1. Blame somebody else:
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It was all down to the Queen. It was Her decision to deny veterans the right to wear the PJM.
2. Their stubborness because the veterans have no right of appeal:
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He has read the PJM case (which raises major issues that do require a review of the recommendation) but he has been told what his opinion is and that nothing has changed (EXACTLY the point we make in our case ...that we get the same tired replies from HMG ... replies that quote or rely on the same old misleading and deceitful stuff drafted by those civil servants.
3. The MoD will not change their minds
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Having mislead the Malaysians about verifying records, they can't change their minds.
4. Pass the Buck
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So Des Browne, having been led by the nose by his masters in the civil service in his Department, then says ... anyway, write to the FCO in future! Having totally demolished the honourable JM and having stripped all dignity from it, having blamed the Queen, the Mod washes its hands of the matter.
Is it any wonder that Veterans Day went off like a damp squib and that the Armed Forces are in such a parlous state. Recruiting is so desperate that people are being offered huge cash incentives to con others into signing up! And our servicemen and women STILL don't have the right equipment in Iraq and Afghanistan, and so our forces are being killed and seriously wounded unnecessarily.
Mr Browne ... Wakey, wakey! This MoD attitude cannot prevail ... unless you are intent on destroying all confidence in British Forces and amongst Veterans, of course. You are failing the Armed Forces and the country - the same problems as in the Home Office. Fix it or resign. Get out there, do the job yourself, and then you'll begin to understand why we are so angry at MoD obduracy that leads to death and disenchantment. But if you decide to remain in civvies, please pay some heed to the truth and not to the half-baked disinformation exuding from those offices in Whitehall.
Barry
PS I am beginning to wonder what is at stake and so vitally important that the MoD is not even willing to consider our point of view - they say the PJM cannot be granted the respect it deserves. Is their a 'lurker' somewhere ... as there was in the case of the Suez Canal Zone medal???? The MoD were found out then and the MoD will be found out again if they are hiding something.
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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia
