Express 13/3/09
Posted by Merk
March 13th, 2009
Categories: Express Watch, Front Pages |
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The problem is that this kind of flag-waving is just as unBritish as blaming soldiers for the mistakes of politicians. Homecoming marches are an American tradition that were bound eventually to backfire if transferred to the UK.
If we think we need to thank our armed forces, we should equip them propoerly and then guarantee that we won’t send them on pointless and avoidable wars (and I’m including the Falklands as well as Iraq).
I’d disagree with the Falklands being pointless, Killer Whale, but it was a problem largely of the government’s making. They reduced the naval presence in the area to save money, and the Argentinian junta seized it’s chance, so ultimately we were forced into fighting an avoidable war. The UN agreed with Britain’s actions – it was ultimately an invasion of a sovereign state (albeit a very small one), very much against the wishes of its citizens (albeit only a few in number). So, unfortunate, yes, but hardly unjustified.
But as far as Iraq is concerned, I fully agree with you.
The Falklands was 100% justified. The Falkland Islanders are UK citizens and have as much right to be defended by the armed forces as if Argentina invaded the Isle of Wight. Morally the distance is irrelevant.
Add to that the invaders were a dictatorship using the war to prop up an unpopular regime back home, and that contrary to popular belief the historical ownership of the islands is anything but as clear cut as apologists would have you believe, and it would have been morally wrong to not send troops.
…also is this really the third day in a row they’ve run this story or at least the exact same angle on an extremely similar one?
What is it with the Express and this kind of reporting, same as Madeleine and Diana? I’m guessing all the recent downsizing of their staff has a lot to do with this, but there’s cutting corners and there’s cutting all the fucking sides off as well…
“Britain’s answer to preachers of hate”: strongly implying that Muslims who protest against military action are not British, even if they happen to have been born here. By extension, anyone who questions what we’ve been up to in Iraq or Afghanistan presumably isn’t really British.
I’d agree that this sort of martial flag-waving is out of tune with modern Britain, but that after all is what the Express is after: a return to a more black and white age (black shirts and white skin).
The constant eulogising of the army by the press in this country is vomit-inducing, as one blog said today the army deserves respect, not reverence and deification.
“Add to that the invaders were a dictatorship using the war to prop up an unpopular regime back home, and that contrary to popular belief the historical ownership of the islands is anything but as clear cut as apologists would have you believe”
Yeah. That Galtieri was a pretty obnoxious one, as well.
Falklands. Pointless, no. Avoidable, with hindsight, probably.
I find the most disappointing thing abour Iraq was the grip lost on Afghanistan, they had to all intents destroyed the taliban but then moved on, allowing for the Taliban to reassert itself.
Mistake after Mistake, as for this parades as someone once said “Do we really need a war to feel good about ourselves”
If it was avoidable (and it was 100%) then it was pointless.
Did this parade include any soldiers with their legs blown off? Any blinded, or with serious head injuries? Any flag-draped coffins? Or do we not want to think about that?
I wonder whether the Express would ever publish Mark Twain’s “The War Prayer”? Google it, if you haven’t read it.
Killer Whale – it was a classic case of “a stitch in time saves nine”. Britain didn’t take Argentina’s claims seriously, so cut naval resources. If they hadn’t done this, the war could have been avoided. However, both Britain and Argentina had to face the consequences of their actions. Yes, mistakes were made – but having made them, something had to be done to rectify the situation, and allowing a British territory to be unilaterally handed over to a fascist junta would have been utterly, utterly unacceptable.
I’m no hardcore nationalist, and I’m also a pacifist, but if anything meets the criteria of a “just war”, this is it.
I think the song “My Youngest Son came Home Last Night” or words to that effect is one of the most powerful lyrics I have ever read.
“My youngest son came home today
His friends marched with him all the way
The fife and drum beat out the time
While in his box of polished pine
Like dead meat on a butcher’s tray
My youngest son came home today”
That’s the opening verse and it says about as much as war needs to say, i have Bragg’s version but I think it’s a cover.
A cheap front page to run!
Three cheers for the Military.
I would rather have them in charge of the country than the venal and duplicitous politicians that infest Westminster now. Perhaps then the faded flower of England really could rise and bloom again.
Cromwell – have you ever lived in a military dictatorship? I think you’ll find that most people who have don’t like them very much.
Cromwell – Oh dear. What an incredibly stupid thing to say.
Bloody Roundheads. They should fuck off back to the 17th century where they belong.
Since when did the word ’soldier’ become synonymous with the word ‘hero’?
Agree with Railroad, the falklands was quite a different thing to the Iraq mess KW. Also don’t see the problem with flag waving in this context, for once the Sexpress has provided the right sort of cover as a response to the brainwashed demonstrators.
(agree with your point about the lack of proper equipment though)
Captain J:
At a wild guess, WW1 & 2.
Is it really an ‘answer’ or just ’something that was due to happen anyway’.
Flag Waving and military parades are against one of the few good characteristics about being British (not that being British is bad, but it doesn’t get a good press).
British Veterans have never been celebrated in this manner, save for during WWI, methinks, and at the end of WWII. Marching them through a town like this is actually terribly unBritish!
And that quote from above, Bill Hicks? No?
“Britain’s answer to preachers of hate: Ignorant Tribal Nationalism”
Meanwhile, 29 ppl were killed in a suicide bomb in Baghdad?
Matt: don’t forget that Billy Bragg is an ex-soldier, so when he expresses anti-war sentiments, he really knows what he’s talking about.
Sorry, Your Holiness, the only Bill Hicks quotes I can remember involve Christian stupidity or arcing ropes of jism, and I don’t see either in this thread.
If I remember rightly the government in 1982 were planning to dispose of the Falklands by agreeing to lease the islands to Argentines. They not only withdrew the naval presence but they were planning to take the axe to the navy as a whole by mothballing ships etc.
When the war started, the navy took the opportunity with both hands. It was a close run thing though.
Regarding the Falklands, am I to believe that defending a population against invasion by a country with which they have no ties or affiliation, and helping to overthrow a fascist dictatorship into the bargain is pointless?
Great site by the way – just found it today.
WW2 was the truly pointless war.
Hitler has no intention of attacking Britain.
But as usual, pushy, interfering Britain sacrificed thousands of Our Boys for the sake of Capitalism and the World’s banks.
@Gordon Clown:
Blimey, just come on out and admit you’e a neo-Nazi. You’ve nothing to fear but our pity.
WW2 was easily the most justifiable war in history. Britain was threatened with invasion for some considerable time – it was only Hitler’s surprise defeat in the Battle of Britain that made him realise it was unattainable. But…it came uncomfortably close.
However, all that aside, Britain fought a principled and morally-justifiable war against one of the most disgusting regimes that history has ever produced.
I sincerely hope Gordon Clown is a troll. Please, please, please make him a troll. If that’s representative of Mail reader opinion – and I fear it is – we’re all fucking doomed.
Aboslutely RM, 6 million holocaust victims applaud. Although if Mr Clown returns and exposes himself as a holocaust denier I wouldn’t be surprised.
I’ve always wondered how anyone can manage to be a holocaust denier. I’m not massively well informed on that conspiracy, but where exactly do they think those 6 million people are? Hiding, ready to spring the greatest April Fool in history?
It’s interesting that the vast majority of Holocaust deniers have gradually changed position to that of Holocaust-revisionists. The likes of Irvine and Griffin have gone from staright out denial to now acknowledging that “lots of people did die and the Nazis were quite naughty” however this is always quickly qualified by something like; “BUT! it wasn’t 6 million it was only 3″! Like we’re all supposed to go “Oh! really? I didn’t realise. I can’t believe we’ve misjudged Hitler so badly”.
The fact is when confronted by so much evidence and personnal testiment they have had no option but to revise their (public) opinions. This reflects the trend of the far-right through-out much of Western Europe. Distance from historical forms of fascism convinces people that voting for extreme parties is no longer ‘taboo’ or ‘wrong’.
Indeed, what has held the extreme-right back in this country has been the assoscitation with Nazism and the Facism of the past.
They are no heroes of mine.