There will be no blank cheques for the military - just a great many hard and unpopular choices.
Therein lies one of the problems - the military hierarchy are not prepared to make the hard choice and tell the government of the day that the 'strategic direction' is not achievable with the assets available. They take it as 'risk' (perhaps better known as 'capability holiday'!) and (figuratively) cross their fingers. Too many 'yes' men waiting in the wings who would sell their soul for another star or a knighthood.
Also not helped by the petty inter-service willy waving - if one service chief pops his head above the parapet and says 'no' one of the other two will soon pipe up with 'give us the assets (or more realistically the money) and we will make it work' (even though that money will no doubt be diverted to their single service 'pet project' instead resulting in more 'risk'). And this is not a swipe at any particular service - all three are as bad as each other.
Been a long time since a Chief of the Defence Staff has taken a stand whilst in post. Always amuses me how quick they are to speak out once they take the uniform off......
