British Military Current Events
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daftandbarmy
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AL-QAEDA DOCUMENTS COULD HAVE BEEN FOUND BY A FRENCHMAN, SAY MPs
TOP-secret documents left on a Surrey commuter train could have been picked up by anyone, even a Frenchman, MPs said last night.
The powerful home affairs select committee has called for an urgent inquiry after France came closer than ever to discovering Britain's opinions about Al Qaeda.
Committee vice-chairman, Sir Denys Finch-Hatton, said: "These documents are clearly marked, 'For Everyone's Eyes - EXCEPT THE FRENCH!
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/war/al%11qaeda-documents-could-have-been-found-by-a-frenchman%2c-say-mps-200806121017/
TOP-secret documents left on a Surrey commuter train could have been picked up by anyone, even a Frenchman, MPs said last night.
The powerful home affairs select committee has called for an urgent inquiry after France came closer than ever to discovering Britain's opinions about Al Qaeda.
Committee vice-chairman, Sir Denys Finch-Hatton, said: "These documents are clearly marked, 'For Everyone's Eyes - EXCEPT THE FRENCH!
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/war/al%11qaeda-documents-could-have-been-found-by-a-frenchman%2c-say-mps-200806121017/
daftandbarmy
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No, I wasn't looking through this particular site while smokin' a fatty.... it was sent to me by someone else - like, no kiddin', man
High Times
RAF Top Guns Have Blown Up The World’s Biggest Drug Haul
http://hightimes.com/news/ht_admin/4378/
High Times
RAF Top Guns Have Blown Up The World’s Biggest Drug Haul
http://hightimes.com/news/ht_admin/4378/
daftandbarmy
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Theories and rumours abound as scientists ponder mystery of mass dolphin deaths
MoD denies sonar to blame but conservationists call for navy to suspend its use
Nick Tomlinson, skipper of the fishing boat Lenten Rose, had not felt anything like it in the 35 years he has been working the waters off the Cornish coast.
"I'm used to the big military guns going off but this was something different - bang, bang, bang, very close, very loud. The vibrations went through the boat and up through my backbone. The whole boat was shuddering."
As Tomlinson's boat was rocking 12 miles out, an extraordinary drama was playing out in muddy little coastline creeks near Falmouth. Around 70 dolphins had suddenly headed for shore and dozens became trapped in mud and slime. Rescuers tried to keep the distressed mammals wet by draping damp tarpaulin and seaweed over them. They guided some back out to sea but 26 perished in the sticky shallows.
Marine scientists are astounded at Monday's tragedy - the biggest mass stranding of dolphins for many years. Multiple strandings of dolphins, porpoises and whales do happen frequently in other parts of the world. In the UK the number of strandings of cetaceans has doubled to more than 700 over the past 10 years. But this increase is generally put down to the creatures becoming entangled in fishing nets and usually only involves a few individuals or a small group.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/14/conservation.endangeredspecies
MoD denies sonar to blame but conservationists call for navy to suspend its use
Nick Tomlinson, skipper of the fishing boat Lenten Rose, had not felt anything like it in the 35 years he has been working the waters off the Cornish coast.
"I'm used to the big military guns going off but this was something different - bang, bang, bang, very close, very loud. The vibrations went through the boat and up through my backbone. The whole boat was shuddering."
As Tomlinson's boat was rocking 12 miles out, an extraordinary drama was playing out in muddy little coastline creeks near Falmouth. Around 70 dolphins had suddenly headed for shore and dozens became trapped in mud and slime. Rescuers tried to keep the distressed mammals wet by draping damp tarpaulin and seaweed over them. They guided some back out to sea but 26 perished in the sticky shallows.
Marine scientists are astounded at Monday's tragedy - the biggest mass stranding of dolphins for many years. Multiple strandings of dolphins, porpoises and whales do happen frequently in other parts of the world. In the UK the number of strandings of cetaceans has doubled to more than 700 over the past 10 years. But this increase is generally put down to the creatures becoming entangled in fishing nets and usually only involves a few individuals or a small group.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/14/conservation.endangeredspecies
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Scottish nationalists promise Scottish Regiments again (if they become independent) - highlights mine....
Battle royal: Scotland's regiments
Two years after the controversial merger of Scotland's regiments, the arguments are taking a new turn
Jeremy Watson, The Scotsman, 15 Jun 08
Article link
SHORTLY before 7pm last night, they filed through the lower gates of Edinburgh Castle and wound up past the battlements to the Great Hall above. Almost 200 ex-servicemen and supporters of the Restore Our Army Regiments (Roar) campaign filed into the heart of Scotland's military headquarters to a reception hosted by SNP First Minister Alex Salmond to "recognise" their efforts in fighting against the formation of a Scottish super-regiment.
Roar's campaign ended in defeat more than two years ago, when the country's six famously independent regiments – such as the Black Watch, the Royal Scots and the Royal Highland Fusiliers – were cut to five and brought together as the new Royal Regiment of Scotland (RRS).
Although the regimental names survived in the five new battalions, campaigners warned the changes ordered by army chiefs of staff in London would damage morale and be disastrous for recruitment. Salmond, then in opposition, pledged that once he had the power in a sovereign Scotland he would reverse the cuts and restore regimental independence.
The First Minister does not have the power yet, as defence is a matter reserved to the UK Government. But last night's event in the most provocative of venues for the RRS – the Castle is its regimental HQ – was his way of reminding the campaigners that he intends to honour his pledge.
Jeff Duncan, the campaign manager for Roar, said the reception was not designed to be a "party political event". But senior officers in the new RRS have made clear their deep unhappiness that the First Minister chose to honour the campaign in such a sensitive location, saying the event undermines the morale of Scottish soldiers risking their lives on overseas operations in Iraq and Afghanistan..... more
Battle royal: Scotland's regiments
Two years after the controversial merger of Scotland's regiments, the arguments are taking a new turn
Jeremy Watson, The Scotsman, 15 Jun 08
Article link
SHORTLY before 7pm last night, they filed through the lower gates of Edinburgh Castle and wound up past the battlements to the Great Hall above. Almost 200 ex-servicemen and supporters of the Restore Our Army Regiments (Roar) campaign filed into the heart of Scotland's military headquarters to a reception hosted by SNP First Minister Alex Salmond to "recognise" their efforts in fighting against the formation of a Scottish super-regiment.
Roar's campaign ended in defeat more than two years ago, when the country's six famously independent regiments – such as the Black Watch, the Royal Scots and the Royal Highland Fusiliers – were cut to five and brought together as the new Royal Regiment of Scotland (RRS).
Although the regimental names survived in the five new battalions, campaigners warned the changes ordered by army chiefs of staff in London would damage morale and be disastrous for recruitment. Salmond, then in opposition, pledged that once he had the power in a sovereign Scotland he would reverse the cuts and restore regimental independence.
The First Minister does not have the power yet, as defence is a matter reserved to the UK Government. But last night's event in the most provocative of venues for the RRS – the Castle is its regimental HQ – was his way of reminding the campaigners that he intends to honour his pledge.
Jeff Duncan, the campaign manager for Roar, said the reception was not designed to be a "party political event". But senior officers in the new RRS have made clear their deep unhappiness that the First Minister chose to honour the campaign in such a sensitive location, saying the event undermines the morale of Scottish soldiers risking their lives on overseas operations in Iraq and Afghanistan..... more
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The british army is having to deal with manpower shortages - just like all other NATO partner.
Having understrength battalions / regiments will result in a lot of morale problems of their own.
Methinks beware what you are wishing for..... cause you may get it in the end
Having understrength battalions / regiments will result in a lot of morale problems of their own.
Methinks beware what you are wishing for..... cause you may get it in the end
daftandbarmy
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4138262.ece
From The Sunday Times
June 15, 2008
Gordon Brown pulls rank to stop General Sir Richard Dannatt heading forces
General Sir Richard Dannatt
Gordon Brown has blocked General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, from being promoted to lead the armed forces because of his repeated calls for better pay and conditions for servicemen, senior Whitehall sources have disclosed.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the current chief of the defence staff, will now have his tenure extended for a year, ensuring there is no vacancy for Dannatt before his retirement.
Despite repeated attempts to rein him in, the general complained 10 days ago that troops fighting in Afghanistan are paid less than traffic wardens while their families in Britain are living in “appalling” housing. The criticisms forced Brown to say he would look again at forces’ pay.
“It was Gordon’s decision,” said one Whitehall source. “Dannatt has made a lot of enemies among the senior reaches of the Labour party.
Related Links
“They want him gone sooner rather than later.”
Dannatt was appointed chief of the general staff in August 2006, so his standard three-year stint in charge of the army will end in August next year. Stirrup was due to leave next April before the order came to extend his term for a year.
An alternative was to promote Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy to the top post next April, but that is seen as unlikely. Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, the first sea lord, has also spoken out over cuts to the navy’s ships, warning that “if [the fleet] turns into the Belgian navy, then I’m gone”, so is not seen as an option.
There have been suggestions that Stirrup is fed up with inter-service bickering over the increasingly stretched defence budget and is looking for a post in industry.
Ministry of Defence officials, however, want Stirrup to stay on so that all the current service chiefs have been replaced by the time he has finished his term.
“By cleaning house and putting a new team under Stirrup, the PM gets a new group of senior officers who will be too busy trying to climb the greasy pole to rock the boat,” said one senior army officer.
From The Sunday Times
June 15, 2008
Gordon Brown pulls rank to stop General Sir Richard Dannatt heading forces
General Sir Richard Dannatt
Gordon Brown has blocked General Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, from being promoted to lead the armed forces because of his repeated calls for better pay and conditions for servicemen, senior Whitehall sources have disclosed.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the current chief of the defence staff, will now have his tenure extended for a year, ensuring there is no vacancy for Dannatt before his retirement.
Despite repeated attempts to rein him in, the general complained 10 days ago that troops fighting in Afghanistan are paid less than traffic wardens while their families in Britain are living in “appalling” housing. The criticisms forced Brown to say he would look again at forces’ pay.
“It was Gordon’s decision,” said one Whitehall source. “Dannatt has made a lot of enemies among the senior reaches of the Labour party.
Related Links
“They want him gone sooner rather than later.”
Dannatt was appointed chief of the general staff in August 2006, so his standard three-year stint in charge of the army will end in August next year. Stirrup was due to leave next April before the order came to extend his term for a year.
An alternative was to promote Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy to the top post next April, but that is seen as unlikely. Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, the first sea lord, has also spoken out over cuts to the navy’s ships, warning that “if [the fleet] turns into the Belgian navy, then I’m gone”, so is not seen as an option.
There have been suggestions that Stirrup is fed up with inter-service bickering over the increasingly stretched defence budget and is looking for a post in industry.
Ministry of Defence officials, however, want Stirrup to stay on so that all the current service chiefs have been replaced by the time he has finished his term.
“By cleaning house and putting a new team under Stirrup, the PM gets a new group of senior officers who will be too busy trying to climb the greasy pole to rock the boat,” said one senior army officer.
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Well, I reckon that puts Dannatt on the streets that much faster, making him freer to talk, and just in time for a General Election.
I wonder if he will get much air time.
"The General Who Spoke Out While In Uniform - And Was Dissed For His Pains" .......
And he may have First Sea Lord and the Air Chief Marshall to keep him company on the hustings.
Gordon's not much of a tactician.
I wonder if he will get much air time.
"The General Who Spoke Out While In Uniform - And Was Dissed For His Pains" .......
And he may have First Sea Lord and the Air Chief Marshall to keep him company on the hustings.
Gordon's not much of a tactician.
daftandbarmy
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It seems that the years of continuoual Labour government mismangement of the forces in the UK has put them in a similar position to the CF in the early 90s e.g., in the hurt locker.
daftandbarmy
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Just in case you thought that the war was over....
Dissident group admit bomb attack
The Continuity IRA has admitted responsibility for an attempted bomb attack on a police patrol in County Fermanagh early on Saturday.
The dissident republican group said it had tried to detonate a landmine as the patrol passed on the Rellan Road near Rosslea.
A loud bang was heard and a suspicious object was found a few hours later.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7456794.stm
Dissident group admit bomb attack
The Continuity IRA has admitted responsibility for an attempted bomb attack on a police patrol in County Fermanagh early on Saturday.
The dissident republican group said it had tried to detonate a landmine as the patrol passed on the Rellan Road near Rosslea.
A loud bang was heard and a suspicious object was found a few hours later.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7456794.stm
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Well at least the pilot is okay.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/7457288.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/7457288.stm
daftandbarmy
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Army Major suspended for alleged verbal abuse towards a lesbian
A MAJOR heading the Army’s war on sex harassment has been suspended — for allegedly verbally abusing a lesbian sergeant.
John Wooldridge, 51, "relentlessly" harassed the 32-year-old NCO for almost two years over her sexual preferences, it is claimed.
The officer — in charge of ridding the service of sexual and racial prejudice — told her GAYS and LESBIANS should not be in the Army, she says.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/article1306202.ece
A MAJOR heading the Army’s war on sex harassment has been suspended — for allegedly verbally abusing a lesbian sergeant.
John Wooldridge, 51, "relentlessly" harassed the 32-year-old NCO for almost two years over her sexual preferences, it is claimed.
The officer — in charge of ridding the service of sexual and racial prejudice — told her GAYS and LESBIANS should not be in the Army, she says.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/article1306202.ece
Wonder how he got picked for the job? ???
Blackadder1916
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PMedMoe said:
Perhaps by applying for it, the same way any other retired soldier gets a job in the civil service.
Army anti-sex harassment head suspended for alleged harassment
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/majornews/2150434/Army-anti-sex-harassment-head-suspended-for-alleged-harassment.html
daftandbarmy
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Wife 'died a hero' in Afghanistan
The first British female soldier killed in Afghanistan has been praised as a "hero" by her husband.
Corporal Sarah Bryant from Cumbria died with three men in a blast on Tuesday, bringing the number of soldiers who have died in Afghanistan to 106.
The three other soldiers were named as Cpl Sean Robert Reeve, Lance Corporal Richard Larkin and Paul Stout.
Cpl Bryant's husband, fellow soldier Carl, said: "My wife was a truly special person who died a hero."
The explosion happened east of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province while they were manning a vehicle checkpoint.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7462985.stm
The first British female soldier killed in Afghanistan has been praised as a "hero" by her husband.
Corporal Sarah Bryant from Cumbria died with three men in a blast on Tuesday, bringing the number of soldiers who have died in Afghanistan to 106.
The three other soldiers were named as Cpl Sean Robert Reeve, Lance Corporal Richard Larkin and Paul Stout.
Cpl Bryant's husband, fellow soldier Carl, said: "My wife was a truly special person who died a hero."
The explosion happened east of Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province while they were manning a vehicle checkpoint.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7462985.stm
daftandbarmy
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Mourn Sarah Bryant as a soldier, not a woman
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/06/20/do2002.xml
By Cassandra Jardine
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 20/06/2008
The sight of Sarah Bryant's bare shoulders in her wedding dress is almost unbearably poignant. Two years ago, she was a glowing bride; now the 26-year-old is wearing a body bag, having been blown up when her Land Rover was hit by an explosion on Tuesday afternoon. The grief of the family and friends who knew and loved her is no more intense because she happened to be young, blonde and pretty, but inevitably - sentimentally, perhaps - those attributes affect the rest of us, including those who worked with her.
Male soldiers serving with Sgt Bryant have, say sources on the ground, been rocked by her death. It has stopped them in their tracks, made them question their enthusiasm for the dangerous task they face, and feel extra protective of the other women serving alongside them.
Her death will naturally revive those old arguments about whether women are suited to the battlefield. It is always so when something happens for the first time and Sgt Bryant is the first woman to die in the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/06/20/do2002.xml
By Cassandra Jardine
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 20/06/2008
The sight of Sarah Bryant's bare shoulders in her wedding dress is almost unbearably poignant. Two years ago, she was a glowing bride; now the 26-year-old is wearing a body bag, having been blown up when her Land Rover was hit by an explosion on Tuesday afternoon. The grief of the family and friends who knew and loved her is no more intense because she happened to be young, blonde and pretty, but inevitably - sentimentally, perhaps - those attributes affect the rest of us, including those who worked with her.
Male soldiers serving with Sgt Bryant have, say sources on the ground, been rocked by her death. It has stopped them in their tracks, made them question their enthusiasm for the dangerous task they face, and feel extra protective of the other women serving alongside them.
Her death will naturally revive those old arguments about whether women are suited to the battlefield. It is always so when something happens for the first time and Sgt Bryant is the first woman to die in the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan.
daftandbarmy
Army.ca Dinosaur
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It was probably concussion from William bonking on the Isle of Wight...
Theories and rumours abound as scientists ponder mystery of mass dolphin deaths
MoD denies sonar to blame but conservationists call for navy to suspend its use
Nick Tomlinson, skipper of the fishing boat Lenten Rose, had not felt anything like it in the 35 years he has been working the waters off the Cornish coast.
"I'm used to the big military guns going off but this was something different - bang, bang, bang, very close, very loud. The vibrations went through the boat and up through my backbone. The whole boat was shuddering."
As Tomlinson's boat was rocking 12 miles out, an extraordinary drama was playing out in muddy little coastline creeks near Falmouth. Around 70 dolphins had suddenly headed for shore and dozens became trapped in mud and slime. Rescuers tried to keep the distressed mammals wet by draping damp tarpaulin and seaweed over them. They guided some back out to sea but 26 perished in the sticky shallows.
Marine scientists are astounded at Monday's tragedy - the biggest mass stranding of dolphins for many years. Multiple strandings of dolphins, porpoises and whales do happen frequently in other parts of the world. In the UK the number of strandings of cetaceans has doubled to more than 700 over the past 10 years. But this increase is generally put down to the creatures becoming entangled in fishing nets and usually only involves a few individuals or a small group.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/14/conservation.endangeredspecies
Theories and rumours abound as scientists ponder mystery of mass dolphin deaths
MoD denies sonar to blame but conservationists call for navy to suspend its use
Nick Tomlinson, skipper of the fishing boat Lenten Rose, had not felt anything like it in the 35 years he has been working the waters off the Cornish coast.
"I'm used to the big military guns going off but this was something different - bang, bang, bang, very close, very loud. The vibrations went through the boat and up through my backbone. The whole boat was shuddering."
As Tomlinson's boat was rocking 12 miles out, an extraordinary drama was playing out in muddy little coastline creeks near Falmouth. Around 70 dolphins had suddenly headed for shore and dozens became trapped in mud and slime. Rescuers tried to keep the distressed mammals wet by draping damp tarpaulin and seaweed over them. They guided some back out to sea but 26 perished in the sticky shallows.
Marine scientists are astounded at Monday's tragedy - the biggest mass stranding of dolphins for many years. Multiple strandings of dolphins, porpoises and whales do happen frequently in other parts of the world. In the UK the number of strandings of cetaceans has doubled to more than 700 over the past 10 years. But this increase is generally put down to the creatures becoming entangled in fishing nets and usually only involves a few individuals or a small group.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/14/conservation.endangeredspecies
daftandbarmy
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Holy cr*p, over....
Bomb hero puts finger in trigger
From JEROME STARKEY
in Kabul
AN Army bomb disposal hero escaped being blown to bits by a landmine — by quickly jamming his fingers into a CLOTHES PEG.
The crude wooden peg had been used as a makeshift trigger to set off the deadly device.
Two electrical contacts were fixed to the gripping parts of the peg — which were held open by rubber wrapped around the opposite end.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/article1326057.ece
Bomb hero puts finger in trigger
From JEROME STARKEY
in Kabul
AN Army bomb disposal hero escaped being blown to bits by a landmine — by quickly jamming his fingers into a CLOTHES PEG.
The crude wooden peg had been used as a makeshift trigger to set off the deadly device.
Two electrical contacts were fixed to the gripping parts of the peg — which were held open by rubber wrapped around the opposite end.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/article1326057.ece
daftandbarmy
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Pictured Two paratroopers who died within 10 hours of each other during same op
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1029120/Two-paratroopers-killed-Afghanistan-named.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1029120/Two-paratroopers-killed-Afghanistan-named.html
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