Another review – Ministry of Defeat

[RAENORTH]

Colonel Blimp, you're still fighting the wrong war

by Philip Jaccobsen, Daily Mail

Although Richard North sets out to make the "case for the prosecution" of the British military and the political establishment for comprehensively bungling their conduct during the Iraq War, it is events in Afghanistan that make the book so timely and thought provoking.

The parallels between the two conflicts are inescapable, from the failure to learn from tactical mistakes to the desperate need for more helicopters.

View full article here

[Odins Raven]

Well done Dr. North. If your criticisms were not on target, they would not feel stung and would probably try to ignore you.

[Guest]

Money is funny stuff. Trident costs a billion pounds a year and is expensive. Offices chairs two billion.........

What I would like is breakdown on the costs of the MoD itself. The forces should manage their own affairs.

[Freindly Fire]

is the root of the problem at MOD/NuLabour/all politicians

Bribes are being paid. Full stop.

Banana republic.

[RAENORTH]

is the root of the problem at MOD/NuLabour/all politicians

Bribes are being paid. Full stop.

Banana republic.

I keep saying ... they don't do bribes. They give out consultancies and non-exec directorships as a reward for good and faithful service - with freebies in between ... VIP tickets to functions, meals in expensive restaurants, etc., etc., ... but you will be hard-pressed to find brown envelopes changing hands. This isn't the UN, you know. We do have some standards.

[elchig]

I read this review on Friday. Mostly positive, bit this did make me laugh:

"it appears he did not interview any of the senior military and political players, British or American". If the reviewer had even taken a cursory look at the DOTR blog he might understand why a warm welcome , tea and stickies and a long chat with the MoD and Service top brass was not made available. Would that be somewhere near the mark?

-- Iain