Secretary of State for Defence
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Secretary of State for Defence
I have just watched someone called "Des Browne" on TV who is, apparently, Defence Secretary.
What are his qualifications for the job?
When Churchill reserved that post for himself in 1940 he had at least served in 4 "Wars". He charged with the 21st lancers at Ombdurman and had escaped from a POW Camp in the Boer War. He had also been a Battalion Commander in WW1 as well as 1st Lord of the Admiralty in 2 "World Wars".
PS his first "War" was with the "Malakand Field Force"
What are his qualifications for the job?
When Churchill reserved that post for himself in 1940 he had at least served in 4 "Wars". He charged with the 21st lancers at Ombdurman and had escaped from a POW Camp in the Boer War. He had also been a Battalion Commander in WW1 as well as 1st Lord of the Admiralty in 2 "World Wars".
PS his first "War" was with the "Malakand Field Force"
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Originally Posted by mutleyfour
I imagine the prerequisite qualifications consist of:
Yes Tony
Of course Tony
Oh I agree Tony
Consider it done Cherie!
Yes Tony
Of course Tony
Oh I agree Tony
Consider it done Cherie!
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I think the only qualification Des requires is to not kick up too much of a fuss when Gordon begins scrapping working projects and reducing the armed forces even more... He's been under Gordon for long enough at the treasury after all...
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What are his qualifications for the job
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Originally Posted by vecvechookattack
Apart from the fact that the British Public voted for him and in doing so he collected twice as many votes as the next man. The SofS for Defence doesn't need to have a military background even as the SofS for Health doesn't have to be a Nurse nor does the SofS for Education be a teacher 9 IIRC he was a postman !!!)
There we are, didnt take long for someone to state the obvious!
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Gosh, this reply might disappoint some, but, having MET the man in theatre recently, I have to say that I was really impressed.
I know that , as a politician, it is very important to master sincerity, but he really did seem to be very sincere in his dealings with us. In addition, every one of the VERY senior officers that I met were also very impressed with him.
I am definitley NOT a supporter of his Party, but I definitely think he is worth a chance. He CANNOT be any worse than either Portillo or Rifkind or Hoon.
I know that , as a politician, it is very important to master sincerity, but he really did seem to be very sincere in his dealings with us. In addition, every one of the VERY senior officers that I met were also very impressed with him.
I am definitley NOT a supporter of his Party, but I definitely think he is worth a chance. He CANNOT be any worse than either Portillo or Rifkind or Hoon.
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Yes, as a politician, it is very important to master sincerity, Also remember that VERY senior officers always aspire to being even more senior officers. The latest man's measure will be his ability, or even inclination, to tell Brown how expensive blood really is.
The earlier point about W S Churchill is well made but it does have a negative side. He did, on the strength of being 1st Lord of the Admiralty alone, consider himself a Naval expert. The result was, in the first lot, the Dardanneles and, in the second lot, Sir Dudley Pound suffering continuous interference from a man who knew bugger all about Naval Warfare.
The earlier point about W S Churchill is well made but it does have a negative side. He did, on the strength of being 1st Lord of the Admiralty alone, consider himself a Naval expert. The result was, in the first lot, the Dardanneles and, in the second lot, Sir Dudley Pound suffering continuous interference from a man who knew bugger all about Naval Warfare.
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WS Churchill - my grandfather would spit in the fire to clean his mouth any time he was obliged to mention the name. Churchill was detested by a majority of people in Britain. Changed his party too when his own fell out of power, so he wasn't all that popular in parliament. As a half breed Anglo/American concoction he happened to be the right man for the job in running a wartime government and dealing with the USA. He was (quite rightly) tossed aside as soon as the war was over.
It is no coincidence though, that all our most effective Secretaries of State for Defence have been men with fighting experience.
It is no coincidence though, that all our most effective Secretaries of State for Defence have been men with fighting experience.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Originally Posted by Blacksheep
He was (quite rightly) tossed aside as soon as the war was over. .
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On 3rd September 1939 the first signal sent by the Admiralty to all Units was "Commence hostilities with Germany only".
The second signal was "Winston is back".
The second signal was "Winston is back".
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The time for sincerity and hand wringing has passed. British troops are being killed in the field and we can't even muster air cover in a timely fashion. This man failed to turn up and face the opposition yesterday. He muttered something about important constituency business last night. I fail to understand what can be more important than soldiers KIA. He even tried to pass off the attrition rate as unsurprising.
I for one am not impressed in the slightest.
I for one am not impressed in the slightest.
Last edited by nigegilb; 4th Jul 2006 at 10:40.
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I do not believe that Browne was on constituency business.
His website states that surgeries are on Fridays and Saturdays.
I think he lied because he did not have the courage to face questioning.
His website states that surgeries are on Fridays and Saturdays.
I think he lied because he did not have the courage to face questioning.
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I have read suggestions that he is suffering from stage fright. He also missed an important defence debate recently. Does not bode well, neither do his performances with Jon Snow.
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None of the above, gents and ladies. He's too busy re-shaping a dirty great pile of excrement into the next batch of government policy. It takes a lot of preparation to produce that much mumbo-jumbo.