Is the British Army Chief correct in his comments on withdrawal in Iraq?

Question

I have watched Sir DANNET and his comments and he seems a good guy. A straight talker who calls a spade a spade.
Finally someone at the top has voiced concerns, and stood up for the British Army and our soldiers.

Was he correct on voicing his opinion and going over Tony Blairs head? What are the ramifications of this here and in USA?

Angel... i didnt say i didnt feel for the people in Iraq. My best friend lost his life last year in Iraq when RAF Hercules shot down. There are no winners here... Im asking a Q whereby the Army Chief thinks it would BENEFIT Iraq if we withdraw... that it is causing more problems with us being there.

Answer 1

Yes, he's certainly a straight talker, and the troops are in agreement with him. The facts that he states of the stretching of British forces, and the Iraq war being dealt with by politicians and not in a military intelligence format which would act in a more responsible and logical way, certainly considering the troops more, the tactics, achievable goals etc. and questioning the ongoing waste of life for a result that is perhaps unattainable, or unmanageable if achieved, and is more to the benefit of political standing than anything else. These are the views of many ordinary people as well, the politicians are tetchy now because he hasn't been talking the situation up as they do and waffling on for their political gain. Droning on about how well we are doing, and how righteous it all is, (yeah right) Apparently some commentators are wondering what the Americans are going to think. Big deal, when have the Americans ever had an opinion that is worthwhile. On the news in an oblique way, also you will have seen the case of the murdered TV journalist Terry Lloyd, unlawfully killed by american marines as the court put it. Trigger happy american marines are a real bonus on the front line aren't they!!
I recall from the Gulf war, the first one!! That when the troops were driving across the sands in the direction of Baghdad, there was an important message being distributed between the British troops. It was, " For god's sake do not get in front of the americans when driving" It was only too apparent that G.I. joe there was ready to have a pop at anything unless it had a stars and stripes emblazoned on the side, even that was probably precarious.

Answer 2

it extremely is acknowledging fact. not something is being performed. The Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis hate one yet another violently, and consistently will. Iraq will finally end up 3 international places, as numerous ecu international places with diverse factions have finished. permit the Iraqis do what they must do. Saddam became terrible, yet torture and concern became the only thank you to maintain those factions jointly. a hundred and forty,000 people and a few thousand Brits won't pacify 25,000,000 furious Iraqis. somebody in authority has to acknowlege it, and our troops there are susceptible in the extreme. The Iraqi insurgents examine the Viet Cong playbook, and are using it, a conflict of attrition. extra will die, and the suited result would be huge bloodletting, destined from the commencing up. the two the British and usa Armies are being misused.

Answer 3

I'm sure he has more accurate/valid opinion than any poloitician but he should realise that at his level a huge amount of his job is political.
He probably is correct and personally I agree with him but he'll have put the backs up of each and every politico who could have helped make such a withdrawl.
Bush and Blair won't withdraw yet for fear of it looking like a mistake for going in the first place (which it obviously was).
Sir Dannnet and Jack Straw have found it possible to throw off the PC shackles and speak their persoanl opinion, however divisive it may be, I pray that many more influential people will follow their lead.

Answer 4

I am ex services and have followed what is happening in Iraq quite closely. It does seem as if we are part of the problem, not the solution. What we have done to this country is a lot worse than Saddam has done, if you believe the statistics there has been 6000,000 deaths since invasion, a sickening statistic that should stick in the craw of those who ordered this obscenity of an illegal invasion. Islam is quite right to say that the western powers are fighting their religion, the comments by Jack Straw about Islamic veils are just the thin end of the wedge. Who can blame them for feeling embattled?
We should get out of Iraq as soon as possible, we only make things worse.

Answer 5

I like the bloke and I think he'll make a very good head of the Army. For one thing he has bottle, he's already shown he's not afraid to speak out or criticise the government. I think that's something we really need, a good, honest Army chief who tells it as it is and doesn't suck up to the government, as people who do the government's bidding and only say things they approve of are invariably very poor leaders.
What's more, he's proactive in sticking up for the common squadies, who the government has been treating atrociously lately. At the moment they're overstretched, underpaid, overworked, underequiped and put in civilian wards, things which the government has been actively making worse recently. I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years time the Army is in a much better state because of him, I'm fairly sure it's he who was responsible for that Army tax pay out.

Answer 6

A person doesn't go over a boss's head by voicing a contrary opinion. The phrase "going over the head" (of someone in authority) means to carry a complaint or a policy question to an even higher authority in the hope of getting the first authority's decision reversed or rescinded.

That's a reasonable thing to do whenever one honestly believes that one has been treated unfairly by the first authority. The key here is that one must have a well-developed sense of personal honor about it. It is dishonorable, for example, to "go fishing" for a more favorable outcome by appealing to a succession of authorities when it's reasonably certain that the first one handled your case properly. But if one really does believe that one has been mishandled by a lower judge or civil authority, one has a positive obligation to appeal for redress.

Now there is another matter. Did Sir Dannet really call a spade, a spade? Here in the United States, I can do that. But in certain other countries - and I believe that yours is one of them - someone telling a spade what he actually is might be considered a speech crime.

Of course, law-makers can do their jobs either well or poorly, just as can anyone else. And laws made at the behest of some Jews and other such folk as desire to limit the freedom of speech (even as they loudly proclaim to support that very freedom) are bad laws. Obedience to the written law is certainly a good thing, but it is not the best thing. When the laws oppress your people, you do better in disobedience than in obedience, though you suffer for it.

But if Sir Dannet has called a spade a spade, he has my respect, and you may tell him so when next you meet him. And, if he stood up for the British Army (and I rather like those chaps, even if my ancestors did at one time have to fight theirs), then he has my everlasting gratitude, which, if you will, please also relay.

Answer 7

yes he is right and should get a medal for having the guts to say so as he is still in the army good on him he knows what he is talking about better then anyone as for going over Blair's head was dos he care as long as its not him being shoot at i have 2 nephews aged 18 and 22 over there i would love them home i know they joined to fit for this country which they have now they are just targets so bring them all home and let them sort it out if they get it wrong its there fault not anyone Elise's

Answer 8

I dont know that who is on right
u ur officers
r some one else
but i wana ans of my question that
u peoples r much worried about ur solder but
where is ur pain for the people deying there in iraq
i dont know that how could u people think that childs n women out there in iraq also terrorist
u people dont have a brighten mind
no idealogical aproch
n nothing
u just have to c the thinghs which media brought for u
where is ur pain for humanity
where is ur feelings for others
dont celebrate ur happiness n dont think that u hv'nt died

listen u peoples have to make ur own choice u have to fight for the rights not just for ur own rights but for the others
this thing brings more joys for u n satisfaction also
agreed
n dont mind bcoz i havnt to criticise some one
but its for the govt.....

Answer 9

All allied troops should be withdrawn and Iraq should be left to deal with the outcome......
The majority of the Iraqis are only happy when they are attacking or watching allied troops being attacked....how ungrateful is that?

Answer 10

Before any countries (UK or US) leave Iraq, the situation must improve. I would only undermined future UK and US missions overseas if either country left without stabilizing the government.

Could you image how many terrorist would state something like "see... the Americans and Brits have abandoned you… only we will protect you. You must kill the infidels!”

I really don’t want to spawn anymore terrorism within the world.