Blog
The aim of this blog is for you to leave your views on our troops presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. You can also upload video and images. Please note that comments are not subject to any censorship and will be shown as a single piece of film reflecting the mood of the nation at this time. Videos are downloaded at users own risk.
Comments posted by Anonymous
I have mixed feelings regarding this issue the same as I had very mixed feelings about whether or not "we" should have gone in the first place into both Iraq and Afghanistan. On one hand I feel that we are there now and if we pull out what will happen to all the people who are actually being protected by our troops at the moment - on the other hand I think; why should we fight other people battles for them! Why put our troops at the high risk they are at - for what? Like I say - mixed feelings but erring on the side of pull all our troops out - they should be for fighting "our" battles or United Nations battles - not carrying out George Bush Jnrs personal vendettas! this is very much a lay persons view as I know nothing about troop life or service life - I would describe myself as an ordinalry citizen of England! |
Comments posted by Anonymous
i think they should come home dunno why just do |
Comments posted by squidie
The questions are, in my view: what constitutes 'finishing the job'? Why are we there? And the overriding factor in deciding whether or not to pull out MUST be the long term good of Iraq and Afghanstan. We shouldn't have gone out there, but we did, we wrecked the places, and now we have to fix them. I say we replace US/UK troops with UN troops exclusively funded by US/UK. That should be our punishment for doing what we did. |
Comments posted by A Dorset Student
We need to stay until the job is done. Give our troops armoured vehicles, bullet proof vests and good quality ammunition, we also need more troops out there. |
Comments posted by Anonymous
British troops should never have never been in Iraq in the first place but it is too late now for that. The best thing to do is to try and get them out as quickly as possible with the minimum of casualities. There are too many factions in Iraq for any European to deal with especially with GW Bush still making mad decisions in the USA. |
Comments posted by Emma & Pj
i think if they come home it will be unstable over there it will be worse. |
) | Comments posted by Dave
All i can say on this is i think our systems should hurry up to give control back to the iraq people & leave as soon as possible i know there are a lot of aspects to take into consideration first like stability of there system after etc but we also have to take into consideration that when you light a fire in the middle of an ants nest what happens All the Ants spread out away from it all over the place so to me that says that the terrorists are no longer in iraq not the bulk of them there spread out around the world ready to strike us so we need more protection on the home front. then i think well this has been going on since before the folklands war which again was to do with iraq so the british & American governments have been waiting for a chance to teach them a lesson for that plus benladin i think his name is the big cheese terrorist i believe was also as per trained by the Americans & even sent him his wife & kids after 211 bit odd that to me the whole thing just does not add up to inocently being forced into a situation of war my biggest worry is the 7 + soute case nuke bombs that went missing into suspected terrorist hands years back durring the cold war with Russia now if the Terrorists have been planning all this for years as i suspect then it also stands to reason that these nukes are all ready in place ready to be set of most likly most aimed at the USA all ready in place some at Britian and whats left at europe call me paraniode but if i was a terrorist which im not thank God but if i had this kind of power at my disposel & years to plan it thats exactly what i would do there is no winner in this kind of war Points will be made millions of lives lost for "WHAT" All this i must state is all just my personal opinions brought about of 40 years of watching it all unfold my opinions may or may not be correct. But the War is here at home as well as over seas not all that have come into our countries are Genuine "What did i ever do to you was the last words of a 9 year old boy before two men brutaly murdered him in Scotland last year" its more rife than you may think its not published about as this news statement from the guardian newspaper states http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1928559,00.html this political corectness bill is weakening our countries & making us vulnerable in so many ways |
Comments posted by Trev
Personally I feel our soldiers should be phased out of Iraq. They were taken there illegally, or at least under false pretences and have now become bogged down in the new Vietnam. For all the calls that this is a 'war on terror', it is one which has been mismanged from the start and has led to an apparent increase in terrorism and anti-western sentiment. I feel it is time for the west to step back and allow a new peace initiative to begin, perhaps with the aid of Muslim countries (like Turkey, Pakistan or Indonesia) who could take over the peace-keeping duties. |
Comments posted by Phil
I think that we (in the United States) have gone to Iraq under false pretenses. It seems like Haliburtan is profiting more than the average citizen. The war in Afghanistan I feel there may be good reasons to be there. However, I think we had no business invading a soveriegn country with no proof of involvement in 9/11. |
Comments posted by Eu-Bih-Bosnian
To many people are dying for nothing.....all troops should go home and live a normal life with their families ! |
Comments posted by Troy
We Must leave these countries for our own stability and progress and to gain the love and respect in the international community as these wars are going on on false lies not only to the British public but the whole world |
Comments posted by Anonymous
leave iraq soon |
Comments posted by yousef
leave it is enough no more ocupation |
Comments posted by fred
leave iraq |
Comments posted by John - Wiltshire
Bring these soldiers home NOW! what are we waiting for? |
) | Comments posted by Steve from Luton
If they had the right equippment and had enough soldiers they could do the job without losing so many lives. |
Comments posted by UK
it is too simplistic a view to say bring back our troops, unfortunately. We have a responsibility to the people of Iraq to see through the processes that we set in place |
Comments posted by Christine Constable
The English Democrats believe that having committed to this venture that the troops must stay until an honourable withdrawal can be achieved. The UK government must now give sufficient support to our troops to enable them to conclude this venture in a professional, effective and timely manner. As to whether we should have gone to war in the first place is really a matter for a Public Enquiry which the Labour Party have robustly refused to have. We believe that the reason they do not wish such an enquiry is that the basis on which we went to war was probably flawed, the intelligence was most certainly flawed. As a party we believe that England should only deploy her troops to protect her own essential national interests and given that the arguments given for this war (presence of WMD and missles that could transport their deadly cargo to the UK within 45mins) were clearly untrue, then the was should not have been declared. If however, the primary objective of the war was "regime change" then the politicians should have owned up to that and put forward a clear humanitarian case, had it been strong enough it may well have convinced the wider international community to be involved. We cannot leave the people of Iraq and Afghanistan to the tender mercies of the Taliban and suice bombers - it is clear that mercy is not in their volcabulary and we have a moral and legal obligation to see this through - however, costly, unpleasant and embarrassing it may end up becoming. |
Comments posted by Stephen Gash
Every Muslim in the world is not worth the bones of one English soldier. Whenever we side with Muslims it leads to Islamist expansion, from Nigeria to Kosovo, the world over. We should bring our troops home now and use them to fight Islamic expansion wherever it occurs. Let Muslims get on with messing their own countries up and prevent them from taking over non-Muslim countries. |
Comments posted by Carold
I do not understand why the Black Watch is able to hand out leaflets saying they are not English, but Scottish and are there for peaceful reasons. Surely this is like telling them the English are ones they need to kill, not them? And why are two Scots in Westminster (Blair & Brown) waging this war in the name of democracy, when they have turned England into a banana republic? |
Comments posted by Terry London
I agree that If they had the right equippment and enough soldiers they could do the job without losing so many lives. |
Comments posted by Patrick Harris
As an ex-serviceman (58 - 85) my job, as I was told many times, was to protect my country from the Russian Communist threat of world dominance, never, never, never at any time did we train to "invade" another sovereign Country. The Warsaw pact's intentions were made clear both by their actions and words, we knew, down to the last bullet, the capability of their armed forces which incidentally, turned out to be somewhat overstated. I can only assume that somewhere along the line the aim of UK armed forces has been altered to advance the Blair legacy. The pictures of the "Shock and Awe" bombardment of Baghdad against, as it turned out, almost defenceless civilians filled me with disgust, this, coupled with the whooping and ye-haing by US carrier borne personnel made me, for the first time in my life, feel ashamed to be a UK citizen. It's not the fault of the fighting men of our country but the political and military leadership, the first with no principles the second with no backbone (until they retire), Our Boys and Girls (there's a thing) should be brought home immediately and help sort out the crap situation at home, split asunder by devolution, Governmental incompetence beyond belief and the swamping of our identity and culture by immigration on a scale unheared of in all of history. |
Comments posted by Chris
With the benefit of hindsight we should not have gone into Iraq with the unconvincing evidence of WMD's. For social change to work the revolution has to come from within, it would seem that not enough of the people in Iraq wanted this enough to make it happen once the opportunity arose. I feel we should remove our troops at the earliest possible time but agree totally that for the time remaining they should have the all equipment necessary to do their job properly and safely. |
Comments posted by anne Scadeng
We did not have a UN sanction, and we followed the US which is never a sensible thing to do. Foreigners have not added any stability to the countries. Perhaps because we try and do it our way. Foreign troops out, and let the two countries sort it out in their own way. Leave. |
Comments posted by Jeech
I'm in support that the foriegn troops must leave Iraq as early as possible. But it's not enough to quit Iraq without making any attempt so that people of Iraq can feel safe and be hopeful to their future. Any of attempt should be made occordingly. My suggestion in this metter is: --A third nutral country like China, Russia, India, Pakistan OR an organization like Organization of Islamic Conference or Arab League should be invited to make a one week dialogue between the two sectarian groups and proceed them toward a peace treety. A third nutral country or an organization is important so that Iraqi people could feel confidence on and honesty from the preace process rather thay feel unjust. |
) | Comments posted by Liesbeth
Find it hard to make a decision. First thought that springs to mind is: don't interfere...... Will the surpressed then stay surpressed? ...... Violence must not be the answer. |
) | Comments posted by Jeech
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Comments posted by jeech
Leave Iraq or keep proving that the Saddam govt was better than this mass murdersome occupiers. |
Comments posted by "anon:"
As a matter of principle my view was that troops should not be sent to Iraq. This view has not changed. I believe they should be withdrawn as soon as possible. |
Comments posted by C.May.
Iraq was invaded under a false premise and once this was realised our troops should have been withdrawn as soon as possible - with due regard for the safety of all concerned. They should return now.No one appears to have taken time to understand the cultural differences of the people involved in this war which is surely a large part of the problem. |
Comments posted by Janny Heeren
As far as i understand the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan the soldiers went there to solve the problemes not create them. So if their intentions are to help the people there, aske them what they want for help, if not, leave quickly and let them be. |
Comments posted by Ravinder Ubhi
Our troops are at war of that there is no doubt. As a whole I belive that the UK have to fully support our boys and when they have completed their role to come back, only then can we disect and analzye what effect their presence has had whether good or bad and learn for future wars. |
) | Comments posted by Response from D. Camerons Office
Dear Roy, Thank you for writing to David Cameron - I am replying on his behalf. We appreciate you taking the time to write and for bringing your online debate to our attention. However, as you can appreciate, we are unable to participate in every debate. As you probably know, William Hague is the Shadow Foreign Secretary and his details can be found via the following link to our website; http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=people.person.page&PersonID=468 0 Once again, thank you for your email. Yours sincerely, Anna Biles Correspondence Secretary David Cameron's Office House of Commons London SW1A 0AA www.conservatives.com |
Comments posted by anne.scadeng
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Comments posted by Clarey
The war was illegal, the people are not ready, let's get out as soon as possible. |
Comments posted by Matt purse
My initial thought is to bring our troops back I think that the situations in Iraq and Afganistan were badly underestimated. I'm not sure what the answer is, but is definately isn't contined voilence. It seems we have been fighting forever making no progress and more and more people are dying, so in that respect we should withdraw asap providing we spare a thought for the safety and futures of people living there. I feel so sorry for both troops and civilians in these situations something has to be done to stop the killing. |
Comments posted by ben cook
from my own point of view i belive that the war is wrong and we are fighting for all the wrong reasons. not only are we not making any progess to bringing this war to an end we are making things worse by sending in more troops to be killed, killing inocent civilians and we are loosing respect from not just other countrys but ourselves as english men, we are losing respect in our own goverment.so bring them back before we make things worse still. i have freinds that are fighting now and pray for there lifes, i have the upmost respect for anyone out there fighting for there country as they have been told to even if they dont belive its the right thing to do there still out there causing bloodshed, its wrong but there only doing there jobs |
Comments posted by max
since the dawn of time mankind has always sought to destroy one another, this is just another excuse, i dont find it right but there will never be an end.. its human nature. |
Comments posted by Santiago Molina
I believe that the troops should remain for a time that is no longer than anothe 18 months to help train the local forces and allow them to police themselves. |
Comments posted by vijay
leave |
) | Comments posted by "Green Party Response"
Dear Roy The Green Party has been at the forefront of the campaign against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we have participated in particular in the Stop the War coalition at both national and local levels. We wish you well with your site. Pressure on the government of any kind is welcome. Brian. (Brian Heatley, Policy Development Coordinator, The Green Party) |
Comments posted by Tom Grufferty
If Mr. Brown becomes Prime Minister there should be provision made that he withdraw the British troops from both countries as soon as possible. |
Comments posted by Manuel
I'm from Mexico but I live in the U.S. I think someone has to protect the people of God from their enemies, and I think thats what they are doing. I'm not sure if Bush is doing things the best way he can, but I think we are going to be o.k if we pray for the situation. |
Comments posted by ROBERTO, MÉXICO
Peace is the best, Stay or leave? I dont know, I know best than that muslims need care, food, hospitals, medicaments, no guns, and an army saing them what to do. I´m Catholic, intenvent an other country with belic things its not the solution, neader to change they religion, I think they need open forums in tv radio wher the comon people can express their feelings to gat a solution with WORDS not with bullets, and rockets, no more blood of afgans muslims or eua people or uk,hear them with ur heart to the muslims, dont kill them. |
) | Comments posted by me again ROBERTO, MÉXICO
Stay or Leave is not a solution, all countries we need to work together to solve the israel-palestinian-muslim and christins problem in Saint earth, if we dot solve the ploblem in the area the terrorism will be back always, all problems now are concatenated in the world, if in one country are pour hungry, pain, then the problem is for all, if only one person atack another realy BELIVEME is a problem of all the world, if one person of one religion hurt another from another religion too, we need to LOVE THE ENEMY, and turn your self his brother not in the other meaning: to change the enemy; without LOVE we are in problems, we need to share all we have to the enemy, not only in economy, we need to share tecnology to siplify our life, share feelings, share huggs, yes this sounds silly but huggs, kises share hands help, we need to hear us give us time to sharing love with the enemy, and the enemy are all of us, we are sick, mentally sick the war cause it, the heat cause it, the LOVE solve it. |
Comments posted by Miroslav
The problem can´t be solved if the cause of the problem stays intact. The troops may come back tomorrow but the neocons and neoimperialist will keep on trying to grab all the resources in the world, thus destabilizing the world by threatening Iran and other interesting countries. In my language we have a saying that goes something like this: "The fish stinks from the head" (while being fried of course). Once the intl law becomes more important than interests of huge corporations this world will be a better place |
) | Comments posted by An American Patriot
is the war good or is it bad?, kiiling cannot be good, but nor can people living under tyranny. I cannot decide but I do reflect upon how many people have lost their lives, both civilian and military. |
) | Comments posted by We could lose our country
When I see what is happening in Britain I am reminded of what happened during the build up to world war two. The Nazis used thug tactics to quieten and eventually destroy all opposition. If any one apoke out against them they would take to the streets and cause trouble. This is not too different to how the muslims behave now. Organisations and the media tiptoe gingerly around muslim issues for fear of a reprisal. The build up of Nazism could have been stopped if some one had the guts to stand up to and take them on. That is what we must do in our society now. If not then take my word for it, Muslims are here to take over and they will increase their numbers and their influence helped by a weak etablishment. Just go to this site to see how they monitor non arab converts to Islam http://www.islamawareness.net/Converts/ If we do not stop them now they will be the new Nazis, threatening to take over the world. We need a new type of governemnt that puts us and our culture, white european and christian first. |
Comments posted by Sheila, Cambridge, England
I think the author Phyllis Reynolds Naylor summed up so called civilised societies when she wrote; "Why was it that the more advanced a civilization became in conquering sickness, the more expert it became in the destruction of human life? Was there ever a golden age, anywhere, where science was advanced and men were humane? Were the two incompatible some how?" |
Comments posted by Jayne Dehahn
I think the troops should stay in Iraq only if the Iraq government wants us to. The newly formed Iraq gov. should be doing more to help the people of Iraq understand that the troops are there to protect and serve. |
Comments posted by John Mason
We should invest out armies skills in full scale action against global warming & out of middle east. Afganistan was invaded as part of the plan for global oil resources planned by the corporate elite http://www.trilateral.org/recent.htm http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Ruling_Elites/Ruling_Elites.html |
Comments posted by Anonymous
I would like to say are troops should leave now, but with all the problems caused from the war, we just cant pull out straight away. It needs to be gradually. But then on the other hand if we did leave now - it may solve all the problems!!!!! There's not really a right answer, what ever happens it could either get worse or better..... I think people should really start talking to each other, instead of just running in there with Guns ... it will always end in tears that way. Bush and Blair should really learn about 'COMMUNICATION'!!!!!! |
Comments posted by sue oleary
how can we win a war that is not a war than can ever be won.do we not believe in mans abilty in its self to win the countries by their own minds and if there was no oil would we stay? |
) | Comments posted by "Liberal Democrats Response"
Thank you for your email to Sir Menzies Campbell MP regarding your online debate on the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Although Sir Menzies is unable to contribute new video footage, please find attached the link to Sir Menzies' footage of Sir Menzies on his proposals to withdraw troops, and his question to the Prime Minister on this issue. http://www.mingcampbell.org.uk/2007/01/24/troops-home-from-iraq-by-octob er/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly8oYWyL51o Thank you once again for writing to us. Yours sincerely, Anne-Marie Bunting Correspondence Manager, Office of Sir Menzies Campbell MP |
Comments posted by Adam Hodge
It was possibly a justifiable invasion on purely humanitarian grounds, but I think the American presence only exacerbates the situation- they are creating a rod fro their own back- I would prefer them to finance a European army to ensure the satisfactory integration of a democratic government if they are so concerned abouit the country ,but we all really know they are more concerned about the supply of Oil being kept available- their humanitarian 'motives' are singularly absent in Zimbabwe and North Korea. |
) | Comments posted by Citizens Arrest
Why wont any one charge this man with war crimes for carrying out an ilegal war? Where is the United Nations or the Human Rights Court at the Hague? We know it was wrong to go into Iraq, Yet we wonder why there is no longer any respect for authority in this country. You have to lead by example and our Prime Minister sets a bad example. |
) | Comments posted by sign the "Troops Home Petition"
Bring them home alive not in boxes. http://www.petitiononline.com/mfawmay/petition.html |
) | Comments posted by Injustice part 1
When this man leaves office in June 2007 he will receive a golden handshake for being Prime Minister for ten years and a pension for life. He will walk into the arms of a mutli million pound book deal and will do the lucrative US political speech circuit. Both he and his family will have more police protection than most English villages or towns have. |
) | Comments posted by Injustice part 2
For a generation this country and its armed froces will pay the price for the mess this man has left us in, a man who personaly will profit so much. |
) | Comments posted by injustice part 3
When The prime minister goes this man will take over. This is the man who presides over national health cut backs, the closing of wards and the unemployment of nurses. This is the man that presides over poor provision for the elderly, disabled and people with special needs. Whilst he bank roles the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even this is done in the meanest way possible. Our troops have poor quality rounds purchased cauisng their rifles to jam whilst fighting for their lives, they have to drive around in landrovers covered in canvas for protection against 1000 pound bombs and they have insufficient numbers of bullet proof plates to put in their bullet proof vests. This is the man who will take over as Prime Minister, business as usual then. |
) | Comments posted by War should always be the last resort
Dying is a very dull and dreary affair. My advice to you is to have nothing whatever to do with it. William Somerset Maughan (1874-1965) |
) | Comments posted by BLIAR BLIAR pants on fire
Labour is lagging behind the main opposition, the Conservatives, in opinion polls in the run-up to local and Scottish elections in May. A recent poll by ICM for The Guardian put support for Labour at 31 percent, nine percentage points behind the Conservatives. Then, today, we have the announcement that Bliar is about to announce the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq. Although there is no mention of Afghanistan. WAKE UP BRITAIN HAVENT WE BEEN DECEIVED AND LIED TO ENOUGH TO REALISE THIS DOES NOT MEAN WHAT IT APPEARS TO MEAN. THIS IS JUST A VOTE CATCHING HEADLINE. The message should go out loud and clear. WE DO NOT BELIEVE A WORD OF IT. This May the people of this country should send Labour into political melt down. Wipe this man and his MP's off the map. Let them know what it is like to be unemployed, now they have raised the age of enlistment to 33 perhaps some of them will be able to sign up to fight in what they see as a just war. Funny I do not see any of TB's kids being encouraged by Dad to sign up and serve their country. Perhaps it is not that just a war that he is happy to lose his kids and see them come home in body bags. |
Comments posted by Colin Deacon
Yesterday The prime minister told BBC radio 4 the present situation in Iraq was not started by him but by extremists. Excuse me but I think the extremists are reacting to the invasion by our troops, in which case Mr. Blair is to blame for the situation in Iraq. He then went on to say "The UK is to withdraw 1,600 troops from Iraq but Mr Blair said numbers could increase again "if we're needed". I think we can all work this one out. Pre May elections bring them home, get lots of votes then post election send them all back again. Pre next general election bring them home. Get lots of votes, post next general election, SURPRISE SURPRISE, would you believe it the situation has worsened, send them back out again. Mr Blair, Emperors New Clothes ? |
Comments posted by mehdi abdolkarimzadeh
I think that the soldiers should never have gone in the first place. However now that they are there they should stay untill the country is a more stable situation, and you cant just leave trigger happy americans there as we all know how shockingly incompetent they are and how all they seem to be able to kill are either british troops or civilians. |
Comments posted by Paul, Isle of Wight
This war is unjustifiable as it is based on lies. We should never invade another country that has not harmed us. It was wrong to invade, is wrong to stay there and we should leave immediately. It is not possible to make things right by a continuation of something that is intrinsically wrong. |
) | Comments posted by Ali South London
The Iraq war was thought up by men with the minds of children and executed by men and women with the hearts of lions. Now bring them home and let the children clear up their own mess. |
Comments posted by jodie
i may be wrong but "is this actually our war" are we fighting for our country or america? its so hard for wifes, girlfriends, children and the men and women who are out their fighting wat gives us the right to put ppl thro that? especially with un substanial equipment. |
) | Comments posted by Karen
Hi Ray, This is a great blog but I'd don't believe the question you've posed can be answered with a simple yes or no. Many of the reasons for and against have already been stated so I won't go into these further. The fact of the matter remains however that the British Troops ARE in Iraq and Afghanistan, doing their duty, serving Queen & Country, and should be given our full support. The Support Our Soldiers organisation fully recognises this and aims to both encourage and provide support for the lads and lassies serving overseas. This we have been doing since April 2003 and we will continue for just as long as we are needed. Karen Support Our Soldiers Organisation www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk |
Comments posted by Anonymous
leave why should clean up someone elses mess!!! |
Comments posted by Anonymous
our troops should be pulled out of i Iraq & Afghanistan A.S.A.P, my Fiance was seriously injured & suffered life threatening injuries & 1 of his mates were killed by a suicide bomer in Afghanistan, our troops are never gonna win, how are they expected to combat against road side bombs & suicde bombers...... Tony Blair cant even provide our troops with adequate equipment (the snatch's should be more protected but it all comes down to money) to keep them safe while out in Iraq & Afghanistan, |
Comments posted by Jerry, Bristol
We cannot leave Iraq. Tony Blair has created a horrible mess and we are morally bound to stay and put things right. We should stay in Afghanistan and increase the number of NATO troops. Afghanistan grows a large percentage of the worlds poppies. The poppies help to supply the scum on our streets with the drugs that are mashing up the brains of our drug taking people. Our war should be against drug traffickers. |
Comments posted by kate
I believe that the troops should come home. However, they have been deployed now and need our support whilst they are out there fighting for their country and risking their lives. There is one major thing that I do not understand!!!! Why are the government not giving the troops the funding they deserve and need. I saw a documentry and have spoken to many ex-soldiers, and was discusted to hear that the British are called "BORROWERS" by the Americans because they are not given the correct equipment. Many soldiers want to go to a war zone beacuse thats what they train for, but they want to go FULLY EQUIPPED to carry out their role professionally. Its disgusting that the government throw money at people who do not work and do not want to work, to pay for children who have committed serious crime to go on day trips and holidays and causes such as that, yet they wont give the men and women who are fighting for THEIR country the money they need and the respect and wages they deserve for risking their lives every day and night. If the government are not prepared to fund the operations then I believe the troops should be pulled out of the fighting zones and brought home. If they are to stay, not only support the troops, but their families aswell. The troops should be respected and treated like hereo's, and not treated like rubbish. I feel sometimes its as if they are ignored. The government should be ashamed of themselves. To all soldiers who read this, thank you for all the work you do and my thoughts are with you and your families. God Bless. |
Comments posted by chris davidson
because it is an illegal war , our troops should be brought home without any further delay, ex forces personnel |
Comments posted by Brenda Taylor
get our lads out now, before any more have to die |
Comments posted by Nikki
My boyfriend is currently serving in Iraq with the Staffords and along with all his colleagues, has experienced a very hard tour at the Shatt hotel. They encounter numerous mortar and rocket attacks daily, and as a result, I understand many soldiers in the battlegroup have suffered lost limbs and other serious injuries. None of which are reported to us back here in UK who worry constantly about the safety of our loved ones. At the start of the tour and until not so long ago, our troops were sitting ducks forced to sleep in tented accommodation with no defence at all from the continual attacks. My opinion is that 'Casualties of war' should not only include the fallen heros but those whose lives are changed through injury. All of which I feel is unnecessary as what can we feel we have achieved when we look back on the past? Isn't it proof that this war is wrong when so deep a coverup seems to be taking place. Will we ever know the true cost? I truly believe that the majority of soldiers do not agree with the conflict we have been dragged into and do not agree with the politics behind it but my opinion is that once there, they fight and live to watch the backs of their comrades. As for the reduction in troops. To me this is yet another carrot dangled to placate Joe Bloggs. As far as I am aware the numbers in Iraq have yet to reduce in any considerable way and those coming home were due to come home anyway, just possibly coming back after a 6 month tour rather than eight months. Bring each and everyone of our fathers, sons, husbands, boyfriends home. They belong with their families who love and miss them, not in a country where we can't change things for the better, but instead our presence only seems to worsen the situation. |
) | Comments posted by James from Canterbury
I would like to offer up the prayer at the bottom of the image for all members of our armed forces. As we approach Easter I offer their safety up to the Lord. Especially those 15 who were kidnapped from Iraqi waters and are being held against their will in Iran. God bless and look over and after them all. |
) | Comments posted by Pte. P. Barton Royal Staffordshire Regiment
Most of us returning from our tour have had at least one lucky escape. We live in canvas tents whilst grenades and mortar shells are fired at us. There were 40 tents at the start of the tour by the end we only had five remaining unscathed. This tour was not so bad we were only mortared about two to three times a day. During our first hour there we were attacked by mortars and rockets fifteen times. Blokes are getting seriously injured whilst sleeping in their tents. I ran to help when a tent was hit, I saw my mate dead, half his face and hand had been blown off. We were being shot at and mortared every day. Basically we did not sleep for six months. Psychologically it wears you down. We are sitting ducks, we do not have the right equipment to do the job. We are not fighting to change the situation out there we are simply fighting for our lives. "Basra is lost, they are in control now. It's a full-scale riot and the Government is just trying to save face," BRING EVERYONE HOME NOW. |
) | Comments posted by Cpl. R. Bradley
I believe they should pull every single British soldier out of Iraq, because at the end of the day we're not achieving anything out there. Blokes are dying for no cause at all and blokes getting injured for no cause at all. |
) | Comments posted by Captain Leo Docherty has written a book
I never imagined that I’d speak publicly or write about my time in the Army. The military culture of reticence and obedience stifles honest, reflective expression. Leaving the Army doesn’t make it any more natural, because, in a way, you never leave; military culture doesn’t get removed with the uniform. I would therefore deny any charge of disloyalty. It would be disloyal to those still serving in Iraq and Afghanistan not to speak. Only silence would be contemptible.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Desert-Death-Soldiers-Journey-Afghanistan/dp/ |
) | Comments posted by Brendan (from free Derry)
We have to support our soldiers because our politicians don't. |
) | Comments posted by Roll of Honour
Guardsman Stephen Ferguson 1st Battalion Scots Guards Died 13th December 2007 |
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Died 14 October 2007 Lance Corporal Sarah Holmes 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment attached to 3 Logistic Support Regiment |
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Died 21 September 2007 Sergeant Mark Stansfield 32 Close Support Squadron, UK Logistic Bttn |
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Died 5 September 2007 Sergeant Eddie Collins Parachute Regiment |
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Died 9th August 2007 Lance Sergeant Chris Casey 1st Battallion Irish Guards |
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Died 9th August 2007 Lance Corporal Kirk Redpath 1st Battallion Irish Guards |
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Died 7th August 2007 Leading Aircraftsman Martin Beard No 1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment |
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Died 6th August 2007 Private Craig Barber 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh |
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Died 31st July 2007 Corporal Steve Edwards 2nd Royal Tank Regiment |
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Died 21st July 2007 Lance Corporal Timothy Flowers Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
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Died 19th July 2007 Senior Aircraftsman Peter McFerran |
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Died 19th July 2007 Senior Aircraftsman Christopher Dunsmore |
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Died 19th July 2007 Senior Aircraftsman Matthew Caulwell |
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Died 7th July 2007 Corporal Christopher Read 158 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police |
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Died 7th July 2007 Lance Corporal Ryan Francis 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh |
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Died 6th July 2007 Rifleman Edward Vakabua 4th Battalion The Rifles |
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28th June 2007 Corporal Paul Joszko 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh (The Royal Regiment of Wales) |
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Died 28th June 2007 Private Scott Kennedy The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland |
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Died 28th June 2007 Private Jamie Kerr The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland |
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Died 22nd June 2007 Corporal John Rigby 4th Battalion The Rifles |
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Died 20th June 2007 Major Paul Harding 4th Battalion The Rifles |
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Died 16th June 2007 Lance Corporal James Cartwright Badger Squadron, 2nd Royal Tank Regiment |
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Died 7th June 2007 Corporal Rodney Wilson 4th Battalion The Rifles |
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Died 21st May 2007 Corporal Jeremy Brookes 4th Battalion The Rifles |
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Died 6th May 2007 Private Kevin Thompson 19 Combat Service Support Battalion |
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Died 1st May 2007 Major Nick Bateson Royal Corps of Signals |
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Died 29th April 2007 Rifleman Paul Donnachie 2nd Battalion The Rifles (2 RIFLES) |
) | Comments posted by Tony Reid (USA)
The young dead soldiers do not speak. Nevertheless, they are heard in the still houses: who has not heard them? They have a silence that speaks for them at night and when the clock counts. They say: We were young. We have died. Remember us. They say: We have done what we could but until it is finished it is not done. They say: We have given our lives but until it is finished no one can know what our lives gave. They say: Our deaths are not ours: they are yours, they will mean what you make them. They say: Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say, it is you who must say this. We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning. We were young, they say. We have died; remember us. by Archibald MacLeish, 1892-1982, American Poet |
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Died 23rd April 2007 Kingsman Alan Joseph Jones 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment |
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Died 19th April 2007 Corporal Ben Leaning The Queen's Royal Lancers Battle Group |
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Died 19th April 2007 Trooper Kristen Turton The Queen's Royal Lancers Battle Group |
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Died 16th April 2007 Colour Sergeant Mark L Powell RAF |
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Died 16th April 2007 Sergeant Mark J McLaren Parachute Regiment |
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Died 5th April 2007 Second Lieutenant Joanna Yorke Dyer Intelligence Corps attached to 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment |
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Died 5th April 2007 Corporal Kris O'Neill Royal Army Medical Corps |
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Died 5th April 2007 Corporal Kris O'Neill Royal Army Medical Corps |
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Died 5th April 2007 Private Eleanor Dlugosz Royal Army Medical Corps |
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Died 5th April 2007 Kingsman Adam James Smith 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment |
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Died 2nd April 2007 Rifleman Aaron Lincoln 2nd Battalion, The Rifles |
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Died 1st April 2007 Kingsman Danny John Wilson 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment |
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Died 4th March 2007 Private Johnathon Dany Wysoczan 4 Platoon, B Company, First Battalion The Staffordshire Regiment |
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Died 27th February 2007 Rifleman Daniel Lee Coffey 10 Platoon, C Company, Second Battalion The Rifles |
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Died 9th February 2007 Private Luke Daniel Simpson 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment |
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Died 5th February 2007 Second Lieutenant Jonathan Carlos Bracho-Cooke 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment |
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Died 13th January 2007 Kingsman Alex Green 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment |
) | Comments posted by Terry from Wakefield
Our troops in Basra, Iraq are still fighting for their lives. Reuters reoprted on 31 January 2008 that Militants fired a barrage of two dozen rockets at the British military base on the outskirts of the southern Iraqi city of Basra on Thursday, prompting British forces to respond with artillery. One Iraqi was killed and five wounded when British forces fired half a dozen shells in the direction the rockets came from, said Matt Wells, a spokesman for British forces at the sprawling base at Basra's airport. Information about the Iraqi casualties was provided by Iraqi police who went to the area. It was unclear if the casualties were militants or civilians. Iraqi police could not be reached for comment. Three British soldiers were treated for shock following one of the heaviest rocket barrages on the base in months. Britain handed over responsibility for security in Basra province to Iraqi forces last month. Basra is the hub for most of Iraqi's oil exports. (Reporting by Dean Yates, Editing by Jon Boyle) |
) | Comments posted by alan2525
I've seen a lot of film of Brit's in Iraq using the "armoured" SNATCH Landrover, I was wondering does the British army have any purpose made Armoured Cars nowadays? It used to use the SARACEN Armoured car but recently it just seems to be either Warrior APC's or Landrovers. In World War II there were a multitude of Armoured Cars all designed for a multitude of uses and used by both allied and axis forces - is it just a cost cutting measure that we don't equip our military with equipment fit for purpose? I think I've seen more armour on the Landrover Defenders parked diagonally across the disabled parking bays of my local Waitrose Supermarket! And as for the fact that they are open vehicles - standing in the back of a Landrover and tying to hide behind a rollbar would seem to offer very little reasurance against incoming projectiles, yet alone the blast from a 1000 pound bomb. |
) | Comments posted by GIVE OUR TROOPS THE PROTECTION THEY NEED
GORDON BROWN SPENDS 100 BILLION ON PROPPING UP A BANK BUT WILL NOT SPEND AN EXTRA PENNY ON SAVING THE LIVES OF OUR TROOPS WHILST THEY DO HIS DIRTY WORK. Captain James Philippson was shot in the head in the opening salvos of a battle with the Taliban. He was not equipped with night vision goggles, there were only three pairs for the patrol of twenty men, fighting at night. They were also sent into battle with no machine guns or grenade launchers. The commander of the patrol, Major Jonathon Bristow, said his men were not defeated by the Taliban but by the lack of equipment. They lost the battle through lack of firepower. Lance Sergeant Chris Casey and Lance Corporal Kirk Redpath of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards were killed by a bomb in Iraq. They were in a lightweight “snatch” Land Rover. The platoon commander requested the more heavily protected Mastiff vehicle but there were too few to go around. HOW CAN GORDON BROWN FACE OUR TROOPS WHEN HE KNOWS THEY ARE BEING UNDERFUNDED? |
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Died 7th January 2007 Sergeant Wayne Rees 19 Light Brigade The Queen's Royal Lancers |
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Died 28th December 2006 Sergeant Graham Hesketh 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment |
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Died 24th November 2006 Sergeant Jonathan Hollingsworth Parachute Regiment |
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Died 12th November 2006 Warrant Officer Class 2 Lee Hopkins Royal Corps of Signals |
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Died 12th November 2006 Staff Sergeant Sharron Elliott Intelligence Corps |
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Died 12th November 2006 Corporal Ben Nowak 45 Commando Royal Marines |
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Died 12th November 2006 Marine Jason Hylton 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines |
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Died 6th November 2006 Kingsman Jamie Hancock The 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment |
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Died 27th October 2006 Lieutenant Tom Tanswell 58 (Eyre’s) Battery, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery |
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Died 1st October 2006 Lance Corporal Dennis Brady Royal Army Medical Corps Regular Reservist |
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Died 7th September 2006 Gunner Lee Thornton 58 (Eyre’s) Battery, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery -- |
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Died 7th September 2006 Gunner Lee Thornton 58 (Eyre’s) Battery, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery -- |
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Died 4th September 2006 Gunner Samuela Vanua 58 (Eyre’s) Battery, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery |
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Died 4th September 2006 Gunner Stephen Robert Wright 58 (Eyre’s) Battery, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery |
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Died 1st August 2006 Corporal Matthew Cornish 1st Battalion The Light Infantry |
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Died 16th July 2006 Corporal John Johnston Cosby 1st Battalion The Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry |
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Died 28th May 2006 Lieutenant Tom Mildenhall 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards |
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Died 28th May 2006 Lance Corporal Paul Farrelly 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards |
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Died 13th May 2006 Private Adam Morris 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment |
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Died 13th May 2006 Private Joseva Lewaicei 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment |
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Died 6th May 2006 Wing Commander John Coxen Royal Air Force Benson |
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Died 6th May 2006 Lieutenant Commander Darren Chapman 847 Naval Air Squadron |
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Died6th May 2006 Captain David Dobson Army Air Corps |
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Died 6th May 2006 Flight Lieutenant Sarah-Jayne Mulvihill Royal Air Force Benson |
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Died 6th May 2006 Marine Paul Collins 847 Naval Air Squadron |
) | Comments posted by Harry Stuart Is this war illegal
Flt Lt. Malcolm Kendall-Smith, aged 37, refused to go to Iraq for a third tour. He was charged with five counts of disobeying a lawful command between June 1 and July 12 2005. He claimed his actions were justified as the UK involvement in Iraq was illegal. Kendall-Smith, unit medical officer at RAF Kinloss in Morayshire, has been decorated for supporting military operations in Afghanistan and had made two tours of duty in Iraq before refusing to go for a third time. In a statement to the court he said: "I am a leader. I am not a mere follower to whom no moral responsibility can be attached." Flt Lt Malcolm Kendall-Smith, 37, was found guilty of five charges of disobeying orders. He was sentenced to eight months in jail and dismissed from the service. He was also ordered to pay 20000 GBP court costs. The judge told him: "You have, in the view of this court, sought to make a martyr of yourself and shown a degree of arrogance which is amazing. "Now, more so than ever, Flt Lt Malcolm Kendall-Smith feels his actions were totally justified and he would not, if placed in the same circumstances, seek to do anything differently." |
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