The Ultimate Weapon by Chris Ryan is a military thriller set in the heart of the Irag war. It’s an exhilarating adventure as a soldier through the pages of this book. Ryan takes you on a thrill ride you won’t soon forget.

Two men, a woman, and a desperate quest for survival.  Meet Nick Scot, a former soldier who fought in the SAS during the first Gulf War. He was once captured by the Iraqis and tortured but managed to survive and escape that madness. He hasn’t been the same since. Then there is Nick’s daughter Sarah who is a Cambridge University student and a promising scientist. There is more too. Meet Sarah’s on and off again partner Jed Bradley. What do these three have in common? Survival! Sarah gets kidnapped because of a new scientific breakthrough she discovered, and it’s up to her father and the man she loves to save her. Treachery is everywhere! Odds are in no one’s favor! Will the two men be able to put aside their differences for the woman they both love?

The book is a very good one. It’s a fast paced novel and has you on edge through the whole adventure. The action scenes were vividly illustrated on Ryan’s words. I am normally not into military novels but this book I could not put down.  It now ranks high on my list of favorite books.

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Britain is still used Land Rover Snach despite vulnerability to roadside bombs in Afghanistan (French – Archive)

Continued and the British Ministry of Defence to send its troops in the Land Rover Snach light shielding admitted call it the “coffins mobile”, and even after years of experiments conducted by the ministry even though they proved that these vehicles vulnerable to roadside bombs, as shown confidential documents seen by the newspaper The Independent on Sunday.

Revealed secret tests conducted on these vehicles in 2005 that even when the soldiers wearing body armor, the Land Rover vehicles Snach not only provide little protection from improvised explosive devices.

And killed about 37 of the British military as a result of attacks on these vehicles since 2001 – more than 20 of them since 2005 – the year in which the experiments carried out, and still the same vehicles in use in Afghanistan.

However, although the tests revealed the poor performance of these carriers, the Ministry of Defence withheld reports that tests on the grounds that “the disclosure of such information could prejudice the safety of the armed forces.”

Conviction
Condemned the families of soldiers killed while riding in these vehicles military policy about this type of carriers, the ministry has introduced several improvements to the shielding of these vehicles since 2005, but still waiting to be replaced by alternative, more modern and better Tdrie.

And expressed Sue Smith – who was among those who condemned the Ministry of Defence last night that killed her son Philip in a bomb attack on a vehicle Snach Land Rover in Iraq in 2005 – as seen for loathing it.

Despite the risks defined by the Ministry of Defence since 2005 none of the carriers mentioned had not been replaced in Afghanistan, but did not provide Defense Department officials request the replacement of these vehicles but the best ones during the year 2010.

He says MP British Conservative Party and a former officer in the British army Patrick Mrser that the soldiers have been called this vehicle for several years to “shroud moving,” adding that he and others warned of the risks of poor performance of this vehicle and that surprised that the British Army is still used in more regions dangerous.
 

Source: Independent

Last night I became incredibly irate after watching a commercial on television, the advert was promoting Army Careers. Hang on a minute, is it my imagination or just a few days was there an announcement that a second batch of redundancies was being sent out? (the first was April). Yes! A quick Google search reveals that as recently as four days ago the media were discussing 1000+ redundancies in the British Army. Now forgive my ignorance, but is it not better to retain the services of longer standing soldiers, than lay them off to recruit new ones? Of course I guess it’s all down to the money, why pay Jack £450 a week, when they can pay Jess £200 because he is a new recruit. It does seem however that the newer recruits are more likely to be casualties in the theatre of war, so presumably not just cheaper, but more expendable!

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While I’m on the subject of the British Army, in looking for proof of redundancy figures, I stumbles upon a grieving Grandmother who lost her Grandson just three weeks ago, she said the same thing all relatives say “he was just 20, he never asked to go to Afghanistan!” Well I’m sorry, but obviously he did. UK forces have been fighting in Afghanistan now for ten years, they moved in literally two weeks after the World Trade Centre came down. So, when the victim was ten, we were at war with terrorists in Afghanistan. By 16 when he decided to enrol in the army (if it was indeed 16 or maybe 18) we were still at war, we also would have been battling insurgents in Iraq. Surely it is common sense that when you enrol in the army, if soldiers are overseas being killed in battle there is a 90% chance you will be expected to join them?

As I said, I mean no disrespect, but we have heard the “he/she never wanted to go to…” a dozen times, nobody forced these people to enlist, this was a choice they made, they take a vow to fight for Queen and country, they must accept the consequences of their decisions.

Any loss is tragic, and personally our soldiers should not be fighting; but this is what the role entails and what people joining the army should ultimately accept.

Benedict Arnold V (January 14, 1741 – June 14, 1801) was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces. After the plot was exposed in September 1780, he was commissioned into the British Army as a brigadier general.

Born in Connecticut, Arnold was merchant operating ships on the Atlantic Ocean when the war broke out in 1775. After joining the growing army outside Boston, he distinguished himself through acts of cunning and bravery. His actions included the Capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775, defensive and delaying tactics despite losing the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776, the Battle of Ridgefield, Connecticut (after which he was promoted to major general), operations in relief of the Siege of Fort Stanwix, and key actions during the pivotal Battles of Saratoga in 1777, in which he suffered leg injuries that ended his combat career for several years.

Despite Arnold’s successes, he was passed over for promotion by the Continental Congress while other officers claimed credit for some of his accomplishments. Adversaries in military and political circles brought charges of corruption or other malfeasance, but most often he was acquitted in formal inquires. Congress investigated his accounts and found he was indebted to Congress after spending much of his own money on the war effort. Frustrated and bitter, Arnold decided to change sides in 1779, and opened secret negotiations with the British. In July 1780, he sought and obtained command of West Point in order to surrender it to the British. Arnold’s scheme was exposed when American forces captured British Major John André carrying papers that revealed the plot. Upon learning of André’s capture, Arnold fled down the Hudson River to the British sloop-of-war Vulture, narrowly avoiding capture by the forces of George Washington, who had been alerted to the plot.

Arnold received a commission as a brigadier general in the British Army, an annual pension of £360, and a lump sum of over £6,000. He led British forces on raids in Virginia, and against New London and Groton, Connecticut, before the war effectively ended with the American victory at Yorktown. In the winter of 1782, Arnold moved to London with his second wife, Margaret “Peggy” Shippen Arnold. He was well received by King George III and the Tories but frowned upon by the Whigs. In 1787, he entered into mercantile business with his sons Richard and Henry in Saint John, New Brunswick, but returned to London to settle permanently in 1791, where he died ten years later.

Because of the way he changed sides, his name quickly became a byword in the United States for treason or betrayal. His conflicting legacy is recalled in the ambiguous nature of some of the memorials that have been placed in his honor.

The military investigation is part of Royal Regiment of Scotlandperhaps, who was stationed in the period September 2010 -April 2011, in Helmand province, where he participated in thetraining of local police.

Allegations are investigated by the special investigationdepartment of the Ministry of Defence.

“It’s a very serious allegation and we can not comment. The investigation is ongoing,” said a military spokesman.

In 2010, a British soldier was recalled to the country after theTaliban commander killed decapitated by British forces,because its unit being asked to prove that killed the suspect.

In Britain, created a virtual camouflage for military vehicles. Using it, you can do the technique, such as tanks, virtually invisible in any terrain. Development deals with the biggest defensive concern of the country.                                                                                                                                                                              

Called “electronic ink” camouflage is a nanofilm similar to that used now in the Tablet PC for playback on-screen text and images. She applied a thin layer on the surface of the armor and other equipment.

Although the technology is kept secret, it became known that camouflage can buy different colors and contours of the terrain. This is achieved by using external cameras that are constantly sent to the computer information about the external environment. The computer analyzes it, automatically selects the most appropriate for given conditions of colors and geometric design and project them onto the surface. As a result, the tank becomes nearly invisible on the ground.

It is expected that the first tank with a virtual camouflage received by the British Army in 2015, the same experimental machine will go off the assembly line in 2013. The invention will help the crews of combat vehicles to operate in different localities. For example, in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, British troops fighting vehicles disguised as a barren landscape, but this does not help camouflage them among the bushes and trees, which are often hidden by the Taliban.

“Electronic camouflage” is planned for the seven types of machines, and not only secured the crew, but also robots, designed to monitor, mine clearance and delivery of the wounded from the battlefield.

The first model is designed for light combat vehicles weighing 30 tons and equipped with a hybrid electric drive, efficiency and viability of which corresponds to parameters of a modern main battle tank.

However, the mass of the Challenger 2 tank, who is now in the British army, is 62.5 tons. It is equipped with a V12 diesel engine, 1200 hp

Park personnel carriers used by the British Army, is close to cancellation. As for combat vehicles designed specifically for fighting in Helmand province, such as, for example, a very successful model Mastiff, they may not be suitable for use in other theaters.

“It would be inappropriate to make further comments at this time,” said an MoD spokesman.

Significant research has been launched following the announcement to coincide with the arrival of British Prime Minister David Cameron Afghanistan.

The soldier was stationed in southern Helmand province, stronghold of the insurgency. The Taliban have said in the afternoon that he was captured and later killed him, because he was about to be saved.

“I captured alive and I brought (…) but I was then attacked by NATO forces,” he told AFP a Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi.

Outnumbered us and were confident that they will save, so I killed before they catch him alive, “he added.

Cameron soldier’s disappearance prompted to cancel his trip to Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital, because helicopters can be used for search operations soldier.

“The Army must focus on the needs most important of all, that is to help find this person, rather than deal with my movements,” he said to journalists after arriving at Camp Bastion, the main base British and American in Helmand.

Military death raises to 375 deaths among British soldiers since the beginning of the intervention in Afghanistan in 2001.

With about 9,500 troops, the British contingent is the largest after the United States. NATO force in Afghanistan has 130,000 soldiers.

Why some Protestants were so opposed to the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s in Northern Ireland?

With the events of the Civil Rights movement having become a success and gaining more momentum with the passing of the Civil Rights Act in America 1963, Civil Rights movements started to crop up all around the world, as an example Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland there was a divide between the two major communities, Protestants and Catholics. Tensions had been with the Catholics since the Break of Rome by Henry the 8th in 1509 and later the plantation policy started by James 6th of Scotland becoming King in England and letting Protestants settle in English conquered Ireland (Taken over by the English in the 1200’s) majorly in the North East of the island. Now in 1960 tensions started to rise to an all time high with Catholics starting a Civil Rights campaign which started peacefully but ended in a sectarian, guerrilla warfare mess. Catholics wanted a Civil Rights bill as compared to Protestants they suffered major discrimination in everything: the benefit system (Introduced in 1946 to help with the baby boom and post war United Kingdom, it was meant to bring equality rather then superiority and discrimination), jobs, housing, schooling and just general aspects of everyday life.

The first ignition point of the Civil Rights movements was seen to be started by Austin Currie in June 1968. He was a nationalist MP who decided to organise a sit in, at a newly build council house for 19 year old Emily Beattie. Him along with his supporters were trying to point at the discrimination Catholics and lower class Protestants suffered in the welfare state in Northern Ireland. The discrimination he was trying to point out was this women was given priory in the housing system because she was a secretary to a member of the Ulster Unionist Party  and had been given a house over desperate couples who had children. The RUC soon broke up the protest, but not before the television crews picked up the story and reported it highlighting the discrimination.

This next event was the last of its kind for the Civil Rights movement, a protest not involving violence. Currie contracted the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) which stood up for the discriminated people in Northern Ireland and wanted to see the end of superiority in Northern Ireland. Currie wanted to hold a protest to highlight vote rigging in Dungannon which had a 53% turnout of Catholics in the local election but it ended up with the Republications gaining 7 seats while the Unionists who had the lower turn out getting 14. The march went ahead on the 24th August with a 2500 people turnout marching from Coalisland to the edge of Dungannon, chanting and holding placards. The marchers had intended to march into the centre of Dungannon and stage a rally but were stopped by 400 police and the crowd dispersed without any trouble.

Then the start of violence against and with the protests started in October 1968, Londonderry. Two members of the Londonderry Housing Action Committee were on the previous march at Dungannon. They suggested one be held on the 5th October 1968 and informed the Media. The march was banned from entering the city centre by William Craig, Northern Irelands’ Home Affairs Minister. Under the Special Powers Act Craig could ban any march he wanted to. It is unknown why he wanted to ban the marches but it is believe he just held the view that it was just a Republication March calling for unity of Ireland, not a Civil Rights March which called for equality. With all the cameras on the stage the protesters were even more determined and ignored the ban and tried to get to the Diamond the main square in the centre of the city via the Craigavon Bridge. But on the bridge they were met by the RUC who stopped them with barricades and water cannons. The protesters soon got confused and tried to cross the RUC who prevented them.  This was all fine up until the RTE (republican broadcasting company) showed more. It showed Policy brutality of RUC officers beating citizens who were retreating and blasting innocent bystanders with water cannons giving off the impression that Northern Ireland was an oppressive and intolerant state.

As a reaction to this the current serving Northern Ireland Prime Minister, Terence O’Neil passed the anti-discrimination act. This act was meant to ban and make it illegal for discrimination to take place in Northern Ireland especially in the government controlled benefit system. The reforms where passed but the tension continued to mount and rise. Some unionists were unhappy that’s this reforms where happening too fast and others feared that the Civil Rights movement was an attempt at the joining of Northern Ireland and the Free State of Ireland (Now know as the Irish Republic) together. Also many working class Protestants resented the media giving off the impression that only Catholics were suffering when in fact many Protestants where on the poverty line or below it and needed help.

Within a few months of this act being passed O’Neil was forced to resign. In January 1969 militants within  the civil rights movement decided to keep the pressure on him by holding a march from Belfast to Londonderry. A mob of militant Loyalist ambushed the marches but the police did little to protect them and rioting in Londonderry followed. O’Neil called an election to make the most of his support he had among Catholics and Protestants. He won but by only a small majority the hardliners such as Right winged Unionist Ian Paisley where now critizing O’Neil left and right and more marches and violence followed. O’Neil resigned in April of 1969 and was replaced by James Chichester-Clark.

But before all of this happened was the formation of the Protestant paramilitary groups. On the 17th April, 1966 the Free state of Ireland celebrated the Easter Rising anniversary (Where Catholics declared an independent nation free of the Britain’s empire during world war one) Many leaders in the Free State gave speeches condemning the British for not giving up Northern Ireland and remerging the two. This lead to a fear by hard-line Protestant Unionist’s  that there was to be another rise of the IRA and started their own paramilitary groups (Most known is the UVF, Ulster Volunteer Tear force) Their actions started on the 7th Of May that year with a fire bombing on a Catholic owned pub which left one person dead and issued a statement: “From this day, we declare war against the Irish Republican Army and its splinter groups. Known IRA men will be executed mercilessly and without hesitation. Less extreme measures will be taken against anyone sheltering or helping them, but if they persist in giving them aid, then more extreme methods will be adopted . . . we solemnly warn the authorities to make no more speeches of appeasement. We are heavily armed Protestants dedicated to this cause”

In conclusion I think the Protestants where opposed to the Civil Rights movement in 1960’s due to fear. I believe there was a fear among protestants who where under the influence of propaganda by right winged unionist groups and where tricked into believing that the Civil Rights movement was an attempt to merge the two countries into a united Ireland again. There was also a major fear among Protestants of the uprising of the IRA again which led to paramilitary groups being formed with ended with assassination and destruction of property. I believe may Protestants in Ireland at this time had an air of superiority and didn’t think of the lower classes even if it was comprised of Protestants as well. They believed the current system of discrimination especially in politics and the benefit system was fare and the Civil Rights Movement was an attempt to make a united Ireland. I believe this fear lead to people being opposed. I believe this fear was mainly created by Right winged political groups and leaders ( an example would be Ian Paisley) and the Free State of Irelands actions and speeches during the Easter Rising.

   The Indian continent was a vast resource of natural spices and treasures. The country was divided into smaller provinces during the early stages of fifteenth Century. The rule in the country was mainly based on religion and caste. The country was never united until the national movement completed its turn by the establishment of a definite constitution and the democratic rule had been established.

            The early discovery for Indian continent was made by European traders. The Portuguese played a major role in the exploration of new territories and Vasco Da Gamma1460 or 1469 – 24 December 1524, a Portuguese trader, had first discovered the Indian Subcontinent and had set foot in Calicut, on 1498. He was particularly interested in the lucrative spice trade.

            Soon after this discovery both Dutch and Portuguese had established trade ports in India. One of the first trading posts by the British was in Surat, 1612. The early fifteenth and Sixteenth century never portrayed British/Dutch/French/Portuguese to be invaders. Most of the historical books from the era fail to mention this act as they were considered regular traders to the country who came in for the resources and paid in Gold for return.

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            During the Seventeenth and Eighteenth century, British army had defeated most of the Portuguese and Dutch traders off the coast and was engaged in a constant fight with the French, who by then had successfully made ports towards the Eastern Ghats and Goa.

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            Decline of the Mughal Empire during the Eighteenth century also boosted the growth of British trading companies towards the administration of Indian continent. The gradual phase change was made complete in a series of battles between the British Army and the Indian Rulers. The Battle of Plassey, 1757, was the first marked in the history which gave in the rule for Bengal over to the British company. The British Army lead by Robert Clive had defeated the then Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daula. The British Army further spread its reach by the following Battle of Buxar, 1765 which allowed them to gain control over Bengal, Orissa and Bihar.

            Following the defeat of the Emperor Tipu Sultan, the British Army was able to control most of the South Indian provinces directly or by granting rules to princely states. The British Army later extended its control over to the West of India following several battles and defeating Marathas. The North-West of India was ruled by Sikhs and the Punjab regions were annexed in 1849 following the epic battles of First (1846-47) and Second (1848-49) Anglo-Sikh War.

The British rule was finally established and this had its advantages, with the fact that English was made the medium of education. This also helped the Western educated Hindu elites was able to stop the controversial Hindu practices like Child Marriage, Sati and Varna. Literary and Debating societies had emerged in Bombay and Calcutta.

But in midst of all these positives there were a higher count of drawbacks to the British rule. The longer the administration survived, the more dominating the rule was on to the local customs. This included British officials arranging parties in mosques, dancing to the music of regimental bands at terraces of Taj Mahal and the abusive behaviour to citizens including Sepoys. One of the painful incidents of such behaviour was use of whips to clear the crowd while walking through markets; this was accounted by General Henry Blake. This led to several outbreaks of mutiny among the sepoys and rebellion in citizens. Following the annexation of Punjab, there were several mutinies broke out and these had to be brought into control by Force.

This is how the situation of India was before the first Freedom Movement happened.

Second Part – First Independence Movement and the following events.

Osama Dead, Prince Harry Target Terror?
Harry had joined the British Army and served in Afghanistan. Against Taliban

RELATED NEWS

VIVAnews – After the success of a wedding co-Kate William, Prince Harry returned so make the news. This time-related death of the boss of Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden. He is believed to be a terror target.

As reported the Daily Mail, Sunday, May 8, 2011 evening, an extremist group believed to make Harry a target of terror after the assassination of Bin Laden.

Youth 26 years and the heir to the throne of the Kingdom of England number three is the subject of three-minute video uploaded a few days ago by an organization calling themselves “Muslims Against Crusades’ or ‘Muslim opponents of the Crusades’.

In the video titled “Harry the Nazi ’shows the scene when the young prince was joined by British forces against the Taliban in 2007 and 2007. It also shows Harry’s statement to the media pieces while on duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Includes joked about that he ‘bullet magnet.

Clip suddenly stopped and showed Harry the Nazi dress – stupid decision that caused outrage when he wore a Nazi costume at a party in 2008.

These recordings are allegedly designed to incite hatred towards Harry – who was recently promoted to captain in the Army. “Prince Harry was certainly risky,” said a British security source. “With the higher risk, protection must be improved,” he added.

Previously, as quoted by British newspaper, News of the World, suspected members of al-Qaeda network who were interrogated in Afghanistan, Ahmed Siddiqui, Harry is so targeted. The report of the intelligence that resulted in the British security forces tighten the escort of Harry, the famous likes to cruise and socialize at night clubs. Usually, only the police who escorted the Scotland Yard when Harry went partying.

However, since the information that the royal family became a target, no fewer than six members of the elite troops of the Security Air Service (SAS) was derived to accompany Harry wherever go.

Not only were targeted al-Qaeda, Harry also threatened terror of terrorist groups in Northern Ireland.

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