Future Carrier (Including Costs)

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

This is far deeper and wider than the CVF arguments.

By means of a very clever Trojan Horse move, Labour (of any vintage) has helped the Forces to paint themselves into a corner. Stretch them to breaking point, deny them the funds to maintain and sustain themselves, set them against each other in competing for “their” share of what may or may not be available and harvest the counter arguments. Add the counter arguments together, provided by the Chiefs of Staff, and cut the Forces on expert and informed advice. In pursuit of that, take further advice from an “independent think tank“, now in the form of the Institute for Public Policy Research.

So how independent is the IPPR? I can’t better the New Statesman fn its assessment; http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2009/04/ippr-research-labour-social

A left-leaning think-tank focused on social justice and the environment. Formally independent but traditionally close to New Labour.

Bearing in mind the credentials of the New Statesman, the IPPR must qualify as far left if the NS think it leans to the left.

About New Statesman
FOUNDATION
The New Statesman was created in 1913 with the aim of permeating the educated and influential classes with socialist ideas. Its founders were Sidney and Beatrice Webb (later Lord and Lady Passfield), along with Bernard Shaw, and a small but influential group of Fabians. The Webbs' previous publication, The Crusade, had existed to gain support for the Minority Report of the Royal Commission on the Poor Law, and for Beatrice Webb's National Committee for the Prevention of Destitution. However, it had died after less than two years, when it became obvious that no government would swallow the Minority Report whole, with all its socialist implications. The New Statesman was created to fill the gap.

Now look at the contributors to the IPPR report;


the Lord G Robertson. Left wing, uncommitted to nuclear weapons and very pro EU (albeit not for unified Forces)


the Lord P Ashdown. Leftish Liberal, uncommitted to nuclear weapons, not averse to a Federal Europe, not averse to becoming a “second rate power” and an accomplished former Marine (landcentric?) with enough experience of violence to, perhaps, prefer to avoid it.


the Lord C Guthrie. Patron of the UK National Defence Association, supported A Blare’s intervention in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, critical of G Brown’s reluctance to spend funds on Defence, uncommitted to SSBNs, and a very “landcentric” thinker.

Sir J Greenstock. Uncommitted to nuclear weapons, committed expert on conflicts between minor Nations and a professional Public Servant who’s true beliefs could be almost anything.

I would imagine that Labour will dispute these findings but will, behind the scenes, be happy to “reluctantly” accept the recommendations. The only sticking point for the Government will be job losses. To use a metaphor that I’ve used before, the waiters are slowly taking over the hotel.


As regards Obama writing us out of any Trident re-lifes; not unless he wants to totally renegotiate the Polaris Sales Agreement, as amended.