Brown's apology - Page 3

Taggy · 11-11-2009, 11:00

Since The Sun decided to switch allegiance its stuck the boot into Brown at every given opportunity to try to justify its position! In this instance its reaction is totally out of proportion. Yes there are mistakes in Brown's letter, and yes his writing style isnt great, but as we know, there are valid reasons for it. I certainly cant blame Mrs Janes for her reaction either, i'm not sure i wouldn't have reacted with even more venom if i was in the same position, but fortunately most of us are able to stand back from the issue and see both sides. Brown has sincerely apologised and i believe his letter too was a sincere attempt at communicating his sorrow to her. It does have the personal touch of someone who does actualy care.

It was interesting to watch "The One Show" last night with that smug "human rights expert" Adrian Childs dissecting Brown's letter and pointing out all the mistakes to the viewers. Childs then stated that Jamie Janes had died in Iraq, when obviously it was Afghanistan!! He apologised later in the show for "his" mistake! Didn't look so smug afterwards though!!

Best Regards - Taggy

cashman · 11-11-2009, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates

Sorry to say that you have got it wrong once again. I am not and have never been a Sun reader - didn't it support Labour until recently?.

was just giving my opinion as you did, as i think you got it wrong, as fer that rag supporting labour, yes it did, after switching from conservative. plus i based my comment on yer cheap shot at Browns personal letter,

Royboy39 · 11-11-2009, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates

British Forces have always been short of equipment either in quantity or type - in the '60s the Malaysian Army had SLR rifles and Sterling Sub-machine guns - we had Lee-Enfield rifles and Sten Guns. Despite snakes,scorpions etc we were issued with sandals as there were no Jungle Boots available for us - unless we bought them in the local Bata shop. Same for the Falklands - quick trip to some shop in the Lake District to get some decent kit for my son - better quality than issue kit.

Did tours in Malaysia.
1. 1958 to 1960 Malacca.........Lee Enfield and Sten.
2. 1967 to 1970 Terendak and Seremban.....SLR and Stirling.
No Sandals and no shortage of Jungle Boots...No Bata shops in the Jungle either.

Mancie · 11-11-2009, 11:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

There was also a big difference between the two conflicts Bernie, the Falklands were British Sovereign Territories, unlike Afghanistan

no.. there is no difference..fighting for this country has never been as simple as home or away and the people that do the fighting know that.
there was one objective at the start of this war and that was to remove the Taliban and the threat they had on the general population of what they call the western world.. that objective has been a achieved at a terrible cost...what more do you want?

Mancie · 11-11-2009, 11:56

that "newspaper" the sun will never enter my house..the fast change to supporting Labour never fooled me... it is and likely will always be a print of scum ... and I'm with Cashman on this.. the reporting of the Hilsbourgh tragedy was disgusting and I'll say enyone who buys that paper are ..lets say..not right

jaysay · 11-11-2009, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mancie

no.. there is no difference..fighting for this country has never been as simple as home or away and the people that do the fighting know that.
there was one objective at the start of this war and that was to remove the Taliban and the threat they had on the general population of what they call the western world.. that objective has been a achieved at a terrible cost...what more do you want?

But it hasn't been achieved Mancie, if it had our lads would not still be there, its still ongoing

Mancie · 11-11-2009, 12:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

But it hasn't been achieved Mancie, if it had our lads would not still be there, its still ongoing

and if our lads had not gone into this what then.. more training and more bombers?... this war is against a terrible regime that has no fear of murdering women and children..if it goes on then it is a high price to pay but I know this country is fighting to protect my family and your own.. nothing to do with oil...if it's out then get out but no way to blame this government.

garinda · 11-11-2009, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mancie

there was one objective at the start of this war and that was to remove the Taliban and the threat they had on the general population of what they call the western world.

'As (immigration) officials were being ordered to take risks, several potentially dangerous people entered the UK. In late 2001, more than 20 Taliban, who had fled from Afghanistan after their defeat by American and British forces, were allowed to stay in the UK.'

Home Office covered up immigration risk - Times Online

Makes a mockery of the defence on the home front, when offical government policy allows this to happen.

Mancie · 11-11-2009, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

'As (immigration) officials were being ordered to take risks, several potentially dangerous people entered the UK. In late 2001, more than 20 Taliban, who had fled from Afghanistan after their defeat by American and British forces, were allowed to stay in the UK.'

Home Office covered up immigration risk - Times Online

Makes a mockery of the defence on the home front, when offical government policy allows this to happen.

and so it's a mockery?.. at last someone has got the guts to say what they mean... but I do not think the same.. it would be a mockery to jump ship when so many have died fighting to protect you, me, and our loved ones...it's the same old story ..nobody is born with wisdom..but we fight or get out and leave not just Aftganistan.. but a Continent bent on murder

Neil · 12-11-2009, 09:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates

IMHO if his vision, and therefore his handwriting, is so poor then a typed letter - dictated and signed by him, with the explanation for the typing in lieu of a handwritten letter as the foreward to the letter, and checked for accuracy by some competent person, would have been much more sensible from the person who is leading our country - or who we assume to be.

Or handwritten by someone else as he dictates and signed by him. I am sure we would all make such an allowance for a disabled person.

Margaret Pilkington · 12-11-2009, 12:16

Neil, that would have been the best way to do it, but I think that GB has issues around his eyesight....maybe denial being the strongest one.
I don't think he realises that his sight problems are a disability that would have him on early retirement if he were out in industry or commerce.
I also think that there has been some deterioration in his eyesight recently, it was reported that he had seen an eye specialist for retinal problems(a tear in the retina of his good eye).

Gordon Brown had good intentions when he wrote to this mother, he felt her loss, because he has experienced the loss of a child.
Unfortunately, this mother is still grieving and looking for someone to blame......and the newspaper has used her anger in grief, to score political points, they have used and manipulated a soldiers grieving mother for their own ends. I don't think you can get much lower than that. It is on a par with stealing the pennies off a dead man,s eyes.

Taggy · 14-11-2009, 18:00

After all their gobbing off, i notice that The Sun actually spelt Mrs Janes name wrong on their website!!!....PRATS!

Best Regards - Taggy

shillelagh · 14-11-2009, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taggy

After all their gobbing off, i notice that The Sun actually spelt Mrs Janes name wrong on their website!!!....PRATS!

Best Regards - Taggy

has mr murdoch started charging to visit their website yet? He said he was going to start charging for visitors to visit the sun and the times websites ...

Taggy · 14-11-2009, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

has mr murdoch started charging to visit their website yet? He said he was going to start charging for visitors to visit the sun and the times websites ...

Certainly not summat i'd pay for!!!

Best Regards - Taggy

steeljack · 15-11-2009, 07:42

not wanting to sound crass , but since when has it been necessary for the PM to write a personal condolence letter to each family of a dead serviceman (apart from a sense of guilt) . Did Thatcher do it during the Falklands/Malvinas war ? or any of the other PMs during, Northern Ireland, Kenya, Malaya, Aden , Suez, Bosnia or the guys blown up in the King David hotel .