A British officer who made headlines with a stirring eve-of-battle speech to troops preparing to fight in Iraq has resigned from the army, a newspaper reported. The Mail on Sunday said Col. Tim Collins, 43, had handed in his resignation last week and was expected to leave the army this summer after 22 years of service. Collins, who commanded the 1st battalion of the Irish Guards, was often photographed smoking a cigar and wearing designer sunglasses. He galvanized his troops in Kuwait before the war with a speech that urged them to do their duty while treating the enemy with respect. "Wipe them out if that is what they choose. But if you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory," he said. Prince Charles was so impressed that he wrote to Collins to say how "profoundly moved" he was by the "extraordinarily stirring, civilized and humane" speech.
It was a great speech. You can find it here.
Collins was investigated for war crimes after a U.S. Army reservist accused him of mistreating Iraqi prisoners, but was cleared of any wrongdoing. The Mail on Sunday quoted Collins’ wife Caroline as saying he was disillusioned with changes in the armed forces. "Tim is no longer convinced that the army reflects the country with the fourth largest economy in the world," she was quoted as saying. "He fears it is becoming a cottage industry. He’s worried it is being crippled by political correctness, petty bureaucracy and the refusal of politicians who send British soldiers to war to give them enough money to do their job."
There may not be anyone left in Britain to thank this man, but I will thank him. Thank you, Tim. |