Originally Posted by
smujsmith
I suppose the option is to do more personnel and less tech, how does that keep us up to date ?
Smudge
Or the other option; to face up to what and where we are now and stop trying to be what we once were; or as Tennyson put it:
"
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
We just need to find another way of doing it.
But the article certainly is a cheap shot and lazy journalism. In as much as the MoD can be accused of poor financial management, our press and politician's do not comprehend the complexity of defence procurement and through life support. It's always an easy shot to take a pop and who is going to argue against "at the expense of troops on the ground, or at sea or in the air". For my part, I have had the pleasure of working with some of the most dedicated and committed civilian and service IPT leaders. As for the civilian leaders, they may "never have held a rifle" - but this never diminished their commitment or ability.
Tom