The Government got it right over dealing with the capture of the 15 sailors and marine personnel in Iran.Now the spectacularly underwhelming Defence Minister Des Browne has scored a spectacular own goal by allowing the captives to sell their stories in the newspapers.
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Since when has "serving your country" been an opportunity for a nice little earner from Rupert Murdoch? Today, the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Navy are understandably accused of undermining the reputation of Britain's armed force.The navy's move to suspend its usual rules - taken "as a result of exceptional media interest" and with the agreement of the defence secretary, Des Browne - has been condemned by opposition politicians, former officers and the families of dead service personnel. The Head of the Army, Sir Richard Dannett, is said to have issued an edict banning his troops from doing the same. Frankly, it's an outrage. An appalling insult to families who have lost loved ones in Iraq and elsewhere. And absolutely typical of a Government which has completely lost its moral compass
tags:
Since when has "serving your country" been an opportunity for a nice little earner from Rupert Murdoch? Today, the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Navy are understandably accused of undermining the reputation of Britain's armed force.The navy's move to suspend its usual rules - taken "as a result of exceptional media interest" and with the agreement of the defence secretary, Des Browne - has been condemned by opposition politicians, former officers and the families of dead service personnel. The Head of the Army, Sir Richard Dannett, is said to have issued an edict banning his troops from doing the same. Frankly, it's an outrage. An appalling insult to families who have lost loved ones in Iraq and elsewhere. And absolutely typical of a Government which has completely lost its moral compass
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4 comments:
Couldn't agree more! Have posted on this topic too.
Your last three sentences sum up the situation perfectly.
Doubt there'll be many, if any, who'll disagree with you.
Hear Hear!
I agree that this is a massive PR gaffe by the MoD but it's hardly a moral outrage.
Service people are allowed to sell their stories in the normal course of events, once they've left the forces.
If the families of those who've been killed in Iraq are insulted by this immediate coverage, I don't really see how they'd be significantly less insulted if the hostages had had to wait to until they'd they'd left active service to sell their stories.
Obviously the government plan was to use these guys in the propaganda battle with Iran.
It's a tactical error because the best way to beat the current Iran President in a propaganda battle is to broadcast his speeches and let people know what he's saying.
The latest is that Blair was behind this......why am I not surprised
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