 |
| Peter Koch |
Peter Koch has profited from German pacifism for two decades: his company on the outskirts of this Thuringian village dismantles army tanks.
But as the Ukraine crisis endures, Mr. Koch worries that business may run dry. For the first time in years, Germany wants to stop shrinking its army.
 |
| Armored vehicles slated to be scrapped on the grounds of Battle Tank Dismantling GmbH Koch, in Rockensussra, Germany, this month. Photo: Anton Troianovski/WSJ |
“I’m worried about how things will go on,” Mr. Koch said at his tank-destruction facility, where hundreds of old armored vehicles sit waiting to be blow-torched, drained of liquids and picked apart. “I just want to keep scrapping.”
Plenty has been scrapped already: Over the years, for instance, Germany has whittled its Cold War arsenal of 2,125 Leopard 2 battle tanks to close to a goal of 225.Read the rest of the story HERE.
 |
| General Raymond Odierno |
At this time of mounting global uncertainty, Britain needs a strong defence to deter potential aggressors.
Last week we learned that Raymond Odierno, the top general in the US Army, is ‘very concerned’ by the falling levels of our defence spending – and even suggested that British brigades might have to operate within US divisions on future operations.
 |
| A British Typhoon jet, bottom, is seen intercepted one of two Russian 'Bear' aircraft near British airspace |
This should certainly make us pause for thought.
As a bare minimum, Britain must abide by its Nato commitment to spend two per cent of GDP on defence.
We are hovering around this figure and forecasts suggest we will shortly fall below the threshold. This would be a grave mistake.
Maintaining a capable military can do much to prevent conflict, as Nato proved throughout the Cold War.Read the rest of the story HERE.
If you like what you see, please "Like" us on Facebook either here or here. Please follow us on Twitter here.
No comments:
Post a Comment