Tony Blair joins in with establishment hypocrisy?
Not surprisingly Tony Blair is albeit belatedly the latest member of this country's establishment to join in the hypocrisy directed at those recently returned captives from Iran.
There seems to have been an endless parade of tinpot politicians, journalists and others who have joined in the sickening condemnation of British service personnel who've recently been released from the clutches of Iran, a country which appears to be won by religious fanatics.
Since men and women of the country's armed services, are supposedly defending democracy in Iraq, it seems ironic to me, that these same men and women who risk their lives, should now be surrounded by controversy fuelled by the likes of David Cameron.
If you check former public schoolboy David Cameron's career in Wikipedia, you'll find an absence of his military career there's reference to Eton, Oxford and even the Conservative Research Department. Similarly with Tony Blair another public school boy Fettes College and Oxford again no military career.
So who are these leaders really, to cast doubt on those who have experienced something a little sharper, than some smart remark from a political opponent.
To me most of this debate seems to be coming from upper-class toffs, who can quite easily turn down a few thousand pounds, I'm sure both these twits will attempt to cash in on their political careers at the earliest opportunity, will anyone object of , I doubt it.
I think Tony you miss the point. There is likely to be widespread anger in the services at this departure from normal practice. Some have sufferred far greater deprivation in the cause of defending their country. Some when faced with the threat of jail or torture refused cooperation and took the consequences. These are things I would not wish on anyone, but they are the risks of the job.
ReplyDeleteThe government, or the Admirals, whichever it was, have simply destroyed yet one more piece of the fabric of integrity and duty that form the backbone of our armed services, and I speak not as a Tory toff, but one who formerly was a naval officer, and who proudly goes this week to see his daughter pass out at Sandhurst to become an army officer.
One of the girls she met and knew died in Basra last week, a mere 5 months after leaving the training academy. Makes the stories paid for so lavishly look pretty pathetic I would suggest.
In a parallel and ironic way, what a comment on this country's christianity that on Good Friday, at the hour of Christs death, the MOD PR men were orchestrating a huge press conference and these deals. I have never seen such obvious evidence of our fading grip on Christianity and its principles.
Chris I don't feel that I am missing any points, this issue has become the football of politicians, whom I'm afraid are exploiting, ordinary people who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances.
ReplyDeleteI would appreciate, that you point out any occasion, when I have shown any lack of respect or support for the men and women of Britain's armed services. I acknowledge that many have shown stronger character in similar circumstances, and many have sacrificed everything.
Obviously you're more qualified to judge these things than I, however in the circumstances of being in the presence of unstable fanatics, I wouldn't be too clear how I would react.
One of the things politicians do, very successfully is manipulate emotions and it is easy to slur innocents.
Perhaps the likes of David Cameron, ought to question the morality of putting British men and women at risk, in a conflict which is unwinnable, on the basis of bogus intelligence, at the command of a religious fundamentalist President and for the benefit of American business.
I don't doubt, the integrity of any of our service personnel, they have my respect and sympathy to suggest otherwise would be offensive.
I feel that controversial as it may be, people who've actually done more for this country than myself, have, benefited without I believe compromising any military secrets.
Their stories are newsworthy today, that's why the Sun and other media paid money for the stories, unlike the higher ups in the military, politicians or even the military intelligence head who can wait until retirement to cash in.
If you take this argument to its logical conclusion then nobody should publish their military recollections.
It would be surprising if this current political row affects the pride of our military personnel or the esteem the public has for them.
Your support for the publishing of the stories of lesser sacrifice in the manner it was done shows a lack of respect for the sacrifice of others.
ReplyDeleteChris
ReplyDeleteI think if you read my remarks carefully, they are remarks not statements of support.
Simply put ordinary people have in extraordinary circumstances been offered money for their stories by the media.
Similarly high-ranking politicians and military people sell their stories at a time appropriate to them should they be vilified ?
Those ordinary people have now become the centre of a political storm, by politicians who are adept at manipulating emotions.
Any support I give to our services personnel is unquestioning.
I may simply be too emotionally close to this one.
ReplyDelete