Thread: "Unprecedented cuts being proposed at the Ministry of Defence"

A senior Whitehall source said: “These are not Tory cuts, these are Labour cuts as a result of their irresponsible overspending. However, a lot of this comes down to how much political appetite there is to do this.”

Love that quote - No mate, these are MOD cuts. It seems too easy to tear another chunk out of the Services, despite the shoe-string budget we already have.

We have to face up to the fact that we can't have everything, but I think CMD and co have it wrong. There is far more fat in the overinflated NHS budget but the cultural change required to get people with a snivel to not go to the doctor and demand lots of drugs is too much for our spineless politicians.

The Welfare budget is also overinflated - but the moral balls to change that are lacking (bar 1 perhaps).

Want money? Legalise the drugs trade and take a huge slice of it; our drugs war (recently shown on C4) showed some shocking stats and that our current policy doesn't work. Why not buy up all the opium in Afghan and sort out the morphine shortage... OK a bit far fetched but I am highlighting that maybe the Government and politicians should be looking at radical ways of thinking rather than smashing up the defence budget, especially as they seem to demonstrate the inability to think radically with their own inflated departments, pay and expenses!!

I just wish that there was some military criteria for being a member of the UNSC ... we are a member but on what basis now? Surely a permanent member of this organisation should be able to have some real clout in the world. We are still allegedly one of the world's richest nations but are going through this process and living off the back of a the US who themselves are baulking about their defence spending. Let's not forget our territorial responsibilities - there are a few but resourced by a prayer. Its a fcuking joke. When the politicos talk about not being able to resource full capabilities then it is time for the rest of the world to say - stop grandstanding at the UNSC.

Originally Posted by ashie

It's Tory cuts 101. Announce something absolutely mega, then when the cuts aren't quite as bad, everybody goes home happy.

Hey, it's what you voted for - well 36% of you.

Ashie,

Well its your lot that got us in this mess, super carriers, Euro Fighters/Typhoon, Afgan & Iraq at the same time. Plus all the other shite we throw money at!

Its Labour's 13 years of ruin that has broken this country and the likes of Cyclops & Teflon Tony should be brought to account!

LABOUR = SPEND, SPEND, SPEND! AND THEN SPEND MORE MONEY THAN WE HAVE! THEN SPEND EVERY OTHER FUCKERS MONEY!

STILTS

Originally Posted by Whiskybreath

........................... If we can't afford to defend Gan, Port Stanley or Gib, then at least we should stop London from becoming a suburb of Islamabad, Mog or Lagos.

Sadly, I'm not optimistic. Most newsreaders seem to have English as a second language now, and the concept of 'multiculturism' (outside of Northern Ireland, of course) appears to be in fashion.

But then, I'm an old racialist, with treacherous ideas about the worth of my tax and NI contributions.

Too late pal, my part of London (a swanky SW part by the way) resembles down-town Khartoum and not even the bus-drivers or the postmen speak English at all, let alone as a first language.

Back on thread, the country will get what it can afford, which is not a great deal because what little we have is given away to idlers, crooks, vagabonds, Eurotrash and every Mohammed and Farida and their endless streams of kids, that can evade the vigilant French police and cross the s0dding Channel!

Has arrse suddenly become the voice of the BNP?

Get a fucking grip and stop derailing threads in racist nonsense.

Originally Posted by Semper_Flexibilis

Fair points


"…So despite a glorious, century-long history the RAF will enter a less celebrated era.

For that, its fighter jet educated chiefs have to shoulder some blame. For far, far too long they ignored the pleas to become the workhorses of the sky, instead opting for the “exquisite” technology found in fast jets.

They therefore pay the penalty for failing to get to grips with the scandalous helicopter shortage, the ailing Tristar passenger aircraft and the overworked Hercules used to fly in troops and equipment.…"

MoD cuts: Loss of big boys' toys will change forces forever - Telegraph

My bold

Let's face it, if that's a reflection of the accuracy of reporting the SDR's more likely to see us with a 10 Division Army and 1000 ship Navy!

Originally Posted by Generalissimo

...reducing its numbers to about 100,000...

I was under the impression that the Army had reduced to less than 100,000 over a year ago, what with all the stories that it couldn't call itself an army any more.

More journalistic bulls**t, aimed at trying to "flush out" stories. If Liam Fox or CDS were to react to this, go on record and say "RM aren't being merged with the Army - fact" or "GR4 is safe till 2025", well, guess what -there's another part of the journo jigsaw complete, and they'll move on to the next inflammatory headline to try and flush out further confirmation/denials. As a journalistic tactic it is as old as the hills, and pretty simplistic stuff.

What's plain at the moment is that all options are on the table (well, bar Trident anyway) and are up for discussion. And that means everything. We'll know eventually, and it prob won't be great news for some, but giving it the big "Oh my God!!!"" every time these kinds of headlines hit the presses - pretty wasteful of time & energy, if you ask me.

No the Army currently stands at just over 105,000 thereabouts. The figures are published for public viewing but I can't be bothered digging up the link.

As for that tired old line about being a 'defence force' or a militia, it is absolute nonsense. It's a pub myth which is bandied around. Regardless of size an Army is an Army. A militia is the TA and a defence force is a fancying name for kicking the shit of any palestinians.

Originally Posted by chasndave

More journalistic bulls**t, aimed at trying to "flush out" stories. If Liam Fox or CDS were to react to this, go on record and say "RM aren't being merged with the Army - fact" or "GR4 is safe till 2025", well, guess what -there's another part of the journo jigsaw complete, and they'll move on to the next inflammatory headline to try and flush out further confirmation/denials. As a journalistic tactic it is as old as the hills, and pretty simplistic stuff.

What's plain at the moment is that all options are on the table (well, bar Trident anyway) and are up for discussion. And that means everything. We'll know eventually, and it prob won't be great news for some, but giving it the big "Oh my God!!!"" every time these kinds of headlines hit the presses - pretty wasteful of time & energy, if you ask me.

It's less energy to type Oh My God than what you typed ;) lol

Cut / Combine the HQ Staff not the Front Line!

Granted this is all speculation, but why is there no talk of looking for savings in the bloated HQ staff at Land, Fleet, Air and of course Main Bld. Has not the time come to have just two Mod HQ's; PJHQ for Op tasks and a MoD Centre dealing with all other issues on a more centralised basis whilst retaining seperate fighting arms.

Originally Posted by REMFQuestions

It's less energy to type Oh My God than what you typed ;) lol

Good point, REMF_Q, and very well presented. But I think my point is valid (well, I would say that, wouldn't I?)

The journalistic "flush-out" tactic though, is as I alluded to, a pretty common one, and not just with Defence issues. Look out for it in the way TV journos in particular try and cross-examine politicos (quite funny when said politico is an ex-Barrister who is used to cross-examination!!!!) Anyway, I digress.

I work with any number of members of the "Oh my God" brigade, as I refer to them. They very often tend to have memories shorter than the blue fish in "Finding Nemo"; they jump from one story to the other, giving it "I read this in the paper yesterday, so it must be true!"

Back on topic; Thomas Harding's article, is, purely in my opinion, a good example of the "flushing out" tactic I describe above; that it gives Semper his daily excuse to (rather tediously) vent spleen at the Crabs is a complete sideline!!!!

Originally Posted by chasndave

Good point, REMF_Q, and very well presented. But I think my point is valid (well, I would say that, wouldn't I?)

The journalistic "flush-out" tactic though, is as I alluded to, a pretty common one, and not just with Defence issues. Look out for it in the way TV journos in particular try and cross-examine politicos (quite funny when said politico is an ex-Barrister who is used to cross-examination!!!!) Anyway, I digress.

I work with any number of members of the "Oh my God" brigade, as I refer to them. They very often tend to have memories shorter than the blue fish in "Finding Nemo"; they jump from one story to the other, giving it "I read this in the paper yesterday, so it must be true!"

Back on topic; Thomas Harding's article, is, purely in my opinion, a good example of the "flushing out" tactic I describe above; that it gives Semper his daily excuse to (rather tediously) vent spleen at the Crabs is a complete sideline!!!!

I am just jesting mate - you are spot on the money with what you are saying.

Originally Posted by REMFQuestions

I am just jesting mate - you are spot on the money with what you are saying.

Oh my God!!!

Originally Posted by ashie

It's Tory cuts 101. Announce something absolutely mega, then when the cuts aren't quite as bad, everybody goes home happy.

Hey, it's what you voted for - well 36% of you.

thats still more than the amount who voted for your lot of cretinous, lying idiots.