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British defence chief fires volley of warning shots British defence chief fires volley of warning shots
(about 20 hours later)
Britain's most senior military figure has not said much in public since he took on the past this summer. But Yorkshire-born General Sir Nick Houghton has made up for it in much-needed straight talking.Britain's most senior military figure has not said much in public since he took on the past this summer. But Yorkshire-born General Sir Nick Houghton has made up for it in much-needed straight talking.
The chief of defence staff warned:The chief of defence staff warned:
• Britain is in danger of being left with "hollowed-out" armed forces
• the armed forces have "exquisite equipment" but not enough people to use them
• the Royal Navy is "perilously close to its critical mass in manpower terms"		• Britain is in danger of being left with "hollowed-out" armed forces
• the armed forces have "exquisite equipment" but not enough people to use them
• the Royal Navy is "perilously close to its critical mass in manpower terms"
• there is a "creeping aversion to risk" in deploying the armed forces threatens UK's "courageous instinct"
• the French operate within a "mindset of aggressive risk management"
• the British must be careful not to lose their "courageous instinct"		• there is a "creeping aversion to risk" in deploying the armed forces threatens UK's "courageous instinct"
• the French operate within a "mindset of aggressive risk management"
• the British must be careful not to lose their "courageous instinct"
• the defence budget "does not exist primarily to subsidise the defence industry or promote defnece exports
• the Europeans in Nato have to start to "genuinely share capability rather than indulge in some reductionist alchemy which leaves everyone doing less of the same"		• the defence budget "does not exist primarily to subsidise the defence industry or promote defnece exports
• the Europeans in Nato have to start to "genuinely share capability rather than indulge in some reductionist alchemy which leaves everyone doing less of the same"
• Britain needs to be "far more pro-active in our investment in United Nations operations"
• while the armed forces are held in high regard, "the purposes to which they have most recently been put has seldom been more deeply questioned"
• defence is going to "have to better prioritise its money towards things which are most relevant to the security demands and capability needs of the future" (a thinly-veiled reference to Trident?)		• Britain needs to be "far more pro-active in our investment in United Nations operations"
• while the armed forces are held in high regard, "the purposes to which they have most recently been put has seldom been more deeply questioned"
• defence is going to "have to better prioritise its money towards things which are most relevant to the security demands and capability needs of the future" (a thinly-veiled reference to Trident?)
Houghton's speech to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) on Wednesday should kickstart a much-needed debate about the future shape and role of Britain's - and the rest of Europe's - armed forces.Houghton's speech to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) on Wednesday should kickstart a much-needed debate about the future shape and role of Britain's - and the rest of Europe's - armed forces.
Houghton clearly felt he could not be more explicit. But his unsaid messages seemed pretty clear.Houghton clearly felt he could not be more explicit. But his unsaid messages seemed pretty clear.
The navy has been given two large aircraft carriers but not enough people to handle them - they are already late and the boats and the US F35 Lightnings due to fly from them will cost billions of pounds more than first estimated.The navy has been given two large aircraft carriers but not enough people to handle them - they are already late and the boats and the US F35 Lightnings due to fly from them will cost billions of pounds more than first estimated.
One carrier may begin its expensive life in mothballs. "There is little sense spending more money on new ships if we do not have the manpower", a very senior defence official remarked after Houghton finished his speech.One carrier may begin its expensive life in mothballs. "There is little sense spending more money on new ships if we do not have the manpower", a very senior defence official remarked after Houghton finished his speech.
Houghton was echoing senior military figures who describe some of the biggest equipment projects the carriers as essentially "job creation" programmes. Britain simply cannot afford such luxuries.Houghton was echoing senior military figures who describe some of the biggest equipment projects the carriers as essentially "job creation" programmes. Britain simply cannot afford such luxuries.
Many defence officials and independent analysts describe the carriers as a "political" project which make little sense in military terms. They say the same about the plan to replace the Trident nuclear missile fleet - something no chief of defence staff could question in public.Many defence officials and independent analysts describe the carriers as a "political" project which make little sense in military terms. They say the same about the plan to replace the Trident nuclear missile fleet - something no chief of defence staff could question in public.
Houghton may also have privately welcomed the French decision to place defence firmly on he agenda of Thursday's EU summit in Brussels.Houghton may also have privately welcomed the French decision to place defence firmly on he agenda of Thursday's EU summit in Brussels.
The agenda included closer cooperation to build critical shortfalls in air-to-air refuelling, drones - or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), as the RAF insist on calling them, satellite communications, and cyber defence. The agenda included closer cooperation to overcome critical shortfalls in air-to-air refuelling, drones - or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), as the RAF insist on calling them, satellite communications, and cyber defence.
A report by the French Senate has called for "an authentic European defence policy", with an EU defence minister and a central military command, despite the reticence of its partners.A report by the French Senate has called for "an authentic European defence policy", with an EU defence minister and a central military command, despite the reticence of its partners.
David Cameron gave it short shrift. Nato secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen was invited to the EU talks, at Cameron's request. "The prime minister will be making clear the primacy of Nato" said a Downing Street source.David Cameron gave it short shrift. Nato secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen was invited to the EU talks, at Cameron's request. "The prime minister will be making clear the primacy of Nato" said a Downing Street source.
But that sentiment should not block the urgent, pragmatic, need for European countries to stop wasting money they do not have simply duplicating each other's military equipment.But that sentiment should not block the urgent, pragmatic, need for European countries to stop wasting money they do not have simply duplicating each other's military equipment.
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