In this furious denunciation, military historian Max Hastings argues that ministers have contemptuously lied about Afghanistan - leaving our desperately undermanned army to make good Blair's bad cheques in blood-I will let the writer have the platform – Cartledge-
Just before leaving for my first trip to Vietnam in 1970, I telephoned a veteran correspondent for advice. "Just remember," he said, "they lie, they lie, they lie."
By "they", of course, he meant American politicians, diplomats and commanders, and he was absolutely right.
The "credibility gap" in Vietnam - the chasm between what Americans claimed was happening and what actually did - contributed mightily to the final debacle.
Britain's involvement in Afghanistan is minuscule compared with Vietnam, where 600,000 American troops were committed in the worst days of 1968.
Our deployment in Helmand province has scarcely begun. Yet already the British Government has opened a credibility gap as shameful as the Americans sponsored in Saigon. It lies, it lies, it lies.
After the killings of three British soldiers within days, Tony Blair this week pledged to give our troops whatever they need in Afghanistan. His words are a mockery.
The Army, already desperately overstretched, has scarcely an extra unit to commit to Helmand. Even if it did, there are no helicopters to move them. The Prime Minister cannot magic Chinooks out of a hat, and well he knows it.
The full article
5 comments:
The opening is brilliant - "Just remember...they lie, they lie, they lie..."
What immoral scumbags these people are to fight wars on the cheap like they are. Tony Blair is beneathe contempt. He has the ethics of a child molester, a tobacco company executive, and a used car salesman all in one. Fucker should burn in john Bunyan's hell, along with Bush, Cheney (both Dick and Lynn), Rummy, Condi and the rest of the bloody neocons.
Part of why I started blogging in the first place was to vent my anger at the very fact that "they lie, they lie, they lie."
I believe both that U.S. and U.K. armies are outstretched, but still those in power seem hell bent on starting more trouble (Iran, N. Korea).
I really can't believe the vast majority of what comes from the U.S. or U.K. or western media about the wars... the media has gotten so lax that (rupert murdoch's) reuters has gone so far as to offer up U.S. defence department handouts as "news."
Restricted in the information available in our media, I'm left needing to turn to the internet to become informed.
This article is spot on. Thank you Cartledge.
My thanks to Max Hastings. His comments certainly didn't need my input.
But please, help spread the article further. That seems the only way we can undercut the conservative media.
Thanks kvatch old toad.
We are all, eagerly awaiting, the anticipated political deathe of 'Wyatt Twerp' aka 'the Dinking Deputy' or John Prescott, Blairs #2.
The good news is, if it comes to a leadership spill as widely expected, Blair is gone as well.
Not disgrace exactly, but towering, monumental humiliation. Will that suffice?
You might well be right. Britain does not have a written constitution, relying on precedent and convention. Sort of extensions of common law.
But Tony owns the House of Lords for now. Or at least the investment in peerages is at risk if Tony falters.
But I can't recall a PM or government being dismissed, just the off king.
Australia has the same 'democratic monarchy' and the only two dismissals there, in the 1930s and '74 are still major controversies.
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