General Chat

The people of Wootton Bassett turn out time after time to pay their respects to the servicemen and women who have lost their lives in the war in Afghanistan as they begin their final journey home...yet how many times does our PM or his Defence Minister attend?
In the US every US serviceman killed in action is met by a senior Government official on their repatriation.
I have a nasty feeling that the UK government does not give a real toss about our troops...Discuss

Agreed
Liz

You get the feeling they are just cannon fodder, as they used to say in the Great war.

I hope that the government are like the rest of us, that each death saddens us terribly but that we can't just stop living our lives or doing our jobs to go and pay our respects. Like many other people, I would like to go and stand there with the others but can't. What I do do is attend the Remembrance Sunday service almost every year.

If I lived in the area then I would go and pay my respects.

Maureen

Couldn't agree with you more Colin.

I am, and always have been, totally opposed to our involvement in both Iraq and Afghanistan but these lads have literally given everything in pursuit of what they believe in. I salute their courage and bravery, and mourn their sacrifice. Whether I understand or accept their views is irrelevant. They have served their country, and their country's leaders should show their deep appreciation by joining the wonderful people of Wootton Bassett in paying their last respects.

I am once again agreeing with Uggers!
Because the people in Wootton Bassett are on the route from the airfield where the bodies are brought back to they have started this caring 'tradition' to see the lads and lasses home, and all thanks to them for doing it. I feel they are doing it for all of us who would get there if we could, and that includes people from the government as well I am sure. Not everything is done in the public eye, who knows the PM and others would probably attend if they could. I do actually think Gordon Brown has a very caring side to him, I have seen him on tv when talking with people bereaved and he looks more sincere than Tony Blair ever did in the same circumstances.

Lizx

I suppose the situation in the United States is a little different in that they are conscripted to the army (I think).

On the subject of the Remembrance Day Service.
Why are we only remembering the dead of the two World Wars. Don't we owe the bowmen at Agincourt and the sailors against the Armada a debt of gratitude too?

I don't think you do stop.They all helped bring about the freedom we all enjoy.