Anchors aweigh? Forget that nonsense, Scuppered more likely!
Now we know why Her Majesty’s Royal Navy is being dismantled by that supreme man for all seasons, Tony Blair…It appears to be staffed and led by those who would trade in the stiff upper lip, the name, rank and serial number retort of a military force that lives by real military mojo. For what you ask? For a Persian goody bag, (as if these warriors were scrounging starlets at an oscar party) for hand shakes, photo ops, waves, feel good stories and presumably a steady supply of smokes for the head scarved woman in the party… from none other than President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. Is THIS the Royal Navy of Her Britannic Majesty? The one that in some form or other knocked the caulking out of the Spanish Armada? The one that ruled the waves, pushed out the corners of empire and thus education and enlightenment to more than a few? Is THIS the Royal Navy that sailed to the Falkland Islands under the iron fist and oft maligned leadership of ex Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher? Is THIS the Royal Navy that showed up at Trafalger under Admiral Horatio Nelson? Is THIS the Royal Navy that Sir Winston Churchill called upon in those most dire days when it was an imperative to sink the German battleships and Uboats…of not that long ago? Apparently not.
Will there be a Royal Navy to sail to the aid of the oppressed and to defend a nation when the next major conflagration or infiltration occurs? Perhaps the one that is already under way in many places and under many guises? The one that President George Bush has done a less than stellar job of exposing. Apparently not. It appears even he is victim to political correctness. Who would have guessed! The one that PM Tony Blair barely acknowledges as he panders to the growing segment of his electorate, those who would not recognise the rule of law he is charged to uphold and defend…as in British not Sharia.
On Friday many were left incredulous at what they were seeing. The mere fact that these young captives were saying the things they were saying and the demeanor they displayed gave cause for concern. Some were wondering at the unexpected behavior, It turns out that was nothing in light of what was to come, as rather than official censure for what could only be viewed as poorly coached and rather lightly educated responses along with some unbecoming behavior from the captives leading one to that old adage about ’loose lips sinking ships’, or ensuring that these sailors and marines were not left to float free with the media, the Admiralty in its water logged wisdom decided to allow them to “sell their story” to the tabloids.
To say this is sailing in uncharted waters would be an understatement. That decision can only lead to expletives from those with a grasp of world affairs and a whole lot of explosions of the IED type someplace down a road. Military personnel, for good reasons are not allowed to divulge their experiences until after they have left the forces, and common sense and educated reserve might well preclude it even then. Does HM’s Navy give no training at all? Does HM’s Gov’t provide only an education that results in personnel such as we see admiring the booty of the Ahmadinejad GPS game show?
If PM Blair and HM’s Gov’t were to be relied on in the past, as a useful military ally of the US that may have all just changed as apparently the current rules of engagement allow them the failure of an adequate response when personnel fall into hostile hands and when on their joyous return…bearing gifts from those who would anihalate Israel as an appetizer to guess who and who… they allow them the chance to capitalize in a most tawdry manner. The mere thought of it almost makes a person want to join in reaching for a fag and having a drag before the whole world.
It hardly takes a genius to hazard that these are not chess games being played out in the gulf nor in the middle east at large, this should not be media pap, nor is it fitting to allow young military personnel to enrich themselves by selling a story of misfortune….all while still in the service of their country. I can only wonder what Senator MaCain and many other like him think. And for what? For being in the right place at the wrong time? It would seem…no pun intended … that a sea-change just took place in terms of the US’s largest ally in the coalition forces and in their ability to patrol or control hostile areas. With much of HM’s navy about to be decommissioned, resulting in what amouts to little more than a coastal defense force remaining it might be no surprise the personnel grasp for the goody bags, as their employ is tenuous. With a bit of luck so will be Mr Blair’s…he might be better employed with a cutting torch as he finishes off what he consigned to history… a once mighty force, with the same pen that allowed him to tax and spend his way to popularity.
I think that was rather good. You coalesced some of my thoughts and informed me on others..
Te Agredazco, Carlos