Defence News

Defence News: 24 December 2010

Hark! The Helmand Angels Sing
Christmas cheer for soldiers' children
Brothers celebrate Christmas on patrol in Kabul
Airmen's Afghan Christmas charity run
Work and play for Royal Navy at Christmas
Defence 2010: A Year in Pictures

Defence in the Media: 24 December 2010

Summary
Various media report that the soldier killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday was named yesterday as Corporal Steven Dunn from 216 Parachute Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals. | Richard Kemp writes in the Times saying that comradeship will help troops fighting on operations get through the festive period when they are missing their families.| The Sun is encouraging readers to remember troops who are deployed on operations while they eat their Christmas dinner this year.| The Mirror reports that a soldier's wife has told the paper how she and her family are being condemned to live in a house that is unfit for habitation at RAF Lyneham.| Various papers report on comments by Prime Minister David Cameron who said that he worries every time there is a British casualty in Afghanistan and that every time he wrote to a bereaved family it made him question the war in Afghanistan. He was interviewed by BFBS and is due to send a Christmas message to troops serving in Afghanistan. | The Telegraph has a report claiming an Iranian al-Quds officer was captured during a US Special Forces raid near Kandahar and has been accused of supplying weapons to the Taliban for attacks on British fighters. | The Daily Mail reports that the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, has praised members of the Armed Forces who are serving in Afghanistan and said they were the 'real heroes' as part of a Christmas video message. | The Daily Star and Metro report that the Irish Guards serving in Afghanistan have performed a Nativity play with a twist as it features intelligence briefs, roadside bomb searches, shepherd call-signs – alongside traditional carols.| The Sun has supplied troops in Afghanistan with iPads so they can keep up-to-date with news back home. | The Sun also reports that HMS Cumberland is supporting the French aircraft carrier the Charles De Gaulle over Christmas, taking time out from her maritime security patrols in the Gulf.

Image of the Day: 24 September 2010

HARK! THE HELMAND ANGELS SING: Jesus was born to a laughing crowd in Afghanistan’s Camp Shorabak this week. Mary had a five o’clock shadow and the donkey was short a couple of legs. The Irish Guards are not known as amateur thespians but made do and, in festive spirit, have adapted the Christmas story into military idiom. In the absence of any primary school children in the Afghan National Army base they call home, the Irish Guards hammed up their weekly Church Parade, with Officers and Guardsmen playing all the major parts of the Nativity with an added counter-insurgent theme. [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010] Click here to read more.

Defence Diary: 24 December 2010

Saturday 25 December 2010
Christmas Day.
Radio Programme of Interest:  On BBC Radio 5 Live and BFBS Radio 2 on Christmas Day at 1300 UK time, 'Christmas Up The Front' a 30-minute radio documentary on a recent tour to Afghanistan.

Sunday 26 December 2010
Boxing Day.

Defence News: 23 December 2010

Corporal Steven Thomas Dunn killed in Afghanistan
Dr Fox meets troops in Dubai
HMS Montrose home from Anti Piracy patrols
Navy Search and Rescue crew in snow rescue
Defence 2010: A Year in Pictures

Defence in the Media: 23 December 2010

Summary
BBC News reports that some troops in Afghanistan are worried they will not be able to get home for Christmas due to the weather disruption back at the UK airports but that the British Forces Post Office are working around the clock to get parcels to troops on the front line. | The Guardian reports that US-led forces in Kandahar have dealt a major blow to the Taliban as insurgent commanders have been forced to flee the area. | The Telegraph reports that Taliban leaders want to open a base in a neutral country such as an Arab state, Turkey or Japan before they embark on meaningful peace talks according to senior figures in the movement. | The Wall Street Journal reports that Joe Biden has confused the US narrative on plans for withdrawal from Afghanistan by saying the withdrawal of surge troops in 2011 “will not be a token amount.” | The Wall Street Journal also reports that Iran is preventing fuel tankers from crossing in to Afghanistan in an unannounced border blockade as the country claims the fuel is to supply US-led coalition forces. | The Sun reports that the Prime Minister has been joined by pop star Kylie Minogue in recording tributes to the Armed Forces as they prepare for Christmas in Afghanistan. | The Daily Star reports that David Cameron and Prince Charles have visited injured troops in Queen Elizabeth Hospital. | The Daily Mail reports that the CIA has launched a special unit to investigate the impact of leaked cables.  | The Sun reports that two Muslim protesters who burned a giant poppy on Remembrance Sunday will face trial next year.| The Times reports that Liam Fox has demanded that Britain’s most powerful grouping of defence companies become less ‘clubby’ and more representative or they risk being excluded from government circles.

Corporal Steven Thomas Dunn killed in Afghanistan
It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Corporal Steven Thomas Dunn from 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron, attached to of 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment Battlegroup, was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday, 21 December 2010.

 Singers Afghan trip cancelled
The Daily Telegraph has reported that James Blunt and Katherine Jenkins have not been able to go on a trip to cheer up troops spending Christmas in Afghanistan due to “bad organisation” and faulty equipment.

The reason the singers have not been able to fly to Afghanistan is not due to faulty equipment or bad organisation but due to the serious disruption that has been caused by the recent severe weather in the UK.

The RAF have worked incredibly hard to get hundreds of people out to Afghanistan and home again during this period of weather disruption. It’s really unfortunate that Katherine Jenkins and James Blunt will not be able to make another visit at this time and we share their frustration as the whole country struggles to overcome the adverse conditions.               

Image of the Day: 23 December 2010

Pte Daniel Richardson of 3 PARA flew into RAF Brize Norton today to be greeted by his partner, Lisa Jackson, mother Dee Page, brother in law Adrian Huthwarte and son Logan Richardson (pictured). A true family gathering and very excited wife Lisa commented: "my Dan is coming home, I'm ecstatic". Pte Richardson's mother commented: "I can't wait to see him to receive the hugs and for him to say "alwright mother! – then I’ll know he’s back". Pte Richardson who has served 3 months of a 6 month tour is back home for Christmas for a period of rest and recuperation (R&R). [Picture: Steve Lympany. Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Defence Diary: 23 December 2010

Today, Thursday 23 December 2010
Radio Programme of Interest: A simulcast between Jeremy Vine's BBC Radio 2 show and BFBS Radio 2 with Christmas messages for the troops at 1300 UK time for an hour.

Saturday 25 December 2010
Christmas Day.
Radio Programme of Interest:  On BBC Radio 5 Live and BFBS Radio 2 on Christmas Day at 1300 UK time, 'Christmas Up The Front' a 30-minute radio documentary on a recent tour to Afghanistan.

Sunday 26 December 2010
Boxing Day.

Defence News: 22 December 2010

Soldier from Royal Corps of Signals killed in Afghanistan
The right track to irreversible progress in Afghanistan
Dr Liam Fox responds to High Court endorsement of MOD's approach to investigating Iraq abuse
Second Astute Class submarine officially named
Defence 2010: A Year in Pictures
Royal Welsh company extends activity into Kandahar
Soldier's nerves of steel save Afghan child's life

Defence in the Media: 22 December 2010

Summary
Various media report on yesterday's High Court verdict which ruled that there should not be a new public inquiry into allegations that British soldiers tortured and abused Iraqi civilians. The judge said he was satisfied that the MOD and Dr Liam Fox were taking the allegations seriously and had established the Iraq Historical Allegations Team (IHAT) and therefore there was not a need for another inquiry at this stage. | The Sun claims that Special Forces helicopters are waiting on the tarmac in Hereford ready to respond to a Mumbai style terrorist attack over Christmas. | The Daily Mail reports that Armed Forces veterans who live abroad have handed in a petition to Downing St, complaining that their pensions have been frozen (see below). | Various papers report that increased spending on defence has contributed to UK public borrowing reaching a new high. | Various media outlets also report that US commanders have demanded ground raids on Pakistan's tribal areas. The article claims that US forces have become increasingly frustrated by the lack of action by Islamabad to tackle militants in Afghanistan.| The Daily Mirror reports that Special Forces are launching twice as many raids in Afghanistan as they did in Iraq. During a briefing yesterday, journalists were told that SAS and SBS troops often carry out a dozen attacks in 24 hours. | The Daily Star has a feature on Christmas on the frontline featuring messages from those who are serving in Afghanistan. | The Daily Mirror has a picture of Khatol Mohammed Zal, the Afghan army’s only female parachutist who talks about the attention she receives when she wears her uniform. | The Daily Telegraph reports that a soldier who asked a friend to drive over his leg, to prevent him having to return to Afghanistan had his sentence for malingering overturned yesterday.  A judge quashed Pte Danny Cross’s 18 month jail term. | The Financial Times reports that the US Senate has voted in favour of a US/Russian treaty to reduce nuclear arsenals.

Veterans' pensions
The Daily Mail has published an article regarding veterans who live abroad campaigning against their UK state pensions being frozen. Where Armed Forces pensions are in payment, they are separate and rise in line with UK inflation, regardless of where the veteran may live.