Rupert Wieloch

The International Organisation for Migration has chartered another flight to return home 241 of the Nigerians held in detention centres in Libya.  This humanitarian repatriation programme, funded by Switzerland and Netherlands, ensures humane, dignified and safe return for stranded migrants.  But there is still much to do to avoid adding to the 3165 Mediterranean migrant fatalities.  See page 241 of Belfast to Benghazi for the beginning of the migrant crisis in Libya.

 

 

The Danish Government has agreed to lead the operation to remove the final 850 tons of chemical weapons from Libya. But credit should be given to the UN for the ground work leading to the removal and destruction of all the chemical and nuclear weapons material in Libya.  See page 283 of Belfast to Benghazi.

 

On 18 August 2011, the tide turned in Libya, when the Zintan Brigade captured the Zawiyah oil refinery with assistance from NATO and Arab forces.  Five years on ZZ Top, as this area was known, continues to be critical with IS and migrants increasing insecurity along the North East coast of Tripolitania.  See chapter 6 of Belfast to Benghazi.

 

At the beginning of August 2011, Jane’s Defence Weekly headlined “UK, US acknowledge stalemate in Libya”.  Five years on, nothing seems to have changed with the US air strikes on Sirte this week.  There is much to play for.  We need to respect Libyan culture and avoid alienating important leaders such as Grand Mufti Sadek Al-Ghariani and General Khalifa Hafter.

After badgering the MoD, I am delighted that one of my officers was included in the first recipients of the new General Service Medal (GSM 08) awarded by the Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon in June.

Capt Amanda Wilcox-Jones from Winchester deployed to Libya in March 2012 to run the first English language course for the Libyan Armed Forces at Jansur (see page 253 of Belfast to Benghazi).

http://www.mereobooks.com/books/genre/biography-memoirs/belfast-to-benghazi  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Belfast-Benghazi-Untold-Challenges-War/dp/1861515669?ie=UTF8&keywords=belfast%20to%20benghazi&qid=1464202598&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

 

Speaking at the War and Peace Revival Festival in Kent this week.  I am sharing the Vintage Pavilion with some wonderful authors, including 96 year old Normandy veteran Albert Figg and 97 year old “Die Hard” Jeff Haward, who fought throughout the entirity of WWII.

Thanks to Phil Challands at FRL Media Group for this photograph.

Discussing the poor preparation for the Iraq War with Carl Dinnen outside the House of Lords    http://www.itv.com/news/story/2016-07-07/live-updates-fallout-from-chilcot-inquiry/#

More revelations are in Chapter 5 of Belfast to Benghazi.

 

Working with ITN today analysing and commenting on the Chilcot Report.

The Government could and should have replaced Snatch with Mastiff at least one year before it did.

Silence at 7.28 a.m. to remember the casualties of the Somme.  Especially those of the 38th Welsh Division at Mametz Wood where my 26 year old grandfather served as a doctor on the front line.

My poppy lines the route with the following dedication:

Through the Slime

Across the Wire

They Struggle and Fall

And Give their All

Terrors in Mind

 

Warming up for Chilcot, the BBC screened a polemic Panorama programme last night.

I hold great admiration and and deep sympathy for the parents of Matthew Bacon, who visited the site where their son was killed in a Snatch Land Rover on the 4th anniversay of 9/11 in 2005.

Hans Blix was right, but I didn’t agree completely with Graham Binns, or Christopher Meyer’s conclusions. For a more balanced picture of the Iraq War 2003-09, see Chapter 5 of Belfast to Benghazi.