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Karzai 'would fall in weeks' if Nato pulls out    The Afghan government could fall within weeks if Nato pulled out troops now, David Miliband warned today as he urged British opponents of the war to give the fight to rebuild the country more time. ...............................[Guardian, 19 November]        

Judges 'gagged' on torture claim    Senior judges say the foreign secretary is stopping them releasing details of CIA interrogation techniques - even though the US has published them. Foreign Secretary David Milliband says publication of that summary would damage national security because the US would stop sharing information. The government has also stopped the judges from publishing the full reasoning for their decision. Lord Justice Thomas and Mr Justice Lloyd Jones hit back, saying the censored passages were in fact partly based on legal papers that US President Barack Obama had voluntarily declassified in April. ...............................[BBC News, 19 November]        

US Army blamed for Katrina floods    A US judge has ruled that negligence by army engineers led to massive flooding in an area of New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005. ...............................[BBC News, 19 November]        

Last minutes of Iraqi detainee Baha Musa punched and kicked by troops    Army medics described the last minutes of an Iraqi detainee’s life after he had been punched and kicked by British soldiers for 36 hours. ...............................[Times, 19 November]        

Britain lurches towards 'secret' justice as judge rules security services can give evidence in closed courts    Britain took another lurch towards 'secret' justice yesterday when a judge ruled that the state can for the first time withhold evidence from people involved in civil cases. The decision means claimants will be left unaware of the evidence the police, Government or security services are using to blacken their name as they contest a case for damages. ...............................[Mail, 19 November]        

British soldier killed in Afghanistan    A British soldier was killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said. The soldier, from The Royal Military Police, was shot dead during a gun battle in the Babaji area of Helmand Province this morning. Spokesman for Task Force Helmand Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield said: "It is with deep sadness I must inform you that a soldier from the Royal Military Police was shot and killed this morning on operations in the Babaji area of Helmand Province – one of our fellow soldiers taken from us in the course of his duty, and who we will remember." ...............................[Guardian, 18 November]        

Poor kit 'did not kill soldier'    An Army report into the death of a soldier in Afghanistan has said that kit shortages were not to blame. Captain James Philippson died in a firefight with the Taleban in 2006, and the coroner at his inquest criticised the "lack of basic equipment". ...............................[BBC News, 18 November]        

Obama admits delay on Guantanamo    US President Barack Obama has for the first time admitted that the US will miss the January 2010 deadline he set for closing the Guantanamo Bay prison. Closing the facility was "also just technically hard," he added. ...............................[BBC News, 18 November]        

Iraqis say British Army used Guantánamo interrogation methods    Dozens of prisoners held at a secret British army interrogation centre in Iraq claim they suffered unlawful physical and mental abuse similar to that carried out by the US on detainees at Guantánamo Bay. ...............................[Times, 18 November]        

'We're still waiting on new body armour and helmets ... we hope they arrive soon': Two weeks after a TA soldier wrote this he was shot dead    A soldier complained about a lack of body armour and helmets days before he was shot dead in Afghanistan. Andrew Fentiman, 23, was gunned down by Taliban insurgents while on foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province on Sunday. ...............................[Daily Mail, 18 November]        

Fort Hood shooting: Pentagon 'to investigate mental health in military'    Worried that the US Army may have missed warning signs about the mental state of the alleged shooter in the Fort Hood massacre, the Pentagon is likely to open an inquiry into how all the military services keep watch on other volatile soldiers hidden in their ranks. ...............................[Telegraph, 18 November]        

British army lieutenant 'threatened to set Iraqi boy on fire' and kicked and beat prisoners, claims disgraced ex-corporal    The only soldier convicted in connection with the death of Iraqi prisoner Baha Mousa claimed yesterday he saw officers abusing detainees. Disgraced former corporal Donald Payne said he saw Lieutenant Craig Rodgers punching or kicking a group of detainees and even threatening to set one on fire. Payne also accused his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Mendonca, of being 'gung-ho' and 'trigger-happy'. He said the Queen's Lancashire Regiment CO once held his pistol above a suspected insurgent's mouth and threatened to 'blow his face off'. ...............................[Daily Mail, 17 November]        

Baha Mousa inquiry hears how British officers approved of abuse of prisoners    The only soldier convicted over the death of the Iraqi civilian Baha Mousa told how officers had approved of the abuse of prisoners and in one case made a young detainee "hysterical" by pretending to set him on fire. He explained how he told Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Mendonca, his regiment's commanding officer, about the circumstances surrounding Mousa's death. He said Mendonca replied that the incident would mean the end of his career or Payne's. "The impression I gained was that he was going to try and cover his own back, if necessary at the expense of mine," Payne said. He described in a statement how on one occasion Mendonca cocked his pistol, held it above a prisoner's mouth and threatened to "blow his face off". Payne added: "It was my impression that the CO was somewhat trigger-happy. He would pull his pistol out at any opportunity. He would behave as if he were a member of the SAS." Mendonca's counsel, Tim Langdale, accused Payne of telling lies about his client. ...............................[Guardian, 17 November]        

Every member of my unit abused Iraqis, says war crimes corporal    A former soldier convicted in connection with the death of an Iraqi hotel worker has accused an officer of pretending to set a young detainee on fire and claimed that every member of his unit committed abuses against civilians during the war. ...............................[Times, 17 November]        

Army tells its soldiers to 'bribe' the Taleban    British forces should buy off potential Taleban recruits with “bags of gold”, according to a new army field manual published yesterday. Army commanders should also talk to insurgent leaders with “blood on their hands” in order to hasten the end of the conflict in Afghanistan. ...............................[Times, 17 November]        

Fort Hood shooting: Nidal Malik Hasan sought prosecutions for 'war crimes confessions'    Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the Fort Hood gunman, had sought military prosecutions against soldiers he claimed confessed "war crimes" to him during counselling sessions. ...............................[Telegraph, 17 November]        

Obama's great 9/11 gamble with the trial of an alleged Twin Towers plotter    Putting on conventional trial men who've been held for years in a U.S. torture camp, Guantanamo Bay, exposes the authorities to ridicule. ...............................[Mail, 17 November]        

Officer 'abused Iraqi prisoners'    The only soldier convicted in connection with the death of Iraqi Baha Mousa claims that he witnessed an Army officer abuse other prisoners. Former corporal Donald Payne told a public inquiry into Mr Mousa's death that he saw a group led by Lt Craig Rodgers "kick and/or punch" prisoners. Payne also described the commanding officer of 1st Battalion QLR in Iraq in 2003, Lt Col Jorge Mendonca, as "gung-ho" and "somewhat trigger happy". He said Lt Col Mendonca once held a cocked pistol above a prisoner's mouth and threatened to "blow his face off", and also shot out blacked-out car windows after a directive was issued banning them. ...............................[BBC News, 16 November]        

Female Army medic faces Iraq sex assault allegations as MoD probes 33 new claims of torture by British troops    A female Army medic faces investigation following allegations that she sexually assaulted a prisoner while he was detained at a British military base in Iraq. The nurse is the first British female soldier to face abuse claims by Iraqi detainees. The claims are among 33 new allegations of torture, male rape and physical mistreatment being probed by the Ministry of Defence. ...............................[Mail, 15 November]        

Old guard ban Afghan vet from services club - because she's female    A soldier who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan has been refused entry to a social club for service personnel... because she's a woman. Furious Sergeant Karlin Dougal was told she was not allowed in the "men-only" bar of the United Services Club in her home town of Motherwell. ...............................[Daily Record, 15 November]        

Italy's Foreign Minister says post-Lisbon EU needs a European Army    Italy is to push for the creation of a European Army after the "new Europe" takes shape at this week's crucial EU summit following the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. ...............................[Times, 15 November]        

Terrorists smuggle fatwas out of secure prisons    Some of Britain’s most dangerous Al-Qaeda leaders are promoting jihad from inside high-security prisons by smuggling out propaganda for the internet and finding recruits. ...............................[Times, 15 November]        

Afghanistan: British troops in Helmand kill 80 Taliban in 10 days of fighting    The battles occurred in two separate areas of Nad e'Ali in central Helmand, where the 1st battalion the Grenadier Guards Battle Group are based. More than 60 insurgents are thought to have been killed close to Patrol Base Waheed after the Taliban launched a series of "Kamikaze-style" attacks against British troops. ...............................[Telegraph, 14 November]        

Was there a British Abu Ghraib? UK soldiers accused of torturing Iraqi civilians    The Ministry of Defence has announced it is investigating claims British soldiers tortured Iraqi civilians. Among 33 cases of alleged sexual and physical abuse under scrutiny are allegations of rape and use of torture techniques. ...............................[Mail, 14 November]        

No public probe into Iraq 'abuse'    Fresh allegations of abuse by the UK military in Iraq do not warrant a new public inquiry, the Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell has said. He told the BBC the claims were taken seriously and would be investigated but that allegations did not mean facts. ...............................[BBC News, 14 November]        

Ministry of Defence officials paid £47 million in bonuses    Payouts to civil servants as the Government faces charges of failing to provide British troops with adequate support and equipment on the front line in Afghanistan. ...............................[Telegraph, 12 November]
See also: [MoD bonuses attacked by families]        

Man is charged with Nairac murder    A man has been charged with the murder of British Army officer Robert Nairac more than 32 years ago. Kevin Crilly, 59, from Lower Foughill Road, Jonesborough, was charged with the murder and two counts of kidnapping and false imprisonment. He was released on bail following the hearing at Newry Magistrates Court. ...............................[BBC News, 11 November]        

Man is charged with Nairac murder    A man has been charged with the murder of British Army officer Robert Nairac more than 32 years ago. Kevin Crilly, 59, from Lower Foughill Road, Jonesborough, was charged with the murder and two counts of kidnapping and false imprisonment. He was released on bail following the hearing at Newry Magistrates Court. ...............................[BBC News, 11 November]        

Wife's anger over soldier arrest    The wife of a soldier charged after refusing to return to Afghanistan has said she is outraged by his arrest for taking part in an anti-war protest. L/Cpl Joe Glenton, 27, from York, has been charged with disobeying a lawful order after joining an anti-war demonstration in London last month. ...............................[BBC News, 11 November]        

Judges’ families under 24-hour security as Real IRA increases threat    Judges in Northern Ireland have had to make new security arrangements for themselves and their families at levels not seen since the height of the Provisional IRA campaign. ...............................[Times, 9 November]        

Soldiers 'hit and kicked' Mousa    A former British soldier has admitted for the first time that he saw two of his colleagues kicking and hitting an Iraqi prisoner shortly before he died. Garry Reader told a public inquiry how, then a private, he had tried in vain to resuscitate Baha Mousa in 2003. He said he had not told the truth previously, but did believe Cpl Donald Payne and Pte Aaron Cooper had caused Mr Mousa's death that September. Mr Reader said he had been afraid speaking out would damage his career. ...............................[BBC News, 9 November]        

PM contacts soldier letter mother    Gordon Brown has contacted a mother to say he did not mean any offence by apparently misspelling the name of her dead soldier son in a letter. ...............................[BBC News, 9 November]        

EU reform that sweeps British justice aside    Unfathomable EU proposals point to a single jurisdiction across Europe, warns Philip Johnston. Can you imagine being tried in this country for something that is not a crime here? ...............................[Telegraph, 9 November]        

British Army commander speaks of 'monstrous' killing of five soldiers    British Army commander Lieutenant Colonel Roly Walker has spoken of the "monstrous" and "treacherous" act carried out by a rogue Afghan policemen who killed five of his men. ...............................[Telegraph, 8 November]        

Defence chiefs voice anger at 'mixed messages' on Afghanistan    Senior commanders say public not convinced British troops can succeed and that purpose of mission remains unclear ...............................[Guardian, 8 November]        

Armed Forces reputation is at risk in Afghanistan, MoD chiefs warn    The long-term future and reputation of Britain’s Armed Forces is at risk unless progress is made in Afghanistan, the two most senior officials at the Ministry of Defence warn in an internal document seen by The Times. ...............................[Times, 7 November]        

Afghans die in 'Nato air strike'    At least eight Afghans working with US forces have been killed in a Nato air strike in north-western Afghanistan, the defence ministry in Kabul says. ...............................[BBC News, 7 November]        

Former Army sergeant who made guns for gangs jailed    A former Army sergeant, Paul Alexander, who made guns for gangs operating in Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, has been jailed indefinitely. Detectives said Alexander, 53, was a ''significant'' supplier and had been tracked down following the launch of an operation against gangs in the wake of the shooting of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool two years ago. ...............................[Telegraph, 7 November]        

Soldier becomes new Miss England    Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge has become the new Miss England after Rachel Christie stepped down following her arrest over an alleged nightclub brawl. ...............................[Telegraph, 7 November]        

Muslim army major kills 13 and injures 31 in gun rampage at U.S. military base    Gunman named as army psychiatrist Nidal Malik Hasan. The gunman was eventually shot by a female soldier at the Fort Hood base in Texas and is now in a stable condition in hospital. ...............................[Mail, 6 November]        

Seven dead in Texas military base shooting, US media reports    Gunmen have killed seven people and wounded 12 others in a rampage at the Fort Hood military base in Texas, US media reported. ...............................[Telegraph, 5 November]        

Murithi Mutiga: Only our politicians don’t want to see justice    Luis Moreno-Ocampo can scarcely have travelled to a nation where the court he serves is more popular than in Kenya. A decisive majority of Kenyans – 68 per cent according to one opinion poll – want the perpetrators of last year’s deadly post-election violence tried at The Hague. ...............................[Independent, 5 November]        

Court imposes lawyer on Karadzic    The UN's Yugoslav war crimes court has appointed a lawyer to represent ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic whenever he fails to appear in court. It also adjourned his trial to 1 March to give his counsel time to prepare. ...............................[BBC News, 5 November]        

CIA agents guilty of Italy kidnap    An Italian judge has convicted 23 CIA agents and two Italian secret agents of the kidnap of a Muslim cleric in 2003. The agents were accused of abducting Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, known as Abu Omar, from Milan and sending him to Egypt, where he was allegedly tortured. ...............................[BBC News, 4 November]        

Five British soldiers shot dead    Five British soldiers have been shot dead in Helmand Province, in an attack the UK military says was carried out by a "rogue" Afghan policeman. Three of the soldiers were from the Grenadier Guards and two were from the Royal Military Police. Several others were injured. ...............................[BBC News, 4 November]        

Fourth Plinth RAF hero unveiled    A statue of RAF hero Sir Keith Park is to be unveiled on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square later. Sir Keith commanded RAF squadrons which defended London and the South East from World War II Luftwaffe attacks in 1940. ...............................[BBC News, 4 November]        

Army veteran banned from selling poppies in shopping centre over health and safety rules    An army veteran in full military garb was told to stop selling poppies at a shopping centre - because he wouldn't undergo a risk assessment. Jean Reno, who fought in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq, was selling the poppies at a shopping centre when he was stopped by a security guard. ...............................[Mail, 4 November]        

Karadzic defiant at Hague hearing    Ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has insisted he needs more time to prepare his defence, during his first appearance at his war crimes trial. Mr Karadzic told a procedural hearing in The Hague that he had not been given the opportunity to go through vast amounts of prosecution documents. ...............................[BBC News, 3 November]        

Killed officer warned of shortage    The most senior British officer to be killed in the Afghan campaign had warned about the risks posed to troops by a shortage of helicopters. In memos leaked by an official to Tory MP Adam Holloway, a former officer, Col Thorneloe said too many trips were by road, leaving forces vulnerable. ...............................[BBC News, 31 October]        

Heroes killed by penny pinching: Relatives of Nimrod crash victims call for Gordon Brown to resign    A grieving mother called last night for 'heads to roll' at the highest levels of Government after a devastating report laid bare the 'incompetence, complacency and cynicism' that caused Britain's worst military disaster since the Falklands War. ...............................[Mail, 29 October]
See also: [Telegraph, 29 October]        

Iraq hearings 'must be in public'    Ministers, civil servants and senior military figures will be expected to give evidence to the Iraq war inquiry in public, its chairman has said. Only "genuine" issues of national or personal security should prevent them from doing so, Sir John Chilcot said. ...............................[BBC News, 29 October]        

Ainsworth blamed by Brown over 'humiliating' TA cuts fiasco    Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth was cast adrift by Downing Street last night after he was blamed for humiliating the Government over funding for the Territorial Army. ...............................[Mail, 29 October]        

Mark of disrespect: Anti-war protesters deface poppy poster with urge to 'prosecute Blair'    Anti-war protesters have vandalised billboards for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal. They have changed the wording on a poster showing the widow and young son of a soldier killed in Afghanistan. ...............................[Mail, 29 October]        

Nimrod review to reveal failures    An independent review into a fatal Nimrod crash in Afghanistan is expected to criticise air safety procedures. Charles Haddon-Cave QC will present his findings on the 2006 explosion of the spy plane, which killed 14 servicemen. ...............................[BBC News, 28 October]        

MI5 and MI6 push for secret hearings in 'torture' case    Britain's spy agencies began a High Court bid yesterday to keep secret any evidence of their involvement in torture. ...............................[Mail, 27 October]        

Gurkha pension payments 'unfair'    Pensions paid to thousands of Gurkhas who retired before July 1997 are unfair, the High Court has heard. ...............................[BBC News, 27 October]        

Radovan Karadzic wanted Bosnian Muslims wiped from the 'face of the earth'    Radovan Karadzic was overheard on phone tap intercepts plotting to wipe Bosnian Muslims from the "face of the earth", his war crimes trial at The Hague has been told. ...............................[Telegraph, 27 October]        

Terror plot members who threatened to behead British Muslim soldier released early from jail    Four members of a terror cell which plotted to kidnap and behead a British Muslim soldier have been released early from jail. Zahoor Iqbal, Hamid Elasmar, Mohammed Irfan and Basiru Gassama were all accomplices of Islamist fanatic Parviz Khan. ...............................[Mail, 26 October]        

Soldiers join outcry over Jimmy Carr's sick amputee joke    Jimmy Carr was facing growing criticism from Army amputees and their families after making a sick joke about troops who have lost their limbs on the front line. ...............................[Mail, 26 October]        

Radovan Karadzic genocide trial to begin in The Hague    The genocide and war crimes trial of Radovan Karadzic is due to begin in The Hague 15 months after the former Bosnian Serb president was captured in Belgrade. Karadzic is boycotting the opening of the trial in a defiant gesture against what he considers a rush to justice by the UN court prosecuting him. ...............................[Telegraph, 26 October]        

Royal Navy could be forced to build aircraft carrier which doesn't carry planes    Spending cuts could force the Royal Navy to build an aircraft carrier which carries no planes, it emerged yesterday. Admirals have commissioned two new 65,000-ton ships to carry the elite Joint Strike Fighter jets. ...............................[Mail, 26 October]        

Musicians' anger at Guantanamo Bay torture    Musicians including REM, Pearl Jam and Jackson Browne have launched a campaign to protest against their music being used in interrogations of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. ...............................[Telegraph, 23 October]        

Soldier 'proud' of anti-war march    The wife of a York soldier who refused to return to Afghanistan says her husband is proud to be leading an anti-war protest due to be held in London. L/Cpl Joe Glenton, 27, is fighting a court martial for refusing to return to Afghanistan having gone absent without leave in 2007. ...............................[BBC News, 23 October]        

Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic threatens boycott of genocide trial    Radovan Karadzic sought to disrupt his trial for genocide and war crimes by boycotting the start of the hearing into the worst atrocity in Europe since the Second World War. ...............................[Telegraph, 22 October]        

BNP hits back at generals' attack    BNP leader Nick Griffin has criticised four former military leaders who have complained about "extremists" hijacking British military symbols. The four put their names to a letter saying the forces' reputation is being tarnished by right-wing groups. ...............................[BBC News, 20 October]        

'Army captain shouted Top Gun movie quote before helicopter crashed killing three men'    An Army captain on board a military helicopter shouted a famous phrase from the film Top Gun moments before it crashed killing three men during a training exercise, an inquest has heard. Robert Earle yelled 'Yeeha Jester's dead' when a member of the flight crew asked 'how's everyone in the back?' as the £20m RAF Puma helicopter flew low over countryside near Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire. ...............................[Mail, 20 October]        

More than 100,000 flee before Pakistan army as troops take on the Taliban in 'fight to the last man'    Pakistani forces backed by artillery attacked Taliban insurgents today as more than 100,000 civilians fled before the long-awaited offensive. On the third day of fighting today, the army moved to wrest control of militant strongholds in a lawless region on the Afghan border. ...............................[Mail, 20 October]        

Sir Richard Dannatt is put in his place by Tory MP Liam Fox    The former Army chief appointed as a Tory military adviser was warned about his place in the chain of command by the party's defence spokesman. ...............................[Mail, 19 October]        

Bosnia 'on brink of new civil war'    Bosnia is heading for a new civil war as a constitutional crisis threatens to cause the collapse of the political system, the country's leaders have warned. ...............................[Telegraph, 19 October]        

Singing Army group The Soldiers ready for a chart battle    They're used to fighting on the front line... but now Sergeant-Major Gary Chilton, Sergeant Richie Maddocks and Lance-Corporal Ryan Idzi are hoping to battle their way up the pop charts. Listen to exclusive previews of tracks, see video and enter the competition to meet the boys. ...............................[Mirror, 19 October]        

British special forces soldier faces war crimes probe for allegedly threatening to kill Taliban prisoner    A British special forces soldier is facing war crimes charges over claims he threatened to shoot a Taliban prisoner during interrogation.The 25-year-old lance corporal was serving with the special forces in Afghanistan when he is alleged to held a gun to a captive's head, saying, 'answer the questions or you're dead'. ...............................[Mail, 18 October]        

Horse guard's depraved    Queen's cavalry officer arranges orgy in barracks. By day Captain Tari Mundawarara proudly leads the Changing of the Guard as hundreds of tourists watch on Horse Guards parade. ...............................[News of the World, 18 October]        

Appeal over torture claim ruling    The government says it will appeal against a ruling that US intelligence documents detailing the alleged torture of an ex-UK resident can be released. ...............................[BBC News, 17 October]
See also: [Telegraph, 17 October]
See also: [Daily Mail, 17 October]       

Ban on 'torture documents' lifted    The High Court has ruled that US intelligence documents containing details of the alleged torture of a former UK resident can be released. ...............................[BBC News, 16 October]
       

MI5 chief defends torture stance    The head of MI5 has defended the way the security service works with other countries, but said that does not mean its officers are involved in torture. Jonathan Evans said not co-operating with foreign security services would be a dereliction of duty by MI5. ...............................[BBC News, 16 October]
       

MoD equipment plan 'unaffordable'    The way the Ministry of Defence (MoD) buys new equipment is "unaffordable", according to a new report. The review, commissioned by the MoD, said too many types of equipment were being ordered for too large a range of tasks at too high a specification. ...............................[BBC News, 15 October]
       

Dannatt job 'error of judgement'    A former head of the civil service has called the appointment of ex-Army chief Sir Richard Dannatt as a Tory defence adviser "a major error of judgement". ...............................[BBC News, 15 October]
       

UK sends 500 more to Afghanistan    Gordon Brown says the UK will send 500 more forces personnel to Afghanistan - but only if key conditions are met. They will be sent as long as they have the necessary equipment, if other Nato allies boost their troop numbers and more Afghan soldiers are trained. ...............................[BBC News, 14 October]
       

Landmark ruling backs larger payouts for wounded soldiers    The Ministry of Defence is facing a substantially bigger compensation bill for wounded servicemen as a result of a ruling by three Court of Appeal judges yesterday. The judges said that awards for wounded personnel must address not only the individual injuries suffered in the line of duty but also the impact on their lives in the long term. ...............................[The Times,13 October]
       

Army abuse claims 'being ignored'    The Royal Military Police has failed to investigate claims of abuse against civilians by British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, a whistleblower has said. ...............................[BBC News, 11 October]
       

Commanders warn Afghan troop increase is not enough    Government plans to send an extra 500 troops to Afghanistan have been dismissed by senior commanders who claim that thousands more soldiers are needed in the war zone if the Taliban are to be defeated. ...............................[Telegraph, 11 October]
       

British troops fight Taliban 'seven times a day'    The Ministry of Defence confirms that UK forces are suffering death rates almost twice those sustained by US forces in Afghanistan. ...............................[Independent, 11 October]
       

Obama to end military gay policy    US President Barack Obama has said he will end the ban on gay people serving openly in the military. ...............................[BBC News, 11 October]
       

Labour threat to dock £40,000 from Dannatt pay for joining Tories    Labour is threatening to impose a £40,000 ‘fine’ on former Army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt in revenge for defecting to the Conservatives. ...............................[Mail, 11 October]
       

Sick Iraq war veteran dies after being given smoker's cancerous lungs in transplant    An Iraq war veteran died after a hospital transplant gave him a pair of cancerous lungs donated by a smoker. ...............................[Mail, 11 October]
       

Tories admitted failings on defence, says Dannatt    The Conservatives were forced to insist that David Cameron believes he has a very strong defence team after Sir Richard Dannatt disclosed that the Tory leader had said they “lacked expert understanding”. ...............................[Times, 10 October]
       

New brigade takes over in Helmand    A new brigade and commander have taken over UK military operations in Helmand, after the bloodiest tour since the mission began eight years ago. ...............................[BBC News, 10 October]
       

Cuts force TA to cease training    The Territorial Army has been told it must temporarily halt training due to severe pressure on government finances. ...............................[BBC News, 10 October]
       

'You've got blood on your hands': Father of dead soldier refuses to shake Blair's hand after memorial to Britain's fallen heroes    A father’s grief and anger boiled over yesterday when he came face to face with the man he blames for his son’s death. ...............................[Mail, 10 October]
       

Black hole scientist at 'Big Bang' Hadron Collider lab held as suspected Al Qaeda terrorist    A nuclear physicist at a major international atomic research centre has been arrested as a suspected Al Qaeda terrorist. He is a researcher at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, in Switzerland. ...............................[Mail, 10 October]
       

Picture of evil: Bloodthirsty German Al Qaeda fanatic poses with 2ft-long knife for beheading British soldiers in Afghanistan    An Al Qaeda fanatic who trains fellow Europeans to fight in Afghanistan has given a stark warning to our troops - by posing with a 2ft-long beheading knife. ...............................[Mail, 10 October]
       

David Cameron is the right man, but he was wrong about Gen Sir Richard Dannatt    Gen Sir Richard Dannatt's appointment was a political gimmick that is already starting to unravel, says Charles Moore. ...............................[Telegraph, 9 October]
       

Dannatt explains Cameron approach    Gen Sir Richard Dannatt accepted a Tory defence role after David Cameron said his team "lacked expert understanding", the former head of the Army has said. ...............................[BBC News, 9 October]
       

Queen to honour UK Iraq personnel    The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are to lead the Royal Family at a service of commemoration honouring military and civilian personnel who served in Iraq. ...............................[BBC News, 9 October]
       

Ex-Army chief 'offered Tory role'    Former Army chief Gen Sir Richard Dannatt is to become a defence adviser to the Conservatives in the House of Lords, sources have told the BBC. The party confirmed an announcement would be made on Thursday. ...............................[BBC News, 8 October]
       

PM urged to explain troop row    Gordon Brown was last night urged to come clean over his support for Our Boys after a row with an Armed Forces leader. Ex-Army boss General Sir Richard Dannatt claims the Prime Minister blocked 2,000 more men for Afghanistan. The pressure grew on Mr Brown yesterday when it emerged he had TWICE told Parliament in the summer that forces chiefs had all the troops they wanted. ...............................[Sun, 7 October]
       

Baha Mousa witness tells of abuse by British soldiers    An Iraqi detainee said today he was forced to drink the urine of British soldiers and described how his head was pushed down a toilet. The claims were made in a written statement by a witness, identified only as D005, at the public inquiry into the death in British custody of Baha Mousa, a Basra hotel receptionist, in September 2003. ...............................[Guardian, 6 October]
       

Crash squadron a 'sloppy outfit'    A coroner has branded an RAF squadron "a sloppy outfit" at an inquest into the deaths of three men in a helicopter crash during a training exercise. ...............................[BBC News, 6 October]
       

PM 'refused extra Afghan troops'    Prime Minister Gordon Brown refused a major Afghanistan troop reinforcement against the military's advice, the former head of the Army has said. ...............................[BBC News, 6 October]
       

'Pathetic' ministers rejected Afghan reinforcement plea, says former Army boss Dannatt    Gordon Brown refused to send more soldiers to Afghanistan against the advice of senior military figures, the former head of the Army has said. ...............................[Mail, 6 October]
       

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: The battle over the next Armed Forces boss    General Sir David Richards is favourite to succeed Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup as the next overall head of our Armed Forces. ...............................[Mail, 6 October]
       

Pakistan: suicide bomber dressed as soldier hits UN World Food Programme in Islamabad    A suicide bomber disguised as a soldier has killed five staff inside a United Nations World Food Programme building in Islamabad just as British ministers arrived in the Pakistani capital. ...............................[Telegraph, 5 October]
       

Soldier's troops plea to minister    A front-line UK soldier in Afghanistan has told the defence secretary "more troops on the ground" are needed. ...............................[BBC News, 5 October]
       

Ministers take flak from the Army on visit to Afghanistan    The Government came under concerted attack from all ranks of the Army yesterday as soldiers who have endured the bloodiest tour in Afghanistan to date called for more troops. ...............................[Independent, 5 October]
       

Taxpayers lose billions in deal to sell Armed Forces homes    Taxpayers have lost more than £3 billion from a controversial deal to sell military housing to a private equity company controlled by one of Britain's richest men ...............................[ Telegraph, 5 Oct 2009]
       

Army chief warns of 'terrifying prospect' of failure in Afghanistan    The head of the British Army, General Sir David Richards, has issued a wake-up call to the public by warning of the "terrifying prospect" of a defeat in Afghanistan. ...............................[Telegraph, 4 October]
       

Eight US troops killed in Afghanistan    Nato has suffered its deadliest attack in Afghanistan in more than a year after eight US soldiers were killed in a firefight in the east of the country. ...............................[Telegraph, 4 October]
       

McChrystal: Afghan situation is 'serious'    Success in Afghanistan cannot be taken for granted and time is running out, the commander of coalition forces has warned. ...............................[Yahoo News, 1 October] - short-term link
       

UK considers Afghan troops boost    Downing Street says the prime minister is "open-minded" about whether more UK troops are needed in Afghanistan. ...............................[BBC News, 1 October]
       

Mousa UK soldiers 'passed blame'    British soldiers involved in arresting an Iraqi man who later died in UK custody were told to blame a colleague for his death, an inquiry has heard. ...............................[BBC News, 30 September]
       

Prune the MoD's pen-pushers    Telegraph View: We have more civil servants per soldier than any Nato ally ...............................[Telegraph, 29 September]
       

UN scrutinises Gaza 'war crimes'    The UN's main human rights watchdog has begun a debate on a damning report into Israel's military operation against Gaza eight months ago. ...............................[BBC News, 29 September]
       

General Stanley McChrystal demands 40,000 more troops for Afghanistan    The US commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan has asked for 40,000 more troops, according to reports in Washington. ...............................[Times, 27 September]
       

No 10 asked Army to delay Afghan attack until after Gordon Brown's visit    Major-General Andrew MacKay claims that he was asked whether he could delay an attack on a Taliban stronghold until after Gordon Brown had visited the country. ...............................[Telegraph, 27 September]
       

Barack Obama's Guantanamo deadline unlikely to be met, Gates concedes    Barack Obama's Guantanamo deadline unlikely to be met, Gates concedes. ...............................[Telegraph, 27 September]
       

US must recognise Afghanistan contributions    The US government should give greater recognition to other nations fighting in Afghanistan or risk seeing allies. withdraw their troops, according to the secretary-general of Nato. ...............................[Times, 27 September]
       

Misunderstanding modern war    America's biggest mistake in Afghanistan and Iraq was to think its modern military would make winning easy ...............................[Guardian, 27 September]
       

Helicopter pilot tells of Taliban attacks    One of the only two females to fly Chinook heavy lift helicopters in combat recalls difficult missions and close calls. ...............................[Times, 27 September]
       

UK army 'rotten', Iraq probe told    British soldiers who abused an Iraqi detainee who died in their custody were not just "a few bad apples", a public inquiry has been told. There was "something rotten in the whole barrel", Rabinder Singh QC said. ...............................[BBC News, 21 September]
       

Baha Mousa told of 'rotten' British Army    The death of an Iraqi prisoner in British custody was not down to a “few bad apples” but to “something rotten in the whole barrel,” the opening of a public inquiry has heard. ...............................[Telegraph, 21 September]
       

Top US general Stanley McChrystal: we need a new plan to win in Afghanistan    America and Nato's top military commander in Afghanistan has warned in a secret report that he needs more troops and a new strategy or the allied mission will probably end in failure. ...............................[Times, 21 September]
       

The ‘GI’ helmet that will help our troops to shoot straighter    New helmets designed to help British troops to target the enemy are being rushed out to Afghanistan this weekend. ...............................[Mail, 20 September]
       

As even Bob Ainsworth turns up for the 65th anniversary of Arnhem, why did Charles snub the Paras?    Prince Charles was criticised by Parachute Regiment veterans last night after snubbing this weekend’s 65th anniversary events marking the Battle of Arnhem. ...............................[Mail, 20 September]
       

US grants legal rights to 600 Bagram prisoners    The Pentagon is expected this week to announce steps to bolster the minimal legal rights of some 600 prisoners held at the Bagram air base in Afghanistan, that will allow them for the first time to hear the specific charges against them and challenge the basis of their detention. ...............................[Independent, 14 September]
       

Hague official guilty of contempt    A former official at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague has been convicted of contempt of court. French journalist Florence Hartmann - the court's spokeswoman for six years - was fined 7,000 euros (£6,100). ...............................[BBC News, 14 September]
       

Officer who fought Taliban with his bayonet after running out of ammunition is awarded the Military Cross    Lieutenant James Adamson was awarded the prestigious medal for his 'supreme physical courage' after killing two insurgents during close quarter combat in Helmand's notorious 'Green Zone'. ...............................[Mail, 14 September]
       

Now three officers face charges over soldier's death from heatstroke in 'beasting' punishment    Three Army officers face disciplinary action over the punishment of a soldier who died after being ordered to run in extreme heat.. ...............................[Mail, 12 September]
       

We need to confront Islamist extremists, not conciliate them    The conviction of the terrorist bomb plotters shows that we need to confront the Islamists, and show that being Muslim and Western are indeed compatible, says Ed Husain. ...............................[Telegraph, 12 September]
       

Army to force out wounded soldiers    Hundreds of British troops, including many injured on frontline duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, are to be eased out of the army in an efficiency drive being overseen by Kevan Jones, the veterans’ minister. ...............................[Times, 12 September]
       

Revealed: The awesome aircraft carrier that will be Britain's most powerful warship ever (if it is actually built)    An impression of how a controversial future giant aircraft carrier would look in its home base has been unveiled today by the Royal Navy. ...............................[Mail, 12 September]
       

Police probe MI6 'torture' claims    Police are investigating an incident involving an MI6 officer for possible complicity in torture. ...............................[BBC News, 11 September]
       

Former Labour Defence Secretary condemns procurement ‘mess’    The Government’s system for buying military equipment is a mess and tough choices must be made over what is really needed, a former Labour Defence Secretary said yesterday. ...............................[Times, 9 September]
       

Release of terror suspect expected to end secret evidence detentions    Britain’s most dangerous terrorist suspects are likely to be released from detention to avoid the disclosure of secret intelligence evidence, lawyers said. ...............................[Times, 8 September]
       

Terror suspect 'was not prosecuted because of torture in Pakistan'    Rashid Rauf, alleged to have played key role in airline bomb plot, could not be extradited to UK, sources say. ...............................[Guardian, 8 September]
       

Soldiers in Helmand to wait until 2011 for new night-sights    Super night-sights for soldiers operating in Afghanistan, enabling them to target the Taleban in total darkness, were ordered by the Ministry of Defence yesterday — but they will not be in service until 2011. ...............................[Times, 8 September]
       

Royal Navy and RAF 'outnumbered by MoD civil servants'    The Ministry of Defence is so stuffed with civil servants that they outnumber the combined manpower of the Royal Navy and the RAF. ...............................[Times, 8 September]
       

MoD's pen-pushers face cull under Tories    Pen-pushers and military top brass would be culled to free up more money for front-line soldiers under a Tory government. ...............................[Mail, 7 September]
       

Queen 'launches a broadside over Army cutbacks'    The Queen has launched a 'furious' broadside at Gordon Brown over equipment shortages suffered by troops in Afghanistan, it was claimed yesterday. Leading historian Andrew Roberts said she had personally upbraided the Prime Minister over the shortage of armoured cars, helicopters and other vital kit. ...............................[Mail, 7 September]
       

Pictured: The heartbreaking image of a dying U.S. marine that has reignited American divisions over the Afghan war    It is a deeply disturbing image which depicts the grim reality of war - a fatally wounded U.S. soldier lies slumped in the mud as fellow marines desperately try to save him as his young life ebbs away. ...............................[Mail, 7 September]
       

Muslim SAS soldier sues MoD for racial discrimination    A Muslim soldier is suing the Ministry of Defence over claims he was bullied and suffered racial discrimination whilst on active service with an SAS unit in Afghanistan. ...............................[Telegraph, 6 September]
       

How Labour plotted to smear daughter of new army chief... whose 'crime' was to work for Cameron    A Labour plot to smear the new head of the Army, General Sir David Richards, because of his daughter’s ‘crime’ of working for David Cameron was exposed last night. ...............................[Mail, 6 September]
       

Minister Kevan Jones 'planned to chase army chief over expenses'    A defence minister told how he planned to “chase” the head of the Army over his expenses, according to well-placed sources. ...............................[Times, 5 September]
       

Soldier admits boy's manslaughter    A soldier has been jailed for five years after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of his 21-month-old stepson, saying he lost his temper. ...............................[BBC News, 4 September]
       

Pay armed forces more, Clegg says    The junior ranks of the armed forces should get an immediate £6,000 pay rise to help boost morale, the Lib Dems say. ...............................[BBC News, 2 September]
       

Gordon Brown hints at Afghan withdrawal    Gordon Brown yesterday prepared the ground for a pre-election announcement of troop withdrawals from Afghanistan next year. ...............................[Times, 30 August]
       

Why do we pay tax when we're here fighting for Britain? Soldier tackles Brown on Afghan visit as PM urges talks with the Taliban    A brave young British soldier challenged Gordon Brown face-to-face yesterday over why our troops in Afghanistan have to pay tax – while American soldiers don’t. ...............................[Mail, 30 August]
       

Obama backs interrogation revamp    US President Barack Obama has approved a new elite team to question key terror suspects, the White House has said. ...............................[BBC News, 24 August]
       

MoD budgeting 'harms' UK missions    Ministry of Defence systems for buying new equipment are so inefficient they are "harming our ability" to conduct operations, a leaked report suggests. ...............................[BBC News, 23 August]
       

Does Labour care at all? Now even Bob Ainsworth's friend whose son died in Afghanistan bomb blast condemns defence minister    Gordon Brown's policy on Afghanistan was thrown into disarray last night after his Defence Secretary, Bob Ainsworth, was publicly condemned by a friend whose son died in a bomb blast. ...............................[Mail, 23 August]
       

Army head Sir Richard Dannatt urges better care of war veterans    Outspoken Army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt has called for greater care of troops mentally scarred by war. ...............................[Mirror, 23 August]
       

Shock as figures reveal 14,000 troops have claimed compensation for injury in four years    Fourteen thousand British troops have claimed compensation for being wounded in just four years. The shock figure was unearthed by the Sunday Mirror amid mounting fears over our escalating casualties in Afghanistan. ...............................[Mirror, 23 August]
       

Army to be denied extra troops in Helmand    The government has told senior army officers there will be no increase in the number of British troops in Afghanistan. The decision, made primarily for financial reasons, will disappoint commanders who want an extra 2,000 troops sent to strengthen the army in Helmand province. ...............................[Times, 23 August]
       

US military to give Red Cross names of terror suspects    The US military has begun notifying the Red Cross of the identities of terror suspects being held at camps in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to US media. ...............................[Times, 23 August]
       

My Lai massacre officer apologises, 40 years on    Speaking in a soft, sometimes laboured voice, the only US army officer convicted for the 1968 slayings of civilians at My Lai in Vietnam made an extraordinary public apology while speaking to a small group near the military base in Georgia where he went on trial. ...............................[Independent, 23 August]
       

Anatomy of a smear: how General Dannatt claimed £19, 291.. and Bob Ainsworth claimed £394, 306    The head of the Army has prompted a fresh row with Labour after details of his expenses claims were released showing they were a fraction of the amount spent by Defence Ministers. ...............................[Mail, 22 August]
       

Royal Navy wren charged with smuggling cocaine    A Royal Navy Wren has appeared in court charged with smuggling cocaine potentially worth millions of pounds on-board a Naval destroyer after returning from anti-narcotics training in South America. ...............................[Telegraph, 19 August]
       

Intelligence agencies develop 'terrorist Facebook' to find links between key players    ntelligence agencies are using a complex computer programme to build up a Facebook-style database that will help establish the links between international terrorists. ...............................[Telegraph, 19 August]
       

Soldiers killed in Afghanistan explosion as they tried to save wounded commander    Fusiliers Simon Annis and Louis Carter were part of the team trying to carry the mortally wounded Lance Corporal James Fullarton to safety near Sangin on Sunday when an explosion killed all three. ...............................[Mail, 18 August]
       

Widow of soldier killed in Afghanistan becomes first person to receive Elizabeth Cross     The widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan will be the first to be presented with the new Elizabeth Cross. Karen Upton will receive the medal before the funeral of her husband, Warrant Officer Sean Upton, 35, at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire today. ...............................[Mail, 18 August]
       

Legal action over rendition claim    Reprieve will demand the Ministry of Defence give answers about the treatment of two men arrested by the British in Iraq in 2004 who have since been held at US detention facility Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. ...............................[Yahoo News, 17 August] - short term link
       

Ex-German commander, 90, guilty of ordering Second World War massacre    A 90-year-old former German infantry commander has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the massacre of Italian civilians in a Tuscan village — one of the last convictions over a Second World War atrocity. ...............................[Times, 12 August].
       

Government officials dismiss fresh calls for torture inquiry    The government today came under fresh pressure over the abuse of detainees as officials dismissed detailed allegations and calls for a judicial inquiry. ...............................[Guardian, 11 August].
       

Close 'loopholes' allowing war criminals into UK, Straw told    Proposals from the justice secretary, Jack Straw, to change the law to enable the prosecution of overseas war criminals and torturers living in Britain for crimes dating back to 1991 fail to go far enough, according to a committee of MPs and peers. ...............................[Guardian, 11 August].
       

MI6 'is not complicit' in torture    The head of MI6 has told the BBC there is no torture and "no complicity in torture" by the British secret service. ...............................[BBC News, 10 August].
       

Torture climbdown: After months of outraged denials, ministers all but admit UK did use suspect intelligence    Senior ministers all but admitted yesterday that Britain has used intelligence gathered under torture. ...............................[Mail, 10 August].
       

Soldier killed in Afghanistan as MoD criticised over idle armoured vehicles    Three Paras who died in ambush last week named; Death toll since July for British troops reaches 27. ...............................[Guardian, 10 August].
       

Obama administration close to investigating alleged abuses by CIA    US attorney general may appoint special prosecutor. UK ministers still resist calls for torture disclosure ...............................[Guardian, 10 August].
       

'There is no refuge, no place to go to deal with your grief'    In the first ever unauthorised dispatch from an officer on the frontline, one young Captain offers a brutally honest account of life in Afghanistan, revealing the pain of losing comrades, the frustration at the lack of equipment, and the sense that the conflict seems unending and, at times, unwinnable. ...............................[Independent, 10 August].
       

Former Afghanistan commander attacks MoD over armoured vehicles    A former commander of British forces in Afghanistan has attacked the Ministry of Defence for keeping hundreds of armoured vehicles "parked up doing nothing" when they are desperately needed by commanders in Afghanistan. ...............................[Telegraph, 10 August].
       

Special forces target Taliban ‘spectacular’ death team    British special forces are hunting a Taliban team believed to have mounted a series of attacks on British troops in Afghanistan, which culminated in an ambush that killed three of their colleagues. ...............................[Times, 9 August].
       

Defence chiefs rocked by a crisis in morale after MoD surveys 10,000 troops    Only 3 in 10 say they are valued; More than half say morale is low; Just 40% are happy with their kit. ...............................[Mail, 9 August].
       

We cannot eliminate all risk of torture, ministers admit    It is impossible to guarantee that information used by the security services has not been obtained through torture, David Miliband and Alan Johnson now admit. ...............................[Telegraph, 8 August].
       

MI5 'misled MPs during torture inquiry'    Human rights lawyers question evidence given in Binyam Mohamed case. ...............................[Independent, 8 August].
       

UK 'may have 40-year Afghan role'    The UK's commitment to Afghanistan could last for up to 40 years, the incoming head of the Army has said. ...............................[BBC News, 8 August].
       

Doctors who assist in torture should be brought to justice    Near-silence surrounds the issue of doctors’ complicity in the torture of terrorist suspects, writes William Hopkins. ...............................[Telegraph, 7 August].
       

US may join international war crimes court, Hillary Clinton hints    Secretary of state regrets failure to sign up. Obama advisers still urge caution after Bush ban. ...............................[Guardian, 7 August].
       

Soldiers attending funeral of Afghanistan hero banned from bar 'because of their military uniform'    Grieving soldiers were prevented from entering a bar because they were in military uniform after attending the funeral of a comrade killed in Afghanistan. ...............................[Mail, 6 August].
       

Defence report 'not suppressed'    Defence minister Quentin Davies has denied claims ministers suppressed a report saying billions of pounds has been wasted in defence procurement. ...............................[BBC News, 6 August].
       

Afghanistan helicopters may get extra armour — after they arrive    Eight Merlin helicopters being prepared for Afghanistan will be required to fly troops into combat zones even though it is yet to be decided whether to fit armour-plating for extra protection. ...............................[Times, 5 August].
       

MoD forced me to tell lies, claims press officer    A military press officer is suing the Ministry of Defence and claiming that he was forced to tell "government lies" to the families of British soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. ...............................[Guardian, 5 August].
       

Inquiry call over torture claim    An independent inquiry is needed into claims UK security services were complicit in the torture of terrorism suspects, say MPs and peers. ...............................[BBC News, 4 August].
       

UK Afghan helicopters 'not safe'    Helicopters to be sent to Afghanistan may not be able to take part in combat because they lack adequate protection, the Daily Telegraph has reported. ...............................[BBC News, 4 August].
       

Australia terror suspects planned barracks suicide attack, say police    Four men arrested in Melbourne allegedly planned to enter army barracks with guns and kill as many soldiers as they could. ...............................[Guardian, 4 August].
       

Nato chief: European members must match US troops in Afghanistan    Nato’s new chief has called on its European members to find more troops for Afghanistan to stop the country becoming “a Grand Central Station of international terrorism”. ...............................[Times, 3 August].
       

Desertion charge soldier in court    An expert witness on the lawfulness of war in Afghanistan could be called to give evidence at the court martial of a soldier who refused to fight. ...............................[BBC News, 3 August].
       

MoD appeal to claw back compensation payments for injured soldiers branded 'bonkers'    The Government's attempts to restrict compensation to wounded soldiers have been branded 'bonkers' by a senior Defence ministry official. ...............................[Mail, 3 August].
       

Thousands of British troops are too fat to be deployed to Afghanistan, reveals leaked Army memo    Thousands of British troops cannot be sent to Afghanistan because they are too fat to fight, a leaked army memo revealed. ...............................[Mail, 3 August].
       

UK troops 'given too many tasks'    The military mission in Afghanistan has failed to deliver what it promised - as troops are being given too many tasks, a report from MPs says. ...............................[BBC News, 2 August].
       

Iraq probe will include death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly    The death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly is expected to feature in the new official inquiry into the Iraq War, on the advice of the Government’s most senior legal adviser. ...............................[Mail, 2 August].
       

MI5 men could face 'torture' perjury charge over Guantanamo prisoner    Two MI5 agents may be charged with lying to the High Court over British complicity in the torture of a former Guantanamo prisoner. ...............................[Mail, 2 August].
       

Commander's son caught by Afghan blast loses second leg    The soldier son of one of Britain's most senior commanders has lost his second leg after being caught by a Taliban bomb blast. ...............................[Mail, 2 August].
       

Operation joyrides    Scarce Chinook helicopters are being used to give kids JOYRIDES - sparking anger from families who have lost loved ones in Afghanistan. ...............................[News of the World, 2 August].
       

UK in Afghanistan for decades, says our man in Washington    Diplomat's warning comes as MPs say Britain has lost sight of its original security objectives. ...............................[Independent, 2 August].
       

MoD bids to clear inquest backlog    The Ministry of Defence is expanding a special unit which handles inquests of servicemen killed in action, it has been confirmed. ...............................[BBC News, 1 August].
       

Al-Qaeda supporters 'joined MI5'    A senior Tory MP has asked the home secretary whether al-Qaeda sympathisers were mistakenly recruited by MI5. ...............................[BBC News, 1 August].
       

Soldiers' specialist mental health centre 'could close as MoD funding runs out'    Specialist mental health centres reserved for British service personnel suffering psychological trauma could close because Ministry of Defence funding is running out. ...............................[Telegraph, 1 August].