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Minister loses war of words

National Defence Medal Posted by National Defence Medal at 09:40 AM on June 29, 2009

The new Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth used the first Armed Forces Day to praise our troops and veterans. On a visit to our forces in Afghanistan, he called on the British people to show appreciation of what those serving today do and what past members have done for our nation.

 

He even said: "This is an opportunity to thank the thousands of veterans who have played so fundamental a role in protecting our country's freedom."

 

But the British people don't need to be told that, Minister. If anyone doesn't show a proper appreciation, it is the MoD and successive Defence Secretaries. They have shown a wanton and callous disregard for men and women who have been willing to lay down their lives for their country and who too often have paid the ultimate price, while many more suffer in other ways.

 

From the scandal of the refusal to compensate servicemen exposed to atomic tests more than 50 years ago to the treatment of wounded members of the forces today, the Ministry has behaved disgracefully. Mr Ainsworth needs to lecture his own brass hats.

And he should start off by showing a proper appreciation himself by not ignoring the needs of veterans or today's troops.     More

Categories: Campaign News, Defence News

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3 Comments

Reply Matty
03:41 PM on June 29, 2009
Honours enable society to recognise service and achievement that it values. This is an important function, which is why it is necessary to ensure that the honours system continues to work well. Our recommendations are designed to achieve this. Awarding honours may be inherently subjective, an art rather than a science, but this makes it even more necessary to have an honours system which commands public confidence. From time to time this requires reforms to the system to be made, and of a radical kind. In our view this is such a time.

extract from:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/cmpuba
dm/212/21209.htm

Its parliaments words from 2004, what about some action?
Reply Gerry
06:57 PM on June 29, 2009
It is all just platitudes and empty rhetoric, Pollies and Brass are like empty bellies, just full of wind. They create the mess, leave the lads in the dido and then, belatedly praise them, making sure in the process that they don't actually commit themselves to doing anything for them.

What really alarms me however, is that if the blokes at the sharp end are suddenly caught short on munitions, resupply, or timely reinforcements, we could see a massacre take place that would forever damn the gullible fools that have led us into such a situation. It strikes me that the troops are literally on a knifes edge out there and it is simply not good enough!

A situation wherein we have to beg and borrow from the Yanks in order to properly function is fraught with peril, as a simultaneous attack on Brits and Yanks would force the Yanks to prioritise and that could be dire indeed for our blokes.
Snowdrop
Reply Snowdrop
03:20 AM on July 02, 2009
It is clear that the British public and and indeed the free press have a far greater understanding and appreciation of the situation than the government or MoD gives them credit for. However, after seeing how they were belittled by the Ghurkhas in the first instance only to ignore everything and then be smashed by public opionon led by Joanne Lumley doesn't give me confidence that they will do the right thing.