UK military problems & policies

[davidbfpo]

A short, powerful and well-written article by Professor Lawrence Freedman, ex-Kings Wars Studies, in the FT and on open access (hopefully).
Link:https://www.ft.com/content/805c7d1e-...4-0944c5f49e46

[davidbfpo]

Thanks to a "lurker" for the pointer to this different article by a Russia SME watcher. It is a short read and ends with:

The defence review must consider British interests in the round, of course. But if deterring the Russians is a major concern, then it is worth paying attention to what might really deter them: a flexible, fast-moving and versatile force of true professionals. Not necessarily with the heaviest kit, the biggest ships or the priciest aircraft, but able to get where they are needed, when they are needed.

Link:https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...-review-russia

[davidbfpo]

Quite clearly there is contest within Whitehall-Westminster over the UK's defence budget, whether a current review will end up with reductions being made and the military being reduced.

Step forward to the public rostrum @ RUSI, the UK's top soldier General Nick Carter, with a speech approved by his ministerial boss:

In this one-off lecture General Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of the General Staff, will elaborate on some of the increasingly real threats that pose a risk to the UK’s way of life as described by Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach in his annual Chief of the Defence Staff lecture to RUSI last December.

Link to the speech, in a podcast, transcript and the Q&A (70 mins):https://rusi.org/event/dynamic-secur...d-british-army

The CDS speech is far shorter (32 mins):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o6Y...ature=youtu.be

[davidbfpo]

A short article in 'The Sun' by a ret'd Army officer; which opens with:

Nearly eight years since the Conservatives came into government, we have self-inflicted a strategic loss of fighting power and reputation. We are facing another serious black hole in the defence equipment programme. What is going on?

Link:https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/540184...-will-kill-it/