Here are some interesting articles about the hostages etc.
Morag considers armed forces recruitment ads and wonders if perhaps the true nature of what the forces are about has been badly downplayed. Also some analysis of the MoD’s thinking. A very interesting and thought-provoking post.
EU Referendum calls for a properly constituted Board of Inquiry into how they were taken hostage in the first place. Richard North makes the valid point that the Conservatives should be demanding a proper inquiry instead of making feeble noises about ‘lessons learnt’. Well said.
Calum Carr contrasts two recent MoD actions:
- the reluctance to provide information to the inquest into the ‘friendly-fire’ killing of Lance Corporal Matty Hull; and
- the decision to allow the captives to ‘tell all’ in response for payment.
True word, Calum. To that I might add a third, the MoD’s self-righteous persecution of David Kelly for talking to a reporter, even threatening him with dismissal.
Very good articles, all.
April 9th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Yes, thoughtful.
Ian Webb has written to the correspondence column of The Times to comment on the story “Stories-for-sale signs fail to lure to big cheques from sceptical press” by Dominic Kennedy and David Lister. A very good article.
Mr Webb suggests that this is a deliberate attempt on the part of the government to bring the British armed services into disrepute. He writes: “notwithstanding the obsenity of them being paid, allowing these people to talk to the press might well lead to an unfavouable public reaction and possibly sully the Navy’s reputation. May I suggest that the Government find the support that the people give to our armed forces these days “inconvenient” and have deliberately jumped at the chance to see the public standing of the Navy - and that of the the Armed Forces in general - diminished.”
We know that the socialists hate patriotism and hate the armed services. Presumably, some pr people in government, and their name is legion, knew that there would be revulsion among the public that would lead to newspapers withdrawing their offers - and this has actually happened in several instances. But the damage was done, as intended.
For the stories that were already booked - although apparently several newspapers have now reneged - the MoD was actually going to send round a government press officer to help the hostages with the interview. In other words, to help the hostages make money for themselves. This is beyond bizarre and we are truly in the twilight zone.
I commend people to go to The Times and read Ian Webb’s whole letter because it is very incisive.
So far, game, set and match to Iran. And the babbling of the hostages over the last few days has demonstrated how weak and unwarrior-like they are, and how little interest Tony Blair has in upholding pride in the services. He may (or may not) be going to step down soon, but he still has a few more landmines to lay before his departure.
April 9th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Bel
You’re certainly doing your bit for my blog.
Thanks for your help and encouragement.
April 9th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Verity, thanks for that. I’ll go check out the letter on the Times website.
Calum, you’re more than welcome. You have a very good blog. Keep it up.
April 9th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Thanks for the commments over at the Snob, I’ll certainly be returning.
RS
April 9th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Thank you, RS. I only discovered your blog today. I also plan to visit regularly.
April 10th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
I don’t agree with Verity that Iran comes out looking that good. They look like piratical opportunists and we as weak & patheticThe world still can see how mad Ahmedinnerjacket is by his actions today re Natanz.
His day of reckoning is not far off, but then that is probably what he wants.
Nonetheless, the UK looks so ill-led at the moment; but sadly as we know this just reflects reality. I would commend the telegraph leaders today too. They were inciteful as to the mental weakness installed in the armed forces leadership by 10 years of NuLab interference.
We badly need an election but there is none forthcoming.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:53 am
cityunslicker: Iran ALREADY looked like piratical opportunists, now they simply showed the world that they can kidnap sailors from the (ex) greatest naval country in history with nary a bad word said to them.
The press? Quick to blame it on the Americans, not much on blaming the actual kidnappers. The British government? Stern words, no threats of any action, lots of whining.
The British people. Indignation and calls for strikes against Iran (good folks). These people need to be running the government instead of the ones in their now.
Of course the U.S. isn’t much better with about half the country thinking that if you just surrender fast enough, the world will leave you alone.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
City Unslicker, I probably didn’t make myself clear. The Iranians came out looking powerful (they bested British service personnel and magnaminously let them go) to the people who matter to them.
They’re never going to look dignified or powerful to the British or the rest of the Anglosphere, and not to most of Europe, either. But they pulled off a public relations coup for the folks in the region and Russia.
May I commend the latest post on Melaniephillips.com today? She tackles what has happened to our armed services, and uncovers that they are actually no longer being run by the MoD, but by rival kingdoms in No 10 Downing St and the Treasury.
They have eviscerated the MoD and it’s being run by a bunch of party apparachiks who, as we know about the left, don’t approve of the military.
I’ve always thought that Blair’s control freakery verged on lunacy. I’ve always seen him as a vicious, malevolent spirit. I would never shake his hand, because I’m convinced one would get a great jolt of evil.
Look at the wreckage of a formerly cohesive, fairly well-behaved society he leaves behind after a mere 10 years in office (that is, if he goes; which he still may not). And now we read what he and Brown have done, intentionally, to our proud armed services.
Any triumph the Iranians had, CU, was with the connivance of Blair and the slithy toves who slither around Downing St.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
I’m sure the Iranians can’t believe just how badly the British governemnt have handled this.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
David Anthony - Oh, I think they can. The Iranians are intelligent people. They knew how far they could push Blair because they have him figured out. They wouldn’t have dared essay this with Margaret Thatcher or even John Major. But they knew they could push Blair around because he was scared and weak.
April 14th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Bel, check this evening’s focus if you get the chance.