Generalship

'A country’, the saying goes, ‘gets the government (and the army) it deserves’. Fortunately, in Britain’s case, it frequently gets a better military than it strictly merits. A few years ago an opinion poll declared that the Armed Forces emerged as being higher in national esteem than the monarchy – and streets ahead of the Church, the Law, the Media or politicians. To be  so highly thought of at a time when ‘Options for Change’ of the 1990s were biting deep into the bone-marrow of all services speaks volumes for innate popular common sense, an instinct of national sympathy and respect for ‘the Guardians of the Realm’, and also for the high quality of leadership to be found amongst the ranks of the higher command. We now have the shocking news of unsatisfactory soldiers’  boots, tanks and even rifles. And the Army is still deep into Bosnia and Afghanistan, and possibly the Americans and ourselves will be marching into a bitter war against Iraq. Our tactics and logistics may indeed be weak, but surely we must protect our officers and men? But I am an optimist.