CAMOUFLAGE CRISIS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

This is Brigadier George Norton standing outside the Massereene army base in Northern Ireland. He's looking at the floral tributes left outside his camp and paying his respects to the two soldiers that were gunned down by the IRA earlier this week.

It's a terrible thing what happened and, like everyone else, I hope it won't be repeated. We don't want a return to The Troubles. There are enough problems out there...

One of those is, of course, the British Army's appalling choice of camouflage, especially for Northern Ireland. I didn't think many British forces still used this particular type of uniform fabric. It's very Autumn/Winter 1982 i.e. the Falklands War. 

There is no reason to still be wearing this camouflage, and particularly not in an urban environment, like Belfast. Don't tell me that the British Army - one of the world's most influential fighting forces - only has two sets of camouflage; this one and the beige desert version they wear in Iraq and Afghanistan? Surely not...

Appearance, as you know, is everything. If you're gonna illegally invade and occupy a country (or several) at least make sure you look good doing it...