Soldiers and Politicians
This is the most talked about man in Britain at the moment. stunned the government and the country late last night with about British involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, in an interview with the Daily Mail newspaper. For a serving chief of staff to contradict government policy is pretty unprecedented, here in Britain anyway. And it got us wondering...Do you think soldiers should stay out of politics full-stop? Or should they do whatever is necessary to serve the public interest?
If you're a British soldier or ex-soldier serving in Iraq or Afghanistan... or the relative of one, what do you think about his decision to be so candid? Does he represent your view?
How are his comments being covered in your country? The Ö÷²¥´óÐã's political correspondent, Nick Robinson, reported last night that Washington's clearly worried about it. And Tony Blair, who insists Britain has to stay in Iraq... and that the presence of foreign troops is not fuelling extremism at home, can't be too happy about it either. We should get his reaction when he holds a press conference today.
But what about the role of the military? Do military leaders have a duty to speak up-- even take action-- to serve their country? In Israel, for criticizing aspects of the war in Lebanon. There is about the role of the military in politics in Pakistan. And of course, there was the recent coup in Thailand. Not to mention the debate in America about the line between criticism and treason... and the checkered history of coups and counter-coups in Africa and South America.... Join us on-air at 1800 GMT using the contacts on the right. Speak to you then!
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