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| Military cuts vital | Military cuts vital |
| (8 months later) | |
| According to Wing Commander Peter Daulby, a smaller army would put us at risk of not being able to cope with civil emergencies such as the G4S Olympics security debacle (Army warns of its own Games legacy: two years to recover, 14 August). How do other countries with smaller armies manage? | According to Wing Commander Peter Daulby, a smaller army would put us at risk of not being able to cope with civil emergencies such as the G4S Olympics security debacle (Army warns of its own Games legacy: two years to recover, 14 August). How do other countries with smaller armies manage? |
| Britain spends militarily twice as much relative to GDP as Europe's economic powerhouse, Germany (2.6% v 1.3% in 2011 according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute). Following the recent strategic defence review the military budget will drop by 8% or £3bn by 2014. The estimated £17bn annual savings from moving to the German level would help substantially to pay for the infrastructure – such as electrified and high-speed rail, Thames estuary hub airport, new housing stock and improved schools – our economy so clearly needs. | Britain spends militarily twice as much relative to GDP as Europe's economic powerhouse, Germany (2.6% v 1.3% in 2011 according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute). Following the recent strategic defence review the military budget will drop by 8% or £3bn by 2014. The estimated £17bn annual savings from moving to the German level would help substantially to pay for the infrastructure – such as electrified and high-speed rail, Thames estuary hub airport, new housing stock and improved schools – our economy so clearly needs. |
| We may punch above our weight in war and, since Beijing, in Olympic medals, but Germany continues to win the peace. Joseph Palley Richmond, Surrey | We may punch above our weight in war and, since Beijing, in Olympic medals, but Germany continues to win the peace. Joseph Palley Richmond, Surrey |
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