Gordon Brown doesn't have guts of army widow
SHE said it herself - she was beaming.
Christina Schmid didn't just smile and clap as her husband Olaf's body was driven through the streets of Wootton Bassett, she even gave his coffin the thumbs up and whispered: "You have done really well".
Looking at Christina's happy face you'd have thought her husband, a 30-year-old old bomb disposal expert, was coming home for a holiday - not to be buried.
And then it hit me. Christina hadn't remotely begun to grieve or to accept what had happened to her beloved Oz.
Yes, she'd seen his coffin. Yes, she'd been part of the pomp and ceremony of his homecoming but still she hadn't allowed herself believe he'd gone.
But then that's grief Army-style. And it's even more gut-wrenching and hellish than just tears.
Christina - like hundreds of other army widows - was doing what Army wives are expected to do. When their men courageously perish on the battlefield they feel duty- bound to bury them just as courageously, while making sure the world knows just how strong and brave and committed they were.
And for a while they're able to do that - wafted along on a wave of pride, and love and honour.
But as I looked at this calm, incredibly composed woman I wondered how long it will be before she hits the wall, before the full force of her husband's death engulfs her. Because it will.
And there'll be no TV cameras then, no people telling her how fantastic he was - just be photos and memories of a lost life and a grief that will eat away her heart.
But Christina's courage is no different from that of all those other wives - and mums and dads - who've stood tall and proud as they've buried brave men. And it amazes me that while our soldiers and their families continue to show jaw-dropping guts, this government shows none.
Why did we have to wait to hear what President Obama is going to do in Afghanistan before our gutless Prime Minister stood up to address HIS nation? Why has Gordon spent months scuttling into corners whenever the war was mentioned?
His cowardice during this conflict has been shameful. A 30-second soundbite every now and then was never going to be enough to explain why 230 soldiers have been brought home in body bags.
Scared
We needed a war leader. What we got was Gordon running scared from a problem he had no idea how to solve. Until this weekend he'd never delivered a speech telling the British people precisely why we're in Afghanistan.
First, we were told - not by him - it was because we had to beat al Qaeda. Then it was because we had to beat the Taliban - even though the Taliban have never actually attacked us. Then it was because we had to make sure Afghani girls got educated. Then it was to stop hordes of Afghani immigrants flocking to Britain.
And so, as our anger reached boiling point, Gordon finally stepped out of the shadows to make his big speech about how we weren't pulling out and how the Afghan Government HAD to take control of its insurgents or forfeit the right to international support.
What? So a corrupt and unelected leader is supposed to enforce democracy in a matter of weeks? It's a pipe dream - and Gordon knows it.
And that speech wasn't to explain why our boys are dying. It was a damage limitation exercise to save his sorry-ass government and to appease a nation no longer prepared to watch soldiers die for no reason.
So if we can't, as Gordon says, walk away from Afghanistan, he needs to give us a bloody good reason why we're staying and what the objectives are. Then he's got to throw massive resources at it.
Which means the 500 soldiers desperately needed on the ground must be sent immediately. As must enough helicopters, tanks and kit. Our Boys must want for nothing.
And no more talk of not being able to afford it. If this government can fork out billions in bankers' bonuses it can pay to save soldiers' lives. Brown also needs to boot out our idiot Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth who isn't fit to be charge of Dad's Army - let alone ours.
And as this conflict goes on, the British people must be kept in the loop. No more lies, no more penny-pinching, no more moving the goalposts.
This war will only be tolerated if we understand why we're fighting it and how long it's going to take.
It's the least this government can do for Christina and all those other widows who need to understand why their men died.
Click here to read Carole Malone's previous News of the World columns
This article has 11 comments
If Gordon Brown met all the bodies at RAF Lyneham, he would get sod all else done!
By Suzey. Posted November 16 2009 at 12:40 AM.
" Brown also needs to boot out our idiot Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth who isn't fit to be in charge of Dad's Army - let alone ours " .
The same cretin who said " the MOD often do a difficult and dangerous job " !!!
Ainsworth............. or should that be Jobsworth, try telling that to the sappers trying to defuse a roadside bomb, or the rest of the troops living and working in an area of conflict ....... 24/7
His perception of an area of conflict is probably in a temperature controlled office of heated debate....and his idea of flak is not the same as theirs/ours..............IDIOT !
Get our boys out of this historically corrupt country ........................NOW !
By charliefarlay. Posted November 14 2009 at 11:30 PM.
Great column Carole, I wonder if any one has the same thoughts on this subject?,while on holiday in Spain this year I watched the young of this country without any thought of a war in Afganistan and our own brave young people getting killed to keep the western world free,but surely all these countries are in the western world so why are our own troops being asked to make such a sacrafice.This government and any future one will have to review this policy we are not fodder for the rest of the world, we are paying a terrible price to keep them in a lifestyle they have become accustomed or take for granted.
The threat of terrorisom is not ours alone we need more commitment and a larger troop influx from other parts of the world,or pull out of this terrible terrain which is Afganistn and bring our beautiful soldiers home in one piece.
By just me. Posted November 9 2009 at 2:10 PM.
Disgracefully, the lowlifes that are supposed to be running the country and steering a successful mission for our troops in Afghanistan are, exactly as per the past eleven years, concerned solely about what they personally can still drain out of the digusting state they have got our country, and especially our armed services into.
Gordon Brown has no shame or he would never have connived to get the job he craved and then fail to have the guts to confirm it by a legitimate mandate of the people.
Dreaming of Brown or any of his co-conspirators changing habits in the almost certain run up to an obligatory general election defeat is just that, dreaming.
Sadly, Christina Schmid will by the election have simply gone down the list of widows whilst the con men who could stop or reverse that process are only concerned with keeping the gravy train running towards the buffers with disastrous results for all, except of course, the usual crowd, ie: MP's, Peers and their fellow con men.
By Ken.H. Posted November 9 2009 at 1:11 AM.
I don't normally agree with Carole Malone's comments but I found myself agreeing with every word of this article. It is a disgrace that Gordon Brown has not had the good grace to make the fact that this country has deployed troops to a foreign war zone his number one priority. He has a duty to make sure the public fully understand why we are there and give the troops what the need to do their job. I saw the defence secretary speak on the subject of why we were there today and he was far from convincing.
By Andrew Cawkwell. Posted November 9 2009 at 12:21 AM.
Gordon Brown is an unelected Prime Minister who does not listen to anybody especially the British people. I wonder who else noted at the Cenotaph on Sunday morning when he was supposedly leading the British people in mourning our war dead, this obnoxious scotch git never had the decency to bow his head, some prime minister. All the other MPs and dignitaries manage to pay their respects in a decent manner.
By Keith Hudson. Posted November 8 2009 at 4:40 PM.
its a pity they dont send that idiot who said he was drunk and peed on the rememberance place for our heros such as that ladys husband to where this poor man was killed, he said prison frightens him see what he would do out there, also put the age for drink up to 21 same as america so we dont see someone dishonouring our brave soldiers again .good luck brave lady tom
By tom lagden. Posted November 8 2009 at 4:30 PM.
I have always said and say the British soldiers and forces are the best,,Indeed they are brave...I say a second point in no way intended to be insultive or to upset memories of the dead.
For centuries soldiers etc have been dupped and fooled.We went to war against napoleon under the idea of freedome etc but it was basically the guys behind the muskets preserving the lifestyle of the Elite and rich.
I remember a line in the Bradd Pitt movie talking to his cousin "Dont waste your life following some fools orders" Only the guys giving the orders are not the fools they are not dying nor are their families.
Patriotism is a con used to make mine and your son fight and die for there greedy caused....Lets face it were not allowed to be patriots in our home country
By kenny. Posted November 8 2009 at 11:13 AM.
I really hope that this very brave woman gets all the help and support that she need to get through the terrible ordeal of bringing her husbands body home.As the article sayes ,she has far more guts than Brown will ever have.He is a national disgrace.If he had one ounce of courage he would personally be at RAF Lynham to meet the brave service men and women that have been killed in this senceless war.In Spain, the king and president do exactly that
By Dave. Posted November 8 2009 at 8:38 AM.
Having just watched the British Legion Festival of Remembrance I agree with Kenny. The bravery of our troops is astounding in the face of a cowardly government. They don't mention Afghanistan because THEY don't know why we are there. Will the new European state make sure equal numbers of soldiers follow the USA into battle? I don't think so. My thoughts and prayers are with our brave troops and their families.
By Katherine. Posted November 8 2009 at 12:29 AM.
3300 years ago probably one of the Greatest MILITARY generals Alexander the Great. Had exactly the same problem. He would crush a position move on and once he did the Afghans or Bactrians would rebel in his rear...Alexanders toughest campaigns were in that region.He smashed their armies through terrorism tactics even and never defeated them...in the end he handed Control over to a local warlord Porus and headed bach saving face by his troops refusing to go on.
Now if a great warrior and military genius like Alexander couldnt quel them What chance has the coalition troops led not by military geniuses but Check book politicians.
Many moons ago I was and am an admirer of Alexander as a commander but I say to Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and the Idiots.
If they preach and ask my sons my brothers my friends to fight I would say yes Gordon straight after you...If these people want wars let them fight the wars.
Its simple if these modern leaders and warlords had to fight there would be no wars
By Kenny. Posted November 7 2009 at 11:24 PM.