Massive cut backs in Dutch Defense!

[Six Nifty .50s]

Originally Posted by 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...

I have the same sentiments about the decline of U.S. naval aviation, and I do refer to quality of equipment, not quantity. (Thanks to conservative politicians more than liberals). But, what are the realistic long term potential threats to your national security, other than terrorism and economic instability?

Main Battle Tanks are still useful in U.S. service but I don't think that we need to keep most of them. They are big, heavy, expensive to transport and supply overseas, and except for two short periods in the Middle East during 1991 and 2003, tanks have given us little return on a huge investment ever since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

[Ruy Horta]

I think that's the reasoning many apply.

Why do you need MBT in today's world?

IMHO you should be prepared beyond limited wars and counter insurgency.

The Dutch troops in Srebernica could have used some heavy tanks, instead they could rely on a couple of APCs and AVFs at best.

Tanks are still the main punch in ground warfare.

Having air and naval power is all nice, having special and airborne forces as well, but having heavy armor to support your infantry or punch through and cause havoc in depth is still as current today as it was in WW2.

IMHO