I dont believe that soldiers fighting illegally in foreign lands is either a benefit to me or civillisation as a whole. My applause will be reserved until I believe our service men and women deserve it. Each to their own though and if you want to applaud them then fair enough. I'll leave this highly sensitive thread alone now.

Whether you agree with it or not, it's a matter of respect.

Some apparently have none.

In fairness, those untold thousands who gave their lives in past wars did so ultimately to preserve our freedoms and liberties - including the right to hold and express unpopular or minority opinions. Whilst we do not agree with his views and attitude on this subject, at least the sacrifices and continuing sacrifices of the people in uniform enable him to express those views openly on here - and you to say what you think of them.

So you should, I have never been so embarrassed for an individual on RLFANS and that is really saying something.

You wouldn't have been saying that if an Iraqi nuke landed on your head courtesy of Mr Hussein.

It's because of men and women who serve that you are allowed an opinion in the 1st place and just a tip from someone who served for over 12 yrs,do yer research before spouting off about what they do that benefits you or this country!!!!!!!!

Really! What a to$$er!

If you don’t want to get behind our forces personnel in support then feel free to pick up a rifle and go and stand in front of them.

These young men and women choose to join our armed forces and whatever their intention or remuneration have the responsibility to go and protect the freedom of those who can’t do it for themselves when told by the government that we as a Nation elect into power.

Whatever your thoughts on the legality of currant conflicts or whether or not you think we should be involved or not is immaterial, these people do not have a choice when it comes to being posted to these places and so public support of these individuals should be unwavering.

We all live under the freedom that these people provide either directly or indirectly and so you should be thankful to those that are willing to put themselves between you and a 5.56mm round travelling in your general direction.

Is that right?

In that case, that's not sporting! I'll have to respect you immensely now, no matter what you post on here!

you......, are a total peen a*rse! Have some respect.

Congratulations on being the only person (over 10 years old, unless of course you are aged less than that) out of 9500 people who did not applaud. Well done!

That'd be weird!!!!!!!!
Yes mate i was in the ROYAL NAVY for 12 and a half years!!!
Don't get me wrong everyone is entitled to an opinion but at least get the substance right in this case and respect costs nothing!

Indeed.

It was only 45 minutes away....

come say that to my face terry ill teach you a lesson about bad mouthing our boys

bye

bye? why? im tryin to stick up for our boys putting there live on the line and you tell me to go away

you really arent a bulldog

Well yes and no, historically when ordinary people sought to have their voices heard it was the military that put them down, from the Peterloo massacre in Manchester to the Chartist uprising in Newport, which has close links to the Bradford Chartist movement - i.e. a movement for ordinary people to have the vote. We also have a long history of sending troops to colonise other lands, subjugate their people and steal their resources, as well as a history of fighting fascism and intervening to protect minorities from being exterminated. So it's not quite as simple as it sounds.

Personally I applauded, they're brave people and I'm glad they're back with their families, I just hope that one day their bravery earns them the politicians they deserve, rather than a professional class of idiots who would never go and fight themselves, or send their own family members.