Do You Want A Politician In Your Trench?
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Join Date: Mar 2008
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Do You Want A Politician In Your Trench?
They've all done it. Gone to visit the troops in the battle area. Churchill, Bush, Obama, Howard, Brown, Blair, Gillard and a host of others wanting the publicity and, possibly, the vicarious thrill of being where the action is.
Some have even gone further than that. I understand that US politicians can also be members of National Guard units and Britain has a form of politician embedding.
Recently, after the brouhouhaha over the Australian PMs lightning visit to the Australian troops in Afghanistan the leader of the Australian Opposition, Tony Abbott, requested that he be embedded with a front line unit for a week. It was refused on security grounds.
Top marks to the bloke for not wanting to do a pure publicity and point-scoring junket, but is it right to stop a politician from finding out what really goes on on the front line? Would we, and our troops on the ground, be far better off it was made compulsory for politicians of every hue to spend at least a week on the front line?
Some have even gone further than that. I understand that US politicians can also be members of National Guard units and Britain has a form of politician embedding.
Recently, after the brouhouhaha over the Australian PMs lightning visit to the Australian troops in Afghanistan the leader of the Australian Opposition, Tony Abbott, requested that he be embedded with a front line unit for a week. It was refused on security grounds.
Top marks to the bloke for not wanting to do a pure publicity and point-scoring junket, but is it right to stop a politician from finding out what really goes on on the front line? Would we, and our troops on the ground, be far better off it was made compulsory for politicians of every hue to spend at least a week on the front line?
Join Date: Jan 2005
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On the face of it, yes a very good idea. The downside is, who babysits the guy if the poo hits the fan while he's there?
Might be a distraction for the troops possibly resulting in more casualties than if he'd stayed at home.
Might be a distraction for the troops possibly resulting in more casualties than if he'd stayed at home.
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Good idea in theory, but as the above poster said, who babysits him.
And will he not be a big distraction or a bullet magnet for the other troops ?
A few things could be done but going out on patrol is not one of them.
And will he not be a big distraction or a bullet magnet for the other troops ?
A few things could be done but going out on patrol is not one of them.
Join Date: Nov 2004
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UK MP's
I believe that there are several members of parliment who serve in the Territorial Army and do undertake operational (not necessarily frontline but definitely in theatre) tours of duty, albeit configured to fit in with their parlimentary duties.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
and provided they were treated the same as the rest of the SLF to and from theatre, including the decompression in Cyprus 
Join Date: Feb 2007
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I'd love one - we could let him drive ..... and tell us it was fit for purpose, or operate xyz or experience the joys that the army allude to.
Politician - lying slime.
Politician - lying slime.
