Well done CAS
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Perhaps 1SL is keeping his powder dry for places where it might actually make some difference?
And perhaps where someone might hear him - do people actually read the Guardian these days?
And perhaps where someone might hear him - do people actually read the Guardian these days?
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I think it's quite a wise time to comment. We've just seen the RAF in relatively popular operations, and while it's still fresh with exciting pictures etc in circulation rather than a more stale stale of policing the skies when there is smaller chance of much happening it can do no harm to spell out some of the SDSR repercussions.
Importantly perhaps, he's not demanding money now, but sowing some early seeds that can be used to build later narrative for awareness in the build up to the comprehensive spending review.
nb. The Audit Bureau of Communications put Guardian circulation at 279,308 this Jan (about 150K fewer readers than Times, about 100K more than Independent) Alternatively it's the second most read newspaper website of the UK press according to the Press Gazette ABCe, falling behind only the Mail; doubtless no one at all will read the article.
Ill informed assumptions are great.
Importantly perhaps, he's not demanding money now, but sowing some early seeds that can be used to build later narrative for awareness in the build up to the comprehensive spending review.
nb. The Audit Bureau of Communications put Guardian circulation at 279,308 this Jan (about 150K fewer readers than Times, about 100K more than Independent) Alternatively it's the second most read newspaper website of the UK press according to the Press Gazette ABCe, falling behind only the Mail; doubtless no one at all will read the article.
Ill informed assumptions are great.
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nb. The Audit Bureau of Communications put Guardian circulation at 279,308 this Jan (about 150K fewer readers than Times, about 100K more than Independent) Alternatively it's the second most read newspaper website of the UK press according to the Press Gazette ABCe, falling behind only the Mail; doubtless no one at all will read the article.
Ill informed assumptions are great.
Circulation = total number of copies sold.
Readership = total number of copies sold x number of readers of each copy
It's always best to compare apples with apples and oranges with oranges.
CS
. It's not good to be this angry this early on a Monday morning
Firstly, well done Sir Stephen. It will not be by coincidence that the Guardian was selected - nor is the process as simple as CAS's outer office ringing up the Guardian and saying 'My boss wants a word with your Boss'.
Many of you will remember 'Malcolm' the foul-mouthed Communications Director in 'The Thick of it'. Well, the process in town (DGMC, the role of the Cabinet Office &c) is not far from that...
Post script.
Some of the post on the Guardian website are reasonably sensible and supportive...amongst the usual bleeding heart dross. At least not as bad as many of the rabid postings often found on the Telegraph!
Many of you will remember 'Malcolm' the foul-mouthed Communications Director in 'The Thick of it'. Well, the process in town (DGMC, the role of the Cabinet Office &c) is not far from that...
Post script.
Some of the post on the Guardian website are reasonably sensible and supportive...amongst the usual bleeding heart dross. At least not as bad as many of the rabid postings often found on the Telegraph!
Last edited by Whenurhappy; 4th Apr 2011 at 07:53.
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As a letter writer in one of the Nationals last week put it......"How can the RAF possibly be stretched with so few aircraft deployed and 40,000 people in the Service....what on earth do they all do?"
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I had to laugh when someone, without the slightest hint of irony, has posted on the Guardian's comments that "It's amazing that money will be found for this when... benefits claimants are routinely cheated out of their entitlement". Help!
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And you will no doubt enjoy the double irony that ANY level of forces pension raises the "pensioner" ABOVE the threshold of benefit payments even, say, for a family of 4, despite having 30 years of tax, NI payments etc, etc. 
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p { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; } Yes people still do still read the Guardian
and the Telegraph
RAF stretched to the limit, says chief in plea for funds - Telegraph
and the Daily Mail
Overstretched RAF needs 'more investment' warns forces chief, as government announces £5bn military cuts | Mail Online
and the BBC website
BBC News - RAF planning for six months in Libya, says chief
etc, etc
and the Telegraph
RAF stretched to the limit, says chief in plea for funds - Telegraph
and the Daily Mail
Overstretched RAF needs 'more investment' warns forces chief, as government announces £5bn military cuts | Mail Online
and the BBC website
BBC News - RAF planning for six months in Libya, says chief
etc, etc
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Rector
It will be difficult for them to apply pressure as CAS was commenting in line with the Prime Minister's statement to the Commons on SDSR on 19 October 2010:
Back to the thread that started this - well done CAS for speaking out. You'll come under pressure from No10 to recant - hold the line!!!
[The Prime Minister's] own strong view is that this structure will require year on year real-terms growth in the defence budget in the years beyond 2015.
I have to say that having had a look at some of the comments left by people on all the various outlets, the one thing that struck me was just how far we as a country have descended into self-obsessed ignorance. I whole-heartedly agree with NUFC1892's comments about Monday morning headaches!
I find many of the arguments put forward to be hollow in the extreme. Pound to a penny that many if not all of these critics aren't concerned about the political, strategic or moral rights and wrongs of taking action in Libya, but just about the cost, God forbid that it might mean a reduction in what benefits they can claim.
I was also interested to see comments about how we were once again America's poodle, loyally following them into another bound to be disastrous imperialist oil grabbing venture. What they singularly have failed to appreciate is that the US was actually very reluctant to come and play in Libya, it was actually us and the French, coupled with some of the US press and commentators reminding Obama of his duty as "leader of the free world" that more or less dragged the US kicking and screaming into it.
But what really really hacks me of is that this uninformed, largely ignorant and wholly self-obsessed generation, are by their actions of being internet / media savvy and glued to the TV all day actually turning into the opinion makers which the politicians of all hues eventually end up bowing to.
Frankly, before they are allowed to post such drivel on line, they should be shown a blank map of the world with all place names removed, and told to indicate exactly where these countries they are talking about actually are. Only those that get within a reasonable distance - I'll give you a country either side - should be allowed to comment. But I bet you they haven't got a clue where Libya is. Actually, I can almost guarantee it, as that sort of task cropped up in my postgrad thesis, and back then when asked, people couldn't even find places in the UK once the names had been removed from the map. But even so, they are happy to spout their mindless drivel and conjecture which unfortunately all too quicky becomes opinion.
Right, rant off, someone give me a beer before I get really annoyed.
PS - well done CAS, it's great to finally have someone at the top state publically what we all know is true
I find many of the arguments put forward to be hollow in the extreme. Pound to a penny that many if not all of these critics aren't concerned about the political, strategic or moral rights and wrongs of taking action in Libya, but just about the cost, God forbid that it might mean a reduction in what benefits they can claim.
I was also interested to see comments about how we were once again America's poodle, loyally following them into another bound to be disastrous imperialist oil grabbing venture. What they singularly have failed to appreciate is that the US was actually very reluctant to come and play in Libya, it was actually us and the French, coupled with some of the US press and commentators reminding Obama of his duty as "leader of the free world" that more or less dragged the US kicking and screaming into it.
But what really really hacks me of is that this uninformed, largely ignorant and wholly self-obsessed generation, are by their actions of being internet / media savvy and glued to the TV all day actually turning into the opinion makers which the politicians of all hues eventually end up bowing to.
Frankly, before they are allowed to post such drivel on line, they should be shown a blank map of the world with all place names removed, and told to indicate exactly where these countries they are talking about actually are. Only those that get within a reasonable distance - I'll give you a country either side - should be allowed to comment. But I bet you they haven't got a clue where Libya is. Actually, I can almost guarantee it, as that sort of task cropped up in my postgrad thesis, and back then when asked, people couldn't even find places in the UK once the names had been removed from the map. But even so, they are happy to spout their mindless drivel and conjecture which unfortunately all too quicky becomes opinion.
Right, rant off, someone give me a beer before I get really annoyed.
PS - well done CAS, it's great to finally have someone at the top state publically what we all know is true
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.How can the RAF possibly be stretched with so few aircraft deployed and 40,000 people in the Service....what on earth do they all do?
One delivers groceries, the other delivers strategic policy. I rest my case..................
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But even so, they are happy to spout their mindless drivel and conjecture which unfortunately all too quicky becomes opinion.
You need to take a chill pill Melchett, it's only an internet forum for spotters not the United Nations.
As you are a blunty Rector16 needs help with his JPA Admin
I need someone to help with the Admin when it comes to JPA
Any cooks here? Rockapes?
