Iraq mother condemns army 'blood money'

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http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1800316,00.html

The mother of a soldier killed in the Iraq war has condemned the army's decision to offer a lucrative bounty to troops who persuade their friends to join the forces. Rose Gentle, whose 19-year-old son Gordon was killed in Basra a month after completing his training, called it 'blood money'.

The army is offering members of infantry and artillery regiments £1,300 per recruit in an attempt to reverse a recruitment shortfall that has left the forces 2000 soldiers below strength.

Senior commanders fear thousands of young men are being discouraged from a military career because of the Iraq war, stiff competition from civilian employers and the attraction of further education.

The army also reports a wider reluctance, with parents refusing to sign consent forms for their sons and daughters to join up and, in some cases, local authorities with a strong anti-war sentiment deciding not to allow recruitment officers to put up stands at local venues.

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