Desi stiu ca urmatorul articol abordeaza probleme care, mai curand, l-ar recomanda pentru topicul SAS, acesta fiind inchis, il voi posta aici. Cred, insa, ca el tine de o problematica mai generala, aceea a insuficientelor constatate de autorul articolului de mai sus. In cazul in care acestea sunt reale, este normal ca ele sa isi puna amprenta si asupra capacitatilor UK Special Forces. Recunosc ca articolul acesta este si mai vechi decat cel anterior, dar nu cred ca problemele semnalate intre timp sa isi fi aflat vreo rezolvare.
Rescue missions are always fraught with danger, not just for the special forces but also for the hostage, and success can never be guaranteed.
By a former senior SAS officer based in Kabul Published: 6:45AM BST 10 Oct 2010
In order for a rescue mission of this type to be successful, you would need to have 100 per cent confirmation of the location and of the hostage – this means knowing what room in what house, because every second will count and it only takes one second to pull a trigger. Before the rescue operation is launched, the rescuers would need to establish the "threat to life" by not carrying out the raid. This will come from what is known about the kidnappers. Somali pirates, for example, will always negotiate; kidnapping for them is just business. So in that instance you might want to watch and wait. But if the judgement is that there is more than a 50 per cent chance that the hostage will be killed if the rescue isn't undertaken, then the rescue must be launched. This will establish the "go" criteria. The tactical plan will be formulated around what threats must be neutralised to save the hostage's life. This will establish how many troops will be needed and what other assets will be required to try and achieve success. Then you balance the success of saving the hostage's life versus the chance of her being moved by the captors. If the hostage is moved to another country, in this case Pakistan, there would be almost no chance of being able to attempt a rescue mission, even if you had accurate information on the hostage's location. The rescue mission becomes even more complex when dealing with al-Qaeda (AQ), or an affiliated group, or a group who might be prepared to sell the hostage on to al-Qaeda. Given AQ's past record, the chance of the hostage being killed by them is going to be close to 90 per cent; and if the probability is that the hostage could be moved in ways that mean you will lose the individual, the chances are more than 60 per cent and you have no choice but to launch the rescue mission as soon as you have a workable plan. Look at Ken Bigley, the British hostage beheaded by al-Qaeda in Iraq, it is likely that the rescue forces waited too long for the perfect moment.
My view of Delta Force, who I would guess carried out the operation, is that they are outstanding. In many ways they are more capable than the SAS due to the right investment in surveillance, communications and assault helicopters.
Sublinierea imi apartine. Nu intentionez prin acest fapt sa deschid o polemica 1st SFOD-D versus SAS. Cred ca, in absenta informatiilor din interior, ar fi, in primul rand, inutila. Apoi, desi creata dupa modelul SAS, Delta nu este identica nici ca organizare, nici ca misiuni (atentie, am zis ca nu e identica, nu ca e diferita, desi in ultimii ani 22 SAS s-a concentrat tot mai mult asupra misiunilor direct action, fapt care a apropiat-o ca profil de Delta). Mai este de luat in considerare diferenta de filosofie organizationala, desi din informatiile care au aparut in presa si in carti, schimburile de experienta, antrenamentele si operatiunile comune la care au participat trebuie sa le fi apropiat foarte mult. Insa nu acest fapt voiam sa subliniez. Mai important mi se pare disponibilitatea si capacitatea, bineinteles, a americanilor, de a investi, in raport cu cea a britanicilor. Cred ca in ambele unitati investitia in valoarea umana, primordiala de altfel, a fost foarte mare. Insa tehnologia vine firesc in completarea acestei capacitati, iar importanta ei s-a vazut in rezultatele pe care le-a inregistrat Task Force 145 si ce numea a mai purtata comandamentul aflat in subordinea lui McChrystal in Irak.
In fine, mai atrag atentia asupra unui studiu. Atrag atentia aici in special asupra paginilor 10-12 (980-982). Cea mai surprinzatoare informatie mi s-a parut cea din penultima (11/981) unde este mentionat faptul ca Beretele Verzi ale SUA le-au oferit asistenta trupelor conventionale britanice care au participat la invazia in Irak din 2003. Specializarea, ca rezultat al reducerii efectivelor, mai ales in misiuni de actiune directa, ar fi afectat capacitatea UK Special Forces de a purta un razboi neconventional, rol care le-ar reveni (surprinzator !) fortelor conventionale.
Fi linistit stimate Radu, substanta postarilor tale este ceea ce ne intereseaza si te asteptam cu cu alte materiale la fel de interesante. Majoritatea forumistilor trec peste erorile de genul intelegand si ei ca timpul nu permite multora decat o expediere cat se poate de rapida a mesajelor.
Incep sa postez fragmente dintr-o carte. Sper ca nu am mai facut asta inainte. Mentionez dinainte ca autorul ese jurnalist, scriitor si istoric militar. Dupa cum se poate afla din biografia sa postata pe Internet, a servit timp de 9 luni ca ofiter in Regimentul de Tancuri, in armata regulata si alti 4 ani in Territorial Army. Fragmentul mi se pare ilustrativ in ceea ce priveste eficienta britanicilor in Irak si perceptia americanilor asupra lor. Mi se pare de, asemenea, interesanta deosebirea dintre ritmul operational al SAS, angajat in 'masinaria' pusa la punct de Stanley McChrystal si cel al trupelor conventionale britanice. Si, nu in ultimul rand, deoarece rar razbate o asemenea informatie, diferentele de ethos dintre diferitele escadroane ale 22 SAS.
Iata titlul: Mark Urban, 'Task Force Black. The Expplosive True Story of the SAS and the Secret War in Iraq', Little, Brown, London, 2010.
p. 246 Some, like D Squadron's OC (Officer Commmanding) the previous summer, tried to stand back a little and reflect on their target sets before throwing themselves into the fray, but the OC of A Squadron was cut from different cloth. Major Kennedy was the first squadron commander to come back into Iraq after serving there as a troop leader a few years earlier. He had been with Richard Williams's G Squadron as the insurgency got under way during the summer of 2003. Having been guided by the hard-fighting Williams at that formative stage, both men had gone up a step in rank. '[Kennedy]had been brought on by Richard Williams (locotenent-colonel si comandantul regimentului 22 SAS intre 2005-dec. 2007)...when he went back in command of A Squadron he proved to be even more operationally aggressive than Colonel Williams', comments one of those who served under Kennedy in 2007. Another frontline observer remarks that A Squadron arrived with a highly competent, experienced selection of Team Leaders, making it 'a dream team across the board'. These five or six captains and staff sergeants worked away on target packs and missions - sometimes more than one a night - were cued up for the blades (blades: nume dat luptatorilor SAS). With Task Force Knight (nume capatat de Task Force Black) operating as a highly tuned machine under a hard master, the contrast with the British effort in the southern Iraq could not have been greater.
p. 247 Back in February Tony Blair had confirmed in the House of Commons that Britain's plans to turn over security in southern Iraq would proceed apace. He justified this partly in terms of the success of Operation SINBAD. The military officers who sought to move on to Afghanistan and close the Iraq chapter as swiftly as possible deployed other arguments. The presence of British troops in the centre of Basra was itself attracting a great deal of militia activity. So many rockets or mortars were fired at the Palace of Shatt al-Arab Hotel, with so many missing and falling into neighbouring civilian areas that, to quote one officer at the time, 'consent is evaporating'. If this smacked of capitulation, SINBAD had at least demonstrated that the British army could not do much more, since the UK chain of command would not commit additional troops and the Iraqi security forces were keen to get the British out of the way too. All of this informed the appreciation of Major-General Jonathan Shaw, the commander of Multi-National Division South East for much of 2007. A senior American tells the following anecdote:
I went down there because the situation in Basra was dire. I asked him [Shaw] 'What can we do o help ?' He told me that he didn't need any help, that he had decided to withdraw his division to the airport where it would wait the decision to pull out. I looked at him and said, 'Well, thank you for your clarity. You have at least told me exactly what you are going to do'.
The British army was entering its final and most controversial phase in southern Iraq. Those who watched from Baghdad were saddened or even disgusted. One SAS man quips, 'Defeatist doesn't quite cover it.' A senior officer who worked in the capital reflects, 'The British in Baghdad actually made the intellectual (p. 248) adjustment that MND South East never made'. In his interpretation, those who acquired the Baghdad mentality had absorbed the American spirit of aggression, problem-solving and critical self-examination. The Basra crowd, by contrast, never escaped the collective cynicism of a professional group that had gone to Iraq thinking it knew better, and then blamed others for its failure. Jonathan Shaw, in his defence, was operating unde the directive of the Chief of Joint Operations back in the UK and indeed what happened next was simply the fruition of a plan laid out by the Prime Minister himself in February. The Old State Building (a small base right in the city centre) and the Shatt al-Arab Hotel were handed over to the Iraqi army and Provincial Iraq Control, or Pic, had been signed off in Maysan in April.
British medical worker among four rescued from cave by special forces in Afghanistan A British medical worker kidnapped in Afghanistan has been dramatically freed in a special forces raid. By Ben Farmer, Kabul 7:22AM BST 02 Jun 2012 The SAS are understood to have carried out the helicopter raid on the cave where Helen Johnston, 28, who was working for an aid project, was being held along with three other hostages. One of the other hostages is Moragwa Oirere, 26, a Kenyan-born aid worker who had previously worked with Save the Children. David Cameron authorised the rescue attempt after military forces in Afghanistan briefed him on the planned operation. Speaking outside Number 10 after the raid, he described the rescue effort as "extraordinarily brave" and "breath-taking". Miss Johnson's parents Philip and Patricia said: "We are delighted and hugely relieved by the wonderful news that Helen and all her colleagues have been freed. “We are deeply grateful to everyone involved in her rescue, to those who worked tirelessly on her behalf, and to family and friends for their love, prayers and support over the last twelve days. “We greatly appreciate the restraint shown by the media since her abduction, and ask that they continue to respect our privacy at this special time." The other two were Afghan colleagues the pair had been working with in the country. The four rescued hostages were reported to be in a "good condition". Miss Johnston and Ms Oirere were in the British Embassy in Kabul, while the two Afghans were safely in their home province. The operation happened under cover of darkness in the early hours in Badakhshan province, in the north of Afghanistan. Five heavily armed hostage-takers were killed during the rescue, officials in Afghanistan said. The kidnappers, who are believed to have been a criminal group with links to insurgents in Afghanistan, had made a ransom demand in a video. Mr Cameron said he authorised the rescue attempt on Friday afternoon after becoming increasingly concerned about the safety of Ms Johnston and her colleagues. He said all four hostages were rescued safely, no British troops were injured and a number of Taliban and hostage-takers were killed. "It was an extraordinarily brave, breath-taking even, operation that our troops had to carry out," he said. "I pay tribute to their skill and dedication." The Prime Minister added the rescue should serve as a warning to terrorists across the world who take British citizens hostage. He said: "They should know if they take British citizens as hostage we do not pay ransoms, we do not trade prisoners. "They can expect a swift and brutal end. "Above all, on this weekend of all weekends, we should say a enormous thank you to the incredibly brave forces that took part in this operation. "We will never be able to publish their names but the whole country should know we have an extraordinary group of people who work for us who do amazingly brave things." A statement from the Foreign Office added: "Helen and her colleagues were rescued by ISAF forces, including UK forces, in a carefully planned and coordinated operation. "This operation was ordered by the Commander of ISAF and was authorised by the Prime Minister. "We pay tribute to the bravery of the coalition forces which means that all four aid workers will soon be rejoining their families and loved ones. "We have worked closely with the Afghan authorities throughout and we would like to thank them for their support." The raid in the remote province of Badakhshan came less than two weeks after the women had been seized while trekking on horseback to treat villagers suffering from malnutrition. Abdel Maruf Rasekh, spokesman for the provincial governor, said the raid had taken place at 1am in Shahr-e-Bozorg district, in a large forested area near the Tajikistan border called Koh-e-Laran. In a statement American General John Allen, the overall commander of the International Security Assistance Force, which includes British and American troops in Afghanistan, said: "First, I would like to thank the Afghan Ministry of the Interior and Minister Mohammadi for their tremendous support throughout this crisis. "Second, this morning’s mission, conducted by coalition forces, exemplifies our collective and unwavering commitment to defeat the Taliban. “I’m extremely grateful to the Afghan authorities and proud of the ISAF forces that planned, rehearsed, and successfully conducted this operation. "Thanks to them, Miss Helen Johnston, Ms. Moragwe Oirere, and their two co-workers will soon be rejoining their families and loved ones.” SAS soldiers, assisted by other troops from ISAF's Joint Special Forces Group, which includes elements American Delta Force soldiers and Navy Seals, as well as local Afghan security forces, were transported to the cave by heilcopter and stormed into it, freeing the four hostages. The aid workers – Miss Johnston and Moragwe Oirere and their two Afghan colleagues - were kidnapped on May 22. They worked for Medair, a humanitarian non-governmental organisation based near Lausanne, Switzerland. Medair said its team had been abducted while "visiting relief nutrition, hygiene and health project sites" in Badakhshan province. Aurélien Demaurex, spokesman for the charity, said: “Medair is relieved that our colleagues are safe. We are immensely grateful to all parties involved in ensuring their swift and safe return.” Badakhshan is an impoverished and mountainous province in Afghanistan's far northeast, and while mainly quiet, there have been pockets of insurgent activity. Miss Johnston studied at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and had worked for the charity in Afghanistan since last year. Last December she spoke of her work and told how she had regularly seen skeletal and "other-worldly" children in Badakhshan province. The deeply conservative area, in which women are unable to go out alone and have been beaten for taking their children for treatment, has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. Miss Johnston said: "The international emergency level is a 15 per cent malnutrition rate, but here it is 30 per cent for under-fives and for the under-ones it's 60 per cent." She added: "Some of things I have seen I have had a very emotional reaction to. The children come to the clinic draped in clothes, looking quite big, but then you roll up their sleeve to measure them and you see their tiny little frames. They look other-worldly. "There was one little boy and I just thought 'what is going on?'" Miss Oirere was born and educated in Kenya and subsequently worked fro Save the Children in Africa, as well as other aid projects, before working in Afghanistan. A statement from the coalition described the kidnappers as Taliban, but local officials said they were petty criminals. A British hostage was killed in Nigeria in March when an attempted rescue involving UK special forces ended in tragedy. The successful rescue comes after a series of failed attempts to rescue other British hostages have ended in tragedy. Chris McManus, working in the country as a building firm contractor, was killed alongside an Italian colleague as Nigerian troops and British Special Boat Service commandos launched a failed mission in west Africa. The UK national had been held by terrorists associated with Islamist extremist group Boko Haram since May last year after being kidnapped from his apartment by gunmen. Prime Minister David Cameron was criticised when it emerged that Italian authorities were not notified about the covert operation until it was under way. Aid worker Linda Norgrove died during a mission to rescue her from hostage takers in Afghanistan in October 2010. Ms Norgrove, 36, was killed by a grenade thrown by a US soldier during the operation, although Wiltshire coroner David Ridley did not blame him or his comrades for the tragic mistake. Three Afghans captured with her were released unharmed a few days later.
'Thank you for saving me': Moment British hostage returned to safety after being kidnapped by Afghan insurgents • Helen Johnston arrives in Kabul after her hostage ordeal came to end with a daring SAS recuse • The 27-year-old is recovering in the Afghan capital, having been flown in from the north eastern province of Badakhshan • David Cameron authorised the dramatic cave rescue of the aid worker • Troops took part in 'long march' to remote cave where hostages were held, without being spotted • SAS officers then arrived by helicopter stormed the cave in the dead of night • All four hostages rescued safe, no troops injured and a five Taliban and hostage-takers killed PUBLISHED: 22:03 GMT, 2 June 2012 | UPDATED: 15:10 GMT, 3 June 2012 British aid worker Helen Johnston beamed with joy as her rescuers delivered her safely to Kabul. The 27-year-old thanked could not hide the delight on her face as she was greeted by officials in the Afghan capital yesterday, having been flown from province of Badakhshan. Miss Johnston is recovering from her kidnap ordeal, which came to dramatic end on Friday when David Cameron sent SAS troops to free her after her captors demanded a £7 million ransom. The British soldiers – backed by US Delta Force, American Navy Seals and Afghan troops – rescued Miss Johnston and three other hostages from a cave in the north eastern province. The Prime Minister described it as an ‘extraordinarily brave, breathtaking operation’. Six of the kidnap gang were shot dead in the SAS raid. Mr Cameron gave the go-ahead for the operation when the gang threatened to kill Miss Johnston and the other hostages unless an Afghan drug baron was released from prison and the ransom paid. Miss Johnston had spent ten days inside the cave in a heavily wooded, mountainous hamlet called Asphan, nine miles from the nearest road or track. She was seized at gunpoint on May 22 by a gang associated with the Taliban. The Briton, a nutritionist who works for Medair, a Swiss-based humanitarian group, was held with Kenyan colleague Moragwa Oirere and two Afghan men, who had been acting as their guides. The gang demanded the immediate release of their leader, a drug baron and people trafficker known as Jallah, who had been arrested a month previously. They also wanted an $11 million dollar (£7million) ransom and the cessation of all activities by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the area. By Friday, Mr Cameron had no choice but to send in the SAS after the Afghan government refused to negotiate with the kidnappers. An Afghan source said: ‘The Afghan government refused to give in to their demands. The gang was told to return the hostages safely or face the consequences.’ After the mission, Miss Johnston’s parents, Philip and Patricia, and her brother Peter said: ‘We are delighted and hugely relieved by the wonderful news that Helen and all her colleagues have been freed. ‘We are deeply grateful to everyone involved in her rescue, to those who worked tirelessly on her behalf, and to family and friends for their love, prayers and support over the past 12 days.’ Last night, Mr Johnston, a senior tutor in theology and religious studies at Hughes Hall, Cambridge, declined to add to the family statement. He said: ‘I’m sure you’ve seen our statement. That’s all we are going to say at the moment.' The SAS mission was given the green light by Mr Cameron at a meeting of COBRA, the national security emergency committee, in London at 3pm on Friday. He took action because information gained by MI6 and US intelligence agents in the city of Faizabad over the past week helped them establish that the risk to Miss Johnston and her fellow hostages was increasing. Senior military and intelligence officials attended COBRA meetings with MI6 chief Sir John Sawers every day last week as information about the kidnapping flowed in through GCHQ, the Government’s secret communications centre. It was during the COBRA meetings that the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the rescue plan were put together, and the Special Forces team was placed on stand-by to deploy once a signal was sent from London. Mr Cameron attended three of the COBRA meetings. As the threat to the hostages became increasingly serious, Mr Cameron took advice from the director of UK Special Forces, the head of Defence Intelligence and senior MI6 officials. They made contact with their US counterparts and those working with the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan before the mission was approved. The SAS and American teams were flown in a Black Hawk helicopter from Bagram air base at low level just after midnight local time on Friday. Afghan troops are understood to have followed in a second helicopter. Weighed down with bullet-proof vests, weapons and heavy backpacks, the Special Forces troops then faced a gruelling trek of at least five miles across rough, forest- covered terrain before launching their attack. They had to land several miles away from their target because the heavily wooded terrain in the area made it difficult for the helicopters to touch down. It was also crucial that the gang did not hear the sound of the engines and rotor blades. The Afghan troops were used to provide a security cordon around the area of cave dwellings where Miss Johnston and her colleagues were being held. The Special Forces troops, thought to number a dozen, moved in at about 2am, but were fired at by the kidnappers. The SAS men replied with a barrage of shots from weapons that included C8 SFW carbines fitted with grenade launchers, Heckler & Koch assault rifles, MP5 machine guns, L96A1 sniper rifles and Browning and Sig Sauer handguns. They are also thought to have carried a supply of Claymore anti-personnel mines and daggers tucked into boots to use in any close-quarters combat. Local sources said the gang was heavily armed with rocket-propelled grenades and Kalashnikov assault rifles. By the end of the gun battle, six of the kidnappers had been shot dead, a similar number were captured and the four hostages were freed unharmed in what a senior military source described as a ‘textbook operation’. None of the rescue forces was injured or killed and they and the hostages were evacuated from near the scene by helicopter. A senior military source said yesterday: ‘It’s a great day for Her Majesty’s Forces on Diamond Jubilee weekend and an even better day for Helen Johnston’s family.’ Mr Cameron said: ‘It was an extraordinarily brave, breathtaking operation that our troops had to carry out. I pay tribute to their skill and dedication.’ Speaking outside No 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister said the rescue should serve as a warning to terrorists across the world who targeted British citizens. ‘They should know if they take British citizens as hostage we do not pay ransoms, we do not trade prisoners. They can expect a swift and brutal end.’ Mr Cameron said decisions on rescue attempts were ‘extraordinarily difficult’ and ‘never rushed into’. But he said he decided the risks to the hostages lives were becoming too great. Mr Cameron added that he had spoken to Miss Johnston and to her parents and brother. ‘They are incredibly relieved about what has happened,’ he added. ‘It’s just a huge joy that they are finally going to be reunited and they are all healthy and all well.’ During their brief conversation, Miss Johnston thanked Mr Cameron for the efforts of all those involved in bringing her to safety. The Prime Minister said the rescue involved a number of British troops, helped by ISAF forces as well the Afghan government. He confirmed that it involved a ‘long route march’ and said the rescue team had at no time been discovered. Paying tribute to the British troops involved, Mr Cameron said: ‘Above all, on this weekend of all weekends, we should say a enormous thank you to the incredibly brave forces that took part in this operation. ‘We will never be able to publish their names, but the whole country should know we have an extraordinary group of people who work for us who do amazingly brave things.’ He added: ‘This weekend we’re going to remember and commemorate 60 years of extraordinary work by Her Majesty the Queen and this weekend we can also remember the frankly incredible work that people who serve in her name do on our behalf all the time.’ Medair, which has worked in Afghanistan since 1996 providing relief to vulnerable and isolated communities, said it was relieved its workers had been released. Spokesman Aurilien Demaurex said that since the kidnapping, the charity had steered clear of publicity about the situation because it felt that might jeopardise efforts to secure a release. ‘Medair is relieved that our colleagues are safe. We are immensely grateful to all parties involved in ensuring their swift and safe return,’ Mr Demaurex said. The success of yesterday’s rescue comes in the wake of a number of tragedies involving aid staff helping the Afghan people. In August 2010, British doctor Karen Woo was shot dead in an ambush in Badakhshan as she delivered medical supplies. The Taliban claimed they killed the 36-year-old aid worker for ‘preaching Christianity.’ But Afghan authorities said her killers were more likely to have been bandits, as they stole Dr Woo’s belongings and passport along with those of her seven colleagues. Two months later, British aid worker Linda Norgrove died during a failed mission to rescue her from kidnappers in Afghanistan. Ms Norgrove, 36, was killed by a grenade thrown by a US soldier during the operation, although at her inquest Wiltshire coroner David Ridley did not blame him or his comrades for the tragic mistake. Three Afghans captured with her were released unharmed a few days later. In Nigeria in March building contractor Chris McManus was killed with an Italian colleague as Nigerian troops and British Special Boat Service commandos launched a rescue mission. Mr McManus had been held by terrorists associated with the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram since May last year. sursa: LINK
Ma intreb daca britanicii nu si-au redescoperit cumva, in ultima vreme, vocatia lor de purtatori ai unor razboaie de joasa sau medie intensitate (in opinia mea, mai sanatoasa), dupa ce experientele nefericite din Afganistan si mai ales, Irak, le-au demonstrat ca nu mai au resurse pentru a se implica in conflicte mai ample. Adevarul ca din ceea ce se preconizeaza in Strategic Defence and Security Review, cu 7 brigazi (5 multi-rol, 1 de asalt aerian si una de infanterie marina), un singur portavion operational (asta cand vor primi F-35) si cu o forta aeriana care si-a epuizat munitia in ofensiva impotriva unei tari precum Libia e cam greu ca Marea Britanie sa isi mai sustina pretentiile de mare putere. Mi se pare, la o privire sumara, ca modul in care sunt structurate Fortele Armate ale UK, amintesc de veleitatile de mare putere, insa cantitativ sunt reduse. Si cred ca pe viitor vor deveni si mai reduse, iar Anglia isi va regasi 'insularitatea'. Iata, insa, despre ce vorbeam:
SAS SET UP SAFE CAMPS IN SYRIA ABOVE: Nearly 2,300 Syrians have been killed since the ceasefire ¬supposedly took effect in mid April
Safe havens would be an invasion of Syria but a chance to save lives
A senior Whitehall source 3rd June 2012 By Deborah Sherwood BRITISH defence chiefs have drawn up secret plans to set up safe havens for Syrians fleeing President Assad’s killers.
Special Forces will help ¬protect the refugees in Syria along the borders.
Last week as the president ignored an international ceasefire, plans were being finalised to ¬rescue thousands of Syrians.
SAS troops and MI6 agents are in the country ready to help rebels if civil war breaks out as ¬expected this weekend.
They also have ¬hi-tech satellite computers and radios that can instantly send back photos and details of refugees and ¬Assad’s forces as the situation develops.
Whitehall sources say it is vital they can see what is ¬happening on the ground for ¬themselves so Assad cannot deny atrocities or battles.
And if civil war breaks out the crack troops are on hand to help with fighting, said the ¬insider.
Foreign secretary William Hague has refused to rule out using ¬military action to stop Assad’s ¬regime attacking his own people.
“Safe havens would be an invasion of Syria but a chance to save lives,” said a senior Whitehall source.
“The SAS will throw an armed screen round these areas that can be set up within hours.
“There are guys in the communications unit who are signallers that can go right up front and get ¬involved in close-quarter fighting.”
The rebel Syrian Free Army has ¬dismissed the UN-backed truce as “a failure” and is ¬resuming “defensive” operations despite the ceasefire required by the peace plan.
Nearly 2,300 Syrians have been killed since the ceasefire ¬supposedly took effect in mid April.
Last week 108 men, women and children were slaughtered in Houla in what is widely believed to be a regime-led massacre.
The British troops would be part of an international force ¬including French and Turkish soldiers and possibly Americans.
Safe havens are expected to be set up around areas that are easily ¬accessible and even within walking distance of troublespots.
Among them is Krak des ¬Chevaliers, a medieval castle about 25 miles west of Homs, close to the Lebanon border.
It is also a World Heritage site.
Another is As Suwayda, near the border with Jordan and Jisr al-Shughour near the Turkish border.
Refugees gathered there have put up camps in the hills and thousands more are heading there.
It is thought ¬Syrian forces would not dare to come that close to the border.
There is also the safe haven of Sanliurfa in Turkey on the Syrian border.
Ce vor face unii: redevin civili sau vor fi incadrati in functiile din categoria proprie sau in alta categorie de forte unde este deficienta de personal. Intrebare: exista in Romania asa ceva ? De exemplu, daca sunt prea multi infanteristi, sa zicem, exista posibilitatea reincadrarii dupa un ciclu de instructie/formare, de specialist in comunicatii pentru Fortele Aeriene ?
Article Service personnel selected for Tranche 2 Redundancy Programme
A Defence Policy and Business news article 12 Jun 12
Personnel from all three Services will today be notified if they have been selected for redundancy in the second tranche of the Armed Forces Redundancy Programme.
For many, selection will be a result of their own choice to apply for consideration to be made redundant. For others, it will be unwelcome. All notifications will be made either face-to-face or by telephone.
Those personnel who will be returning to civilian life through redundancy will receive full support from their chain of command along with a comprehensive resettlement package to aid their transition. See Related Links.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
"Of course I regret that it has been necessary to make redundancies to deliver our plans for reducing the size of the Armed Forces. We inherited a multi-billion-pound black hole in the Defence Budget.
"We've now brought the Defence Budget back into balance for the first time in a generation. We will have smaller Armed Forces but we will ensure they will have the protection and equipment they need.
"The Royal Navy and RAF redundancy figures are smaller than anticipated due to the MOD's ability to use other measures such as slowing recruitment. No further significant reductions are expected for the Royal Navy or RAF.
"We still have some way to go to bring the size of the Army down to 82,000 and decisions on what is necessary to achieve this are yet to be taken, but we won't compromise the mission in Afghanistan."
Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards said:
"I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks to those who will be leaving the Services for their contribution to our Armed Forces and to the nation's security. Some of you may see redundancy as an opportunity. Others will see it as a significant challenge.
"Your chain of command will support you during the redundancy process, and I would encourage you to make full use of the comprehensive resettlement package as you make the transition to civilian life. I would also encourage those who are eligible to consider applying for transfer to shortage categories within any of the three Services."
Applicants will serve up to six months' notice before leaving the Armed Forces, while non-applicants will serve up to 12 months' notice. Those who wish to leave earlier can ask their Service.
Those selected for redundancy, and who meet the selection criteria, will have the opportunity to apply to shortage area categories.
The Royal Navy and Royal Marines are notifying approximately 170 personnel that they are to be made redundant, of whom approximately 120 (72 per cent) are applicants and 50 (28 per cent) non-applicants.
The Army are notifying approximately 2,900 personnel they are to be made redundant, of whom approximately 2,100 (72 per cent) are applicants and 800 (28 per cent) non-applicants.
The RAF are notifying approximately 730 personnel they are to be made redundant, of whom approximately 515 (71 per cent) are applicants and 215 (29 per cent) non-applicants.
All notification letters will set out clearly the next steps and explain where Service personnel can find further advice.
This will be the last major tranche of redundancies for the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force.
A Defence Policy and Business news article 13 Jun 12 Leaving the Armed Forces can be a daunting prospect. After years of living a structured lifestyle which could involve fighting on the front line, entering what might seem like the comparatively quieter civilian world can take its toll if the transition isn't properly handled. Report by Leigh Hamilton.
Around 20,000 personnel leave the Services every year. This can be due to a natural end to their commission, redundancy, or medical discharge. Each of these individuals has access to tailored support and advice years before they are discharged, to ensure they are as well prepared as possible.
The Career Transition Partnership (CTP), which is a partnering agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Right Management, provides resettlement services for those leaving the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines and also acts as an intermediary for employers wishing to hire Service leavers.
To date the CTP has helped over 170,000 personnel with the tricky transition to civilian life by offering guidance, workshops and courses.
Leaving the Armed Forces can, in some respects, be like starting again from scratch. The CTP understands how complicated creating a new life can be, and provides advice on all aspects of civilian life including; approaching the job market; how to claim benefits; housing; health and education; pensions and interviewing skills.
Advice, guidance and support are available from the CTP two years before discharge until two years after leaving Service, if the individual is eligible in accordance with current policy.
After receiving word that they are leaving the forces, a Service leaver is given a briefing which clearly outlines what they can expect in the coming months and they will be given in-Service resettlement advice before attending a three-day Career Transition Workshop (CTW).
"Obviously it's a scary time for a lot of people and we're aware of that. The first thing Service personnel need to do is get registered with the CTP through their Service Resettlement Advisor and get the process started.
"Then, they can go on the three day transition workshop. They'll start to work with a career consultant.
"They will develop and follow a Personal Resettlement Plan which will include resettlement activities to meet the needs of the individual and aspirations for their future career.
"This includes further CV and interview techniques workshops, vocational training and equipping them with the tools and knowledge to market themselves to future employers."
Service personnel possess a wide range of skills which make them very valuable assets to civilian employers. Their military background provides skills and a work ethos that would be an asset to any organisation.
These skills include leadership, being able to work as part of a team, discipline, maturity and acceptance of responsibility. Employers often cite ex-Service employees as being flexible, and having a positive attitude. Mrs Carroll said:
"Some Service leavers worry that their military skills and experience will not transfer into civilian roles. Attendance at a CTW and working with a Career Consultant will help to translate those skills and many are surprised at what they do have to offer such as leadership, teamwork, planning and motivating.
"These soft skills are important to employers and we work with many who are willing to train Service leavers because they value the skills they possess and they can see that they will be an asset to the company."
Lieutenant Commander David Sargent is one of the many Service personnel who have benefited from the CTP. He was notified in September 2011 that he was being made redundant as part of Tranche 1 of the Armed Forces Redundancy Programme following the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
After serving for almost thirteen years as a Logistics Officer with the Royal Navy, Lt Cdr Sargent relied heavily on the guidance provided by the CTP during the year before he left the Armed Forces.
After initial contact with the CTP, Lt Cdr Sargent attended a CTW at the Regional Resettlement Centre (RRC) Cottesmore which set the tone for the rest of his transition experience:
"When I attended I was still in shock after being made compulsorily redundant," Lt Cdr Sargent said. "So, initially I had thought very little about resettlement. The CTW was a real wakeup call and made me think very long and hard about what I needed to do. It got me into the job seeking mindset."
During his military career, Lt Cdr Sargent gained extensive experience in logistics and supply chain management and also headed up a number of different departments.
After beginning an MSc in Logistics Management through the Navy, Lt Cdr Sargent discussed his options with his Career Consultant, and he soon came to the conclusion that continuing with this qualification would not make the best use of his Graduated Resettlement Time (GRT).
Planning to utilise his existing military skill-set, Lt Cdr Sargent set his sights on finding work in the field of Logistics. He said:
"I found myself referring time and again to CTW and the notes I was provided with. Certainly as my job search continued, I found the lessons learned were more and more relevant."
Although focussing on logistics vacancies, by chance, he came across an advert on the Lincolnshire County Council website for the position of School Business Manager at a local school:
"I saw the job specification and realised that it was almost identical to that of a Naval Logistics Officer. A little more research showed me that the traditional Naval term for my branch, Purser, shares the same Latin root as Bursar. The case seemed to make itself!
"So, on the face of it, it was a step change, but it actually saw me playing to my strengths and also looking at education, which is what I really wanted all along."
Lt Cdr Sargent still uses his military experience on a daily basis, and says:
"Be it management of people, things, money, infrastructure, the experience gained has proved utterly invaluable."
When he moved in the civilian world of work, Lt Cdr Sargent explained that he found that his priorities changed:
"I made the decision that a good job wasn't solely about the money. Locality, time off, environment, etc, were all equally important."
Lt Cdr Sargent's new boss, Head Teacher at Cherry Willingham Community School, David Rice, said:
"In less than two months, Dave Sargent has made a palpable impact our school. Dave's learning curve has been very steep with some rather sharp edges and he is managing the job superbly well."
Changes in family circumstances can be a catalyst for some personnel to seek voluntary redundancy.
After 14 years in the RAF as a Puma navigator, Sarah Murnane decided to apply for voluntary redundancy to make sure that she was able to spend more time with her young child:
"I have a three-year-old daughter," she said. "The RAF was great when I was young, free and single and didn't mind travelling. I did Kosovo, Bosnia, Basra, Baghdad and Afghanistan. Having little kids and going away just doesn't suit me anymore, so I applied for voluntary redundancy which was a good way out for me."
After discovering that her application for redundancy had been approved, Mrs Murnane attended a CTW a few weeks later at RRC Northolt. She said:
"I found it really useful, especially the guidance on CV writing as most of us who go straight into the military have never had to write a CV. I thought I should focus on defence management jobs, but my career consultant encouraged me to think of other areas.
"Before I joined the Air Force I wanted to teach, so she encouraged me to look into that area as well as project management. The meeting with her was so useful, she knew so much."
During the CTW, Mrs Murnane was encouraged to look for jobs online and it was during the workshop that she applied for a position as a geography teacher - which she got. Mrs Murnane said:
"There were four people interviewed and the other three guys were all qualified teachers. I'm not a qualified teacher, and the others were also a bit younger than me and I just thought they're not going to want an unqualified and older person.
"I left thinking nothing about it and got a call the next morning offering me the job."
Although she was elated to find out she had successfully made the transition into a civilian job, Mrs Murnane was put to the test as she had to move house and look after a three-year-old child on her own as her husband, who is also in the RAF, was on deployment in Afghanistan.
After the pressure of changing her whole life, Mrs Murnane then had to face a classroom of rowdy children in her new job. Luckily the skills she gained during her time in the RAF ensured she was well equipped for whatever they had in store:
"When kids are messing about, it's important to be able to control them. When I got hit in Baghdad, that was quite scary and it got the adrenaline pumping. Kids playing up in the classroom is comparatively not scary at all."
To those who may be facing redundancy, Mrs Murnane advised:
"Don't give up job hunting and don't get too demoralised. You may not find a job immediately. You've got to find a job that suits you and don't underestimate the skills that the military has given you; confidence; being able to deal with lots of different situations; and not getting phased by things."
With the help, guidance and support of the MOD through the CTP, life after active service has the potential to open new doors and present new opportunities that personnel may not have expected.
Unconfirmed reports say that Britain’s special operations forces have crossed from Turkey into Syria advancing up to ten kilometers inside the country.
DEBKAfile, an Israeli military intelligence website, has reported that unconfirmed first reports from British, French, and Turkish sources say British forces have entered Syria from Turkey, taking the lead of a western military incursion.
Moreover, on Sunday 24 June, The Daily Star reported that Britain’s fighter planes were on stand-by to invade Syria in case Britain’s NATO ally, Turkey, decided to launch a strike on Syria.
DEBKAfile said the British incursion was aimed at securing the start of western intervention in Syria to topple President Bashar Al Assad.
Earlier this year, the Israeli website also revealed that British troops and intelligence agents were operating in the Syrian city of Homs, assisting Syria’s armed rebels in their bloody battle against civilians and the Syrian army.
Moreover, earlier this month, The Daily Star reported that Britain’s Special Air Service (SAS) and MI6 agents were setting up camps in Syria to assist armed rebels if a civil war would break out in the country.
This all and the recent report about the British incursion in Syria comes as earlier this month British Prime Minister David Cameron asked his fellow Tory MPs: “Where shall I invade next? I’ve done Libya” as he stopped in front of a map of the world at his Downing Street flat.
Masuri de securitate pentru Olimpiada care incepe peste cateva zile:
[
Initial, firma privata de securitate G4S a fost angajata, sa asigure securitatea Jocurilor Olimpice cu 2,000 de agenti. Ulterior, s-a ajuns la concluzia ca numarul celor care trebuie angajati este de circa 10,400, contra unui contract in valoare de 284 de milioane de lire sterline. Inainte de Craciun, Ministerul Apararii a anuntat ca va mobiliza 13,500 de militari, fiind necesara inclusiv mobilizarea a 2,000 de rezervisti, pentru Olimpiada. Recent, G4S a recunoscut ca nu poate acoperi necesarul de agenti de securitate la care s-a angajat. Cu toate acestea, spune presa britanica, modificarea valorii contractului negociat nu a fost luata in discutie. Asa ca Ministerul Apararii va mai mobiliza alti 3,500 de militari pentru securitatea Jocurilor Olimpice. Aceasta decizie urca numarul militarilor angajati in operatiunea de paza si securitate a Olimpiadei de la Londra la 16,500, cu 7,000 mai mult decat trupele care participa la operatiunile militare din Afganistan. Dintre cei 13,500 mobilizati initial, 7,500 vor asigura securitatea in zonele de acces spre arenele sportive, 1,000 vor oferi suport logistic iar circa 5,000 sunt genisti, specialisti pentru depistarea bombelor si dezamorsarea acestora, ei fiind insotiti de caini care ,miros' dispozitivele explozive.
Cat priveste mijloacele utilizate pentru siguranta Jocurilor Olimpice, cifrele sunt elocvente: -nava portelicopter Ocean, cu 800 de militari/puscasi marini la bord si 4 elicoptere Lynx -o nava amfibie de asalt cu 350 de Royal Marines la bord -o nava auxiliara pe coasta de sud a Angliei -3 avioane de supraveghere si avertizare aeriana E-3D ale RAF -3 elicoptere RAF Puma cu lunetisti ai RAF Regiment la bord -o baterie de rachete sol-aer de tip Rapier si lansatoare de rachete de tip Starstreak -4 avioane Eurofighter Typhoon de interventie aeriana -3 elicoptere Sea King ale RN pentru avertizare timpurie
Amendament: intr-o declaratie facuta cotidianului Daily Mail, premierul David Cameron a spus ca G4S ar trebui data in judecata deoarece nu a respectat termenii contractului. Compania se oferise sa angajeze pana l;a 17,500 de agenti de securitate. Sursa: LINK
Forums
