Scottish veteran Cliff Purvis condemned JD Vance for derogatory remarks about the UK and France’s military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Purvis claimed Vance’s comments are disrespectful to European allies and the sacrifices made by troops. Vance later characterized his critics as “dishonest” but faced continued backlash for his dismissive attitude.
A Scottish veteran has criticized comments made by JD Vance, labeling them as “dishonorable and shameful”. Cliff Purvis, a former corporal who served in various conflicts, expressed that Vance’s remarks regarding the Iraq and Afghanistan wars constitute a direct affront to European nations. Vance had dismissed the participation of UK and French forces in future peace discussions regarding Russia and Ukraine, referencing them as “20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.
Purvis, representing the Veterans for Independence campaign group, emphasized the importance of recognizing the sacrifices made by coalition allies, noting that the invocation of NATO’s Article 5 occurred post-9/11, highlighting the collective support for the U.S. in Afghanistan and Iraq. He remarked that Vance’s assertion that no European army has engaged in war recently is not only disappointing but also disrespectful to the memory of the fallen troops — 457 British soldiers in Afghanistan and 179 in Iraq.
Further condemning Vance’s comments, Purvis stated that both Vance and former President Trump lack direct military experience and should employ their staff for thorough research before making such statements. He asserted that the current U.S. administration can no longer be perceived as the “leaders of the free world.” In response to the backlash, Vance later retracted part of his comments, accusing critics of misinterpretation and asserting that he had not specifically mentioned the UK or France in his original statement.
Vance described criticisms as “absurdly dishonest” while acknowledging the brave contributions of UK and French forces in the past two decades. He reasserted that many nations offering support currently lack significant battlefield experience and military capability, urging a realistic perspective on international military involvement in foreign conflicts.
In summary, the Scottish veteran Cliff Purvis vehemently criticized JD Vance for dismissing the contributions of UK and French forces to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Purvis underscored the importance of recognizing the sacrifices made by coalition allies and called for greater accountability among political figures regarding their statements on military matters. Vance’s comments faced outrage, leading him to issue a retraction, although he maintained his stance on the lack of contribution from certain nations.
Original Source: www.thenational.scot
