We are all well aware of the strains currently facing our Armed Forces and the shortages in essential equipment that have been highlighted both in the media and on the floors of both Houses.

Although we still need to see more from our allies in efforts in Afghanistan in particular, it is clear that with a limited defence budget that is not set to get any bigger; over £1.2bn spent on Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs) to meet immediate demands in 2007 and 2008 alone; and key equipment needed on the front line we need to be asking ourselves a few questions and would like you to give us some of your thoughts: Read more »

A capabilities question this week - Do we need two new aircraft carriers?

There are a range of opinions on this issue from many different quarters. Whilst some argue that they are essential platforms for our force projection, especially when reaching landlocked countries, others believe that they are expensive ‘White Elephants’ that have a very limited role in our future platforms. This debate has been compounded by the already visible delays in the Joint Strike Fighters that are due to be used on the carriers.

We want to know how you see aircraft carriers:

• Are they invaluable platforms for the future of our forces or expensive and out-of-date remnants of a by-gone age of conflict?
• What role can and should they play?
• Are there any alternatives?

The impact of the Iraq war and our intervention in Afghanistan is taking its toll on the troops and on morale, retention and recruitment. More than ever in recent history our forces are at a point of critical overstretch.

This week we want to ask what you think about the military covenant, the mutual obligation that binds the nation, the Army and each individual soldier and is meant to guarantee that in exchange for personal sacrifices and the forgoing of some personal rights and freedoms the Army are treated with fairness, respect and an adequate ‘duty of care’ :

• What is the real cost of operations and the impact of overstretch on our current operations overseas and the future for our armed forces?
• Is the Government doing enough for the armed forces?
• What more needs to be done to honour the military covenant?

As we mark the Fifth Anniversary of our invasion of Iraq, we are provided with another opportunity to look over what many may call one of the most controversial foreign policy actions of our Government in recent time.

The war has proved more costly than anyone could have imagined, in more than just monetary terms.

Although over £6.5billion has been spent on the conflict, over the five years since the invasion, 175 British service personnel have been killed and the number of Iraqi civilian fatalities ranges from between 90,000 to 1.2million. 

Sectarian violence remains a problem and rifts between communities still need to be bridged. Although some areas are experiencing increased stability and security, there is still a long way to go before the Iraqi people have the essential public services, infrastructure and resources that were promised to them.   Read more »