Archie
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Army cuts 'prove Trident fanaticism'
08 June 2012
The British government's plans to cut army numbers by 20,000 have shown a 'blind fanaticism' for retaining the UK's nuclear deterrent at the expense of regular military capability, the CND has warned.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond's 7 June speech to the Royal United Service Institute's Land Warfare Conference saw him explain that entire existing units may have to be cut as the army restructures and reduces its headcount in coming years.
The number of regular troops is set to fall from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2020, with some of the reduction made up for by increasing use of reserves, contractors and allies, Hammond said.
"It is a mark of the government's blind fanaticism for maintaining a Cold War nuclear weapons system that they are willing to cut so deeply into what many will see as standard army functions," said CND General Secretary Kate Hudson.
"Despite being announced in 2010 in the SDSR, these cuts and growing reliance upon allies and private contractors are enough to shock staunch supporters of the military amongst Conservative MPs and demonstrate the lack of scrutiny the Ministry of Defence is under.
"It proves what CND said at the time, that the £100bn Trident replacement - as the MoD's most expensive project - should have been included in a full defence review. That review must take place before the Trident Main Gate decision, when we are confident there will be no case for building the new submarines."
A Cabinet Office review led by Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey is currently conducting a review into potential alternatives to the Trident nuclear deterrent, although the government has not committed to publicising the review's findings.
Army cuts 'prove Trident fanaticism' - Defence Management
100 Billion Pounds , that's 160 Billion USD on replacing just 4 Nuclear SSBN , 58 Trident D5 ICBNs and 160 Nuclear Warheads as well as maintenance till yr 2055
Now compared to that Indian Sea Based Nuclear Deterrent comprising 4 Arihant class SSBN , 44 K15/K4 SLBMs , and 60 Sea Based Warheads as well as a dedicated naval base , will cost us less than 12 Billion USD to build and 10 Billion USD to maintain over 30 yrs
08 June 2012
The British government's plans to cut army numbers by 20,000 have shown a 'blind fanaticism' for retaining the UK's nuclear deterrent at the expense of regular military capability, the CND has warned.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond's 7 June speech to the Royal United Service Institute's Land Warfare Conference saw him explain that entire existing units may have to be cut as the army restructures and reduces its headcount in coming years.
The number of regular troops is set to fall from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2020, with some of the reduction made up for by increasing use of reserves, contractors and allies, Hammond said.
"It is a mark of the government's blind fanaticism for maintaining a Cold War nuclear weapons system that they are willing to cut so deeply into what many will see as standard army functions," said CND General Secretary Kate Hudson.
"Despite being announced in 2010 in the SDSR, these cuts and growing reliance upon allies and private contractors are enough to shock staunch supporters of the military amongst Conservative MPs and demonstrate the lack of scrutiny the Ministry of Defence is under.
"It proves what CND said at the time, that the £100bn Trident replacement - as the MoD's most expensive project - should have been included in a full defence review. That review must take place before the Trident Main Gate decision, when we are confident there will be no case for building the new submarines."
A Cabinet Office review led by Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey is currently conducting a review into potential alternatives to the Trident nuclear deterrent, although the government has not committed to publicising the review's findings.
Army cuts 'prove Trident fanaticism' - Defence Management
100 Billion Pounds , that's 160 Billion USD on replacing just 4 Nuclear SSBN , 58 Trident D5 ICBNs and 160 Nuclear Warheads as well as maintenance till yr 2055
Now compared to that Indian Sea Based Nuclear Deterrent comprising 4 Arihant class SSBN , 44 K15/K4 SLBMs , and 60 Sea Based Warheads as well as a dedicated naval base , will cost us less than 12 Billion USD to build and 10 Billion USD to maintain over 30 yrs
