Tag Archives: Military

Spin Zhira

BRITISH SPECIAL FORCES LEAVE SYRIA

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As President Trump is widely condemned, both at home and abroad, for withdrawing US Troops from Syria ahead of a Turkish offensive, LUCY FISHER reports for The Times that ‘Hundreds of British special forces soldiers will be pulled out of Syria‘ as part of the withdrawal.
According to The Times source: ‘The elite troops rely on the US military for resources, transport, intelligence, surveillance and other logistical assistance and will be unable to operate in Syria if Mr Trump orders a withdrawal‘.
It highlights just how dependent UK Special Forces have become in recent times on the US. This is a relatively recent and worrying development. In Gulf War 1 the SAS operated deep behind Iraqi lines without the need to rely on the Pentagon.
In effect we have subordinated our Special Forces – considered a strategic asset – to a US command, US values and culture, US modus operandi and US rules of engagement, all of which are very different to our own.
Add to this the absence of any UK oversight protocols and a complete lack of visibility and accountability and we have a situation where UK Special Forces have become little more than a (deniable) instrument of US foreign policy.
This is not in our national interest and while it may curry favour in the US (although not enough to waive diplomatic immunity) it diminishes our international reputation and standing.
More worrying still it means we have lost control of our foreign policy and can only cling, however reluctantly, to President Trump’s coattails. It is little wonder that the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Defence have declined to comment on the situation.
Spin Zhira

Slow news day

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It must be a slow news day when The Times, a newspaper dedicated to keeping its readers abreast of important public affairs with an eye to the best interests of Britain, runs a story about drunken wedding misdemeanours on its front page under the lame headline: SHOWER AT THE TOWER.

Lieutenant Phil Roberts managed to ruin his friends’ wedding day as well as a 19th Century oil painting before punching another guest in the face and being arrested by the Metropolitan Police – what a muppet.

A tragedy for the happy couple, no doubt, but it’s hard to see how The Times editors judged this to be a story in the national interest.

SPIN ZHIRA: Old Man in Helmand is the unauthorised, unvarnished and irreverent story of one man’s midlife crisis on the front line of the most dangerous district in Afghanistan where the locals haven’t forgiven the British for the occupation of 1842 or for the Russian Invasion of 1979. Of course, all infidels look the same so you can’t really tell them apart.

‘Brims with authenticity and dark humour.’
Patrick Hennessey, bestselling author of The Junior Officers’ Reading Club

‘First class’
Doug Beattie MC, bestselling author of An Ordinary Soldier

‘A must read.’
Richard Dorney, bestselling author of The Killing Zone

‘The best book by a soldier concerning the Afghan War that I have read’
Frank Ledwidge, bestselling author of Losing Small Wars

‘Five stars’
SOLDIER The official magazine of the British Army

‘Not just for soldiers’
William Reeve, BBC World Service and Afghanistan Correspondent

Ten reasons to read SPIN ZHIRA.

What others are saying about SPIN ZHIRA.

Spin Zhira

Elephants in Afghanistan

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Jason Dempsey, a former special assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,  writes persuasively for War on the Rocks that ‘replicating the American military in Afghanistan makes no more sense than cowboys on elephants.’

I happen to agree with him but it is no more outlandish than replicating the American democratic system or American liberal values of gender equality and religious tolerance. US/UK counter-insurgency doctrine is childishly optimistic and doesn’t work.

SPIN ZHIRA: Old Man in Helmand

‘The best book by a soldier concerning the Afghan War that I have read’
Frank Ledwidge, bestselling author of Losing Small Wars and Investment in Blood

‘SPIN ZHIRA vividly conveys the disjointed essence of modern warfare and the impossibility of balancing the adrenaline of combat with ‘normal’ life. This book brims with authenticity and dark humour.’
Patrick Hennessey, bestselling author of The Junior Officers’ Reading Club and Kandak

‘If you want to read about political and military success in Afghanistan, this book isn’t for you. If you want a fresh perspective from someone who is not a career officer and who is brave enough to bare his soul, then SPIN ZHIRA is a must read.’
Lt Col Richard Dorney, bestselling author of The Killing Zoneand An Active Service

‘Five stars’
SOLDIER The official magazine of the British Army

‘A journey of love, service and adventure. Excellent.’
Amazon Customer

Ten reasons why you should read SPIN ZHIRA.

Spin Zhira

Ten reasons why you should read SPIN ZHIRA.

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SPIN ZHIRA: Old Man in Helmand is the unauthorised, unvarnished and irreverent story of one man’s midlife crisis on the front line of the most dangerous district in Afghanistan where the locals haven’t forgiven the British for the occupation of 1842 or for the Russian Invasion of 1979. Of course, all infidels look the same so you can’t really tell them apart.

No 2 Coy, Zumbalay
SPIN ZHIRA: The true story of a man’s entanglement in love, life and war.

Here are ten reasons why you should read it:

  1. SPIN ZHIRA is a true story of love, service and adventure that lifts the lid on the British mission in Afghanistan.
  2. It is not an officially sanctioned memoir and has not been endorsed by the Ministry of Defence. It is not subject to the usual constraints and conditions the ministry imposes on in-service authors.
  3. SPIN ZHIRA has received critical acclaim from best-selling authors, soldiers and citizens. Despite being an unofficial memoir, SOLDIER, the official magazine of the British Army also awarded five stars.
  4. SPIN ZHIRA reveals not only the courage and heroism of Britain’s Armed Forces but also the unique sense of humour that sustains them on operations.
  5. Not every Taliban is a terrorist. SPIN ZHIRA explains why ordinary Afghans felt compelled to take up arms against the infidel invaders.
  6. Learn three simple steps to keep you safe in the mountains – or a firefight.
  7. Discover the difference between camber and rocker.
  8. Find out what really happened to UK taxpayers £15m/day investment in Afghanistan.
  9. SPIN ZHIRA is a rare insight into the real male mid-life crisis. What every woman needs to know and why every man should be careful what he wishes for.
  10. SPIN ZHIRA is guaranteed to make you laugh and cry – or your money back.

Amazon Five Stars A JOURNEY OF LOVE, SERVICE AND ADVENTURE. EXCELLENT!

Amazon Five Stars A MODERN WARFARE LITERARY CLASSIC! OUTSTANDING READ.

Amazon Five Stars ENTERTAINING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND COMPULSORY TO READ.

What others are saying about SPIN ZHIRA 

Spin Zhira

Grim Reaper gets a makeover

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The Guardian reports that, according to the United Nations, ‘an international drone’ (which only the US military operate) has killed at least 15 civilians and injured another 13 in the eastern district of Achin, Afghanistan. The US has not admitted any wrongdoing but said the incident was under investigation.
bilal

Bilal, 12 recovers in hospital after surviving a US drone strike that killed his father. Photo: Andrew Quilty

Earlier this year, Britain signed a £415 million contract with the Pentagon for 20 new ‘Protector’ drones. Described as a ‘signature counter-terrorism weapon’, drones have proved tactically effective in the fight against IS in Iraq and Syria where the RAF’s Reaper drones have flown hundreds of sorties.

Strategically the increasing reliance on drones is less certain. In 2009, General Stanley McChrystal observed that ‘Destroying a home or property jeopardises the livelihood of an entire family  – and creates more insurgents’. Multiply this ten fold or a hundred fold when drones kill innocent civilians.

Although the new drone will carry a greater payload of deadly Hellfire missiles, UK Defence Chiefs decided to drop the name Reaper in favour of Protector in an attempt to change public perceptions that they are unaccountable killing machines.

Try explaining that to the citizens of Achin.

SPIN ZHIRA: Old Man in Helmand is the unauthorised, unvarnished and irreverent story of one man’s midlife crisis on the front line of the most dangerous district in Afghanistan where the locals haven’t forgiven the British for the occupation of 1842 or for the Russian Invasion of 1979. Of course, all infidels look the same so you can’t really tell them apart.

Amazon Five Stars A JOURNEY OF LOVE, SERVICE AND ADVENTURE. EXCELLENT!

Amazon Five Stars A MODERN WARFARE LITERARY CLASSIC! OUTSTANDING READ.

Amazon Five Stars ENTERTAINING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND COMPULSORY TO READ.

What others are saying about SPIN ZHIRA 

Spin Zhira

Push ups don’t help PTSD

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Writing in Observer, Pete Ross tells us that ‘doing 22 pushups and posting it on Facebook, doesn’t help veterans.’

Pete ‘deconstructs the psychology and philosophy of the business world, careers and every day life’ (whatever that actually means) and you can follow him on Twitter @prometheandrive.

I don’t know Pete but, if his Twitter handle is anything to go by, I’m guessing that modesty and humility are not his greatest attributes. According to Greek mythology, Prometheus is the creator of mankind and its greatest benefactor.

Pete is uniquely qualified to tell us why we’re not helping veterans because he is himself an ex-serviceman. As he freely admits, he spent six years in military intelligence in an airconditioned office in a peaceful, developed country 20,000 kilometers away from anywhere hostile and dangerous.

However, he has watched the Rambo movie, First Blood, and is able to draw on this to explain to civilians why veterans struggle to readjust after leaving the military:
‘How can you relate to someone whose most difficult day of the past year was spent in a peaceful, developed country in an air conditioned office, when yours was 20,000 kilometers away from your country in 50 degree heat, under heavy fire with backup still a ways off, your friend getting hit 5 metres away from you with maybe a few hours sleep and no shelter?’

Pete also chronicles his own struggle to find civilian employment on leaving the army.  It seems he was unable to find a job worthy of his prodigious talent and had to take a worthless job in a camping store when he was supposed to be saving mankind and deconstructing everyday life.

Pete, you may be a veteran but you are not a combat veteran. It’s an important distinction. Your comments do nothing to help veterans suffering from combat stress – literally nothing – and your experiences finding a job to suit your seemingly massive ego are not relevant to this debate.

SPIN ZHIRA: Old Man in Helmand is the unauthorised, unvarnished and irreverent story of one man’s midlife crisis on the front line of the most dangerous district in Afghanistan where the locals haven’t forgiven the British for the occupation of 1842 or for the Russian Invasion of 1979. Of course, all infidels look the same so you can’t really tell them apart.