The Untrainables
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The Untrainables
Lansley: government has failed over Libyan military training | UK news | The Guardian
Grad story about failures by MOD in attempting to train Libyans to be PBI at a place called Bassingbourn.....to be honest my sympathy really lies with anybody within MOD who was collared into trying to train this mob.
Warning.A sorry tale that ends in rape, buggery, Conservative MP's, asylum seeking....not for MOD people..the Libyans that is.
Anyone live near here? Or involved in training them>? Shurley not as bad as this?
Grad story about failures by MOD in attempting to train Libyans to be PBI at a place called Bassingbourn.....to be honest my sympathy really lies with anybody within MOD who was collared into trying to train this mob.
Warning.A sorry tale that ends in rape, buggery, Conservative MP's, asylum seeking....not for MOD people..the Libyans that is.
Anyone live near here? Or involved in training them>? Shurley not as bad as this?
It is extremely rich of Lansley, or any politician, to be criticising the MoD. I suspect the Army personnel running the course would have sent a fair number home on Day 1 if they had been allowed to.
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Yes, bit hard on MOD. In a different capacity entirely I was involved in trying to train some Arabian fellows once, and boy it was hard work, I admit it.
Such a contrast in ideas, outlook, lifestyle, religion of course, diet, rest periods..everything. Must have been mission impossible for the Instructional Staff here. Leading a horse to water and all that....
Such a contrast in ideas, outlook, lifestyle, religion of course, diet, rest periods..everything. Must have been mission impossible for the Instructional Staff here. Leading a horse to water and all that....
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It's all very easy to blame the politico's but the political intent behind training Libyans was surely admirable. But clearly the execution went awry. Perhaps it was always an impossible task but what was done when it became apparent discipline had broken down? And why were they still given the run of the town after the first sexual assault?
the political intent behind training Libyans was surely admirable.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
According to the news tonight, they were never given the run of the town. They were not allowed out of camp without an escort. These scum broke out, stole bicycles and went out raping whatever.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Just another example of how completely out of touch our politicians are. I have been involved in the training of Arabs over many years, including a Loan Service tour in Jordan. My first ever school was just outside Tobruk in Libya.
As has been said, different culture, different ways of doing things.
You have to adapt to their way of doing things or you will fail miserably. It is hard enough with the well connected Officer Corps so all problems magnified by a factor of 20 with the troops. Getting them up at 0600 and beasting them for 12 hours is a total non starter. Demanding the same standards from them as you would your own students is a non starter.
As to the culture? Ours would be totally alien to most of them and, sadly, some have obviously taken our liberal ways as an open invite to 'fill their boots'.
Doomed to fail from the start but politicians believe everyone is the same and that all will be fine and dandy.
A huge publicity stunt that has spectacularly backfired. So utterly predictable.
As has been said, different culture, different ways of doing things.
You have to adapt to their way of doing things or you will fail miserably. It is hard enough with the well connected Officer Corps so all problems magnified by a factor of 20 with the troops. Getting them up at 0600 and beasting them for 12 hours is a total non starter. Demanding the same standards from them as you would your own students is a non starter.
As to the culture? Ours would be totally alien to most of them and, sadly, some have obviously taken our liberal ways as an open invite to 'fill their boots'.
Doomed to fail from the start but politicians believe everyone is the same and that all will be fine and dandy.
A huge publicity stunt that has spectacularly backfired. So utterly predictable.
We had four Kuwaitis on my OCTU course, and they split them up, one per flight of 9 or 10 cadets. They all did pretty well, mucked in with the rest of us etc. The only thing I noticed was a marked reluctance to crawl out of their pits at 0600 every morning!
A couple of major differences - they didn't have "safety in numbers" and weren't living en masse in a group where they could reinforce each others actions. Also the Middle Eastern/Arab world was totally different then. This whole project looks absolutely bonkers, and doomed to failure.
A couple of major differences - they didn't have "safety in numbers" and weren't living en masse in a group where they could reinforce each others actions. Also the Middle Eastern/Arab world was totally different then. This whole project looks absolutely bonkers, and doomed to failure.
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And back in Iraq as well.
Good luck with this then.
Why 'Sandhurst in the Sand' hasn't worked in Iraq - Telegraph
Army going back and having another crack training in Iraq again. Sighs.....I just cant see it working. In an age of military budgetary cuts, austerity for many, zero hour contracts for many, VAT at 20%, we still stump up money to train other people, races.......good money after bad.
I actually feel sorry for the officers sent here to do this, as well..poor bastards.
I know people wont follow my rant, but the money our Govt.has thrown away in Iraq..I thought the Conservatives were supposed to be the party that actually valued taxpayers money? Does anyone actually on here could tell me how much, since 2003 we have spent in or on Iraq? Is it even calculable, in cash?
Why 'Sandhurst in the Sand' hasn't worked in Iraq - Telegraph
Army going back and having another crack training in Iraq again. Sighs.....I just cant see it working. In an age of military budgetary cuts, austerity for many, zero hour contracts for many, VAT at 20%, we still stump up money to train other people, races.......good money after bad.
I actually feel sorry for the officers sent here to do this, as well..poor bastards.
I know people wont follow my rant, but the money our Govt.has thrown away in Iraq..I thought the Conservatives were supposed to be the party that actually valued taxpayers money? Does anyone actually on here could tell me how much, since 2003 we have spent in or on Iraq? Is it even calculable, in cash?
Hangarshuffle:
Not meaning to trash your rant ... but ... in 2003, your PM was of the Labour Party, was he not?
So who is/was throwing money away?
Looks like your whole Parliament got involved, at least a couple of parties anyway.
You can be thankful you didn't toss as much money into that briar patch as we did .. blood and treasure expended to ... what end? Well, it changed the shape of the Middle East, but is that the change desired / intended? Thinking the answer is "no" to that last question.
Not meaning to trash your rant ... but ... in 2003, your PM was of the Labour Party, was he not?
So who is/was throwing money away?
Looks like your whole Parliament got involved, at least a couple of parties anyway.
You can be thankful you didn't toss as much money into that briar patch as we did .. blood and treasure expended to ... what end? Well, it changed the shape of the Middle East, but is that the change desired / intended? Thinking the answer is "no" to that last question.
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The BBC's attempt at gaining a balanced view, has published this mealy mouthed load of rubbish.
BBC News - Libyan cadet in Bassingbourn claims 'poor treatment'
BBC News - Libyan cadet in Bassingbourn claims 'poor treatment'
They didn't tell us about British law and what's the difference between right and wrong here."