GrahamO – I am most definitely NOT criticising any of our armed forces and least of all the British Army. The point I was trying to make, clearly not well, was that we all deserve better from our national government which has, for too many years, neglected investment in equipment and capabilities.
This is not about current government policy, more about years of under investment.
Today we see decisions, albeit necessary ones, taken in response to grave situations that we find ourselves in and all too often as a result of casualties in theatre. Better strategic planning, rather than reactionary actions, is what we all deserve. Once the capability goes it becomes almost impossible to quickly bring it back!