Others have been advocation action that 'puts the fear of God into those who think and act as Qatada does regardless of what the rule of law or our 'soft' attitudes to the naughty people would have us think. Still more call for us to expel att the scroungers and illegals and regain our sovereign rights and take back our rightful place in everything that is rightly ours (I can hear 'Rule Brittania' playing in the backgrounds as the gentle rustle of the Daily Fascist in the backgrounds accompanies the laughter of children colouring in the maps and globes in red once again!).
The reason we are in 'other places' is because we are members of a global community and have been asked, as such, to support Afghanistan's struggle regarding terrorism. Afghanistan was a place that was subject to terrible acts being commissioned against the general populace by the Taliban and the Taliban also provide the training grounds and assisted with acts of terror all around the world. Our forces being there mean that terrorism isn't coming to a (usually very safe place) near you. This is why we are willing to be deployed and put our lives on the line - for the safety of people far away and closer at home - it what we do! To call for pulling out because our sensibilities are offended just makes those lives lost (sixty last year) and those deployed much less valuable.
Not only that but we are working hard to train the Afghan National Army and Police (ANA, ANP) and as we work to reduce the potential of oppression from within we are also training forces that will ensure that once our work is done the tide does not turn and reverse all that we have given our comrades, and time and effort, for.
NATO and ISAF are working to bring democratic reality to the nation (in the truest sense, not like the confused situation that Iraq brought us) and will see us leaving with 'hearts and minds' won and peace if not established, planted and beginning to show shoots!
So a request to those who speak of 'regaining our rightful place' - we already have it and it is bearing fruits through the service, commitment and sacrificie of our forces in many places. We have no need for the awful heritage of the fascists who, having read their scurrilous rags, rech for their pens to write as 'offended of somewhere cosy, safe and comfortable'.
We take the Union Flag and place it in foreign soil, engaging in conflict to see that right is done and moral codes are lived by. Regardless of the provocation we are called (by God) to do what is right. Regardless of situation, we are called (by the Law of Armed Conflict) to act rightly in our military engagements. Regardless of the offence that a man like Abu Qatada 's continued residence in our land causes, it is right and fitting that we should abide by the rule of law and act justly for this is what we have (generally - for I know there have been times when we have failed) always sought to do and be.
To do anything else denies the above paragraph and makes us no better than those who we despise and justifies the wickedness of those who would engage in acts of terror against us. If our hands are clean then their acts are exposed for what they are, and demonstrates our higher moral and spiritual ground.
God calls us to act rightly - secularism calls us to act for ourselves regardless of the methods used.
So please, stop writing tosh and start supporting what is right, regardless of the pain it causes us, and . . .
Why don't we learn from this and demand that our governments, the nations with whom we operate and those who act for us do things the right way - for had they done so Qatada would now be in Jordan!
Now there's a thought for the day, week and the rest of our lives.
Proud to be British - let's keep it that way!
3 comments:
Thanks Vic, for a thoughtful post and one that is needed. I must admit that when I was in a position of sending young men off to fight in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and earlier, the Bosnia stuff, I had to work hard to square Government policy with the things that the Armed Forces were being involved with and asked to do.
But, the end result of doing nothing, is to allow the chaotic world view of those involved in terrorism and persecuting their own populations is even more chaos on our door step.
I'm aware that many Clergy are pacifist in view and outlook, but, sometimes a history lesson might just heighten their knowledge of those who've gone before.
Just a quick look at the Obits in the Church Times of clergy who've gone to their reward, demonstrates that many of them served in the 3 services in WW2, with honour and went on to follow their call to serve God, in a more peaceful capacity. Many more were Chaplains, and I know myself, that the Padre is the one person in any unit who is available, listens and supports, without any strings attached.
I know that the coverage of those service people, killed in action coming back through Woottan Bassett, and now Brize Norton has aroused a new pride and understanding of the role of the Armed Forces, which was in danger of being lost. When I was recruiting in recent years, we had the first generations coming through, whose parents hadn't had any experience of the services, and tried to deter their youngsters from joining. Now, we all know what is involved, and I think that the country is the better for it.
What we don't need is extremists, whether the English Defence League, National Front, Christian or of any other faith or culture to tell us what we should be doing. Thanks for speaking out.
I was talking to my stepdaughter on the phone five minutes ago, and she has just informed me that her only son is due to go to Afghanistan on the 14th of next month.
He has been there before for six months and spent his 20th birthday in Iraq.
He has seen several of his close friends and comrades blown to bits by roadside bombs, and would not choose to face such dangers again.
This, however, is what he signed up to do and he is simply doing his duty, as he has been trained.
We all have views on the rights and wrongs of active service in foreign countries, but by the same token, we all benefit from the daily risks taken by these (often very young) men and women, and owe them at the very least, our respect.
It's what those who serve do Ray, they serve and do so without question protecting and putting themselves on the line for others.
I wish people would understand the commitment of those who serve and those who wait at home and be a little more circumspect, thoughtful or perhaps just less selfish when it comes to our forces and the reasons we go where we do.
Thanks for the comments both,
V
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