So the new shadow Defense Secretary believes

[NutLoose]

She is an honorary Lieutenant Colonel based on the fact that when carrying out her role as a barrister in the odd Court Marshal and while staying in the officers messes, she was told to consider herself one in respect to how she would be seen to be treated and messing etc.
MOD have told her this is not correct and she isn't, but she seems to come across as still believing it

She was talking on Murnaghan on Sky this morning.

[Selatar]

I wonder how she will be received on any visits to military bases given her co operation and support of those trying to send troops to prison?

That's before her anti RPAS, anti trident, anti Syria ops position.

A very strange appointment indeed

[Rotate too late]

What's the betting this thread doesn't last?:hmm:

[Hangarshuffle]

Don't put it on here. Ask her. Ask her what her stance is. Write to her. You may be pleasantly surprised. Or not. They work for us, and they want to be in power. Challenge them on their views and roles and background. Put her reply on here.
She's not the only one involved with investigating the militaries role or activities in recent conflicts.
I'm not defending her by any means.
Michael Mansfield QC wrote in The Times, I think on Wednesday and defended the lawyers involved in the investigation process. And he berated the attacks upon them by many, including MP's. Be mindful of that.
And anyway, if they (investigating lawyers) do find anomalies in military evidence, what would you do or say? Tell them to turn a blind eye?


Times have changed, we all know this. The days when military stories, narratives, evidence were accepted at face value are long gone.
A piss boiler but get used to it.

[ORAC]

Michael Mansfield QC wrote in The Times, I think on Wednesday and defended the lawyers involved in the investigation process. And he berated the attacks upon them by many, including MP's. Be mindful of that. Well, he would, wouldn't he?......

Michael Mansfield (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Mansfield)

Michael Mansfield QC (born 12 October 1941) is an English barrister.[1] A republican, vegetarian, socialist and self-described "radical lawyer",[2] he has participated in prominent and controversial court cases and inquests involving accused IRA bombers, the Bloody Sunday incident, the Hillsborough disaster and the deaths of Jean Charles de Menezes and Diana, Princess of Wales[3] and the McLibel case.........

He is a patron of the animal welfare organisation "Viva!" (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals), and refers to animal production as "genocide".

And anyway, if they (investigating lawyers) It's called ambulance chasing.....

Lawyers face prospect of being struck off over Iraq abuse claims (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/12083609/Lawyers-face-prospect-of-being-struck-off-over-Iraq-abuse-claims.html)

[kenparry]

Court Marshal

Court Martial, I do believe.

[NutLoose]

Guilty as charged, well the Apple iPad spell checker is and I never court it ;)

[skua]

And, whilst we're about it, the OP presumably is talking about the Shadow Defence Secretary, rather than some creature from across the Pond!

[NutLoose]

Open house on me... Anyone else? Get it while you can :E

Aaaahh Apple, I hate you :p

[racedo]

Well, he would, wouldn't he?......

Michael Mansfield (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Mansfield)

Michael Mansfield QC (born 12 October 1941) is an English barrister.[1] A republican, vegetarian, socialist and self-described "radical lawyer",[2] he has participated in prominent and controversial court cases and inquests involving accused IRA bombers, the Bloody Sunday incident, the Hillsborough disaster and the deaths of Jean Charles de Menezes and Diana, Princess of Wales[3] and the McLibel case.........

He is a patron of the animal welfare organisation "Viva!" (Vegetarians International Voice for Animals), and refers to animal production as "genocide".

It's called ambulance chasing.....

Lawyers face prospect of being struck off over Iraq abuse claims (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/12083609/Lawyers-face-prospect-of-being-struck-off-over-Iraq-abuse-claims.html)

Media and MPs did the same in relation to Gareth Pierce when she was looking at Guildford 4, Birmingham 6, Maguire family and Judith ward.

Time and again she was abused for being on the side of murderers. In reality all along she was on the side of Justice with not a murderer in sight in these 4 cases.

When it was proven that police lied, concocted evidence and with held evidence that showed others had done it, evidence which included a later Met Police Commissioner it all went quiet with media and MPs.

The idea that ANYBODY who puts on a Uniform should be absolved of anything they do because there is a War is not something people should be comfortable with.

[Always a Sapper]

The idea that ANYBODY who puts on a Uniform should be absolved of anything they do because there is a War is not something people should be comfortable with.

I don't think people are comfortable with that idea, but it should also be treated as a two way street and by that I mean the law MUST pursue and BE SEEN to pursue people who commit similar crimes against the civilian population and military of this Country.

Currently, the will to do this seems to be something sadly lacking amongst some members of the Labour leadership (if not most of them). If anything judging by their current and past choice of association one might even think they had loyalties that were elsewhere....

As for the likes of Leigh Day, I wonder how many victims of the IRA they have represented in compensation claims against known members of that Organisation or how many UK families who lost serving relatives on peace keeping missions due to actions by locals?

[Finningley Boy]

I wonder how she will be received on any visits to military bases given her co operation and support of those trying to send troops to prison?

That's before her anti RPAS, anti trident, anti Syria ops position.

A very strange appointment indeed

She was appointed because she represents everything counter to the military mindset, military ethos, interests etc;

She doesn't understand the nuclear deterrent anymore than Jeremy Corbyn, she is utterly disingenious, I've just seen her in Parliament praising the defence secretary as having the best job in government while describing her own as second best. She was picked by a man who has no common ground with the traditional defence posture of most countries and regards the military hierarchy as evil racist imperialists and enlisted personnel as effectively unemployed. So from that angle...she's the perfect choice!:E

FB:)

[Training Risky]

. The idea that ANYBODY who puts on a Uniform should be absolved of anything they do because there is a War is not something people should be comfortable with

Neither should the fact that UK servicemen who do nothing more than give the Taliban/JAM a bit of a slap are at the mercy of ambulance chasers living on my tax money!

Defending the Guildford 4 and touting for business in Iraq are different ball games!

[Old-Duffer]

Apparently she says her brother in law is an Army VSO - is that true?

O-D

[Jucky]

Apparently she says her brother in law is an Army VSO - is that true?

It would appear to be so.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nugee

[J1N]

In his book Adolf Hitler - My Part in His Downfall Spike Milligan recounted that during the early part of the war his artillery battery had no ammunition for their guns. They therefore practised loading and aiming the guns, after which point they all shouted "Bang" in unison.

Perhaps something similar will form part of our strategic deterent should our new Shadow Defence Secretary come to power?

[Wander00]

Fortunately a Shadow DS has no power, and IMHO this one is unlikely to achieve it