After 38 years, Operation Banner will come to end at midnight. Operation Banner was ostensibly an operation to support the RUC in preventing Protestant violence against the Catholic minority in Ulster.
However, militants within the Roman Catholic community used the opportunity to direct Republican sentiment against the government; costing 763 British servicemen their lives. Numerous citizens, many of them completely innocent, were killed on both sides of the Irish Channel.
Whilst the current terrorist activities of the IRA are now minimal, it should be remembered that the IRA (and Loyalist Paramilitaries) have now become the gangland enforcers in their communities. The economics of vice have replaced the politics of hate. As such, the government has failed to protect the interests of the Northern Ireland population by allowing these same muderers to continue in the coercion of their respective communities.
Tuesday 31 July 2007
Friday 20 July 2007
The Continuing Failure of NATO in Afghanistan
Former Scots Guard, Captain Leo Docherty (Rtd.), is quite correct when saying that our presence in Afghanistan is a "huge political failure".
His comments are timely as they correspond with the thoughts of the Parliamentary Defence Select Committee (PDSC) who claimed that it was "deeply concerned" about what was happening in Afghanistan. In addition, the PDSC urged NATO to send more troops to the country; and that they should come from Germany and France in particular.
It is clear that Britain, the US, and Canada is currently bearing the majority of military and financial cost in this theatre of operations. Whilst Britain has approximately 7,000 British military personnel in southern Afghanistan, it is surely impossible to take and hold all Taliban strongholds in such a vast area.
The original plan for Helmand Province was for security and reconstruction to take place in conjunction with one another. However, the level of activity between British soldiers and the Taliban has ensured that reconstruction is not afforded the attention that is required. Hence, The Afghans return to their poppy growing.
So, once again the history of Afghanistan is ignored. The 1st Afghan War, the 2nd Afghan War, the Russian occupation ...
His comments are timely as they correspond with the thoughts of the Parliamentary Defence Select Committee (PDSC) who claimed that it was "deeply concerned" about what was happening in Afghanistan. In addition, the PDSC urged NATO to send more troops to the country; and that they should come from Germany and France in particular.
It is clear that Britain, the US, and Canada is currently bearing the majority of military and financial cost in this theatre of operations. Whilst Britain has approximately 7,000 British military personnel in southern Afghanistan, it is surely impossible to take and hold all Taliban strongholds in such a vast area.
The original plan for Helmand Province was for security and reconstruction to take place in conjunction with one another. However, the level of activity between British soldiers and the Taliban has ensured that reconstruction is not afforded the attention that is required. Hence, The Afghans return to their poppy growing.
So, once again the history of Afghanistan is ignored. The 1st Afghan War, the 2nd Afghan War, the Russian occupation ...
Thursday 19 July 2007
Holidays and Global Warming
Having got back from the sunniest part of the country, my thoughts once again turn to global warming.
Last summer was somewhat dry, and we were told that Britain would soon become sub-Saharan in a matter of years. Hosepipe bans were enforced throughout much of the country, and water bills soared.
This summer has seen almost constant rain, with flooding throughout the north-east. The government response was pitiful, but that's another story. Neither are we alone. China, the US, Brazil ... all have seen much more than their fair share of the wet stuff. Even droughts in parts of Australia have been ended.
Global warming may be an actuality, but what is clear is that the causes and affects are not understood by those who profess knowledge on the subject. Government funding of the vast amounts of research see these soothsayers spout what their paymasters want to hear. Neutral or opposing opinions are drowned out by the chattering classes.
Meanwhile my summer hols were the wettest I could remember! Even South West England was a bit of a damp squib.
Last summer was somewhat dry, and we were told that Britain would soon become sub-Saharan in a matter of years. Hosepipe bans were enforced throughout much of the country, and water bills soared.
This summer has seen almost constant rain, with flooding throughout the north-east. The government response was pitiful, but that's another story. Neither are we alone. China, the US, Brazil ... all have seen much more than their fair share of the wet stuff. Even droughts in parts of Australia have been ended.
Global warming may be an actuality, but what is clear is that the causes and affects are not understood by those who profess knowledge on the subject. Government funding of the vast amounts of research see these soothsayers spout what their paymasters want to hear. Neutral or opposing opinions are drowned out by the chattering classes.
Meanwhile my summer hols were the wettest I could remember! Even South West England was a bit of a damp squib.
Monday 9 July 2007
Holiday
Just a few lines to say that I've decided to take a one week holiday, and will be heading down south tomorrow morning.
I've decided that a break will do wonders for my creative side. More blogs to follow ...
I've decided that a break will do wonders for my creative side. More blogs to follow ...
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