haltonapp
I think that most people would like the “Dear Leader”, Tony, to honour his recent words in respect of operations in Afghanistan and, we hope, in respect of provision for all the Armed Services’ commitments, and ensure that every “poor squaddie would get some extra equipment”.
Unfortunately, he’s beholden to Iron Chancellor Brown (on account of the fact he didn’t have the guts to go through a leadership contest in the mid ‘90’s and relied on the cosy Granita Agreement with Gordon to see him through). As a presumed graduate of a fine Service training institution, as implied by your title, I know that you will realized that we have a Chancellor whose track record indicates, at best, antipathy towards the Armed Services and, furthermore, a willingness to seize any opportunity to “salami slice” funding to any Arm of the Services. Hence, any “savings” would not head towards the “poor squaddie” but would route direct to the Treasury coffers (to be thence poured down the financial black holes of Gordon’s favoured “voting fodder” staffed Departments).
Meanwhile, the RAF has to continue attracting recruits, maintain an independent presence with a wind blowing in a “service amalgamation” direction and attempt continuation of a fine tradition of demonstrable Service, National and International excellence, for which we will all be the poorer when another wonderful icon has tragically and willfully been obliterated.
Finally, I do believe that, as either current or ex-service personnel, we are all on the same side here. Whatever the exigencies of present-day service or the recent memories of arduous and dangerous times, the distaste for modern day corrupt and incompetent politicians or the political distancing which we may individually feel towards the Iraq adventure, we all, at one time, felt pride and affection for our particular Service. A vote in this petition is a demonstration to ourselves, as much as to our worthless politicians, that we believe in something intrinsically superb and representative of a great nation, even if they are too stupid to believe in it themselves.
Last edited by highcirrus; 12th Feb 2007 at 12:29.