Praise for campaign to set soldier free

At long last, the moment thousands have been waiting for, the release of Sgt Blackman from jail after three and half years.

Published May 2, 2017

Comments

Much credit to Frederick Forsyth, Jonathan Davies who led the campaign, plus the unfailing support of his wonderful wife.

The British Army is now the laughing stock of the military world. Never would a general in the American, Russian or German army have permitted one of their fine soldiers to be charged with killing the enemy. General Nick Haughton, who supported this conviction, should resign as he is no longer fit to be head of our army. The comment that he broke the Geneva Convention and the rules of war beggars belief. There are no rules of war. War is total. I much doubt if the general has ever fought in the front line and in 12 months time will retire on a nice fat pension with all his limbs intact.

I would now, like all the men involved in his conviction, to be named so they will never ever be allowed to bring this appalling injustice again to any serviceman.

The war in Afghanistan was a total disaster and our men were badly fed, badly equipped and badly led. That is on record now. Nearly 500 died and many thousand wounded with their lives ruined.

How ironic that just a few days before Sgt Blackman’s release the Taliban launched a murderous attack against the Afghan Army and killed 150 men. It was no problem and the TV news just gave it 30 seconds to report. Welcome back Marine Sgt Blackman. You are a credit to the Royal Marines and the British Army.

G T Inwood, Shrewsbury

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