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‘Cowards of the MoD’
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
(12:01)
The Plymouth Evening Herald

... while they battled harsh mountain terrain and gruelling conditions, commentators at home were attacking the decision to send in 1,700 British troops after the commandos failed to meet any enemy, despite several missions. The attacks turned on Brig Lane himself, when 'unnamed' officials at the Ministry of Defence claimed Brig Lane had been sacked.

Plymouth's Royal Marines commander today blasted his critics, branding anonymous MoD sources as cowards who should be ashamed to wear a uniform.

Brigadier Roger Lane said he had been humiliated by suggestions that he had been sacked in the middle of the marines' operations in Afghanistan.

He said the lies had had a particularly devastating effect on his family, who had been hounded by the press, and had upset his six-year-old son.

"The whole story was a completely fictitious one which inevitably had an impact and was extremely damaging to myself," he said.

"To use the words 'to be sacked' as an operational commander was humiliating.

"I've spent 30 years defending democracy in the military and then to have that freedom used against you."
(More: ThisIsPlymouth.co.uk News Source)
2002 © Northcliffe Electronic Publishing, Ltd.

Take ‘em down, sir, and take ‘em down hard.

Dan