Is it my imagination but are there some big hitters joining pprune?

As for , the CAS said only last month that we must ensure our equipment is capable of matching not only the current threat, but the threat in 2025. He said there was one thing of which we could be sure. The threat in 2025 would not be the one we were facing now.

Given that, what would you advocate? By lots of cheap and cheerful today and replace it all tomorrow?

PN, I guess you are referring to strategic thinking and strategic procurement. Golly, would have been refreshing if some of the Brass had exercised a bit of strategic thinking when agreeing to the Iraq war, or the 2nd front in Afghanistan. However, once you agree to those ops you are duty bound to look after the people who are fighting in them. One of the major reasons for the level of discontent now is the disconnect between the red rosette wearing Top Brass and the blokes on the ground. No amount of strategic procurement is going to sort that out. I say again the biggest shortfall is a lack of manpower, don't hear CDS or CAS talking about that do we. They just agree yet another draw down. Ridiculous.

nige,

creek and paddle come to mind.

On the question, yes, I think I do have confidence in Dismal Des, OTOH I am not sure, I think . . .

Just who could do it?

Nicholas Soames?

We certainly couldn't do any brown water work with Slim Nick.

Maybe the problem is in the system of government. Secretaries of State really have to be MPs, though I do understand that occasionally peers will do, though even they, it appears, will be fully elected in the future. Being an elected official, they have to make themselves electable.

Rather than being focussed from the outset on matters military, they have to be jacks of all trades, with the attendant lack of mastery. Furthermore, aspirant MPs probably have the aim of the Premiership, not a lower Cabinet office. So Defence is not their primary aim nor consideration. I don't suppose Margaret Beckett grew up saying "I want to be Foreign Secretary one day".

For continuity, we have the senior Civil Servants; though these people do not appear to be remotely connected to the coalface. Oddly, this is in contrast to MPs, who will in fact go on a jolly every now and then to the less dangerous parts of Aunty Betty's train set. They have to make themselves appear electable, don't they?

Now there is a thought. At least she is used to living rough, using a kazzie in the field etc, just like Monty.

Then there is the Carry on the Kyber scene raising their skirts.

you should understand that in the last 20 to 30 yrs def secs have always been picked in the understanding that they are totally subservient to the treasuary.... met geoff personally once( a real eye opener )it was in an operational capacity and he didnt have a clue what was goin on till we told cas and then he ,sheepishly had to go and brief him , it was hilarious to see him in a tent eating ice cream and totally ignorant of the various metaphorical bombs dropping around him, that just about sums up most ill appointed ministerial ,uninformed, un educated ,and above all un safe def secs.

Perhaps Patricia Hewitt would be better? (She may have better legs!):yuk: ;)