The Good Soldier (Copyright Ford Maddox Ford)

L.Cpl Joe Pool

Cpl. Joe Glenton

Visitors to this site will know that we have little more sympathy with the various occupying militaries than with their political puppeteers. A poignant moment for us was the recent death in Afghanistan of Lance Corporal Joe Pool who came from just down the road from here. He was a good man by all accounts. A father and a Celtic fan like myself. It crossed my mind that we may have stood together crammed into Flynn's or the Springfield Tavern or Baird's or The Sary or The Old Barns before a game. It also crossed my mind that he could have been one of the unwelcome visitors kicking in the door of some unsuspecting Afghan family in the middle of the night. I know that many of the soldiers in the occupying armies are economic recruits from the ranks of the unemployed. But it's no excuse. My idea of the good soldier is Bradley Manning, now a prisoner of conscience in the light of the Wikileaks coup. Or Joe Glenton a conscientious objector to the continuing carnage in Afghanistan who speaks at anti-war rallies and is still a fugitive. Both Joes should have stayed at home in the first place. Bill Hicks used to say that all soldiers are thugs. I used to think this was a bit harsh. I change my mind by the day.