Nine in 10 RAF staff say service is overstretched
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Rotary Pongo
OK I accept your point and appologise for missing it. I was still miffed about having my Service record questioned...
Nonetheless, the Capitalist system is based on exploitation, and with further deepening of our economies as a feature of Globality, this exploitation has untold consequences in producer nations. Just consider where your food is produced - often at the expense of economic - and nutritional - self-sufficiency of that State.
I could harp on, but this does not address the issue of overstretch in the Services. Adopting a pragmatic, rather than a progressive viewpoint, how can manning staffs adequately plan for Government adventure? Predications of one major war fighting, 2 minor non-war fighting commitments do not reflect the instability of the world in which Britain operates and purports to have an interest. Why, for an example, should we not get militarily involved in Darfur (putting questions of legality aside) when thousands are still dying with the direct involvment of teh Sudanese Government, compared with, say, remaining the lead nation in Bosnia-Herzegovina? Where is the oft-lauded ethical foreign policy?
CC
Nonetheless, the Capitalist system is based on exploitation, and with further deepening of our economies as a feature of Globality, this exploitation has untold consequences in producer nations. Just consider where your food is produced - often at the expense of economic - and nutritional - self-sufficiency of that State.
I could harp on, but this does not address the issue of overstretch in the Services. Adopting a pragmatic, rather than a progressive viewpoint, how can manning staffs adequately plan for Government adventure? Predications of one major war fighting, 2 minor non-war fighting commitments do not reflect the instability of the world in which Britain operates and purports to have an interest. Why, for an example, should we not get militarily involved in Darfur (putting questions of legality aside) when thousands are still dying with the direct involvment of teh Sudanese Government, compared with, say, remaining the lead nation in Bosnia-Herzegovina? Where is the oft-lauded ethical foreign policy?
CC
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More troops or fewer deployments?
Vage,
Thanks for your helpful and informative post. But I digress...
How do you suggest that overstretch is reduced? More troops and appropriate scaling of equipment, or fewer overseas deployments and commitments? That's what the issue boils down to.
I cannot see this government appreciably increasing the Defence Vote, especially after redundancies were passed through parliament. Increased civilianising and reskilling displaced service personnel? Yeah, sure. Reduction of commitment to NRF? Government is pacta sunt servanda on this one. Reduction of military capability or core tasks ? (like driving Green Godesses?) No chance
Exit strategy for Iraq? It is, well, vague - and contingent upon indigenous capability. Where else should we withdraw from? Bosnia? Only 2 months ago the UK took lead nation in the EU mission there so I think not. Kosovo? Our presences is minimal now. Fixed commitments - Cyprus? Not until hell freezes over. Gibralter? Absolute minimum there now. Falklands/Malvinas? Again, minimal commitmnent there, but there is no drive for a diplomatic accomodation from either party. Northern Ireland? The draw-down is continuing in spite of, err, troubles.
No, this is quite a dilemma. I have, in previous posts, suggested alternatives. No doubt you regard progressive thought as naive; perhaps in your eyes the Enlightenment only happened to other people...
C 'Tab' C
Thanks for your helpful and informative post. But I digress...
How do you suggest that overstretch is reduced? More troops and appropriate scaling of equipment, or fewer overseas deployments and commitments? That's what the issue boils down to.
I cannot see this government appreciably increasing the Defence Vote, especially after redundancies were passed through parliament. Increased civilianising and reskilling displaced service personnel? Yeah, sure. Reduction of commitment to NRF? Government is pacta sunt servanda on this one. Reduction of military capability or core tasks ? (like driving Green Godesses?) No chance
Exit strategy for Iraq? It is, well, vague - and contingent upon indigenous capability. Where else should we withdraw from? Bosnia? Only 2 months ago the UK took lead nation in the EU mission there so I think not. Kosovo? Our presences is minimal now. Fixed commitments - Cyprus? Not until hell freezes over. Gibralter? Absolute minimum there now. Falklands/Malvinas? Again, minimal commitmnent there, but there is no drive for a diplomatic accomodation from either party. Northern Ireland? The draw-down is continuing in spite of, err, troubles.
No, this is quite a dilemma. I have, in previous posts, suggested alternatives. No doubt you regard progressive thought as naive; perhaps in your eyes the Enlightenment only happened to other people...
C 'Tab' C
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It is Gibraltar old son, not Gibralter.
Then again, it is the OXFORD English Dictionary and not the Cambridge English Dictionary!!!
The rights and wrongs of military action could be debated for eons. Lets do it after we all return home safe and not undermine the morale of those that are still in danger eh?!!
Then again, it is the OXFORD English Dictionary and not the Cambridge English Dictionary!!!
The rights and wrongs of military action could be debated for eons. Lets do it after we all return home safe and not undermine the morale of those that are still in danger eh?!!
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Overstretch
VR
Bearing in mind that this thread is about reported overstretch (and therefore how this could be tackled) I fail to see your logic that by discussing the matter with undermine morale?
More deployable personnel or fewer commitments - that is the bottom line.
CC
Bearing in mind that this thread is about reported overstretch (and therefore how this could be tackled) I fail to see your logic that by discussing the matter with undermine morale?
More deployable personnel or fewer commitments - that is the bottom line.
CC
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Lovely English language gents, but excuse me for pointing out that while you have a Grammar War, this thread is supposed to be about the fact that since 1980 (at least) the politicians or 'Them' as we like to call them, have been finding ways to take money away from the Armed forces, with little or no real efficiency measures or effective cost cutting, and by effective I mean spending money on the right things.
Look at all the money that was thrown at the Nimrod AWACS when it was never going to work while I had a hole in my posterior, and If I have not spelt that right I really don't give a
Look at all the money that was thrown at the Nimrod AWACS when it was never going to work while I had a hole in my posterior, and If I have not spelt that right I really don't give a
