Word Around the Campfire

Following yesterdays Green Paper release the media and blogs have been covering it in detail.

Here is a quick link round up…

Read more…

Giving a Shit

Today, in the Houses of Parliament, the Secretary of State for Defence stood up and announced the launch of a Green paper that will inform the shape of the next strategic defence and security review.

• Some might say that the SoS Defence is one of the key offices of state
• Some might say we are at war with huge amounts of blood and treasure being spent
• Some might say there are old fashioned concepts of respect, manners and honour
• Some might say although it is only a green paper announcement it is strategically important

Of our elected representatives, all 646 of them, the attendance to hear and discuss the announcement was this much

Thanks

Adaptability and Partnership – Defence Green Paper

Hot off the press, Bob Ainsworth MP is still speaking in the House of Commons but the MoD has now published the much anticipated Green Paper.

Remember the Green Paper (Adaptability and Partnership: Issues for a Strategic Defence Review) is designed to frame and inform the debate.

Click HERE to download

No doubt there will be lots of interesting debate over the coming weeks as journalists, analysts, bloggers and interested parties absorb the text.

We will of course have a look in depth over the coming weeks.

Key questions are

• Given that domestic security cannot be separated from international security, where should we set the balance between focusing on our territory and region and engaging threats at a distance?
• What approach should we take if we employ the Armed Forces to address threats at distance?
• What contribution should the Armed Forces make in ensuring security and contributing to resilience within the UK?
• How could we more effectively employ the Armed Forces in support of wider efforts to prevent conflict and strengthen international stability?
• Do our current international defence and security relationships require rebalancing in the longer term?
• Should we further integrate our forces with those of key allies and partners?
• To what extent and in what areas should we continue to refocus our current efforts on Afghanistan?

To gauge how important defence and security is to our glorious leaders look at the House of Commons discussing it (most of them are there to ask questions about the defence related jobs in their constituents)

Image: BBC Parliament

Standing room only!

Wait for it lovely boy…

Wait for it, wait for it

Paving the way for a full Strategic Defence Review the government will today publish a Green Paper, release is expected at 12.30

It is widely expected to state the obvious, we can’t afford to carry on as we are but then will confirm that we will be carrying on as we are, except for getting closer to France and other EU nations.

Expect the following to be on parade.

• Private Do More With Less
• Corporal Tough Choices
• Captain Ringfenced Afghanistan
• Sapper Greater EU Integration
• Admiral Diverse Threats
• Commander Smart Joined Up Across the Piece

and of course our old favourite

• Air Vice Marshall Efficiency Savings

KEYWORDS WILL BE

Agility

Partnership

Rebalancing