Own worst enemy

Without wishing to dilute the justified vitriol aimed at the current muppets in the Treasury and MoD, I am rather afraid that the Armed Forces are their own worst enemies when it comes to making do with what the cuts have left behind.

There is no doubt that “launching from Porlock” is absolutely the right attitude to have on the front line but I expect the Chiefs, after careful analysis, to say “no” when the wire has been reached and push back on the Treasury and FCO to reduce the commitment accordingly.

If the Government really doesn’t want to spend money on Helicopters (for example), let’s pull out of theatres where they are the only way to achieve the mission. Let’s not pretend the guys on the ground can do with less than required to keep them reasonably safe.

Let’s not sleepwalk into an undermanned, underequipped and undertrained Armed Forces. If we have to go there (and heaven help us if we choose to) let’s reduce the commitment in line so we can still do well what the guys are being asked to do.

=== edited 25 June 2011 ===
Three cheers to Chief of Defence Staff (General Sir David Richards) and 1st Sea Lord (Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope) for saying so in public. To the people who say it undermines the morale of front line troops; you are absolutely wrong. It lets them know that what they understand so well is being fought against at the very top.