Our men in ...

With the recent events in the Basra area, the news has been all that more concerning with regards to my sister’s uni friends. Many of these are Army officers and so have all been spending time in the area.

Firstly there was the helicopter crash .. but relief it wasn’t her helicopter flying friend… then yesterday a closer friend’s regiment lost some men, but fortunately he had returned to the UK 2 days earlier at the end of his latest tour. This last one really was a ‘phew’ moment in my sister’s house (where we had lunch when the news was on the radio). I think she and they are wondering when now, rather than if one of them gets hurt.

I’ve not really had a really hardened view on the invasion (other than the American have made things worst rather than better with their whole attitude). But one thing I’m certain on is that I think whether you support the war or not, you should support the troops that have to serve there; they didn’t choose to invade the country…. it was Blair and Bush.

Maybe this is because this is very much more the view from here in the home of the UK’s Navy with the ships returning and going out the Gulf (i.e. we just want those boats leaving the harbour to come back safe in one piece). I’m fortunate in that my Brownie pack doesn’t have anyone serving on a ship that’s been in the area. My friend’s cub unit however does have more service families that are directly affected. So when it comes to wars where the UK is involved, we have to be ready in this part of the country to support the young people in our units when the worst happens (at the start of the latest invasion we had lots of useful websites circulated amongst the usual information distribution). Both me and my friend have been crossing our fingers for a long time now, in the hope we never have to explain to our Brownies or Cubs, why one of the their friends has lost a member of their family due to war. Whilst in other parts of the country it probably hasn’t been thought of, it is a very real topic of conversation in our area where many members (and Leaders) are part of service families.

…so I’ll keep crossing my fingers and toes in the hope that my sister’s friends keep safe from harm, and that our young people don’t have to full effect of the invasion thrust upon them.