Ainsworth Tries His Best to Support His Boss

I see Bob Ainsworth has been wheeled out to defend his boss today. Firstly, with regard to Gordon Brown's comments at the Iraq Inquiry last Friday, he wonders what axe Lord Guthrie has to grind with the PM, implying Lord Guthrie is a teller of untruths; then he continues by saying, "Gordon Brown didn't know how the money was spent."

Oh dearie me Bob, foot in mouth springs to mind. A poor effort.

Surely, when he was Chancellor, Gordon Brown didn't just hand out our money to the military without knowing what it was to be used for. Not even responsible parents hand out money to their offspring without asking why it's needed.

If Gordon Brown did not keep a detailed record of expenditure then he's more incompetent that I thought. Do the Treasury books just have 'MoD' next to every item? Sounds rather like it from Bob Ainsworth's words on Radio 4 a short time ago. There will be many senior civil servants bristling in the Treasury.

Brown and Ainsworth must think we're all rather simple minded and labour supporters to swallow such obvious nonsense.

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Bob Ainsworth - Be Ashamed, Very Ashamed

The Royal Haslar Hospital in Gosport was the UK's last military-run hospital and it shut its doors in 2009. It was the last of eight military hospitals to close following a review of services by the Conservative government in the 1990s and it had provided medical care since 1753.

The government said military-run hospitals cannot match the specialist care provided by NHS hospitals. Yet the British military hospital at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan is staffed by military personnel who are said to be second to none in their ability to save lives. Camp Bastion not only treats British troops but a combination of international security assistance force troops, Afghan soldiers and civilians.

I defy anyone who has experience of a military hospital to say the care and treatment was not first class. In the 70s many military hospitals opened their doors to civilian patients and within months they had lengthy waiting lists - a sure sign that the medical services provided were second to none. The reason for the closures was little to do with specialist care, it was an excuse to save money. What hospital in the UK has specialist care in every area of medicine?

We have been at in conflict with Afghanistan since 2001 and therefore the government has had plenty time to plan medical treatment access for injured troops. It hasn't done so. The access has been piecemeal and, although now seriously stretched, military medics report it will not cope with further casualties, both in urgent medical care and essential rehabilitation.

In the UK we have Selly Oak, Birmingham providing the only acute medical facility for the military and Headley Court, Leatherhead, which offers rehabilitation to those who have survived the most horrific injuries.

The National Audit Office has warned UK hospitals face 'increasing pressure' to treat wounded troops and need more beds. It also revealed the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Helmand is 'close to capacity'.

But the most startling statement is that Headley Court is being forced to rotate treatment with new amputees and this process is stalling their progress. The centre has 151 patients injured in Afghanistan and Iraq but just 66 beds for immobile veterans and 15 who can move.

Now it has emerged triple amputee Mark Ormrod, 25, raised thousands in charity cash to pay for a three-week intensive course at a private American centre. Triple amputee Tom Neathway, 25, is also due to go thanks to cash donated from his regimental fund.

One patient said: "The staff are brilliant here, but there aren't nearly enough of them. They can't give the lads their full attention. There is also nowhere for all of us ti stay so we have to come and go.

"Everyone has seen the amazing progress Mark made in the States. If the MoD won't do it for us, we'll do it for ourselves."

MoD bosses are urgently looking to add 30 more beds but an official insisted patients recover "better and faster" if they are rotated. What utter nonsense! Doesn't it show the level of respect our politicians have for our troops when they continued to close down military hospitals while our forces are deployed in war?

We must not forget those who are in need of mental health services but are denied them because they are not available. The UK's record in mental health has been poor for many years and the closure of military hospitals which had psychiatric services left it poorer. Little or no action has been taken by government to ensure MH treatment is available to those who put their lives on the line for us. What kind of government throws millions of pounds at 'climate change' organisations and countries such as China and India for 'development' yet is content to allow our veterans to suffer the effects of war?

Remember the conference a few weeks ago when it was declared the UK would be offering bribes to the Taliban to lay down their arms? Yesterday Bob Ainsworth had to acknowledge that the Taliban leadership refuses to play ball. Quelle surprise.

He also told the Defence Committee that Operation Moshtarak (about to be launched) had been announced in advance in part to help avoid civilian casualties. Did he never think that by forewarning the enemy he had put our troops in far more danger than ever? The Taliban will run to the hills, in their wake strewing IEDs, which will kill numerous civilians as well as military.

Yes Bob Ainsworth, be ashamed, very ashamed.

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Afghanistan

Another soldier has been killed in Afghanistan. He was from the 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and died of his injuries following an explosion.

Some may think what a tragedy at this time of year, but the pain of loss for his family and friends will be just as unbearable no matter the season.

While Gordon Brown and the Brownies strutted their stuff in the luxurious surroundings of the Copenhagen climate summit, over 9000 men and women quietly continue their daily routines around 4000 miles from home.

Bob Ainsworth's announcement last week of 22 new Chinook helicopters for 2012-2013 has proved to be false. The Westminster government plans to buy only 10 new CH-47s for delivery in two or three years time with the intent to buy another 12 Chinooks later.

The total number of losses of British service personnel killed in action in Afghanistan since operations began there in 2001 is now 209. Including accidents and illnesses the number now stands at 240.

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Ainsworth Hurts the RAF and Navy

Bob Ainsworth, the Defence Secretary, yesterday confirmed the purchase of 22 Chinook helicopters and another C17 Globemaster transport aircraft for the RAF.

On 10th November the Telegraph reported the government would be making a purchase of up to 30 Chinooks but today he gives the figure as 22, a reduction of 27%.

As part of his cuts to fund the war in Afghanistan:

RAF Cottesmore in Leicestershire, with 3500 staff, will close

A proportion of 1600 personnel at RAF Kinloss, home of the Nimrod, will be reassigned

A fleet of 11 Nimrod Mars 2s will be scrapped by the end of next March

The Nimrod MRA4s will be delayed

One of five Harrier squadrons is to be axed

One of seven Tornado GR4 squadrons may also be scrapped

The Royal Navy is to lose one minehunter

One survey ship is also to go

There will be a reduction in some army training

7,500 civil servants will lose their jobs

The majority of the losses are to the RAF and Navy although why a minehunter is being scrapped seems a bad decision.

The Chinooks will not be ready for operation service for three or four years, by which time we have been led to believe the British combat mission in Afghanistan could be winding down. Last night on the news Bob Ainsworth rejected claims that any mention of troop withdrawal had ever been made.

Professor Michael Clarke, the director of the Royal United Services Institute, said that for the first time in the modern era the country was "paying for a war out of current expenditure". He told the Daily Telegraph: "The assumption has been for the last 30 years that wars are paid for out of central funds."

Why don't the government scrap Trident, which will never be used, and put the billions saved towards making our defence forces better equipped.

Oldrightie has paid his respects to the two soldiers killed in Sangin, Helmand yesterday. I would like to add mine.

More than 1,000 members of the armed forces have been wounded in action in Afghanistan since 2001, the vast majority of them since 2006 when the war started in Helmand province.

The casualty toll up to the end of last month was released by the MoD yesterday. It disclosed that a third of the wounded suffered serious or very serious injuries.

Source

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Why Is Bob Ainsworth Speaking Out Now?

Why was Bob Ainsworth so candid with the Defence Committee on Tuesday? It's seldom a UK Cabinet Minister takes a swipe at the US president and especially not this US president who still seems to have an almost demi-god status in British politics.

Has Mr Ainsworth had enough and thought his honesty would cost him his job? Does he now know too much and like Eric Joyce want out but it's prepared to resign? Or does he know he won't be relected so he has nothing to lose?

His comments included: "The 98 British deaths this year had been a key factor but the hiatus in the US had not helped bolster public support.

"The prism through which this is all seen, in the UK is the deaths in theatre and that tends to wipe out in the public mind and does damage to people's perceptions of the success that we are having in Afghanistan."

The prime minister's spokesman hurriedly denied that the Defence Secretary was suggesting the US delay had made it more difficult to make the case for the campaign in the UK.

Nine thousand troops in a theatre of war with no political leadership offered is nothing less than a national disgrace. A country like Britain having to wait for a US President to tell us what to do makes a mockery of our democracy, or what's left of it. Gordon Brown agreed he would send 500 more troops if the other UN countries contributed. I would like to see Europe's contribution before one soldier steps on a plane to Afghanistan because I do not believe any country will contribute more military.

A rather interesting extract from an article on Frank Spiel Mill's site for you:

Third, Commander in Chief Obama’s releasing of the formerly Top Secret Memos on his own army’s interrogation techniques befouls the inferred loyalty he owes his soldiers. No competent commander gives the enemy any part of his soldier’s interrogation operations manual. No sane commander takes a further step backwards and eliminates the very interrogation techniques proven to add to the advantage he continually seeks. Such actions heighten the risk of harm to his troops, weaken his army’s potential for victory and threaten the security of his nation. For war is unequivocally harsh my friends and foes. And it appears that Commander in Chief Obama does not have the stomach for war at the Jihadist-level. Duck and take cover.

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Government Support? Don't Make Me Laugh

We have 9,000 of our armed forces on duty in Afghanistan. They have been sent there, supposedly to protect us citizens of the UK, by both ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair and the present Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

What are they doing in Afghanistan? Any plan that did exist is less coherent today than it was even a month ago, compounded by Bob Ainsworth admitting, during his photo opportunity visit with Alan Johnson to Helmand, that it would take time - and help from other Nato allies - to provide the extra troops called for by General McChrystal.

What's really happening is the government are keeping these men and women in this hostile country for prestige which has nothing to do with the safety of our islands. Because of Gordon Brown's obsession to be seen as the saviour of the world, he is happy to sacrifice the lives of many in the armed forces. His Defence Secretary admits the government's war chest is empty. Surely that is proof enough that our soldiers will not be receiving the equipment and supplies they need to survive. Ainsworth continues by saying Britain needs more support from Nato allies. Hasn't it yet occurred to him that other Nato countries are not prepared to offer more troops because they know their people will rebel?

We have soldiers pleading for extra support, senior British military officers warning of the risks of sending more troops without the equipment required to protect them, the US Commander insisting more personnel are essential because he does have a plan yet the leaders of Britain and the US refuse to make decisions and seem content to allow their military to continue to be killed. Life seems so cheap to those in power doesn't it.

Of course military bosses don't want to be seen as having failed either, but there's no honour in allowing the people under their command to be sitting ducks.

I cannot comment on how effective General McChrystal's strategy would be, but it seems President Obama doesn't like it.

To quote General McChrystal: "Waiting does not prolong a favourable outcome. This effort will not remain winnable indefinitely and nor will it win public support."

It is to be hoped this will waken Americans to the futility of this war. They respect their armed forces far more than the British. What it will take to waken us and demand these courageous people return home I leave that to you to decide

Update: Clarinda has provided me with this post. It gives basic and very underestimated costs of this war to America.

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Afghanistan - The Plan

What plan you may well ask, there has been no plan, no strategy either. The politicians are making it up as they go along.

Yesterday General Stanley McChrystal, NATO's top commander in Afghanistan, gave a well-delivered presentation to the International Institute of Strategic Studies and blew Gordon Brown's excuses for this war out of the water.

The main points of his speech indicated that there was never a comprehensive plan for the Afghan war and there is no simple solution. Of course the politicians had their reasons for this war but the public are never going to hear them, because if they were voiced public support would disintegrate. They know that and we know they're lying to us. We have 9,000 troops involved in this political game - men and women who promised to protect us, the people of Britain, when they joined the armed services. Strategy is being decided on the hoof and our troops are pawns.

"It is complex difficult terrain, both the land and the people, it is a tribal society with a culture vastly different from what most of us are familiar with and it varies around the country, so you cannot assume what is true in one province is true in another."

The General was candid in his assessment and admitted the west is not winning this war and his forces will need to do things dramatically differently to stop the insurgency.

"We must gain the initiative by reversing the perceived momentum of the insurgents. We must seek rapid growth of Afghan national security forces and that is the army and the police, and we most improve their effectiveness and our own through closer partnering, and this means we must plan together, live together, operate together and take advantage of each other's strengths as we move forward," he said.

McChrystal has reportedly requested thousands more troops to help him make Afghanistan a stable, secure country and eventually able to look after itself - his definition for success there.

But one of the preconditions being set by the British government, before it will commit to sending more troops, is a "new Afghan government being in place." There is no sign this happy state of affairs is any closer - in fact the reverse. Corruption is a way of life in the country.

Before Gordon Brown makes any decision about increasing troops he should read this opinion from Military World.

Military chiefs are prepared for “scores, if not hundreds” more British soldiers to die in a new troop surge to win the Afghan war.

They expect the British military death toll to rise sharply under the masterplan drawn up by General Stanley McChrystal, the US commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan, to defeat the Taliban.

But they believe that if there is a clear and convincing strategy for success, the British public could be persuaded to back the military campaign.

I don't back this military campaign and never will. During McChrystal's speech there was one remark he made which stuck in my mind all day yesterday. He said he was proud of all troops and on a recent visit to Afghanistan he met with British soldiers. "... their eyes were bloodshot from total exhaustion..." This one phrase ridicules Gordon Brown's claims that everything is being done for those out in that punishing environment. It is well known our soldiers are not getting suitable breaks and that their health is suffering. Many, if they survive this war, will have problems for the rest of their lives.

One plan that would receive my approval is a schedule of withdrawal, but Bob Ainsworth is so worried about us being seen as 'losers' he refuses to even examine such a strategy. Saving face is far more important than saving lives for this band of warmongers.

The Tories will be no better. They will increase troop numbers. David Cameron will continue allowing Britain to be dictated to by the US.

Such is the quality of our political representatives.

(You can see the video of McChrystal's Q & A session here.)

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Ainsworth on the Podium Again

Bob Ainsworth, the unfit Defence Secretary was spouting another lecture on the day two more British soldiers have died after they were wounded in separate explosions in Southern Afghanistan. One was from 2nd Battalion The Rifles and was killed yesterday afternoon and the other, from 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died in hospital in the UK from wounds received on Saturday. The latest deaths bring the total to 216.

Meanwhile Bob Ainsworth took to the podium at King's College, London to deliver news on the present and future challenges facing the defence of the UK and to promote his Green Paper on Defence Strategy.

A couple of points caught my eye (the emphasis is mine):

"Failure in Afghanistan would have profound consequences for our national security. It would embolden those who preach extremist violence and increase the threat of terrorist attacks here at home. It would undermine the NATO alliance which has been the bedrock of Britain’s defence for the last 60 years. It would leave the UK and her Armed Forces with diminished support for action in the future and a tarnished reputation.

"I have made it clear to all personnel in the Ministry of Defence that success in Afghanistan is our main effort, and will remain our principal commitment for as long as it takes. Our approach at this time must be - and is - Afghanistan First."

So this week it appears our Armed Forces are in Afghanistan without any timeline for withdrawal in sight.

"If conflict is to be avoided, we will need more effective international institutions. The UK will need to remain globally influential and engaged to shape those institutions and their actions. Our defence capability will need to reflect that global role."

Ainsworth and his fellow dreamers continue to think we are major players on the world stage, convinced that if they repeat a statement often enough the public will believe it.

"It is widely held that one of the greatest long term challenges to international stability is likely to be the results of climate change. (A whiff of Al Gore rhetoric there)

Now it's climate change and he states that competition for resources may trigger or exacerbate conflict.

We could see mass migration as a result of rapid change in fragile societies. Regions which already suffer from insecurity are likely to feel the impact of climate change harder than in stable societies.

"Over the next few decades, Asia will rival the US and Europe as a centre of global economic and political power.

"It is currently predicted that by 2030 the world's four largest single economies will be the US, China, Japan and India. Some estimate that the size of China's economy could overhaul that of the United States by 2040.

"Over this period, the United States is likely to remain the only military power with the ability to support a global presence. The UK relationship with the United States, in the context of NATO and our membership of the EU, will therefore remain critical for our security."

Now the final sentence deserves some attention. Afghanistan and Iraq are all to do with the obsession the UK has with the US, nothing more, nothing less. This government is quite determined Britain becomes the 51th state.

An article in yesterday's Telegraph 'Bob Ainsworth: voters won't back higher defence spending' leaves me wondering which voters.

Ainsworth tries hard to substantiate the cuts that he intends to make to the defence budget by saying there is little public appetite for higher defence spending. The Telegraph quotes a YouGov survey in June which showed that 51% of voters named defence as the first area of Government spending they would cut, more than any other department. So 49% of us didn't name the MoD in June for cuts.

'There is no intention on this Government's part of moving our position on Trident,' he said. Well there should be - such an utter waste of money but of course nothing to do with the safety of the UK - it's what the US want isn't it?

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Bob's Latest Tall Story

Bob Ainsworth, the useless Defence Minister, gave the following pep talk to all members of HM Forces this week (the highlights in bold are mine). I'd be interested to know the names of those in the 'top team'.

In a statement to all staff Mr Ainsworth said:

"My top priority will be continuing to make progress with the campaign in Afghanistan, by ensuring that people throughout Defence are doing all they can in every area to support the campaign, by continuing to ensure that our people on operations have the equipment they need, and by making the case for the mission in Parliament and public.

"In short, Afghanistan must continue to be our main effort in the period ahead. I also intend that MOD should contribute to a more effective programme of military assistance to Pakistan .
"My second priority will be overseeing the preparatory work for a post-General Election Strategic Defence Review, including publication in January 2010 of a Green Paper, to stimulate public and internal debate on long term future defence requirements.

"I know that success in defence depends above all on our people - Service and civilian. I will continue to ensure that their needs, and the needs of Service families, are given a very high priority.
"Both in the short term and long term we must remain prepared to deal effectively with other contingencies as they arise. This includes setting the direction in other priority areas of defence and security policy in which MOD has a key stake, including nuclear policy, counter-proliferation and the NATO Strategic Concept.
"Consistent with these aims, I will be looking to sharpen how MOD is organised and is operating, and for improvements in MOD's cross-Whitehall engagement, to help ensure effective delivery of the 'Comprehensive Approach' to the Afghanistan campaign.

"I will be issuing further guidance in the next few weeks on the adjustments that will be required.

"I intend to focus on building and maintaining relationships with key allies and partners, encourage more effective cross-departmental engagement and working, strive to build cross-party support for key policy and operational initiatives and engage external expertise where appropriate.

"We must expect and will need to deal with continued pressure on defence resources, and will need to ensure that in everything we do we extract the best value for defence while living within the budget. We can also expect our activities to remain in the public spotlight.
"Against this background, the priorities set out above, which have been agreed with MOD's top team, are the key areas on which I will expect the Department to focus in the period ahead.

"I know that very many of you throughout Defence are working extremely hard and effectively to support the campaign in Afghanistan and the other important operations and activities in which MOD and the Armed Forces are engaged.

"Most of you rarely receive the recognition you deserve for these efforts. The top team and I are determined to do all we can to improve public understanding of the important work being done throughout the MOD as a whole and the results this work is achieving."

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Eric Joyce MP Resigns as PPS

It is widely reported in the MSM today that Eric Joyce, MP for Falkirk, has resigned his position as PPS to the Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth. His letter of resignation can be read here.

In my humble opinion Mr Joyce should have resigned the post some weeks ago when he initially spoke up about the war in Afghanistan, but better late than never. Was it the death this week of two soldiers belonging to one of his old regiments that forced his decision? No, it appears he told Bob Ainsworth some weeks ago he intended to resign the post.

Mr Ainsworth's response to the resignation is a disgrace from a discredited defence secretary:

"Eric Joyce is, of course, entitled to his opinion and whilst we thank him for his service as a junior parliamentary aide, it is vital that we have a leadership team that is fully committed to our mission in Afghanistan. The picture he paints is not one that I nor many people within the MoD recognise, whether military or civilian.

"Everyone in defence, and the wider government, is fully committed to ensuring that our forces succeed in the operations on which they are engaged in Afghanistan, and that they have the necessary equipment and support to do the job. Our mission in Afghanistan is vital to our national security. We will not walk away from that responsibility."

Mr Joyce left the army under a cloud after writing a series of articles criticising the army. Why he rejoined after leaving the Black Watch to gain a university degree in Religious Studies, is anyone's guess, as he should have realised by then he could not change army culture overnight. I agree the army has what could be called an 'old fashioned' or non-pc culture at times but it is not going to be swept away overnight or even over a generation because is what has made our military one of the best in the world and it still works today.

What has forced his hand now? Does he realise he has little chance of being re-elected in Falkirk at the next general election?

Who knows. He may have restricted himself from employment as an RO (retired officer) because of the stooshie surrounding his discharge from the army, but being an ex-MP will open doors for him. I'd start planning now Mr Joyce, it's not long until 2010.

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Bob Ainsworth Gives a Lesson in How to Lose Friends

Not only has Bob Ainsworth lost his grip (if he ever had one) on his remit as Defence Minister, he's lost a long standing friend.

Peter Fullarton, who lost his son James in a bomb attack in Helmand last Sunday, said Mr Ainsworth failed to send his family a note of condolence - even though he had known the Minister for 20 years and his son used to serve Mr Ainsworth drinks in their local working men's club. Mr Fullarton became friends with Mr Ainsworth when they worked along side each other on the production line at the Jaguar car plant in Coventry.

Speaking on Thursday, Mr Fullarton said: "No member of the Government has sent any message. He knows my name. I am disappointed that he has not even dropped us a note. James served him in the bar. He knows the family."

Six hours after being contacted by The Mail on Sunday, a spokesman for the Defence Secretary said: "Bob sent a letter to the family this morning by recorded delivery. Bob wants to go to the funeral if the family want him to be there."

MoD insiders last night gave a damning assessment of Mr Ainsworth's command of his department following a week of internal chaos.

This is the man who, like the proverbial bad penny, pops up on television and radio to convey his 'sincere' regret at the repeated deaths of our soldiers, but he cannot take the trouble of writing to an old friend whose son has been killed under his watch.

He must be removed from office now. Not only is he totally incompetent, he has given a perfect display of his ignorance.

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Afghanistan - A Tribute

British Soldiers in Afghanistan
by GrumpyOldTwat

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Afghanistan - Toll now 200

The 200th sacrifice of one of our soldiers has happened today in Selly Oak hospital, Birmingham. The soldier, believed to be part of the team from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, was seriously injured in Helmand province on Thursday. The other three members of the team were killed outright.

This brings the death toll of those killed in action to 200.

According to Sky News, Bob Ainsworth has issued the usual platitudes and also said leaving was not an option.

May this young man's family know that there are many in this country who sympathise with them in their loss.

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Bob Ainsworth's Reaction

The stooshie (meaning fight or trouble in English) caused this week by the MoD Appeal Court case seems to have hit a nerve or two within London's corridors of power.

Bob Ainsworth has returned prematurely from holiday to order an immediate review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for wounded soldiers. A review of the army compensation scheme was planned for next year but Mr Ainsworth announced it was to be brought forward and would begin immediately.

“The debate in recent weeks has demonstrated that the current scheme is not fully equipped to deal with anomalies, legal complexities and wider issues relating to how we compensate our servicemen and women,” he said.

Although the MoD's legal challenge was poorly timed and started on the same day as the bodies of four of our fallen returned home, the inappropriate timing was the main cause of the poorly designed legislation being brought to the public's attention. If this had not been the case the present legislation may well have languished, unquestioned, on the statute books for some time to come. Now a review is beginning, it is to be hoped the result will be a scheme fit for today's army and completely free of legal complexities. Then there would be no need for the government ministry to require the expensive process of litigation.

Source: the Times

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Government Attempts to Slash Soldiers' Injury Compensation

The MoD are going to the Court of Appeal on Tuesday to try and cut compensation paid out to two injured soldiers by 70%. The two soldiers were crippled in battle and received the statutory compensation. In June last year the the MoD took both cases to a higher court claiming 'it should only have to compensate the men for the initial injuries and not subsequent complications.' The three judges ruled against the ministry saying it was 'absurd' to divorce the injury from treatment.

The rising number of military casualties has brought the deficiencies in the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, introduced in 2005, to the attention of the public. Compensation payouts to soldiers are routinely only a fraction of those awarded in civil courts.

When we consider the paltry sums given to our soldiers with this, the Scheme definitely needs reviewing.

This government has no shame, but we know that don't we. This is a despicable attempt to save money in connection with our troops, but let us not forget how much these court cases cost the taxpayer. This is the second visit to court the ministry will have made in connection with the two specific cases. If it loses at the Court of Appeal, wounded soldiers who suffered further complications after treatment, will be entitled to higher payouts. I await the judges' ruling with interest.

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Bob Ainsworth Loses his Rag on BBC News

With my thanks to Red Rag.

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Bob Ainsworth - Is He Incompetent or Plain Stupid?

Why do photographs of Bob Ainsworth disturb me? This one in particular does as it's the standard 'photo-call' for politicians who have an ego-boosting need to record their half hour visit to the front line of the wars which they so loudly approve. Or perhaps it's his complete lack of understanding his remit. So many thousands of lives in the hands of this incompetent individual and so few politicians willing to question his abilities.

That aside, Bob Ainsworth's words in his speech on Wednesday were chilling. He denied Afghanistan was becoming another Vietnam but continued by saying, "More lives will be lost and our resolve is going to be tested. If we are to succeed, we will need both the courage and the patience to see it through. There is no defined end date, only an end state." Who are the 'we'? Certainly not politicians because I see little courage within the Westminster Parliament.

Nick Cleg, in yesterday's Telegraph wrote 'Recent events have led me to question whether we're going about things in the right way. Lives are being thrown away because our politicians won't get their act together.' Fitaloon has taken the trouble to transcribe part of the evidence submitted to the Defence Select Committee on 30 June when journalist and author Stephen Grey was asked his thoughts about the position in Afghanistan. Do read the whole transcript but the following are a couple of quotes:

Mr Grey: I have to say, I think we owe it to all those that are sacrificing themselves in Helmand, to be brutally frank about what is going on there and what is going wrong, because it is only with that frankness that I think certain things can be put right. From the perspective of those on the ground, I think the Comprehensive Approach has largely been a parody of reality.

Mr Grey: I disagree, yes. As to the solutions, obviously there are many, but the only thing I would highlight is that at the moment the strategic commander of all UK agencies is the Prime Minister, and there is no other place where it comes together. I think that came out from your briefing from the permanent secretaries. So there was no-one in charge apart from the Prime Minister. I think the Prime Minister of Britain has got other things on his mind, and that is the real problem. So I think there needs to be someone, not quite a General Templer of Malaya who had full civilian powers dealing with a sovereign country, but there are so many agencies involved, so many countries involved here that Britain’s interests need to be combined into one role, an ambassador that combines the role of both military commander and civil commander.

Tom Harris states 'Afghanistan is about the fight against facism'. This statement is rightly rubbished in the comments section. Tom of course supports the Afghanistan war as he did the invasion of Iraq. May I suggest he has a word in the ear of the Prime Minister and tell him his non-strategy in Afghanistan is putting unnecessary lives at risk.

Much more credible is the report from Richard Holmes, an Emeritus Professor of Military and Security Studies at Cranfield University and a man to whom one listens.

Have you spoken with Mr Holmes yet Mr Ainsworth? If not, may I suggest you do it sooner rather than later. It may help you look less incompetent and stupid.

Update: I've just noticed this in today's Daily Mail. Why haven't the likes of Lord Guthrie spoken out before? He's been our of the army since 2001 so he hasn't had to worry about keeping his job.

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Yes, It's Him Again

One of the first out of the PLP meeting with their great leader was Mr Ainsworth.  As well as taking on the position of Defence Minister he appears to have also accepted the post of cheerleader for the Prime Minister, a post more suited to his very limited abilities.

Forgive me if I had a little smile at Fraser Nelson's account in Coffee Shop:

'Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth was also sent out of the meeting at 6.50pm with The Line To Take from No10 - you could almost see him trying to remember his script: "Those people have had their say and they have failed to gain the support of their parliamentary colleagues and they should respect that". Staggering.'

Also Tom Harris spoke up and told Gordon Brown he out to stand down. Nothing to do with the fact that, in his constituency, the SNP came first of course.  There could be other reasons.

My bet is still good as Gordon Brown will hang on until the bitter end regardless of the country's wishes.

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Our Defenders Deserve Much Better than This

Bob Ainsworth has been promoted to Defence Secretary in Gordon Brown's reshuffle and this morning, on the Politics Show, Charlie Falconer said, "Bob Ainsworth is highly respected by our forces."

I beg to differ.  The military could not be in worse hands.  The man is completely incompetent as Fitaloon's Newnight video shows when Paxman attempts to make him answer a simple question.

Bob Ainsworth is also a liar and his lies cost the lives of our troops.  Fitaloon has another post which details exactly why this man should not even be in charge of a landrover far less thousands of the bravest people in our country.

Richard at EU Referendum summarises the very poorly attended defence debate which took place in the House of Commons on Thursday.  Ainsworth's abilities, or the lack of them, are obvious. It shows further disdain for our forces that 'their' debate was timetabled for a day when it was well known the chamber would be more or less empty.

I know many people have little interest in the day to day business of our troops but I'm sure most notice the vast sums of money being spent on equipment which is completely outdated or inadequate and lives being lost, but we say nothing.  Military families who have lost a loved one, or see the suffering of a loved one's injuries, stoically cope without complaint because they know the civilian public will shrug and say 'they knew what the job was when they joined up.'  If any joined up more than 10 years ago they didn't have a clue they would be involved in fighting wars which had nothing to do with protecting the British people. 

Our military realise politicians use and abuse them solely for their own ends but the troops continue to do their utmost in the name of Queen and country.  Without such dedication none of us would feel as safe as we do but I, for one, feel much less safe today knowing that Bob Ainsworth is now in charge. Watch what happens in the next few weeks - Ainsworth will be out in Afghanistan upsetting the strict army schedules purely for his 'I am in charge' photocall instead of ensuring basic equipment is made and transported immediately. Sickening. 

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