Should Blair attend?

[anotheoldgit]

Every PM's Question Time lately seems to start by that sanctimonious Blair offering his condolences to the families of the latest troops that have been killed in his theaters of war. This is then in turn repeated by the leaders of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.


When are any of them going to take this opportunity at Question Time, and challenge him, for never attending the occasion when these soldier's bodies eventual return to these shores?

Maybe David Cameron or even Sir Menzies Campbell could shame him and take the lead and attend? or would this not be allowed by the establishment?

[Gromit]

I have heard it alleged that the coffins come home to Britain and the US in the middle of the night and away from view. (can anyone verify this?)

The Tories have backed this war all along so I don't Cameron could go without looking hypocritical. I think if Campbell went he would be accused of using the dead for political gain, so it won't happen.

Another one dead today in Afghanistan...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/03/07/wafghan07.xml

[wired]

Do you really think that the families would be delighted to see a politician in attendance, added to which, it would be an encumbrance to the services who have to accompany the bodies.

[naomi24]

If it was my husband, son or daughter, I wouldn't want any of them there. Our politicians have done enough damage, and their feigned grief would be the final insult.

[Marvelman]

well said naomi, my sentiments exactly.

[kempie]

Gromit - Repatriation ceremonies for British Service personnel killed overseas are not hidden away...

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/ MilitaryOperations/FivePersonnelRepatriatedFro mIraqToRafBrizeNorton.htm

[Gromit]

kempie

Thanks for that, that is why I did not state it as a fact, but said "... I have heard it alleged..."

Is this a standard ceremony for all that return, bands a top brass turning out? This ceremony was in November, I searched the MOD site for other stories of Repatriation, but there have been none since then.

[kempie]

I cannot comment on how frequently these ceremonies occur but, as you say, very little evidence of others exist on the MOD site apart from one six months earlier...

http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/defencenews/ militaryoperations/fiveservicepersonnelkilledi niraqrepatriated.htm

[kempie]

A little more general info...

http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk/remembrance/r epatriation.html