Ministers should be present at as many funerals of service personnel as possible. Currently it is their policy to attend none. That is reprehensible.
The MoD claim, ludicrously, that attending funerals would give publicity to the terrorist cause. Nonsense. The funerals are widely publicised in any event. The ones I have been to have all been attended by the Lord Lieutenant – the Queen's representative - and the appearance of a Minister would be unlikely to make them any more noticeable to members of the Taliban hiding out in the Hindu Kush.
The reluctance of Ministers to pay tribute to servicemen who have lost their lives in Afghanistan is in marked contrast to the honour rightly paid to PC Stephen Carroll who was gunned down by the Continuity IRA earlier this year. His funeral was attended by numerous politicians from Northern Ireland as well as the Secretary of State Shaun Woodward.
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19 comments:
subrosa,
I think what the MOD really mean is that it would give publicity to the fact that so many of their young soldiers are being killed - usually as a result of the inadequate equipment that they receive from the MOD.
Its about time they, and their useless bloody Ministers, did, not only, what the callous bastards are paid to do but perform above and beyond the call of duty as the soldiers are obliged to do. They should be striving every sinew to provide the equipment that would save lives that are needlessly lost.
You're right of course Brownlie, but they won't. Politicians these days couldn't handle 24 hours in the front line.
At times I wonder why we even bother to vote for many of them.
I've said this before, but I hope you won't think it inappropriate here to say again... if any of these useless tossers came near a funeral of any friend or family member of mine from the military, I'd tell them sharpish to F*** Off.
They would dishonour a funeral with their false tears and insincere mutterings. The same goes for that bunch or Windsor parasites.
No it's not inappropriate at all Tris. I think many military families feel the same.
It's far too late in the day for politicians to make any form of amends too which shows the quality of politician we have these days.
Thank you SR.
I think it may be fair to say that these scum should make themselves available for funerals if the family or friends of the fallen soldier wish to have them there. But it should only be with the permission of the next of kin.
Personally I can't think of anything more revolting than Ainsworth pretending to give a damn.
'Our military don't matter to them as none has a close family member serving.'
Excellent point SubRosa - an observation all too rarely made.
In addition to Our military don't matter to them as none has a close family member serving I don't think any of them has ever served in the armed forces. Unlike the Windsors, pace tris, and previous politicians, excluding Tony Blair and, of course, Harold Wilson who was classed as a specialist and went into the Civil Service.
My mother has a special word for people who avoided active service in this way.
Certainly D Miliband looks as though he just got out of the Boy Scouts. Maybe he counts that as being on the front line.
'Unlike the Windsors, pace tris, and previous politicians, excluding Tony Blair and, of course, Harold Wilson who was classed as a specialist and went into the Civil Service.
Well said MD
Thank you Edwin. It's taken me months to research the accuracy of that point. Of course it could be outdated even now, but somehow I doubt it.
I think it's a bit too late Tris, although I know some families may wish a politician present. I remember well SNP politicians fighting hard to save the regiments and were highly regarded for their continued presence.
Mad Dog (aka John), I think labour has an ex-major in its ranks but I'm not sure if he ever saw front line duty. From what I read he was an education officer.
There is Eric Joyce (slaps forehead)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Joyce
who has just resigned but I think the point still stands - there is no one connected with this govt I can think of with a relation who is risking his (or indeed her) life.
Yes Edwin, that's who I was referring to in my reply to MadDog.
He was an education officer and I doubt if he's ever performed front line duty.
I think the MoD resignation of Mr E Joyce following his widely reported shady enforced departure from the army comes a little late in the day to be accepted as a genuine action on behalf of his claim to seek justice for the armed forces. I seem to recall his previous interviews (specifically sought out for his absolute loyalty) strongly supporting the Labour government's presence and military action in Afghanistan. In any case has he actually said anything new that we didn't already know?
As for lauding his military service - take a look at some of the comments about him on military blogs - "military experience" may be a bit of an exaggeration as far as actual front line strategics and action is concerned.
He is perhaps attempting to recover some personal ground after his drubbing over his remarkable levels of MP expense claims.
Dear All
I hate to raise a sore point regarding Eric Joyce.
He paased the basic military soldiers test.
Even although he served in the education corp; he was a soldier.
I have friends, one was a Captain who served in Iraq, another was a Captain in the Admin branch somewhere and one ended up a navigator in the Raf.
Joyce was prepared to go to war.
He might be an arse but let us cut him some slack.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Meanwhile, in response to Eric whatever's departure that cretin Ainsworth said, "we will not walk away from our responsibilities in Afghanistan."
Does this cretin regard himself as of being of the company of more honourable folk who did not exactly walk away from Afghanistan either?
So he's not looking to shite on other folk's dicks, then?
Typical dishonest and untruthful politico self serving, platitude that folk have come to expect from New Labour cretins.
"We will not...", eh"
"we" ...as in plural.
"We" as in universal consensual agreement?
Who "We", Mr Ainsworth?
What a moronic cretin.
Evening Clarinda, that could well be although I do think his resignation is rather late in the day. He doesn't lose any money resigning as a PPS as I think it's unpaid.
I suppose I ought to do a post on this. Do you think the photo should be smooth chinned or with the artistic stubble look?
Yes indeed George and he was most fortunate not to before he left the Black Watch and went to college then Uni to study Religious Studies.
Then he went to Sandhurst before being posted to the Royal Army Education Corps.
But I do agree with you, he signed up to serve as a soldier and I'm sure he wouldn't have been commissioned if it was thought he wasn't capable of carrying out his duties.
We means himself and the x number of other ministers Brown has allocated to supervise the MoD. I've lost count of them wisnaeme.
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