Vocal Voices

"We are not getting involved" says Cameron, however muscles flexed he sends of a couple of transporters to help the French.
No action from their bosom buddies The Crauts who, when it comes to screwing us British in every way possible, they are keeping well out of the afray.
AND NOW we learn that our peacable Prime minister is sending 40 (guaranteed a plus!) to help the French fight these Al Qaeda insurgents...
Does he hope that his action of placing this country at greater risk than it already is might just soften up the French and Germans when it come to a New Deal (some luck) for us British!!

Kate, the reason we have personnel in Mali is because we are giving heavy airlift support to the French on a round trip basis. In order to do that we need ground crews, support equipment and spares at both ends of the route. We are the only ones in the region with that capability.

Cameron was his own worst enemy when he said "no British boots on the ground". What he meant was no combat troops, and that is still the case. However, when politicians make statements they should actually have some idea of what they are talking about. Telling that falsehood has now come back to bite him.

The other thing is that the Germans are involved, so are the Danes and Belgians. They are also giving logistics support with their Transall and Hercules aircraft. The difference there is that those planes are like Transit vans to our articulated lorries. They are also used by just about everyone, so the same amount of dedicated support is not needed in the same way our C17s need it.

The Germans and Netherlands have also sent Patriot missiles to Turkey on the Syrian border, that means quite a lot of multi-lateral European support in these hot-spots.

Thanks Frank, seemingly I am only aware of half the story.. Have not been to well brain malfunction!!xx

Kate, first, get well, second, the EU and NATO are two different things.

Unfortunately the UK media does not make that distinction, especially the DM and BBC. All it does is feed/drive our prejudices.

You need to broaden your horizons.

It is easy on the Internet, try Al Jaz or RT, Reuters or AFP.

I listen and watch Al Jazera from time to time.. My late husband was a Telegraph faithful, I learn a great deal from you suff and Cromwell.. And I appreciate being put right when I am wrong..