Head of armed forces calls for free postage to war zones

IWW Fellow Worker · Post by **IWW Fellow Worker** » 20 Aug 2007, 20:18

DirtyHarry wrote:
IWW Fellow Worker wrote:Perhaps the overpaid politicians and businessmen who have these young people sent off to fight these wars could put their hands in their pockets and pay something towards the cost.

Derek Twigg, the Armed Forces Minister has invited 150 disabled ex-servicemen to be awarded with a badge (not a medal) at a function on HMS Belfast. No doubt this is in response to the criticism of the way the Government treats ex-servicemen. (The Ghurkas being one example). The 150 disabled ex-servicemen have to pay for their own travel to London and accommodation. There have been complaints from some of the ex-servicemen that this will be just a photo opportunity to make Twigg and the Government look as though they care.
If I was an ex-serviceman, disabled, and that shower of shite in Westminster wanted me to pay my own travel exspenses, accomodation, etc, just
so I'd get a badge, and they, a good photo opportunity, I'd tell them to go and have a good long wank for themselves , and I'd stop at home.

And that is exactly what they seem to be doing Harry. It was on local radio earlier. Twigg has been under quite a bit of stick lately because of the state of barracks and married quarters here, and the shabby treatment of ex-servicemen, many of whom end up homeless. It seems he has scored yet another own goal with this one. It appears the MOD doesn't even have the cash to send a Land Rover to Euston Station to pick these lads up. Twigg is a real New Labour success story. Former Halton Councillor, Twigg had to shave off his moustache when he was elected MP for Halton in 1997. He made a rash statement when a factory in his constituency closed down within months of his election, blaming the 'capitalist system.' He soon learned from this mistake and did his best to brown nose Blair who gave him a junior post in the Ministry of Transport. He did a fine job by refusing to sanction the extension of the hugely successful Manchester tram system, continued by refusing funding for a tram system in Liverpool and anounced that the new bridge linking Widnes and Runcorn would be a toll bridge thereby guaranteeing increased traffic through central Warrington. Personally, I wouldn't want to e seen in the same town at Twigg and I can well understand the feeling of any ex-serviceman who decides to stay at home and have a pint in the Legion rather than make this pratt look good.

shelanda · Post by **shelanda** » 20 Aug 2007, 20:18

pilsbury wrote:Have blueys stopped being sent for free?(thats what we called them when i was in)

Remember sending them to my Son, don't they do them now then?

dean41 · Post by **dean41** » 20 Aug 2007, 21:44

Aye parcels and blueys were free in 82. My old dear sent me a Sony Walkman. Only trouble was I got it on the day we were coming home. Ha ha . Glad to see the forces are to get free mail. Only right in my opinion

KawasakiKid · Post by **KawasakiKid** » 20 Aug 2007, 22:45

POSTMAN wrote:Yeah it's just been changed,just got a link for it.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 295498.ece

:lfo :lfo Just read the article. It seems to be saying that Dannatt has been in contact with PinkAL on more than one occasion about the issue of postage for the Troops. It implies that until Dannatt stuck his neck out on TV, PinkAl did not want to know. As as ex squaddie I feel our troops are being betrayed by a government that has no understanding of the ethos of service, the very job they were elected to do!!!!---------F**K OFF liebour--------KAWAK

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 21 Aug 2007, 15:14

dean41 wrote:Should still be free. Never mind this breach of licence dross. Nowt like a letter or a parcel full of stuff from your mother or granny when you are in far off places getting shot at by some t..t you,ve never met ha ha

If they don't like being "in far off places getting shot at by some"one then they shouldn't have signed up for the well paid career with generous pension, early retirement and loads of other perks in the first place. And any right minded person should be able to spare a few quid for postage on a pachage to their son or grandson, without whinging and expecting everything for free, playing on the public sympathy as if they had been conscripted like in the two world wars.

dean41 · Post by **dean41** » 21 Aug 2007, 16:22

Don,t know where you get you info from mate but well paid,works out at about Â£2.70 an hour for a squaddie/rifleman as are paid per 24 hours.generous pension maybe halfway decent but only if you have done the full 22 years, after which you used to have to leave, so hardly early retirement as you have to find other employment at say age 40. As for other perks could,nt say as Have been out a while. 99.9 of the people who join the Forces do so for the adventure and in my experience to see if " THEY CAN HACK IT" .Money has certaintly got nothing to do with it

Post by **mogsyboy** » 21 Aug 2007, 16:46

Gosh lounge lizard you sound exactly like the people who said the same about us on strike! If we don't like the hours and conditions just leave, no one is forcing us to stay. For myself I think free postage is a definite yes and always should be for our armed forces.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 21 Aug 2007, 16:53

Interesting petition.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk:80/mailtoforces/

IWW Fellow Worker · Post by **IWW Fellow Worker** » 21 Aug 2007, 17:29

Lounge Lizard makes the same point as several ex-servicemen have on radio phone-ins. Things move on and the days of one letter every few weeks and a postcard to Jean Metcalfe hoping she might play a Dickie Valentine song have gone. These days they have access to E-mail and their own phones. They're not as remote as they were. In the case of Iraq, I think the White House should put something in place for British forces. It's their war our lads are fighting after all.

naeagain · Post by **naeagain** » 21 Aug 2007, 18:29

Have we made a profit!!! I know its The Sun and it could be crap??? Check the last paragraph?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007380699,00.html

pilsbury · Post by **pilsbury** » 21 Aug 2007, 20:56

Lounge Lizard it sounds like you have know experience of being in the armed forces.When your miles from home its great to get a letter.Remember the great job they do.

springheeled boris · Post by **springheeled boris** » 21 Aug 2007, 22:21

sorry but i don't buy this great job s**t. they are just working class bullies sent to rape, murder and steal someones oil.in the end they are just fighting a rich mans war and are killing working class conscripts- our working class comrades, the down trodden, the oppressed and weak sent to defend their own turf. i would have more respect for these working class lads if they turned their guns on their so called superiors, the land owners, the rich and the royal family. ALL TRADE UNIONIST SHOULD BE INTERNATIONALIST AND SUPPORT OUR COMRADES WHERE EVER.

Post by **moon71** » 21 Aug 2007, 22:41

Personal view here, dont bite my ead of! First reaction is to let DHL or TNT do it for free. Whys it allways us doing the work for fk all. Then i sit back an remember what it says on my 20yr service award.......... For queen an country......... Er no, for the community. If it was my brother/sister (whether i agree with the war OF terror or not) i'd want mama to send him sumthing for free. Have a heart fellas, the whole issue proves a point for the RM, management an worker alike. We are a service. PS all strike breakers should be hosed down, they stink of my OT that they stole in the strike.........

Post by **plodsie** » 21 Aug 2007, 23:47

IWW Fellow Worker wrote:
gazzer wrote:Why not get all the parcels sent through TNT DHL etc,then they can downstream it through RM and we'll deliver it for fuc- all like everything else we deliver for them
Probably because the fantastic competition can't manage anything which isn't of a standard dimension. A bit like Leighton's head.

I think Gazzer does have a point. TNT is practically worldwide and I'm sure they'll have the ability to deliver to these places. Of course the army might not be in, so the TNT man will leave a card to tell them to pick their items up at a nearby (probably Iran or Pakistan) office.

IWW Fellow Worker · Post by **IWW Fellow Worker** » 21 Aug 2007, 23:50

plodsie wrote:
IWW Fellow Worker wrote:
gazzer wrote:Why not get all the parcels sent through TNT DHL etc,then they can downstream it through RM and we'll deliver it for fuc- all like everything else we deliver for them
Probably because the fantastic competition can't manage anything which isn't of a standard dimension. A bit like Leighton's head.
I think Gazzer does have a point. TNT is practically worldwide and I'm sure they'll have the ability to deliver to these places. Of course the army might not be in, so the TNT man will leave a card to tell them to pick their items up at a nearby (probably Iran or Pakistan) office.

They'll be in Iran just as soon as Bush gives the order. As for Pakistan, if the Yanks think there is any oil to be had on the North West Frontier, they'll be off there as well. Perhaps the US Postal Service could take over things?