STRATEGIC DEFENCE REVIEW 19-10-10

[Jigsaw]

[Gully]

The real farce here is trying to pass this off as a 'strategic' review. The only strategy I can fathom is cutting costs. Okay, I accept we've tried to punch above our weight for a long time and it had to end at some point, but carriers without aircraft and a island / maritime nation without maritime reconnaissance aircraft seems somewhat ridiculous to me.

As for the Sentinels going, I despair...

For me, the highlight of Waddington 2010 was seeing the Nimrod R1 for the final time. Shame the photos all came out blurred - must be stealth paint!! What I didn't realise was that it would be the last occasion I saw a Nimrod full stop. Also, big 'thank you' to 20 Sqn for displaying at RIAT - seems that was the final time I'll see a Harrier in flight too.

Gully

[Nickolas]

We will become the laughing stock of the world.
New aircraft carriers and no bloody A/c to put on 'em.

Piss up and brewery springs to mind.

[Xplumberlives]

We will become the laughing stock of the world.
New aircraft carriers and no bloody A/c to put on 'em.

Piss up and brewery springs to mind.

Take a while to read the whole thing!

They are starting to sort out the MESS they inherited!

[Spitfire]

We will become are the laughing stock of the world.
New aircraft carriers and no bloody A/c to put on 'em.

Piss up and brewery springs to mind.

I've made the alterations to give the meaning I think you meant to impart

Cost cutting needs to be made I understand - but I've just passed 4 blokes and 2 lorries from the local council taking down the 50 odd hanging baskets from outside St Ives Guildhall Not to mention the 3 blokes and a water tanker lorry who spend ALL day ALL summer watering all the hundreds of hanging baskets all over the town so we can enter Britain In Bloom - its a mad mad world and it needs to change ... no aircraft on the carriers but my don't we look pretty

[Xplumberlives]

So it was you putting them all in your MG/Rover!

[Gully]

This is an interesting perspective: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/oct/19/raf-target-cybernerds-drones-defence-review?intcmp=239

Thoughts anyone?

Gully

[10680]

How many times have you been to an airshow when a display has been cancelled due to 'operational reasons' i.e. the plane and/or pilot is needed 'in action'. To me that translates as we haven't even got one/two spare pilots or aircraft.
And now we cut further.

Ditto for the army and navy.

And we have been using territorials for things that would once not have been contemplated.

As for the threats we face.

Hasn't Russia been testing our reactions again?
Argentina/Falklands
Gibraltar

[Spitfire]

My thoughts are that 58 years in this country has told me that no matter what I say or do nothing ever changes to my benefit - the so called government in power does whatever it wants - after being undemocratically elected by a minority of the electorate - to boost and massage its own ego and feather its own nest and we are merely the people who pay for it all

As an example of this I have mentioned before that the local county council held a referendum here about whether we should have a unitary authority - 87% of a huge turnout voted against - but as that wasn't the answer they wanted they ignored it and did it anyway Transpose that to current mainstream government and there you have it....

Also - You confuse me with someone who gives a sh!t I never wanted to defend a peat bog in nthe South Atlantic with a garrison to deter the original owners from having their islands back - and now I've got to work to age 66 .... I give up

[Xplumberlives]

This is an interesting perspective: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/oct/19/raf-target-cybernerds-drones-defence-review?intcmp=239

Thoughts anyone?

Gully

ARGHHH, the good old GRAUNIAD, long known for its views, will get back to you after I have read the whole article!


Reading through it, it would appear that it is true Grauniadspeak, nothing unexpected at all!

One interesting paragraph though;

"The truth is that Britain's defence strategy has become a farrago of dogmas, traditions, maxims and cliches, most of them born of the second world war, the cold war and Tony Blair's fixation with fighting Muslims. Years of capitulating to the arms industry over glamour projects has now descended into this week's absurdities, the building of phantom aircraft carriers, continuing the "at sea" nuclear deterrent, and sending jets screaming over Britain's air space to shoot down 9/11-style terrorists".


SURELY a BACKWARD STEP!

[Mayfly]

My thoughts are that 58 years in this country has told me that no matter what I say or do nothing ever changes to my benefit - the so called government in power does whatever it wants - after being undemocratically elected by a minority of the electorate - to boost and massage its own ego and feather its own nest and we are merely the people who pay for it all

As an example of this I have mentioned before that the local county council held a referendum here about whether we should have a unitary authority - 87% of a huge turnout voted against - but as that wasn't the answer they wanted they ignored it and did it anyway Transpose that to current mainstream government and there you have it....

Also - You confuse me with someone who gives a sh!t I never wanted to defend a peat bog in nthe South Atlantic with a garrison to deter the original owners from having their islands back - and now I've got to work to age 66 .... I give up

If you are 57 by the start of the next tax year you will get your pension at 65 - I on the other hand have my OAP pension delayed for a further 18 months as I was already in the increased years for women to bring them in line with you blokes at the age of 65!!

[Xplumberlives]

Ho hum!

[Mayfly]

It's the way the cookie crumbles - willing to do my bit!

Actually I'm a very economical model for the Government - paid my taxes, never been on benefits, never claimed child allowance

[Minty4371]

Will airshows be at risk from all the cuts?

[Olicat]

reds will be the last thing to go probably

[Mayfly]

Will airshows be at risk from all the cuts?

The number of types will reduce obviously & no doubt some will moan air shows aren't what they once were but that's hardly the organisers fault and I doubt they will disappear over night, tho' there is a belief that airshows make masses of money which isn't true once all the expenses are paid. I would think the large shows are relatively secure.

[Xplumberlives]

I personally disagree and feel that the small airshows like Sywell will be all that remains!

Every Air Force around the world will be subjected to similar cuts, as an example, how many Russian aircraft were around the big shows in 2010!

[Mayfly]

could be - depends what finances they have to pay for assets.

[Xplumberlives]

could be - depends what finances they have to pay for assets.

Bugger all squared!

[Sooty655]

the so called government in power does whatever it wants - after being undemocratically elected by a minority of the electorate

I understand the sentiment, and I know I am quoting you selectively, but the evidence worldwide suggests that only way to get a government voted for by the majority is to have a system where the "government" tells people who to vote for and what will happen if they don't.

I certainly don't want to go down that road. To paraphrase a well-known quotation - (the British model of) Democracy is a bad form of government, but...........................

I'm sure you can fill in the rest.

[Xplumberlives]

Might be easier to just give Cornwall and her recent inhabitants autonomy!

That way they can keep their quaint little habits like forgetting their part in the last 13 years to themselves!

[Spitfire]

[Cluny]

If you are 57 by the start of the next tax year you will get your pension at 65 - I on the other hand have my OAP pension delayed for a further 18 months as I was already in the increased years for women to bring them in line with you blokes at the age of 65!!

If it makes you feel any better , my generation most likely wont be allowed to retire

[Xplumberlives]

Is that the BEST you could come up with?

[Mayfly]

I wrote an email to my MP this morning asking what we have to take on the MRA4 role.

I got a reply a few minutes ago saying he intends to ask on my behalf the Secretary of State why he believes we can do without it, [he warned it could be a while before he gets a reply!!] He also said that he believes given the over runs etc that the Government had no option.

I await with interest!!