Sorry to have to mention this..........

[Unknown74]

I have just had one of the worst nightmarish thoughts I have ever had. I don't know wether I'm listening and reading too much paper talk but could it be theasable that in a few years there may not be much left of any of our Armed Forces to speak of? Hearing about all the proposed base cuts, equipment problems and (worse of all) another "full reaching" Defence Review (carried out by the numpties who say they run this country) the armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) could be extinct within another goodness knows how many years with who knows what sort of defence structure covering the United Kingdom. I also would like to state that IF (not when!) our Forces ever return from Afghanistan what future will there be for the Men and Equipment etc.

Sorry to be a bearer of more gloomy news but with all the stories about how our Forces are kept (mainly in contempt) and handled I would not even bear thinking about how our various means of Defence will look in the Years ahead.

[Unknown74]

LowLevel that is sort of where I'm trying to get at, unfortunately I don't put my point across that well as sometimes I lack confidence to say what I mean but I agree wholeheartedly with what you are saying. Countries need a good defence structure as pointed out in your post other nations are rearming and since the end of the Cold War I for one and I'm sure there are others, have been very suspicious of the likes of Russia. I have to say that although I am not an Anti War Campaigner (far from it - don't believe in CND, Stop the War) I've always said that I thought it was a mistake to go into Iraq in 2003, I would have gone straight after Bin Laden and his cronies who were responsible for September 11th 2001 as Hussein was never involved with what happened GedWBlair are the biggest pair of numpties thank goodness the pair of them are now far away from the World stage as they can be. Labour Party have ruined this Countries Defences.

[GOOSE]

Unknown74, you are amongst friends and your point of view is as valid as everyone else's. Please feel free to ask for help, if needed.

[Sheff]

I think it's pretty much accepted wisdom now that regardless of the predicted outcome of next year's election, the effect on our defences will be the same. Politicians have neither the ability or will to think in wider terms when it comes to defence needs and future scenarios. They're only concerned with short-term costs, winning elections and public popularity. Afghanistan is something of a separate issue but when we do finally pull-out, it's going to be impossible to persuade any politician that there is any need for significant defences. We know how they think - if challenged they would simply ask why we need defences. What threat is there or where could one possibly emerge from? What can you say to that kind of logic? Simply stating the obvious point that threats do emerge just isn't going to convince politicians who are trying to maintain power in a near-bankrupt country where health, education and taxes are the issues that win votes, not defence spending. Clearly, no matter how you look at things, defence spending is just going to get smaller and smaller.

It's almost pointless pointing fingers of blame at any particular party. No matter who controls the purse strings, there is no longer any appetite for spending money on something which we don't need (at least in their opinion). I'm not the only person who thinks that the F-35, carriers, Harriers and most of the Tornado GR4 fleet will all be abandoned before too long, along with Cottesmore, Wittering, Leeming, Linton, Lyneham, Benson, Scampton, Kinloss and maybe Marham too.

I fear that the subject is a lost cause. It's a tragedy, a disgrace, but probably inevitable. The only conclusion I can reach is that maybe it's wiser to simply accept the inevitability of future trends and look upon this subject purely in selfish terms and that as enthusiasts we should take any opportunity we can to see what there is to see while it's still there, before much of it is gone.