Britain Sells Land, Cuts Civilian Staff To Buy Defense Hardware

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg via Chicago Tribune

By Thomas Penny, Benjamin Katz and Bloomberg

LONDON - Britain's Ministry of Defence will sell off land, cut civilian staff and extend the lifespan of existing equipment in order to invest in new aircraft and vehicles for the army, navy and air force in response to growing threats including terrorism.

The government plans to make 11 billion pounds ($17 billion) in efficiency savings in the budget for the military and intelligence services, it said in its Strategic Defense and Security Review published on Monday. Prime Minister David Cameron announced the details to lawmakers in London.

Cameron set out an extra 12 billion pounds of spending on equipment for the armed forces. Companies including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics are set to benefit, with orders for nine Boeing P8 torpedo-fitted maritime patrol aircraft, a tripling of the pace of deliveries of the Lightning F-35 jet up to 2023, and the inclusion of almost 600 Scout armored vehicles in two new rapid-deployment "Strike Brigades" scheduled for operation by 2025.

"The bottom line of our national security strategy must be the willingness and capability to use force where necessary," Cameron told lawmakers in the House of Commons. "These investments are an act of clear-eyed self interest to ensure our future prosperity and security."

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-blm-britain-defense-d0b5798c-9209-11e5-befa-99ceebcbb272-20151123-story.html

[forest444]

1. Or the Royals could sell a couple of assets and cover the cost themselves.

But we can't very well have that, can we.

http://sxolsout.org.uk/56.html

[appalachiablue]

3. +1

[bhikkhu]

4. In any case, its better than eliminating social programs to pay for the military

which is the typical approach of house republicans here, at least since reagan

[forest444]

5. Absolutely. And it's very much to the credit of the British that they just would not stand for it.

Like we did, tragically.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. "Defense"? Really?

I suppose some of the intelligence money might actually be spent on defense, but let's face it, thr 12 billion pounds spent on torpedo boats, jets, and armoured vehicles are all offense.

[oioioi]

6. War's a Racket

War's a racket, so I'm told
Fought by sons for sins of old
It's good for business, that is all
Fine men go - and there they fall
Gone for some old geezer's gold

Leaden bullets, bought and sold
Big boats and all those guns they hold
Need a reload? You just call
War's a racket

Now the dead are not yet cold
But still we must be brave and bold
Though ghastly toll and bloody gall
Latest takings seem too small
To those dudes and the shares they hold
War's a racket

- nearbeer