I thought Racooper would get a kick out of this.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4106465.stm
Protest over merger of regiments
Hundreds of campaigners have marched through Edinburgh in protest against plans to merge Scotland's regiments.
The King's Own Scottish Borderers and the Royal Scots are to merge and join the other four infantry regiments as part of a new Scottish super-regiment.
Save The Scottish Regiments has warned the government it faces a sustained campaign against the move.
Army veterans were joined by politicians for the march along Princes Street in the Scottish capital.
As part of the reforms of the UK's infantry, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said the merged Royal Scots and KOSB would be combined with the Black Watch, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the Royal Highland Fusiliers and the Highlanders in a new Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Mr Hoon and Army chiefs said the changes were needed to the structure of the infantry to ensure an Army fit to meet its commitments in the 21st century.
However, speaking on Saturday, retired Scots Guards Colonel Martin Gibson said: "The campaign is to make sure that the six existing Scottish regiments continue, despite what Mr Hoon said in parliament.
"The Army does have to change for the 21st century but the commitments that we have at the moment, as far as the infantry are concerned, and the reduction from 40 to 36 battalions is totally inappropriate at the moment.
"Overstretch is in evidence throughout the infantry."
Campaigners gathered in East Market Street and marched along Princes Street to Princes Street gardens where speakers addressed them.
Organisers expressed delight at the turnout and members of the public applauded as the parade of campaign supporters, politicians, bands and military vehicles made its way to the rally point.
Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond said that rather than merging the regiments, voters should "disband the contingent of Scottish Labour MPs" who supported Mr Hoon's proposals.
'Parcel o' rogues'
He said: "On each and every occasion that an issue comes to the crunch they back their government and vote against Scotland.
"They are Scotland's 'parcel o' rogues' and it is time to send them packing.
"Instead of disbanding our regiments and keeping Scottish Labour MPs we shall use this election campaign to keep our regiments and disband the Labour MPs."
Scottish Tory MP Peter Duncan told the marchers: "The Blair Government may well think that this debate is now over, since the announcement has been made.
"Well the message for them is 'hear us in Edinburgh today and understand that it's not over yet'.
"The message of Conservatives at the next General Election will be a simple pledge to take action to save the Scottish regiments.
"In the very first week of a Conservative government, we will reverse the cuts to the Scottish regiments and reinstate all 6 to single-battalion regiment status."
Save The Scottish Regiments said that from 1 January it will focus on a new campaign to organise tactical voting for the next general election - widely expected to take place in May 2005.
It said it plans to field candidates in several constituencies, including key marginal seats and ask voters to back the next best-placed candidate to unseat or deny Labour an MP.
The campaigners claim the Ministry of Defence will be doing away with hundreds of years of military tradition and that recruitment will suffer if it proceeds with its plans.
However, the government and senior officers insist they are creating a modern and flexible fighting force.
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