Hangarshuffle said:
"Now we need to make sure we do more to save lives. That will involve more search and rescue and there is a contribution I’m sure we can make to that".
Is that the sound of chickens coming home to roost? Or is it merely the anguished cries of the leaders' wives at yet another kitchen table supper? Where on earth do these people think we can keep rustling up capability from whilst they keep cutting it and neglecting what's left??? We might be able to do more SAR if we hadn't chopped the carrier, the entire MPA fleet and signalled the death of the SAR fleet.
If we're going to do anything I can only see one viable COA. Assuming Ex Cougar runs again this year, then it goes to the Med and involves HMS Ocean, LPDs and various RFAs and hospital/ casualty ships. Embarked, the SAR cabs have a final hurrah alongside the Merlins, whilst the AH are used in support of counter-ISIL ops in Libya. This would have to be part of a multinational effort given the scale if the problem and a decision needs to be made right now, most likely at tomorrow's Special Meeting of the European Council in order to get ahead of planning to and decision timelines if they are to be on station in time for the best weather when there's an even greater surge of people making a run for it. Waiting until after the election and someone making a decision will be too late.
Above all else, there must be no further cuts regardless of whether Defence is ring fenced or not and there must be an assessment of what else drops off in order to meet this commitment - don't even think about trying to go to Yemen if we're going to do this. And finally, there must be a coherent policy and strategy (there's that S word again!) to deal with the crux of the problem rather than just treating the symptoms. Without a coherent policy and strategy you'll end up with a constant roulement of people earning frequent flier miles as they head out to sea, sink, get rescued by SAR, return home and start the whole sorry saga once again.
That's it Mr Clegg. That's your option. And it will be very very expensive. Other than that the cupboard is not only bare, the door is hanging off the hinges and even the church mouse having a look inside seems distinctly unimpressed. The RAF - pulling rabbits out of hats since 1918.