Free Republic

Forces will be the 'also-rans' of EuropeBy Brendan Carlin, Political Correspondent(Filed: 07/10/2004) A warning that Labour cuts could relegate the Armed Forces to the "also-rans" of Europe was issued yesterday by the Iraq war veteran Tim Collins. He made his comments as Nicholas Soames, the shadow defence secretary, condemned Labour's treatment of the military and pledged to outspend the Government on frontline services by £2.7 billion. Col Collins, who was the commanding officer of 1 Bn, the Royal Irish Guards as the war began, became a national figure last year with his rousing eve-of-battle speech. A framed copy of the...

Col Tim Collins, the Army officer who won worldwide renown for a rousing speech on the eve of the Iraq war, has won undisclosed libel damages against two tabloid newspapers which accused him of war crimes. Col Tim Collins: 'relieved and totally vindicated' The Sunday Mirror admitted that allegations it made about Col Collins were false, including claims that nine Iraqi soldiers were shot while surrendering to Royal Irish Regiment troops. The Sunday Express said its report that there was an inquiry into an incident where one of Saddam Hussein's henchmen was allegedly doused in petrol and set alight, then...