For the Record: Newsnight website claims "MOD Blog Ban"

The Ministry of Defence has responded directly to a statement on BBC Newsnight's website:

Your statement "The MoD has issued new guidelines to personnel in the army, RAF, and navy. They state soldiers can no longer blog, post on bulletin boards, or release video, stills or images." is false.

The guidelines are not new and do not prohibit serving personnel from blogging etc.  They explain only that serving personnel should seek authorisation before publicly publishing material on defence or related matters.  These basic guidelines have not changed in some years.

For example the CO of HMS SOMERSET has an authorised blog:
http://www.hms-somerset-co.blogspot.com/

...and SAC Paul Goodfellow of the RAF publishes an authorised video diary on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/royalairforce

Newsnight viewers can read the updated MOD guidelines for themselves here.

WEEKLY ROUND-UP: 10 AUGUST 2007

Your round-up of the week's defence news.

• MOD confirms names of RAF personnel killed in Puma helicopter crash
• Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard Royal Air Force Regiment killed in Iraq
• Two British soldiers killed in Iraq on Thursday 9 August 2007
• Day of the Triffids becomes fact rather than fiction
• Coningsby takes delivery of multi-role Typhoons
• Vital role for troops in southern Afghanistan
• Private Craig Barber 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh killed in Iraq
• Edinburgh Tattoo marches into Glasgow
• From the car park to the front line
• On patrol with 4 Rifles in Basra
• Defence Secretary visits Helmand's frontline
• Naval Reservist makes a difference in Basra
• HMS Mersey in joint fire training exercise
• Airport hero donates £2,000 to veterans charity
• RAF helps flying ace to world record
• Opening doors in Helmand
• At the sharp end: life through an Army photographer's lens (VIDEO)
• IN PICTURES: 58th Edinburgh Tattoo set to be a real spectacular
• Navy triumph in first ever cross channel swimming challenge
• HMS York sailors take on conservation challenge
• The Met Office - they're not just a bunch of weather forecasters
• TA exercise sees infantry declare war on armoured corps! (VIDEO)

Defence in the media: 10 August 2007

Two British soldiers killed in Iraq on 9 August 2007
It was with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence confirmed the deaths of two British soldiers from 1st Battalion The Irish Guards in Basra, southern Iraq in the early hours of Thursday 9 August 2007.

Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard Royal Air Force Regiment killed in Iraq on 7 August 2007
It is with deep sorrow that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard of No 1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment, in Basra, southern Iraq on Tuesday 7 August 2007.  Follow the link for more details.

Two RAF personnel killed in Puma helicopter crash are named
The MOD offers its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of Flight Lieutenant David Sale and Sergeant Phillip Burfoot, who were killed when their Puma helicopter crashed near Catterick, North Yorkshire, on Wednesday 8 August 2007, whilst taking part in a routine training exercise.  A full investigation into the cause of this accident has been launched and there will be a Board of Inquiry.  It would not be appropriate to speculate at this stage as to the cause of the accident.

Officer Cadet arrested for attempted murder at Sandhurst
The MOD can confirm that a 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is being questioned at Maidenhead Police station following an incident at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.  As this is an ongoing police investigation the MOD is unable to comment further.

MOD "Issues gag order on armed forces"
A report in the Guardian, which cuts and pastes quotes from the bulletin board ARRSE, claims that the MOD has introduced sweeping new guidelines barring military personnel from speaking about their work.  Personnel are not barred, and the rules are not new.  These or similar have been around for years (Defence Council Instructions in 2004, 1999 and probably earlier).  They have been updated this year to reflect the findings of the Hall report (on payment and authorisation of media contacts) and changes in communication technology (the rise of self-publishing on the web etc).  Most public and private organisations of any size – in the UK and elsewhere - have rules on the authorisation processes to be followed before people speak publicly or to the media.  Such rules are not unique to MOD.  We want people to communicate what they do.  But it must be properly authorised by their boss and, if it is potentially newsworthy, by MOD centrally.

image of the day: 10 August 2007

A Scimitar light tank being worked on by its crew in Afghanistan
[Picture: Cpl Jon Bevan]

Defence diary: 10 August 2007

Today
Sovereign's Parade, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
TV Documentary on the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight expected on BBC2, 1900hrs

Saturday
Red Arrows and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at Ayr
RAF Falcons at Glasgow 

Defence in the Media: 9 August 2007

Two British soldiers killed in Iraq on Thursday 9 August 2007
It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the deaths of two British soldiers from 1st Battalion The Irish Guards in Basra, southern Iraq in the early hours of this morning, Thursday 9 August 2007.

MOD names airman killed in Iraq
The Ministry of defence has named the airman killed in Iraq on Tuesday 7 August 2007. Leading Aircraftman Martin Beard of No 1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment was taking part in a routine foot patrol in the Al Waki district north of the British Base at Basra Air Station.

Two Service personnel killed in helicopter crash near Catterick
It is with much sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of two Service personnel as a result of an RAF helicopter crash near Catterick Garrison yesterday, Wednesday 8 August 2007. The aircraft involved in the crash was a Puma Helicopter from 33 Squadron, RAF Benson.

New rules for personnel on communicating with the media and speaking in public
The MOD has responded in a discussion on the bulletin board ARRSE and elsewhere concerning a recent update to the rules for Service and MOD civilian personnel on communicating with the media and speaking in public:

1.  These are not new rules.  These or similar have been around for years (Defence Council Instructions in 2004, 1999 and probably earlier).  They have been updated this year to reflect the findings of the Hall report (on payment and authorisation of media contacts) and changes in communication technology (the rise of self-publishing on the web etc).

2.  Most public and private organisations of any size – in the UK and elsewhere - have rules on the authorisation processes to be followed before people speak publicly or to the media.  Such rules are not unique to MOD.

3.  We want people to communicate what they do.  But it must be properly authorised – by their boss and, if it is potentially newsworthy, by MOD centrally.

Government review into use of interpreters in Iraq
There is further coverage of the decision by the Government to review the issue of Iraqi civilians employed by the MOD and other government departments in Iraq. The Government is extremely grateful for the service of locally employed staff in Iraq and take their security very seriously. We recognise that there are concerns about the safety of former employees. The Government keeps all such issues under review and we will now look again at the assistance we provide. The total number of Iraqis who have worked for us since 2003 with a claim to assistance could be at least 15,000. We therefore need to consider the options carefully.

Image of the day: 9 August 2007

The RAF takes delivery of the first two Typhoon combat aircraft with multi-role capability [Picture: BAE]

Defence Diary: 9 August 2007

Today
Minister for Armed Forces visitis Defence Equipment and Support at MOD Abbey Wood

Defence in the Media: 8 August 2007

MOD confirms deaths of servicemen in Iraq
It is with much sadness that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the death of Private Craig Barber of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh in Basra City, on Monday 6 August 2007.

It has also been confirmed that a British serviceman from 1 Squadron, RAF Regiment was killed in Basra City last night, Tuesday 7 August 2007.

PM orders review into employment of local interpreters
The Prime Minister has ordered a review into the UK Government's policy on employing local interpreters. We are extremely grateful for the service of locally employed staff in Iraq and take their security very seriously.  We recognise that there are concerns about the safety of former employees. The Government keeps all such issues under review and we will now look again at the assistance we provide. The total number of Iraqis who have worked for us since 2003 with a claim to assistance could be at least 15,000. We therefore need to consider the options carefully.

UK troops "defeated in Basra"
There is widespread coverage in today's newspapers focusing on claims made in the US media which suggest that British troops have lost control in Basra. As the Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup recently explained in an interview, we have had success in southern Iraq. He said:

"Our mission there was to get the place and the people to a state where the Iraqis could run that part of the country if they chose to and we’re very nearly there. Our mission was not to make the place look like somewhere green and peaceful because that was never going to be achievable in that timescale and in any event only the Iraqis can fulfil that aspiration."

First multi-role Typhoon delivered to the RAF
There is coverage in the Daily Telegraph of the RAF receiving the first multi-role Typhoon, which is expected to be operational in Afghanistan next year. The multi-role capability ensures that Typhoon remains one of the most capable combat aircraft in the world. No decisions have been taken on operational deployment.

Image of the day: 8 August 2007

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo Comes to Glasgow! [Picture: Mark Owens]