Scottish Republicans Hit Out at RAF Near-Miss
Only “luck” that civilian casualties avoided
Saorsa Media Release, 17 Dec 2010
A spokesman for Scottish Republican organisation Saorsa today blasted British military forces in Scotland after it was revealed that two RAF Tornado fighters came within 50ft of a collision over Glen Spean in Inverness-shire.
Speaking in Inverness Saorsa spokesman Sean Mac Michael stated: “This latest incident gives the lie to the pretence that the British military machine in Scotland operates to the highest standards.
“It is only due to good fortune that these jets avoided each other, and avoided the possibility of civilian casualties along Glen Spean.
“According to statements from the pilots they were unaware of the presence of each other, only becoming responsive to it at a distance of 100 yards. Travelling at the speed of these jets such a distance would be covered in 0.2 seconds, the blink of an eye. That they missed each other is entirely due to good fortune.
Mr Mac Michael continued: “What would have happened if they were carrying out low-flying manoeuvres over built up areas of the Highlands, as they frequently do over towns in Easter Ross on approach to the bombing range there?
Highlighting their opposition to “Britain’s murder machine” Mr Mac Michael continued: “We in Saorsa stand apart from the establishment consensus which prostitutes Scotland’s youth for the benefit of British imperialism.
“We call for an end to recruitment to British armed forces in Scotland, and the end of Scotland’s status as a playground for Britain’s killing machine. Central to this is the closure of RAF Lossiemouth and the development of the base, and all associated bases at Kinloss, Cape Wrath & Tain, under community ownership.
“We further call for the SNP administration in Holyrood to fight for a divergence of so-called defence spending into more economically productive spending in Moray and the development of the area’s infrastructure, particularly the dualling and electrification of the rail-line between Inverness” and Aberdeen.
[ENDS]
Saorsa Media Release, 17 Dec 2010
A spokesman for Scottish Republican organisation Saorsa today blasted British military forces in Scotland after it was revealed that two RAF Tornado fighters came within 50ft of a collision over Glen Spean in Inverness-shire.
Speaking in Inverness Saorsa spokesman Sean Mac Michael stated: “This latest incident gives the lie to the pretence that the British military machine in Scotland operates to the highest standards.
“It is only due to good fortune that these jets avoided each other, and avoided the possibility of civilian casualties along Glen Spean.
“According to statements from the pilots they were unaware of the presence of each other, only becoming responsive to it at a distance of 100 yards. Travelling at the speed of these jets such a distance would be covered in 0.2 seconds, the blink of an eye. That they missed each other is entirely due to good fortune.
Mr Mac Michael continued: “What would have happened if they were carrying out low-flying manoeuvres over built up areas of the Highlands, as they frequently do over towns in Easter Ross on approach to the bombing range there?
Highlighting their opposition to “Britain’s murder machine” Mr Mac Michael continued: “We in Saorsa stand apart from the establishment consensus which prostitutes Scotland’s youth for the benefit of British imperialism.
“We call for an end to recruitment to British armed forces in Scotland, and the end of Scotland’s status as a playground for Britain’s killing machine. Central to this is the closure of RAF Lossiemouth and the development of the base, and all associated bases at Kinloss, Cape Wrath & Tain, under community ownership.
“We further call for the SNP administration in Holyrood to fight for a divergence of so-called defence spending into more economically productive spending in Moray and the development of the area’s infrastructure, particularly the dualling and electrification of the rail-line between Inverness” and Aberdeen.
[ENDS]