There will be a full scale defence review of the armed forces months before a general election. Such a programme can only be viewed with suspicion. It fits with the disgusting pattern of behaviour in this government that they ditch national security for partisan ends: aware that they face possible defeat, they wish to 'fix' the next Parliament and destroy any future government's room for manoevre. Any conclusions from this review should be treated with the utmost suspicion.
Whilst the armed forces, like ferrets in a sack, all have their own demands, protecting various weapons programmes. Whatever conclusions are cooked up will need to be revisited.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Mr Ainsworth would be making a statement on defence strategic planning.
The review comes at a time when the defence budget is under intense pressure, with questions over whether major equipment projects can be afforded at a time of looming public spending cuts.
A series of
senior military figures - including the head of the Army, General Sir
Richard Dannatt - have warned that some planned new capabilities are no
longer relevant to the challenges they face in the post-9/11 era.
Brown would welcome the opprtunity to exchange swords for a means tested, Labour goodie, vote for Laboutr tax credit.
