MPs say Armed Forces Overstretched
 

Nothing most of us don't know already but interesting comments from the Commons Public Accounts Committee in this BBC News article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6263654.stm

Also the BBC has a 'Have Your Say' forum discussing the issues:

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thre...20070703092231

Needless to say the MoD keeps going with the old line 'stretched but not overstretched'. How long before this imaginary elastic band gets too stretched and snaps - hitting a lot of good people in the face?

Todays BBC news, difficulty with getting recruits, lack of specialists, problems with retention and increasingly short periods of time off back home with family from active service overseas. Seems to have been a long held policy of this goverment to cut back on defence,though they still seem quite happy to use it when it suits. Did it years ago with TSR2 and carriers citing swing-wing replacement and 'Island bases', all dissapeared.
Axing the Royal Tournament perhaps a backward step and loss of a valuable recruitment tool. Certainly made a huge impression on me as a kid. Showcased various branches of the services in a very dramatic and exciting way and gave a load of young the chance to touch and see equipment and talk to members of the service first hand. Might just come back and bite them.