St Crispin’s Day

A Tribute to Private Phillip Hewett (Staffordshire Regiment)

 A sad story, repeated the world over.  But, if you watch the video, you’ll notice a recurring theme.  The Staffordshire knot.  Proudly worn by those of the Staffordshire Regiment & it’s predecessors.

 We all have symbols that we feel represent part of us, our history, our family crest maybe?  The cap badge of a regiment is a tremendously powerful thing.  I’ve seen fights start over something as apparently trivial as the correct naming of it!  It represents hundreds of years of history, & tens of thousands of people who have gone before, who have held similar views, had similar thoughts to you, and with whom you share many common experiences.  In the infantry a regiment is more often described as a family.

It had to happen! A silly “what sort of person are you?”  type game that came up with the TRUTH!

David Cameron says attack on Iran possible

 Brave, very brave.  Iraq will the epitaph of Mr. Blair.  I have no way of knowing how it would go for Mr. Cameron.  Public opinion will decide that, and they are a fickle bunch.  I can only hope that this means he intends to keep the military budget up.  Without a strong (and I mean stronger than it is now) military he won’t get far.  I have a little experience of planning for possible actions in that area, and the number of troops that will be sucked in will be several divisions We only really have 2/3 of one!).  Be that as it may,  this is Mr. Cameron talking tough to show he is not afraid to take “prime minister” type decisions.

As I said, brave.

I was over at BlackFive today, following some of his sidebar links and came across a few links that highlight the difference between how the armed forces are seen in the United States compared to how they are here.  It’s almost as if they are APPRECIATED in the US (how strange!)

Troops compensated for being messed about

Free entry to armed forces at Anheuser-Busch theme parks

New houses built for forces veterans

New website for military post traumatic stress victims

There are loads more, but I’ve not the time to look at them all. I have however looked for the British versions, and can find nothing, except for the reports on appaling service personnel housing, closure of military hospitals, lying of politicians about extra bonuses for deployed troops etc etc etc.

You would never think they were fighting the same war, would you?

Prime Minister absent from Iraq debate 

I’m disgusted.  In Great Britain, the Iraq war will be Mr. Blair’s legacy.  How can he absent himself from the first major debate on this?  Hundreds of military have died, some of them my friends.  I cannot believe the fact that he has treated such a serious situation with such cavalier disregard.

Shame on him!

Government plans to build “super military base” 

Hands up who thinks the Army are the same as the Airforce or the Navy? No one? I thought so! Different jobs and a different ethos.  So why do the government keep creating these combined (we call it purple, as that’s the awful colour you get if you mix the Army red with the two blues of the Navy & RAF) organisations? Oh, is it because for every new one you build, you get to close three old ones? No one benefits from this apart from the building developers who get to snap up prime locations!

Whilst I am neither pro or anti Israel, I do take a keen interest in the military & especially the military-political interface.

The title question is one which I’ve been pondering ever since the invasion of southern Lebanon when they tried to defeat Hezbollah in June 2006.

The Israeli military has for a long time been thought to be one of the most powerful in the Middle East (possibly in the world). Most of their equipment is of US manufacture, and they have a world class indigenous arms industry (Britain is about to purchase an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed by Israel).

The Merkava tank is thought to be one of the best in the world. Which makes the loss of over 10 of them to, for want of a better word, Guerrilla a massive blow to confidence. Once you’ve used your military, and they come up short, the mystique and fear factor disappears.  People will be keener to take you on in future.

Whilst writing this piece I found this little gem. P.W. Singer has commented on the same issue here. He also mentions the limited value of airpower, and the use of the Merkava tank as an expensive battlefield ambulance!  

The issue with being too reliant on airpower is also given as part of the reason for Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz having resigned over the affair.

Marines recover body of comrade while ”tied” to outside of helicopter” 

Compare what these guys thought was the right thing to do against what even the best of politicians do.

Talk about going outside your comfort zone!

Nails. It says is all.

Here is an online petition to save the Royal Navy.

I’m not sure how usefull these things are? Can’t hurt can it?

SIGN HERE

I’ll be leaving it as a page link on the sidebar so it does’nt slip away.

Another hat tip to Rogue Gunner for highlighting the quote.

 ‘’The willingless with which our young people are likely to serve in any war,no matter how justified,shall be directly proportional as to how they percieve the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreaciated by their nation'’ –George Washington–

And here are just two examples of why we are driving people away from the military.  Daily Referendum reminded me of the first (which happened before I started blogging, but which has got much exposure here on the arrse website).  The second I remember from another forum, again, it got arrse exposure (please, no jokes!) here.

Officer denied access to Harrods 

Royal Marines denied entry after funeral

I am beginning to suspect a conspiracy!