We've asked a lot of our troops in the past decade. Too much, really. We fail to equip them properly and we don't have enough of them. Then we go and send them off all over the World into conflicts where our national interest is not clear. Nowhere is this more true than in the Iraq conflict. What on earth are we doing there? What has been achieved? And at what cost in terms of blood and money?
In Dover & Deal we used to have the army at Connaught Barracks, the Marines at Deal. In times further past, the Channel Fleet was stationed on the Downs off Deal's coast. In the Second World War, there were RAF airfields in many locations. So we have a great martial heritage - but it's now a martial past. Charlie Elphicke believes this is strange. If Britain were ever attacked it would be in the South East and most likely across the Dover Straits. So why are hardly any forces stationed here?
Charlie Elphicke believes Britain needs to be strongly protected, so that our nation is kept safe. We need a strong navy. We need an effective air force. And we need the army to be equipped with what it needs to do its job properly. We do not need to combine our forces with those of our European neighbours. We do not need to send our troops all over the place on madcap foreign policy adventures. Gunboat diplomacy may have worked at times in the Victorian era, but it's out of place today.
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NuLabour just don't care about HM Forces. Fact. How can they, when so many of the the leading NuLabourites are ex-CND members or supporters? "TA" now stands for "Temping Agency," plugging the gaps caused by incessant NuLabour cutbacks. Bliar cared so much about HM Forces, he couldn't even be bothered to pronounce "lieutenant" properly.
- DavidG
We used to have the army not just at Connaught Barracks but at several other places too! In previous centuries, when the threat came from across the Channel, we had troops stationed at three barracks on the Western Heights, at Fort Burgoyne and on the cliffs above the North Fall Meadow. When I was young we still had troops stationed at the Connaught, Castle and Old Park Barracks. They took part in the local carnival (as did the Marines in Deal) and also carried out "Beat the Retreat" and "Trooping the Colour" ceremonies and other entertainments on the Castle parade ground (now gone to make way for Jubilee Way!), the Promenade and at Crabble Athletic Ground. Both Dover and Deal lost a great deal from their local economies, and from the life of the towns, when the troops were withdrawn
- Bill Beer
"Gunboat diplomacy may have worked at times in the Victorian era, but it's out of place today" I am not sure this quote is entirely true Charlie. A return to this type of stance is becoming ever more necessary in a time where the power of the pen is laughed at. Never more has a strong global presence been needed and a demonstration that although only a small isle the UK can still hold its own. It is shudder-some to think that through over education we ignore natures first lessons of survival of the fittest, strongest and fastest. Once respected as the home of good manners, England has let itself down. The withdrawal of National Service and the allowed development of loutish and abusive behavior has made us a global laughing stock, and all this since the 1960's. The question is are we over using our forces or have our forces suffered at the hands of over educated idiots for too long?
- Ian Palmer
What is your view on the jailing of SAS Trooper Danny Nightingale? Should the PM tell Dominic Grieve that it is in the public interest to release him? The PM is going to lose a lot of votes and support over his stance not to get involved.
- Dorian Rees