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Brown's Army Blues
Britain's Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a wish list.
The Sea Lords at the Admiralty want two new XXL-size aircraft carriers complete with American F-18s. Admiralty House also wants to maintain or expand other elements of the Royal Navy's surface fleet. And add new advanced nuclear-powered submarines. (Seven is the preference).
The RAF is keen on at least a dozen more Eurofighter jets. The army says it will be, more or less, content with a new selection of tanks, armoured vehicles and better kit for officers and troops.
The only problem is money.
The MOD's core budget has grown by barely one per cent a year in real terms since 2000. Britain currently spends over £30 billion ($60 billion) per year on its defence forces.
It sound substantial. But it amounts to just 2.3 per cent of GDP, below the world average.
(Anyway, the best armaments are expensive either imported or home-made and political dilly-dallying only increases their price).
The United States gives more than four per cent of its national output to its armed forces.
If penny-pinching prime minister Gordon Brown does nothing in the next budget to augment the UK's military capability, he will be unlikely to receive a medal.
