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Britains Defence, Security and Intelligence services under strain
 
The present British Government appears determined to become the accepted  'policeman' in an increasingly volatile world.  Not content with the present level of UN & NATO commitment and a long list of often dismally unproductive peacekeeping operations, Mr Blair now wishes to waste yet more of Britain's fast diminishing supply of available front-line combat units to a stabilising force in Afghanistan.
 
By these actions Prime Minister Blair puts at serious risk the ability of the armed forces to react to an unexpected crisis, its overall combat readiness and the traditionally high-level of skill and training, Additionally it also seriously limits Britain's ability to play a real part in the ongoing War on Terrorism alongside its allies, the United States.
 
That the present Labour Government should so obviously mishandle defence policy may come as a surprise to the international media, but not to those who take a close interest in Britain's affairs. David Blunkett, the present Home Secretary is promoting changes which seriously risk undermining the morale of the Civilian Police Forces at a critical time and seriously misjudged the introduction of new anti-terrorist legislation.
 
While both the Home Office and Foreign Office have heaped many extra responsibilities onto both the internal Security Service(MI5) and the Secret Intelligence Service(MI6) in the wake of 9-11, but have not yet provided a really substantive increase in funding for either operations or extra personnel. Indeed in an era of increased risk of terrorism, both organizations have been concentrated into new and high-profile Headquarters and worse still, both buildings would be very difficult to defend against a Beirut-style attack.
 
GCHQ in Cheltenham,the prime intelligence gathering service has seen its world-wide network of communications interception stations, run by the Composite Signals Organization shrink as traditional techniques have been abandoned in favour of a virtual concentration on satellite-based acquisition platforms - a dangerous over reliance of on a single source that the NSA and CIA are now working hard to rectify within their own intelligence community.
 
However, GCHQ has instead concentrated on building its marvellous new 'Hi-Tech Doughnut' - a circular extravaganza with sports facilities and a trendy crèche - designed to replace its two present sites in Cheltenham, while its available numbers of intelligence analysts, codebreakers and interception staff have decreased.
 
Confusing and unhelpful signs in a time of war, but sadly in keeping with the British Governments muddled handling of Defence and Security policy. Britain is in urgent need of a genuine all-party consensus built on a reasoned understanding of Britain's capabilities, recognizing its limitations and sound planning for a difficult  future. Unfortunately, that does not deem to be a likely prospect in the near future.
 
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