Yup. Who's next?
Posted on 02/11/2023 7:35:03 AM PST by JonPreston
Tory chair of defence committee says cost of replacing kit sent to Ukraine and high inflation had created ‘a really grim picture’
Britain’s armed forces would “last about five days” if there was a war, a senior Conservative MP has claimed, as pressure increases on the chancellor to boost defence spending in next month’s Budget.
Tobias Ellwood, Tory chair of the Commons defence committee, told the Financial Times that high inflation and the cost of replacing equipment sent to Ukraine had created “a really grim picture” and left military supplies seriously depleted.
Jeremy Hunt has vowed to consider the case for more military spending in his Budget in response to an update of the government’s 2021 foreign and defence policy, expected in the coming weeks.
The revamping of the so-called “Integrated Review” by John Bew, a historian and member of the Number 10 policy unit, will take account of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The original document was billed as a “tilt to the Indo-Pacific”.
In the meantime the lobbying for more military spending is increasing, with defence officials privately discussing a range of eye-catching measures to save money.
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
I have news for you all: the American military in the early days of the All Volunteer Force had real issues with personnel. I was an ADA Platoon Leader from 77-79, I remember those challenges: available manpower at 80%, discipline problems, aged equipment. It would have been much worse under today's modus operandi.
Ever try reloading a Chaparral missile system with a 3 man crew? The missiles IIRC weighed over 190 pounds. I often assisted during reloading, while having a senior officer tell me, "LT, you shouldn't be doing that...officers don't do that."
The Deputy CG of 32nd AADCOM dropped in at our motor pool, when I had just taken over as Maintenance Officer. I was in overalls, was under the track assisting my mechanic. BG Archie Cannon said to me, "your job is to supervise, so take off those overalls." But there was a look in his eye that said to me, "go ahead and put them back on AFTER I leave." LOL
I loved that man. He stood up for me in another situation a few weeks earlier. I really got into it with the Team Chief during a Nuclear Surety Inspection, a LT Colonel. I was leading a platoon in support of the local Nike Hercules battery. We had 4 hours to get there, we arrived 30 minutes early, but that wasn't good enough for him.
The next day, at the outbriefing, he made a pointed reference to that. When the team left, BG Cannon went to the podium, pointed at me and said, "LT NHN, I'll take that hit for you. Anytime you want to give your soldiers extra training, you have my express permission."
I'm doubtful that same leadership exists in today's military.
I’m not a “son of the South”, though I am a naturalized Texan. I married into a large Hispanic family, my nephews and nieces have heard me speak fondly of my 8 years in the Army. However, I do NOT recommend they serve today. The military leadership is predominantly comprise of Courtney Massengales who have run off the Sam Damons.
Nah. I think the most likely result of the Russo-Ukrainian War is a stalemate. Both sides will sign a peace of paper. Russia gets to keep the land bridge to Crimea. No one is satisfied. The cease fire might hold for a little while. Then another war will break out. I think Putin's successor is going to be a hardliner. He's not going to be like Gorbachev.
The British used to rule an empire. So they still have some bad old habjts
“Britain’s armed forces would “last about five days” if there was a war”
Against Whom?
“Britain’s armed forces would “last about five days” if there was a war”
Remember Dunkirk! If it weren’t for us they would have been history,
It doesn’t matter if they can’t fight a war, the important thing is they are the diversiest
You’re right.
And our technological lead is dwindling.
Europe always counts on those stupid Americans to save their posterior.
Very good post.
The current crop of American civilian and military “leadership” is pathetic and extremely dangerous.
Yep. It'll be gone in one generation.
The UK isn’t really a country any more, let alone a world power.
So are we
All the stuff sent to the Ukraine must be replaced
I agree and I know my position will piss off a lot of Navy people, but I'm afraid that in an all out war with China, one hypersonic missile will sink a $12 Billion carrier, along with $2-3 Billion worth of aircraft on board and the loss of three to four thousand lives. The Navy will find out the hard way that carriers have gone the way of battleships.
If it weren’t for the citizens coming to the rescue
It was civilians who sailed to the rescue
The root of our problems is simple, but one really tough nut to crack: how to restore the concept of accountability to our nation.
That concept was a major part of my life when I was stationed in Germany. As a Platoon Leader, everything my unit did, or FAILED to do, was my responsibility and mine alone. After flunking my first tactical evaluation (ARTEP), my bosses came down on me...hard, and rightfully so.
It wasn't until I passed my next one that the heat came off. LOL, the word from that one was, "are we talking about the same Lieutenant?"
Over the next 18 months, I went through several more ARTEPs, all passed with flying colors. I actually looked forward to those evaluations. I had the greatest of confidence in my soldiers, because I trained them.
So here we are, 40+ years later: politicians want to defund the police, police departments are lowering standards in the name of diversity, I have no effing idea what the military is doing...it sure isn't preparing for the next war.
Accreditation is being tossed out the window, misplaced classified information is blithely referred to as "spare papers", NO ONE is fired for the disastrous pull out in Afghanistan, fathers are not taking accountability for their sons and daughters, need I go on?
The death of this country can be laid at the feet of the utter lack of accountability on the part of our leaders, nay every citizen.
Yup. Who's next?
“The Navy will find out the hard way that carriers have gone the way of battleships.”
Good post.
A lot of folks here have been whistling past the graveyard on this topic.
The military industrial complex drives decision-making which means that weapons systems are designed to make them money as a top priority.
The now famous UFO incidents with carrier groups show that the military is more interested in covering up its vulnerabilities with PR campaigns than seriously dealing with threats.
You are correct.
The corrupt people in charge and on the sidelines today and in the past, will never have to suffer the consequences of their policies/actions.
Fauci, for instance, will never have to answer for the terrible things he did and the suffering he caused.
The next POTUS needs to either cut them down to size or expose the British as operators for the US “Deep State” with all this warmongering.
I see both possibilities behind their dirty dealings including fueling jihadists in Libya and Syria.
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