Dear Editor, The Respect councillors’ actions in the council chamber were absolutely consistent with one of the principles that they were elected on – that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were wrong and that our kids should not be forced to kill or be killed so that Governments and companies can grab oil or global domination.
It is disgraceful that other politicians cry crocodile tears or cheer on “our boys” when it suits, safe in the knowledge that their kids won’t be on the front line.
These cheap acts of “patriotism” are part of a broader agenda to justify Britain’s continuous murderous misadventures around the world on the backs of the deaths, lost limbs and actions of the troops.
Continuing to support or staying silent on this is the real insult to the troops occupying other people’s homes and land. Of course, many of these councillors are less quick to rise to their feet when it comes to the care that many troops need when they return with psychological or physical wounds.
How many of the applauding councillors have bothered to challenge the Government over Gulf War Syndrome soldiers have suffered with over the last two decades?
If they really cared for the troops they would be calling for the troops to come home. It is, after all, the safest place for them and the people in Afghanistan.
And if our councillors wanted to act “heroically” they would be fighting Council and Government cuts that will steal the jobs and futures of our kids, forcing many into the army as the only job or training open to them.
Doug Morgan,
Birmingham
