Defence News

Defence News: 29 October 2010

New Chief of the Defence Staff and MOD Permanent Secretary take over
Chief of the Defence Staff and Permanent Secretary send farewells to MOD
Army medic plays in netball competition one year after Taliban injury
Prince William honours UK submariners
HMS Cornwall sails on counter-piracy operations
Pop stars help soldiers launch 2010 Poppy Appeal

Defence in the Media: 29 October 2010

Summary
BBC Newsnight featured an interview last night with counter insurgency expert Dr David Killcullen, who claimed we are seeing significant military success in Afghanistan. | The Daily Mail profiles Gunner Mark Stonelake of 29 Commando, who talks about his pride at becoming the new face of the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal, and the incident that led to his injuries in Afghanistan in 2008. | The Daily Mirror reports that veterans face travel chaos as transport chiefs plan to close key tube lines for repair work on Remembrance Sunday. | The Evening Standard claims that MOD officials spent nearly £50m on rail travel, airline tickets and hotel bills last year. |  There has been widespread media coverage of Prince William's visit to HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane yesterday where he presented gold pins to the sailors responsible for maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent. | The Sun reports that fake severed limbs for Halloween have been removed from sale at Matalan, after complaints that their display could offend soldiers. | Sky News reports that musical group The Soldiers are launching their new single, based on letters home from the front line.

Dr Fox urges public to support poppy appeal
Various media outlets have reported that convicted terrorist, Abu Izzadeen, addressed a crowd of supporters outside prison minutes after his release yesterday and called for a boycott of poppies because they support 'murder and an illegal war'.

Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "Our troops take considerable risk on our behalf, putting life and limb on the line to protect our national security. The British public should dismiss these offensive comments and do their bit to remember our brave troops who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I urge the British public to support the poppy appeal to honour our Armed Forces."

The Falkland Islands
Claims in the media that the Falkland Islands could be taken without a fight are completely without substance. The current garrison in the Falkland Islands is much larger in scale and has a greater capability than in 1980 and this together with our ability to reinforce rapidly by air has been maintained as part of the S D SR. We will maintain our network of permanent defence of our joint operating bases, including the British Forces South Atlantic Islands, based on the Falklands Islands and Ascension Island and maintaining regular presence in South Georgia and South Sandwich Island. We have appropriate plans to counter any threat.

Image of the Day: 29 October 2010

Royal Navy Warship HMS Cornwall deployed yesterday on a six-month operation to conduct a counter piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden. Recent months have seen HMS Cornwall successfully undertaking an intensive Operational Sea Training package to fully prepare the Ship and her sailors to handle any scenario they may face. This deployment is a return to familiar waters for HMS Cornwall, who was operating in this region at the end of last year, and will see the ship operating with international partners as part of the Combined Maritime Force which is countering piracy and supporting the safe passage of international shipping through the area. [Picture: LA(PHOT) Nicola Wilson, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Defence Diary: 29 October 2010

Today, Friday 29 October 2010
3 Medical Regiment medal parade in Catterick.
National Archives release documents relating to Hitler's retreat, British fascists and the 1979 spending  review.

Tomorrow, Saturday 30 October 2010
Royal Auxiliary Air Force 612 Squadron medal presentation in York.

Sunday 31 October 2010
TV programme of interest: 'The Andrew Marr Show', BBC1, from 0900hrs. Will feature an interview with the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup.

Tuesday 2 November 2010
Psychological health of military personnel seminar in the Houses of Parliament.
Radio programme of interest: "Law in action: Royal Military Police independence" BBC Radio 4, 1600hrs. Joshua Rozenberg looks at the issue of military justice.

Thursday 4 November 2010
March For Honour: Tri-Service charity march.
150 Provost Company Royal Military Police medal parade in Richmond, North Yorkshire.
Radio programme of interest: "Law in action: Royal Military Police independence" BBC Radio 4, 2000hrs. Joshua Rozenberg looks at the issue of military justice. Repeat.

Defence News: 28 October 2010

Tank Regiment builds relationships with Helmand people
Specialist MOD team recovers damaged ships from round the world
Royal Mail recognises sacrifice of Armed Forces with new stamps
Foreign Secretary issues first quarterly report on Afghanistan
Royal Navy engineers receive infantry training in Afghanistan
Army hosts the European Military Climbing Championships

Defence in the Media: 28 October 2010

Summary
Foreign Secretary William Hague was interviewed on Channel 4 news last night following his first quarterly progress report on Afghanistan. | Lance Corporal Ram Patten RM appeared with his family on ITV1's 'Daybreak' this morning to promote the 'March for Honour' which starts on 4 November 2010. | The Financial Times and The Guardian report that as Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy prepare to meet, there are suggestions that British Joint Strike Fighters will be able to fly off France's carriers in an era of deepening cooperation. | The Sun reports that the Earth Centre, a tourist attraction built with lottery money, is now being used by the MOD for training after it failed to attract enough tourists. | Various media outlets have reported comments by former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev who has warned that a Nato victory in Afghanistan is impossible whilst Russia is considering getting more involved in the mission. | The Sun reports that RAF Reaper aircraft have been targeting Taliban chiefs, dropping 124 weapons in 29 months on specific targets. | The Guardian reports that the US Navy has successfully tested a ship that runs on a 50/50 mix of diesel and seaweed.

Image of the Day: 28 October 2010

The 2nd Royal Tank Regiment's Falcon squadron have been out talking to their new neighbours in the Lashkar Gah area this week. Every time the Tankies, as the soldiers are known, move around the city, they make an effort to interact with the people they have come to protect. For the soldiers in their armoured vehicles this means stopping, getting out, and talking to the local people. [Picture: Captain Tom Lloyd-Jukes, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Defence Diary: 28 October 2010

Today, Thursday 28 October 2010
Repatriation to RAF Lyneham of Corporal David Barnsdale, from 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), who was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 19 October 2010.
National Poppy Appeal launch at Merville Barracks, Colchester.

Tomorrow, Friday 29 October 2010
3 Medical Regiment medal parade in Catterick.

Saturday 30 October 2010
Royal Auxiliary Air Force 612 Squadron medal presentation in York.

Sunday 31 October 2010
TV programme of interest: 'The Andrew Marr Show', BBC1, from 0900hrs. Will feature an interview with the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup.

Thursday 4 November 2010
March For Honour: Tri-Service charity march.
150 Provost Company Royal Military Police medal parade in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Defence News: 27 October 2010

Fighting fires in Helmand - the RAF Fire Service
UK National Action Plan announced for UN Resolution on Women, Peace and Security
HMS Montrose aids German ship after pirate attack
Dr Fox - SDSR sets our Armed Forces on path to sustainable future
Defence Minister opens UK cyber security test range

Defence in the Media: 27 October 2010

Summary
Various media outlets have covered the funeral on the Isle of Lewis of British aid worker Linda Norgrove, who was killed recently in Afghanistan. | BBC News claims that the SAS will be deployed in London during the Olympics to counter the threat from terrorists. | The Times reports that it has learned that political calculations played into the decision not to scrap two aircraft carriers. | The Sun reports that France has offered the UK use of its aircraft carrier. | The Daily Telegraph reports on a charity fashion show which has raised £1m for Help for Heroes and other military charities. | Several media sources report that Major General Gordon Messenger told MPs yesterday that British forces in Afghanistan were under-resourced until the US troop surge last year. | The Sun reports that Afghan and British forces have burned heroin seized in a number of raids in Helmand that would have had a UK street value of £10m. | The Times claims that Afghan President Hamid Karzai stormed out of a meeting with General David Petraeus over the use of private security companies. | Various media outlets have reported that Saddam Hussein's number two, Tariq Aziz, has been sentenced to death by an Iraqi court. | Various media report that Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox has warned industry that he would buy military equipment from overseas suppliers unless British firms offer better value for money.

Baha Mousa Inquiry
The Guardian has reported that the MOD is under pressure to release all of its evidence to an independent inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa, an Iraqi detainee, after it emerged that military interrogators were still being trained to mistreat prisoners after the 2003 incident. The documents referred to in the article have all been disclosed to the Baha Mousa Inquiry and the legal teams involved in it. Having commissioned this inquiry, we are giving it our full co-operation and are determined to learn lessons for the future.

UK troops' conduct under question
The Guardian claims that the conduct of three British military units in Afghanistan has come under serious question following the release of details of incidents in which troops attacked Afghan civilians. We deeply regret all civilian casualties. Protecting the Afghan civilian population is a cornerstone of the International Security Assistance Force's mission, and all British troops undergo comprehensive training on the strict rules of engagement. This contrasts directly with the attitude of the insurgents, whose indiscriminate use of suicide bombs, roadside explosive devices and human shields causes the majority of civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan. We will continue our efforts to prevent insurgents harming civilians and to develop the capacity of the Afghan security forces to protect the population.