Libya: British Special Forces on the ground

According to a report in British newspaper, The Mirror, British special forces troops are on the ground in Libya.

The paper reveals images taken of British SAS troops in Libya. It goes on to reveal that the unit, comprising ex-British special forces soldiers, are employed by a private security firm that is sanctioned by the British government.

The Mirror goes on to say "The elite unit is funded by the MoD via a security firm to topple Colonel Gaddafi."

Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron, insists no British boots are on the ground in Libya. But a senior military source said: “They’re representing Britain.”

Is this Britain's secret ground war?

Read full story and view photos at The Mirror

UK leaving Iraq on Sunday after 8 year presence

Britain's Defence secretary says the departure of 170 navy training personnel from Iraq on Sunday 22nd May will mark conclusion of Operation Telic.

Britain's eight years of military commitment in Iraq will finally and formally come to an end on Sunday 22nd May, when the remaining forces in the south of the country will withdraw.

The announcement to bring to an end one of the most controversial military campaigns in recent history was made on Wednesday in a statement by the defence secretary, Liam Fox.

In total, the UK still has about 170 mostly naval personnel in Iraq, helping to train the fledgling Iraqi navy from the port of Umm Qasr. The contingent includes a few Royal Marines.

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Britain expels Libyan ambassador

Britain has moved to expel Libya's ambassador after the UK embassy in Tripoli was attacked by a mob.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said Omar Jelban was "persona non grata" and had been given 24 hours to leave the country.

Diplomatic missions belonging to a number of Nato states have been targeted after an air strike reportedly killed Muammar Gaddafi's youngest son and three of his grandchildren.

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UK in Libya 'for the long haul'

The UK "must prepare for the long haul" in Libya, Downing Street has said.

Earlier Foreign Secretary William Hague briefed the cabinet about the situation in Libya.

Number 10 said progress was being made in putting greater pressure on Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and there were "grounds for optimism".

RAF fighter aircraft "successfully attacked" three armoured personnel carriers near the besieged city of Misrata over the weekend.

But a spokeswoman for the prime minister said: "We must prepare for the long haul."

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Britain's economic problems solved

We couldn't resist posting this obvious solution to Britain's economic woes. It's a pity politicians can never find an easy solution to anything.

Our letter to Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron:


Dear Mr. Cameron,

Please find below our suggestion for fixing Britain's battered economy.


Instead of giving billions of pounds to banks that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, we suggest using the following plan. You could call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:


There are about 10 million people over the age of 50 in the work force.


Pay each of them 1 million pounds severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:


1) They MUST retire.
Result: 10 million job openings - unemployment problem solved!


2) They MUST buy a new British car.
Result: 10 million cars ordered - ailing car industry fixed!


3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage.
Result: Britain's housing crisis fixed!


4) They MUST send their kids to school/college/university.
Result: Crime rate solved!


5) They MUST buy 100 pounds worth of alcohol/tobacco each week.
Result: you get your money back in tax and duty!


We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours etc etc.

Real IRA Threatens More Police Killings

Northern Ireland: Dissident republicans have threatened to kill more police officers and disrupt the Queen's historic visit to Ireland.

The warning from the Real IRA was read by a masked man at an Easter Rising commemoration in Derry City Cemetery.

Referring to the police, he said: "...those who turn traitor ...are as liable for execution as anyone else regardless of their religion, cultural background or motivation."

It is three weeks since PC Ronan Kerr, a Catholic recruit, was killed by a booby trap bomb planted beneath his car in Omagh.

The group also vowed to ensure the Queen "gets the message" that she is not welcome when she visits Ireland next month.

Read more and view video at Sky

London Taliban target women and gays

'Wear a headscarf or we will kill you': How the 'London Taliban' is threatening women and trying to ban gays in bid to impose sharia law.

Women who do not wear headscarves are being threatened with violence and even death by Islamic extremists intent on imposing sharia law on parts of Britain, it was claimed today.

Other targets of the 'Talibanesque thugs', being investigated by police in the Tower Hamlets area of London, include homosexuals.

Stickers have been plastered on public walls stating: 'Gay free zone. Verily Allah is severe in punishment'.

Read full story at Daily Mail

Bikers ride for fallen soldiers

Bikers have roared off on a Ride of Respect to show appreciation of soldiers' sacrifice in Afghanistan.

Some 10,000 set off in waves of 500 from Hullavington airfield in Wiltshire, UK, to ride through the town of Wootton Bassett, scene of many moving homecomings for service personnel killed in the conflict.

They have paid donations to the charity, Afghan Heroes, to take part in the event.

Laurence Phillips, a spokesman for the charity, said: "This has been organised by the biking fraternity from across the UK, and it is their way of expressing their gratitude to the soldiers, who have given the ultimate, and also to the town.

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Ranger who died fighting Taliban repatriated to UK

The body of a Royal Irish Regiment soldier killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan is due to be repatriated back to the UK Thursday 17th March.

Lance Corporal Stephen McKee (27) from Banbridge died after his armoured vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device during an operation to disrupt the Taliban last Wednesday.

His remains are expected to be flown into RAF Lyneham later this afternoon.

L/Cpl McKee's widow Carley, his parents Heather and Bobby and other relatives are due to make the journey from their home to the Wiltshire airbase for a private ceremony.

They are also expected to join hundreds of people lining the streets of Wootton Bassett as the cortege passes through the market town on its way to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

Soldier and his dog arrive back in UK

Hundreds of mourners lined the main street of Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, UK, to honour Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, who was shot while on patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan on 1st March. 

The crowds were swelled by family pets and a dozen Police and Prison Service dogs at the repatriation ceremony for the 26-year-old soldier, whose dog Theo died from a seizure three hours after his master was killed.

The body of L/Cpl Tasker, from Kirkcaldy, Fife, and the ashes of Theo had earlier been flown back to RAF Lyneham in the same aircraft.

L/Cpl Tasker was the subject of the repatriation ceremony but Theo’s ashes will be presented in private to his family.

Read more at The Telegraph

British Defence chiefs spend over 50 MILLION pounds on VIPs

At a time when 11,000 British troops, many of whom are fighting in Afghanistan, face being made redundant, British Defence chiefs have blown more than £50MILLION hosting VIPs since operations began in Afghanistan.

Civil servants and officers splashed the cash entertaining MPs, Ministers and councillors at lunches, barbecues and lavish black-tie balls.

And foreign bigwigs and their partners are wined and dined on the Navy's ships when they dock at ports around the world.

Read full story at The Sun

British MoD save money by paying 22 pounds for a light bulb

At a time when hundreds of British troops fighting in Afghanistan face being made redundant, British Defence chiefs pay £22 EACH for 65p lightbulbs, Army documents seen by The Sun newspaper have revealed.

Dim MoD bosses incredibly also pay £103 each for SCREWS.

The shocking waste is revealed as 11,000 of Our Boys and Girls face the sack, and ships and planes are scrapped, to plug a £38billion deficit.

The public money spent on lightbulbs represents a mark-up of more than 3,000 PER CENT on their true retail value. 

Read full story at The Sun

British bomb sniffing dog, Theo

A British Army dog that held the record for finding the most bombs and weapons in Afghanistan has died along with his handler in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Liam Tasker, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps and Theo, a 22-month-old springer spaniel cross, were killed as they came under small arm fire in the Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand Province in Afghanistan.

L-Cpl. Tasker, who was from Scotland, was shot dead and the dog Theo died later from a seizure at Camp Bastion, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Theo acted as "front man" of the patrol and was dedicated to L-Cpl Tasker. Theo, had been on his first six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Military Working Dog Support Unit, based at Camp Bastion.

Funeral for British Para killed by IED

Pvt. Martin Bell

The funeral of the 350th British soldier to be killed in Afghanistan will take place in West Yorkshire 25th February 2011.

Pte Martin Bell, 24, from Bradford, was serving with the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment when he died.

The Ministry of Defence said he died in an explosion after disobeying a direct order and going to the aid of another wounded soldier in Helmand province.

Pte Bell died on 25 January. The funeral service will take place at Bradford Cathedral.

The soldier was hailed a hero for his bravery by his commanding officer Lt Col Andrew Harrison who said: "He knew the risks all too well. 

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EU 'Faces Failure' Over Afghan Police

International plans to withdraw foreign troops from Afghanistan by 2015 faced a major setback after a British House of Lords committee concluded that the European Union mission to train local police risked failure.

The damning report, from a committee of 12 peers, chaired by Lord Teverson and including former Chief of the Defence Staff, Field Marshall Lord Inge, said "there is a real risk that the EU will fail in an area in where it should show leadership".

Read full story at SkyNews

Brit soldier on front line 7 months pregnant

A British soldier served on the front line in Afghanistan while she was seven months pregnant, it was revealed today.

Sources said Private Kayla Donnelly, 21, did not know she was carrying her baby while fighting in Helmand province from March to September last year.

The machine gunner from 12 Logistic Support only discovered she was pregnant with her son Josh when her contractions began while on holiday in Tenerife.

Read more at Daily Mail

Prince presents medals to Gurkha soldiers

The Prince of Wales has presented campaign medals to Gurkha soldiers following their six-month deployment in Afghanistan. 

As Colonel in Chief, Prince Charles met troops from 1st Btn. Royal Gurkha Rifles at Sir John Moore Barracks in Folkestone.

The battalion completed its tour of duty working with Afghan National Security Forces in November.

It lost four of its members in Afghanistan in July and October.

Major James Joshua Bowman, Lt Neal Turkington and Cpl Arjun Purja Pun were killed by a rogue Afghan soldier on 13 July, and Rifleman Suraj Gurung was killed in an explosion while on patrol in Nahr-e Saraj on 2 October. 

Read more at BBC