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British Military Current Events

jollyjacktar said:
What an interesting man, thanks for the post.

I knew a lot of them and most couldn't talk about anything they saw or did after they got back. It's clear that a lot of the post-War books are part of coming to terms with the war. I also find it interesting that most of these books are written by NCOs.
 
PMedMoe said:
Why unfortunately?  Was she hired for her looks?  ::)

She wasn't even named in the article and you want a picture...

As an aside, does the RAF generally not name their pers on photos, articles, etc?  It seems strange (although PERSEC-wise probably not a bad idea) that they wouldn't name a Sqn CO.
 
Dimsum said:
As an aside, does the RAF generally not name their pers on photos, articles, etc?  It seems strange (although PERSEC-wise probably not a bad idea) that they wouldn't name a Sqn CO.

Well, I thought it was a bit odd too, but I'm sure there's a reason.  :dunno:
 
PMedMoe said:
Well, I thought it was a bit odd too, but I'm sure there's a reason.  :dunno:

They've never been too worried about releasing that kind of information in the UK. It's usually freely available through other sources.

And they're not over-paranoid about security in nearly the same way as the US. If you get wasted, so be it, there's a dozen more to take your place (and take revenge).
 
Here she is at the story link.  Photos and all.

-Nikki Thomas becomes first female commander of RAF bomber squadron
-She will lead 250 staff including 30 top RAF pilots and weapons operators
-The Wing Commander will lead squadron on air strikes in Iraq this summer
-The 26-year-old specialises in flying a two-seater £9.4million Tornado
-Once flew mission to help foil rocket attack on a UK base in Afghanistan
-The position was handed to her at former parade at RAF Marham in Norfolk


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2903717/Bombs-away-ma-Meet-woman-command-RAF-fast-jet-squadron-expected-lead-air-strikes-against-ISIS.html#ixzz3OMoUGPrx
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
 
A WGCDR (LCol) Sqn CO after 15 years in the service - talk about a streamer! 

I'll just ignore the Daily Fail's obvious typo, unless she joined the RAF at 11.  :facepalm:
 
This should also help scare the children away from traffic:

Falklands finally unveil statue of Margaret Thatcher


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2905471/More-three-decades-went-war-Argentina-Falklands-finally-unveil-statue-Margaret-Thatcher.html




 
Funny if the Argies had not intervened that same lady would have thrown the Falklands to the wolves (argies)
 
S.M.A. said:
Unfortunately the source link didn't have a picture...  :(

From the Mirror:

So, SMA, now that you have seen the picture and, strictly as an intellectual exercise for Moe's benefit, how long did it take for you to decide if she was a candidate?  >:D
 
Dimsum said:
A WGCDR (LCol) Sqn CO after 15 years in the service - talk about a streamer! 

I'll just ignore the Daily Fail's obvious typo, unless she joined the RAF at 11.  :facepalm:


Depends on how that 15 years was spent ... waaaaaay back when we were told that unit (ship, regiment/battalion, flying squadron) command should come after 12 to 16 years of commissioned service, at about age of 34 to 38. I knew of (didn't know personally) an officer who took command at the age of 32, after just 11 years of commissioned service. I took command at the age of 36, right on the average, after 14 years of commissioned service ~ average again.

 
Ironically, Blair was a big fan of continuing to prosecute British troops during the Bloody Sunday inquiry. A classic politician who can lie out of both sides of his face  ::)


Tony Blair has said the peace process in Northern Ireland would probably have collapsed without the On The Runs (OTRs) scheme for fugitive IRA members.


His Labour administration sent about 200 letters to republicans assuring them they were not being pursued by the UK authorities following requests from Sinn Fein.


An investigation was launched by MPs when the prosecution of a man for the murder of four soldiers in a bombing in Hyde Park in 1982 was halted after he received one of the letters in error.


The OTR letters scheme began while Mr Blair was premier, and the chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has said he is one of the most important witnesses to the inquiry.


Mr Blair told MPs investigating the scheme: "The issue of OTRs was absolutely critical to the peace process and at certain points became fundamental to it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/11342362/Watch-live-Tony-Blair-gives-evidence-to-Northern-Ireland-Affairs-Committee-over-IRA-comfort-letters.html



 
Tony Blair and John Major betrayed the people of Northern Ireland

By letting up with the IRA/Sinn Fein on the verge of defeat, they undid years of good work by the intelligence services



Tony Blair had to be dragged kicking and screaming to appear before the Northern Ireland Select Committee, but he must have been very pleased with himself to have got away so lightly from the encounter.


He stuck doggedly to his claim that the “peace process” would have collapsed had letters not been sent to the “On The Runs” – terrorists who had not been convicted of their crimes. But no one asked him what guarantees had been given to the top men of the IRA.


Nor did anyone ask why, in his view, the IRA wanted a ceasefire. Their battalions of psychopaths were having a great time: bombing, shooting and beating to death with hammers those with whom they disagreed and their families. There is no reason to believe that there had been a sudden change of heart by IRA/Sinn Fein. Its leaders, Adams and McGuiness, had not experienced a conversion from their policy of “armed struggle”, and the supremacy of bullets over ballots, to a love of peace and democracy.


The truth is that they knew that the IRA – all the way up to the Army Council on which they sat to plan and authorise the bombings, tortures and killings – had been penetrated by British intelligence, and none of them could any longer trust another.


There were even those who believed that the British supergrass “Stakeknife” was McGuiness himself, who was informing on them to save himself from prosecution (though he has always denied this).

I am sure that had Airey Neave – who, had he not been murdered by Republican terrorists on the eve of the 1979 election, would have been Thatcher’s Northern Ireland Secretary – been told that IRA/SinnFein wanted a ceasefire, he would have smiled and said: “Good, there will be one before very long.” He would have then tightened the screw until the total defeat of the Republican terrorist movement.

Alas, poor John Major was still so rattled by the mortar attack on No 10 that he grabbed at the chance of a ceasefire. His successor Tony Blair was so eager to pose with “the hand of history” on his shoulder, as the bringer of peace to Northern Ireland, that the IRA and Sinn Fein snatched a score draw from the jaws of defeat.

I doubt if the full story will ever be told of the brave men who brought the IRA/Sinn Fein to the edge of total defeat and were then betrayed by Blair. It would be dangerous to reveal the names of those who betrayed their terrorist comrades, or those of the British agents who had to be involved in terrorist outrages to maintain their cover.

All we can know for sure is that, just as he bungled his way into the disastrous Iraq war, Mr. Blair bungled the peace process in Northern Ireland. Although to be fair to him, he has never bungled his programme to become very, very rich.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/11348005/Tony-Blair-and-John-Major-betrayed-the-people-of-Northern-Ireland.html
 
Britain announces 1,000 more troops for Eastern Europe exercises

British troops will this year join manoeuvres in Poland, the Baltic States, Bulgaria and Germany

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11351937/Britain-announces-1000-more-troops-for-Eastern-Europe-exercises.html
 
Afghanistan bomb disposal hero said job was 'adrenalin rush' in last interview

Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid acknowledged in a previously unpublished final interview that if a bomb went off while he was trying to make it safe, it would be “game over” for him.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11352096/Afghanistan-bomb-disposal-hero-said-job-was-adrenalin-rush-in-last-interview.html

An Army bomb disposal expert posthumously awarded one of Britain’s highest bravery medals after he was killed in Afghanistan had given an interview only two days earlier about his love for the job and the adrenalin rush it gave him.


Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid acknowledged in the previously unpublished interview that if a bomb went off while he was trying to make it safe, it would be “game over” for him.


But the 30-year-old told an Army in-house magazine that he loved his battle to defeat Taliban bomb makers, who at the time were killing and maiming dozens of British troops each month.


He was killed instantly two days later when a roadside bomb exploded as he was trying to defuse it. He had already dealt with 64 bombs on his tour.


His commanding officer hailed him as “simply the bravest and most courageous man I have ever met" and the following year he was awarded the George Cross.
 
I was living a lie, says British Army's first transgender officer: Soldier, 27, changed her life after tour of Afghanistan as a man

Hannah Winterbourne was born a boy and spent time in Army as a man

British Army officer decided to become a woman while on a tour of duty

Said she was 'living an act' while on tour at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan

27-year-old underwent sex-change operation on return to North Yorkshire

First transgender officer in Army and now one year off full transformation


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2916146/I-living-lie-says-British-Army-s-transgender-officer-Soldier-says-tour-Afghanistan-nudge-needed-change-way-life.html#ixzz3PFQqxbDR
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jollyjacktar said:
Wing Commander Thomas, who specialises in flying a two-seater £9.4million Tornado,...

Bit of an overstatement by the DM for someone who's wearing Navigator rather than Pilot's Wings, but I'm sure it was printed just as the MOD PR machine released it.  I wonder how often back-seaters vice pilots get command of squadrons in the RAF?

Cheers,
Dan.
 
Oh really, O'Reilly?  ::)

Ireland and UK agree historic defence agreement

Irish Army to train British soldiers in peacekeeping as part of deepening co-operation

A historic agreement on defence co-operation between Ireland and the UK will be signed by senior Ministers from the two countries later this month.

The agreement will involve the Irish Army training British soldiers in peacekeeping operations as part of a wide-ranging deal involving closer co-operation between the two defence forces.

Another aspect of the agreement provides that the Irish Army will be provided, free of charge, with equipment that is surplus to the requirements of the British army.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ireland-and-uk-agree-historic-defence-agreement-1.2062356
 
It's OK, it was only a 'small' bomb  ::)

The Short Strand: Where hope goes to die... but first gets mugged by a skin head


A small bomb has been found during a security alert at an apartment block in east Belfast.

Army bomb experts were sent to the building on Short Strand Road shortly before 20:00 GMT on Tuesday.

A number of residents had to leave their homes. Albertbridge Road, Ravenhill Road and Woodstock Link were also closed.

Sinn Féin councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile said residents were able to return at about 01:00 GMT.

Police have not released any details about the bomb, but have appealed for anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area to contact them.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-30909325
 
daftandbarmy said:
It's OK, it was only a 'small' bomb  ::)

The Short Strand: Where hope goes to die... but first gets mugged by a skin head


A small bomb has been found during a security alert at an apartment block in east Belfast.

Army bomb experts were sent to the building on Short Strand Road shortly before 20:00 GMT on Tuesday.

A number of residents had to leave their homes. Albertbridge Road, Ravenhill Road and Woodstock Link were also closed.

Sinn Féin councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile said residents were able to return at about 01:00 GMT.

Police have not released any details about the bomb, but have appealed for anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area to contact them.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-30909325

Relatively speaking an atomic bomb is small.... it just makes a big bang.
 
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