If HMT (Mr Osborne) has decided that the MoD has all of sudden got to pay for Trident due to cost, then cannot the military just say 'no' to supporting Afghanistan due to cost.
No.
Why don't the Joint Chiefs just offer their resignations as even I can see that this is just too far and with that poor level of funding then nothing can be achieved in the future - even with the best non-miliatry civili servant slashing costs to appease his/her treasury masters.
They can resign. Huge range of possible reasons why they might not wish to.
Is the British public truly aware of exactly what the implications are of this Defence review? Not one person involved in this 'review' believes that it is policy driven, but merely a method to reduce costs.
I doubt if most MPs have a Scoobly - so it would be a bit much to expect the British Public to be aware.
What I find slightly unnerving is that the Treasury is about to decimate (on a long term basis) an already overstretched and underfunded MoD under the belief of cost cutting, when actually the city (Goldman Sachs) believes that the UK economy will grow quicker than both the US and Eurozone
Ultimately it is in theory a decision for Parliament, but in practice a Cabinet decision as to what budget is available for the MOD.
History as shown that the economy can and will turn around quickly, but an experienced, trained and well resourced military force will take significantly longer. We are certainly not in a stable and peaceful phase in world history, so I do not see any 'peace dividends' that can truly deliver real savings.
Depends what real threat in the foreseeable future is perceived.
When the SDSR axe falls in October I am not too sure that the British public will be aware that they will be very vunerable indeed and more to the point not to expect too much from its military anymore.
You've already raised the question of the BP's awareness. Pointless to do so twice.
From my part it will be interesting to see who within the Senior Officers (2 star and above) actually stay or have the honour to resign knowing that this review based purely upon cost has now threatened the number one requirement of any UK Government, the protection and defence of the UK and its global interests.
Why should they resign? they have fridges to fill, and children who need educating etc.
The way that our PM is flying around the world ensuring his/the UK's 'stamp' is made on Pakistan, Turkey etc, I hope that he will not want to call on his/H M Queen's military in future to help him with his policies and influence, as he will be sorely disappointed or responsible for a British tactical failure when he requests that they act on his behalf after the previous cost cutting outcomes of the SDSR.
It's up to our politicians to determine how much can be made available to the military. Their successors have to cope with what is left some time in the future.