SAS soldier quits Army in disgust at 'illegal' American tactics in Iraq
Gatvol
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You guys are all probably right. The military needs more folks like him. They can all vote as to which war they wish to fight in and go home if they dont like the orders..........
Since when did being in the military become a democracy? Blame it on U.S. Policy, but realize it may just be lack of balls.
Since when did being in the military become a democracy? Blame it on U.S. Policy, but realize it may just be lack of balls.
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What a load of bo££ocks. The guy is probably another prima donna with a book up his sleeve. His propaganda gift to the other side is a betrayal of his oppos still serving in theatre. 
In addition, it leads to stupid, hysterical comparisons of our coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Nazis !
In addition, it leads to stupid, hysterical comparisons of our coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Nazis !
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Just as valid as the other posts I thought 
Read back over the bs posted about the ludicrous comparisons with WW2, and one has to wonder about the true motivation for such "high moral ground" and the adverse publicity leading to heaven sent propaganda for the bad guys. If you don't think such cases are manipulated by AQ and the terror groups we face, just read this mornings Gulf News !!
Read back over the bs posted about the ludicrous comparisons with WW2, and one has to wonder about the true motivation for such "high moral ground" and the adverse publicity leading to heaven sent propaganda for the bad guys. If you don't think such cases are manipulated by AQ and the terror groups we face, just read this mornings Gulf News !!
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I agree that its impossible to compare WW2 with GW2 (all sides have bad people but they do seem to 'breed' if not stopped).
But before we damn the trooper to exile and treat him with the contempt you seem to exude, let's first see if he publishes a 'prima-donna' book? So far, he seems to be playing a with straight bat - which is more than I can say for the England cricket team!
But before we damn the trooper to exile and treat him with the contempt you seem to exude, let's first see if he publishes a 'prima-donna' book? So far, he seems to be playing a with straight bat - which is more than I can say for the England cricket team!
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Tombstone, I agree.
Perhaps not coincidental that the US Advocate General was recently pressing for a re-definition of the Geneva Convention... is this a case of trying to change the rules to match the behaviour rather than the other way around?
Perhaps not coincidental that the US Advocate General was recently pressing for a re-definition of the Geneva Convention... is this a case of trying to change the rules to match the behaviour rather than the other way around?
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I'm Ex RN, I have lots of friends still in.
I know that a lot of them feel this 'war' is unjust.
As for comparing WW2 to GW2, there are no gas chambers, mass roundups etc, but our troops on the ground are being led into this conflict by people who have their own personal, illegal agenda.
In that respect, it does have parallels with WW2.
Our British forces are not under our total command. Mr Bliar is allowing them to be used by the American leaders. Leaders who shout about democracy, yet will not sign up to such things as the Kyoto agreement, and will not allow their troops to be tried in the same way as everyone elses under international law.
These American 'leaders' pick and choose what rules they will abide by in the political arena, yet try to force their will and their 'standards' on others. You just have to see how they have 'helped' the poorer black communities after the not so distant hurricane. Democratic my A
e
Iran is potentially worrying on 2 fronts -
One, any war there will be at a great loss to our forces,
Two - playing the devils advocate here, but what intelligence are the US and the UK using to categorically say that Iran is wanting to use nuclear power to produce weapon grade material and not, as they claim, produce semi-environmentally clean, replenishable fuel in a world that is struggling to find new resources?
Is it the same intelligence that brought us the fabled '45 minutes to deploy a WMD'?
France are ramping up there nuclear fuel capability; can we really trust them considering how they and other European 'allies' act towards us within the EU? Who are we to say "no, you cannot produce sustainable, cheaper fuel" to any country?
Politicians are supposed to have the 'whole picture'. Any two bit muppet could have told them in 2001 that an invasion of Iraq would lead to civil war and countless deaths. History rewrites itsell, it's a shame our political leaders and their lackeys, the so called advisors, do not take the time to think about and learn from what has gone before.
The world was far safer during the cold war era, at least then we had leaders who played by the rules and not by their egos
I know that a lot of them feel this 'war' is unjust.
As for comparing WW2 to GW2, there are no gas chambers, mass roundups etc, but our troops on the ground are being led into this conflict by people who have their own personal, illegal agenda.
In that respect, it does have parallels with WW2.
Our British forces are not under our total command. Mr Bliar is allowing them to be used by the American leaders. Leaders who shout about democracy, yet will not sign up to such things as the Kyoto agreement, and will not allow their troops to be tried in the same way as everyone elses under international law.
These American 'leaders' pick and choose what rules they will abide by in the political arena, yet try to force their will and their 'standards' on others. You just have to see how they have 'helped' the poorer black communities after the not so distant hurricane. Democratic my A
eIran is potentially worrying on 2 fronts -
One, any war there will be at a great loss to our forces,
Two - playing the devils advocate here, but what intelligence are the US and the UK using to categorically say that Iran is wanting to use nuclear power to produce weapon grade material and not, as they claim, produce semi-environmentally clean, replenishable fuel in a world that is struggling to find new resources?
Is it the same intelligence that brought us the fabled '45 minutes to deploy a WMD'?
France are ramping up there nuclear fuel capability; can we really trust them considering how they and other European 'allies' act towards us within the EU? Who are we to say "no, you cannot produce sustainable, cheaper fuel" to any country?
Politicians are supposed to have the 'whole picture'. Any two bit muppet could have told them in 2001 that an invasion of Iraq would lead to civil war and countless deaths. History rewrites itsell, it's a shame our political leaders and their lackeys, the so called advisors, do not take the time to think about and learn from what has gone before.
The world was far safer during the cold war era, at least then we had leaders who played by the rules and not by their egos
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UKATCO
Someone once said "He who does not learn from history, is destined to repeat it".
Very true but there are always other perspectives:
1. If we learn from history, we must be quicker to be confront potential agreesors (1930s English Foreign Policy with Germany - 'peace in our time' etc).
2. Agression breeds agression. I saw that yesterday at an U10s rugby match!
3. The winners of the conflicts write the history books.
(Imagine how different GCSE history would be if Hitler had won?)
WRT to Iran, I don't profess to know which side is 'right' - sadly my gut instinct tells me that GWB is 'on a mission' but the Iranians are not easily scared and all that the sabre-rattling by POTUS is acheiving is to make the possibility of conflict only more likely.
What the world needs now is a statesman who can calm Dubya down while placating the Iranian desire not to 'lose face' - very important to Arabic people.
Someone once said "He who does not learn from history, is destined to repeat it".
Very true but there are always other perspectives:
1. If we learn from history, we must be quicker to be confront potential agreesors (1930s English Foreign Policy with Germany - 'peace in our time' etc).
2. Agression breeds agression. I saw that yesterday at an U10s rugby match!
3. The winners of the conflicts write the history books.
(Imagine how different GCSE history would be if Hitler had won?)
WRT to Iran, I don't profess to know which side is 'right' - sadly my gut instinct tells me that GWB is 'on a mission' but the Iranians are not easily scared and all that the sabre-rattling by POTUS is acheiving is to make the possibility of conflict only more likely.
What the world needs now is a statesman who can calm Dubya down while placating the Iranian desire not to 'lose face' - very important to Arabic people.
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Flipster
I don't hold the guy in contempt, far from it, but I've seen enough of the square jawed, thousand yard stares like his to know that anyone who takes to the podium while his oppos are still in theatre has another agenda. I await the book, or his TV appearances with interest.
I have a little knowledge of these things by the way and know that in certain sectors such political / publicity seeking causes have a serious detrimental effect and I also question the motives for the "whistleblower" aspect to this high profile case (not a normal tactic of the Regiment you would agree, other than several other similar egos who now cannot grace the mess at Credenhill ?)
Anyway, this under tens rugby match, I thought Ireland deserved the win !
I don't hold the guy in contempt, far from it, but I've seen enough of the square jawed, thousand yard stares like his to know that anyone who takes to the podium while his oppos are still in theatre has another agenda. I await the book, or his TV appearances with interest.
I have a little knowledge of these things by the way and know that in certain sectors such political / publicity seeking causes have a serious detrimental effect and I also question the motives for the "whistleblower" aspect to this high profile case (not a normal tactic of the Regiment you would agree, other than several other similar egos who now cannot grace the mess at Credenhill ?)
Anyway, this under tens rugby match, I thought Ireland deserved the win !
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Brave bloke for putting his head above the parapet but I am pleased that the regiment treated him as well as it did. I wonder what would have happened to him if he was a Rock or, heaven forfend, an RAF doctor?
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Yes - sorry, you have a point that Basrah is much 'better' than Baghad but we only get to hear what the media want us to.
Yes, Basrah is more stable and less dangerous than Baghdad. How much of that is due to the allegedly superior tactics of the Brits and how much of that is due to the nature of the populace in Basrah? I'd suggest that it is impossible to tell.
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All this talk of invading Iran, what is the world coming to? Why would Mr Bush and our Tone want to invade another one of the worlds largest producers of crude oil? Remember your oath of attestation. You all agreed to protect Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Sucessors, and to help secure America's overseas oil interests......not! These two guys deserve a medal for having the moral courage to say off to the idiots who run this country.
off to the idiots who run this country.
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And just why would any coallition force put men on the ground in Iran? That would be tantamount to an unprovoked invasion of a sovereign country and be Vietnam all over again.
I can see only high level bombing or conventional warheaded missile munitions used to destroy the offending facilities.
Neither do I see much, if any, UK involvement other than vocal support for American action - probably through a fudged UN resolution.
We have enough on our plate with The Balklans, Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan. Any desire by President Bliar to get involved will be scuppered by his failure to properly fund the Armed Forces - his past actions will come home to roost [thank God]...
I can see only high level bombing or conventional warheaded missile munitions used to destroy the offending facilities.
Neither do I see much, if any, UK involvement other than vocal support for American action - probably through a fudged UN resolution.
We have enough on our plate with The Balklans, Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan. Any desire by President Bliar to get involved will be scuppered by his failure to properly fund the Armed Forces - his past actions will come home to roost [thank God]...
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What oath?
Remember your oath of attestation. You all agreed to protect Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Sucessors, and to help secure America's overseas oil interests......not!
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Originally Posted by OFBSLF
Yes, Basrah is more stable and less dangerous than Baghdad. How much of that is due to the allegedly superior tactics of the Brits and how much of that is due to the nature of the populace in Basrah? I'd suggest that it is impossible to tell.
US forces do not know the meaning of the phrase 'winning the hearts & minds.' I'm not suggesting that you would be having a ball up north if you adopted British tactics however, sledgehammering doors down and throwing anyone in the area into trucks without questioning them first is not helping your cause. Infact, it is a certain road to failure.
Bottom line is pretty simple, the British have been doing this sort of this longer than anyone else and are bloody good at it. Shame the US forces can't handle advice as there has been plenty of it offered.
Get us out of there Bliar, you owe us that much at least.
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The guy is probably another prima donna with a book up his sleeve
This guy served his country, risked his life obeying orders coming from inept politicians for a lousy pay, and he has the guts to stand by his opinions.
He well deserves to make some money talking about what he knows best. And I bet he'll be better at it than the Ludlums, Crichtons or Browns of this world who haven't a clue of what they're writing about...
And yes, I've read all of Andy McNabs books and - with all their defects - I found (most of) them very interesting, entertaining and unputdownable...
He shouldn't have killed Kelly, though...
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
I know how he's planning to earn his money after leaving the mob - look at the Telegraph link on the original post from Ali and then look at the Sky.com TV trailer for the new drama "Bones". If that's not the same bloke my dick's a kipper.
Gatvol
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These two guys deserve a medal for having the moral courage to say off to the idiots who run this country.