It's been doing the rounds in the blogosphere, but I thought this deserved as much exposure as possible. From returning Iraq soldier Chris Finney:
“I have found the return to civilian life humbling. My George Cross counted for little when I tried to find a job in the middle of a recession. The usual grumbling by soldiers at the politicians who determine their fate has for me hardened into real anger. When I left the Army, I qualified for a resettlement allowance of just £500. In contrast, MPs who leave the Commons receive between 50% and 100% of their annual salary to help them ‘adjust’ to live outside Parliament. Where is the fairness in that?
What makes me even more furious is the lack of respect shown by the Government to those who have paid the highest price and made the ultimate sacrifice: the war dead. Why is there no Minister in attendance when our fallen heroes from Afghanistan are brought home to repatriation ceremonies at Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire? I couldn’t believe it when I read that Gordon Brown had phoned Simon Cowell to ask how Britain’s Got Talent contestant Susan Boyle was when she had a breakdown. He doesn’t phone any of the bereaved families. I thought that was absolutely disgusting, a real slap in the face for the parents of the hundreds of soldiers killed.”
Indeed.
Labour just don't like the military, that's all. They are either officers (Sandhurst, plum in the mouth, elitist) or other ranks (unreconstructed macho males who probably support the BNP) - neither group fits in well with NuLabour's dream of a touchy-feely socialist paradise where All Shall Have Prizes. It goes a bit against the internationalist grain, too - we're supposed to be comrades with the Iraqi people, not shooting them. The only use the military have as far as NuLab are concerned is in carrying out the wishes of their poodle-masters in the US, and then at the least cost and with the minimum of equipment or support.
This kind of thing makes me ashamed to be British.
A bit like the thing with the Gurkhas. Truly shameful. Roll on 2010 and let's get these despicable turds out of government.
H/t to Guido.
Richard
ReplyDeleteDon't hold back!
My fear is that the next lot in won't be any better - they have already got into their customary muddle over the unmentionable E word.
Please convice me otherwise.
All the best, N
I can't. I can only hope.
ReplyDeleteBut surely they can't be worse than this lot?
Can they?
I was thrilled to hear Gordon proclaiming his commitment to continuing to train the Afghan forces, in light of yesterday's hideous incident. Apparently, were it not for that continuing dedication, we would have wall-to-wall Taliban gunning up Oxford Street shoppers and thereby not only ramping up the Terror War but destroying the UK recovery from recession. National security, see: that's the trump card.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, that the man has the bare-faced gall to spout such arrant nonsense speaks volumes about his fitness to be in charge of the country. He patently has no clue as to why the Afghanistan situation is the way it is, or what the military presence is supposed to achieve in either short or long term. But that's fine, because he has commitment to...whatever it is...and he doesn't have the bear the cost of it.
That level of moral and intellectual poverty means, to me, that - however bad the other choices are - there is no possible way to condone this lot remaining in power. I am, quite literally, ashamed to have them representing me on the world stage - not to mention violently and passionately resentful of their petty, joyless dictatorship that passes for home government.
Compared to that, I'd willingly take a punt on a party that's not really sure what to do with the SuperEurope they'll now be stuck with. If that's the worst of their sins, it'll be like a breath of fresh air!