Sir Jock Stirrup

Nation honours passing of the World War One generation

Military Police Association - Isle of Man Sub Group (Free subscription) | 12/11/2009

Two thousand people from across the UK and the Republic of Ireland marked the passing of the World War One generation at London's Westminster Abbey yesterday, Armistice Day, Wednesday 11 November 2009. The service was organised by the MOD, on behalf of the nation, following the deaths this year of the three remaining World War One veterans living in the UK - Bill Stone, Henry Allingham and Harry Patch....

A new language for the Afghan conflict | James Spencer

The Guardian (Free subscription) | 11/11/2009

We must redefine the strategy in Afghanistan so that it is realistic and reflects the people's needs President Obama is currently considering General Stanley McChrystal's report on Afghanistan , which may result in sending up to 40,000 more troops. Yet there is a more basic and vital step to be taken before any new strategy is authorised: the lexicon must change, and with it the "big army"...

Public 'must back Afghan cause'

Helmand Blog - Afghanistan (Free subscription) | 09/11/2009

An Army officer has said it is not enough for the public to support UK troops in Afghanistan - they must also back the "cause" they are fighting for. Capt Andrew Tiernan told the BBC that "the soldiers support the cause" and discussion in Britain of abandoning the mission did not help them. He said he had chosen to speak out because he was "frustrated with the negative reporting"...

Soldiers will not pull back to avoid casualties, head of British forces in Afghanistan says

Helmand Blog - Afghanistan (Free subscription) | 09/11/2009

Troops will not pull back from outlying bases in Helmand to avoid casualties, the head of British forces in Afghanistan has said. Brigadier James Cowan denied reports that forces would withdraw from remote posts such as Musa Qala because they were overstretched. Military officials also denied there were plans to scale back operations in advance of a British election to prevent deaths further swinging...

UK polls show waning support for US Afghan war – The Irish Times – Mon, Nov 09, 2009

Yahyasheikho786's Blog (Free subscription) | 09/11/2009

LONDON – Britons are not convinced the war in Afghanistan can be won, Britain’s chief of defence staff said yesterday, as two new polls showed support for the war was dwindling. “People remain to be convinced about whether or not this is doable,” Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup told the BBC. His comments came as the [...]

British troops will have to stay in Afghanistan for another five years, warns head of the armed forces

Mirror.co.uk (Free subscription) | 09/11/2009

British troops will have to stay in Afghanistan for another five years, the head of the armed forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, warned yesterday.

• Afghanistan failure is not an option declares minister - Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk
• UK & World News: Afghan blast soldiers to be named - Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk - Liverpool News
• See the 12 articles on the same subject

Remembrance

Jess The Dog (Free subscription) | 08/11/2009

I attended a remembrance ceremony and church service today. The minister read out the names of some of the fallen from past wars, and the five killed in one abhorrent incident last week. Add to that list the two who died over the weekend, the heroic S/Sgt Olaf Schmidt and those others who have fallen over past weeks and it is a sombre time for reflection and remembrance. Rest in Peace. I found myself...

UK in Afghanistan for 'four or five years'

Financial Times (Free subscription) | 08/11/2009

British forces will not be able to hand over security in Afghanistan to the country's army for 'another four or five years', the head of the UK's armed forces, Sir Jock Stirrup, said

• UK & World News: Failure in Afghanistan a 'disaster' - Liverpool Echo.co.uk
• Failure in Afghanistan a 'disaster' - Daily Star
• See the 5 articles on the same subject

Sir Jock stirs it up over Afghan mission

A View from Middle England (Free subscription) | 08/11/2009

Only this last week, the hapless Gordon Brown was telling us all about that nasty Alky Ada he keeps on about. Well, today Sir Jock Stirrup rode into town to appear on the Andrew Marr Show . He said, amongst other things, this - "It is true that al-Queda are not operating in Afghanistan at the moment. It is also true that over the last couple of years in particular the al-Queda core has suffered...

Sir Jock Stirrup: British will be fighting Taliban for five more years

The Telegraph (Free subscription) | 08/11/2009

British troops will be at the forefront of the fighting in Afghanistan for five more years Sir Jock Stirrup the head of the armed forces has said.

The Pointlessness Of Today.

Oldrightie (Free subscription) | 08/11/2009

Lest We Forget? We have! As Jimmy Declines To Bow To The Fallen. Benn Senior is quoted as saying, today, in The Sunday Times, "As I get older I begin to see causes not dogma, unite people". Better late than never. However we are lectured by that sycophant world champion, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, on how "The spin machine is failing to convince The Public we are making our...

Remembrance Sunday and The Afghanistan/Iraq Conflicts

Thoughts Allowed! (Free subscription) | 08/11/2009

Today is the day we remember all those who have died in conflict fighting to preserve our freedom. Since my earliest childhood memory of men and women standing around the Cenotaph in warm black coats, silently laying wreaths of bright red poppies, it has been about those who fought in WW1 and WW2 . Now, though, it must include those who have, sadly, been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. For me, that...

• Remembrance Sunday and The Afghanistan/Iraq Conflicts - Just A Thought!

We Must Invade Leeds

OberonHouston (Free subscription) | 08/11/2009

On the day we remember the fallen in conflict from our armed services, the focus is closely directed to the Afghan War and our objectives there. I have long argued that we should not pull out of the country, but abandon the objective of westernising a country that is tribal and incapable of being 'normalised' and maintain a single operations base from which we can launch air operations against Al Quaeda...

Ex-defence chiefs attack Gordon Brown over Afghanistan

The Guardian (Free subscription) | 07/11/2009

Peers accuse prime minister of lacking commitment to the war and failing to support British troops Three former defence chiefs have accused Gordon Brown of failing in his commitment to the war in Afghanistan and support for British troops. Field Marshal Lord Inge said the armed forces never really believed Brown was "on their side" while General Lord Guthrie accused the prime minister of...

Murmuring generals

Events dear boy, events (Free subscription) | 07/11/2009

Well, that didn't take long. No sooner had Brown finished his little speech , up pop three ex-generals to give their considered judgement on how the Prime Minister is conducting himself towards the armed forces. Lord Boyce, Chief of the Defence Staff between 2001 and 2003, said: It is too much to hope that the present government will provide the necessary cash to allow its aspirations to be realised...