99 replies to this topic

[sam]

China or Pakistan would be the only possibilities from current nuclear powers (North Korea's a bit too far off), but anything can happen in the future

it would be a lot less messy for china to simply call in their debts!

our 'enemy' has changed, unless bin laden is cunningly doing his videos from a warship's bridge made to look like a cave, then we need to direct our defence spending at being able to stop lunatics wearing explosive backpacks.

[Millman]

Cameron has proposed to do one every 5 years.

The last one was in 1997 and a new one was well overdue.

It should be done/reviewed every six months as should all five year plans in a changing world, keeping the next five years in mind. I don't know enough about defence to comment too much, but there was a republican on the radio earlier agreeing with a labour shadow cabinet member that the conservatives cuts based changes rather than need based changes were crackers.

Some small communities will be devastated by these slash and burn actions; still they'll not be Tory constituencies so this lot won't care.

Edited by Millman, 19 October 2010 - 07:13 PM.

[bowes]

it would be a lot less messy for china to simply call in their debts!

True though they'll probably have their Red Army based in Ireland and Iceland before they call the debts in on us.

our 'enemy' has changed, unless bin laden is cunningly doing his videos from a warship's bridge made to look like a cave, then we need to direct our defence spending at being able to stop lunatics wearing explosive backpacks.

Apparently he may actually be living in luxure in NW Pakistan a nuclear armed state and the major source of Islamic terrorism (Saudis are another one though without nuclear weapons)

[Wendall]

What are all these army men gonna do now? Sign on the dole probably, they aint exactly got the skills to work in the real world at the moment. More unemployment on the way.....

[terrywebbisgod]

What are all these army men gonna do now? Sign on the dole probably, they aint exactly got the skills to work in the real world at the moment. More unemployment on the way.....

Army Men are called SOLDIERS and apart from firearms training you have mechanics,engineers,doctors,policemen, in fact most jobs that people do in civilian life.

[Wendall]

Army Men are called SOLDIERS and apart from firearms training you have mechanics,engineers,doctors,policemen, in fact most jobs that people do in civilian life.

Im talking mainly about the drop outs who went in the army for a way to get out of working.

But as you say there are some skilled workers in the army yet would a company employ them over someone who has worked in the real world, especially in this economic climate?

[WearyRhino]

Army Men are called SOLDIERS and apart from firearms training you have mechanics,engineers,doctors,policemen, in fact most jobs that people do in civilian life.

...most jobs that people DID in civilian life.

[terrywebbisgod]

Im talking mainly about the drop outs who went in the army for a way to get out of working.

But as you say there are some skilled workers in the army yet would a company employ them over someone who has worked in the real world, especially in this economic climate?

Yes,you'd be amazed how many ex-service personnel actually work on military sites in civilian roles.I've found that most ex-service personnel are actually better trained than people who have been trained in civilian life.

[sam]

Im talking mainly about the drop outs who went in the army for a way to get out of working.

ah, back to typing on an empty head, i see.

[Millman]

Yes,you'd be amazed how many ex-service personnel actually work on military sites in civilian roles.I've found that most ex-service personnel are actually better trained than people who have been trained in civilian life.

Trained yes, prepared debatable. The Prisons, for example, are full of ex-servicemen and this should be a real concern for not just society as a whole but for those in charge of the armed forces.

Wendall needs to do some growing up.

[Northern Sol]

Trained yes, prepared debatable. The Prisons, for example, are full of ex-servicemen and this should be a real concern for not just society as a whole but for those in charge of the armed forces.

Wendall needs to do some growing up.

How many were career military men though?

[Millman]

How many were career military men though?

I'm not sure what you mean by that term so no idea!

[Wendall]

Trained yes, prepared debatable. The Prisons, for example, are full of ex-servicemen and this should be a real concern for not just society as a whole but for those in charge of the armed forces.

Wendall needs to do some growing up.

But the Prison system is in chaos and won't be able to recruit some of the army types who would usually come out of the forces into a job such as a screw.

Bad times ahead for army men and women.

[Millman]

But the Prison system is in chaos and won't be able to recruit some of the army types who would usually come out of the forces into a job such as a screw.

Bad times ahead for army men and women.

I really admire the way you re-define the boundaries of stupidity on an almost daily basis.

[terrywebbisgod]

I'm not sure what you mean by that term so no idea!

Career military means people who have done more than the minimum term.

[Northern Sol]

Career military means people who have done more than the minimum term.

Yup. I'd guess that quite a few of the ex-military types in the slammer were kicked out of the forces for one reason or another.

[Millman]

Career military means people who have done more than the minimum term.

Thanks. Either way I'm not sure it matters; We have to understand how and why so many find their way into prisons, and I think we can reasonably assume that some of this is linked to their inability to secure rewarding work as it is; let alone at a time of cuts cuts cuts......

Anyway we digress.....

[Northern Sol]

Thanks. Either way I'm not sure it matters; We have to understand how and why so many find their way into prisons, and I think we can reasonably assume that some of this is linked to their inability to secure rewarding work as it is; let alone at a time of cuts cuts cuts......

Anyway we digress.....

It matters because some military men can't handle the discipline aspect and get booted out; if they can't hack civilian life either then it isn't particularly surprising.

What would be surprising is successful military careerists turning to crime. It happens I'm sure but probably not that often.

[bowes]

Trained yes, prepared debatable. The Prisons, for example, are full of ex-servicemen and this should be a real concern for not just society as a whole but for those in charge of the armed forces.

Yes that and they often end up homeless. It is really sad to see people end up like this after the military and while it's good there's so many charities to help ex-soldiers you'd have thought this is something that should be done by the government. 17,000 military laid off at a time when there may well be unrest (though the French do this more) is also a cause for concern as if they haven't settled it's more likely they'd get involved

[shrek]

typhoon a cold war plane introduced after the cold war long ended now being depolyed in Afghanistan

Bought on a cost plus contract as well, terrible business by the governments of the time.

During my days at British Aerospace I did a week "on the floor" with 8 RAF lads who had just got back from the first Gulf War, even back then they had to prepare two Tornados for everyone required so god knows what state they are in now.