An insult to our soldiers.. - Page 2

WillowTheWhisp · 05-01-2008, 14:36

I think there could also be a point that if the general public see soldiers in battle dress it can give the impression that something is amiss where they are and they may start to panic thinking that the soldiers are there in soldiering capacity rather than simply on leave and on their way home. Don't they have 'fighting uniforms' and 'dress uniforms'? If they have the latter then perhaps it could be personal choice as to whether they want to wear them or civvies for their own safety.

I must admit it would seem very strange to me if a soldier got on a bus in Accy.

onlyme · 05-01-2008, 15:46

I believe the Armed forces are not allowed to wear uniforms in public due to a threat to themselves, if they are spotted inuniform and then seen aqgain by the 'wrong type' in civies with their families. HOWEVER, they should not have been made to change on a runway and should have been treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. I'm sure some A list Celeb and their entourage would have been given a nice heated waiting room or VIP lounge, so why not our men that have been fighting for Queen and country, or however the phrase goes???

Sue1 · 21-01-2008, 23:50

I just don't believe it - I have only just read it here (about soldiers having to take their uniforms off on the runway at Birmingham). How many more insults to soldiers, most of whom are young, from people who should know better. Perhaps they would prefer to have been German speaking (I am sure that is not racially correct and I do not apologise). I expect the union jack has to come off the coffin before the dead returning from Afghanistan can be allowed in - mustn't let anyone think the English are patriotic - heaven forbid. Since the only military hospital we now have is not a military hospital but a section of a General Hospital in Birmingham (cost cutting exercise) the airport must find it very distasteful if it has not been possible to remove all of the uniform from an injured soldier - or do they make them come into Brize Norton and travel up by road.
The reason I have my beard in a blaze is that today I heard from my daughter that her five year old daughter was told off at school for wanting to draw her uncle's tank (my son is in Afghanistan and has been since mid-october - his 1st child was born on 31st October). She was told that she had to learn that not all people around her would like it and may be upset and no she couldn't nor should she talk about him - I wonder if the school and Government has heard the expression - "If you can't stand the heat in the kitchen get out"!
I am even more disgusted by this because yesterday we received a message to say that our son's tank had gone over a landmine and he had been hit by shrapnel - in the head. He is not dead but apart from us who the hell would care if he was - certainly not Gordon Broon. Jeremy Clarkson would make an infinitely better Prime Minister and I would vote for him. The British by and large are a very tolerent race for the most part but straws are beginning to break the camels back.
I am sure this is all politically and racially incorrect and I don't give a dam and stand by every word of it. What I am ashamed of recently is to have British on my passport and I never thought I would say that at my age.
One day we will no longer have an army, the pacifists will be happy though, won't they, so that must be OK - oh, and I forgot to mention of course that the army are grossly overpaid.

mr_flibble · 22-01-2008, 00:08

As somebody who once was a member of the Royal Air Force, and as somebody who has loved ones still serving in the RAF this saddens me so deeply i can not express it.

Our nations armed forces have a long and proud history, one which our uniform and badge represents and they should be worn with pride in any public place. I have no doubt in my mind that had these men and women, who fight not just for our country and freedom but for other peoples as well, walked through that terminal anybody there would have cheered them and made them feel welcome home and shown just how proud we are of the job they do and the way they do it.

It is sad that the MoD can't show the same respect.

blazey · 22-01-2008, 10:22

Airports are generally seen now as a high risk place aren't they? I'm not a terrorist so I cant be certain, but wouldn't it be more... i cant think of a suitable word... pleasing(?) to one to blow up a group of soldiers coming back from war rather than your ordinary citizen?

The police aren't allowed to wear their uniforms off duty are they? In fact I thought any job normally specifies that you only wear the uniform during the work hours. Those soldiers with the big furry hats in London don't go home in their uniforms surely?

It seems an odd topic this. I can understand why people may be annoyed that the soldiers had to get changed on the runway, if this is even true (i havent seen the news on this myself), but there isn't place on a plane and surely walking INTO the airport would then cause a risk to themselves if there was to be a terrorist attack?

I dont really know where I stand on this arguement. I'm just finding it hard to picture soldiers in their boxer shorts on the runway.

WillowTheWhisp · 22-01-2008, 11:51

I can understand it being preferable, as I have said before, for them not to wear their uniforms in settings where it could be a problem for them or for the public (either in terms of being a target for attack or in terms of panicking those around into thinking there was danger) but why on earth in that case couldn't they have been allowed to change before departure, in a more dignified setting? Getting changed on the runway sounds absolutely ludicrous.

mr_flibble · 22-01-2008, 12:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazey

Airports are generally seen now as a high risk place aren't they? I'm not a terrorist so I cant be certain, but wouldn't it be more... i cant think of a suitable word... pleasing(?) to one to blow up a group of soldiers coming back from war rather than your ordinary citizen?
......
surely walking INTO the airport would then cause a risk to themselves if there was to be a terrorist attack?

Yes but of course that would require a terrorist to already be in the building wanting to blow it up, in which case id much rather have a couple of hundred of soldiers with SA-80's in uniform.

For example if you visit ANY american airport it is full of their army troops walking round with flak jackets on and fully loaded M-16's in hand.

blazey · 22-01-2008, 14:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_flibble

Yes but of course that would require a terrorist to already be in the building wanting to blow it up, in which case id much rather have a couple of hundred of soldiers with SA-80's in uniform.

For example if you visit ANY american airport it is full of their army troops walking round with flak jackets on and fully loaded M-16's in hand.

I dont find the idea of troops patrolling a public area with loaded guns a comfort. In fact it would make many people more fearful of an attack that may not even happen.

And guns are guns, weapons designed to kill and it doesn't matter who's hands they are in, be it a terrorist or a soldier, it still makes me uncomfortable that they are there to use on another human being. Shooting down a terrorist doesn't provide justice, and in many situations its not even a viable option as many of the bombs used by terrorists deploy by releasing their finger off the detonator, not pressing it so unless you know for certain what type of trigger a bomb may have, you could actually be endangering people by just shooting down possible terrorists anyway.

As for using America as an example, well don't get me started

its probably got the most carriers of guns in the world, so its hardly a shock that they arm their troops to walk around an airport, the majority of america are armed.

cashman · 22-01-2008, 15:29

Armed police patrol our airports when the country is on high alert, wether you feel comfortable or not is your preferance, have seen them quite a few times here as well as in usa, it makes me feel safer, thats the way life is now sadly.

blazey · 22-01-2008, 15:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

Armed police patrol our airports when the country is on high alert, wether you feel comfortable or not is your preferance, have seen them quite a few times here as well as in usa, it makes me feel safer, thats the way life is now sadly.

I simply don't travel.

mr_flibble · 22-01-2008, 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by blazey

And guns are guns, weapons designed to kill and it doesn't matter who's hands they are in, be it a terrorist or a soldier, it still makes me uncomfortable that they are there to use on another human being.

Actually the guns and ammo that we use (the NATO 5.56mm round) are not, surprisingly, designed to kill people. They are infact designed to disable and cause injury.

Although that's going off topic somewhat.

Retlaw · 22-01-2008, 19:12

Any one who would attack or insult one of our soldiers
whilst they are home & in uniform should be immediately
conscripted and give a taste of a military prison.

Bringing back National Service couldn't come sooner.

Didn't do me any harm.

Retlaw.

cashman · 22-01-2008, 19:17

it would certainly teach respect back into society Retlaw, bring it on.

katex · 22-01-2008, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retlaw

Any one who would attack or insult one of our soldiers
whilst they are home & in uniform should be immediately
conscripted and give a taste of a military prison.

Bringing back National Service couldn't come sooner.

Didn't do me any harm.

Retlaw.

'Attack' being the operative word Retlaw .. too late then, isn't it, when they may have had a limb blown off !!

As for National Service, am going to start another thread on this as do not agree with you. (will check if been discussed before).

steeljack · 22-01-2008, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retlaw

Any one who would attack or insult one of our soldiers
whilst they are home & in uniform should be immediately
conscripted and give a taste of a military prison.

Bringing back National Service couldn't come sooner.

Didn't do me any harm.

Retlaw.

Best posting yet on the topic , anyone who is upset or tramatized at the sight of one of there own servicemen/women proudly wearing their uniform whilst home on leave either needs to get either their prescriptons re-filled at a higher doseage or buy a ticket to 'cloud cuckoo land '

Retlaw, Karma sent