baldysblog.co.uk

There was an Editorial in the Independent today that whilst calling for a Defence Review ended with saying that “obviously” we should cooperate with Europe more on Defence. It amazes me that supposedly intelligent people can’t grasp basic facts and realise that they are looking down the wrong end of the ruddy telescope.

It is not just about Defence, it is about every aspect of major Government spending and Health is a good example. The Labour reforms in funding of the NHS were first trialled in Scotland, much of the additional funding ended up being spent on increased wages not improved outcomes.

The Basic Problem

We cannot afford the services we want because of the level of wages expected by ordinary people and that goes right across the board. The Defence Budget just like in the end both Health and Education will will shrink because of the cost of wages and new equipment rises but as “equipment” means the wages and profits of commercial enterprises, it still comes down in effect to WAGES.

The problem is thrown into sharp perspective by the rise of both India and China industrially, they have vast pools of cheap labour to call upon. In ancient and not so ancient ‘civilisations’ the same thing was dealt with by slaves but that is neither possible nor desirable however, even the idea of a “commonwealth” shared equally by all as “of right” is not possible either.

Epicurus said: “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for”. We need to make a break with our industrial/consumer past and think of new commercial models where perhaps the large corporations become based upon intellectual and financial capital but the actual work is done by specialized small businesses. The problem is purely economic and solving that will solve not just Defence spending but spending right across society.

Only the dead have seen the end of the war. – Plato

Yes there will need to be a radical re-think in defence priorities because there is more case for replacing Trident than there is for two white elephant aircraft carriers. It might well be that whilst the “point of the spear” will always be full time professionals, given the level of youth unemployment, a revised form of National Service that encompasses both Military Service in support roles and skills training, might have to be considered and least ways, not ruled out.

The problem with all Governments and Labour is as bad as this as any other, is that they are prepared to fund capital projects that provide civilian jobs but not to fund large enough standing Forces. In 1914 and in 1939, Britain was able to field a BEF of 100,000 men fairly rapidly, we could barely manage 10,000 today and no, technology doesn’t make up the difference.

Whilst apart from Brussels edicts, we are hardly likely to face an enemy coming from mainland Europe in the immediate, neither will we gain any military advantage from them as allies, they and even France now are far further down the line of being pacifists and would only want the British to do the fighting for them. Blair with his foolish “Joint European Defence Projects” has wasted lots of taxpayers money for no military advantage to the United Kingdom in return.

It Is About People

No, I’m not a Colonel Blimp dreaming of past glories but Defence is a serious issue and the saying “If you want Peace prepare for war” is as true today as it ever was. The most important component lies in people and especially trained people. The Defence Budget just like in the end both Health and Education will will shrink because of the cost of wages and new equipment, we need to think outside of the box but starting with the defence of these shores and surrounding seas.

Given the growth of Cyber Warfare, we need to have a Cyber Defence and Attack capability which can also serve the Police through computer forensics. If we tried to fund such a thing under current circumstances, it will never happen, re-introduce a revised form of National Service where people are paid relatively little (dole equivalent or thereabouts), we can afford it and will produce a stream of highly trained people who will return to the economy in due course which also gives the Nation a pool of trained resource should an emergency, Civil or Military, arise.

Production and Delivery

It seems we cannot build manned combat aircraft by ourselves any more but I cannot understand why we cannot mass produce Drones or UAVs. We need to stop thinking about “smart weapons” as a replacement for boots on the ground, reduce the often poorly implemented ‘sophistication’ in weapons systems down to effective weapons used intelligently by large numbers of troops with good communications and effective battlefield intelligence, like it or not, military success lies in both highly trained personnel but also deployed in sufficient numbers to get the job done.

Current thinking is totally wrong and reminds me of the 60s and 70s where “automation” was only considered by British Manufacturing if it cuts jobs and therefore wages. What they really needed to do was look at the stuff they designed and were manufacturing get that right first, Defence is no different, we really need to get the “package right” and refresh our thinking totally, not more of the same.

The Defence Review should concentrate on “UK First” – National Defence and from there look to how we support our various allies, with what and under what circumstances and make sure they know it too so that they are never disappointed and no potential adversary misunderstands our intent.

There are only two keys that define the value of any Country to another, economic potential (trade) and military potential (let’s be friends). It is not being militaristic but Defence capability is not an option like how many people from State Schools go to University, it is a necessity. Being in the military for a period is not a “job”, is is part of being British and part of the Nation.

Thanks to Mr Brown and his bunch of losers, we are probably now in the right financial mess to force new thinking in Defence, Employment and Social cohesion, let’s take positive advantage of it.