A variety of Defence stories are covered in the media today, including the case of Former Royal Marine Alexander Blackman, the launch of the second Invictus Games and the final flight of Vulcan bomber.
Alexander Blackman
The Daily Mail continues their support for former Sergeant Alexander Blackman, stating that serving Royal Marines defied the MOD ‘ban’ on attending the march to join hundreds of veterans, with numbers in attendance claimed to be around 1,000. The piece also features interviews with a number of former Marines. The Daily Express, Daily Star, Daily Telegraph, The Sun and Daily Mirror also reported on the protest with a range of images and interviews.
An MOD Spokesperson said:
Serving members of the military are given routine reminders that, according to the Queens Regulations RN, they are not to attend any political protests, marches, rallies or demonstrations. Any gathering which seeks to protest against a decision taken by the legal system or the government falls into this category.
The Ministry of Defence has followed and supported the legal process throughout this case. We respect the authority and decision of the court and will, of course, co-operate fully with any future legal process.
Invictus Games
The Daily Express reports that Prince Harry has teamed up with First Lady Michelle Obama in Washington to launch the second Invictus Games, which will take place in Florida next May. The Daily Mirror covers that the Prince went on to meet with President Obama at the White House. You can read more about the launch of the Invictus Games here.
Syria
The Guardian reports on comments by EU foreign policy minister Federica Mogherini saying that Russia risks being trapped in another conflict like Afghanistan unless it helps orchestrate a political transition in Syria. Ms. Mogherini was delivered the comments ahead of the new multi-lateral push to end the war. She went on to say that there is a recognition on all sides that there is no military solution in Syria. The piece states that, for the first time, Iran will be attending the discussions.
Afghanistan
The Times reports that Alexander Bortnikov, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service, has said that militants in Afghanistan who have switched sides to ISIL pose a growing risk to central Asia.
The Times and Daily Telegraph also report that Taliban insurgents have overrun Darqand in Takhar province, one of the regions that was hit hard by the powerful earthquake earlier this week. The Wall Street Journal suggests that the Taliban will not hinder the aid efforts in the country following the earthquake which killed at least 115 people in Afghanistan and 267 in Pakistan.
You can read more about the UK’s continued support to Afghanistan here.
Intelligence
Following unprecedented access to GCHQ, The Times reports on the contribution the agency made to the intelligence in most of Britain’s military operations in Afghanistan. The article on the front page of The Times reports that data was used by MI6 helped unmask a scientist who sold nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea.
NATO
The Wall Street Journal reports that NATO countries are discussing increasing the number of troops stationed in member countries bordering Russia and putting them under former alliance command as part of a new effort to deter against aggression from Moscow. The paper reports that under the plans, NATO would have a battalion in Poland and each of the three Baltic states, with 1000-800 soldiers in each unit.
Vulcan Bomber
The Daily Telegraph features a picture story reporting on the final flight of the last airworthy Vulcan bomber which once carried the UK’s nuclear deterrent, and The Sun describes the aircraft returning to its hanger at Robin Hood airport in Yorkshire.
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