Defence under a Corbyn Government
Corbyn sure gets a lot of people's goat, at least judging by the sentiments expressed on this thread.
Yet he has been a very successful leader of the Labor party, which was in total disarray when he was elected. Just his keeping that entity together in the face of determined efforts to split it is a remarkable achievement by all accounts.
So he may similarly prove much more capable than perhaps people expect if ever he achieves power. How that translates to defense is murky, deliberately so, but with his experiences the man cannot be naive. I'd expect him to be anything but a pushover internationally.
Yet he has been a very successful leader of the Labor party, which was in total disarray when he was elected. Just his keeping that entity together in the face of determined efforts to split it is a remarkable achievement by all accounts.
So he may similarly prove much more capable than perhaps people expect if ever he achieves power. How that translates to defense is murky, deliberately so, but with his experiences the man cannot be naive. I'd expect him to be anything but a pushover internationally.
Corbyn and defence...
From 3 years ago.
Has he changed his mind...?
From 3 years ago.
Has he changed his mind...?
Jeremy Corbyn today backed investigations into British troops who served in Iraq and called for the Armed Forces and intelligence services to be scaled back, prompting a furious response from his own party.
MPs and former ministers sharply criticised the Labour leader after he backed the Government’s investigations into alleged abuses committed by British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, which have been described as a “witch hunt”.
Speaking at Labour’s conference in Liverpool Mr Corbyn also said that Britain should no longer have a “huge land-based defence force” and said that MI6 should not be allowed to recruit new spies, despite the growing threat to the country from terrorists.
MPs and former ministers sharply criticised the Labour leader after he backed the Government’s investigations into alleged abuses committed by British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, which have been described as a “witch hunt”.
Speaking at Labour’s conference in Liverpool Mr Corbyn also said that Britain should no longer have a “huge land-based defence force” and said that MI6 should not be allowed to recruit new spies, despite the growing threat to the country from terrorists.
Corbyn isn't very appealing-but he doesn't lie every time he opens his mouth, hasn't deliberately deceived the Queen and hasn't allied himself to the worst president in US history. Great choice we have.
As for defence, it seems to me as a rank outsider we have invested far too much in strategic defence-Trident carriers etc to fight a war thats so last century. We need rapid response mixed arms teams for overseas firefighting and home defence, smart drone /robotic based weapons and bigger investment in protection of critical infrastructure starting with internet software and hardware and the power grid.
What we have now it seems is comparable to a force of 'wooden 'ships of the line' and musket toting redcoats to fight U boats and Bombers.;50 years out of date.
Its a good commercial decsion too as we are pretty good at making this smaller scale stuff and not very good at the large scale .
As for defence, it seems to me as a rank outsider we have invested far too much in strategic defence-Trident carriers etc to fight a war thats so last century. We need rapid response mixed arms teams for overseas firefighting and home defence, smart drone /robotic based weapons and bigger investment in protection of critical infrastructure starting with internet software and hardware and the power grid.
What we have now it seems is comparable to a force of 'wooden 'ships of the line' and musket toting redcoats to fight U boats and Bombers.;50 years out of date.
Its a good commercial decsion too as we are pretty good at making this smaller scale stuff and not very good at the large scale .
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Corbyn isn't very appealing-but he doesn't lie every time he opens his mouth, hasn't deliberately deceived the Queen and hasn't allied himself to the worst president in US history. Great choice we have.
And as for allying himself to Trump, I think you’ll find the UK has been allied to the USA for considerably longer than Boris has been PM.
I find it hard to believe that any sane person is prepared to treat Corbyn as a reasonable politician and prospective PM for this country. Beneath that mild mannered exterior bats the heart of a raving Communist who, given the keys to No 10, will effect a Marxist revolution on this country. Some/ massive cuts to the armed forces will be the least of our problems. At the last election the Communist Party polled lower than the Monster Raving Loonys, now they’ve hijacked the Labour Party and like the Trojan Horse if they can just get inside the walls the country will fall.
The 'nightmare ticket' of Momentum & McDonnell is an even greater threat to democracy. Corbyn will be dumped.
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Friend of mine has voted labour in General Elections all his life except last time and this. Last time he spoiled his vote and says he will certainly will not be voting for Corbyn this time.
Fascinating level of anti-Corbyn rant/rave frothing in the previous posts. As ever, the content is totally lacking in any thought-through assessment, just rehashes of the hatelines from their favourite gutter Press. On a personal level. I would not vote for Labour or the Tories - not because of their leaders but their being wedded to a corrupt voting system. There can be NO justification for a system which differentiates in the value placed on individual votes, no matter how often you repeat the magic, meaningless D word!
As to Corbyn being Communist inspired ... which Party receives large donations from Russian oligarchs and why is there so little (i.e. zero) complaint or, indeed, outrage? "Don't confuse me with FACTS, I've made my mind up!"
As to Corbyn being Communist inspired ... which Party receives large donations from Russian oligarchs and why is there so little (i.e. zero) complaint or, indeed, outrage? "Don't confuse me with FACTS, I've made my mind up!"
Thread Starter
Ok what's being overlooked Jack? Just what kind of relation is he, as Prime Minister, going to have with HM Forces? Simply given his passed hinterland? That's enough, really, it is.
I just hope but don't expect that tonight's debate, if it should get onto the matter of National Security and Defence, that it isn't boiled down straight away to the usual boneheaded will you or won't you question over Trident. It is a element, an aspect, it is not all there is to any defence debate.
FB
I just hope but don't expect that tonight's debate, if it should get onto the matter of National Security and Defence, that it isn't boiled down straight away to the usual boneheaded will you or won't you question over Trident. It is a element, an aspect, it is not all there is to any defence debate.
FB
Fascinating level of anti-Corbyn rant/rave frothing in the previous posts. As ever, the content is totally lacking in any thought-through assessment, just rehashes of the hatelines from their favourite gutter Press. On a personal level. I would not vote for Labour or the Tories - not because of their leaders but their being wedded to a corrupt voting system. There can be NO justification for a system which differentiates in the value placed on individual votes, no matter how often you repeat the magic, meaningless D word!
As to Corbyn being Communist inspired ... which Party receives large donations from Russian oligarchs and why is there so little (i.e. zero) complaint or, indeed, outrage? "Don't confuse me with FACTS, I've made my mind up!"
As to Corbyn being Communist inspired ... which Party receives large donations from Russian oligarchs and why is there so little (i.e. zero) complaint or, indeed, outrage? "Don't confuse me with FACTS, I've made my mind up!"
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As to Corbyn being Communist inspired ... which Party receives large donations from Russian oligarchs and why is there so little (i.e. zero) complaint or, indeed, outrage?
Matching Russia with Communism these days is a bit pointless. Russia is still 'socialist' of course - but, worryingly, with a more 'national' bent...and that went well for Europe last time.
We live in interesting times.
We live in interesting times.
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At the risk of playing devil's advocate - surely any military organisation is communist?
Consider:
1) Central planning
2) Free dental and medical as required
2) Uniform provided to remove individual differences
4) Meritocracy (i.e. promotion on the basis of demonstrable skill)
5) Money is not the overriding concern - results are.
6) From each according to his ability (Trade/Rank) , to each according to his needs
I'll get flamed for this, but if you would prefer society to more reflect the military, then voting for the left would seem to be the way to make that happen.
Oh ,and you don't get to vote to change the leadership ;-)
Consider:
1) Central planning
2) Free dental and medical as required
2) Uniform provided to remove individual differences
4) Meritocracy (i.e. promotion on the basis of demonstrable skill)
5) Money is not the overriding concern - results are.
6) From each according to his ability (Trade/Rank) , to each according to his needs
I'll get flamed for this, but if you would prefer society to more reflect the military, then voting for the left would seem to be the way to make that happen.
Oh ,and you don't get to vote to change the leadership ;-)
BS - you also forgot the distribution of awards - those at the bottom get a GSM, those at the top :-
I'll get flamed for this, but if you would prefer society to more reflect the military, then voting for the left would seem to be the way to make that happen.