I’ll simply let you digest these statistics on our current defence capability, which I captured from THIS in the Daily Telegraph.
Combined with this review - The State of the Nation’s Armed Forces – by three senior ex-service chiefs.
They should both give us all cause for concern.
Defence spending, as a percentage of GDP, has fallen from around 5.5% in 1982 to 3% today. We should be delighted we can manage the international situation better to the extent that we don’t have to waste money on weapons of war.
As for the Falklands, this may be famous last words, but we won’t see an action replay of 1982. There’s too much to lose for everyone – especially Argentina.
By: leftoflightwater on January 14, 2013
at 10:34 pm
I agree with you that probably a lower % of GDP on defence is a good thing. But don’t agree with your use of ‘weapons of war’. They can equally be called necessary for the ‘defence of the realm’. As a nation we’ve been found wanting on our military capability far too often, investment in military equipment upgrades is essential to maintaining preparedness, so not a waste of money.
By: timdodds on January 14, 2013
at 11:04 pm