- John Bean

Running the Army on the cheap causes more deaths

As we write it seems likely that our 5,000 troops based at Basra airport, with no hard cover, could be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of the year. We only hope that no more deaths will be added to the 170 who gave their lives, plus 700 seriously wounded, since the pointless war that served no British interest began.

The fight continues in Afghanistan, where British forces have achieved incredible results despite (as in Iraq) second rate equipment in several spheres. A classic example of this is the continued use of Land Rovers for patrols, which should have been phased out by the mine-protected Mastiff patrol vehicles, if only Brown had released more cash. Then we come to the great tragedy of the death of three soldiers of the Royal Anglian Regiment (known as ‘the Vikings’) hit by an American bomb. As far as we can see, this was not the fault of the American Air Force but due to inadequate British combat identification equipment. How can our armed forces expect anything but inferior equipment when after 10 years as Chancellor Brown has brought the proportion of GDP spent on defence to its lowest level since 1930. In the same period he doubled the expenditure on health and education. The results are not worth it!

The ‘Vikings’ and other regiments have been engaged in intense fighting, not seen since their grandfathers fought in Normandy and Korea, and are acting with equal bravery. Even though Iraq and Afghanistan are conflicts which do not serve British interests, the BNP certainly backs a special medal for recognition of the bravery and suffering of our troops.

Because of the high casualty rates in Iraq and Afghanistan there is now said to be a backlog of 1,570 compensation claims to support servicemen and women injured or killed in both campaigns. When such compensation is paid it hardly gives the victims a high life style. The official tariff is £57,500 for the loss of a leg and just £8,250 for injuries associated with surviving a gunshot wound to the torso. Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, 23, lost both legs and suffered 36 other injuries including permanent brain damage when a landmine exploded in Helmand. He was awarded £152,000 payment , supposedly to give him medical care for the rest of his life. Contrast this with the £484,000 awarded by the MoD to an RAF computer clerk who suffered Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) as a result of typing in numbers, poor lass. A serving soldier who comes home from the war suffering from “permanent severely impaired grip in both hands” would only get a one-off payment of £16,500.

Finally, let us not forget the extensive role played by the Territorial Army reservists in both campaigns. They represent 7% of our forces in Afghanistan and slightly less in Iraq. They are being worn to shreds by over-use and training days in the UK are down to a minimum. Responding to Brown’s successive cuts over the past ten years, the MoD propose to cut funding for the cash-strapped TA by £5 million . Only after serious pressure did the Government recently agree that wounded reservists would be entitled to specialist aftercare like the Regulars.

The independent ex-servicemen’s organisation ABEX is also campaigning against the futile wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for the decent and properly funded treatment of our injured heroes.

Share this page:

What do these buttons do?

© 2008, The British National Party News , PO Box 287, Waltham Cross, Herts, EN8 8ZU. Telephone: 0871 050 0232