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Blair praises Black Watch, but deaths provoke fury
Times Online ^ | November 05, 2004 | Philippe Naughton

Posted on 11/05/2004 6:57:34 AM PST by Ginifer

Tony Blair today praised the "extraordinary and heroic job" being done by the Black Watch in Iraq after the death of three Scottish soldiers in a suicide bomb attack south of Baghdad.

But the depth of feeling in Scotland itself over the redeployment of a Black Watch battle group was shown by comments from one of the dead soldier's brothers - himself a Black Watch private - who called President Bush "an a***hole" for starting a "war over nothing".

The three dead men were named this morning as Sergeant Stuart Gray, 31, Private Paul Lowe, 19, and Private Scott McArdle, 22. All three men were from Fife.

Private Lowe's 18-year-old brother, Craig, who returned from Basra last month, paid tribute to his "brilliant brother, comrade and friend" and said he had always loved his job.

But he told the Scottish Press Association: "He thought they shouldn't be there, they should all just be back here because it's a war which nobody knows why it was started or what it was done for."

Private Lowe said that his brother had thought little of Mr Bush and his reasons for going to war. He said "He just thought he was an a***hole for starting a war over nothing, trying to get money and oil.

"That’s what we thought ourselves, that’s what Paul thought as well, we all thought that. I think they should just get them all out of there now because if not we are going to lose a lot more than this."

Mary Gray, the mother of Sergeant Stuart Gray said of her son: “He was an experienced and professional soldier, a loving husband, father, son and brother, and a proud member of the Black Watch.”

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: blackwatch; fallen; iraq; napalminthemorning; wot
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To: Travis McGee
You and I know there will always be soldiers who suddenly realise that maybe they should not have joined up.

All armies have them including America.

The press leapt on this and blasted it out as a means to attack Tony Blair and his policy.

But that does not excuse the wholesale Brit Bashing.

If the loud mouth anti brit freepers had kept quite I too would of condemned this lads action.

And I have a funny feeling that his career is over and would not be surprised if he does not have a COs interview when he goes back to barracks.

Also his outburst has maybe added to the danger his muckers will face.

Cheers Tony

81 posted on 11/06/2004 8:12:43 AM PST by tonycavanagh
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To: Ginifer
Private Lowe said that his brother had thought little of Mr Bush and his reasons for going to war. He said "He just thought he was an a***hole for starting a war over nothing, trying to get money and oil.

"That’s what we thought ourselves, that’s what Paul thought as well, we all thought that. I think they should just get them all out of there now because if not we are going to lose a lot more than this."

Methinks the two of you didn't think much.

82 posted on 11/06/2004 8:13:28 AM PST by BlessedBeGod (George W. Bush -- The Terror of the Terrorists)
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To: pbrown

please respect my wishes in my private email to you


83 posted on 11/06/2004 8:13:34 AM PST by tonycavanagh
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To: tonycavanagh

Because we both know the commie pinko scum media will go to great lengths to "cherry pick" anti-war comments, I'm agreeing with you for now. They may have discarded 100 comments supporting the mission to find these guys.


84 posted on 11/06/2004 8:15:39 AM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: tonycavanagh

I'm sorry. I didn't see it from where I'm at..I'll do it now...


85 posted on 11/06/2004 8:17:45 AM PST by processing please hold (All I ever need to know about Islam, I learned on 9-11)
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To: Max Combined
Listen from your posts you seem to be a bit of an expert so obey your countries call and enlist today.

Then your Military would not need the fig leave and you still haven’t explained what you meant by an election.

PS I have total respect for the American military and a stint in them will do you the world of good.

86 posted on 11/06/2004 8:18:11 AM PST by tonycavanagh
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To: pbrown

Thankyou


87 posted on 11/06/2004 8:18:44 AM PST by tonycavanagh
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To: tonycavanagh
Also, I salute all the stalwart Tommies who have always resolutely done their duty, and always will.
88 posted on 11/06/2004 8:18:59 AM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: tonycavanagh

"they were never anything more than a fig leaf." means that from the very beginning they were never anything other than a fig leaf.

Now that the election is over, there is really no need for any foreign troops in Iraq, although I am glad that the British are there.

Politics are always involved in wars. I was watching the History Channel a couple nights ago and they were having a show about WWII. This segment was about the rivalry between Patton and Monty as to how to best conduct the war in Europe. At one point Eisenhower told Monty that he could not approve Monty's plan because there was an election coming up in the US. Such is the world we live in.


89 posted on 11/06/2004 8:21:56 AM PST by Max Combined (There is in human nature generally more of the fool than of the wise.)
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To: tonycavanagh

You're welcome.


90 posted on 11/06/2004 8:22:32 AM PST by processing please hold (All I ever need to know about Islam, I learned on 9-11)
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To: Travis McGee
The press always try to twist things, and ask leading questions

I remember once we were on riot duty and were getting rocks, bricks, broken paving stones and petrol bombs thrown at us, I have a nice scar along my nose from one.

Afterwards as were packing up some members of the press sidled up and started asking leading questions such as wouldn’t you like to go in harder and what do you think about being belted by rocks.

Some lads the younger ones got a bit heated and made some comments that were twisted into British troops want to shoot civilians and talked about how blood thirsty we were.

This lad yes he is a soldier but he is 18, just lost his brother 19 which meant they must have been very close similar age, lad was in shock.

You and I know that the best age for special forces is 25 26 onwards to about 30, because at that age you are fit but your maturity has also developed, to better cope with the stress of war.

Hell if some of the comments when totally stressed or zoned out have made have been reported in the press God knows what people would think of me.

Cheers Tony

91 posted on 11/06/2004 8:28:10 AM PST by tonycavanagh
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To: tonycavanagh

"Also his outburst has maybe added to the danger his muckers will face."

You are darn tooting. Just like all the whinging by your press has alerted the terrorists that the Brits are the weak link and thus the best target.

I am not anti-British. I love the books by George MacDonald Fraser and I admire the British contributions to civilization very much.


92 posted on 11/06/2004 8:29:35 AM PST by Max Combined (There is in human nature generally more of the fool than of the wise.)
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To: tonycavanagh

Amen brother, ditto my comments at times.


93 posted on 11/06/2004 8:31:09 AM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: All

I remember. On the day the Black Watch soldiers were killed, I believe the press said that raised the total of British deaths to 73? Did anyone else hear this?


94 posted on 11/06/2004 8:35:35 AM PST by processing please hold (All I ever need to know about Islam, I learned on 9-11)
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To: pbrown
The dead British and American soldiers are equal in the eyes of God.

May he protect them all in the dangerous days ahead.

95 posted on 11/06/2004 8:39:59 AM PST by processing please hold (All I ever need to know about Islam, I learned on 9-11)
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To: Tallguy

Get real. The soldier is entitled to say what he feels. No justice system is going to arrest him or convict him for speaking his mind.


96 posted on 11/06/2004 11:16:20 PM PST by Tommyjo
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To: Max Combined

I meant as a proportion of troops deployed


97 posted on 11/08/2004 7:46:30 AM PST by Killing Time
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To: tonycavanagh

sorry i did not get back sooner. i live in the stone age and do not have a computer at home yet. soon i hope.
no way did Bush play politics with the servicemen
the closest he came to doing this may have been holding off on falujah , but allawi also had to give the go ahead.
but we are at it now and with the help of our good friends from across the pond the vermin will be exterminated.
by the way, i love the names of your battle groups.

oh and i am on this here planet and fairly entrenced :)


98 posted on 11/08/2004 9:48:12 AM PST by 537cant be wrong (the lib turneraitor)
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To: Ginifer
Private Lowe said that his brother had thought little of Mr Bush and his reasons for going to war.

What about Blair and his reasons for going to war? Blair's reasons and Bush's reasons are one and the same.

I am amazed at how Blair gets a free ride at Bush's expense.

99 posted on 11/08/2004 9:52:07 AM PST by JCEccles
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