; Pte Aaron James McClure, 19; Pte Robert Graham Foster, 19

FIFTH ROW: Pte John Thrumble, 21; Senior Aircraftman Christopher Bridge, 20; Pte Damian Wright, 23; Pte Ben Ford, 18; Pte Johan Botha, 25; Sgt Craig Brelsford, 25; Lance Cpl Ivano Violino, 29; Colour Sgt Phillip Newman, 36; Pte Brian Tunnicliffe, 33; Major Alexis Roberts, 32; Lance Cpl Jake Alderton, 22; Capt John McDermid, 43; Trooper Jack Sadler, 21; Sgt Lee Johnson, 33; Cpl Darryl Gardiner, 25; Cpl Damian Stephen Lawrence, 25; Royal Marine Cpl Damian Mulvihill, 32; Marine David ‘Dave’ Marsh, 23

SIXTH ROW: Lieutenant John ‘JT’ Thornton, 22; Senior Aircraftman Graham Livingstone, 23; Senior Aircraftman Gary Thompson, 51; Trooper Robert Pearson, 22; Trooper Ratu Babakobau, 29; James Thompson, 27 (no rank given); Dale Gostick, 22 (no rank given); Pte Charles Murray, 19; Pte Daniel Gamble, 22; Pte Nathan Cuthbertson-19; Lance Cpl James Bateman, 29; Pte Jeff Doherty, 20; Cpl Sean Robert Reeve, 28; Paul Stout, 31; Cpl Sarah Bryant, 26; Lance Cpl Richard Larkin, 39; Michael Williams, 40; Pte Joe Whittaker, 20

SEVENTH ROW: Warrant Officer Dan Shirley, 32; Lance Cpl James Johnson, 31; Cpl Jason Stuart Barnes, 25; Lance Cpl Kenneth Michael Rowe, 24; Sgt Jonathan William Mathews, 35; Pte Peter Cowton, 25; Signaller Wayne Bland, 21; Cpl Barry Dempsey, 29; Ranger Justin James Cupples, 29; Warrant Officer Class 2 Gary O’Donnell, 40; Pte Jason Lee Rawstron, 23; Lance Cpl Nicky Mason, 26; Trooper James Munday, 21; Rifleman Yubraj Rai, 28; Royal Marine Neil Dunstan, 32; Royal Marine Robert McKibben, 32; Colour Sgt Krishnabahadur Dura, 36; Marine Alexander Lucas, 24

EIGHTH ROW: Marine Georgie Sparks, 19; Marine Tony Evans, 20; Cpl Marc Birch, 26; Sgt John Manuel, 38; Marine Damian Davies, 27; Lance Cpl Steven ‘Jamie’ Fellows, 26; Lieutenant Aaron Lewis, 26; Rifleman Stuart Nash, 21; Cpl Robert Deering, 33; Lance Cpl Benjamin Whatley, 20; Cpl Liam Elms, 26; Serjeant Chris Reed, 25; Marine Travis Mackin, 22; Capt Tom Sawyer, 26; Cpl Danny Winter, 28; Acting Cpl Richard ‘Robbo’ Robinson, 21; Cpl Daniel ‘Danny’ Nield, 31; Marine Darren Smith, 27

NINTH ROW: Lance Cpl Stephen Kingscott, 22; Rifleman Jamie Gunn, 21; Lance Cpl Paul Upton, 31; Cpl Tom Gaden, 24; Marine Michael Laski, 21; Lance Cpl Christopher Harkett, 22; Cpl Graeme Stiff, 24; Cpl Dean John, 25; Lance Sgt Tobie Fasfous, 29; Cpl Sean Connor Binnie, 22; Rifleman Adrian Sheldon, 25; Sgt Ben Ross, 34; Cpl Kumar Pun, 31; Lieutenant Mark Evison, 26; Marine Jason Mackie, 21; Fusilier Petero ‘Pat’ Suesue, 28; Sapper Jordan Rossi, 22; Lance Cpl Robert Martin Richards, 24

TENTH ROW: Lance Cpl Kieron Hill, 20; Lance Cpl Nigel Moffett, 28; Cpl Stephen Bolger (no age given); Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher, 19; Pte Robert McLaren, 20; Lieutenant Paul Mervis, 27; Major Sean Birchall, 33; Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe MBE, 39; Trooper Joshua Hammond, 18; Lance Cpl David Dennis, 29; Pte Robert Laws, 18; Lance Cpl Dane Elson, 22; Capt Ben Babington-Browne, 27; Trooper Christopher Whiteside, 20; Rifleman Daniel Hume, 22; Pte John Brackpool, 27; Cpl Lee Scott, 26; Rifleman Daniel Simpson, 20; Rifleman Joseph Murphy, 18

ELEVENTH ROW: Rifleman Joseph Murphy, 18; Rifleman James Backhouse, 18; Rifleman William Aldridge, 18; Cpl Jonathan Horne, 28; Rifleman Aminiasi Toge, 26; Cpl Joseph Etchells, 22; Capt Daniel Shepherd, 28; Guardsman Christopher King, 20; Bombardier Craig Hopson, 24; Warrant Officer Class 2 Sean Upton, 35; Trooper Phillip Lawrence, 22; Craftsman Anthony Lombardi, 21; Cpl Kevin Mulligan, 26; Lance Cpl Dale Thomas Hopkins, 23; Pte Kyle Adams, 21; Pte Jason George Williams, 23; Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton, 23; Rifleman Daniel Wild, 19

BOTTOM ROW: Capt Mark Hale, 42; An unnamed soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh and four further unnamed soldiers.

Wasted money, does the Government deserve our Forces commitment

Sorry but I cannot give any more details at present other than this post is tagged and categorised under Defence.

This post will be edited to include a link to the actual blog post when I have the relevant information to hand providing there is a satisfactory response regarding my FOI request.

On 4th August I briefly discussed how MOD’s new helicopters were unsafe to fly in combat due to the unwillingness of the Government to release the required funding.

This claim was quickly denied and then defended by various MOD sources.

Playing The Joker. The Government's New Strategy

But why should the general public believe the MOD’s official briefing machine especially when they have such an appalling track record?

nb:[Photographic evidence of the crash in Oman that led to the 'cut and shut' incident hyperlinked above]

It is fairly common place for this kind of repair to be undertaken most especially within the military environment but all work must be heavily monitored and the briefing machine must learn to prepare itself correctly to ready the nation so that it may present its case in a well informed and timely manner.

My post on 4th August discussed the kevlar plating of 6 Merlin Helicopters (after £45m the Government couldn’t find £600,000 to finish the project). Today I have been made aware of a very similar issue but this time with 7 Sea King HC.4.

Once again the MOD is citing:

a balance of risks

…as their reason for not fitting the kites prior to deployment.

Ok, let’s take that theory for a minute. I work in Information Assurance and the whole issue of risk analysis, risk awareness and risk mitigation is an everyday task for myself and my colleagues.

What risks cannot feasibly taken on board by an individual are escalated up to the very top whereby a decision is made but only after every single piece of evidence has been presented; any decision taken is legally binding and can result in legal proceedings against an individual. Once this decision has been made the portfolio of risk has to be updated and the owner made fully aware of the consequences.

This balance of risks statement seems to smack of the MOD not fully briefing up the chain.

An unamed Senior Defence source told the Daily Mail:

It’s all about relative, not absolute protection. If we decide to add the armour will the performance of the aircraft be so degraded it cannot do its job? Do you take it out of service and deprive the ground forces of air support? Factored into that is the time it will take to fit this armour and when you actually do it.

[what a load of crap 'relative, not absolute']…further claiming

The Sea King is an old helicopter and it’s not as easy to fit it as say, some of the newer aircraft. It is the commanders’ job to balance the risks involved with each mission, and the job of the aircrew to fly the helicopters.

No commander would ever put his people unnecessarily at risk; they have to be his first concern. But in war some risks are inevitable. It’s the job of the commander, not the aircrew, to judge whether the risks involved in mounting individual missions are justified

[false statement? '...it's not as easy to fit it as say, some of the newer aircraft.'

If that were truly the case then this single statement has just wiped out the MOD's rationale for not fitting the 6 Merlin with the required kevlar [see this post (also mentioned at the start of today's blog post)].

Whilst deployed, these Sea Kings have come under small arms fire on a number of occasions though the MOD state that as none have been shot down and no service personnel have been killed as a consequence of their deployement without kevlar it is the correct route to take.

In a statement that further clarifies the MOD’s position the following claim was made

Commanders are clear they do not want any additional armour. Adding extra weight to these aircraft affects performance, which is as much a part of a helicopter defence as armour

…that is a very fair statement, providing it is both true and also representative of the whole population of those that are responsible for flying British military helicopters. Sadly the statement comes with no reference or further details of the size of personnel they canvassed if any at all.

All this in a week when it has been announced that the British helicopter fleet to be cut by a quarter.

A Government department that deliberately briefs to the contrary of both public perception and the truth, Minister’s who take little notice of Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) and a leadership that is in chaos and only concerned with in-fighting; Great Britain in 2009.

The sooner the British public get a chance to get rid of this failing Government the better.

Fast forward to the year of our lord 2009 and an equally bitter and bloody war stumbles on with familiar overtones regarding conditions, equipment and the standard of respect and support for the families of the troops.

A new poem came to light yesterday that reflects on the current war in Afghanistan. The similarities are thought provoking.

Afghanistan (With apologies To Kipling), by an anonymous British soldier

When you’re lying alone in your Afghan bivvy,
And your life it depends on some MOD civvie
When the body armour’s shared (one set between three),
And the firefight’s not like it is on TV,
Then you’ll look to your oppo, your gun and your God,
As you follow that path all Tommies have trod.

When the gimpy has jammed and you’re down to one round,
And the faith that you’d lost is suddenly found.
When the Taliban horde is close up to the fort,
And you pray that the arty don’t drop a round short.
Stick to your sergeant like a good squaddie should,
And fight them like satan or one of his brood

Your pay it won’t cover your needs or your wants,
So just stand there and take all the Taliban’s taunts
Nor generals nor civvies can do aught to amend it,
Except make sure you’re kept in a place you can’t spend it.
Three fifty an hour in your Afghani cage,
Not nearly as much as the minimum wage.

Your missus at home in a foul married quarter
With damp on the walls and a roof leaking water
Your kids miss their mate, their hero, their dad;
They’re missing the childhood that they should have had
One day it will be different, one day by and by,
As you all stand there and watch, to see the pigs fly

Just like your forebears in mud, dust and ditch
You’ll march and you’ll fight, and you’ll drink and you’ll bitch
Whether Froggy or Zulu, or Jerry, or Boer
The Brits will fight on ‘til the battle is over.
You may treat him like dirt, but nowt will unnerve him
But I wonder sometimes, if the country deserves him.

Note to the poem’s author: If you contact me I will personally shake your hand, buy you lunch and stump up an evening of beer to honour you and your kin.

Herewith the original by Rudyard Kipling – The Young British Soldier

When the ‘arf-made recruity goes out to the East
‘E acts like a babe an’ ‘e drinks like a beast,
An’ ‘e wonders because ‘e is frequent deceased
Ere ‘e’s fit for to serve as a soldier.
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,
So-oldier ~OF~ the Queen!

Now all you recruities what’s drafted to-day,
You shut up your rag-box an’ ‘ark to my lay,
An’ I’ll sing you a soldier as far as I may:
A soldier what’s fit for a soldier.
Fit, fit, fit for a soldier . . .

First mind you steer clear o’ the grog-sellers’ huts,
For they sell you Fixed Bay’nets that rots out your guts –
Ay, drink that ‘ud eat the live steel from your butts –
An’ it’s bad for the young British soldier.
Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . .

When the cholera comes — as it will past a doubt –
Keep out of the wet and don’t go on the shout,
For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out,
An’ it crumples the young British soldier.
Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier . . .

But the worst o’ your foes is the sun over’ead:
You ~must~ wear your ‘elmet for all that is said:
If ‘e finds you uncovered ‘e’ll knock you down dead,
An’ you’ll die like a fool of a soldier.
Fool, fool, fool of a soldier . . .

If you’re cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,
Don’t grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind;
Be handy and civil, and then you will find
That it’s beer for the young British soldier.
Beer, beer, beer for the soldier . . .

Now, if you must marry, take care she is old –
A troop-sergeant’s widow’s the nicest I’m told,
For beauty won’t help if your rations is cold,
Nor love ain’t enough for a soldier.
‘Nough, ‘nough, ‘nough for a soldier . . .

If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath
To shoot when you catch ‘em — you’ll swing, on my oath! –
Make ‘im take ‘er and keep ‘er: that’s Hell for them both,
An’ you’re shut o’ the curse of a soldier.
Curse, curse, curse of a soldier . . .

When first under fire an’ you’re wishful to duck,
Don’t look nor take ‘eed at the man that is struck,
Be thankful you’re livin’, and trust to your luck
And march to your front like a soldier.
Front, front, front like a soldier . . .

When ‘arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch,
Don’t call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch;
She’s human as you are — you treat her as sich,
An’ she’ll fight for the young British soldier.
Fight, fight, fight for the soldier . . .

When shakin’ their bustles like ladies so fine,
The guns o’ the enemy wheel into line,
Shoot low at the limbers an’ don’t mind the shine,
For noise never startles the soldier.
Start-, start-, startles the soldier . . .

If your officer’s dead and the sergeants look white,
Remember it’s ruin to run from a fight:
So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,
And wait for supports like a soldier.
Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . .

When you’re wounded and left on Afghanistan’s plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An’ go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier ~of~ the Queen!

#GoBro must be thanking his lucky stars for the summer recess and for the fact that he doesn’t have to face David Cameron over the dispatch box to the now familiar tune of:

Why won’t he admit…helicopters…

Whilst the country holds it’s breath waiting to see as to whether the Government will supply enough helicopters to help our troops in Afghanistan it transpires that the 6 strong fleet of Merlin helicopters planned for delivery to Helmand in December cannot fly on combat missions because the Government has not provided funding circa £100,000 per kite to fully equip them with kevlar.

Unnamed source:

We are going to send aircraft out to Afghanistan that are lacking in the required protection. It will be the same as driving a Snatch Land Rover along a road full of mines

Unsafe to fly combat missions?

Delay deployment until the kevlar is fitted or deploy with a known risk and retro-fit the kevlar?

How about getting it right the bloody first time?

Not the ineffectual MP Bob Ainsworth, not the MP who is incapable of outwitting a political opponent and certainly not the MP who yesterday stated that:

I don’t try to pretend I am cleverer than a general or the Chief of the Defence Staff…But I can bring something else, a knowledge and understanding of Parliament, and of civilian life

Well, thanks for that Bob. That’ll be really bloody helpful on the ground in Afghanistan.

{Despite my 24 years in HM Forces the @ToryRascal has a far better grasp on this subject and so please read his blog for an accurate record of being on the ground and an insight into Britain’s Defence}

Britain and it’s troops, are as always fighting for the freedom and rights of other nations and oppressed people. We stand tall and we stand proud.

This role is of paramount importance to the safety and security of the free world and that is not an overstatement.

The role of Secretary of State for Defence should be entrusted to someone with gravitas, a good track record and an ability to forge trust with those they represent, Britain’s Armed Forces. Well, that’s how it went until 1997 whereby the PLP cast that aside with a succession of lightweight ministers that have progressively managed to sell this once great nation down the swanny.

Secretary of State for Defence: Bob Ainsworth

To keep with tradition in the recent Cabinet reshuffle in early June Bob Ainsworth was seemingly plucked from the nether regions of the Government. Of course, it goes without saying that this individual has the respect of the nation. Right? Wrong!

In 2007 Bob Ainsworth was one of 98 MPs who voted to keep MPs’ expense details exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

With a track record that also saw him claim the maximum on his second home allowance amongst many other claims in 2007/08 which resulted in him being the joint highest claimant you can begin to see how deeply the sleaze tag that beset John Major‘s Cabinet throughout his last year has not only been inherited but has been honed, polished and hugely improved upon during Labour’s 12 years in Government.

In a week that has seen the memorial service of Henry Allingham with Full Military Honours it sickens me to see the ineptitude that let down so many of Henry’s colleagues is still so rife in a Government that has lost it’s way which in turn leaves individual Departments to meander and flounder with the Ministry of Defence being the worst casuality of this internal war.

Simon Heffer writing in today’s Telegraph issues the following quote which in turn is rather telling:

Bob Ainsworth, our pathetic, fourth-choice Minister of Defence

As I said at the top of this post, Britain needs Bob Ainsworth.

Britain needs him to stand up, we need him to be a man and most of all we need him to sort out the crap that is crippling his department and leading to the death of so many of our very brave men and women.

One more thing Bob, get a bloody grip of the bean counters in your department and get that kit out there. Sort out the mess that has become the Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) process and bring some of that much wasted cash back to where it really belongs, delivering the right kit to the right people at the right time.