UK: are our chiefs-of-staff weak ?

Question

are they too worried about the answers they must give to their political masters to make sound tactical and strategic decisions ?

Answer 1

This guy was weak. He accepted without question the situation of poor/inadequate equipment for his men throughout his time as GOC. He retired to a desk, then retired completely, received a Knighthood for services rendered and then complained loudly about under funding for the forces and poor equipment.

He kept his mouth shut just to get a Knighthood.

I thought he was a fair guy until I read his article. If he really cared about his men he should have made a stand and said what he truly felt. Not let men go into battle poorly armed.

Answer 2

The convention is that they do not embarrass their political masters. There is good reason for this a soldier may argue with his minister in private and I am sure the language at times is salty but he can not go public until he retires. Let's be fair his pension is a grace and favour one and no doubt you remember Dr Kelly. The British Army has always been under equipped but not as badly as it is now. The clowns in power are aware of that but they would have to make some very unpopular decisions to correct it. Sooner or later they will have to because we cannot rely on allies if we are weak. The longer they leave it the greater the danger we are in. I understand that at the Royal Navel Gunnery School which I think was on Whale Island the gates had over them the following " If you want war then prepare for peace if you want peace then prepare for war" For me this rings a bell, I am no armchair theorist who is going to tell the generals how to win a war or indeed wants the waste of a war and tha is why I an of the opinion that those people we laughingly call a government should (as the Duke of Edinburgh once said ) "get their bl--dy fingers out"

Answer 3

I think General Mike Jackson is a perfect example of what you're saying, he felt politics were interfering with military tactics so he resigned.

Pity, I have a lot of respect for the man, seems like the kind of bloke who wouldn't mind mixing it in with the squadies.

Answer 4

why do you think that we have had unapposed traitors running our country for the last halfcentury. 36yrs as traitors and the rest planning it. its because the top politicians have the ability to surround themselves with yes men. yes men in the police, yes men in the foces, social services, any ministry you care to name, mike jackson should not have resigned, he should have stayed and organised a military take over. if the politicians are going to infiltrate military desitions then the military should infiltrate political desitions.
mike jackson should now go into politics, start his own party
get some of his retired mates behind him, and offer britain a choice, the choice to have full independent dominion of our own destiny, and give us a nation, not a foreign occupied state.

Answer 5

Soldiers of ALL ranks and Status HAVE to obey orders. Very few "politicians" have served in the armed forces, even fewer have seen combat. I would make it compulsory for all prospective "politicians" to serve a substantial period of time in the forces, prior to them being allowed to stand for parliament. Only THEN would they have an inkling of what they are asking our soldiers, sailors, and airmen to do!! Gen Jackson is a military genius, let down by the incompetence, of those bumbling idiots above him.

Answer 6

I believe they are. Most will only criticise once retired. This is cowardice, but politically expedient.

Answer 7

yes they are they seem to be scared of losing the wonderful authority they wield if they speak up and there's plenty they could say

Answer 8

Erm, this is a very vague question can you give more details