Originally Posted by
Melchett01
It talks about establishing a 50,000 strong expeditionary Force. Shouldn’t that be re-establishing the ability to field a 50,000 strong expeditionary Force? If memory serves that was pretty much what we deployed on TELIC 1 back in 2003!
Most people don't even recall the first time Iraq (one of Saddam's predecessors) threatened Kuwait back in 1961 when we stepped in and reacted without anybody else taking part.
Google 'Operation Vantage' if you don't believe me.
3 years later, Labour came to power and started dismantling our armed forces saying something like 'there was no further role for us East of Suez' thus ensuring we could never do the same thing unaided again.