Thirteen-Twelve,
I am compelled to respond, not because of your insult because I have no regard for your opinion of me, but to point out the alarming inconsistency of your post. You accuse me of being a sycophant (though not as eloquently) and yet your own observation 'anyone who is switched on will realise that it is career suicide to criticise in the armed forces' casts you as a 'Yes-man' - one that is two-faced judging by your subsequent advice to 'either put up or shut up and thus the whole crooked and crap system is perpetuated'.
I think that you have made my point about moral courage very emphatically - thankyou.
Is criticism career suicide? My experience is that most professionals welcome constructive criticism - a direct extension of the aircrew open and honest sortie debrief ethos. Are you an aviator/professional? Perhaps I am just fortunate within my force.
Is 'the system' immovable? It seems obvious to me that the Armed Forces of today are incredibly different from the services of only 10 years ago. It does not change overnight and no one person can alter course by more than a few degrees but change for the better can be secured if individuals have the morale courage to speak up constructively.
Thirteen-Twelve, you have cast yourself as the very epitome of all that I despise in a leader; you have no desire but to further yourself within a system that you dislike and openly damn but are not prepared to take a stand against. If the pen picture is inaccurate then please accept my apologies and be more careful how you express yourself. If it is accurate then, for the sake of your Service, I hope that your own superior is astute enough to see through the charade.
Returning to the thread, it does seem that the vast majority of respondents agree with the notion the we should collectively seek to exercise self-moderation. BEagle, you still have my support.