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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMoD study sets out how to sell wars to the public
The armed forces should seek to make British involvement in future wars more palatable to the public by reducing the public profile of repatriation ceremonies for casualties, according to a Ministry of Defence unit that formulates strategy.
Other suggestions made by the MoD thinktank in a discussion paper examining how to assuage "casualty averse" public opinion include the greater use of mercenaries and unmanned vehicles, as well as the SAS and other special forces, because it says losses sustained by the elite soldiers do not have the same impact on the public and press.
The document, written in November 2012 and obtained by the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act, discusses how public reaction to casualties can be influenced and recommends that the armed forces should have "a clear and constant information campaign in order to influence the major areas of press and public opinion".
It says that to support such a campaign the MoD should consider a number of steps, one of which would be to "reduce the profile of the repatriation ceremonies" an apparent reference to the processions of hearses carrying coffins draped in the union flag that were driven through towns near RAF bases where bodies were brought back.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/26/mod-study-sell-wars-public
leveymg
(36,418 posts)Are they planning on going back in in there?
KoKo
(84,711 posts)from actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Is this true and this is what the article is getting at?
As you know here in the USA....they are nothing but "collateral damage" so the returning caskets are hidden. Then if one or two died doing heroic actions, then the family will be bidden to come to the White House where the President will bestow an "Honor Medal" and the family will be grateful and go away.
So...this is a way for GB to now follow the US Treatment of dead Soldiers so that the public there starts to distance themselves from the War Dead? Therefore meaning that the next time US decides to go to war or bomb to bring FREEDOM...then Cameron will have less problems with Parliament because no one will be putting the dead on the BBC or the ceremonies? Or am I being too harsh?
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)Shown on tv news too. Its a matter of national pride.
Search Wootton Bassett war dead for details. Sorry - don't know how to provide links using a tablet.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)And this new proposal means Great Britain will join USA in ignoring the Dead from Interventions they partner with us?
Is this a reaction from Brit Conservatives to not joining Obama in Bombing Syria? The Aftermath? Just CHANGE OUR LAWS?