The British Military: Losing Its Way?

The Economist ran a piece January 29 questioning the abilities and direction of the British armed forces. Given the performance of British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, an introspective look by the Brits may be in order.

"The severe strain of waging two wars in faraway countries has been aggravated by undermanning and equipment shortages. More serious still is a new mood of self-doubt. The invasion of Iraq was controversial and its occupation inglorious; the campaign in Afghanistan is going badly. British commanders have belatedly realised that they have much to learn, or rather relearn, about fighting small wars in distant lands. 'We have lost our way,' says one general."

The Brits, among the staunchest of America's allies, left a lot to be desired in Basra. Restrictive rules of engagement and a premature withdrawal to an encampment outside the city allowed domination of the critical Iraqi town by militias and criminal gangs. In Afghanistan, British forces have been criticized for a lackluster performance by their American counterparts.

"Generals worry that the United States is losing confidence in Britain's military worth."

I think a loss of confidence extends beyond the British military. National caveats imposed by European governments have caused many in the American military establishment to question the worth of virtually every U.S. ally in NATO. The loss of confidence on the part of Americans is not unique to British troops.

This quote is particularly biting: "...a popular quip among Americans in Afghanistan is that ISAF, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan which prominently includes the British forces, really stands for 'I Saw Americans Fight'. After the death of 320 British soldiers in America's 'war on terror', such jokes are especially wounding."

Part of the problem is funding, which affects not only manpower levels, but training resources and equipment quality and quantity. According to the Economist, the UK spends just over 2 1/2 percent of GDP on defense. And while that figure is more than other European countries like France and Germany allocate for military expenditures, it is also less than the United States' roughly 4 percent.

The article concludes that Britain desperately needs to review its defense policy, and in doing so needs to answer two questions: "Should the British continue to aspire to a global military role? And what sort of wars is the future likely to bring?"

I think the answers are yes, and long, drawn out insurgent wars of attrition. I also think the mindset in Britain is one of wanting to maintain a premier global status. As one general was quoted in the article, "We have to prove to the Americans and the other allies that we are still a capable nation militarily. The army may like the homecoming parades, but it has no desire to stay at home for good."

http://www.economist.com/world/britain/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=13022177