Article

2007-11-18 Britain

UK general: forces 'can't carry on like this'

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Posted by lotp 2007-11-18 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 More than 'improvements in pay, accommodations and medical care,' what the troops need is improvement in public perception of the value of their efforts. Same as here.

Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore 2007-11-18 01:38|| 2007-11-18 01:38|| Front Page Top

#2 My office in the palace had a small number of British officers who would rotate fairly often so that I was met quite a few. Diverse and uniformly interesting folks, as British officers seem to be, they shared a very, very low morale and estimate of their armed forces future. Most were getting out as soon as they could.

As Glenmore says, it's not just the appalling lack of material support - it's the devastating absence of moral and political support. And let's not forget the senior level pathologies indicated by the astonishing Persian Gulf fiasco of a few months ago.

Posted by Verlaine 2007-11-18 03:43|| 2007-11-18 03:43|| Front Page Top

#3 <>to the quality of food in canteens

I can(t even imagine how it must be if people used to British food cannot bear it.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2007-11-18 04:17|| 2007-11-18 04:17|| Front Page Top

#4 A nation's army is generally a relection of the nation.

Posted by Besoeker 2007-11-18 08:09|| 2007-11-18 08:09|| Front Page Top

#5 Some things never change.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2007-11-18 08:44|| 2007-11-18 08:44|| Front Page Top

#6 Some things never change.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2007-11-18 08:45|| 2007-11-18 08:45|| Front Page Top

#7 The belief that somehow they don't need a military at all is a hallmark of the western European disease. Ironically, they have a point in that being so insulated from any hostile nation that would invade them with its army, they think they are safe.

However, they are neither safe from an unconventional invasion, nor are they safe from a civil war. Britain, especially, is ripe for the emergence of criminal mafias that could evolve into something like the Yakuza in Japan, until they wield power that could challenge the government.

The assumption that it could not happen in Britain could be refuted by asking how it could happen in Japan, either.

Of course, the other obvious problem is immigration by those who do not embrace the weak attitude of the British.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-11-18 08:56|| 2007-11-18 08:56|| Front Page Top

#8 The head of the Army has warned that years of Government under-funding and overstretch have left troops feeling "devalued, angry and suffering from Iraq fatigue",

The Donk's gameplan if they get everything in '08. A replay of the 70s to punish the military here for following the Constitution by starving them of funds and resources. If you forgot it was on Clinton I's watch the Army was downsized from 750,000 to 480,0000.

Posted by Procopius2k 2007-11-18 09:24|| 2007-11-18 09:24|| Front Page Top

#9 And not just the Army.

Hillary hates and scorns the military. Just ask any person in uniform who had to be around her during Bill's time in the White House.

Posted by lotp 2007-11-18 09:26|| 2007-11-18 09:26|| Front Page Top

#10 However, they are neither safe from an unconventional invasion

For france, the worst case scenario would be an armed push from algeria and/or an another north african "friend" (but algeria with its institutionalized french hating-scapegoating and resentment is the most likely), which would meet a very downgraded french army, and a large fifth column, either in the institutions (enlisted muslims in the army who won't fight their "cousins", as repeatedly found by survey, drafted muslims even more so, only 1 in 10 Youth sez he would fight for France, and this would be even less if the ennemy was muslim), or in the streets, with the Youths creating a second front; the fln used to have the whole algerian community in its hand during the algeria war. I really, really doubt the north african intelligence services have lost much of their networks among the immigrated population, first generation or later ones (remember, the supposedly "french" islam is in fact wholly controlled by foreign countries, mostly algeria and morocco).

In that scenario, France would crumple from the inside like a rotten hollow tree.
The motivation from such an armed push from algeria could very well be to "rescue" their fellow countrymen from the Racist french, should the SHTF when it comes to the troubles caused by mass immigration.
And I could almost pervertly imagine an even worse scenario : ethnic unrest in France, leading to an overhelmed french Gvt ASKING for the help of algeria. Really, I have no trouble imagining the french republic opting for the Youths, if faced with a restive, and Faaaaaaascccciiist ethnic french population that wants to overthrow the Establishment.
But, anyway, I'm dreaming; if/when france collapse, you'll see that the from birth to craddle marxist-conditioned french will blame the evils of capitalism, and will be glad to go in whatever adventure the populists will have dreamed for them.

Posted by anonymous5089 2007-11-18 10:23|| 2007-11-18 10:23|| Front Page Top

#11 The Mighty Joe M. will love that : I do not have the exact references, but I know that there are several 19th century catholic seers who prophetized a revolution and the invasion of France by muslims in the late 20th century, leading to France being humiliated and abused, and humbled into renouncing its errors (in the 19th century catholic view that would be the secular/socialist/masonic republic) and returning to the Faith and becoming an evangelical Nation.
Obviously, this hasn't happened, but, hey, perhpas they were just off by a few decades...
Also, Bernadette Soubirou, in the same timeframe, had supposedly a serie of Marian visions of the future (this is controversial, as they may very well be apocryphal, and are non-Church approved IIRC), the last one predicting a war with the muslims at the end of 20th century, with an huge battle where over 5 millions would die, and a "huge bomb" being dropped on a city of Persia, with an ensuing victory over the muslims that would lead most of them to convert to Christianity.

I really do like prophecies, and find them interesting, though, obviously, I don't put much credence in them, with reason, but I wanted to bring that here anyway.

Posted by anonymous5089 2007-11-18 10:36|| 2007-11-18 10:36|| Front Page Top

#12 The morale in the British Army would be improved immeasurably by a victory. It was pretty good when they were wearing Berets in Basra and thelling the Americans how they learned to do it softly in Northern Ireland. But now the worm has turned and the Brits have to confess that they could no longer defend or reconquer the Falklands. The next time an Argie wacko needs to deflect attention from the domestic disasters, the Brits are in for a humiliation and they will have neiter an Iron Lady nor an Iron Duke. And the Americans will be the real losers.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2007-11-18 10:55|| 2007-11-18 10:55|| Front Page Top

#13 I don't see how the Americans will be the real losers. I think to some degree, we have learned from the mistakes of others. The 'progressives' formed an EU, but the NAU planned by the same types in the Counsel on Foreign Relations (CFR), has been checked. Bush has been exposed, and the Amero, pronounced zero, never got out of the dream stage.
We Americans demand the building of a border fence, and the candidates, once all members of the CFR are nowhere to be found. Yes, America has awakened just in time to boot the elites in the ass and can the NAFTA agreement. It just makes good sense to manufacture some of the goods we use right here. The jobs are needed, the link to mechanical technology is a critical need, and once focused, we citizens can force a fix of the various failings of government, like law suits, property rights, victim rights, reverse discrimination, welfare, and that stinking elephant in the room, PC.
We have the internet, now we must use it to replace the MSM and become the watchbird on the shoulder of the legislators and judges. Life in Washington, DC has changed sinse the amnesty issue. Phone calls, emails, faxes, letters, and petitions rain in without end. As staff become sick and tired of it, their bosses will suffer yet another round of humility as they seek phone bank workers among their friends.
It is up to us to put a better batch of men and women into our legislations in 2008 and every election thereafter. We have them, and we must never again allow elitism into our government. We must embrace the work ethic for all Americans. No free rides, no economy of masters looking down upon the third world.

Posted by wxjames 2007-11-18 12:14|| 2007-11-18 12:14|| Front Page Top

#14 wxjames, I commend you for a very telling and accurate post my friend!

The hildabeast would rework the 90's in a new york minute. I was still on active duty and watched as the number of divisions folded flags, and the troop levels dropped precipitously. Bill and Al took credit for this vast reduction in government size, when in fact it was all the build down of the military. Think about the issue of the surge if we hadn't lost those divisions.......

Posted by No More BS">No More BS 2007-11-18 12:52|| 2007-11-18 12:52|| Front Page Top

#15 You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

Posted by Steve">Steve 2007-11-18 13:00|| 2007-11-18 13:00|| Front Page Top

#16 The hildabeast would rework the 90's in a new york minute.

The fact that all the American flags fell as Hillary exited the hall a few days ago is an omen of things to come if she is elected. She and Bill are cut of the same cloth; amoral and anything for power.

Posted by JohnQC 2007-11-18 13:36|| 2007-11-18 13:36|| Front Page Top

#17 wxjames cut the BS about the CFR. Fred THompson has strongly supported the fences, and he was a CFR emeber. You are soungding like a tinfoil nutter when you carry on like that. You discredit the rest of your words with those. If you want to do the paranoid conspiracy crap, take it someplace else. DU and DailyKos are full of that sort of thing andf your soft of paranoia. We need clear thinking not conspiracy mongering.

Posted by OldSpook 2007-11-18 17:19|| 2007-11-18 17:19|| Front Page Top

23:16 Mike
23:14 Barbara Skolaut
22:58 Mike
22:06 Procopius2k
21:48 Injun Flavise8457
21:38 Injun Flavise8457
21:36 GK
21:23 Zhang Fei
21:00 Frank G
20:56 Slappy
20:37 Frank G
20:32 trailing wife
20:32 Injun Flavise8457
20:29 Injun Flavise8457
20:19 Mike N.
20:19 Pappy
20:17 Anonymoose
20:11 Dave D.
19:59 Phinater Thraviger
19:59 eLarson
19:58 Nimble Spemble
19:52 Frank G
19:40 Slappy
19:40 Pappy