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8,500 ex-servicemen are in UK jails
This equates to 1 in every 11 prisoners used to be in the forces.
The "vast majority" of offences were violent and related to drugs or alcohol. This equates to 1 in every 11 prisoners used to be in the forces. ... more -
Prince Harry: I belong on the front line
Everyone's favourite ginger royal has urged his bosses to let him go back for another encounter of fighting the Taliban.
Harry's a member of the Blues and Royals regiment who will resume training and 'normal regimental duties' at Windsor’s Combermere Barracks next week
Apparently his bosses will try to decide if, and how, he can return to Afghanistan to fight.
A Blues and Royals source said last night: “Harry has made no secret of the fact he wants to be there when the regiment returns to the front line next year. He said the experience of leading his men into battle is one he hopes he can repeat."
“And with one mission under his belt, he has the skills and experience which will make him an extremely valuable member of the battle group."
Think Harry will serve on the frontline again? Everyone's favourite ginger royal has urged his bosses to let him go back for another encounter of fighting the Taliban. ... more -
Combat Barbie
Here is a woman in uniform that actually fended off the enemy, saving her fellow soldiers. Whoa!
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Prince William set to join SAS
That's right, he's gonna be one of them SAS soldiers and will also spend time with the SBS (Special Boat Squadron) as well as the elite Special Reconnaissance Regiment.
Kind of like his previous training, the second in line to the throne will spend up to six weeks with the Special Services as part of his multi-military training for when he's King, he'll be in charge of all of Britain's Armed Forces.
You think the Prince's inevitable media coverage will have an effect on his, and his fellow soldiers' work? That's right, he's gonna be one of them SAS soldiers and will also spend time with the SBS (Special Boat Squadron) as well a... more -
UK soldier killed in Afghanistan
According to reports, a British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan after the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by an explosive device, the Ministry of Defence has said. Another two were reportedly injured although their injuries aren't thought to be life threatening.
The injured soldiers, are serving with the Parachute Regiment's 2nd Battalion, and came under fire whilst on patrol in Southern Afghanistan. The solldier who died was with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached to the Parachute Regiment. According to reports, a British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan after the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by an explosive ... more -
British soldiers accused of sickening sex assault on Iraqi boy, 14
"Just days after the MoD has to pay out millions to the father of a man UK soldiers beat to death, fresh claims of abuse emerge.
British soldiers forced a boy of 14 to carry out an act of oral sex on a fellow male prisoner in Iraq, according to shocking new allegations made about the behaviour of British troops.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed yesterday that the Royal Military Police (RMP) have launched an investigation. If the allegations are proved, it would mark a sordid low in the behaviour of British troops in Iraq, and damage further the reputation of Britain in the Middle East.
The victim, now 19, whom The Independent on Sunday has agreed to identify only as Hassan, says he was rounded up with a friend while trying to steal milk cartons from a food distribution centre. He was whipped, beaten and forced to strip naked.
"They made us sit on each other's laps," he said. "They were enjoying humiliating and abusing us, I wished I was dead at this moment. Then they made me sit with Tariq ... where I was forced to put Tariq's penis in my mouth. The other two were made to do the same."
Court action is ongoing over a series of allegations surrounding the British base Camp Breadbasket and incidents that took place there in May 2003. There have been allegations of simulated sexual abuse of Iraqis by British troops, but this, if true, would be the first example of actual sexual abuse.
Soldiers rounding up looters as part of an operation codenamed Ali Baba took photographs of prisoners suspended in nets from forklift trucks and others forced to strip naked and adopt simulated sex positions.
The photographs caused outrage around the world when they were published, after a British soldier took them to be developed at a high-street shop. An RMP investigation led to just four soldiers being jailed for up to two years in 2005. A number of the alleged victims, including Hassan, are suing the MoD for damages.
The MoD last Thursday reiterated its official line that abuse was isolated to just a few rogue soldiers, after agreeing to pay nearly £3m compensation to the father of Baha Mousa, 26, a hotel receptionist beaten to death by British soldiers while in custody in a separate incident in September 2003, and nine other Iraqis beaten at the same time.
Mazin Younis, of the Iraqi League, who has travelled in Basra collecting witness statements of allegations of abuse, says he now has "more than 80" cases involving allegations against British troops.
"Every single time I uncover a personal story of torture and humiliation in Iraq, I think to myself that I have seen the worst there is," Mr Younis added. "Then I hear the next story.
"Hassan shook with emotion and humiliation as he described to me the treatment he suffered at the hands of British soldiers five years ago. It had taken constant prompting and repeated reminders about the importance of detail before Hassan felt brave enough to describe how he was forced to engage in oral sex with his friend Tariq while their British captors laughed raucously and took photographs."
Such is the culture in Iraq that Hassan fears for his life if identified. It has taken him four years to find the courage to talk about the incident, Mr Younis said. He fled Basra after the incident, giving up his education and staying indoors for fear that someone may recognise him.
Mr Younis added: "There is, of course, no case as bad as a killing or murder. But the fact that this is sexual ... It can lead to suicide because it is so humiliating. Hassan fled Basra because he couldn't face his friends, the people who had seen this" ..."
By Andrew Johnson
Click link to read rest. "Just days after the MoD has to pay out millions to the father of a man UK soldiers beat to death, fresh claims of abuse emerge. ... more -
Half of UK military forces 'ready to quit'
Almost half of UK military personnel are ready to leave the forces, a Ministry of Defence survey suggests.
Some 47% of Army and Royal Navy respondents and 44% of those in the RAF said they regularly felt like quitting.
The UK Army is already short of some 5,000 soldiers, amid worries that experienced young officers and senior NCOs are leaving at an increasing rate.
Among the concerns raised by the 9,000 servicemen and women surveyed were the frequency of tours, levels of pay and the quality of equipment and housing. Almost half of UK military personnel are ready to leave the forces, a Ministry of Defence survey suggests. ... more -
RAF 'Reaper' bombs Taliban, unmanned
Reports from Sky say that the RAF has successfully debuted one of their latest weapons, an unmanned bomber capable of carrying laser-guided bombs and missiles only 5 days after it was armed.
The craft, ominously entitled the 'Reaper' is part of a new generation of the American 'Predator' drone and sets it targets from eight miles high followed by launching precision-guided strikes, with its pilots working in air-conditioned offices thousands of miles from Helmand's heat and dust." Reports from Sky say that the RAF has successfully debuted one of their latest weapons, an unmanned bomber capable of carrying laser-g... more -
First female UK soldier killed in Afghanistan is named.
Following the Ministry of Defence' report yesterday, the four soldiers that were killed in Afghanistan, one of whom was the first female to die in active service since UK troops were sent out there, have been named.
Corporal Sarah Bryant, Corporal Sean Reeve, Lance Corporal Richard Larkin and Paul Stout were attacked whilst they taking part in an operation east of Lashkar Gah headquarters yesterday afternoon. Following the Ministry of Defence' report yesterday, the four soldiers that were killed in Afghanistan, one of whom was the first... more -
Skynet finally complete
John Connor where are you? See link for full article
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UK troops could be out of Iraq 'this year'
Discussions have begun about forces pulling out of southern Iraq if the security situation continued to improve at its current pace, according to the BBC.
The government has been under pressure from the military to release the troops, who are now stationed at barracks just outside Basra, with pressure also mounting in Afghanistan.
Previous plans to reduce troop numbers to 2,500 were put on hold in March.
Some commentators have said that the withdrawal of troops by the end of the year would fit with the US Presidential elections, possibly meaning less opposition from Washington over their decision to take action. Discussions have begun about forces pulling out of southern Iraq if the security situation continued to improve at its current pace, a... more -
MoD covered up Hercules bombing
The full truth about the destruction of an RAF Hercules aircraft was covered up by the Ministry of Defence to deny Iraqi insurgents a propaganda victory. The full truth about the destruction of an RAF Hercules aircraft was covered up by the Ministry of Defence to deny Iraqi insurgents a ... more
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Iraq snubbed UK support, opting for US
According to The Times, relations between British and Iraqi military 'suffered catastrophic failure' when security forces in Baghdad bypassed the British military and called in US troops as their back-up when fighting the recent offensive against the Shia militia.
British officials responsible for troops in Iraq claimed that the Basra offensive was proof Iraqi troops could cope on their own. This response has now come under question after it has emerged that after a Brigadier commander of the 4 Mechanised Brigade flew into Basra to evaluate the current situation, the Iraqi PM declined to meet with him. According to The Times, relations between British and Iraqi military 'suffered catastrophic failure' when security forces in... more -
UK apologises over Iraq abuses
Britain will admit to the country's high court that some of its troops breached the human rights of nine detained Iraqis, one of whom died of asphyxia whilst in custody. Baha Mousa, a 26-year-old hotel worker, suffocated when he was forced to the floor with his arms behind his back as soldiers tried to cuff him, prosecutors said last September.
The Ministry of Defense said it expects to negotiate compensation for the survivors of Mousa, as well as for the other eight former detainees. According to the prosecution, the nine suspected insurgents were held in stress positions and deprived of sleep for two days under extreme heat whilst at a British army barracks near Basra in September 2003.
In a response to the admission, Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth stressed that the men responsible were a tiny minority of the 120,000 British soldiers that have served in Iraq, but that the MoD still 'condemn their actions'. The Ministry has previously argued that British troops on overseas operations were not covered by European human rights law. Britain will admit to the country's high court that some of its troops breached the human rights of nine detained Iraqis, one of ... more -
Soldiers to be armed at all times with guide to moral behaviour
In hopes of conditioning soldiers to not mistreat Iraqi prisoners and detainees, British soldiers will be given guides to moral conduct that they have to carry with them at all times as well as instruction in ethics from an Army chaplain. Soldiers who follow those guides will be rewarded with good conduct chevrons on their uniforms. In hopes of conditioning soldiers to not mistreat Iraqi prisoners and detainees, British soldiers will be given guides to moral conduc... more
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Moon Landing Conspiracy Theory
In this mini-documentary from US political subversives Brasscheck TV, an academic who has devoted crazy amounts of time into researching the NASA moon landing of the '60s explains why he's convinced it was all a sham. Many conspiracy theorists are convinced the millions of dollars pumped into supposed landing were really channelled into murky military projects... This film is pretty convincing! In this mini-documentary from US political subversives Brasscheck TV, an academic who has devoted crazy amounts of time into researchi... more
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Arms Buyer Quits To Race Cars
Lord Drayson, Britain's chief arms buyer, resigned on Wednesday to pursue his dream of becoming a racing driver.
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Basra fight pointless, says British commander
One of the most senior British commanders in Iraq has claimed that there is no point in fighting on in Basra, likening British troops in the city to "Robocop" and admitting that innocent people were hurt as a result of their actions.
.... One of the most senior British commanders in Iraq has claimed that there is no point in fighting on in Basra, likening British troops ... more -
British Make Initial Gains Against Taliban
Progress in Afghanistans most dangerous province is perhaps the most important in the country, officials say.
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British Army Stands Down in Northern Ireland
NYT: The British army today ended its longest ever military operation, a 38-year support role in Northern Ireland.
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