UK defence policy heading for chaos

[unhappycamper]

http://www.theguardian.com/news/defence-and-security-blog/2015/mar/26/uk-defence-policy-heading-for-chaos



armed forces face increasing strain and further cuts

UK defence policy heading for chaos
Richard Norton-Taylor
Thursday 26 March 2015 07.16 EDT

The last Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), patched together after the coalition came to power five years ago, was an embarrassing and unseemly shambles.

The aircraft carrier, Ark Royal, the latest in a long line of ships bearing that name (the first was the flagship of the fleet which defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588) was scrapped at the last minute, together with its fleet of Harriers. Half completed Nimrod maritime reconnaissance aircraft were broken up.

For a country supposed to be proud of its military heritage and armed forces, it was an unacceptable panic-driven debacle that should have humiliated the government far more than it did.

There is little sign that the next SDSR, due after May’s general election, will be any more coherent than the last one.

--
Germany isn't doing much better: German army used broomsticks in NATO exercise