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Army chief warns of social 'gulf' Army chief warns of social 'gulf'
(about 6 hours later)
The head of the British Army says he is becoming increasingly concerned about "the growing gulf between the Army and the nation".The head of the British Army says he is becoming increasingly concerned about "the growing gulf between the Army and the nation".
Gen Sir Richard Dannatt said soldiers were sometimes greeted with indifference on returning from service.Gen Sir Richard Dannatt said soldiers were sometimes greeted with indifference on returning from service.
He contrasted the attitude in Britain with support for soldiers among people in the United States.
A "willingness to serve in such an atmosphere again" could be sapped, he said in a speech in London.A "willingness to serve in such an atmosphere again" could be sapped, he said in a speech in London.
The warning follows Royal British Legion concerns the UK is failing in its duty of care to the armed forces.
The Legion claims the Military Covenant - the obligation to support people who fight for their country - is not being honoured.
When a young soldier has been fighting in Basra or Helmand, he wants to know that the people in their local pub know and understand what he has been doing and why Gen Dannatt Is Britain failing its soldiers? Gen Dannatt's speechWhen a young soldier has been fighting in Basra or Helmand, he wants to know that the people in their local pub know and understand what he has been doing and why Gen Dannatt Is Britain failing its soldiers? Gen Dannatt's speech
Gen Dannatt told the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London: "Soldiers want to be understood and they want to be respected for their commitment. Gen Dannatt told the International Institute for Strategic Studies: "Soldiers want to be understood and they want to be respected for their commitment.
"When a young soldier has been fighting in Basra or Helmand, he wants to know that the people in their local pub know and understand what he has been doing and why.""When a young soldier has been fighting in Basra or Helmand, he wants to know that the people in their local pub know and understand what he has been doing and why."
"Soldiers are genuinely concerned when they come back from Iraq to hear the population that sent them being occasionally dismissive or indifferent about their achievements," he added."Soldiers are genuinely concerned when they come back from Iraq to hear the population that sent them being occasionally dismissive or indifferent about their achievements," he added.
Gen Dannatt compared the situations in the UK and the US, where firms offer discounts to serving soldiers and people shake the hand of those in uniform.Gen Dannatt compared the situations in the UK and the US, where firms offer discounts to serving soldiers and people shake the hand of those in uniform.
He said that, in the UK, "we still have a nation that, at times, seems immune to homeless and psychologically-damaged soldiers".He said that, in the UK, "we still have a nation that, at times, seems immune to homeless and psychologically-damaged soldiers".
"As operational commitments have become more intense, so has the need for support from the nation," he said."As operational commitments have become more intense, so has the need for support from the nation," he said.
"We must move from being a society that uses the military as a political and media football and more towards seeing the military for what it is.""We must move from being a society that uses the military as a political and media football and more towards seeing the military for what it is."
That was "the instrument of foreign policy conducted by a democratically-elected government acting in the name of the people".That was "the instrument of foreign policy conducted by a democratically-elected government acting in the name of the people".
Campaign supportCampaign support
Gen Dannatt also called for a radical rethink on the equipment used in the British Army.Gen Dannatt also called for a radical rethink on the equipment used in the British Army.
He said that "too often we have been seduced by high technology".He said that "too often we have been seduced by high technology".
I think the real problem is that the armed forces are at war and the country isn't Major General Patrick Cordingley
He called for more money to be spent on "getting the very lowest level right".He called for more money to be spent on "getting the very lowest level right".
This involved "equipping the man first and building the system around him", Gen Dannatt added.This involved "equipping the man first and building the system around him", Gen Dannatt added.
Last week, Gen Dannatt's predecessor, Gen Sir Mike Jackson, gave his support to the Legion campaign for better treatment of Britain's armed forces. Major General Patrick Cordingley, who commanded the Desert Rats during the 1991 Gulf War, agreed there was a lack of understanding about the role of armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Wounded soldiers and their families deserved to be treated "fairly and decently", he said. "I think the real problem is that the armed forces are at war and the country isn't, therefore there is an inevitable misunderstanding of what our armed forces are doing," he told BBC News 24.
But the most important thing was to acknowledge the value of the armed forces, he added. There was a great difference between the public's attitude to the first Gulf War and the second, he said.
"The first Gulf War was seen to be just, was seen to be the correct thing to do and the country was right behind everybody who went down and what went on.
Are you affected by these issues? Send us your comments using the form below. "The second Gulf War was a very different situation indeed - probably not just, perhaps not even legal and a 50-50 split in the country - not a popular war."
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He added that he believed the media and the Ministry of Defence were partly to blame for not explaining what members of the armed forces were doing in Iraq and Afghanistan.