WILL WIKI LEAKS MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

The War You Don't See trailer from John Pilger on Vimeo.

LABOUR SLEAZE

http://tinyurl.com/2vlauzs A BBC investigation into the planning department of one of Scotland's largest councils has revealed evidence of a close personal relationship between an influential councillor and a millionaire property developer.
Labour councillor Jim Docherty is facing calls to resign after failing to declare a long-standing friendship with Labour donor James Kean, who owns large areas of land in South Lanarkshire.
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This has long been known in East Kilbride, but they have managed up until now to keep the lid on it. The EK news has reported on it, as a result of which McCann the MP who took over from five jobs Ingram, will no longer speak to the EK News. Their is a deep and fetid pit of sleaze to be tapped in this South Lanarkshire town.

I wonder how Docherty can afford a house costing £320000. he probably took lesson from Charlie Gordon who has become a millionaire property owner in Glasgow.

Docherty is the one with the foilage growing out of his nose. McCann is wearing the red tie.




THERES MORE




AND MORE

THE SMELL OF LABOUR.

The reek of corruption from Labour in Lanarkshire just gets worse and worse. Ingram. McCann, Keane, Docherty, names that are forever tainted with patronage, self interest and arrogance. It really is long overdue for Labour to be brought to account, the MSM in Scotland are frozen with fear and collusion. At least the Sunday Times seems to be willing to stare them down.


On events today, the Politics show with resident sneering liar Glenn Campbell was the most disgraceful piece of unionist biased programming yet seen in Scotland. BBC Scotland are a total disgrace. Sycophants like Kenny McQuarrie who fill his Hebridean wellies to the tune of £200,000 plus generous benefits and bonuses, per annum at Pacific Quay, has presided over the worst programming in the history of BBC Scotland. The blatant propaganda by this London controlled organisation is enraging. Please god it makes votes for the SNP. I could see at the end that Angus Robertson was blazing with anger and who could blame him.

NEWSNET have covered it better than I could.

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

What ever our individual views on things, Remembrance Day is not far away and it seems a fitting time to remember the men and women serving in our Armed Forces.

They are doing their bit.....please do yours by reading this and forwarding it to someone else:



The average British soldier is 19 years old…..he is a short haired, well built lad who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears and just old enough to buy a round of drinks but old enough to die for his country – and for you. He’d rather be grafting in Afghanistan than unemployed in the UK. He recently left comprehensive school where he was probably an average student, played some form of sport, drove a ten year old rust bucket, and knew a girl that either broke up with him when he left, or swore to be waiting when he returns home. He moves easily to rock and roll or hip-hop or to the rattle of a 7.62mm machine gun.


He is about a stone lighter than when he left home because he is working or fighting from dawn to dusk and well beyond. Letter writing is a pain for him, but he can strip a rifle in 25 seconds and reassemble it in the dark. He can recite every detail of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either effectively if he has to. He digs trenches and latrines without the aid of machines and can apply first aid like a professional paramedic. He can march until he is told to stop, or stay dead still until he is told to move.


He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation but he is not without a rebellious spirit or a sense of personal dignity. He is confidently self-sufficient. He has two sets of uniform with him: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his water bottle full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never forgets to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes and fix his own hurts. If you are thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food is your food. He'll even share his life-saving ammunition with you in the heat of a firefight if you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and regards his weapon as an extension of his own hands. He can save your life or he can take it, because that is his job - it's what a soldier does. He often works twice as long and hard as a civilian, draw half the pay and have nowhere to spend it, and can still find black ironic humour in it all. There's an old saying in the British Army: 'If you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined!'


He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and he is unashamed to show it or admit it. He feels every bugle note of the 'Last Post' or 'Sunset' vibrate through his body while standing rigidly to attention. He's not afraid to 'Bollock' anyone who shows disrespect when the Regimental Colours are on display or the National Anthem is played; yet in an odd twist, he would defend anyone's right to be an individual. Just as with generations of young people before him, he is paying the price for our freedom. Clean shaven and baby faced he may be, but be prepared to defend yourself if you treat him like a kid.

He is the latest in a long thin line of British Fighting Men that have kept this country free for hundreds of years. He asks for nothing from us except our respect, friendship and understanding. We may not like what he does, but sometimes he doesn't like it either - he just has it to do.. Remember him always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.

And now we even have brave young women putting themselves in harm's way, doing their part in this tradition of going to war when our nation's politicians call on us to do so.

They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and if you are so inclined, feel free to say a prayer for our troops in the trouble spots of the world.

I wouldn't dream of breaking this chain - would you?

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If only our politicians displayed a fraction of the guts and sheer courage of these men and women who they put in harms way, they might be better thought of, instead of popping up in Afghanistan to get a cynical photo op, and then come home and tell lies to the House of Commons.

At least President Obam is prepared to walk the walk. This should be compulsory for all our liars.

Afghanistan.

This morning I started by commenting on a post over on Rosies blog on Afghanistan and The never ending sadness of the news that just keeps on coming.

It quickly turned into a blog post as every thing just poured out.

It is becoming very painful when you compare our rate of attrition to that of the Americans. We suffer four times their rate in propotion to the numbers on the ground.

Having watched Ainsworth on the Marr show this morning it has become really desperate. He is so thick and inept and just slow, it is just infuriating. For example the reason the Mastiffs have not been given to the troops is that they have not been trained for Gods sake. And apparently they have to be UK trained, dear God help me to bear this mans oiky horrible utterances.

When I began my 9 years service it was in an armoured recce regiment, we had four different types of vehicle. Saladin, Saracen, Ferret, and Landrover. Within a very short space of time I was driving all four vehicle as if you are competent enough to drive one safely then the rest of them are just common sense.

But apparently the Mastiff has to be held for the next brigade who will have been trained on them, what utter utter bollocks. I say that as an ex regimental driving instructor. A vehicle is a vehicle, give it to a competent squaddie and he will quickly utilise it. This health and safety box ticking arse covering madness that civvies are infected with, does not work in the Army when your life depends on having good kit. Imagine how demoralised these guys are right now as their comrades die, and they know there is kit there available but being held up by some box ticking civil servant jobs worth fuck wit. That could have made a difference.

Super Puma helicopters will now be another 3 years being modified by Germany and France before we can give them to the troops.

Merlin heliscopters which were in Iraq sat for a year in a hanger before the decision was made to modify them and sent them to Afghanistan, and they still are not operational.

Apparently, even although Britain has now had it's arse kicked out of Afghanistan 3 times since 1839, (and it looks like this will be 4,) Ainsworth has only just discovered that Afghanistan is a hot high country with very different terrain to Iraq. He also tells us that it is very complicated and very very difficult, "out there." WOW. The breathtaking knowledge and insight of the man is terrifying. He goes on to say that the forces have ability in "spade fulls," what a pity that we could not find a minister with the same level of ability to fight their corner. If Ainsworth was my shop steward I would leave the union. The fact he occupies one of the highest and most responsible offices of state in Britian really frightens me. Imagine if another crisis worse than this one shows up.

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Secrecy sounding the armour on new vehicles destined for British troops in Afghanistan is preventing them from being flown into the conflict zone.

The cladding on the Ridgbacks has been classified as so secret that only British transport aircraft are allowed to ferry them to the troops in Helmand province.

As a consequence, the much-needed vehicles have been queuing up in Dubai, with long delays before sufficient UK transport aircraft can be found to take them to Afghanistan.


Rosie Gentles son Gordon died for that very reason.

These are the same people. Desk-bound civil servants working in Iraq and Afghanistan are earning bonuses worth more than double the wages of front-line troops.

This is making me sick just thinking about it all.

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Below is a previous response to one of Rosie posts:

One reason why the unelected Brown does not want an open transparent enquiry is that his tenure in No11 will see him exposed as one of the main reasons that troops were deprived of very basic equipment taken for granted by other armies, such as proper robust vehicles and not ex NI snatch landrovers, good modern body armour and most important good air cover and medivac facilities. His restraints put on Whitehall at the time were the main reason for these disgracefull failures.

Grieving mothers like Rosie Gentle who's son Gordon died for want of electronic counter measures, which was being held back in a bloody store somewhere, instead of being issued.

This is how Rosie found out:

"Fusileer Gentle was travelling with a convoy of Snatch Land Rovers as it left Basra Palace at 8.30 on the morning of Monday 28 June. Fusileer Sean Gill, next to him, told the inquest he was dazzled by a huge flash as the bomb exploded. "I was disorientated for a few seconds. He was lying on his back with his eyes open."

Shrapnel had pierced Gordon's upper back, cutting an artery and stopping the flow of blood to his brain. A camera crew with the convoy filmed the efforts of his colleagues to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Within hours, a censored version of the footage appeared on the breakfast news – and was seen by Rose Gentle as she drank a morning coffee. "I thought, 'God, some poor mammy's going to see her son lying on the ground.'" She did think for one awful moment that she recognised Gordon, but thought, "It can't be, I would have been told."

Three hours later, two soldiers came to the shop where she worked. They asked her to sit in their car, and then they told her. "All I can remember is running out the car, screaming.'"

Her husband, George, a construction ground worker, collapsed from the shock when she rang to tell him. "I just says, 'The wee man's been killed.'" George has not worked since. He supports his wife's campaigning, but plays no public part in it. While we talk, he stays out of the way in Gordon's room, on the computer."

And this is how the bastards respond:

http://tinyurl.com/ns4hyy

On his very first test on his much trumpeted transparency and accountability, Brown is exposed as the lying demagog he is and always will be who puts his and his morraly bankrupt party before all.

Well Gordon Brown you are finished so why don't you just piss of and take your rag bag of scum sucking crooks with you.

Thanks for reading, I feel a blog post coming on.
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The "trilogy" that Ainsworth referred to on Marr, was broken a long time ago. I take it he was referring to the covenant we should have with our forces. Blair broke that, the forces are left exposed and vulnerable by box ticking incompetent civil servants and a mirage of ever changing defence ministers who are career politician and look after them selves only. The forces are just a necessary evil to these snobby hypocrites, but a great photo opportunity when their popularity rating goes down as Brown has shown again and again with his cynical popping up in Iraq and Afghanistan, smiling that disgusting rictus smile as he shakes the hand of a warrior who's boots he could not lace.

Politicians I worship the ground that is coming to them.

Brown and Iraq.

Thanks to Rosie for getting my dander up once more ;o)


Every time I see on the news, another fatality amongst our forces it is like a red hot needle goes into my soul. Not least because as an ex soldier, and father of a serving officer, I witnessed the death and destruction of some of my own comrades. But more much more than that because of the lies and duplicity that has put the lives of our finest young men and women at risk because of the ego of this corrupt PM and the previous one.

When Brown promised a root and branch review of Parliament he promised transparency, accountability, honesty, and respect. At his very first opportunity he has completely and predictably failed to do so. Promises mean nothing to these crooks. His moral compass, just spins and spins, as he flounders around in a bed of his making.

His announcement that yet another Iraq war enquiry will be secret has just blown him out of the water for good. To open it to public scrutiny could see him and Blair in jail for war crimes.

The never ending pain and grief that these liars have put families through is hard for anyone to imagine. Losing a comrade is pain that never fades, losing a son or daughter must be multiplied by God knows how many factors. Yet these cowards have never had the guts to meet the likes of Rosie and George Gentle, and their family, who's existence is a painful one as they try to come to terms with the loss of their brave 19 year old laddie.

When our son is on active service we dread hearing the news or seeing a strange car in the street, it is a living hell. You pray and pray for their safety and hide your worry as much as you can. You stop going to places where you can see the news channel on the TV. You stop reading newspapers. You withdraw into a shell hoping that the worst just avoids you this time.

The UK and the World is a much more dangerous place since Blair's decision to follow the Neocon Texan cowboy into the desert and spread death and destruction in a sovereign country for oil. May they rot and burn in hell.



Here is a copy of the response I put on Rosies Blog:

One reason why the unelected Brown does not want an open transparent enquiry is that his tenure in No11 will see him exposed as one of the main reasons that troops were deprived of very basic equipment taken for granted by other armies, such as proper robust vehicles and not ex NI snatch landrovers, good modern body armour and most important good air cover and medivac facilities. His restraints put on Whitehall at the time were the main reason for these disgracefull failures.

Grieving mothers like Rosie Gentle who's son Gordon died for want of electronic counter measures, which was being held back in a bloody store somewhere, instead of being issued.

This is how Rosie found out:

"Fusileer Gentle was travelling with a convoy of Snatch Land Rovers as it left Basra Palace at 8.30 on the morning of Monday 28 June. Fusileer Sean Gill, next to him, told the inquest he was dazzled by a huge flash as the bomb exploded. "I was disorientated for a few seconds. He was lying on his back with his eyes open."

Shrapnel had pierced Gordon's upper back, cutting an artery and stopping the flow of blood to his brain. A camera crew with the convoy filmed the efforts of his colleagues to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Within hours, a censored version of the footage appeared on the breakfast news – and was seen by Rose Gentle as she drank a morning coffee. "I thought, 'God, some poor mammy's going to see her son lying on the ground.'" She did think for one awful moment that she recognised Gordon, but thought, "It can't be, I would have been told."

Three hours later, two soldiers came to the shop where she worked. They asked her to sit in their car, and then they told her. "All I can remember is running out the car, screaming.'"

Her husband, George, a construction ground worker, collapsed from the shock when she rang to tell him. "I just says, 'The wee man's been killed.'" George has not worked since. He supports his wife's campaigning, but plays no public part in it. While we talk, he stays out of the way in Gordon's room, on the computer."

And this is how the bastards respond:

http://tinyurl.com/ns4hyy

On his very first test on his much trumpeted transparency and accountability, Brown is exposed as the lying demagog he is and always will be who puts his and his morally bankrupt party before all.

Well Gordon Brown you are finished so why don't you just piss of and take your rag bag of scum sucking crooks with you.

Thanks for reading, I feel a Blog post coming on.

SLEAZY LABOUR

Fishermen have been ruined and sent to jail thanks to a ruthless war waged by the marine agency, says Christopher Booker.

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Having read the article regarding these fisher men, I am left with an overpowering feeling of rage and hatred for these bureaucrats and politicians who really do not know how to or where to draw the line. Day after day after day all we see is more and more sleaze and greed from these bastards.

As an ex skipper I know all to well what a cruel Mistress the sea is, recent events in the North Sea have shown us again. To have your life taken away by the sea is horrible. To have it stripped from you by your country is unforgiveable for such petty infringements. When I see these pigs of snobby elite officials and politicians breaking the law and walking away smirking it sickens me.

I used to wonder what had happened in places like France and Russia to cause their revolutions. I now understand why people become so incensed with anger against these people that they can so easily resort to civil disobedince and revolution.

They live in a bubble they have created. And the civil servants who keep the bubble intact are just as bad. They are detatched from reality. Look at these pigs in New Zealand.

Don't they understand just how vomit making they are?

The arrogant Smith, who has no shame despite her husband having to wank himself stupid, and charge us for it, whilst she racks up the expenses for sink plugs, barbies, plasma tellys, on and on and on it goes.

Look at the sneering liar Murphy.

This man has the blood of our forces on his hands and he walks away with cash falling out of his pockets. An Orange bigot who should never have been promoted to the level he was.

And why the fuck do we pay for their brats and wives to hog it.

MPs can use the allowance to pay utility bills, council tax, satellite TV subscriptions and buy household goods from the so-called "John Lewis List" of approved items.

They can also pay mortgages, and many are known to have acquired valuable properties which they retain after leaving the Commons.

More than 150 MPs claimed the maximum amount of ACA during 2007/08.

Despite his grace-and-favour Downing Street flat, Mr Brown claimed £17,073 under the allowance, spending the money on a house in his Fife constituency.

But when it comes to Joe Publics taxes, guess what?

A Cabinet minister claimed expenses on his constituency house and rented out his London home while living in a grace and favour apartment in Whitehall, it has been disclosed.

Guess who? Yes the supercillious, sneering, lying moronic Hoon.

And then as if the piggy bastards were not fat enough, the bubble protects them again.

There's more.

A classic line. "There are absolutely no economic benefits in subsidising Mr Timney to watch TV (and I don't care what he watches), except possibly a tiny performance fee to Green Emmanuelle, wherever she is, and some dosh for Virgin Media – and it is outrageous that these causes should be considered worthy of taxpayer support. There is no case for a fiscal stimulus if we continue to allow waste on this scale, and if Mr Timney wants any further physical stimulus he should blooming well pay for it himself."


I have ordered the book by Dale and Guido.

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Labours sleaze:

The Little Red Book of New Labour Sleaze
Edited by Iain Dale and Guido Fawkes
Politico's Media, 2006, £7.99

Tony Blair came to power in 1997 pledged to be whiter than white. "You are not here to enjoy the trappings of power," he told his MPs, "but to do a job and to uphold the highest standards in public life."

How have they measured up? Not very well, this chunky little paperback suggests. Peter Mandleson's mortgage, Bernie Ecclestone's donation, the dodgy dossier... are all here.

The Little Red Book was written in a unique way. The editors had the idea on Blair's Black Wednesday - the day Charles Clarke admitted foreign criminals had been released without being considered for deportation, John Prescott admitted to an affair and the nurses booed Patricia Hewitt.

They compiled a list of 101 scandals and invited Britain's bloggers - people who write political weblogs on the Internet - to write them up. They did so over a weekend (my entry covers Downing Street's attempts to muscle in on the Queen Mother's funeral arrangements) and the book appeared a fortnight later.

Inevitably the results are uneven, but they are great fun too. This is a superior version of those little volumes bookshops keep by the till and readers keep by the loo. If there is too much sniggering over sex - Ron Davies' badger watching is the least of our worries - there is also plenty of serious stuff. And if it has a Tory feel, more Lib Dems should have got involved.

Are there lessons to be drawn? Any government in power this long would be frayed at the edges, and I have long argued that Labour's emphasis on sleaze before 1997 was a way of disguising how little they differed from the Tories.

But there is something new about the way this government uses the media to attack anyone who crosses it. When Iain Duncan Smith revealed a lady called Rose Addis had been neglected in hospital, rumours were spread that she was a racist who had refused to be treated by black nurses. The Women's Institute and Paddington rail crash survivors suffered similar experiences.

So there is good reason to buy The Little Red Book - wherever you decide to keep it.

Labour has been accused by Sir John Major of presiding over a decade of "systemic sleaze".

The former Tory Prime Minister also claimed that Gordon Brown had squandered billions of pounds of taxpayers' money during his spell as Chancellor.

In an unusually scathing foray into domestic politics, Sir John protested that Labour had used "McCarthyite" tactics in opposition to portray the last Conservative government as sleazy. "What they did at the time was absolutely unscrupulous," he told BBC1's Andrew Marr show.

"Lots of people misbehaved in the 1980s and 1990s, but they were all individuals. It was never institutional. It was never related specifically to the Conservative Party or to the Conservative government."

He added: "The distinction is that sleaze has seemed to be systemic since 1997."

Referring to Tony Blair's pledge after his first election victory, Sir John said: "I think if they were to say today 'whiter than white' or 'purer than pure', people would just laugh."

The Porn Seceratary.

Our Gurkhas

The treatment of these fine soldiers continues to be a national digrace, in line with the contempt shown to all our forces by cynical snobby elite career politicians who are far to engaged with screwing the taxpayer for golden parachute pensions and better expenses.

Submarine deaths due to failure.

Yet more evidence of the contempt that the MOD exhibit towards our service personnel. The UK government has thrown away the covenant between the Parliament and the services.



This poem is as apt now as it was when it was penned.

We are the not dead.
In battle, life would not say goodbye to us.
And crack-shot snipers seemed to turn a blind eye to us.
And even though guns and grenades let fly at us
we somehow survived.

We are the not dead.
When we were young and fully alive for her,
we worshipped Britannia.
We the undersigned
put our names on the line for her.
From the day we were born we were loaded and primed for her.
Prepared as we were, though, to lie down and die for her,
we somehow survived.

So why did she cheat on us?
Didn’t we come running when she most needed us?
When tub-thumping preachers
and bullet-brained leaders
gave solemn oaths and stirring speeches
then fisted the air and pointed eastwards,
didn’t we turn our backs on our nearest and dearest?
From runways and slipways Britannia cheered us,
but returning home refused to meet us,
sent out a crowd of back-biting jeerers
and mealy-mouthed sneerers.
Two-timing, two-faced Britannia deceived us.

We are morbidly ill.
Soldiers with nothing but time to kill,
we idle now in everyday clothes and ordinary towns,
blowing up, breaking down.
If we dive for cover or wake in a heap,
Britannia, from horseback, now crosses the street
or looks right through us.
We seem changed and ghostly to those who knew us.
The country which flew the red white and blue for us
now shows her true colours.
We are the not dead.
Neither happy and proud
with a bar-code of medals across the heart
nor laid in a box and draped in a flag,
we wander this no man’s land instead,
creatures of a different stripe – the awkward, unwanted, unlovable type –
haunted with fears and guilt,
wounded in spirit and mind.

We are the not dead, by Simon Armitage.

MOD TREACHERY

SAS Officers do not quit without very good reason, I make no apology for highlighting this again and again.

The MOD and UK politicians have blood on their chubby little pointed greedy hands, a thousand curses on them all.

From The Times

March 7, 2009

A former senior SAS officer in Afghanistan has said that the Government has “blood on its hands” over the deaths of four soldiers killed by a roadside bomb.

Major Sebastian Morley, who resigned last October from his post as the most senior reservist SAS officer in Afghanistan, said that army commanders and Whitehall officials ignored his warnings that “unsafe” vehicles would lead to the deaths of soldiers.

Major Morley, 40, stood down after what he called the “unnecessary deaths” of four soldiers when their Snatch Land Rover hit an anti-tank mine in Helmand province in June last year. Among the dead was Corporal Sarah Bryant, the first servicewoman to be killed in Afghanistan.

Major Morley accused Quentin Davies, the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, of telling an “unacceptable lie” when he said after the deaths that commanders could choose which vehicles they used in combat.

Related Links

• SAS chief quits after blaming poor kit for deaths

“I had to resign,” he said. “I had warned [the Ministry of Defence] time and time again that there were going to be needless deaths if we were not given the right equipment, and they ignored this advice. There is blood on their hands.”

Mr Davies later expressed regret if he had caused offence by his comments that casulaties had resulted from commanders choosing the “wrong piece of equipment”.

But Major Morley said: “A government minister is on record telling a lie about four deaths, and this is unacceptable. For him to reverse his position now is too little too late.

“To accuse an operational commander of having a choice, and for that man to have made a choice that led to death, is to accuse him of negligence.

“There was no other vehicle to use. The simple truth is that the protection of these vehicles is inadequate and this led to the unnecessary deaths.”

He also referred to the Snatch Land Rover as a “mobile coffin”.

Major Morley told The Daily Telegraph that operations in Afghanistan were “worthless” and said: “This is the equivalent to the start of the Vietnam conflict – there is much more to come. We hold tiny areas of ground in Helmand and we are kidding oursleves if we think our influence goes beyond 500 metres of our security bases. It’s just crazy to think we hold that ground or have any influcence on what goes on beyond the bases.

An MoD spokesman said: “UK forces are better equipped than ever before, with new technology and state-of-the-art armoured vehicles continuing to arrive in Afghanistan.

“The clear advice of commanders is that Snatch remains mission critical for certain roles. We accept that Snatch is not suitable for high-risk environments, but it is adequate for the job it is given.

“It is true that in an area the size of Helmand province there is a limit to how much ground we can hold. But that does not mean we are not making progress. We are.”

Over the past four years 37 British troops have been killed in Snatch Land Rovers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

BRITISH LOYALTY!

The death of young Ivan Cameron will have touched us all. Bringing a child into the world is a big step for parents. To have that child born seriously disabled is dreadfull. To then have the child grow and become a loving family member, who needs total support 24/7, giving the best that parents can to ensure decent quality of life, knowing that one day that life will be cut short, takes courage and fortitude and a deep well of stamina. My heart goes out to the Camerons.

My heart also goes out to the parents of loved ones who make the ultimate sacrifice for a country that does not really appreciate them, and sees them as a necessary evil. On the very day that Ivan Cameron touched our hearts, four service men dies in Afghanistan.

The same MPs who suspended business in Westminster, in support of the Camerons, took the decision to send our forces to Iraq and Afghanistan. The same MPs who now condone these forces operating in Afghanistan in equipment that is frankly a bloody joke in this day and age. The same MPs that are bending over backwards to prevent the public from seeing the expenses that they snuffle at the trough of the tax payer.The same MPs that sent our forces to war to invade a sovereign country on a "thats it then." Three words that condemed 10s of thousands of people to death and many more to a lifetime of mutilation humiliation poverty and pain.

I am sure it was the right thing to do to suspend the business of the house for Ivan. His father is one of their own and will value that gesture of solidarity. What a great pity that the under paid under protected men and women, we ask to put their lives on the line for us cannot feel that solidarity. They feel betrayed and hung out to dry. The butt of endless jokes from American troops who are incredulous that soldiers have to endure what ours do in 2009.

When it come to digging deep and looking after our own we fall short time after time. There are veterans of these campaigns now living in poverty and misery because of a lack of after care by the MOD.



As the father of a serving officer who's son has has served in Iraq, I cannot begin to explain how it feel every time the phone rings or someone rings the door bell. You hear a car door slamming in the street at 3 in the morning and hold your breath praying that no one rings your bell. 328 families have had that dreaded knock in the Iraq and Afghanistan campaign.

149 from Afghanisatan.

And 179 from iraq.

"British workers for British jobs," a cheap nasty throwaway remark by a cheap nasty PM. Who when it suits him pops up in Iraq purely to have his photograph taken and flash his insane rictus smile at all he meets. When it comes down to the wire his remark is betrayed for the utter posturing lie it is just like the New Labour party.

I fear for our country now that I can see what is down the road, knowing how cynical and utterly ruthless these greedy career politicians are. They really do not give a shit that the UK is about to enter one of the darkest periods of our history, they have stuck there heads in the trough and the bunker mentality has now taken root at the heart of the government. They are in a gold lined teflon bubble. Damn them all to eternal hell.

FROM MEDIAWATCH.... INGRAM BIGS IT IN SUNDAY HERALD

Labour this Labour

The Sunday Herald
01 Mar 2009

Senior Scottish MP in forged letters mystery

Letters defending Adam Ingram in local press were faked

ASENIOR Labour MP has refused to comment on a forgery row involving fake letters about him being sent to a local newspaper. Former defence minister Adam Ingram is not responding to questions about how a 75-year-old Labour member’s name was used to defend the MP’s record in a series of letters. Councillor Michael McCann, the MP’s aide, also declined an invitation to discuss the subject on Ingram’s behalf.

I n g r a m , w h o r e p r e s e n t s E a s t Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow, was criticised recently for having the largest-declared outside earnings of any Scottish MP. The long-serving politician makes up to £ 170,000 in consultancies and non-executive directorships on top of his £ 63,291 salary. The revelation was followed by two letters being published in the East Kilbride News under the name “ Tony Carlin”, a former Labour councillor and party member.

One of the letters challenged the criticisms of Ingram’s outside earnings:“Adam Ingram has served our town as both an elected councillor and as a member of parliament with distinction. He has fought for people across the constituency and has delivered for them.”

It p ra i s e d h i m a s a “ t i re l e s s campaigner” and noted his “indefatigability”. The letter also attacked the local Green Party for its criticisms of Ingram’s extra-parliamentary jobs: “[ The] Green Party are against the redevelopment of the town centre, in fact, they are against any development in the town, full stop.”

Another letter, again from “ Tony Carlin”, hit out at criticisms of the first piece of correspondence. However, the East Kilbride News has since reported that the two letters are forgeries.

Adeline Pandolfino, Carlin’s daughter, told the newspaper that her father had neither authored the letters nor given his permission for his name to be used. She added that, if individuals did not want to put their own name on letters, they should “remain anonymous”.

The typed letters had a superimposed signature at the bottom. The Sunday Herald left a message for Ingram and emailed him questions, but the MP declined to respond. Councillor McCann was also given the opportunity to comment, by email and through calls to his home and mobile, but he too did not get in touch.

However, both Ingram and McCann have commented on the outsideearnings row in the local press.

In a letter to the East Kilbride News, McCann responded to Green Party criticism of Ingram by stating: “Kirsten [Robb, Green Party activist] opposes the South Lanarkshire Local Plan and she opposes the redevelopment of the town centre.”

Ingram, in a separate publication, defended his five other jobs: “ The companies I am associated with came to me and suggested that because of my background, knowledge and experience, that I may be of assistance to them.”

McCann is expected to be the next Labour candidate in the constituency, if Ingram opts against seeking another term. Carlin declined to comment. Pandolfino said she intervened in order to clear her father’s name.

John Wilson, an SNP MSP for Central Scotland, said: “Given his position, Adam Ingram should make clear what his view is on this serious matter.”

Robb said: “ These bogus letters are disgraceful. Adam Ingram should answer questions.”

WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM.

Thanks to Rosie for reminding us on her blog of the lack of respect shown to the deaths of brave men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice in our names. The recent deaths in Afghanistan has barely merited a mention in the press. As I have been blogging in a very uncomplimentary manner about Hoon and Ingram you will see why at the bottom of the role of honour are the names of the 14 personnel who died as a result of the incompetence, indifference and lies of these politicians, in the Nimrod crash, which should and could have been prevented. As the father of a serving officer, this makes me very very angry.

We also remember the Iraq dead in the most recent campaign, suffice to say that these countries have claimed the lives of many many British personnel over the century's in the name of............?

Thanks to the BBC for their web site on this.

Let us also remember that when a report comes in that says "wounded." That can hide some horrific injuries, leaving behind a lifetime of pain and suffering. When you look at the derisory compensation offered to these "wounded," compared to that offered to the MOD typist who received nearly half a million pounds, it is simply disgusting.

The number of UK troops killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 stands at 149 after three soldiers were killed by an enemy improvised explosive device in the Gereshk district of Helmand province on 25 February BRITISH FATALITIES: The table can be re-ordered by clicking on any of the column headings NAME RANK AGE FROM SERVED WITH INCIDENT PLACE DATE Laski, Michael Signaller 21 Royal Marines 45 Commando Hostile: Shot Fatally wounded after being hit by enemy fire. Full story Helmand Sangin area 25/02/09 Gunn, Jamie Rifleman 21 Gloucestershire Chepstow Army 1st Battalion The Rifles, Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) Battle Group Hostile: Explosion: Vehicle struck by an explosive device Killed by an enemy improvised explosive device Full story Helmand Gereshk area 25/02/09 Upton, Paul L/Cpl 31 Gloucestershire Chepstow Army 1st Battalion The Rifles, Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) Battle Group Hostile: Explosion: Vehicle struck by an explosive device Killed by an enemy improvised explosive device Full story Helmand Gereshk area 25/02/09 Gaden, Tom Cpl 24 Gloucestershire Chepstow Army 1st Battalion The Rifles, Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) Battle Group Hostile: Explosion: Vehicle struck by an explosive device Killed by an enemy improvised explosive device Full story Helmand Gereshk area 25/02/09 Kingscott, Stephen L/Cpl 22 Devon Plymouth Army 1st Battalion The Rifles Enemy fire: Attack Died after coming under fire while on foot patrol Full story Helmand South of Lashkar Gah 16/02/09 Smith, Darren Marine 27 Lancashire Fleetwood Royal Marines 45 Commando, X-ray Company Enemy fire: Shot Died from wounds sustained after being shot at by enemy units on patrol. Full story Helmand Sangin, south west of 14/02/09 Nield, Daniel Cpl 31 Gloucestershire Cheltenham Army 1st Battalion The Rifles Hostile: Rocket attack Died from injuries sustained while on a joint UK and Afghan National Army patrol Full story Helmand Musa Qala, north of 30/01/09 Robinson, Richard Cpl 21 Cornwall Saltash Army 1st Battalion The Rifles Enemy fire Hit by enemy fire while on foot patrol Full story Helmand Sangin, north of 17/01/09 Winter, Danny Marine 28 Manchester Stockport Royal Marines 45 Commando Explosion Killed in an explosion while on a mission Full story Helmand Gereshk 14/01/09 Sawyer, Tom Capt 26 Herts Army Royal Artillery, 29 Commando Regiment Explosion Killed in an explosion while on a mission Full story Helmand Gereshk 14/01/09 Mackin, Travis Marine 22 Plymouth Royal Marines 45 Commando, Security Sector Reform Group Explosion Killed in an explosion during a routine patrol. Full story Helmand Kajaki 11/01/09 Reed, Christopher Sjt 25 Devon Plymouth Army 6th Battalion , The Rifles Hostile: Explosion Died in a routine patrol Full story Helmand Garmsir 01/01/09 Elms, Liam Cpl 26 Wigan Royal Marines 45 Commando, Z Company Explosion Killed during a routine patrol Full story Helmand Sangin area 31/12/08 Whatley, Ben L/Cpl 20 Norfolk Kings Lynn Royal Marines 42 Commando, Lima Company Hostile Killed by enemy fire while on a mission Full story Helmand Nad-e-Ali 24/12/08 Deering, Robert Cpl 33 Birmingham Royal Marines Commando Logistics Regiment Explosion Killed by explosion Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah, north-west of 21/12/08 Nash, Stuart Rifleman 21 Australia Sydney Army 1st Battalion The Rifles, Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) Battle Group Hostile Shot while providing cover for colleagues from compound rooftop Full story Helmand Nad Ali 17/12/08 Lewis, Aaron Lt 26 Essex Army Royal Artillery, 29 Commando Regiment Hostile: Attack Died from injuries caused as a result of enemy fire Full story Helmand Gereshk area 15/12/08 Manuel, John Sgt 38 Tyne and Wear Gateshead Royal Marines 45 Commando Hostile: Explosion Killed in explosion caused by 13-year-old suspected suicide bomber Full story Helmand Sangin, south of 12/12/08 Fellows, Steven L/Cpl 26 Bucks High Wycombe Royal Marines 45 Commando Hostile: Explosion Killed in explosion while on patrol in Jackal armoured vehicle Full story Helmand Sangin area 12/12/08 Davies, Damian Marine 27 Shropshire Telford Royal Marines Commando Logistics Regiment Hostile: Explosion Killed in explosion caused by 13-year-old suspected suicide bomber Full story Helmand Sangin, south of 12/12/08 Birch, Marc Cpl 26 Northampton-shire Kingsthorpe Royal Marines 45 Commando Hostile: Explosion Killed in explosion caused by 13-year-old suspected suicide bomber Full story Helmand Sangin, south of 12/12/08 Evans, Tony Marine 20 Tyne and Wear Sunderland Royal Marines 42 Commando Hostile: Attack Attacked with rocket-propelled grenades while on the roof of a building Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 27/11/08 Sparks, Georgie Marine 19 Essex Epping Royal Marines 42 Commando Hostile: Attack Attacked with rocket-propelled grenades while on the roof of a building Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 27/11/08 Lucas, Alexander Marine 24 Edinburgh Royal Marines 45 Commando Hostile: Explosion Injured by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Full story Helmand Kajaki area 24/11/08 Dura, Krishna- bahadur Colour Sgt 36 Lamjung District, western Nepal Army Royal Gurkha Rifles, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Explosion First fatal attack on a Warrior tank; vehicle struck by explosive device. Full story Helmand Musa Qala region 15/11/08 McKibben, Robert Marine 32 Irish Republic County Mayo Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade, UK Landing Force Command Support Group Hostile: Explosion Explosion while on patrol with Afghan forces Full story Helmand Gamsir district 12/11/08 Dunstan, Neil Marine 32 Bournemouth Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade, UK Landing Force Command Support Group Hostile: Explosion Explosion while on joint patrol with Afghan forces Full story Helmand Gamsir district 12/11/08 Rai, Yubraj Rifleman 28 Nepal Khotang Army 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles Hostile: Shot Died from gunshot wounds while on an operation against the Taleban Full story Helmand Musa Qala 04/11/08 Munday, James Trooper 21 Birmingham Army Household Cavalry Regiment, D Squadron Hostile: Explosion Died in explosion Full story Helmand Garmsir area 15/10/08 Mason, Nicky L/Cpl 26 Essex Aveley Army Parachute Regiment, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Explosion Died when a booby-trap device was triggered while on routine patrol Full story Helmand Kajaki area 13/09/08 Rawstron, Jason Pte 23 Lancashire Clayton-Le-Moors Army Parachute Regiment, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Shot Shot during firefight with Taleban forces Full story Helmand Kajaki area 12/09/08 O'Donnell, Gary Warrant Officer Class 2 40 Edinburgh Army Royal Logistic Corps Hostile: Explosion Killed while trying to clear an improvised explosive device. Full story Helmand Musa Qala 10/09/08 Cupples, Justin Ranger 29 County Cavan, Ireland Army Royal Irish Regiment, 1st Battalion Hostile: Explosion Died when an improvised explosive device was triggered while on routine patrol Full story Helmand Sangin 04/09/08 Dempsey, Barry Cpl 29 Ayrshire Army Royal Highland Fusiliers, Royal Regiment of Scotland Hostile: Explosion Died after insurgents exploded a roadside bomb Full story Helmand Gereshk 18/08/08 Bland, Wayne Signaller 21 West Yorkshire Leeds Army 16 Signal Regiment, Motor Transport Troop as part of Kabul Support Unit Hostile: Suicide bomb Died after suicide bomber drove a car into a convoy. Full story Kabul 11/08/08 Cowton, Peter Pte 25 Hampshire Basingstoke Army Parachute Regiment, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Explosion Died after an explosion during a clash with Taleban fighters. Full story Helmand Sangin area 29/07/08 Mathews, Jonathan Sgt 35 Edinburgh Army Royal Regiment of Scotland, 4th Battalion Hostile: Shot Received a single gunshot wound while on foot patrol Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 28/07/08 Rowe, Kenneth L/Cpl 24 Newcastle Army Royal Army Veterinary Corps, attached to 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment Hostile: Shot Came under insurgent fire while on routine patrol. Full story Helmand Sangin area 24/07/08 Barnes, Jason Cpl 25 Devon Exeter Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached to 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment Hostile: Explosion Vehicle hit a suspected improvised explosive device after his patrol came under enemy fire. Full story Helmand Kajaki area 22/07/08 Johnson, James L/Cpl 31 Army Royal Regiment of Scotland, B Company 5th Battalion Explosion: Landmine Stepped on landmine Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 28/06/08 Shirley, Dan Warrant Officer Class 2 32 Leicester Army 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps Accident: Road traffic Vehicle overturned on patrol Full story Not released 27/06/08 Whittaker, Joe Pte 20 Warwickshire Stratford-upon-Avon Army Parachute Regiment, 4th Battalion (attached to 2nd Battalion) Hostile: Explosion Killed in blast while checking for mines Full story Helmand Upper Sangin Valley 24/06/08 Williams, Michael Warrant Officer Class 2 40 Cardiff Army Parachute Regiment, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Shot Firefight with Taleban Full story Helmand Upper Sangin Valley 24/06/08 Stout, Paul 31 Army Special Air Service Hostile: Explosion Vehicle caught in explosion Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 17/06/08 Bryant, Sarah Cpl 26 Cumbria Carlisle Army Intelligence Corps Hostile: Explosion Vehicle caught in explosion Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 17/06/08 Larkin, Richard L/Cpl 39 Worcestershire Cookley Army Special Air Service Hostile: Explosion Vehicle caught in an explosion Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 17/06/08 Reeve, Sean Robert Cpl 28 East Sussex Brighton Army Special Air Service Hostile: Explosion Vehicle caught in an explosion Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 17/06/08 Bateman, James L/Cpl 29 Middlesex Staines Army Parachute Regiment, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Shot One of two soldiers killed after coming under fire while on patrol. Full story Helmand Gereshk 12/06/08 Doherty, Jeff Pte 20 West Midlands Coventry Army Parachute Regiment, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Shot One of two soldiers killed after coming under fire while on patrol. Full story Helmand Gereshk 12/06/08 Murray, David Pte 19 Cumbria Carlisle Army Parachute Regiment, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Suicide bomb Killed in blast while patrolling on foot. Full story Helmand Sangin area 08/06/08 Cuthbertson, Nathan Pte 19 Tyne and Wear Sunderland Army Parachute Regiment, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Suicide bomb Killed in blast while patrolling on foot. Full story Helmand Sangin area 08/06/08 Gamble, Daniel Pte 22 East Sussex Uckfield Army Parachute Regiment, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Suicide bomb Killed in blast while patrolling on foot. Full story Helmand Sangin area 08/06/08 Gostick, Dale Marine 22 Oxfordshire Oxford Royal Marines 3 Troop Armoured Support Company Hostile: Explosion Vehicle caught in blast. Full story Helmand Sangin area 25/05/08 Thompson, James 27 Tyne and Wear Whitley Bay Army Explosion Killed in blast while patrolling on foot. Full story Helmand Musa Qala 19/05/08 Babakobau, Ratu Trooper 29 Fiji Army Household Cavalry Regiment Landmine Killed after vehicle hit a landmine during a routine patrol. Full story Helmand Nowzad 02/05/08 Pearson, Robert Trooper 22 Lincs Grimsby Army Queens Royal Lancers Regiment Hostile: Landmine Killed in suspected mine explosion while travelling in convoy Full story Not released 21/04/08 Thompson, Gary Senior Aircraftman 51 Nottingham RAF Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment Hostile: Explosion Killed by an explosion while on patrol. Full story Not released 13/04/08 Livingstone, Graham Senior Aircraftman 23 Strathclyde RAF RAF Regiment Hostile: Explosion Killed by an explosion while on patrol. Full story Kandahar 13/04/08 Thornton, John Lt 22 Dorset Ferndown Royal Marines 40 Commando Hostile: Explosion Killed by an explosion while on patrol. Full story Helmand Kajaki area 30/03/08 Marsh, David Marine 23 South Yorkshire Sheffield Royal Marines 40 Commando Hostile: Explosion Killed by an explosion while on patrol. Full story Helmand Kajaki area 30/03/08 Mulvihill, Damian Cpl 32 Devon Plymouth Royal Marines 40 Commando, Alpha company Hostile: Explosion Killed by an explosion while on patrol. Full story Helmand Sangin area 20/02/08 Lawrence, Damian Cpl 25 North Yorkshire Scarborough Army Yorkshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Landmine Killed after stepping on a landmine while on patrol. Full story Helmand Kajaki area 17/02/08 Gardiner, Darryl Cpl 25 Wiltshire Salisbury Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Hostile: Explosion Vehicle hit by mine strike Full story Helmand Musa Qala 20/01/08 Johnson, Lee Sgt 33 Stockton-on-Tees Army Yorkshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion Hostile: Explosion Vehicle hit by explosion, caused by suspected landmine, which also seriously injured a colleague. Full story Helmand Musa Qala 08/12/07 Sadler, Jack Trooper 21 Devon Exeter Army Honourable Artillery Company, 4/73 Special Observation Battery, Brigade Reconnaissance Force Hostile: Explosion His vehicle was hit by an explosion, which also injured two colleagues Full story Southern Afghanistan Helmand 04/12/07 McDermid, John Capt 43 Glasgow Army Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland Hostile: Explosion While leading a patrol his vehicle was hit by an IED, killing Capt McDermid and wounding one other. Full story Helmand Sangin 14/11/07 Alderton, Jake L/Cpl 22 London Bexley Army 36 Engineer Regiment, 20 Field Squadron Accident: Road traffic His vehicle left the road while crossing a bridge. L/Cpl Alderton was pronounced dead at the scene, two others were injured. Full story Helmand Sangin 09/11/07 Roberts, Alexis Major 32 Kent Army Royal Gurkha Rifles, 1st Battalion Hostile: Explosion Returning to base after an operation when killed by improvised explosive device. Two other soldiers injured Full story Kandahar Near airfield base 04/10/07 Newman, Phillip Colour Sgt 36 West Midlands Coventry Army Mercian Regiment, 4th Battalion Accident: Road traffic Died during re-supply mission when Pinzgauer vehicle came off the road and overturned Full story Helmand Near Gereshk 20/09/07 Tunnicliffe, Brian Pte 33 Derbyshire Ilkeston Army Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), 2nd Battalion Accident: Road traffic Died during re-supply mission when Pinzgauer vehicle came off the road and overturned Full story Helmand Near Gereshk 20/09/07 Violino, Ivano L/Cpl 29 Kent Maidstone Army 36 Engineer Regiment, 20 Field Squadron Hostile: Explosion Died in explosion while commanding a vehicle in convoy. Second soldier injured Full story Helmand Near Gereshk 17/09/07 Brelsford, Craig Sgt 25 Notts Nottingham Army Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), 2nd Battalion Hostile: Shot Shot during firefight trying to rescue wounded colleagues after falling behind enemy lines. One of casualties included Pte Botha, who also died Full story Helmand Garmsir 08/09/07 Botha, Johan Pte 25 South Africa Pretoria Army Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), 2nd Battalion Hostile: Shot Shot during firefight behind enemy lines when patrol came under attack Full story Helmand Garmsir 08/09/07 Ford, Ben Pte 18 Derbyshire Chesterfield Army Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), 2nd Battalion Hostile: Explosion during fighting One of two killed during fighting with the Taleban. Civilian interpreter killed. Third soldier wounded Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 05/09/07 Wright, Damian Pte 23 Notts Mansfield Army Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters), 2nd Battalion Hostile: Explosion during fighting One of two killed during fighting with the Taleban. Civilian interpreter killed. Third soldier wounded Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 05/09/07 Bridge, Christopher Senior Aircraftman 20 Sheffield RAF 51 Squadron, RAF Regiment, C flight Explosion Blast also killed a civilian interpreter and left two other servicemen injured Full story Kandahar Airfield 30/08/07 Thrumble, John Pte 21 Essex Chelmsford Army Royal Anglian Regiment, 1st Battalion "Friendly fire": Air attack One of three killed when US F15 providing air support to ground troops dropped bomb Full story Helmand Kajaki area 23/08/07 McClure, Aaron Pte 19 Suffolk Ipswich Army Royal Anglian Regiment, 1st Battalion "Friendly fire": Air attack One of three killed when US F15 providing air support to ground troops dropped bomb Full story Helmand Kajaki area 23/08/07 Foster, Robert Pte 19 Essex Harlow Army Royal Anglian Regiment, 1st Battalion "Friendly fire": Air attack One of three killed when US F15 providing air support to ground troops dropped bomb Full story Helmand Kajaki area 23/08/07 Hicks, David Capt 26 Berkshire Wokingham Army Royal Anglian Regiment, 1st Battalion, C (Essex) Company Hostile: Attack Patrol base attacked by small arms fire, rocket propelled grenades and indirect fire. Five others injured Full story Helmand Sangin, north-east of 11/08/07 Rawson, Tony Pte 27 Essex Dagenham Army Royal Anglian Regiment, 1st Battalion, C (Essex) Company Hostile: Attack Patrol to "disrupt enemy activity" came under fire from Taleban Full story Helmand Jusyalay, north-east of Sangin 10/08/07 Jones, Michael L/Cpl 26 North Yorkshire Newbald Royal Marines Hostile: Shot Killed in gun battle with Taleban during "special mission" Full story Not released 29/07/07 Keen, Barry Sgt 34 County Durham Gateshead Army Royal Corps of Signals, 14 Signal Regiment, attached to 245 Signal Squadron Hostile: Mortar attack Killed on fourth day of operation against Taleban in Upper Gereshk Valley Full story Helmand Mirmandab 27/07/07 Atherton, David Guardsman 25 Manchester Army Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion, 3 Company Hostile: Shot Killed on third day of operation against Taleban in Upper Gereshk Valley Full story Helmand Mirmandab 26/07/07 Hawkins, Alex L/Cpl 22 Norfolk East Dereham Army Royal Anglian Regiment, 1st Battalion Hostile: Explosion Returning to base after routine patrol in Vector vehicle. Two other soldiers injured Full story Helmand Sangin 25/07/07 Hickey, Daryl Guardsman 27 Birmingham Army Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion Hostile: Shot Part of team providing cover fire as platoon assaulted Taleban position Full story Helmand Gereshk area 12/07/07 Wilkinson, Dave Sgt 33 Kent Ashford Army Royal Artillery, 19 Regiment, attached to Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion Hostile: Bomb Vehicle hit by explosion after patrol also attacked with small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. Four others injured Full story Helmand Gereshk 01/07/07 Dolan, Sean Capt 40 Cheshire Chester Army Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, 1st Battalion Hostile: Mortar attack Part of group "observing a substantial force of Taleban fighters" when attack was launched Full story Helmand Qaleh-e-Gaz, Sangin Valley 30/06/07 Wright, Thomas Drummer 21 Derbyshire Ripley Army Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, 1st Battalion Hostile: Explosion Part of group in armoured snatch Land Rover, surveying "site for a new road project" Helmand Lashkar Gah, Babaji area 24/06/07 Downes, Neil Guardsman 20 Manchester Army Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion Hostile: Ambush Died after Land Rover hit by explosion during patrol with the Afghan National Army Full story Helmand Sangin 09/06/07 Sandford, Paul L/Cpl 23 Notts Nottingham Army Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, 1st Battalion Hostile: Shot Shot while on patrol with his company clearing a Taleban compound Full story Helmand Upper Gereshk Valley 06/06/07 Gilyeat, Mike Cpl 28 Merseyside Southport Army Royal Military Police Hostile: Air crash Died with five US crew and a Canadian colleague in a Nato helicopter crash Full story Helmand Kajaki area 30/05/07 Bonner, Darren Cpl 31 Norfolk Gorleston Army Royal Anglian Regiment, 1st Battalion, A (Norfolk) Company Hostile: Explosion Convoy came under attack east of Hyderabad Full story Helmand Gereshk area 28/05/07 Probyn, Daniel Guardsman 22 West Midlands Tipton Army Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion Hostile: Explosion Killed in attack on patrol, which left four others injured Full story Helmand Garmsir 26/05/07 Davey, George L/Cpl 23 Suffolk Beccles Army Royal Anglian Regiment, 1st Battalion Accident: Shot Shot himself in what MoD described as "a tragic firearms accident" Full story Helmand Sangin 20/05/07 Davison, Simon Guardsman 22 Newcastle Army Grenadier Guards, 1st Battalion Hostile: Shot Shot in attack by eight to 10 lightly armed Taleban fighters, while manning a checkpoint Full story Helmand Garmsir 03/05/07 Gray, Chris Pte 19 Leics Leicester Army Royal Anglian Regiment, 1st Battalion, A Company Hostile: Shot Killed by small arms fire in a "fierce firefight" with Taleban fighters Full story Helmand Now Zad 13/04/07 Smith, Michael Warrant Officer Class 2 39 Liverpool Army Royal Artillery, 29 Commando Regiment Hostile: Grenade attack Killed in a grenade attack on the UK base in Sangin Full story Helmand Sangin 08/03/07 Reddy, Benjamin Marine 22 Berkshire Ascot Royal Marines 42 Commando, K Company Hostile: Shot Killed when his unit came under fire during a "clearance" operation Full story Helmand Kajaki area 06/03/07 Clark, Ross Lance Bombardier 25 South Africa Army Royal Artillery, 29 Commando Regiment Hostile: Rocket attack One of two UK soldiers killed during a Nato-led International Security Assistance Force operation Full story Helmand Sangin 03/03/07 McLaughlin, Liam Lance Bombardier 21 Lancashire Army Royal Artillery, 29 Commando Regiment Hostile: Rocket attack One of two UK soldiers killed during a Nato-led International Security Assistance Force operation Full story Helmand Sangin 03/03/07 Holland, Jonathan Marine 23 Lancashire Chorley Royal Marines 45 Commando, Whiskey Company Landmine Died as a result of injuries sustained during a patrol in the Sangin Valley Full story Helmand Sangin 21/02/07 Summers, Scott Marine 23 Sussex Crawley Royal Marines 42 Commando Accident: Road traffic Driving a Pinzgauer vehicle in a convoy when accident happened on 4 February. After initial treatment flown back to UK, where he died Full story Not released 21/02/07 Ford, Mathew L/Cpl 30 Lincs Immingham Royal Marines 45 Commando Hostile: Shot Taking part in an attack on an insurgent base in the southern province when shot Full story Helmand Garmsir 15/01/07 Curry, Thomas Marine 21 London Wanstead Royal Marines 42 Commando Hostile: Shot Died during a mission to clear Taleban positions Full story Helmand Kajaki 13/01/07 Dwyer, James Lance Bombardier 22 South Africa Army Royal Artillery, 29 Commando Regiment Landmine Killed when his vehicle hit an anti-tank mine during a mission in the desert Full story Helmand Garmsir, desert south of 27/12/06 Watson, Richard Marine 23 Surrey Caterham Royal Marines Royal Marines, 42 Commando Hostile: Shot Killed when patrol came under attack from the Taleban Full story Helmand Now Zad 12/12/06 Wigley, Jonathan Marine 21 Leics Melton Mowbray Royal Marines 45 Commando, Zulu Company Hostile: Shot Wounded during an operation aimed at Taleban forces. Airlifted to the UK military hospital at Camp Bastion, but died of his injuries Full story Helmand Garmsir 05/12/06 Wright, Gary Marine 22 Stirl'shire Blanefield Royal Marines 45 Commando Hostile: Suicide bomb Died following attack on military convoy Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 19/10/06 McCulloch, Luke L/Cpl 21 Kent Gillingham Army Royal Irish Regiment, 1st Battalion Hostile: Attack Killed in Taleban attack on patrol, which left three other soldiers injured Full story Helmand Sangin 06/09/06 Wright, Mark Cpl 27 Edinburgh Army Parachute Regiment, 3rd Battalion Landmine Died when his patrol got trapped in an unmarked minefield and a rescue helicopter set off a mine. Full story Helmand Kajaki 06/09/06 Muirhead, Paul L/Cpl 29 Warks Bearley Army Royal Irish Regiment, 1st Battalion Hostile: Attack Fatally injured in Taleban attack on base on 1 September, which also killed Ranger Anare Draiva Full story Helmand Musa Qala 06/09/06 O'Donnell, Craig Pte 24 Dun'shire Clydebank Army Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland Hostile: Suicide bomb Killed in a suicide bomb attack, which also left four Afghan civilians dead Full story Not released 04/09/06 Knight, Benjamin Sgt 25 Somerset Bridgwater RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Swarbrick, Steve Flt Lt 28 Liverpool RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Davies, Adrian Flt Sgt 49 Bucks Amersham RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Bell, Gerard Flt Sgt 48 Cambs Ely RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Nicholas, Gareth Flt Lt 40 Cornwall Newquay RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Squires, Allan Flt Lt 39 Wirral Clatterbridge RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Johnson, Steven Flt Lt 38 Notts Collingham RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Mitchelmore, Leigh Flt Lt 28 Dorset Bournemouth RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Windall, Joseph Marine 22 Bucks Hazlemere Royal Marines Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Dicketts, Oliver Cpl 27 East Sussex Wadhurst Army Parachute Regiment Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Quilliam, Gary Sgt 42 Morayshire Forres, Moray RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Langton, John Sgt 29 Liverpool RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Beattie, Stephen Flt Sgt 42 Dundee RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Andrews, Gary Flt Sgt 48 Moray Fochabers RAF 120 Squadron Accident: Air crash One of 14 British personnel killed when Nimrod MR2 aircraft crashed. Fuel leak thought to be responsible Full story Not released 02/09/06 Draiva, Anare Ranger 27 Fiji Army Royal Irish Regiment, 1st Battalion Hostile: Attack Killed in attack on base, which also led to the death of L/Cpl Paul Muirhead Full story Not released 01/09/06 Hetherington, Jonathan L/Cpl 22 Army Royal Corps of Signals, 14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) Hostile: Shot Killed fighting rebels during an assault on his platoon house Full story Helmand Musa Qala 27/08/06 Budd, Bryan Cpl 29 North Yorkshire Ripon Army Parachute Regiment, 3rd Battalion Hostile: Shot Single-handedly stormed Taleban position, saving seven colleagues. Awarded posthumous Victoria Cross Full story Helmand Sangin 20/08/06 Tansey, Sean L/Cpl 26 Tyne and Wear Washington Army Life Guards Accident Killed as he repaired a damaged Scimitar tank Full story Helmand Sangin area 12/08/06 Reeves, Leigh Pte 25 Leics Leicester Army Royal Logistic Corps Accident: Road traffic A driver, Pte Reeves died in an accident in which no-one else was injured Full story Kabul Camp Souter 09/08/06 Cutts, Andrew Pte 19 Notts Mansfield Army Royal Logistic Corps, Air Assault Support Regiment "Friendly fire" A coroner recorded a narrative verdict on Pte Cutt's death in January 2008, saying that it was more likely than not, the result of 'friendly fire'. Full story Helmand Musa Qala 06/08/06 Nicholls, Ross L/Cpl 27 Edinburgh Army Household Cavalry Regiment Hostile: Attack One of three killed when patrol attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns. Inquest verdict: Unlawful killing Full story Not released 01/08/06 Eida, Alex Capt 29 Surrey Coulsdon Army Royal Horse Artillery Hostile: Attack One of three killed when patrol attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns. Inquest verdict: Unlawful killing Full story Not released 01/08/06 Johnson, Ralph 2nd Lt 24 Berkshire Windsor Army Household Cavalry Regiment Hostile: Attack One of three killed when patrol attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns. Inquest verdict: Unlawful killing Full story Not released 01/08/06 Jackson, Damien Pte 19 Tyne and Wear South Shields Army Parachute Regiment, 3rd Battalion Hostile: Shot Shot in firefight with Taleban during operation to clear helicopter landing site Full story Helmand Sangin area 05/07/06 Thorpe, Peter Cpl 27 Cumbria Barrow-in-Furness Army Royal Corps of Signals, in Afghanistan with 3rd Para Battlegroup Hostile: Attack One of two soldiers killed when rocket-propelled grenade hit government compound. Afghan interpeter also killed Full story Helmand Sangin 05/07/06 Hashmi, Jabron L/Cpl 24 Birmingham Army Intelligence Corps, attached to Royal Corps of Signals, in Afghanistan with 3rd Para Battlegroup Hostile: Attack One of two soldiers killed when rocket-propelled grenade hit government compound. Afghan interpeter also killed Full story Helmand Sangin 01/07/06 Bartlett, Paul Sgt 35 Royal Marines Hostile: Attack One of two soldiers killed in gun battle after raid to capture four Taleban members Full story Helmand Sangin 27/06/06 Patten, David Capt 38 County Londonderry Aghadowey, near Coleraine Army Parachute Regiment Hostile: Attack One of two soldiers killed in gun battle after raid to capture four Taleban members Full story Helmand Sangin 27/06/06 Philippson, Jim Capt 29 Herts St Albans Army 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery Hostile: Shot Patrol involved in a firefight against suspected Taleban forces, with two other soldiers seriously injured Full story Not released 11/06/06 Craddock, Peter L/Cpl 31 Berkshire Newbury Army Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, 1st Battalion Accident: Road traffic Vehicle hit a tractor on L/Cpl Craddock's last patrol of tour of duty Full story Helmand Lashkar Gah 27/03/06 Cridge, Mark Cpl 25 Army Royal Corps of Signals, 7 Signal Regiment Suicide According to the coroner's report from 2007 Corporal Cridge killed himself. Full story Helmand Camp Bastion 22/03/06 Sherwood, Steven L/Cpl 23 Herefordshire Ross-on-Wye Army Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, 1st Battalion Hostile: Ambush Convoy came under fire, leaving five other soldiers injured Full story Balkh Mazar-e-Sharif 29/10/05 Kitulagoda, Jonathan Pte 23 Devon Plymouth Army Rifle Volunteers (TA) Hostile: Suicide bomb Killed in attack near military base which injured four other UK soldiers Full story Not released 28/01/04 Gregory, John Cpl 30 North Yorkshire Catterick Army Royal Logistic Corps Suicide: Shot Cpl Gregory shot dead Sgt Robert Busuttil at a barbecue, then killed himself Full story Kabul International Airport Base 17/08/02 Busuttil, Robert Sgt 30 Swansea Army Royal Logistic Corps Unlawful killing: Shot Shot dead at a barbecue by Cpl John Gregory, who then commited suicide Full story Kabul International Airport Base 17/08/02 George, Darren Pte 23 Surrey Pirbright Army Royal Anglian Regiment Accident: Shot Shot by a colleague who had a 'dizzy spell' while handling a machine gun Full story Not released 09/04/02 t