The ends NEVER justify the means

I am saddened and appalled at some of the (supposedly Christian) blogs which have been calling for us to act wrongly. Others have been calling for us to remove our forces from various operational locations because of some strange and skewed link they have chosen to make regarding Qatada's presence in our land. Not only that but they somehow align the situation surrounding illegal/bogus immigrants with that of not being involved elsewhere.

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!

Baha Mousa - As I see it

I am already tired of the number of people who assume that being part of the British Armed forces is synonymous with being brutal, engaging in torture and engaging in what are, to be frank, 'war crimes'.

Within the British Army there is a culture that promotes compliance with the legal and moral requirements of conflict. Rules of Engagement (RoE) and the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) draw heavily upon the values and standards of the British Army.

The report which is to be published today apparently exonerates the British forces of 'systematic torture' but it is obvious that there were breaches of military law and that some failed to meet the standards required. It is also obvious that some will have sought to cover up their, and their comrades, misdeeds. This, sadly is human nature, and is something which is addressed time and time again.

For those of you who don't understand the role of the British soldier and his (or her) training, it focusses strongly on doing the right things when things aren't going right and seeks to develop within each and every person in uniform (from recruit to General):

Selfless Commitment - putting others and the the task before ourselves. Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for a friend - a reality for far too many in uniform as footage of vehicles passing through Wootton Bassett clearly showed!

Respect for others, respect for self - This is one of the transformational elements of being part of the british Army. It is the basis for its dealing with others (as seen in the 'winning of hearts and minds - more common than the wrong treatment of detainees) and for the way they regard themselves.

Loyalty - Loyalty to the Army, the cap badge (Gunners, Signals, Infantry, etc.), the Regiment, Unit and to comrades. Loyalty to our nation that means we don't disgrace it (and ourselves). Loyalty doesn't mean we lie to cover the misdeeds of others, but stand in integrity with courage (wait for it, it's coming).

Integrity - Coming from the word for wholeness (Integritas - hence Integer: 'whole number') the soldier is required to live a life that is WYSIWYG, what you see is what you get, being both transparent and obviously honest. They should know who they are and what they are required to do and do this on and off duty.

Discipline - Not just doing what you're told but living with self-discipline. Living the way that is expected, and desirable, by the military, society, family and self.

Courage - Not just the courage that engages the enemy and fights for those who can not (or perhaps will not. Amazing how many pacifists live out their beliefs because others have gone to war for them isn't it?) but the moral courage which speaks up when things go wrong. It is this that has perhaps been highlighted by the closing of ranks and the attempts to cover misdeeds. When something wrong is seen the Army demands courage not collusion!

So please - when you read of the reports and the skewed comments of those who will undoubtedly seek to make capital of the this sad affair remember that we take ordinary men and women and train them, impart into their lives, values and standards which to be frank are rarely seen in the majority of those outside the forces and take them where no one should be asked to go, to see what no one should be asked to see and do what no one should be asked to do.

And sometimes the products of our secular society and human nature shows through.

Don't curse our forces but pray for them and applaud the number of times when things like the Baha Mousa scenario didn't occur and pray that they all serve as they are both trained and called to serve - and thank God that they do.

Pax