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British army step up recruitment attempts

category antrim | anti-war / imperialism | press release author Thursday December 28, 2006 17:16author by reabhloid deargauthor email info at rsym dot org

It has emerged that in some of west Belfast’s schools the British Army is openly recruiting through distributing glossy magazines, pamphlets and leaflets in classes aimed at enhancing young people’s career prospects.
The material in question which was passed on to the RSYM.
The material in question which was passed on to the RSYM.

Republican Socialist Youth Movement spokesperson Christopher Duffy commented “In this new year we see the redoubling of efforts to normalise the occupation of our country and more disturbingly an increase in the British army’s attempts to recruit young people into the ranks of their imperialist army.

“The British army earlier this year fell short of their recruitment targets. The young people of west Belfast are not cannon fodder to be used to do the bidding of the British in their continued occupation here and of distant shores.

“Attempts to recruit more Catholics into their army does not change the very nature of that army, which is to uphold and defend British rule and capitalist interests in Ireland.”

Related Link: http://www.rsym.org

Comments (11 of 11)

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author by JFHpublication date Fri Dec 29, 2006 17:32author address author phone

Ireland is the only country from the Western Democratic Capitalist tradition that can afford demographically to send its young men to war. The reason is that it was the last country where the Catholic Church lost the battle against the contraceptive culture. Sein Fein and the Republicans in the North of Ireland owe their current ascendancy to the late defeat of the RCC doctrine. When one witnesses MEPs from Sein Fein canvassing against Roman Catholic Churches teaching and possible influence in the EU; one wonders. Eaten bread is soon forgotten!
Recruitment of Irish young men is not only happening in Belfast. The following quote is taken from the Irish Times on Wednesday 27th December 2006. “Members of the Reserve Defence Force will soon be deployed with full-time soldiers in United Nations missions in international trouble spots such as Darfur and Liberia, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieut Gen Jim Sreenan, has said.
The most able of the 13,000 reservists will be "hand-picked" and deployed on a strictly voluntary basis. They will be paid for their service.” For more background see somewhat similar Indymedia article: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80106?author_name=JFH&c...78816

author by avi15publication date Tue Jan 02, 2007 22:26author address author phone

The British army wouldn't be increasing its recruiting efforts if it thought it wasn't plowing a fertile field. How embarrassing is it for nationalists to admit just how many catholics on BOTH sides of the border serve Her Majesty and have done for many years.

author by Caobhinpublication date Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:27author address author phone

"As someone who Joined the British Army & served with the Colurs, I say wonderful. It is an opportunity to better ones self that I couldnt get while in the republic. "

Well thankfully in the republic you grew up in opportunities for queen loving west brit morons were limited so you were flushed out of here. What is "one" at now anyway, torturing Iraqi or Afgani children?

Re avi15 - sorry to puncture your sectarian bubble but no-one gives a shite how many Irish catholics demeaned themselves by taking the shilling - let them sell their soul if they want Ireland, just like any other Brit colony, has never had a shortage of collaborators. BTW way ever hear of the Zion Polizei or Kapos?

author by Kevin Doylepublication date Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:53author address author phone

Seems this Avi15 and busgy are trying to stir things up a bit.

Yeah I suppose idiocy knows no borders and is not exclusive to the US/UK/Israel.
If an Irishman wants to wear 'the colours' and serve in army responsible for massacring his own people then that is something he will have to square with his own conscience.

Personally I think it is indicative of some psychological hangover from colonialism and an inability to cast off the inferiority complex by some of our citizens.

Ultimately though, all this recruitment illustrates is the desperation of the British Army and that even loyal subjects are refusing to join a misadventure that has been thoroughly discredited on the global stage but has caused the numbers of the rank and file to dwindle.

It is imperialist rubbish by these two. Anyone who endorses this mass murder is an enemy of humanity .

There is a light at the end of the tunnel though in that even an entrenched monarchial society like Britain has seen the error of this barbarity.

author by roosterpublication date Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:04author address author phone

"Terms like cannonfodder etc were not coined to describe a group of well versed intellectuals now where they?

I would advise you not to be so quick to stereotype, as its not so long ago that someone from this island in England would have been termed "thick mick" or "stupid paddy"
Those terms were "coined" as you put it by generations of English people.

author by roosterpublication date Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:08author address author phone

The armed forces of the state are a legitimate occupation from some young people, if the recuitment literature was not made available to all schools so individuals could make up their own minds then you could equally argue that people are being discriminated against by not giving them that opportunity.

author by Sidelinespublication date Fri Jan 05, 2007 15:16author address author phone

No-one mentioned 'cannon fodder' so I’m not quite sure what point you’re trying to make.

“The armed forces of the state are a legitimate occupation from some young people”

That assumes that the young recognise the state which the army claims to represent
I also find amusing that you would cite discrimination if the army did not attempt to recruit from a section of the community.

I’m sure kids on the Falls road don’t feel to hard down by that a British Army recruitment sergeant hasn’t approached them in school and instead of treating them with suspicion and contempt actually offered him a job… to em, harass and bully and subjugate their mates

I think those kids would also be forgiven for use same recruitment literature as kindling

author by sidney mcviepublication date Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:32author address author phone

its a good thing that the northern irish guys are being offered to join the british army. Surely it will prove to be a good thing for young men of all over our islands can work together in a constructive way and bond as only soldiers can. i hope none of them ever have to risk their lives, but as soldiers thats always a possibility as our politicians fail.

author by PACIFISTpublication date Tue Oct 23, 2007 20:27author address author phone

I have come across these disturbing videos of british army violence.

The first shows how they goad young men into becoming psychopaths.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wTbr0I7apfs

The second the way the Brit asrmy glamorises violence.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PEJvvpCBZdY

author by PACIFISTpublication date Fri Oct 26, 2007 23:49author address author phone

These are the videos the British army is showing to school childern in the north. they glamourise both war and violence.

Why is Sinn Fein allowing this ?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=weudbL9tXCQ

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=11M4zV_j3z8

author by roosterpublication date Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:41author address author phone

the recruitment of young men and women in areas were unemployment levels are among the highest in Europe is only to be commended. I really don't see why people have been so negative here with their comments!


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