Sir Richard Dannatt's blunders over Afghanistan

[Gromit]

Sir Richard Dannatt has been very vocal in attacking the Government's record in Afghanistan this week. But, apparently he made a series of blunders himself...

iMilitary sources claimed Sir Richard initially opposed the �30million purchase of 100 US-built Mastiff armoured patrol vehicles which have increased troops' protection against roadside bombs since replacing the heavily criticised Snatch Land Rovers.

The Mail on Sunday has been told Sir Richard preferred the ambitious FRES programme - Future Rapid Effects System - involving 3,500 medium-weight armoured vehicles. That project was quietly dropped last month amid fears over its cost and effectiveness.

Similarly, Army insiders say Sir Richard defended the use of Vector Light Patrol vehicles which are to be withdrawn after they proved too vulnerable to bombs. They also argue he was wrong to stick with the Future Lynx troop carrier helicopter, despite complaints that it is too small to get enough soldiers to the front line quickly. One source said: 'Dannatt has had three years to sort out these problems and should look at his own record instead of blaming everyone else.

'He got some big calls wrong and proved unable to change his strategy fast enough to cope with the rapidly changing tasks facing the Army.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-120063 0/General-Dannatt-turned-bombproof-vehicles.ht ml

Are these criticisms justified?
Where his attacks on the Government to deflect from his own blame for the right equipment not being ready?
Is this just Labour spinning against him?

[sag]

Let's face it, they hate to be caught out , so it's Labour spin...................AGAIN!

[anotheoldgit]

Another example of Gromit using yet another Daily Mail link.

Come out of the closet Gromit and admit The Daily Mail is the paper to get the stories.

But even I would not copy and paste from reports such as this.

'Military sources claimed'

'The Mail on Sunday has been told'

''They also argue he was wrong''

''Similarly, Army insiders say''

''One source said'':

Who are these people?

[paraffin]

Having read this article, there isn't one identifiable source for any of these quotes. Who's to say the newspaper hasn't made them all up?

I mean, had they attributed them to named individuals, it would have given the story some credence. Without that, it's just a lot of hearsay, a bit of a non story, really.

[Gromit]

AOG

Bit of a cotradiction in your post. You recommend the Mail saying they get the stories, and then you rightly point out that this one is absolute rubbish.

Good to see you agree that it is just Labour spin. What is a mystery is why the Mail is doing Labours' dirty tricks for them.

[anotheoldgit]

Wrong again Gromit I did not recommend the Mail, I was asking you to admit that they get the stories, since it was you who had posted the link of their story.

Where his attacks on the Government to deflect from his own blame for the right equipment not being ready?

Your words Gromit, not the Daily Mail's, not Labour's.

then you rightly point out that this one is absolute rubbish.

Good to see you agree that it is just Labour spin

You'd squirm your way out of any situation that showed you up for what you are Gromit.

[Gromit]

AOG

I asked an either or question

Where his attacks on the Government to deflect from his own blame for the right equipment not being ready?

or

Is this just Labour spinning against him?

I believed it was Labour dirty tricks, but I was asking what others thought so I asked if the criticisms were justified, where they just Labour spin against Dannatt?

Strangely, you have answered those questions and I agree with your answer, yet are still trying argue when we are on the same side.

How you can defend the Mail when they present rubbish such as this article, attacking Dannatt, that has clearly been planted by the Government, I don't know.

[buildersmate]

AOG
Instead of bickering with Gromit over his stories, why don't you pay more attention to your 'revelations' posted yesterday about our injured soldiers being hounded by the MOD. Or am I to assume you now realise the stupidity of that story.
As for this story, I'm not even going to try and explain what's really about to you pair. But here's a clue - UK plc hopelessly in debt, Gordon says front-line services aren't going to be cut, three guesses where the budget cuts are going to hit pretty soon. Its all about positioning.

[paraffin]

Gromit:

You're the one presenting rubbish by putting this up for discussion, a load of hearsay in one of the papers.

Never mind who's "spinning" against whom, how can you justify this load of twaddle which doesn't contain one quote from any named individual?

"Military sources?" More like Jacanory.

[Gromit]

paraffin

That is why I posted it.

[buildersmate]

That killed that one too, then.
Now maybe we can less of this twaddle taken straight out of the Daily Mail.