Another General piles in!

It looks as if the overshooting of Miami Airport might be the least of Tony Blair's Christmas problems as yet another senior British Army Officer, Major General Richard Shirreff - Commander of the British Forces in Southern Iraq - has joined in the criticism of HM Government with a sharp attack on 'the breach of covenant between the government and the military' and suggests that there has been a 'generation of serious underfunding and neglect'.





These follow hard on the amazing comments of General Sir Richard Dannatt (reported in a previous post) and of Colonel Tim Collins one of our most senior officers in Iraq at the time of the start of the war who has described the Ministry of Defence assertion that Defence spending has continued to rise as 'disingenuous'.

Added to all this the lads at the sharp end have brought out a new website called ARRSE, the unofficial British Army Rumour Service which claims on its Home page 'contrary to popular belief, we are not seeking the overthrow of HM Government by armed force, but aim to provide a useful, informative and amusing resource for all'. It is apparent from the wording that the army lads know they have to watch their step but it is equally clear that, from the top to the bottom of our armed forces, there is a confirmed view that British Forces are overstretched and under-resourced. It is equally clear that there is a lot of anger around right through the ranks.

We have an issue here which is reaching boiling point and one day not too long away something will give. I'm not expecting insurrection by the armed forces but one political commitment too many could soon result in one or more top generals making a stand along the lines of 'We cannot do this and I refuse to put my soldiers lives at risk in attempting it - so fire me!'