From: Adam <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the field.near
the bridge">

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6207267.stm

Following on from Mike Jackson & Richard Dannatt.....who were speaking
for the army...

"Sir Alan, who retired this year, told the Sunday Telegraph Britain's
world power status was at risk without them.

He told the newspaper that the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier programme was
the "jewel in the crown of the strategic defence review".

He said he had set aside œ3.5bn for the project, but warned: "There
are officials within the MoD who are casting lascivious looks at [the
programme].

"There is no doubt that the rats are out there having a nibble. If
Britain wants to remain a world power and to operate with a deal of freedom
around the world, these two carriers are vital."

He said reshaping the forces for "anti-terror" campaigns in
places like Iraq may risk the UK's long-term security.

He said it "was a recipe for disaster" for a defence force which
may have so much to do in the next 50 years.

Sir Alan warned that in 10 years' time the threat facing the UK could be
something "far more dangerous than terrorism in central Asia".

He said that by spending money on running rather than developing the armed
forces "all we could be left with is an armed forces that is
effectively a gendarmerie.

"And I suppose we would retire to our island and hope that no-one gets
to us.""

Tony "Am I Gladstone or Disraeli" Blair vs Gordon
"Scotty" (Ye canna take no morrrre cap'n) Brown....

In between the Mil.....

If/When Brown becomes PM my guess is that h will be the least favorite
candidate since Healy.

Adam

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5