Defence Secretary John Reid has put his foot in it again – this time, he’s asking people not to condemn British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan:
The defence secretary said forces were on an “uneven battlefield”, because of the “scrutiny, accountability, media intrusion and questioning” they face.
By contrast the enemy was not hindered “by any legitimacy, any morality, any international convention”, he said.
“Let us be very slow to condemn our troops, our forces,” he told BBC radio.
In particular, this is stupid because he has failed to notice where criticism is actually directed – at the politicians, and not the troops. I honestly don’t recall seeing any criticism directed at British troops in the field, beyond that which is justifiably directed at British troops acting criminally towards detainees, etc. Any time British troops are involved in a conflict abroad, and Iraq is no exception, media coverage actually tends towards the syconphantic in it’s portrayal of the good old British infantryman.
Politicians, however, are being hammered left, right and centre for their decision to take Britain to war. And justifiably – whatever you think of the decision to go into Iraq, it was politicians who made that decision. Not the British troops.
Does John Reid, in his scatty little mind, seriously think criticism of Tony Blair and himself is actually criticism of British troops in the field?
Europhobia also has some thoughts on the matter – he thinks John Reid’s comments are stupid because he suggests that British toops should lower themselves to the same level as our terrorist opponents.