[Ruy Horta]

The current dutch conservative government is about to present the most radical defense cut back since the late twenties early thirties, proofing that politicians don't learn from history.

With the end of the cold war it is obvious that a force reduction was in place, but there comes a point where continued cut backs will degrade your ability to conduct combined arms operations.

Just one example. Our government is planning to remove all tanks (Leopard II) from its inventory. Just imagine an army with no armored force...it borders on the incredulous. With memories of our little armored cars in 1940 opposing the Wehrmacht one should think that no self respecting army general could accept having no tanks (no matter how many Apaches - and we have only a few - or anti tank capable AFV you've got - a MBT is a force of its own).

I don't have a blog, but I just have to vent my frustration in some way or another and this off topic sub forum will have to do.

The irony of it is that in the Netherlands it is the conservative right that seems to do the biggest defense cut backs, but it is the left that gets the blame when the shit hits the fan for being "pacifist".

Well I hope the generals remember who stabbed them in the backs.

An army without tanks....might as well pack the whole thing in and start a people's militia.

Madness...