Britain:Leak reveals crisis in army

[cal04]

The full extent of the financial crisis affecting the British army has been revealed in a leaked Whitehall document obtained by The Observer. The memo, written by the MoD's second most senior civil servant, has sparked fears that requests by commanders for vital equipment to save the lives of troops in Afghanistan and Iraq may not be met.

Ian Andrews admits that the budget for the acquisition of new equipment for soldiers is among the worst affected and that 'painful measures are required'. He has even ordered MoD staff to cut travel expenses as the department attempts to cope with the cost of an army which is enduring its busiest period of operations since the end of the Second World War.

Union officials yesterday warned ministers that more troops will be killed in Iraq and Afghanistan because of the budgetary crisis. 'These cuts could eventually see more body bags returning to Britain as a result of inadequate equipment,' said an official who specialises in defence logistics from the Public and Commercial Services Union. He added: 'The cuts and plans to move logistics and procurement work pose serious risks to the effective provision of battle-winning equipment to troops on the front line'.

In the memo, dated 1 August, Andrews reveals he has imposed an immediate moratorium on hiring, to halt 'increases in military manpower... including temporary posts, or by the employment of full-time reserve service individuals'. The drastic decision comes at a time when the army is accused of lacking the manpower to cope with its responsibilities in Afghanistan and Iraq.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,1854478,00.html

[soothsayer]

1. guess the whole NWO crowd are bankrupting their countries.

Nice.

[whistle]

2. So, excessive spending and corruption with little to show is rampant

...in the U.K. as well. The synergists must be having s rip-roaring tea party all around the great powers.

[Demeter]

3. So, Is Blair Toast, Finally?

We got to take his poodle away, if we want Dubya totally unglued.

[POAS]

4. coalition of the bankrupt

[mom cat]

5. If you can't afford a bloody war, then don't have one!