DouglasDigby: How about enough enough functional kit (body armour, NVG, weapons, etc) to do the task? How about Nimrod fuel leaks or ESF for Hercs, acceptable armoured personnel carriers........????
This all comes down to how much money the Treasury is prepared to provide. Historically, Defence Budgets received 2.5% of GDP during peace, 6% during medium-scale regional wars and up to 50% during Total War (although it's quite difficult to measure during Total War). The current Defence Budget is equivalent to 2.4% of GDP - go figure. If the government wants to prosecute 2 medium scale campaigns and ensure that all of the kit is the best all of the time- which as you know is quite difficult, it will have to provide more than peace time levels of funding. The issue is not about 'staff officers' at the MOD (although the way the MOD is organised could certainly be improved), most of whom have themselves been on the front-line only too recently, it is about political will. The Public and the much of the media does not support the military campaigns therefore there is no political will to fund them properly (at the expense of health and education) - the MOD is caught in the middle. If you are going to criticise then at least get your targetting right. Even better why not make a positive case for what the military is doing to as many of your family, friends and neighbours as possible to create the conditions for political will to be hardened? If Defence spending is to go up, the first question voters have to ask of prospective MPs at the next election is "Will you increase Defence Spending?".