Public abuse of armed forces

[j.m@talk]

LONDON (Reuters) - Gordon Brown said on Friday that the armed forces should be free to wear uniforms in public after one airbase banned them following reports of abuse by members of the public over the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

"I condemn absolutely any members of the public who show abuse or discrimination to our armed forces," he said after the station commander at RAF Wittering told staff to dress in civilian clothes when they visit the city of Peterborough.

"They should be thanked for the great job that they're doing, and they should be encouraged to wear the uniform in public."

The prime minister said the government would support police in taking action to ensure that soldiers can wear their uniform in public.

The reports of insults come as Brown is trying to foster greater public respect for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Last year, he asked Labour MP Quentin Davies to conduct a review of public attitudes towards the military. Davies has toured the United States and Canada to see the higher level of support given to soldiers there.

No details of the alleged incidents were released. Cambridgeshire Police said they had received no reports of abuse against RAF personnel.

"If we did, then we would investigate them as we would any kind of public order offence," a spokeswoman said.

Defence Minister Derek Twigg told BBC radio that the abuse came from a "small minority of people" and that he hoped the ban would be overturned soon.

The Ministry of Defence says individual commanding officers are free to decide whether soldiers should wear their uniform or civilian clothes while off duty.

Soldiers stopped wearing their uniforms in public in the 1970s because of fears of IRA attacks.

The abuse in Peterborough came from a cross-section of the community, according to a report in the Daily Mail. The city's mayor Marion Todd described it as "despicable".

Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said most people "would be appalled to hear that there are no-go areas for our armed forces".

RAF chief Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy said: "Whatever people's views are about specific military operations, everyone should be able to recognise the bravery and professionalism of our armed forces."

RAF Wittering is one of the RAF's oldest bases. It was used to fight German Zeppelin airships in World War One and played a key role in the Battle of Britain in 1940.



So none of this has been reported to the police for investigation ........ Whys that then ? Could it be that this is governmental Spin, a attempt to get the people of this country behind uncle Georges war on anything he doesn't like ? ....... Too right it is ...... Oh we reserve the right to tell the actual people that are at the sharp end of the wars to knock it off too ......... This isn't disrespect....... This is a refusal from the everyday man in the street to condone this utter nonsense, your move Gordon ...........

[herosrest]

It may be an opportune moment for the general return of the Red Tunic.

[JPnyc]

It's disgraceful that so many still haven't recognized who the real enemy is here. I'm sure by now you know a small explosion took place right outside the military recruiting station couple of blocks from me, yesterday at 3:45 a.m.

[j.m@talk]

Yeah it ain't funny when the world starts exploding around ya is it ?

I've seen plenty of that in the past over here with our fanatical irish brothers, not that it stopped the American establishment from blind siding their fun raising activities.

[Lgbpop]

It wasn't the "American establishment" (whatever the hell THAT is) that were funding the IRA, just the morons like Ted Kennedy and Tip O'Neill who put partisanship above civility.

Perhaps your Peterborough residents should join our Berkeley, CA citizens - then we could annihilate the bunch more efficiently (but civilly, of course!).

[j.m@talk]

It wasn't the "American establishment" (whatever the hell THAT is) that were funding the IRA, just the morons like Ted Kennedy and Tip O'Neill who put partisanship above civility.

What I said was the "American establishment" allowed it to occur..... Which in anyones language is completely unacceptable.

[j.m@talk]

Perhaps your Peterborough residents should join our Berkeley, CA citizens - then we could annihilate the bunch more efficiently (but civilly, of course!).

Don't know bout your country. But here we are allowed to say what ever we like, its called "Freedom of speech" & the state doesn't go around with a mind to annihilate citizens it disaproves of.

[herosrest]

Back on topic.............. lt is a worthy thought - feting those who defend us.
However, in the real (ie - not the middle/upper class land of pc rp) off duty military just wanna get whacked and have a larf. They get into some serius trouble for bringing dis-repute to the uniform.

[Lgbpop]

Don't know bout your country. But here we are allowed to say what ever we like, its called "Freedom of speech" & the state doesn't go around with a mind to annihilate citizens it disaproves of.

Same here. Even I'm allowed to say what I think. So I did. Freedom of speech, don't you know. Our state said nothing about annihilation, I did.

I'm still curious about who you think the "American establishment" IS. American government was never in favor of the Irish side during the Troubles that I remember - publicly, at least - and aside from a few prominent fools most of American society weren't either. Lastly, The American establishment was in no position to "allow" or forbid anything on UK soil. Lord knows, we had enough problems of our own to deal with anyhow.

[j.m@talk]

What about the disrepute they get the nation in to tossin' explosives around the place willy nilly on a whim ........ This is after all a search for WMD's innit ??

Well it was ....... Now its just a ....... Well add your own expletive followed by "UP"

[j.m@talk]

I'm still curious about who you think the "American establishment" IS. American government was never in favor of the Irish side during the Troubles that I remember - publicly, at least - and aside from a few prominent fools most of American society weren't either. Lastly, The American establishment was in no position to "allow" or forbid anything on UK soil. Lord knows, we had enough problems of our own to deal with anyhow.

What I am saying is the American Establishment allowed funds to be freely collected & consolidated then transferred to a european terrorist organisation... That the American Establishment certainly were in a position to prevent however chose not to.

[Lgbpop]

I couldn't care LESS what disrepute this nation might be considered to be in by the hoi polloi. I leave that up to the whiny little crybabies in Washington. The way I figure, the people whose opinions matter - the everyday Joes and Janes just trying to have a better life - are backed up in line trying to come here legally, and risking their lives or deportations to come here illegally. We can't be all that bad when so many people want to be here.

As far as the UN, they'll NEVER love us. (So why are they so adamant about staying in New York City? I know, they don't have to pay their parking tickets!) I say good thing, too. As long as they are careful around us, I'm happy. If we were the imperialists everyone says we were, we'd have ruled the world for 50 years by now.

[Lgbpop]

What I am saying is the American Establishment allowed funds to be freely collected & consolidated then transferred to a european terrorist organisation... That the American Establishment certainly were in a position to prevent however chose not to.

Freedom of speech and freedom of thought applies to those fools as well. Unfortunately.

[j.m@talk]

Freedom of speech and freedom of thought applies to those fools as well. Unfortunately.

I was talking about deeds as well you know

[JPnyc]

The United Nations is the world's largest eunuch. The only other organization that approaches that level of impotence is the union I used to belong to, the American Federation of musicians local 802. I'm not particularly concerned with what the UN thinks of the USA.

I'm a lot more concerned about societies like the US and the UK being held prisoner by religious fanatics combined with our own insatiable thirst for political correctness. That's a much greater threat, to me.