Fitaloon at MicroShaft

Two stories from two different sources show how the war in Afghanistan is now being fought on a Plausible Deniability basis .

First we have from EUReferendum more on a  story which I highlighted last month about dodgy firms being contracted indirectly by the MOD. This allows the the UK government to  plausibly deny as the AP report states

Intermediaries such as Toronto-based Skylink Aviation often handle the actual subleasing for NATO forces, giving governments an element of “plausible deniability,” these experts say. The Fluor Corporation, a Texas-based company providing logistical back-up to U.S. military operations, said Skylink provided the Vertikal-T helicopter that most recently crashed in Afghanistan. The helicopter was transporting contractors on behalf of Fluor. Vertikal-T’s reputation is as the “hot zone provider of choice,” said Mark Galeotti, a military and organized crime expert at New York University. “If you want a pretty professional but slightly cowboyish outfit that doesn’t mind flying into war zones, doesn’t mind taking off from unsurfaced runways, then Vertikal-T now seems to be the front runner,” he said.

The second story is from Subrosa who highlights another story of Plausible Deniability. As Subrosa says

Did you know we supply the Taliban with free bomb making materials? The fertiliser for agricultural projects is brought from Pakistan and we probably pay a ‘tax’ to the Taliban to ensure its safe arrival. Then we give it to the Taliban.I’m also very reliably informed that to get supplies to British troops from across the Pakistan border, the transport contractors have to pay the Taliban a ‘tax’ for safe passage. This is built into the price we pay the contractor. My source states: We do not pay direct… in order to maintain “plausible deniability“.

So a war which we are supposedly fighting on High Moral issues is continuing to be fought on the basis of Plausible Deniability. Surely this is not right.

Mi-26T, registration ER-MCV

Finally true to his name “Slow Bob” Ainswoth admits that ER-MCV the MI-26T helicopter that went down on 14th July was carrying supplies for the British Forces.

Ann Winterton (Congleton, Conservative)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what supplies were lost when the Mi-26T helicopter carrying supplies to a British base in Afghanistan crashed on 14 July 2009; and of what nationality the crew members of that helicopter were.

Bob Ainsworth (Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence; Coventry North East, Labour)

The Mi-26T helicopter was carrying non-sensitive cargo, including food and fuel, when it crashed. The crew members were Ukrainian.

Perhaps the next questions should be has it or any of its sister craft been tasked with carrying troops and at what cost were the Ukranians bribed into operating this helicopter in such a dangerous area.

Will we also be paying compensation to the families of the Ukrainian crew and how can we ensure that the next time this occurs no civilian lives are lost by operating helicopters in this manner?

Also as a parting shot, why are we employing directly or indirectly dodgy companies that have been implicated in many scams over the past 10 years in many of the worlds trouble spots and whose safety record is not exactly up to scratch thus endangering both service personnel and Afghan civilians.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations: 20 Jul 2009: Written answers and statements (TheyWorkForYou.com).

Begging a lift: A borrowed Mi-8 in Afghanistan

A Borrowed or actually technically a leased Mi-8 helicopter tales off from Lashkar Gar. This is the Picture at the top of a Daily Mail article that tells us the public that we are borrowing Russian Helicopters. Amazingly Associated Newspapers have been on this blog a number of times in the past week so they should have a good idea of the story.  I would assume they have in particular have been crawling all over the Defence of the Realm and EUReferendum blogs as they have been investigating and highlighting this issue for months.

They seemed to have missed out saying that one of the big brothers of the Mi-8, the Mi-26 crashed last Tuesday just after taking off from the British base at Sangin, presumably after delivering supplies, killing the six Ukranian crew and one Afghan civilian. No mention either on how dodgy the company is that leases these helicopters.

It just points out how bad our procurement of supplies for the Armed Forces is, how truly wasteful and how it is causing the deaths of Armed Forces personnel in Afghanistan as they wait to get the proper equipment.

If you want a good explanation of this have a look here at the Defence of the Realm blog and see how we are paying way over the odds for our helicopters and are taking truly awful decisions.

Now we are borrowing Russian helicopters to fight the Taliban | Mail Online.

MI-26 for Sale

Just in case the MOD is in need of a replacement MI-26, you can buy one here.

Actually you can buy 3-4 with  no problem at all with delivery in 3-6 months. More details below:

Helicopter Mi-26: BUYING NEW

First of all, we need you to prepare and send to us a Letter of

Intent to buy new Mi-26 helicopters.

It should contain (on your company letterhead) stamped the following.

- Brief description of your company /  purchaser

- Confirmation of interest in purchase

- Quantity and modification of helicopters requested

- Time frame for delivery

- Payment condition

- Delivery condition ( by air/by sea )

- Warranty needed

- Any other requirement

You can send by PDF file.

Production cycle usually takes three to six months for three or four Mi-26 helicopters although this may be dependant on production scheduleat the moment. External sling loads, any other units needed for quick changing between Passengers and Cargo can of course be included and customized to meet with your requirements.

Advance payment can only be agreed in Moscow during negotiation with the manufacturer.

Russian helicopters for sale.

‘Lack Of Choppers Hurting’

The head of the UK’s Armed Forces has admitted to Sky News that a shortage of helicopters is causing casualties on the ground in southern Afghanistan. Sir Jock Stirrup had just delivered a ‘shopping list’ of British troop requirements to Downing Street.

It will be hurting even more after the loss of ER-MCV the more than slightly dodgy Skylink Aviation MI-26 helicopter leased to the MOD. As Sir Jock says operating helicopters in Afghanistan can be a tricky business, especially if they are unarmed and unescorted in an Active area. More on ER-MCV here and here.

Sir Jock Stirrup Chief Of Defence Staff Says Helicopter Shortage Causing Casualties In Afghanistan – Sky News Video Player.