John Purdey:
What is more, I think you forget that Torpy and others are very constrained by ministers in what they may or may not say. Do you not recall the incident when CGS (the present very good one) was thought to have spoken out of turn, and was thefore recalled post haste to the minister's office in MOD to explain himself, leaving his wife behind to take the graduation parade at Dartmouth?
Well that's what the problem is isn't it JP? CGS is not constrained and gets his message across (then gets a smacked wrist, and verbal no doubt from Mrs CGS), CAS is constrained and simply gets the "DS solution" across. Of course there is a cost to "speaking out" but not half as much as the cost of having to use kit that is unfit for purpose when at war! Time for a change in the higher command of the RAF before there is no RAF!
Thanks for manning the fort Mileandahalf, I'm afraid I was absent from my post. Think anyone noticed?