This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6220685.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Defence cuts 'put troops at risk' Defence cuts 'put troops at risk'
(40 minutes later)
A former British Army commander has accused Tony Blair of putting soldiers at "considerable and quite unnecessary risk" with cuts in defence spending.A former British Army commander has accused Tony Blair of putting soldiers at "considerable and quite unnecessary risk" with cuts in defence spending.
General Sir Michael Rose said despite statements to the contrary troops were not getting the support they should.General Sir Michael Rose said despite statements to the contrary troops were not getting the support they should.
The former Bosnia UN chief also said Mr Blair and George Bush's attempts to "evade responsibility" for the state of Iraq were "disgraceful hand-washing". He told the Independent on Sunday Mr Blair and George Bush's attempts to "evade responsibility" for the state of Iraq were "disgraceful hand-washing".
The "military ethos" was also being undermined by new laws, he said. The "military ethos" was being undermined by new laws, he said.
Sir Michael's comments come in the wake of calls from the head of British forces in southern Iraq for national support for soldiers serving in the country. The ex-Bosnia UN chief's comments come in the wake of calls from the head of British forces in southern Iraq for national support for soldiers serving in the country.
The infantry is the vital combat arm in insurgency warfare, yet manpower has continued to fall Gen Sir Michael RoseThe infantry is the vital combat arm in insurgency warfare, yet manpower has continued to fall Gen Sir Michael Rose
Issues such as underfunding had to be addressed to maintain their quality of work, Major General Richard Shirreff said, but the Ministry of Defence said spending had risen steadily.Issues such as underfunding had to be addressed to maintain their quality of work, Major General Richard Shirreff said, but the Ministry of Defence said spending had risen steadily.
Writing in the Independent on Sunday, Sir Michael said although Defence Secretary Des Browne maintained there had been an increase in spending in the last three years, most had gone on technical programmes such as Trident replacement. Writing in the paper, Sir Michael said although Defence Secretary Des Browne maintained there had been an increase in spending in the last three years, most had gone on technical programmes such as Trident replacement.
He said: "In the past six years, the prime minister has presided over a near-catastrophic decline in defence spending which has put our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan at considerable and quite unnecessary risk."He said: "In the past six years, the prime minister has presided over a near-catastrophic decline in defence spending which has put our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan at considerable and quite unnecessary risk."
"For fighting insurgencies such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq we need rather large numbers of soldiers on the ground, proper protection and tactical mobility, including helicopters," he added."For fighting insurgencies such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq we need rather large numbers of soldiers on the ground, proper protection and tactical mobility, including helicopters," he added.
"The infantry is the vital combat arm in insurgency warfare, yet manpower has continued to fall.""The infantry is the vital combat arm in insurgency warfare, yet manpower has continued to fall."
'Blood brother''Blood brother'
He said that it had been "tremendously heartening" for servicemen and women to see senior military "standing up for them" by speaking out about resources.He said that it had been "tremendously heartening" for servicemen and women to see senior military "standing up for them" by speaking out about resources.
Health and safety and equal opportunity laws and "risk management" were damaging the military ethos, he said, adding that good command and effective military tactics were better than "imposed civil law".Health and safety and equal opportunity laws and "risk management" were damaging the military ethos, he said, adding that good command and effective military tactics were better than "imposed civil law".
On Mr Bush and his "blood brother" Tony Blair's handling of Iraq, Sir Michael wrote: "They tell us it is the Iraqi government that runs the country.On Mr Bush and his "blood brother" Tony Blair's handling of Iraq, Sir Michael wrote: "They tell us it is the Iraqi government that runs the country.
"This is disgraceful hand-washing. They know, under the Geneva Conventions, they were responsible for the disastrous breakdown of law and order in the country they invaded.""This is disgraceful hand-washing. They know, under the Geneva Conventions, they were responsible for the disastrous breakdown of law and order in the country they invaded."
But he said Mr Bush had at least "put his money where his mouth was" by giving resources and support to his troops.But he said Mr Bush had at least "put his money where his mouth was" by giving resources and support to his troops.
Sir Michael has previously called for Mr Blair to be impeached over Iraq, for going to war on "false grounds".Sir Michael has previously called for Mr Blair to be impeached over Iraq, for going to war on "false grounds".