Self working as a security adviser for a media company as Basra was being “liberated” by British troops. 2003
For a good few years now I’ve been a patron of a British veterans’ charity, and today I wholeheartedly still support the great work that it does day in day out…however, I don’t necessarily agree with it.
Here’s why: The government sends us all to war, normally when the government and their diplomats fail in talks. Over the last twenty odd years now there has also been other reasons. One, to adhere to US foreign policy in order for the UK government to appear relevant on the global stage, and two, for our government to follow through on policies born out of big corporates greed. The latter being tied in to the former as the big corporates concerned are on the whole American. I’ve always referred to these wars as the “corporate wars.”
So what does this all have to do with veterans’ charities?
Well, right now the many many charities are fighting one another for monies coming in through the kindness of the public. The amount of monies coming in I have no doubt fluctuates in line with how the economy is doing. Bread on the table, let’s give to charity. No bread on the table, let’s not give to charity.
In my view it shouldn’t be down to the great British public to give a penny! That’s because every single veteran should be covered by the government. Yes I know only too well that government money is really our money, given up through taxes. Well in that case we should all have a say in just how it’s spent.
Today we still give millions of $$$$$$$ to foreign countries in the form of AID, yet our own government can’t look after our own people first and foremost. It stinks, it’s filthy, and the government should be completely ashamed today.
They should also be ashamed at dropping their pants to large corporates and US inept foreign policy born out of those large corporates, which also stinks and is filthy in equal measures.
“But we have no money to look after veterans”…the government keep saying.
Well how about this: Hold the large corporates to account for pushing these wars through lobbying for their favoured foreign policy…they can fork out a percentage annually to go towards veterans…getting them off the streets, getting them the medical treatment that they require, and getting them the training required for a working life…a secure working life…after their service! After all these large corporates have made billions from these wars.
To the few charities that are out there for the real reasons of looking after veterans…I take my hat off to you all. But in a major industrialized nation like the UK or even the USA…veterans’ charities should NOT have to exist.
Bob Shepherd 
Here here. How many Charities sit on their their donations or monies on lend,
Our Governments are willing enough to train and use our armed forces, this can be to loo after British interests or extend British business interests, however how much are the dues or Tax income which can be put towards ex service provision?
Cheers Bob. This article opens up the whole topic of Charities. There are 1000’s of charities throughout the world and only a finite number of causes: Cancer, Poverty, AIDS, Lions, Tigers, Children’s health, eyesight etc etc. Now if all the Veterans Charities (for example), were to come together under one umbrella with common aims, the amount of administration, management and other non beneficial spend would be reduced. So why not do that? In simple terms, you would get rid of all the hangers on, the sponges who use charitable status to line their own pockets. But given that many politicians and do-gooders with a personal agenda (and looking for a New Years Honours) act in positions of power and influence over these organisations and funds, it will never happen. It is a mess and the Veterans side of it is just one small example or corruption, ineffectiveness and corruption. Here endeth the lesson for today. Best to All
As per all good comments and sadly very true. This was one of my reasons for leaving the forces after 23 yes. We became political pawns and this shows with the farce in the Ukraine. The west is being shown to have weak leaders who cannot be relied upon to do the correct action.
Bob
Perhaps, the big merchant banks and armaments’ companies should pay a 10% tax on profits as a way to pay back all the veterans that die and get broken for there company profits. As Brigadier Sedley Butler USMC said ” all wars are bankers wars”
Yes Bob, fully agree with you about these corporate wars. In first case for wanting control of oil fields using the excuse of weapons of mass destruction agreed between Bush and his puppy Blair. The big corporate men made a fortune selling weapons and ammunition to further boost their profits. However, none of it is downloaded to help the people who unknown supported their profits using their equipment in conflict areas. Government are the only other winners collecting more tax and shareholders gaming their annual benefits, the terrible shame of capitalism. The Serviceman is left with nothing except the pain.