Some Musings

Apologies for not posting last week but a wee retina problem caused me to take the sensible decision of reducing time on the Mac.  Hopefully it will be sorted after a visit to the eye clinic in Ninewells later today.

Even if you’re not fan of golf, surely all Scots must have felt insulted when Alex Salmond was loudly booed while being introduced at the Ryder Cup presentation ceremony.  He was present in his capacity of First Minister of Scotland, to present the trophy to the winner’s captain - GB won if you haven’t been following it. I had no choice but hear it in every corner of a house full of ardent golf lovers.  Praise to the Sky camera crews though because they swiftly moved their cameras from the clowns to a part of the crowd where saltires were waving madly.

There’s an old saying ‘Once is chance, twice is coincidence but three times is enemy action’. David Cameron has lost another of his party to UKIP. Two in a week coincidence?  I suggest it’s bordering on enemy action.  He’s not a happy man. The Tory and Labour party infighting is becoming serious as less time is spent on running the UK.  My suggestion to him is to buckle down and stick to the schedule for more powers for Scotland; promised pre-election by Gordon Brown on behalf of Westminster MPs.  The Scots are watching. Carefully.

Last week I said a little prayer when I heard the UK has entered into battle once again. The prayer was a thank you because, earlier this month, my close family member became a civilian.  After 17 years, much of which spent in ‘worry’ mode, it’s a relief to be free. That doesn’t mean I have no empathy for the parents and close family of those troops who will be involved directly with this new war.  I do.  Yesterday I listened very carefully to various opinions and the same old phrases were churned out - ‘We must protect Britain', ‘We must help the US', ‘We must help the civilians’ etc.  Then last night on Sky News there are images of bombs being dropped on civilians according to the report.

The UK and US were instrumental in encouraging this very serious situation in the middle east, but they still want to provide more arms to the Iraqi army which, we were told some years ago, was now a powerful fighting force trained by America and Britain. It would seem courage and discipline can’t be taught.

Where are we going in this?  Who knows.  There’s talk of our involvement being long term; ten years or more.  If politicians are saying ten years were can triple that then add some.  Without doubt there will be more British casualties as our forces are not equipped for more front line duties.

If politicians want ‘to protect Britain’ there are solutions much closer to home.  We know what they are, the politicians know what they are, but they refuse to introduce stricter policies in case they offend our minority communities.  Perhaps it’s time these minority communities spoke out and said stricter measures were absolutely necessary.  All I hear is silence.

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For Once I Support The MoD

Try as I may I can't download a BBC video and then embed it here so please view  it here.

It never ceases to amaze me how hypocritical politicians are and what short-term memories they seem to possess.

I'm aware the MoD is a monstrous government department - the building itself and the anonymity of the endless corridors conveys inefficiency somehow - but how do politicians expect accurate levels of spending on military equipment over the next decade when officials have little or no idea of what war will be our leaders' next choice?

The cost of the Afghanistan war had reached £17.4 billion six months ago and that sum excludes military salaries. Our exit strategy has yet to be finalised because Pakistani leaders can't decide if or when they will open their borders to allow our troops a way out. One thing is certain, the military will have to leave a great amount of equipment behind, the cost of which will run into another few £billions.

Then there is the £70m we will be contributing a year to help pay for the Afghan National Security Forces plus an aid programme in excess of £70m a year for Afghanistan, according to the Prime Minister.

Surely Margaret Hodge is aware, after her party send our troops to war in Iraq, that the only figures the MoD can project for equipment are those plucked out of thin air?

Of course it will be much easier to give accurate forecasts for salaries and that figure should be reducing year on year as they continue to sack personnel.  This country will suffer for this short-termism because the proposal to rebuild our military by using TA members is backfiring.  But that's another story.

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Honouring the Soldiers

Yesterday, while the Westminster parliament was behaving in an extraordinary manner about MPs expenses, there was another event taking place many miles away which was dignified, solemn and momentous.  The event marked the day when, finally, British troops ended combat operations in Iraq after six years.  During these six years 179 British and 46 allied soldiers were killed, many more wounded and we must not forget the 100,000 plus Iraqis who have also lost their lives. War is such a terrible price but we presently have leaders who think little of the human cost.

Many newspapers reported on this but the most touching for me was Daniel Korski's post in Coffee Shop.  Do read it.  He quotes (from memory) the part of the address the Reverend Paschal Hanrahan gave yesterday to a few hundred soldiers standing silently in the scorching sun of the Iraqi desert when the names of their fallen comrades were read out.

"It is to the soldier to whom we owe the right to free trial, not the lawyer; it is the soldier, not the journalist, who guarantees the freedom of speech; and it is the soldier, who serves under the flag and whose coffin is draped in the flag, who gives us the right to protest, who gives even the right to protesters to burn that same flag."

A safe journey home to each and every one of you.

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BBC and MISINFORMATION

I've been working in the sitooterie this afternoon with the radio for company.  BBC Scotland news reported that Barack Obama is visiting Iraq and is at a US airbase, but he's unable to meet the President because the weather is too bad for helicopters to fly. It was also said President Obama will be telephoning the Iraqi President instead. As I used to say 20 years ago 'big deal.'

We all know a US military base in Iraq comes under the US constitution and is not part of the occupied country, therefore Obama is not in Iraq he's visiting a US base.  Quite an insult to the Iraqi hierarchy for him to act in such a manner and I'm sure there will be plenty international comment.

Yesterday Obama told the Austrians their language was Austrian and now another big faux pas. It's my understanding the American President has an entourage of hundreds with him on this trip. Obviously he's forgotten to bring any talent from his Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service.

As I was writing this I notice Craig Murray, who has considerable expertise in the diplomatic field,  has posted about the same thing.  Like me he's astonished at the level of insult to the Iraqi President.  

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