Spot the Mistooks
The MoD has issued a glossy brochure that yet again, tries to hammer home the point that we are globally engaged, spend gazillions on defence and meet NATO 2% GDP and 20% on new equipment targets, unlike the other slackers…
Tag Politics
The More Things Change
It is always interesting to compare and contrast the ‘language of defence’ used today and in time past. This is from June 1981 and the then Conservative Secretary of State for Defence, John Nott. With permission, Mr. Speaker, I should…
Credibility in Defence
The MoD has recently described the SDSR process, how it has been inclusive and much more disciplined than the last fairly shoddy affair in 2010. Apart from the hiccup with the 300 word limit on public submissions it has been…
Corbyn on Defence and Security
It’s official, Jeremy Corbyn MP is now Her Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition and leader of the Labour Party. If it is political commentary you are interested, Twitter, Facebook and the web have gone into meltdown but what does this mean…
Ed Miliband and a Wrist Band
I don’t often write posts like this but there is a media storm brewing about Ed Miliband and a Help for Heroes wrist band and am in the mood for a rant (normal serious service will resume in the morning!) It…
By the number of retweets they shall be known
We got into a lively discussion last night about David Cameron on the Andrew Marr show supporting the #BringBackOurGirls Twitter campaign. Proud to support #BringBackOurGirls. pic.twitter.com/Ge5wDPzCAO — David Cameron (@David_Cameron) May 11, 2014 Criticism of the campaign has centred on…
Perceptions and Risk
Can anyone tell me why almost every armed forces related television drama portrays serving or former members as a PTSD victim or violent drunk, unable to cope with the mental stresses of everyday life? It seems lazy writers can acceptably…
Vernon Coaker MP – Speech to RUSI
This is a transcript of the speech delivered by the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, Vernon Coaker, at RUSI earlier today. I am honoured to speak to such a distinguished audience at the home of Defence policy and strategic…
Horses, Tanks and a Tale of Two and a Half Fuckwits
Well, what a week. As we all thought and with the inevitability of night following day the MoD will be facing yet more budget cuts. Sir Peter Wall, the Chief of the General Staff, fired a warning shot across the…
Addios Liam
There seems to be an undercurrent of sympathy for Liam Fox. I don’t mind about the short term and incoherent mess that was SDSR and I quite like the fact that he marked the cards of the defence chiefs whilst…