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RAF veteran peed on war memorial

AN RAF veteran has been branded a disgrace and fined £115 for urinating on a war memorial.
Colin Smith, 47, claimed he couldn’t find a public loo at 1.20am after a night out drinking.

Magistrate Joan Fenwick told the former aircraft engineer: "Of all people, I wouldn’t have expected you to do that. It was disgraceful."

The court, in Hartlepool, Teesside, heard how he swore at two cops who caught him urinating on the town’s memorial, which contains the names of hundreds of war dead.
Smith, from Exeter, Devon, said: "I was in desperate need of a wee. It wasn’t malicious."

A Royal British Legion spokeswoman commented: "The Legion is saddened to hear of this senseless incident."


22/02/2012 12:37:18

Argentina to raise Falklands UK militarisation at UN

Argentina is to make a formal complaint to the United Nations about British "militarisation" around the disputed Falkland Islands.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner made the announcement at a meeting of MPs, senior officials, and veterans of the 1982 war Argentina fought with Britain over the islands.

Tensions between the two countries have been increasing in recent weeks.

Last month, the UK said it was sending a destroyer to the region.

The status of the islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas, is still a highly sensitive issue for Buenos Aires.

In December, Mercosur, a South American trading bloc, closed its ports to ships flying the Falkland Islands flag.

Then, last month, the UK said it was sending one of its newest destroyers, HMS Dauntless, to the South Atlantic, off the Falklands.

London described the move as "routine".

Prince William, grandson of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and second in line to the throne, was also deployed to the islands in his role as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.

In taking a complaint to the UN the Argentine side knows that Britain, as a permanent member of the Security Council, can ultimately veto any critical resolution.

Before the speech there had been speculation that Ms Fernandez might signal an end to the important air link between Chile and the Falklands which must use Argentine air space - a move that would have created significant practical difficulties for the islanders.

That she chose not to, illustrates that Argentine tactics are not about achieving any kind of immediate practical effect, but are focused instead on a longer-term campaign of diplomatic attrition.

In her address on Tuesday, Ms Fernandez accused the UK of "militarising the South Atlantic one more time".

"We will present a complaint to the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly, as this militarisation poses a grave danger to international security," Ms Fernandez said.

"We cannot interpret in any other way the deployment of an ultra-modern destroyer accompanying the heir to the throne, who we would prefer to see in civilian attire."

She asked UK Prime Minister David Cameron "to give peace a chance".

The UK Foreign Office later issued a statement that said: "The people of the Falkland Islands are British out of choice. They are free to determine their own future and there will be no negotiations with Argentina over sovereignty unless the islanders wish it."

The BBC’s Fergal Keane says President Fernandez’s initiative is consistent with recent Argentine attempts to internationalise the Falklands issue.

Her government has gained the political support of nations such as Brazil and Uruguay that have banned ships flying the Falklands flag from visiting their ports.

Chile’s foreign minister also recently declared his support for Argentine sovereignty over the islands.

A crowd waving Argentine flags and shouting "Malvinas" rallied near the government palace where Ms Fernandez was speaking.

Britain has held the Falkland Islands since 1833.


08/02/2012 09:19:13

Freed to sponge off the country he hates

Abu Qatada ’dangerous’...but judge bails him

HATE preacher Abu Qatada will be free on bail in days despite "posing a national security risk", a judge ruled yesterday.

The extremist Islamic cleric, 51 — wanted in Jordan over terror offences — must be let out of jail even though the Home Office calls him "a dangerous man".

But that will not stop him claiming tens of thousands of pounds from the state for himself, his wife and five children.

That is on top of about £1.5million the al-Qaeda fanatic has already collected in handouts, legal bills and prison costs from the country he hates.

Qatada — known as "Bin Laden’s right-hand man in Europe" — must be let out of jail despite "posing a risk to national security", a judge said.

Mr Justice Mitting said the time will come "quite soon" when keeping Qatada locked up could not be justified. And he ruled at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in London that strict bail conditions could be RELAXED within three months, even though Qatada could abscond.

Qatada — real name Omar Othman — has been in Long Lartin prison, Worcs, since 2008 awaiting deportation to his native Jordan on terrorism charges. He featured in videos found in the flat of a 9/11 bomber.

But the European Court of Human Rights said he cannot be sent back because he may be tortured.

Qatada once lived with his family in a £800,000 council house in West London as legal battles raged.

The Home Office said last night: "Qatada should remain in detention.

"This is a dangerous man who we believe poses a real threat to our security."

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper urged Home Secretary Theresa May to step up talks with Jordan.

Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said people would be "astonished" at the decision to free Qatada.

Kim Beer, 53, whose son Phil, 22, died in the 7/7 attacks, said: "Give him a one-way ticket back to Jordan."


07/02/2012 13:15:12

More cutbacks for the Armed Forces

THE Army yesterday suffered its biggest manpower cull in decades — with 2,900 soldiers getting the chop.

They are among 4,200 members of the Armed Forces to be axed in a bid to plug the £38billion black hole in the defence budget.

About 1,500 of the soldiers are veterans of Afghanistan. And 400 Gurkhas — including some who served there alongside Prince Harry in 2008 — will get their marching orders.

All ranks are hit — from 500 infantry privates with at least six years’ service to eight brigadiers and 60 lieutenant colonels.

The Sun can reveal that those for the sack include up to six Household Cavalry majors and 41 captains as well as four majors and 27 captains of the Royal Engineers. The Royal Corps of Signals must lose about 35 majors, 23 captains and hundreds of lower ranks.

The latest — and most ruthless — cuts will also devastate the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and, for the first time, the Royal Marines.

The RAF is to lose 1,000 personnel including 15 air commodores, 30 group captains, up to 40 wing commanders and 115 squadron leaders and 95 PT instructors.

About 300 losses in the ROYAL NAVY include five commodores, 17 captains and 37 medics plus 80 from the Fleet Air Arm.

The ROYAL MARINES will have 19 brigadiers, lieutenant colonels and colonels chopped.


The savage cuts are the most significant since the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review first announced massive job losses.

The MoD has sent more than 14,000 notices to personnel offering voluntary redundancy. But it is thought there will be compulsory pay-offs.

It is also understood that hundreds of soldiers who signed up for 12 years will not have their contracts renewed.

Recruitment is being drastically cut — with the number of soldiers entering service slashed from 7,000 to 5,000.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said yesterday that the Government HAD to wield the axe — but said the military will remain "agile".

He said: "Difficult decisions had to be taken to deal with the vast black hole in the MoD budget.

"As we continue with the redundancy process, we will ensure we retain the capabilities that our forces will require."

Under the SDSR, the Navy and RAF must cut 5,000 jobs each by 2015, the Army 7,000 and the MoD 25,000 civilian staff.

The army needs to reduce its total fighting force from around 100,000 to 82,000 by 2020.

Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy said: "The most important baseline is national security and we worry these cuts are wrong-headed and rushed."

Campaigners also hit out at cuts to the Gurkhas, who will now lose about one in eight of their 3,400-strong brigade — equivalent to almost a full battalion. Actress Joanna Lumley called the cuts "a tragedy".



19/01/2012 09:28:59

SSAFA Urges Welsh Veterans to seek Help.

Military charity SSAFA urges veterans in Wales to seek help

A military charity is looking at how to encourage veterans in Wales affected by traumatic experiences to seek help.

Gen Sir Kevin O’Donoghue, chair of the Soldiers, Sailors and Families Association Forces Help (SSAFA), is meeting politicians and community leaders in Cardiff on Wednesday.

He said military personnel were often proud people and reluctant to get help.

A soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was found hanged in Pembrokeshire on New Year’s Day.

Welsh Guardsman L/Sgt Dan Collins, 29, from Tiers Cross, near Haverfordwest, was said to have faced a constant battle with PTSD and had previously tried to take his own life.

His girlfriend Vicky Roach said he had been deeply troubled but struggled to talk openly to his family about his experiences.

L/Sgt Collins had served in Helmand Province in Afghanistan, where he had escaped death on several occasions and lost two of his best friends.

The SSAFA said it wanted to reach out to veterans around Wales, and pointed to the low number seeking help in the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan areas.

It said over the past 12 months, fewer than 250 veterans in Cardiff and the Vale had come forward to the charity.

SSAFA helps over 50,000 people annually around the UK with everything from mental health issues to benefits and pensions queries.

It can help serving or retired servicemen and women, and their families.

Gen Sir Kevin said: "People from the military are often very proud and can be reluctant to come forward and get the help that they deserve.

"Many are left to cope with their hardship alone.

"With its strong military ties, we know that there are hundreds maybe thousands of people in Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and throughout Wales who need our help but for whatever reason are not coming forward.
’Greater assistance’

"This visit will look at ways of ensuring that all agencies who meet veterans in crisis know where to signpost them and at ways we can work together to provide greater assistance for those from a military background who are struggling in Wales."

Another charity, Bridgend-based Healing the Wounds which aims to help Welsh soldiers suffering from mental health issues such as PTSD, said earlier this month it had received dozens of calls for help since L/Sgt Collins’ story was told.

Cross-party politicians in Wales have also promised to raise awareness of PTSD.

Labour MP Paul Flynn said he had spoken to an ex-soldier who knew of six others who had taken their own lives.

He and Conservative AM Darren Millar want to improve the help available.

18/01/2012 12:32:05

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