Camargue spin/fake support for Military PFI for Rhodri

Letter to Gem on Camargue spin on 'consultatrion'.

"Overwhelming" support for Defence College

My letter (Gem 9th April) pointed out that it was Camargue who first claimed "overwhelming" public support.
That's not "my opinion" as your editorial pen added, but in their conclusion (see "analysis of comments received" on www.st-athanconsultation.co.uk) and based on 20 positives out of 35 answers.

Rhodri Morgan may have other evidence. I asked his office for it on 26th March. As he didn't have a written speech, I asked for a copy of the notes or briefing for the speech.

I am still waiting for it. The delay makes it more likely that Rhodri's staff used the Camargue report and are embarrassed that the actual figures are so poor. Would they or Camargue take responsibility for the gaff?

An underlying question is why did Metrix and the Welsh Assembly Government engage Cheltenham-based Camargue, who were named by PRWeekas the biggest PR agency outside London and who proclaim expertise in media relations?

Camargue have no understanding of Wales of or genuine public consultation, so perhaps Metrix was the driver and we pay through WAG. And unable to put positive spin on the MoD's downgrading of the Defence Academy to "Defence College", Camargue simply amended the title in Orwellian style in their "analysis of comments received".


Max Wallis

Rhodri doesn't understand the reality of the DTA!!!

A MoD bulletin has recently been issued to advise PCS members on the latest information regarding the deferred decision on the Defence Training Review (DTR). The bulletin focuses on an recently published DTR newsletter that was circulated to all staff:
Rhodri Morgan should get his facts right and so should the other AMs blindly following his lead and supporting this crazy doomed project!

Ministry of Defence

20^th October 2008 MoD/BB/112/08

To: MoD Branch Secretaries

Cc: Group Executive Committee

Instructional Officer Committee

DTR. Non Announcement on package 1. Further Delays- further Frustration

Introduction

After the recent delays in announcing anything of substance, members in scope of package 1 of DTR were expecting some clarification on their futures. Any such hopes were dashed by Ainsworth’s statement to the House of Commons.

Meetings with senior officers had previously revealed that package 1 “was just about affordable”. Given this was before the credit crunch, before the fall in house prices and before the fall in land prices, PCS had been hopeful that the MoD would gracefully abandon this foolish enterprise.

Ainsworth Announces

During the defence debate the Minister made the following comments:

“As in all areas of defence, we continue to examine how we can improve training. The House is aware of the defence training review programme. The review will transform how we deliver specialist phase 2 and phase 3 technical training on a defence-wide basis, and, once complete, will help us to adjust to changes in demand, to make more efficient and effective use of training personnel, to improve accommodation and to make better and more efficient use of the training estate… Hon. Members will be aware that progress on defence training review package 1 has been more difficult and prolonged than expected. However, I can report that considerable progress has been made in driving down costs and towards achieving an affordable, value-for-money package 1, which is on track for an investment decision next spring, with the contract signature to come approximately 15 months later.”

IPT Team leader meeting with Trade Unions

Geoff Nield met with the trade unions shortly before Ainsworth’s comments in the House. A part of the information imparted was that the fall back position is MORE expensive than proceeding to contract. This is a staggering confession and beggars the question that if the fall back position is more expensive, then how can it be a fall back position at all? This appears to be more smoke and mirrors from Nield’s team and it is something that PCS will be taking up at the next meeting with the IPT.

IPT issues propaganda rag

Some of you may already have seen the latest DTR Package 1 Update. The eight page “newsletter” includes some useful information sandwiched between thinly disguised propaganda.

The newsletter includes a revised timeline for DTR package 1:

• Main Gate Approval- Spring 2009
• Financial close- Summer 2010.
• Vesting day- Autumn 2010
• Start of construction- Autumn 2010
• New service commence- 2014-2015.

This in itself appears to be wishful thinking and PCS expects further slippage to the right as time goes on, as is fairly common with projects in the MoD.

Rhodri Morgan tells PCS members not to worry- they'll love moving

The newsletter, incredibly contains a message from Rhodri Morgan, the First Minister for Wales! The piece is nothing more than a thinly disguised attempt to prepare PCS members for the “inevitable” transfer to St Athan. Rhodri tells readers of presumable success stories in bringing work to the Vale of Glamorgan. He has the nerve to include DARA in this.

DARA's “Red Dragon” hanger is available for redevelopment within the footprint of DTR, not because of success but because the End to End review moved much of DARA’s work to RAF forward bases.

The First Minister waxes lyrical about the transport and communication links to St Athan, but forgets to mention the local MP's (John Smith) call for a new railway station and roads to service the Defence Technical Academy. If links are so good then what is Smith talking about?

Rhodri Morgan also talks glowingly of the relocation of Civil Service jobs to South Wales- in particular he mentions Home Office, Department for Transport, Patent Office, Statistics Office, DVLA etc and how “brilliantly” this has worked for thousands of Civil Servants. What's more he assures readers that there are packages to help Civil Servants make the move...the only problem is that staff in scope of DTR package 1 will NOT BE CIVIL SERVANTS. Obviously it’s too much to expect the First Minister and his entourage to understand the reality of the DTA and PCS members’ opposition to it.

It seems to PCS that “Team Wales” has a lot to learn.

Compression, rationalisation and harmonisation = Job losses

The newsletter contains an article by Steve Krosnar-Clarke that talks about CRH- being Compression, Rationalisation and Harmonisation. These methodologies will reduce the length of courses by 25%.

What Krosnar-Clarke does not say is what that means going forward. If you keep the same number of courses but compression them, then the total number of hours training is reduced and the number of trainers required must, by the same token, be reduced. Therefore CRH is the prelude for redundancies- potentially in the region of 25%.

Given that these plans are already being made PCS will be liaising with experts within the union to ascertain whether or not such a programme is in contravention of the recently signed Cabinet Office Protocol on privatisation and TUPE transfer.

Risky business

The newsletter also contains an article by Chris Brand on risk. It might be a Freudian slip but calling DTR a risky business has been exactly the PCS position for a substantial period of time.

Worryingly, the article's longest paragraph is one about the risks of crossing a road. The article advises that there are risk mitigation plans that are regularly updated. In fact the biggest risk and the one that forced a reappraisal of methodology in package 2- i.e. teaching staff refusing to relocate has the flimsiest of plans attached to it. It seems to consist of begging Instructional Officers not to leave and in the meantime training would be Instructors in colleges around the Vale of Glamorgan.

PCS will be contacting Chris Brand for a full copy of the latest mitigation plans and will circulate them to branches if possible.

Still everything to play for

The DTR IPT is seeking to become a master of spin. This should surprise no one. But it is crucial that PCS members don't believe the hype and therefore consider defence training privatisation a fait accompli. To do so now will be a grave tactical error and one that the IPT would welcome.

Recent articles on Defence Management website state that Hutton is being told to adopt a “more realistic budget” in the wake of the £2 billion deficit and now the hundreds of billion pounds bail out of the banking system. The question of the fall back position being more expensive than the privatisation starts to look like a rather sorry attempt to save the privatisation at a time of major financial pressure on MOD budgets by positioning itself as “value for money” against keeping training in house. Again the contrast to emerging package 2 solutions is notable.

What can you do to support the PCS campaign?

• There are various activities that branch secretaries can initiate to keep people involved and active. Members can:
• Write to Rhodri Morgan and tell him that you don’t want to be relocated or privatised.
• Write to Bob Ainsworth and call upon him to meet with your union officials as he had previously promised.
• Ensure you have a delegate to IO conference and prime him or her to ask difficult questions of Major General Tim Inshaw when he comes to address conference.
• Support PCS in its national action to seek fair pay for hard pressed Civil Servants.
• Write to the National Audit Office and call for an investigation into the financing of the DTR programme.
• Pass any interesting stories (that do not breach confidentiality) to the PCS Defence Sector Instructional Officer Committee.

PCS will continue to campaign with you and for you.

GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA HERE

School for mercenaries on hold

From the latest MOD propaganda! Which includes these words of wisdom!

MESSAGE FROM RIGHT HONOURABLE RHODRI MORGAN AM, FIRST MINISTER OF THE WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT

I am pleased to contribute to this newsletter on the Defence Training Review Project. Everyone in Wales is looking forward to the DefenceTechnical Academy (DTA).

Likewise I am looking forward to working with Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson and Major General Tim Inshaw on its delivery. I met both of them recently to underline the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to assisting the MOD realise its plans for the new tri-service Defence Training and school for mercenaries campus at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan

New Service Commencement Date 2014 - 2015

we can't afford it!
A NOTE FROM BRIGADIER GEOFF NIELD, DTR PACKAGE 1 IPT LEADER
As many of you are already aware a phase of work has been underway to address affordability challenges within Project 1 and update various aspects of the Metrix proposals. This process has unfortunately been more difficult and prolonged than we expected, with certain aspects of Metrix’s proposals requiring more detailed work. This additional unplanned work prevented the Project from proceeding to the main investment decision within the desired timeframe. A contributory factor has been the impact of the current financial situation which has added some complexity to the negotiations between MOD and Metrix.

Over the last six months we have been working constructively with Metrix to overcome these difficulties to try and achieve an affordable, value for money, acceptable and deliverable project.
This has involved both parties working hard to drive down costs without materially affecting the scope of the Project and get the best deal possible for the taxpayer. I am pleased to tell you that the
hard work has paid off and considerable progress has been made. Following a detailed review of the Project and negotiations with Metrix, it is now judged that the Package 1 Project can be made affordable.
The outcome of this work is the Department’s commitment to continuing with the current
Assessment Phase. A Final Clarification and Confirm (‘FC&C’) exercise is now underway, after which Metrix’s revised proposals will be evaluated. Subject to a successful evaluation outcome, and confirmation of affordability, the Project will then proceed to the formal approval point of the MOD’s Investment Approvals Board.

This is anticipated to take place in the spring of next year after which an
announcement will be made. It is anticipated that Financial Close will follow approximately 15 months later.
I appreciate that these last few months may have been an unsettling time for many affected by the Project. Although a Project of this size and complexity is always subject to change, I now believe that the work of the last year has led to some stability in the Project going forward. This newsletter now seeks to clarify the situation and outline anticipated dates to assist with personal planning. I will of course seek to update you as the Project develops.
Finally, I would like to warmly thank the Right Honourable Rhodri Morgan (First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government) and others for their contribution to this newsletter. We aim to have more of these wide-ranging articles in future editions.

Raytheon out of Wales

Welsh Assembly laying welcome mat for Cluster Munition Bomb ...As it turns out, though, Raytheon’s actual record concerning cluster munitions may prove to be less damning than its critics claim. Raytheon’s spokesman ...

Now then.... there are a few errors in this report so...listen

The intention was to go to Llanwit Major to raise awareness of the opposition to the Privatised Military Academy in face of an ongoing well funded propaganda exercise by MOD/Metrix/John Smith MP and No politicans prepared to speak out.
Campaigners where in different locations in Llanwit Major on that day in extremely bad weather and were faced with intimidation and surveillance from a disproportionate police presence. The campaign against the privatisation of all UK military training to arms dealers has been almost entirely been an e-campaign. There have been sucessful protests at the OU offices in Cardiff, the Senedd and in Cardiff City Centre hampered by the massive police surveillance and control.

The allegation that we haven't responded to contact from the college is NOT true. In fact I wrote and sent booklets and had no reply. I would be very happy to speak/meet them any time so please email no2militaryacademy@inbox.com

The 'ire' of Llanwit Major was from ONE shop owner who has business from MOD and therefore is expressing self interest. War profiteers ire is to be expected.

Facts about Raytheon -
Raytheon is the fifth biggest arms manufacturer in the world and are directly implicated in war crimes: In 2003, a Raytheon device hit the Shu'ale market in Baghdad in 2003, killing at least 62 civilians. In 2006 a Raytheon device hit Qana in Lebanon in 2006, killing at least 28 civilians, including 16 children. By welcoming Raytheon, our politicians are complicit with war crimes.

Bush to Nasrallah: An Offer Hezbollah cannot refuse? Part III: the ...The People's Voice - Nashville,TN,USA('Birdie' was the nickname for the M-43 Raytheon manufactured cluster bomb which was widely used by Israel against civilians in 1978, 1982, and to a lesser ...
Bush to Nasrallah: An Offer Hezbollah cannot refuse?Atlantic Free Press - Groningen,Netherlands

Raytheon Company produces, according to its own web-site JSOW (Joint Stand Off Weapon), and cluster munitions to these: “JSOW integrates the BLU-97 combined effects bomblets and the BLU-108 sensor fused weapon submunitions for area targets or armoured vehicles”. These are considered as cluster weapons.
The small explosive devices or bomblets are certainly key components in a cluster weapon. These consist of components such as the explosives themselves, the surrounding canister and a detonation mechanism or fuse which make the explosive charge detonate. The canister which contains bomblets is, as a rule, specially designed for this purpose and must therefore be regarded as a key component in a cluster bomb. This also consists of several sub-components. All canisters will have a mechanism or a fuse which makes the canister open and drop the smaller explosive devices. http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0623-01.htm

Hundreds and possibly thousands of Iraqi civilians have been killed or maimed by outdated, defective U.S. cluster weapons that lack a safety feature other countries have added, according to observers, news reports and officials. Bruce Mueller, a former Army lieutenant colonel who made managed the fuse program for defense contractor Raytheon. Cluster munitions have a high dud factor and are used also for that purpose to lay a minefield as Israel did during the last hours of the brief 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon. The streets were littered with cluster munitions - this saw some of the most extensive use yet of cluster munitions, mostly by Israel, in highly populated areas. Some dated back to 1976.

Civilian casualties caused by these weapons, both during the war and after, have refocused global attention on the weapons' most frequent users and producers, including in recent or ongoing conflicts in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. Later this month, around 90 countries are expected to sign the Ban on Cluster Munitions Treaty at a conference in Dublin, Ireland. The likely signatories include some of Europe's biggest traditional users and stockpilers of the weapons, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom? - the most frequent user that has entered the process. Read more here

Katie Harrison's very comprehensive daily updates on the proceedings of the Dublin Conference on the WILPF website There is a cluster munition survivor's blog a CMC/ Handicap International 'Ban Bus' blog,

Watch this programme on Cluster bombs (video) http://www.hd.net/drr306.html%20Dan Rather Reports Bombs Left Behind
Long after a cease fire in the Iraeli-Lebanese conflict, thousands of unexploded bombs--cluster munitions--still cover the battlefields and are wounding many unintended victims--civilians.

Raytheon and cluster munitions report on the connections between the banks and the producers from Netwerk Vlaanderen. here

A military academy is NOT the best option for the local economy - privatising military training is a dangerous option - Who are Raytheon and other to be answerable to? Who will monitor what is going on?

And likely to fail as other privatisations have been e.g. railways and COST the British tax payer more.

The union PCS who represent the curerent trainers oppose the plan.
Young people in S Wales are more likely to pressed in to military service to fight for illegal wars.

The whole project is unethical..what happened to a vision for an ethical foreign policy?

The only winners are the arms dealers Raytheon and friends. They profit - We pay!

More info

Raytheon Cluster Bomb Protest ! on Flickr - Photo Sharing! A protestor holds a placard during a Ban Cluster Bombs Protest outside Raytheon in Derry on Wednesday afternoon calling for a ban on the use of Cluster ...
Sign the petition here

Weapons firm’s role in St Athan academy condemned (UK) see here

Cluster Bombs, Landmines, Nuclear Weapons and Depleted Uranium Weapons
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML

The assortment of Raytheon weapons also includes cluster munitions. ......

News

US subverts the cluster bomb ban Boston Globe, US Its efforts in Dublin are really about undermining the treaty itself. US allegations that the cluster ban treaty would undermine NATO are another ......US "bullying" hurts cluster bomb ban work-activists ReutersTime to stand up for what we believe Globe and Mail Campaigners call on US to stop bullying negotiators on cluster ...

Boycott investments in Raytheon!

The campaign agaisnt the St Athan Military Academy accuses the Welsh Assembly Government of hypocrisy over cluster bombs. Politicans profess their opposition to cluster bombs but invite Raytheon to Wales - spend money encouraging Raytheon to Wales - invest in Raytheon!

Rhodri Morgan "we have worked very hard to get this project for Wales. the reference to cluster bombs and Raytheon by campaigners is a simple guilt by association argumnet with absolutely no supporting evidence. They should be ashamed of themselves for using such a smear as a substitute for intelligent argument."

Greens accuse government of hypocrisy over cluster bombs
Earthtimes, UK - 14 Feb 2008 Wellington - New Zealand was accused Thursday of hypocrisy in hosting an international conference aimed at banning cluster bombs while a government pension ...He said the state pension fund in Norway, where the drive for an international treaty prohibiting the use of the weapons began a year ago, had boycotted investments in US companies Lockheed and Raytheon which manufacture them.

Time to stop loving the money from the bomb
Scoop.co.nz, New Zealand -14 feb
The Green Party is calling on the New Zealand Super Fund to urgently withdraw from its ever-increasing investments in cluster bomb manufacturers before the ...

Wellington Conference to Address Cluster Munitions Threat
Scoop.co.nz, New Zealand - 11 Feb 2008
Next week in Wellington the New Zealand Government is hosting an international conference on a treaty to prevent humanitarian disasters created by cluster ...

Lots of JOBS - Bomb disposal folk wanted urgently

Picture above Dai Havard MP and John Smith MP meet with 2 Royal Welsh Battle Group during the Committee's visit to Basra in July - perhaps they should stay and help out.

Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 HC 61 on Monday 28 January 2008.As explained in the Annual Report and Accounts 2006–07, this reflects the pressure on the Armed Forces resulting from operating above Defence Planning Assumptions, and the constraints on conducting collective training over and above that required for current operations until commitments return to the levels within Defence Planning Assumptions.(Ministry of Defence, Public Service Agreement Report: Quarter 1 2007–2008)

Cost of operations
147. The additional cost of operations, including the cost of Urgent Operational
Requirements (UORs)....WAR to you and me , has been met from the reserve.
On 22 November 2007, Baroness Taylor informed Parliament that the Treasury had provided some £6.6 billion from the reserve to support the additional cost of operations, including some £2.3 billion for UORs.190 Details of the cost of UORs in each of the last five financial years is provided in Table 9.

...The Minister emphasised that the suggestion that the Treasury was “clawing back” more
than the £2 billion already spent on UORs ..war.....

At the same time the Army is short staffed... Royal Engineers Explosive Ordnance Disposal 29%
less than needed ..well I am not surprised ..who wants to be blown up...our young people aren't that dumb. Army Medical Services are short too ..Operation Department Practitioner 45%

- Radiologist 80% - Orthopaedic Surgeon 62% ...well perhaps medical people don't want to have to repair messy unneccessary injuries.And the Navy is short of Petty Officers for Mine Warfare 44% .....sounds dangerous.. So I suppose John Smith MP and Rhodri Morgan will make sure these jobs are promptly displayed in Barry Job Centre where they will be queuing up for them, no doubt to the sound of JOBS.. JOBS...lovely JOBS....any old jobs for Wales....gis your vote and have a career as a bomb disposal person!

So where is all this money Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs)... WARS to you and me...going ...well lots of it is going to Ratheon!
Raytheon, L-3, Alliant Profits Rise on Demand From Iraq War
Bloomberg - USA Jan 31 (Bloomberg) -- US defense companies Raytheon Co., L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. and Alliant Techsystems Inc. said profit rose more than analysts' ...
UPDATE 1-Raytheon profit up on arms sales, raises forecast
Reuters - NEW YORK, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Raytheon (RTN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Thursday fourth-quarter profit rose 64 percent, helped by higher sales of