Below is printed a statement taken from a government website a few months ago.Why are they then doing the opposite of what they say?
The Government has no plans to reduce the size of the Royal Navy, to withdraw warships from operational service earlier than scheduled, or to place warships in 'mothballs'...:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Far from making cuts, the Government is investing heavily in the construction of new warships for the Royal Navy. We are introducing the new and highly capable Type 45 Destroyers, the first two of which have already been launched. We are building the advanced and powerful Astute class nuclear attack submarines, of which three are now on order. Above all, we are buying two new aircraft carriers which will be the largest ships ever built for the Royal Navy and which will provide the UK with the most powerful carrier force outside the USA. The Navy has also recently taken delivery of new amphibious assault and support ships which are vastly more capable than the ships they replaced.
It is wrong to imply that the costs of operations in Iraq and elsewhere are being met at the expense of the Navy. The additional costs of these operations do not fall to the defence budget, but are met from the Treasury reserve.
Only one Royal Navy ship, HMS Invincible, is being held in a state of readiness from which it would require up to eighteen months to return to operational service. She is being held in this state of readiness prior to her final withdrawal from service, as scheduled, in 2010, by which time she will be over 30 years old. The Navy has no plans to place any other ships in such a state of readiness.
Monday 4 February 2008
Wednesday 30 January 2008
Never Give Up
If you can dream, you can do it.
Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you have imagined.It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.
We fail because we give up, and we give up because we never had a plan in the first place.
It's always too soon to quit.
The reason why so little is done is generally because so little is attempted.
When you come to a roadblock, take a detour.Know yourself and you will win all battles.
The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.
Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success.
Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you have imagined.It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.
We fail because we give up, and we give up because we never had a plan in the first place.
It's always too soon to quit.
The reason why so little is done is generally because so little is attempted.
When you come to a roadblock, take a detour.Know yourself and you will win all battles.
The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.
Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success.
Thursday 24 January 2008
The Navy at the Boat Show
In the words of the Royal Navy -
Portsmouth-based warship HMS Exeter has been playing a starring role at this year's London Boat Show currently taking place at the ExCel centre.The Type 42 destroyer - a veteran of the Falklands conflict of 1982 - will host several high-profile receptions, lunches and dinners on behalf of show organisers during the ten-day event at ExCel which began on Friday 11 January 2008.And the vessel is also open daily to visitors - more than 25,000 are expected to go on board over the ten days to learn about the role of the modern Royal Navy and how it fits in with the UK maritime community. Royal Navy frigates have been popular attractions at the show since 2004 but this year is the first time a destroyer has been involved.Exeter's Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Brown, said: "I am delighted and extremely proud that HMS Exeter has been given the opportunity to represent the Royal Navy at one of the country's most important maritime events."The RN is as relevant today as any point in its history and it is fitting that we are at the show as an integral part of the UK's maritime community."He added: "I hope that we will be able to give the public a flavour of life on board a warship and some idea of what the RN does when we are out of sight over the horizon."Type 42 destroyers form the backbone of the Royal Navy's anti-air capability. They are equipped with the Sea Dart medium range air defence missile system, designed to provide area air defence to a group of ships whilst being effective against surface targets at sea. In addition to their role as an air defence platform, Type 42 destroyers operate independently carrying out patrol and boarding operations
Portsmouth-based warship HMS Exeter has been playing a starring role at this year's London Boat Show currently taking place at the ExCel centre.The Type 42 destroyer - a veteran of the Falklands conflict of 1982 - will host several high-profile receptions, lunches and dinners on behalf of show organisers during the ten-day event at ExCel which began on Friday 11 January 2008.And the vessel is also open daily to visitors - more than 25,000 are expected to go on board over the ten days to learn about the role of the modern Royal Navy and how it fits in with the UK maritime community. Royal Navy frigates have been popular attractions at the show since 2004 but this year is the first time a destroyer has been involved.Exeter's Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Brown, said: "I am delighted and extremely proud that HMS Exeter has been given the opportunity to represent the Royal Navy at one of the country's most important maritime events."The RN is as relevant today as any point in its history and it is fitting that we are at the show as an integral part of the UK's maritime community."He added: "I hope that we will be able to give the public a flavour of life on board a warship and some idea of what the RN does when we are out of sight over the horizon."Type 42 destroyers form the backbone of the Royal Navy's anti-air capability. They are equipped with the Sea Dart medium range air defence missile system, designed to provide area air defence to a group of ships whilst being effective against surface targets at sea. In addition to their role as an air defence platform, Type 42 destroyers operate independently carrying out patrol and boarding operations
Monday 21 January 2008
What Does The Royal Navy Do Today? Their Own Words
The Sharp End
In recent years, personnel of the
Royal Navy and Royal Marines
have seen active service in the
Gulf region, the Balkans, Afghanistan
and Sierra Leone, to name just a few.
Active Duty In UK Waters
The Royal Navy protects UK ports
and shipping from the threats of
terrorism, drug smuggling, illegal
fishing and pollution. To do this
our ships, submarines and aircraft
patrol an area of sea that covers
over 80,000 square miles around
our coastline.
Policing The World’s Oceans
Ships of the Royal Navy regularly
patrol waters around the
Caribbean, Cyprus, Gibraltar,
the Gulf and the Falkland Islands
to provide defence or act as a
deterrent against terrorism, illegal
immigration and drug trafficking.
Royal Marines Commandos also
regularly work alongside their
counterparts in the Surface Fleet as
members of the Fleet Standby Rifle
Troop – a rapid-response Task
Group, which has the specialist
skills to board and search ships
quickly and effectively, if required.
Nuclear Deterrent
Trident is the weapon system that
provides the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
The Submariners of the Royal
Navy’s ballistic submarines are
the sole custodians of this system.
They operate out of a Naval Base
in Faslane, Scotland.
Humanitarian Relief
Following recent catastrophes,
Royal Navy personnel have helped
restore power to hospitals, assisted
hard-pressed medical teams and
cleared runways so that emergency
relief flights could land. In addition
to helping with these relief efforts,
the Royal Marines also act to
secure disaster-hit areas so that
aid teams can operate safely
and efficiently.
In recent years, personnel of the
Royal Navy and Royal Marines
have seen active service in the
Gulf region, the Balkans, Afghanistan
and Sierra Leone, to name just a few.
Active Duty In UK Waters
The Royal Navy protects UK ports
and shipping from the threats of
terrorism, drug smuggling, illegal
fishing and pollution. To do this
our ships, submarines and aircraft
patrol an area of sea that covers
over 80,000 square miles around
our coastline.
Policing The World’s Oceans
Ships of the Royal Navy regularly
patrol waters around the
Caribbean, Cyprus, Gibraltar,
the Gulf and the Falkland Islands
to provide defence or act as a
deterrent against terrorism, illegal
immigration and drug trafficking.
Royal Marines Commandos also
regularly work alongside their
counterparts in the Surface Fleet as
members of the Fleet Standby Rifle
Troop – a rapid-response Task
Group, which has the specialist
skills to board and search ships
quickly and effectively, if required.
Nuclear Deterrent
Trident is the weapon system that
provides the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
The Submariners of the Royal
Navy’s ballistic submarines are
the sole custodians of this system.
They operate out of a Naval Base
in Faslane, Scotland.
Humanitarian Relief
Following recent catastrophes,
Royal Navy personnel have helped
restore power to hospitals, assisted
hard-pressed medical teams and
cleared runways so that emergency
relief flights could land. In addition
to helping with these relief efforts,
the Royal Marines also act to
secure disaster-hit areas so that
aid teams can operate safely
and efficiently.
Sunday 20 January 2008
Defence Spending Fiddle (from the Spectator)
Des Browne’s Defence Spending Fiddle Fraser Nelson
The government's response to the Thursday attack by the defence chiefs was to claim that Britain has the second-highest defence spending in the world. It was a new one to me. Does Britain really outspend Russia, with its phenomenal ballistic output? Or China, the communist superpower whose soaring military budget is deeply unnerving the Pentagon? How did Des Browne conjure up the figure?
My inquiries have established that the MoD has used the old accounting fiddle of using unadjusted (and, therefore, misleading) currency translations. As any fule kno, the only way to do any meaningful international comparisons is to use purchasing power parity (PPP) measures – adjusted for how much arms their money can go. What China spends, for example, may not buy much more than half a Eurofighter in Britain. But at home it's enough for 1.6m troops and 7,100 tanks: substantially ahead of a British Army which has fewer troops than at any time since the 19th century. (And did I mention that we're fighting two wars?) I actually have the raw workings of the MoD on this one. It's from the Stockholm Peace Institute, available on PDF here. The dodgy (MER Dollar) figures which Des Browne gave to us are on the left, and the real (PPP) figures which he didn't give us are on the right. Old Des obviously learnt a trick or two during the year he spent working for Brown at the Treasury.
The government's response to the Thursday attack by the defence chiefs was to claim that Britain has the second-highest defence spending in the world. It was a new one to me. Does Britain really outspend Russia, with its phenomenal ballistic output? Or China, the communist superpower whose soaring military budget is deeply unnerving the Pentagon? How did Des Browne conjure up the figure?
My inquiries have established that the MoD has used the old accounting fiddle of using unadjusted (and, therefore, misleading) currency translations. As any fule kno, the only way to do any meaningful international comparisons is to use purchasing power parity (PPP) measures – adjusted for how much arms their money can go. What China spends, for example, may not buy much more than half a Eurofighter in Britain. But at home it's enough for 1.6m troops and 7,100 tanks: substantially ahead of a British Army which has fewer troops than at any time since the 19th century. (And did I mention that we're fighting two wars?) I actually have the raw workings of the MoD on this one. It's from the Stockholm Peace Institute, available on PDF here. The dodgy (MER Dollar) figures which Des Browne gave to us are on the left, and the real (PPP) figures which he didn't give us are on the right. Old Des obviously learnt a trick or two during the year he spent working for Brown at the Treasury.
55 billion reasons to say no
So now the good old UK government is on the verge of bailing out Northern Rock Bank, by nationalising it, having already given this great institution £ 55 billion. That is just about $ 110 billion.
What is wrong with this? Quite a lot.
Banks are entrusted with our money and they spend it while we don't have it and we trust them to do it wisely. They then charge us for using it.
So when a bank goes into meltdown, it has happened because of its own bad management of its shareholder and account holder money. Global circumstances? No, I don't think so. Local circumstances maybe.
It is all the fault of the private investor who had his home reposessed. That is what we are told..
Well, who gave the person the money?
Who gets the house and then sells it? That is not a loss. The money should be regained from the forced sale, or at least most of it.
So it is not the investor's fault.
This country cannot afford to buy proper armoured protection for its soldiers on active service overseas. That is what we are told.
This country cannot afford to have a Navy with the necessary numbers of ships. That is what we are told.
This country cannot afford to properly equip or maintain its air force. That is what we are told.
Public sector pay increases cannot be afforded. That is what we are told.
Hospital budgets, school budgets have to be cut. That is what we are told.
There was no money to help Rover Group and save thousands of jobs. That is what we were told.
But there is £ 55 billion to bale out a small group of overpaid bankers who can't manage other people's money properly and, no doubt, billions more available when this bank is nationalised.
We are told that we must look at he big picture and think of the effects this would have if Northern Rock collapsed.
The big picture?
We have a balance of payments deficit that is bigger than it has ever been. That means we are importing and buying more than we are making and exporting.
We are so chronically short of inward investment that we are losing markets and losing the skills base vital to a strong economy.
We are not far short of having two million people out of work.
Our armed forces are so weak and demoralised that we could not fight a full scale conventional war and may be forced into using tactical or strategic nuclear weapons in order to defend ourselves in a time of crisis.
That is part of the big picture.
I am sure you can add to the list.
What is wrong with this? Quite a lot.
Banks are entrusted with our money and they spend it while we don't have it and we trust them to do it wisely. They then charge us for using it.
So when a bank goes into meltdown, it has happened because of its own bad management of its shareholder and account holder money. Global circumstances? No, I don't think so. Local circumstances maybe.
It is all the fault of the private investor who had his home reposessed. That is what we are told..
Well, who gave the person the money?
Who gets the house and then sells it? That is not a loss. The money should be regained from the forced sale, or at least most of it.
So it is not the investor's fault.
This country cannot afford to buy proper armoured protection for its soldiers on active service overseas. That is what we are told.
This country cannot afford to have a Navy with the necessary numbers of ships. That is what we are told.
This country cannot afford to properly equip or maintain its air force. That is what we are told.
Public sector pay increases cannot be afforded. That is what we are told.
Hospital budgets, school budgets have to be cut. That is what we are told.
There was no money to help Rover Group and save thousands of jobs. That is what we were told.
But there is £ 55 billion to bale out a small group of overpaid bankers who can't manage other people's money properly and, no doubt, billions more available when this bank is nationalised.
We are told that we must look at he big picture and think of the effects this would have if Northern Rock collapsed.
The big picture?
We have a balance of payments deficit that is bigger than it has ever been. That means we are importing and buying more than we are making and exporting.
We are so chronically short of inward investment that we are losing markets and losing the skills base vital to a strong economy.
We are not far short of having two million people out of work.
Our armed forces are so weak and demoralised that we could not fight a full scale conventional war and may be forced into using tactical or strategic nuclear weapons in order to defend ourselves in a time of crisis.
That is part of the big picture.
I am sure you can add to the list.
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