The best bit of advice our govt must accept immediately, is stop causing so much trouble around the world. Especially against the likes of Russia, Putin won’t be there forever to save us.
"US and Latvian sources are now warning of intelligence indicating that Russia is planning some sort of provocation in the Baltics or in Poland in the next few months."
I do hope that this doesn't prove to be true. There seem to be those who would want to respond, militarily.
Only a fool enters a war that they can't win. It never occurred to Boris Johnson that supporting Ukraine might have a downside. Once again, we're about to suffer for his insouscience.
I don't know much, but I know I don't much want World War Three
I have been anticipating VFMC's article on DIP, and it doesn't disappoint. I doubt we will be able to read anywhere else the same level of insight and honesty. Thank you.
For those of us who have an insider's knowledge of UK defence procurement, the situation is deeply frustrating. It could be fixed; but there are too many personal interests involved. The senior people mentioned in the article put self-interest before the country, despite claims to the contrary.
So the question is, how can - how will? - this all be fixed. I suggest that decline at the level we are experiencing in the UK (and Europe) has only ever been fixed by the advent of war. Never in peace time.
I'm not enough of a military historian to know the answer with certainty. Perhaps FDR's preparation for entry into WWII is the exception that proves the rule. Any more optimistic answers?
Agreed. It is an excellent summary of our current malaise.
My thoughts exactly (that it has only ever been fixed by the advent of war.) Sad, but true.
The Senior people are normally in place because of their political aspirations, not because they actually run any of the forces. At least, that used to be the case, from my experience. The people who knew how to run the forces and the equipment required, were a level or two below the top.
Whoever is the next prime minister will be required to write “Letters of Last Resort”, that is, letters to the commanders of the missile submarines telling them what to do if the entire British chain of command is wiped out. As he (or she) ponders that unenviable task, they should remember that war comes when deterrence fails and that the first stage of that deterrence lies in strong, credible, conventional armed forces.
Just who is kidding who…..the much lauded Permanent At Sea Presence is broken, the “deterrent” such as it was, not is, but was, is unable to defend the Nations, not that it could without the final agreement of America who hold the critical final launch codes.
We have no effective Armed Forces, the Army cannot even mobilise a simple battalion level as we have no air lift structure, no mobile artillery, no field artillery support, no mobile missile defence systems, less than three day’s ammunition, the RAF front line in combat would survive less than 10hrs, the Navy has no ships available to put to sea to “defend” our waters.
But we do have a surplus of Senior officers in all Services, plenty of gold braiding, lots of medals, but no actual personnel or equipment- no doubt the ultimate plan is to throw medals at advancing enemy troops, planes and ships in the hope that when ducking the enemy sink or destroy themselves. Their is not one senior rank who is worth the effort.
The best bit of advice our govt must accept immediately, is stop causing so much trouble around the world. Especially against the likes of Russia, Putin won’t be there forever to save us.
"US and Latvian sources are now warning of intelligence indicating that Russia is planning some sort of provocation in the Baltics or in Poland in the next few months."
I do hope that this doesn't prove to be true. There seem to be those who would want to respond, militarily.
If those who want to respond are British they will find out that they don't have much to respond with.
Only a fool enters a war that they can't win. It never occurred to Boris Johnson that supporting Ukraine might have a downside. Once again, we're about to suffer for his insouscience.
I don't know much, but I know I don't much want World War Three
Sadly, I get the feeling that some people do! I presume it is those who stand to gain financially from what they think, will be a limited conflict.
I have been anticipating VFMC's article on DIP, and it doesn't disappoint. I doubt we will be able to read anywhere else the same level of insight and honesty. Thank you.
For those of us who have an insider's knowledge of UK defence procurement, the situation is deeply frustrating. It could be fixed; but there are too many personal interests involved. The senior people mentioned in the article put self-interest before the country, despite claims to the contrary.
So the question is, how can - how will? - this all be fixed. I suggest that decline at the level we are experiencing in the UK (and Europe) has only ever been fixed by the advent of war. Never in peace time.
I'm not enough of a military historian to know the answer with certainty. Perhaps FDR's preparation for entry into WWII is the exception that proves the rule. Any more optimistic answers?
Agreed. It is an excellent summary of our current malaise.
My thoughts exactly (that it has only ever been fixed by the advent of war.) Sad, but true.
The Senior people are normally in place because of their political aspirations, not because they actually run any of the forces. At least, that used to be the case, from my experience. The people who knew how to run the forces and the equipment required, were a level or two below the top.
Whoever is the next prime minister will be required to write “Letters of Last Resort”, that is, letters to the commanders of the missile submarines telling them what to do if the entire British chain of command is wiped out. As he (or she) ponders that unenviable task, they should remember that war comes when deterrence fails and that the first stage of that deterrence lies in strong, credible, conventional armed forces.
Just who is kidding who…..the much lauded Permanent At Sea Presence is broken, the “deterrent” such as it was, not is, but was, is unable to defend the Nations, not that it could without the final agreement of America who hold the critical final launch codes.
We have no effective Armed Forces, the Army cannot even mobilise a simple battalion level as we have no air lift structure, no mobile artillery, no field artillery support, no mobile missile defence systems, less than three day’s ammunition, the RAF front line in combat would survive less than 10hrs, the Navy has no ships available to put to sea to “defend” our waters.
But we do have a surplus of Senior officers in all Services, plenty of gold braiding, lots of medals, but no actual personnel or equipment- no doubt the ultimate plan is to throw medals at advancing enemy troops, planes and ships in the hope that when ducking the enemy sink or destroy themselves. Their is not one senior rank who is worth the effort.