The heroes deserted by the army
This week Channel Four screened a documentary detailing the disgrace that is the Blair government and the MOD’s treatment of returning soldiers from Iraq.
Among the main highlights:
The Ministry of Defense (MOD) is not releasing full and accurate casualty figures. According to a former editor of Janes Defense interviewed for the documentary, the real casualty figures may be at least a third higher than what the MOD is reporting.
Reservists who are expected to serve full tours alongside regular soldiers are not entitled to the same medical care that regulars get. They have to make do as best they can with Britain’s dilapidated National Healthcare System (NHS)
Previously world class medical facilities which were used by the Army to treat Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and other war-related illnesses have been closed in the last few years. Since WWI, Britain has pioneered the treatment of these mental injuries. This service is now being neglected while the tempo of British army operations is increasing.
In the words of one wounded soldier: fighting in Iraq was easy compared with fighting his government for the medical treatment he was owed.
Soldiers who have been deemed unfit to serve for medical reasons are being shipped out to Iraq
The (MOD) threatened to deny medical treatment to wounded soldiers if they spoke to members of the media.
The overall numbers of soldiers in the army is being cut while ever increasing demands are being place on them.
Over-restrictive rules of engagement mean soldiers are sitting ducks in some situations. One wrong shot and a squadie can be up for murder. The insurgent groups in Iraq know what the rules are and adjust their tactics to take advantage of this.
Predictably, all this is all having an effect on moral with increasing numbers of soldiers deciding to get out of the army.
A Times article on life for members of the Territorial Army after returning from Iraq: