Well done CAS
 

RAF stretched to limit, air chief warns | UK news | The Guardian

Pity 1SL hasn't been so vocal....

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?

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.

A word to the wise

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

I agree with the OP.. well said sir..

I made the stupid mistake of reading the comments as well as the article:ugh:. 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!

NUFC, at least one other 'commentor' agrees with you!

:D

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?"

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!

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. :rolleyes:

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

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:

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. :mad:

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. :mad:

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 :ok:

"How can a Company such as Sainsbury's (Waitrose, Wilkinsons ...... choose your company) with a guaranteed logistics chain, no development requirement and with over 145,000 employees be so far behind their competitors in market share? It's tough in the retail sector.

One delivers groceries, the other delivers strategic policy. I rest my case..................

At least they can spell "quickly"............................:rolleyes:

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 so that will take your mind off those nasty people who don't know where libia is on a map of Asia.
Any cooks here? Rockapes?

RA, but at least he can spell LIBYA (not libia or god forbid labia!!!)

Melchett,

Are you really going to get really annoyed? If not, I'll get him instead...:ouch:

Torque,

My dear chap, please feel free. I obviously have to spend time working on my spelling!

Melchett01

As worrying if not more is those people also get the Vote! Scary....