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War rules rewritten, says general Army chief seeks spending shift
(about 20 hours later)
The rules of war have been rewritten by the challenges of fighting insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, the head of the Army has said. A "radical" shift in defence spending is needed to meet the changing demands of modern warfare, the head of the British army, Sir David Richards, says.
Gen Sir David Richards called for more investment in hi-tech equipment such as spy planes and cyber-defences to shift away from "old war fighting". General Richards said priority should be given to troops on the ground to help them win over hearts and minds.
His views come amid the backdrop of a defence review after the general election and potential spending cuts. He told the International Institute for Strategic Studies there was too much emphasis on cutting-edge technology and not enough on cheaper troops and staff.
Gen Richards is expected to elaborate on these ideas in a speech later. The UK was behind its enemies in being prepared for modern warfare, he added.
He will address the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. 'Minds of millions'
He believes Britain's enemies will have seen from Iraq and Afghanistan that for relatively little cost, opponents with cheap weaponry can pose a deadly threat Caroline WyattBBC defence correspondent Gen Richards said current and future conflicts would focus more on using communication to drum up support and would need more British troops to work among populations such as that in Afghanistan.
He is thought to believe future conflicts will be fought in increasingly hi-tech ways and that the threat of cyber-attacks against Britain's infrastructure mean radical change is unavoidable. In his speech in London, he said: "If one equips more for this type of conflict, while significantly reducing investment in higher-end war-fighting capability, suddenly one can buy an impressive amount of 'kit'.
Gen Richards has compared it to the moment British forces realised they had to phase out cavalry on horseback in favour of using tanks in World War I. Some might argue the screen is our generation's North German Plain, the place where future wars will be won or lost General Sir David Richards
Despite the need for hi-tech equipment, he also insists more Army manpower is necessary. "Future wars of mass manoeuvre are more likely to be fought through the minds of millions of people looking at computer and television screens than on some modern equivalent of the Cold War's North German Plain.
However, Gen Richards expects significant spending cuts in the upcoming defence review and says that while Britain still needs ships, aircraft and tanks, there may have to be fewer of them. "Indeed some might argue the screen is our generation's North German Plain, the place where future wars will be won or lost."
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said: "Gen Sir David Richards says the UK has been in denial ever since the end of the Cold War on how future wars are likely to be fought. He added: "This is about ensuring a balance across all three [services] and with allies, between our ability to fight a traditional war of air, maritime and ground kinetic manoeuvre and being able to conduct a far more difficult one amongst, and with and for the people."
"He believes Britain's enemies will have seen from Iraq and Afghanistan that for relatively little cost, opponents with cheap weaponry can pose a deadly threat - with future opponents likely to use similar tactics." 'Understanding and loyalty'
She added that all three service chiefs will be outlining their different visions for the future as the defence review draws closer and the battle for resources intensifies. The former commander of Nato's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan said British forces needed to adapt to a new type of warfare.
He said: "Our armed forces are primarily structured and equipped for the last war, for a war of technology against technology, armour against armour.
"We have pared down our forces numbers, replacing people with hardware and thoughts with process.
"Yet as the war of the present and the future is for the people, for their understanding and loyalty, we must be capable of being among them. This has a radical consequence for defence. It requires mass."
His views come with a defence review on the horizon after the general election, and as a result of potential spending cuts.
Gen Richards said: "To determine what we need, we must firstly establish what UK interests are, how we can best protect those interests, and what we need to do so.
"These interests can be opportunities to exploit or threats to resist. This is why all of us in defence so warmly welcome a defence review."