Green paper defence review

[scorza]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/03/more-efficient-armed-forces-defence-green-paper

So the government has published its long awaited green paper into a strategic defence review. Two very interesting points have been raised.

The first is that the British Armed Forces will have to work much more closely with international allies, France is specifically mentioned (no surrender jokes please, not funny). Who knows what the French think about this, I presume they're in favour and it certainly makes sense for our allies to do more in Afghan, so I don't have a problem with that. However the prospect of military asset sharing was also raised - this to me signals the beginning of an EU army, not immediately mind, but it could be the beginning of that path.

The second point is that the head of Britain's Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup refused to deny that two of the three services could be merged, this is generally reckoned to mean that the Army and RAF will be merged.

At least the Royal Navy are getting their new carriers, but who knows what's going to fly off them?

 

[Nikumba]

I think a joint share of defence hardware is a BAD idea with the french, as when we went to Iraq they didn't and if we are relying on them for somthing that would mess us up.

Also we can not share carries, as we have different AC, we also use different weapons, vehicles etc, so I don't see the point in this.

The merger of two armed forces sounds like a good idea, however in a lot of respects we are already running a joint force program. The biggest issue you have is more admin really, ranks are different, pay grades are different etc.

You could save some cash by shutting down some bases, but you would have to expand other bases to take the extra

Kimbie

 

[dangerstat]

The second point is that the head of Britain's Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup refused to deny that two of the three services could be merged, this is generally reckoned to mean that the Army and RAF will be merged.

I think the Marines should clearly be part of the Army, the Naval Air Wing / Army air bit part of the RAF. Surely it makes sense for training and financial reasoning?

 

[scorza]

I think the Marines should clearly be part of the Army, the Naval Air Wing / Army air bit part of the RAF. Surely it makes sense for training and financial reasoning?

Problem is it doesn't save any money. Getting rid of let's say, 25% of Army & RAF administration does.