The shambles that 2012 promises to be will at least be restricted to 2012, though granted the "legacy" shambles will be with us for far longer. In contrast the shambles that is the leadership of the Armed Forces, and in particular that of the Royal Air Force, seems to be a vital ingredient in their demise .
The RAF was of course designed from the outset as a bureaucracy outside of its station gates, but at least in the past that top half of the pyramid could have been said to have had the interests of the bottom half in the forefront of its mind. That appears to be no longer the case and vital parts of the delicate mechanism that makes the Services tick have become badly broken, despite them being continually at war for a longer period than ever before.
Unless and until the culture of "me first" is expunged from the High Command and replaced with a real sense of duty and personal commitment to the welfare of those who serve below them, then the Services will be nothing other than dogs bodies of politicians, whether it be for pet wars or pet circuses.
The wrong people consistently make it up the greasy pole, no doubt assisted by the wrong people already ahead of them. That has to change. The Services are now the only major reliable public bodies left in the country, but that reliability is being tested to destruction. Reform must start at the very top if we wish to avoid Armageddon.
Last edited by Chugalug2; 12th Jul 2012 at 12:13.