Tim Worstall

Shocking numbers in one way: In 2012, for the first time in at least a generation, the number of active-duty soldiers who killed themselves, 177, exceeded the 176 who were killed while in the war zone. To put that another way, more of America’s serving soldiers died at their own hands than in pursuit of [...]

[Read more →]

Enemy of the State: Royal Navy officer faces jail after being caught trying to pass nuclear submarine secrets to Russians in MI5 sting Tsk. Petty Officer Edward Devenney, 30 Sigh. A petty officer is not an officer. You’d expect the Mail to know that, seeing as how it’s written for the non com classes…..

[Read more →]

I was wondering exactly how they would do this when I saw the headline. A North Korean army minister was executed with a mortar round for reportedly drinking and carousing during the official mourning period after Kim Jong-il’s death. So, do they stand him over one and fire it off? Or stick him out on [...]

[Read more →]

Princes Harry and Willy have police protection teams. Both Harry and Willy do military stuff. One of them currently in a war zone, the other search and rescue, isn’t it? So, err, where do said police teams drop them off and pick them back up again? I assume that they’re not there in the back [...]

[Read more →]

Here. As Winston himself said about a very different matter. Makes you proud to be British. The prudes and the prodnoses can bugger off, can’t they?

[Read more →]

Cossacks set off on historic ride from Moscow to Paris A team of Cossacks are to ride once more on Paris in a show of Russian patriotism two centuries after their forebears chased Napoleon’s Grand Army back to the French capital. What other events could be celebrated in similar fashion? Should we get the RAF [...]

[Read more →]

Personally, as someone who enjoys nothing more than a little camping, marching, and target practice, I’d be first in line. No, no you won’t. The maximum conscription age in the UK has been 51. Both times it was 51 in fact. Will Self will be 51 on 26th September 2012. Amazing how people propose nonsenses [...]

[Read more →]

Tens of thousands of dead Nazis still being repatriated Tens of thousands of dead Nazi soldiers are still being repatriated from makeshift war graves on the Eastern Front, despite the war having ended more than six decades ago. Erm, it was a Nazi State, quite possibly a Nazi war, but that doesn’t make every conscript [...]

[Read more →]

Pashtun truck drivers from the north-west of the country began parking in the well-heeled streets, a short drive from Karachi’s port and oil terminal, in November 2011last year when Islamabad banned the transport of Nato supplies through its territory. The border closure was retaliation for the accidental killing by US forces of 24 Pakistani soldiers. [...]

[Read more →]

Make certain exceptions: immediate self defence and in the course of a Just War. OK, we can argue about whether Afghanistan actually is a Just War, but that it is a war does lead to a certain possible relxation of the restrictions against capital punishment. A US soldier has shot dead 16 Afghan civilians, nine [...]

[Read more →]

John is entirely innocent of any involvement in the terror attacks, or any allegiance to terrorism. That is not disputed by the American government. Indeed, all accusations of terrorism against John were dropped by the government in a plea bargain, which in turn was approved by the US district court in which the case was [...]

[Read more →]

And the demographic that is targeted is significant. The armed forces draws non-officer recruits mainly from young people with low educational attainment and living in poor communities. Research suggests schools from deprived areas are more likely to be visited by recruiters, with particular focus on the north-east of England, Scotland and Wales. Infantry recruits need only the [...]

[Read more →]

Doesn’t he have a point here? A defiant Muammar Gaddafi has threatened to bring war to the “homes, offices, families,” of Europe unless Nato stops airstrikes against his regime in Libya. The Libyan leader, facing an international arrest warrant for his brutal response to the rebel uprising, delivered the warning of vengeance in an audio [...]

[Read more →]

Lord Levene’s defence reform unit will call for a sweeping overhaul of the structure and management of the MoD, saying that military chiefs must be made accountable for their own budgets. The ranks of senior military officers could also be thinned out, and new, more flexible rules on promotion introduced. Typical. When you’ve an entirely [...]

[Read more →]

In Italy in 1944, at the Battle of Monte Cassino, Loewe further demonstrated his courage when he coolly carried wounded men from a minefield. Asked afterwards if he wanted anything, he is reported to have said: “A cup of tea would be nice.” I think that puts that one to rest, eh?

[Read more →]

Jeesus, the lousy little cockknobblers we have ruling us: For several years, the flag-draped coffins of fallen servicemen and women have been met by large crowds who line the streets to pay their respects as they return to British soil. But repatriation flights are to be diverted and will no longer be flown back to [...]

[Read more →]

Adml Sir Mark Stanhope said the campaign would have been more effective without the Government’s defence cuts. The aircraft carrier and the Harrier jump-jets scrapped under last year’s strategic defence review would have made the mission more effective, faster and cheaper, he said. Running an air power campaign from sea to shore is easier if [...]

[Read more →]

These attacks by the government: Heavy shelling and gunfire has rocked the Syrian town of Jisr al-Shughour, two days into a military assault that has caused more than 5,000 refugees to flee into neighbouring Turkey. The continued assault suggests some groups in the town are resisting the armed forces as the regime tries to crush [...]

[Read more →]

Diplomatic sources last night disclosed that recent intelligence suggested the Libyan dictator was “paranoid” and “on the run” from Nato’s escalating attacks on his regime. For there really are the Air Forces of several nations attempting to blow him into small pieces. Being worried about this, taking action to avoid it, is not paranoia. It’s [...]

[Read more →]

Yes, seems sensible enough that parachute allowances should only be paid to those likely to parachute. I think I’m right in saying that flying allowances are only paid to those who are current to fly?

[Read more →]