Now this I do disagree with!

“The court is also dealing with the question of whether to identify those involved.
Earlier, Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett ruled that the names of the defendants and those of Marines D and E, against whom charges of murder were discontinued, should be identified publicly.
The judge said: ‘The principle of open justice is immutable and must only be restricted where either the administration of justice would be seriously affected without the grant of an order for anonymity or there would be a real and immediate risk to the personnel were anonymity not granted.
‘This is not a case relating to the administration of justice and I am not satisfied that those who seek a continuance of the anonymity order have demonstrated that the fear that the marines’ lives will be at risk is objectively well-founded.’
However, counsel for the marines said they wished to appeal over the judge’s ruling.
The issue of whether the servicemen will be identified will be decided by the Court Martial Appeals Board, which is expected to hear the case before Marine A is sentenced.”

The Judge Advocate General also said that releasing the video may endanger UK service personnel and civilians (enough said)

Still don’t get it do you John G. The war is lost and the waste of young lives has been for nothing. Anyone wants to know why that war was lost, they just need to read your ramblings if they represent the majority view of British Service personnel. Afghanistan and Iraq have been failures. Mission creep the real problem. Soldiers with no idea why they are there. blood and treasure wasted. How can cold blooded murder have ever won over the local population? Is UK any safer today? I doubt it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24870699

Propstrike, may I use your picture on my Facebook page?

Such sad news. I have had the honour of meeting him on a number of occasions. BoB pilot too.

I have been trying not to say anything here, but sadly there have been a number of comments made that I feel moved to say this. The comments – if truly representative of UK service personnel – then the war in Afghanistan is lost. The waste in both blood and treasure has been for nothing. And sadly those here who have made those comments will NEVER understand this.
How dare anyone justify cold blooded murder. If that is poor Lee Rigby or an incapacitated enemy in the field.
And in the alleged situation, Afghan hearts and minds are won how?
What a waste, bring all the guys home now.

There is not always cynicism……..

Another war….

Colonel Tim Collins to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment, Iraq 2003.
“We go to liberate, not to conquer.
We will not fly our flags in their country. We are entering Iraq to free a people and the only flag which will be flown in that ancient land is their own.
Show respect for them.
There are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive shortly.
Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send.
As for the others, I expect you to rock their world.
Wipe them out if that is what they choose.
But if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory.
Iraq is steeped in history.
It is the site of the Garden of Eden, of the Great Flood and the birthplace of Abraham.
Tread lightly there.
You will see things that no man could pay to see
– and you will have to go a long way to find a more decent, generous and upright people than the Iraqis.
You will be embarrassed by their hospitality even though they have nothing.
Don’t treat them as refugees for they are in their own country.
Their children will be poor, in years to come they will know that the light of liberation in their lives was brought by you.
If there are casualties of war then remember that when they woke up and got dressed in the morning they did not plan to die this day.
Allow them dignity in death.
Bury them properly and mark their graves.
It is my foremost intention to bring every single one of you out alive.
But there may be people among us who will not see the end of this campaign.
We will put them in their sleeping bags and send them back.
There will be no time for sorrow.
The enemy should be in no doubt that we are his nemesis and that we are bringing about his rightful destruction.
There are many regional commanders who have stains on their souls and they are stoking the fires of hell for Saddam.
He and his forces will be destroyed by this coalition for what they have done.
As they die they will know their deeds have brought them to this place. Show them no pity.
It is a big step to take another human life.
It is not to be done lightly.
I know of men who have taken life needlessly in other conflicts.
I can assure you they live with the mark of Cain upon them.
If someone surrenders to you then remember they have that right in international law and ensure that one day they go home to their family.
The ones who wish to fight, well, we aim to please.
If you harm the regiment or its history by over-enthusiasm in killing or in cowardice, know it is your family who will suffer.
You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest – for your deeds will follow you down through history.
We will bring shame on neither our uniform or our nation.
It is not a question of if, it’s a question of when.
We know he has already devolved the decision to lower commanders, and that means he has already taken the decision himself.
If we survive the first strike we will survive the attack.
As for ourselves, let’s bring everyone home and leave Iraq a better place for us having been there.
Our business now is North.

If only kids in UK were still allowed to have such fun! rather than sat in front of a screen all day long. I recall climbing over a few wrecks in my time – although nothing as big as a DC8.