David Dimbleby Lecture.

Smokeyjoe · 07-12-2006, 12:31

Hello All,
I watched the Dimbleby lecture last night (Wed 6th Dec) on BBC 1, it was given by General Sir Mike Jackson now retired, he is a very good speaker and made a lot of sense.
It was excellent he covered the future of the army and all the important issues such as Trident, deployments,soldiers pay and accomodation, families related matters , the closure of millitary hospitals and the treatment of injured returning service men and women.
If they repeat it as I am sure they will it will be worth the effort to watch it.
Regards to all,
Joe.

**Keith Jones 989** · 07-12-2006, 12:42

Agree entirely but now he has to watch his back for the Bliar Character Assassination (Deny Everything and Destroy all Critics) Team who will surely dump on the general from a great height, once they've sorted Assistant Commissioner John Yates who is investigating the cash for honours scandal!

**jungle1810** · 07-12-2006, 13:13

Hello Joe,
I am certain the BBC will repeat Gen Jacksons speech, we get more repeats from the BBC than a 10 cent cucumber.Look at the Xmas presentation of the BBc it is a load of ****.
Regards none the less Don.

**BennytheBall** · 07-12-2006, 14:22

Totally agree with Joe and Don, sometimes I ask myself what do we pay a tv licence for?
Benny the Ball

UKSniper · 07-12-2006, 15:39

It's a shame he never had the guts to do it whilst he was CGS.

**ap1** · 07-12-2006, 19:38

Originally Posted by UKSniper

It's a shame he never had the guts to do it whilst he was CGS.

I dont really want the serving guys to make any comment on this, But

Well said that man, the same thought crossed my mind as I listened to Gen Jacksons remarks as I drove to work. I have not seen the full lecture, but it strikes me that I would have liked him to have made those comments whilst he was serving, or was everything ok while he was CGS, and the good General just had a "Road to Damascus Moment" when his first pension cheque hit the mat.

Its seems that many of our top Generals now have the same poor code of ethics as our government ministers. I would really just like to see one of them resign over a point of principle. They are in a unique position in that they are head of an organisation that is based on comradeship, self sacrifice and leadership. He is not the only one, I noted that Gen Guthrie, who was very closely linked to the PM has also started to speak out, after remaining silent during his military service.

I have also seen the otherside, where senior officers will stand up and be counted, the Royal Welch has a proud history of that, such as..."Col Fury" during the 1977 Firemans strike and in the 90's Commander Gorazde Force, unfortunately they don't seem to make CGS.

Paul Hinge · 07-12-2006, 20:08

I listened to the whole lecture and found that although Gen Jackson started his arguments in a placid manner once he got into the nitty gritty of the life of a serviceman in the late 20the early 21st century he really let it rip. As a loyal soldier of some 45 years service he felt that he could not voice his frustrations in public whilst still serving. Without breaking any part of the Official Secrets Act when I sevrved as Sir Menzies Campbell's senior advisor some 4 years ago I had the honour of meeting this man and listen to his arguments with senior civil servants and believe me he fought tooth and nail to try and get what was needed and sometimes he got it, other times, (unfortunately to many times) he was fobbed off by Whitehall Mandarins who had never ever served in the Armed Forces. He's wotrth listening too. There are others who have taken over his mantle and will try their very best against the extreme odds to get Politicians to see that Civil Servants really don't know best.
If any of you have watched the programmes YES MINISTER and YES PRIME MINISTER the characters portrayed are more true to life than you would really wish to think!

Hingey

Smokeyjoe · 08-12-2006, 02:00

Originally Posted by UKSniper

It's a shame he never had the guts to do it whilst he was CGS.

Mathew,
I do believe you are being a little unfair, the poor General as all senior officers do has to answer to the government of the day.
If you watched the lecture you must agree that it was very good.
Regards,
Joe.

taffylooneytoon · 08-12-2006, 03:28

HI all, at first i thought he was the bees knees when he was in, but now when i think back he should have done more , he has sent troops out with not enough manpower resources and that endangers lives. It is his job to advise civil servants and Politicians what he can do with limited resources ,manpower, money, by agreeing to send troops he has endangered soldiers lives.
Its his job to make it clear to these civil servants and Politicians that they are not qualified to make decisions on military matters and thats why hes the top man.
I honestly think he overstretched the British army, and agreed to cut backs in army strengths as well which was really bad thing to do.
IF he had fought his corner and publicaly told the British press what mess we would be in,with out the proper resources,before we deployed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, maybe the government , would see less men killed in action and wounded coming home to be shoved in NHS wards with druggies geriatrics and staff who have no idea what care and treatment these men need.
This new man who has taken over has been slated for telling tony Blair what mess our armed services are in , good for him well done sir. VAL

Paul Hinge · 08-12-2006, 10:13

Val
I agree with what you said but what were his options resign! It's always better to fight your corner from the inside. Your point on Civil Servants shows us all how this country is in the mess its in. These people cannot be removed we only have to look back to what John Reid said about the Home Office "It's not fit for purpose!"
If they had the final sanction of losing their jobs for being unable to carry out what their bosses wanted they would soon buck up their ideas.However, this is not the case, they have a job for life, and belive me they will carry out every trick in the book to ensure they get their own way.
Our boys deserve better!!!
Last night on the news Blair and Bush made a joint announcement both men looked haggared and worried because they're busted flushes. Power corrupts...... they both thought they have a devine right to do what they did without consideration for the consequences both for the countries we have occupied and more importantly for our troops.....It's a mess which has to be cleared up soon!!
Hingey