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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Armed forces 'face tinpot future' | Armed forces 'face tinpot future' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Britain's armed forces could be reduced to a "tinpot gendarmerie" because of a lack of investment, the former head of the Royal Navy head has warned. | Britain's armed forces could be reduced to a "tinpot gendarmerie" because of a lack of investment, the former head of the Royal Navy head has warned. |
| Admiral Sir Alan West said the Ministry of Defence was behaving "like these tinpot countries" that do not put money into major equipment programmes. | |
| He expressed concern that plans for two new aircraft carriers may be scrapped. | He expressed concern that plans for two new aircraft carriers may be scrapped. |
| Sir Alan, who retired this year, told the Sunday Telegraph Britain's world power status was at risk without them. | |
| He told the newspaper that the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier programme was the "jewel in the crown of the strategic defence review". | He told the newspaper that the Royal Navy's aircraft carrier programme was the "jewel in the crown of the strategic defence review". |
| He said he had set aside £3.5bn for the project, but warned: "There are officials within the MoD who are casting lascivious looks at [the programme]. | |
| 'Nibbling rats' | 'Nibbling rats' |
| "There is no doubt that the rats are out there having a nibble. If Britain wants to remain a world power and to operate with a deal of freedom around the world, these two carriers are vital." | "There is no doubt that the rats are out there having a nibble. If Britain wants to remain a world power and to operate with a deal of freedom around the world, these two carriers are vital." |
| He said reshaping the forces for "anti-terror" campaigns in places like Iraq may risk the UK's long-term security. | He said reshaping the forces for "anti-terror" campaigns in places like Iraq may risk the UK's long-term security. |
| He said it "was a recipe for disaster" for a defence force which may have so much to do in the next 50 years. | He said it "was a recipe for disaster" for a defence force which may have so much to do in the next 50 years. |
| Sir Alan warned that in 10 years' time the threat facing the UK could be something "far more dangerous than terrorism in central Asia". | Sir Alan warned that in 10 years' time the threat facing the UK could be something "far more dangerous than terrorism in central Asia". |
| He said that by spending money on running rather than developing the armed forces "all we could be left with is an armed forces that is effectively a gendarmerie. | He said that by spending money on running rather than developing the armed forces "all we could be left with is an armed forces that is effectively a gendarmerie. |
| "And I suppose we would retire to our island and hope that no-one gets to us." | "And I suppose we would retire to our island and hope that no-one gets to us." |
| Sir Alan is the latest senior military figure to speak out about issues affecting the armed forces. | Sir Alan is the latest senior military figure to speak out about issues affecting the armed forces. |
| Head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, and his predecessor, General Sir Mike Jackson, have also voiced concerns. | Head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, and his predecessor, General Sir Mike Jackson, have also voiced concerns. |