British Cuts to Military Concern U.S. Officials

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New York Times

British Cuts to Military Concern U.S. Officials
By MICHAEL R. GORDON and JOHN F. BURNS
Published: September 23, 2010

WASHINGTON — Plans by the British government to make significant cuts in defense spending have spurred concerns among American military experts about Britain’s ability to carry out its role as the United States’ most dependable ally.

A wrenching government spending review has pitted Britain’s army against its navy, spawned a series of leaks to the British media and raised the question of whether the military that emerges from the budget cuts — expected to be 10 percent to 20 percent of current outlays — will be a strategically agile force that can join the United States on major combat operations.

American and British officials said that they did not expect any cutbacks to curtail Britain’s capabilities to fight in Afghanistan over the next five years. But some American military experts question whether the British military will be capable of undertaking future ground operations that are as demanding as those in Afghanistan or to carry out simultaneous operations, including risky humanitarian missions, effectively.

With other European nations embarking on substantial military spending retrenchments, and the Obama administration committed to acting in concert with allies whenever possible, the British spending review has received high-level attention in Washington, including in a meeting on Wednesday between Liam Fox, the British defense minister, and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/world/europe/24allies.html?_r=1&ref=world

[Arctic Dave]

1. Maybe we could learn something from them.

Here's a little something to chew on, if you don't sell people weapons of war, you won't have to spend as much to defend yourself from those weapons. Think about it.

[Astrad]

2. I think the concern

is more about the example set than real security issues. Once one OECD country cuts its defense budget then the pressure is only going to increase for others to do likewise. I think this is more the source of the pentagon's unease.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. Maybe after Tony Poodle got them involved

in fighting in America's wars of empire, the Brits are finally reaching the same conclusion as USMC Maj General Smedley Butler - "War is a racket."

[Hardrada]

4. O gosh they can't help us rule the world anymore. DRAT!!

[Unvanguard]

5. US non-cuts to military concern everybody else. n/t