The Ministry of Defence in the UK is trying to block a book that it commissioned on the organization’s campaign in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. The organization commissioned Mike Martin, a captain in the Territorial Army, to write the book entitled, An Intimate War – An Oral History of the Helmand Conflict 1978-2012. He has since quit over the dispute.
The Guardian has the scoop: “The MoD commissioned the book by Dr Mike Martin, but took exception to parts of the account. The dispute has gone on for more than a year. In a statement, the MoD said it ‘has a strong record of learning from previous campaigns and encourages its officers to challenge existing norms and conventional wisdom. However, the publication of books and articles by serving military personnel is governed by well-established policy and regulations. When these are breached, the MoD will withhold approval.'”
The book is slated for publication tomorrow.