I read in todays
Telegraph that the armed forces under the Labour govt have been cut by almost 20% in spite of the unquestionable need for more troops in Afganistan, and other sandy places....
There are now over 46,000 FEWER servicemen and women than when the Tories were in power and cuts have meant the loss of 479 armoured vehicles, 168 fixed-wing ac, 30% fewer subs, surface warships and what is left is getting older and not being replaced.
The MOD admits that there is a shortage of 6,500 soldiers, sailors and airmen from what it calls its "trained requirement".
The real issue is that in spite of these cuts the MOD is still in a funding crisis. Do the armed forced need to lose a further 46,000 in order to balance the books? Do we stop pretending to have any polititical influence on the world stage and allow ourselves to be unduly influenced by world events - something that might not have happened if we had maintained our "clout". It's about time the "Top Brass" spoke out to end what has become a disasterous decade of neglect....and our guard lowered for ever.
They need to learn the word NO! and stop saying "Can do!" to every NU Labour's whim......if only they had the ba**s to do so they would gain the respect of those they are supposed to lead and represent and be doing the country a great service.
MB