Telegraph - RAF bare bones article
Future Force 2025?
Here's a question then if we're talking about the RAF being at bare bones.
If SDSR in 2010 set out a plan for Defence going forward over the next decade, the result of which is Future Force 2020, implicit in that intent is that the next SDSR should just be a bit of tinkering to keep the plan to deliver in 2020 on track.
However, not being a believer in unicorns, the Easter Bunny or Santa, that clearly isn't going to happen and given the ongoing deficit further real terms cuts are inevitable, even if spending is set to match inflation (Defence inflation always being higher than RPI/CPI). So do we scrap any ideas for FF2020 now or does FF2020 just become a way point on the path to FF2025?
The whole situation of constant cuts and reviews and the inordinate distraction that causes to Defence as thousands of personnel get wrapped up in staff work, papers and business cases rather than actually doing the fundamental thing the military was designed to do does rather strike me as a waste of time. Often the outputs are out of date or over taken by events as soon as they are finished - or just ignored - and puts me in mind of the letter the Duke of Wellington reportedly sent back to Whitehall when he was campaigning in Spain in the C19th
Seems as though nothing ever changes and at the end of the day J8 / Finance have always and will always be the dominant staff function in any military.
If SDSR in 2010 set out a plan for Defence going forward over the next decade, the result of which is Future Force 2020, implicit in that intent is that the next SDSR should just be a bit of tinkering to keep the plan to deliver in 2020 on track.
However, not being a believer in unicorns, the Easter Bunny or Santa, that clearly isn't going to happen and given the ongoing deficit further real terms cuts are inevitable, even if spending is set to match inflation (Defence inflation always being higher than RPI/CPI). So do we scrap any ideas for FF2020 now or does FF2020 just become a way point on the path to FF2025?
The whole situation of constant cuts and reviews and the inordinate distraction that causes to Defence as thousands of personnel get wrapped up in staff work, papers and business cases rather than actually doing the fundamental thing the military was designed to do does rather strike me as a waste of time. Often the outputs are out of date or over taken by events as soon as they are finished - or just ignored - and puts me in mind of the letter the Duke of Wellington reportedly sent back to Whitehall when he was campaigning in Spain in the C19th
Gentlemen,
Whilst marching from Portugal to a position which commands the approach to Madrid and the French forces, my officers have been diligently complying with your requests which have been sent by H.M. ship from London to Lisbon and thence by dispatch to our headquarters.
We have enumerated our saddles, bridles, tents and tent poles, and all manner of sundry items for which His Majesty’s Government holds me accountable. I have dispatched reports on the character, wit, and spleen of every officer. Each item and every farthing has been accounted for, with two regrettable exceptions for which I beg your indulgence.
Unfortunately the sum of one shilling and ninepence remains unaccounted for in one infantry battalion’s petty cash and there has been a hideous confusion as the the number of jars of raspberry jam issued to one cavalry regiment during a sandstorm in western Spain. This reprehensible carelessness may be related to the pressure of circumstance, since we are war with France, a fact which may come as a bit of a surprise to you gentlemen in Whitehall.
This brings me to my present purpose, which is to request elucidation of my instructions from His Majesty’s Government so that I may better understand why I am dragging an army over these barren plains. I construe that perforce it must be one of two alternative duties, as given below. I shall pursue either one with the best of my ability, but I cannot do both:
1. To train an army of uniformed British clerks in Spain for the benefit of the accountants and copy-boys in London or perchance.
2. To see to it that the forces of Napoleon are driven out of Spain.
Your most obedient servant,
Wellington
Whilst marching from Portugal to a position which commands the approach to Madrid and the French forces, my officers have been diligently complying with your requests which have been sent by H.M. ship from London to Lisbon and thence by dispatch to our headquarters.
We have enumerated our saddles, bridles, tents and tent poles, and all manner of sundry items for which His Majesty’s Government holds me accountable. I have dispatched reports on the character, wit, and spleen of every officer. Each item and every farthing has been accounted for, with two regrettable exceptions for which I beg your indulgence.
Unfortunately the sum of one shilling and ninepence remains unaccounted for in one infantry battalion’s petty cash and there has been a hideous confusion as the the number of jars of raspberry jam issued to one cavalry regiment during a sandstorm in western Spain. This reprehensible carelessness may be related to the pressure of circumstance, since we are war with France, a fact which may come as a bit of a surprise to you gentlemen in Whitehall.
This brings me to my present purpose, which is to request elucidation of my instructions from His Majesty’s Government so that I may better understand why I am dragging an army over these barren plains. I construe that perforce it must be one of two alternative duties, as given below. I shall pursue either one with the best of my ability, but I cannot do both:
1. To train an army of uniformed British clerks in Spain for the benefit of the accountants and copy-boys in London or perchance.
2. To see to it that the forces of Napoleon are driven out of Spain.
Your most obedient servant,
Wellington
Last edited by Melchett01; 3rd Oct 2014 at 14:13. Reason: Clarity & sentence structure
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Interesting post Melchett01. I wonder if the bean-counters got involved in WW2 in the same way they do now.....Can't begin to imagine "bomber" Harris being told that his next 1,000 bomber raid was going to be cut to say 700 to save money!
FFS, why can't we just accept it will either cost whatever it must to get the job doe - and then do it properly once and for all. OR to keep stum and stay in the background if we haven't the £££'s, the stomach or the political will to step up to the plate.....
MB
BTW, what's the current annual interest burden to service the national debt? I bet it is more that the WHOLE of the defence budget and more. Thanks a lot Gordon/Tony et all. Oh, and what happened to out gold reserves? Where were the proceeds of that sale invested I wonder?
As a country it seems we're right up the creek and can't afford a ruddy paddle!
FFS, why can't we just accept it will either cost whatever it must to get the job doe - and then do it properly once and for all. OR to keep stum and stay in the background if we haven't the £££'s, the stomach or the political will to step up to the plate.....
MB
BTW, what's the current annual interest burden to service the national debt? I bet it is more that the WHOLE of the defence budget and more. Thanks a lot Gordon/Tony et all. Oh, and what happened to out gold reserves? Where were the proceeds of that sale invested I wonder?
As a country it seems we're right up the creek and can't afford a ruddy paddle!
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In a word, yes, Madbob Without the bean counters you haven't got 10 bombers, never mind 1000. Managing the money has been a key responsibility for military leadership for at least the last thousand years. Nelson would not have been in any way surprised at present day budget arguments; a letter recently came to light written in his handwriting immediately before Trafalgar querying the accounting procedures of a consignment of lemons.
ps fully agree with your last para but we are where we are
ps fully agree with your last para but we are where we are
MadBob - you obviously don't know your history very well: WW2 operations were frequently curtailed due to lack of assets (which we couldn't afford and/or build quick enough).
Usually national debt is in the form of government bonds and gilts bought by banks, investment companies and other countries. But bizarrely, as a nation you can be in debt to yourself, which we are through the Bank of England.
The latter of those is borrowing based on projected future income from taxation, returns on its own investment in overseas firms and other states' bonds and gilt equivalents and subsidies.
The latter of those is borrowing based on projected future income from taxation, returns on its own investment in overseas firms and other states' bonds and gilt equivalents and subsidies.
