UK army ot smug

[John A Silkstone]

UK Army 'Smug' And 'Complacent'

The head of Britain's military has labelled the country's armed forces "smug" and "complacent".

UK Army 'Smug' And 'Complacent' Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup said soldiers "rested on (their) laurels" when attempting to mount counter-insurgency operations in theatres of war.

Sir Jock, the Chief of the Defence Staff, said the troops' long experience in Northern Ireland was the reason for their misplaced confidence.

He also acknowledged the British's performance in Afghanistan had drawn criticism from some Americans.

And the Air Chief Marshal warned that such differences must not be allowed to "fracture and disintegrate" the cohesion of the allies fighting the Taliban.

"You are only as good as your next success not your last one," he told The Economist magazine, accepting there had been a degree of complacency within the Army.

The Ministry of Defence last night rejected claims in the interview that his comments described the naivety of British troops in Afghanistan.

Sir Jock had referred to conduct in Iraq, the MoD said.

"Initially in Iraq our traditional counter-insurgency strategies, developed on successes in Northern Ireland, needed to evolve to meet the changing threat," a spokesman said.

A "fundamental reappraisal" of Britain's counter-insurgency training, doctrine and structures was now under way and would be completed shortly, Sir Jock said.

He also issued a word of warning if, as is expected, US President Barack Obama asks Britain and other Nato allies to send more troops to Afghanistan in an effort to secure a strategic breakthrough.

"We will have some capacity, if required, to provide more forces for Afghanistan but it will be a limited capacity," he said.

He called on other European allies to take on "the burden" of fighting against the Taliban.

[Bombardier]

If there is any degree of complacency then it is down to the people leading our brave lads and lasses not they themselves, furthermore our forces are stretched to their limits and morale will probably be lower than it should be, this is compounded by the lack of support from people back home and the lack of assistance from the MOD to support those of us that do want to back our boys and girls by sending them parcels of goodies and neccesities.

Seems to be a very sweeping and little thought out comment that will do more harm than good to our heroes.

Our tactics should be well honed given that we have been in theatre for quite some time now and I doubt that very little of that learnt from Northern Ireland will be of relevance in this strikingly different conflict.

What do I think of Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup well lets say...get out of the officers mess drinking your feckin G n T and do something about it you muppet, Oh yes and stop whinging.

Salute

[Hollis]

It is not the fortitude of those who serve that is in question, it is the fortitude of the elected officials that is completely lacking. Something both of our countries share in.

[03Fox2/1]

It is not the fortitude of those who serve that is in question, it is the fortitude of the elected officials that is completely lacking. Something both of our countries share in.

Well said Hollis ! And I agree with Bombardier, it is the U.K. military leaders who are complacent and in my opinion, out of touch with the reality of the ground war situation in Afghanistan.

I also want to address another remark made by Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup. He mentions that there have been some complaints about the British troops by American commanders.

Perhaps this is based on some of the recent newspaper articles in the British press that have been based on reported leaks by unknown American sources. Recently, one of these reports expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the British military in Iraq. Or perhaps these remarks are based on the chilly relationship between our newly elected President Obama and the current British Ambassador to America in Washington, D.C., someone that has made remarks about Obama, calling him aloof and insensitive.

Regardless, in my opinion there still exits a very special relationship between American and British troops, a relationship that transcends the pronounced differences and difficulties that exist between out elected governments. It seems to me that this relationship still survives intact, despite the recent change in the British population with the huge influx of immigrants, especially of the Muslim persuasion and despite the tendency of Americans to look at the world through eyes less inclined to value another country's point of view.

I think the real problem with the British military in both Iraq and Afghanistan is the lack of political fortitude and resolve by the Prime Minister and the people of the U.K. to support their troops in combat against an enemy that seems less likely to surrender now, than ever.
It is not the bravery or the combat leadership of the British soldier in question, it is the lack of support by the very people that commit it to war. Insufficient funding, lack of equipment, weapons and ordinance and radios and night vision gear and methods of transportation and body armor, the gear for a modern war seems to be lacking and this is the responsibility of politicians, not troops fighting the war.

I prefer to get my information about the relationship between American and British troops fighting our common enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan from someone that I trust. And it is reported by someone there, with the troops, in a real time manner, as it happens, so to speak. I am speaking of Michael Yon, a correspondent and journalist who writes his own blog from Iraq. He serves with the troops, not the politicians and not the generals, but with the men that actually fight these wars. I value his opinion and his insight into the war is second to none. He's fair, he's honest and he's there.

Go to this site and read the dispatch "Red Flag" from Michael Yon, dated 01-09-2009 and make up your own mind about the relevancy of these newspaper articles questioning the relationship between American and British troops.

Semper Fi

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/red-flag.htm