The Government's axe looks like it will fall on the the frontline. It has been announced that there will be a reduction in the number of service men and women in order to save money, whilst continuing with massive defence procurement spending - drawing criticism from the Pentagon and the tabloid press alike.
The Government’s axe looks like it will fall on the the frontline. It has been announced that there will be a reduction in the number of service men and women in order to save money, whilst continuing with massive defence procurement spending – drawing criticism from the Pentagon and the tabloid press alike.
Today The Sun accuses the Coalition of betraying Britain’s “frontline heroes”. US Defense Department officials too have warned the Ministry of Defence that swingeing cuts “could widen the transatlantic divide in military power and spending”.
As Paul Mason’s must read analysis of the internal debate between the Ministry of Defence, the Treasury and defence experts makes clear, the Strategic Defence & Security Review (pdf) is a “Treasury driven” process in which budget cuts are prioritised over strategic choices. As such, defence secretary Liam Fox looks set to make true on his June pledge to cut “ruthlessly and without sentiment” – even at a cost to frontline forces.
Coalition defence priorities continue to confuse. On the one hand, the Coalition looks set to favour the construction of aircraft carriers, the purchase of the Joint Strike Fighter, continued pursuit of the high cost and highly questionable Future Rapid Effetcs System (the American equivalent of which the Obama Administration has cancelled) and of course, the imminent renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent. On the other hand, the MoD is preparing to scrap a full brigade of Army forces with units in the frame for cuts including the illustrious Ghurkas.
The quixotic nature of the Government’s defence spending priorities – particularly the emerging preference for procurement programmes over frontline forces – is sure to raise questions as to the objectivity and indeed validity of the forthcoming Strategic Defence & Security Review.
If it is indeed the choice of the Coalition to sack those fighting in Afghanistan rather then risk the anger of defence contractors, then serious questions must be asked as to the Government’s commitment to British defence as opposed to British defence spending.
18 Responses to “Coalition sacks brave troops rather than risk anger of defence contractors”
Matt
“serious questions must be asked as to the Government’s commitment to British defence”
Seeing as our invasion and almost decade-long occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq has done far more than anything else to create a new generation of Jihadists and put British citizens at risk of more terrorist violence, these questions you alude to are, by now, very old ones.
Frank Spring
Good piece by @marcusaroberts on UK defence policy http://tinyurl.com/32s7co2
Patrick
Brilliant piece. ‘Decide not to decide.’ Or why not share our aircraft carriers with the French? We always have the same foreign and maritme strategies don’t we? Like in Oran.
And troops remain the mmost flexible tool in the changing nature of war… I think General McAuliffe got it right: ‘Nuts!’
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Marcus A. Roberts
My take on the coalition's bizarre defence spending priorities http://tinyurl.com/32s7co2