Summary
The Times reported on Saturday that the Government plans to axe the MOD's specialist police investigation force. | Various outlets reported that Serco has won a £55m contract to support Army training. | The Daily Mail published a feature on the Falkland Islands, which included an interview with Brigadier Bill Aldridge, Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands, who said that if he thought the future security of the Islands was under threat he wouldn't have brought his family to live in the Falklands. | The Daily Telegraph reported that Sheenie Chant, the widow of Warrant Officer Class 1 Darren Chant, who was killed in Afghanistan in November 2009, has claimed that pension payments to war widows and the financial compensation offered by the MOD through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme are not sufficient. | Various papers on Sunday reported on Afghan President Hamid Karzai's visit to the UK and meeting with the Prime Minister David Cameron. | The Sunday Telegraph reported on the current situation in Libya, with evidence of ordinary people turning against the former rebels who now lead the country. | The Sunday Telegraph also reported that the UK's chief prosecutor is promising 'robust' action against criminals who target war memorials for their scrap metal value. | Various media outlets today report that YouTube footage has shown government tanks and armoured vehicles apparently retaking control of Damascus suburbs. | The Wall Street Journal and Independent report that plans are being made by the Afghan Government to meet the Taliban in Saudi Arabia in the next few weeks for peace talks. | There is widespread media coverage of the MOD announcement this weekend of the development of a new Royal Navy missile defence system, Sea Ceptor, which will be able to intercept and destroy enemy missiles travelling at supersonic speeds.
Lance Corporal Gajbahadur Gurung killed in Afghanistan
It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Lance Corporal Gajbahadur Gurung, from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, was killed in Afghanistan on Friday 27 January 2012. Click here to read more.
Defence Chief's comments on Afghanistan
Yesterday's Sunday Mirror reported comments made by Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards in a new book 'War Against the Taliban' by TV reporter Sandy Gall describing Britain's tactics at the start of the war in Afghanistan as 'woeful' and the move into Helmand province in 2006 as 'amateurish'.
The Chief of the Defence Staff and others have said a number of times in the past that in the early years of the campaign, the international community at times lacked a cohesive plan and adequate resources to respond to a resilient and adaptable insurgency.
As previously acknowledged, the development of effective Afghan security and governance capabilities was slow, alongside a lack of investment by the international community. It became clear soon after the UK deployment to Helmand province in 2006 that more resources were required there.
General Richards has been clear that the situation is now very different, with significant progress having been made, particularly in Helmand where Lashkar Gah is under Afghan control already, and with the transfer of authority in Nad 'Ali following recently. The strategy in Afghanistan is now focused, the international coalition is strong and the Afghan Army and Police are increasingly taking the lead for Afghanistan's security. The mission is on track to succeed ahead of UK forces ending their combat role by the end of 2014.
The Falklands
In an interview in yesterday's Sunday Telegraph former Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mike Jackson, was quoted as warning that military cuts mean Britain would be unable to retake the Falklands should Argentina mount a new invasion.
Today, Brigadier Bill Aldridge, Commander of British Forces in the Falklands, said: "I am entirely confident that I can do the job that is required of me. Deterring aggression is my top priority but I am fully confident that I have the capability to defend the Islands. I am not expecting to hand the Islands over to anybody and therefore put us in a position where we would have to retake them."
Head of the Army interview
The Daily Telegraph reports on an interview with Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, from the latest edition of Soldier magazine, in which he addressed the concerns of his soldiers and officers. The Telegraph article claims General Wall says cuts in the Army are creating gaps and redundancies are starting to bite.
General Wall said: "Of course this is a difficult time for our people as we sustain operations in Afghanistan whilst restructuring the Army to be sustainable in the future. We seek regular feedback from our soldiers and officers so I can reassure them that their concerns are being taken seriously.
"A lot of work has gone into deciding how and where these reductions should come from across all three Services, changing force structures and reforming the way in which we do business so that we are best prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Only certain trades, specialisms and ranks [known as fields] within the Armed Forces will be considered for redundancy. Armed Forces personnel selected for redundancy are given the opportunity to apply to transfer into areas where gaps may exist."
