WEBF,
I agree with all you say. But there is no going back now.
Re your:
If the Government are proved right, then this might be seen as an astute decision that saved money. If they are proved wrong, then the price will not simply financial, but also blood and fire.
That's been the case with most defence decisions (i.e. "cuts") in the last 40 years. But whom do we ever hold to account for them when they all go horribly wrong? Ususally, by the time they're proved wrong they've been voted out, kicked out or (if still serving) come up with some smooth patter about "doing the right thing", "no options", "leaner, meaner force", "affordable", etc, etc.
Courtney