Monday, 20 July 2009

Dannett Silenced?



Sir Richard Dannett pulled out of the Andrew Marr show yesterday and no explanation was given. Later he made a statement saying the decision to withdraw was his and his alone.

The Independent reports him as saying, "There have been a number of assertions made in recent paper and broadcast coverage that have misrepresented my actions and motives in relation to both my personal, and the MoD's, ongoing dialogue with Downing Street on Afghanistan resourcing. I have therefore decided, given the over-politicised and often misinformed nature of the coverage, to withdraw from my planned appearance on the Andrew Marr Show."

I would have thought the platform of the Andrew Marr show would have been an excellent one on which he could have corrected any misinformation. Of course nobody whispered in his ear, did they.

Meanwhile, another soldier has been killed in Afghanistan. He was from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. His death takes the number of our fallen to 186.


17 comments:

Malc said...

I know this isn't the right thread, but I wanted to record my thanks for sponsoring me for the Loch Ness Marathon. Myself, Audrey and the MS Society really appreciate it! Looking forward to it immensely - on the whole because I'm mad!

Thanks again,
Malc

RantinRab said...

Hmmm. He's been well warned methinks.


You've got mail, by the way!

subrosa said...

Auch Malc, that's kind of you. It was my pleasure and it's going to a very worthy cause.

When J K Rowling fronted the Scottish branch of the society she did well in keeping MS in the public domain and I just hope that it doesn't slip into oblivion now there is no famous name involved.

Good luck the two of you.

subrosa said...

Aye Rab, he's been sat on from a great height methinks.

RantinRab said...

I think you missed out an 'h' on your last comment!! ;-)

Clarinda said...

The Telegraph had a story yesterday on the Labour pond-life slavering at the bit to turn on this man ASAP. They need to assault/ruin his reputation before he publishes his book on military practice. I suppose he may have made a tactical withdrawal yesterday, giving his enemy less opportunity to attack?
Thinking about it, by standing down from the interview, he has thrown further suspicion on the treachery of Labour towards our armed forces and provoked their basest behaviour - Labour are utterly beneath contempt to denegrate the man in charge in an on-going combat while they slink away for their hols.
Fingers crossed for Norwich on Thursday and Glasgow North East.

subrosa said...

Intentionally Rab :)

subrosa said...

Morning Clarinda, actually you're right there. Looking at it from another angle it could well have been a great move withdrawing.

Did you see the smarmy Mandelson on Sky news yesterday morning? His natural ability for lying is becoming more visible the older he gets.

Norwich is interesting, I've been keeping an eye on it. I haven't posted about Glasgow NE as yet because the likes of Jeff and Wardog have good posts.

I don't envy Mr Kerr though. Labour's tactics so far are disgusting but they're bound to get even worse.

Oldrightie said...

As we age our true character begins to show from the years of inner mental adjustment to our public image. In Jim's case years of denial are now beginning to show. As you point out, Fondlebum's two faces begin to merge into one ugly lie.

The Last Of The Few said...

Tip of the Hat to the younfg man who was killed this am.
No doubt the people of Wootton Bassett will come out in their masses again.

As an aside did you see over the weekend that the facebook Wootton Bassett friends site had the fastest take up of members in the history of the site. 38K in 24 hours.

Anyway yes McBride again I will bet. The book will uncover rather more of the recent government policy to both Afganistan and Iraq that anyone in the Labour ranks wants to come out.

Stunning WV on this post....final how apt

Jess The Dog said...

I think it's a quid-pro-quo rather than a silencing.

General Dannatt has apparently won his battle to get more kit and troops in Afghanistan, as commanders really want. The government has apparently backed down following Dannatt's very effective lobbying.

The price for paying for the shopping list may be Dannatt lowering his profile. This is all fair in politics - as long as the government deliver and don't kick it into the long grass, hoping the recess will cover it up and they can ignore it again once Dannatt is replaced. I suspect this is Plan B, maybe even Plan A....

banned said...

Likewise, General Sir Richard Dannatt has made his point and applied the classic military strategy of The Withdrawal Method on a defeated enemy with the informed consent of the British public.
Lord Prime Minister Mandelson was forced to bitch-slap those labour drones responsible but the damage to the the labour party has already been done, how sad.

R.I.P. the boy from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

subrosa said...

I've joined the Wootton Bassett Facebook CD, some interesting posts on it.

subrosa said...

Of course Jess, he's not a stupid man by any means. I don't know how well liked he is by the troops but that doesn't mean to say he won't fight for what he needs.

Unfortunately a lot of publicity has been given to his determination to keep the Army Air Corps afloat and that may have clouded some of his decisions.

subrosa said...

The damage has been done to Gordon Brown banned. He has to take responsibility for 10 years of supplying (or not) funding and now 2 years of making informed decisions.

Barking Spider said...

I'll believe General Dannatt has won when our troops actually receive their new reinforcements and equipment - long summer holiday = long grass, as far as McSnot is concerned. General Dannatt's withdrawal from yesterday's interview may well, in retrospect, have been a wise decision.

subrosa said...

I think the majority agree with you BS. We all have different reasons as it why but it perhaps was the most sensible move.

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