Andy Mcnab
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>>By camban (Monday, 5 Mar 2007 12:56)
"Colin Berry spent several years in the British Army before leaving to follow a civilian career"
'British Army' is pretty broad, but sometimes what they don't say means more than what they do say
Getting the book may not be a problem. Finding the time to read however.. :-)
>>By Lynn (Monday, 5 Mar 2007 16:45)
Got send this Sun article, thanx you-know-who :-)
HERO McNAB GOES BACK TO IRAQ
March 09, 2007
IT’S been 16 years since SAS hero and Sun Security Advisor Andy McNab was captured behind enemy lines in Iraq after a Scud-hunting mission went wrong.
For this special dispatch, he agreed to go back on to the war-torn nation’s mean streets to join up with his old regular infantry unit – the 2nd Battalion, the Rifles.
Here, he reveals the truth about what life is really like for Our Boys on the ever-more dangerous front line that is Basra today.
Read full article (PICTURES!!) here:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/
0,,2-2007110295,00.html
Didn't have time to think this one over, just read once - I am trying to figure out what the reasons for a) this article and b) McNabs going over there could be. Especially the last line is some food for
thought ;-)
>>By Lynn (Friday, 9 Mar 2007 13:34)
Excellent article that Lynn, the truth is out there somewhere as always, just not in the media, as usual.
Anyway, seems I have fallen for a spoof book I was about to recommend here, then I encountered a web site I think you will all like 'The ARmy Rumour SErvice' (the upper case letters are correct, geddit?) The book in question is 'Desert Fire' by Niall Arden, 'former SAS major', the squaddies tear it to bits, seems the man is a Walt, oh dear, gave it a glowing review on AMFT as well, but now added a footnote. I would appreciate it, whilst on the subject, if any of you actually read the reviews will you please flork me, or am I wasting my time? The book is still a good read however, just treat it as fiction. It is nowhere near as daft as that inept spoof, 'The Sixteen' which is simply idiotic.
>>By camban (Thursday, 15 Mar 2007 15:46)
No, there are always 3 sides to a story, right? Both sides...and the truth ;-)
About your books... just speaking for myself of course - I've got a pile of at least 35,000 books on my list that are 'must reads' - I hope to at least reach the age of 250 so I get to read at least some of them.
And there's the last in Boy Soldier series coming up.. Meltdown. Make it 35,001 soon. Can't say you're wasting your time but I'm too afraid to look and feel the need to add more books to my list.
One link I do want to post here is a song I 'like' very much - no doubt there must be soldiers out there who feel it this way. But even if you don't agree, the song rocks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBCiYBMuuxQ
>>By Lynn (Sunday, 18 Mar 2007 00:01)
Andy on BBC 4 Radio this morning :-)
Subjects his recent trip to Basra, Fawlty Towers and firefighters..
Listen here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/mainframe.shtml
?http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/
radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/bh
Not sure how long this stays on so don't wait too long if you want to hear it.
Andy's introduction starts after 10 min and after that you can jump about 20 min if you are not interested in the general news.
About Basra, I did get at least 1 answer I was wondering about reading the Sun interview, well worth listening too. - As if his voice isn't reason enough ;-)
>>By Lynn (Sunday, 18 Mar 2007 14:32)
Our Jon managed to save the interview for eternity or longer - it's to be found here:
http://greymansland.com/
mcnabbbc4interview18march07.rm
Full hour now, but he will edit it so it's just got AM.
Little snippet, the guests discussing the newspapers:
"Andy McNab, you're not being drawn into rubbish, I can tell..."
"No, I just like the pictures.."
;-)
>>By Lynn (Monday, 19 Mar 2007 00:13)
Ran into this website, anyone who's got the money and is willing to try...
http://www.special-forces-adventure-training.co.uk/
We specialise in providing a soft, knowledge based, corporate teambuilding event with as much or as little action as you require.
Our corporate events are based on placing your team in a situation which is well outside of their usual daily life, thus levelling the team and as such in our scenarios the team is built based on real trust and understanding of each individuals real qualities and capabilities.
Our Mission......
.....to provide you with all the best aspects of special forces training, without the long commitment or hard effort normally required, for a small fee....
[ absolutely no military experience is required, at all !!! ]
Then of course you've got to get a t-shirt, page has the following quote:
'...your chance to own 'T' shirts of the courses that all members of the SAS will have completed, second only to SAS Selection where no 'T' Shirt is available...'
....Andy McNab is Author of Bravo Two Zero 22 SAS Regiment...
Site also got biographies of AM, Ryan, Wiseman and Eddie Stone.
http://www.special-forces-adventure-training.co.uk/
History_of_SAS_elite_british_special_
forces_22_B_squadron_Special_Air_Service.htm
:-)
>>By Lynn (Sunday, 25 Mar 2007 23:12)
On more thing.. the Bravo Two Zero page on Wikipedia has been edited a lot lately, hadn't seen it for a while. Some new stuff there. (or just new to me maybe)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bravo_Two_Zero
>>By Lynn (Sunday, 25 Mar 2007 23:47)
Oh Lynn, that training thing !! Perfect !! Am thinking on asking that for mothersday, will make a nice change to the never fitting pj's with little hearts or perfume "Dead Rat in a Bottle" that will make my skin red and itchy.
Thank you for all the info you share with us, job well done mate.
>>By Ninjawoman (Wednesday, 28 Mar 2007 21:55)
I hate to ask Ninj.. what do you have to do to get bottles of "dead rat" ??
But I knew you'd love the training, for me, I'm too lazy I'm afraid. I rather watch... or command and make ppl sweat ;-)
Info shared with pleasure, thanx for the appreciation. AIB said the same yesterday, what more reason do I need? Also AIB says hello to everyone, she's still working triple shifts 12 days a week so it's hard for her to catch up, but she does.
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 29 Mar 2007 10:05)
British hostages in Iran on TV:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/
0,,2-2007140631,00.html
At least they all look safe
Says ANDY McNAB
Sun Security Adviser
OUR Boys are — at the time this film was shot — clearly safe and well.
They’re not being tortured as they’re political, not military, prisoners. They’re being held to serve a purpose.
These hostages are smart and WANT to get on TV to let people know they are OK. They will have been gagging to be filmed. It is important for them to prove they are alive and well.
They know everyone back home knows the statement they were given to read is utter b******s.
I’m over the moon at the footage. It gives our troops clues where they are.
>>By Lynn (Sunday, 1 Apr 2007 18:14)
Those soldiers are a shining example of Britain's support of America's War on Terrorism. Many, many thanks.
>>By lv2read (Tuesday, 3 Apr 2007 08:11)
From The Times
April 2, 2007
The Government reacted furiously last night to the televised “confessions” of two more British servicemen captured by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard ten days ago
(....)
Although the men looked well, a body language expert said that they exhibited signs of nervous behaviour.
The former SAS soldier Andy McNab told Sky News that he thought they were “just doing their best to get by”. He said: “They are intelligent people, they understand the situation, they understand they are caught in the middle on a political situation.”
Article here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/
news/world/middle_east/article1600728.ece
>>By Lynn (Tuesday, 3 Apr 2007 11:47)
ohh oops, here AM is talking about the former 'live'
http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/
videoplayer/0,,31200-mcnab_290307_1200,00.html
:-)
>>By Lynn (Tuesday, 3 Apr 2007 23:47)
The Iranian broadcasts of images of captured Royal Navy personnel have been criticised by the UK government. Why have the crew ended up in front of the cameras - and what can be inferred from their statements?
(...)
Analysts suggest there is a purpose behind every image released by the Iranians.
(...)
Some have questioned the apparent willingness of the seven Marines and eight sailors seized in the northern Gulf to talk on camera in the first place.
(...)
Military personnel who have been captured in the past, such as author and former SAS troop leader Andy McNab, say survival remains the main instinct in such a situation.
"Their job now is to keep alive, to make sure they don't antagonise the very important people in their lives - the guards - not the political situation," Mr McNab told the BBC 10 O'Clock News.
"So they have got to stay alive, got to make sure they don't antagonise anyone, make sure they get fed and get medical care. So what they are doing is the correct thing."
Article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6524727.stm
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 5 Apr 2007 01:10)
Because of Faye Turney the discussion about women in the military is hot again:
=Seaman Faye Turney and the issue of mothers in the Armed Forces=
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-
23391594-details/Seaman+Faye+Turney+and
+the+issue+of+mothers+in+the+Armed+
Forces/article.do
"Among those who have recently voiced support for women serving in the Forces are Lt Colonel Tim Collins, Commander of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment in Iraq in 2003, and the bestselling author and former SAS man Andy McNab."
=Women and mothers in the front line=
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/
news/news.html?in_article_id=
445499&in_page_id=1770
Andy McNab became a hero and best selling author after serving with the SAS in the first Gulf War.
'There's no problem at all with having women and mothers in the front line - and in fact the armed services are for more ahead than society in general on this.
'I was in Basra a few weeks ago on strike operations with infantry, doing house assaults that were the preserve of special forces until six or seven years ago - and there were women on those assaults, with no worry about it. The women are in there grabbing prisoners and interrogating them, just as part of the operation.
'Everyone outside says "Oh my goodness, all the men will be too worried about looking after the women" - but the women I've come across in the forces are perfectly capable of looking after themselves.'
=Frontline women: The great debate=
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/
news/news.html?in_article_id=
445523&in_page_id=1770
Andy McNab
Best-selling author who served with the SAS in the first Gulf War.
"There's no problem with having women and mothers in the frontline. I was in Basra with the infantry, doing house assaults and there were women on those assaults. They were in there grabbing prisoners and interrogating them.
"The women I've come across in the forces are perfectly capable of looking after themselves."
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 5 Apr 2007 10:34)
Is it me or am I reading double ? Or yet, have you been sniffing at the cooking sherry again Lynnie ? ;-) ( this is a joke, so please do not think I believe L has a sniffing problem of any kind)
>>By Ninjawoman (Thursday, 5 Apr 2007 11:45)
Just when I have a cold Ninj.
It ARE 2 different articles.. BUT same newspaper so if they quote AM, they better quote him twice the same. Posted them both since one is just a little bit longer. There you go.
We have a great word for this in Dutch Ninj... can't name it but you'll know it's got to do with ants.. ;-) Love ya!
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 5 Apr 2007 15:02)
Article today in the Sun 'My ship was ablaze end to end' - related to Falklands: 25 years on
In another of our series marking the start of the Falklands War 25 years ago we tell the Captain’s story...
JOHN Brocklehurst was steaming home to Britain to celebrate his 30th birthday when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands.
(...)
John supervised loading of the ship’s precious cargo. He said:
“Initially she was intended to take helicopters and Harrier jets down. Then the planners realised we could take lots of other stuff. We had ammunition, fuel and a temporary airstrip.”
"According to Andy McNab, SAS hero and Sun Security Adviser, the ship also carried the Task Force’s entire supply of Mars bars."
Not sure this is Wikipedia-level info but it did (without disrespecting subject) make me smile ;-)
Article on:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/
0,,2-2007150656,00.html
>>By Lynn (Thursday, 5 Apr 2007 15:49)
Since not sure how long Sky will keep their vids, AM's latest is on Greymansland also. Thanx Jon! :-)
http://www.greymansland.com/
mcnab_sky_news_0307.wmv
>>By Lynn (Saturday, 7 Apr 2007 22:45)
More on the British hostages:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk:80/tol/
news/uk/article1626726.ece
From The Sunday Times
April 8, 2007
Fury as the hostages sell stories
The 15 British military captives who were released by the Iranians have been authorised by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to sell their stories.
Andy McNab, the former SAS sergeant who left the service a year before his Bravo Two Zero, said: “The MoD understands that the story will come out eventually. By giving permission to sell their stories, the MoD has an element of control of what comes out.”
http://www.abc.net.au:80/am/
content/2007/s1892557.htm
Sailor story sale tacky: Britons
TRANSCRIPT (for audio, see link)
Monday, 9 April , 2007
There's anger in Britain after some of the 15 British sailors and marines held captive by Iran sold their stories for six-figure sums.
STEPHANIE KENNEDY: But former SAS officer Andy McNab who was captured and tortured in Iraq during the first Gulf War….
ANDY MCNAB: It's something that has been a long time in coming and the MOD (Ministry of Defence) are actually getting into the ... in the real world.
I think that you've got to understand that you know, the MOD are starting to understand the media. You can't fight it. What you've got to do is try and actually use it to their own advantage.
And they know there's obviously a lot of people who think that's it's wrong. However, if the 15 don't come out and tell their story will an element of control to do with security, what's going to happen, there's going to be a lot of conjecture out there and possibly there's going to be things that endanger personnel on the ground.
>>By Lynn (Monday, 9 Apr 2007 22:10)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6537103.stm
BBC News, Sunday, 8 April 2007
Captives' media fees spark fury
The Ministry of Defence's decision to allow Royal Navy personnel held captive by Iran to sell their stories has sparked anger and unease.
Former SAS soldier Andy McNab said he thought the MoD decision was "sensible" and showed "forward thinking".
He said: "I think the MoD now understand that the story will come out very quickly via a third party, whether it's a family member or even another service personnel."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/
0,,2-2007160267,00.html
The Sun - APRIL 09, 2007
Freed British hostage Faye Turney told last night how she feared she was being measured for her coffin by her evil Iranian captors.
Faye's amazing hostage story
(...)
Faye revealed how she was inspired by pilot John Nichol and SAS sergeant and Sun security adviser Andy McNab.
Both survived after being held by Iraq during the first Gulf War, and Faye added: “I read those guys’ books when I was a teenager. Their stories gave me hope.”
Commentary by ANDY McNAB
SAS hero and Sun Security Adviser
Sailor is right to reveal ordeal
I AM staggered at the armchair “experts” who have the arrogance to criticise Faye Turney and her 14 colleagues.
These fools have piped up to whine and bitch about the hostages’ every decision.
Most recently these commentators are indignant that the Brits are talking to the Press about their ordeal.
Don’t they realise that if they remain silent about their treatment then Ahmadinejad has succeeded in his plan to fool the world?
Talking to the Press is the right of people in the free world.
If the MoD banned the group from talking, details about their capture would drip out from family or friends.
Letting Faye talk was the best way to put a lid on the situation. It was their decision for her to talk — not hers.
Any criticism about payment received by the group is unfair.
I spent today talking to British troops in Afghanistan. If they don’t have a problem with the way Faye and her colleagues acted — then neither should we.
>>By Lynn (Monday, 9 Apr 2007 22:38)
Darn, this is from April 7, so should have been before last post.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/
article/0,,2-2007160143,00.html
We were blindfolded & beaten
The Sun - APRIL 07, 2007
Britons held in Iran told of the terrifying moment they were lined up against a wall — and thought they were about to be shot.
(...)
Commentary by ANDY MCNAB
Sun Security Adviser
Be proud, they did right thing
WATCHING Faye and her colleagues on Iranian TV kow-towing to their captors was enough to make you squirm.
People in the UK must have wondered what the hell was going on as our kidnapped guys ‘confessed’ all while smiling away.
But I always knew there was a reason behind it and lesser well-informed so-called ‘experts’ should have waited before criticising our guys and Faye.
The days of the old black-and-white movies where the stiff upper- lipped soldiers continuously shout ‘name, rank and number’ when interrogated are over.
What Faye and the lads were doing was exactly what they had been trained to do.
I think we should be totally proud of them.
The decisions they took were right, the way they behaved was right and the fact that they are all home alive is the right outcome.
>>By Lynn (Monday, 9 Apr 2007 22:55)
And more.... I give it one more day and then the media must have found something else to make a fuss about. Or I will. Sheesh... let those people tell the story in their own words or anyone else who sees money in it will.. and then just leave them alone to come to grips with what happened. Please.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk:80/tol/comment/
columnists/david_aaronovitch/article1632786.ece
Don’t be surprised. This is Big Brother in uniform
From The Times
April 10, 2007
Easter Monday began with James Naughtie on the Today programme sitting astride a steed so high that I feared lest the fire brigade, even using its most extensible ladders, be unable to get him back down again. “Is there anything, after ten years of your Government,” he shouted to Labour MP and former soldier, Eric Joyce, “that is not for sale?”
(…)
There was another view. The ex-soldier and author Andy McNab thought that the authorities had “played this quite well”. “Somebody, somewhere,” said McNab, “is going to make money out of this story, and they’ve said we’re happy for you guys, the people who’ve been involved, to actually be the ones that do that.” McNab’s suggestion — echoed by John Nichol, the former pilot and captive of the Iraqis, was that an element of snobbery was at work. Squaddies — like bimbos — “sell their stories”, while generals, rock stars and ambassadors bestow upon us, for our edification and instruction, their memoirs.
>>>>>>>>>
http://www.thesun.co.uk:80/article/0,,2-2007160381,00.html
Payday for story-selling critics
April 10, 2007
Former Navy chief Admiral Sir Alan West, who criticised Faye for selling her story, was paid by the BBC for his views.
Ex-Army colonel Bob Stewart also got cash after telling a newspaper that paying hostages was “sick”.
SAS hero Andy McNab said: “They are total hypocrites.
“I wonder if they’ll give some of their fees to charity, like Faye?”
>>>>>>>>
So odd how the SUN feels the need to CAPITALIZE the KEY words, must be explained to be catching in a psychological manner. I just find it IRRITATING (and thus continue to de-capitalize) ;-)
>>By Lynn (Tuesday, 10 Apr 2007 14:14)
Audio BBC Radio 4, good one :-)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/
mainframe.shtml?http://www.bbc.co.uk/
radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/bh
>>By Lynn (Tuesday, 10 Apr 2007 14:37)
PS on that last one: Interview starts at 01.33.20 so you can skip the first half hour. And I have to say that I really really admired AM here for not interrupting Ann Lesley (or whatever name) or maybe the mic was down when she spoke and he couldn't even if he wanted to. Must have been a frustrating one, that one.
>>By Lynn (Tuesday, 10 Apr 2007 14:45)
Thank you, Lynn, for your constant vigilance in finding and sharing all these articles, etc. I'm totally endebted to you! You save me most what I have least -- time!
L, :oD
Oh, and I agree about AM demonstrating incredible restraint with Damn Lesley... err, I mean, with Dame Lesley, cuz altho he did start to respond a few times, I think he decided she didn't need his help pointing out her pomposity -- she did a brilliant job of that all on her own!
>>By am-i-binned (Friday, 13 Apr 2007 15:49)
Much obliged AIB ;-) As long as you are so busy I'll try to work for both of us here :-))
New Sun article:
Why Faye told story to The Sun - "Sour grapes have never been so bitter."
By ANDY McNAB
SAS hero and Sun Security Adviser
April 13, 2007
THEY volunteered to serve Britain by patrolling some of the world’s most dangerous waters.
Faye Turney, Arthur Batchelor and the Navy hostages were then put through a harrowing ordeal beyond most people’s imagination.
Held captive, they were led to believe they might never see their loved ones again.
When they returned safe and well they should have been given heroes’ welcomes.
Instead the armchair generals at home — led by an at times hysterical Daily Mail — have tried to pour scorn on these brave sailors.
Astonishingly, Faye and the others are now vilified as if they were traitors rather than patriots.
Faye has even had to endure jibes about her appearance for God’s sake — a woman risking her neck in a war zone.
(....)
...they had the guts and get up and go to join the Forces. Sailing in Iraqi waters close to Iran is not for the faint-hearted.
Yet their critics have sometimes made it sound like they were in a dinghy off Brighton beach.
And the rent-a-quotes have suggested being taken hostage by the Iranians was like a fortnight in Butlins.
The hypocrisy is gut-wrenching. Most newspaper readers won’t know this but the self-same Daily Mail now pouring a bucketload over Faye was one of the most aggressive media organisations seeking her interview.
(...)
But it’s not Faye and the other hostages who have caused this, it’s the people slagging them off in the media who have created it.
Why not criticise the people who allowed these sailors to be caught in the first place?
Why were they working without appropriate air cover or back-up?
I was in Afghanistan on Wednesday and the attitude of our troops there was, “Good on you, Faye.”
I still believe it was right for Faye to sell her story. We are a free country and have a free press.
In fact, it was the MoD who suggested Faye receive a fee for describing her ordeal in the first place.
Full article see:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007170188,00.html
>>By Lynn (Saturday, 14 Apr 2007 16:00)
Fanx x 2, Lynn! :oD
That article is exactly what I appreciate most about AM -- his own personal, cut-the-crap take on things -- and, of course, his humour: rent-a-quoters! LOL! Especially, too, given the current feeding frenzy of the US media/press and everyone's hypocritical pontificating about the Imus-whaddid-that-cracker-say debacle!
>>By am-i-binned (Saturday, 14 Apr 2007 17:20)
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