Originally Posted by
IAMCHUNKY
Having had a 35 year career as aircrew in the RAF I would like to ask whether people think that our present armed forces are fit for purpose? If not has the Iran conflict exposed our failings and what needs to be done to fix it in a sensible time? To me the HMS Dragon issue seems to show that we aren't really ready to respond to imminent threats but what do you all think please.
Which begs the question as to what their purpose is? I expect you'd get a different answer from each member of the Cabinet for starters.
Decade after decade of cuts and capability gaps, but our politicians still assumed our forces could deliver on the scale of their capabilities at the height of the cold war.
Our people have punched well above weight for a long time, but I think the point has been reached where people realise just how limited our resources are.
Maybe it is time to start cutting the suit according to the cloth and consider priorities over political posturing/virtue signalling.
The man on on the Clapham Omnibus may well opine that a priority to consider might be the defence of our Channel coast for starters.