'There was no Plan B': (UK) generals tell of army on brink

Source: Scotsman

THE former head of the British Army has told how his troops were left exposed in Iraq by an "inadequate" helicopter fleet and a lack of top-level planning for post-war reconstruction.
General Sir Mike Jackson warned that the UK's helicopter fleet in Iraq was "creaking badly" and that air transport for getting troops and equipment to the frontline was even worse.

The damning revelations came yesterday as Gen Jackson and his successor as chief of staff Sir Richard Dannatt gave evidence to the Chilcott Inquiry into the Iraq war.

Their unvarnished version of events flatly contradicts claims by the former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown that UK troops had adequate kit to fight the war.

Gen Dannatt revealed that he grew so concerned over troop morale during the Iraq campaign that he wrote to then defence secretary Des Browne, warning that manpower was set to go "over a cliff" as soldiers simply left the service.

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/news/39There-was-no-Plan-B39.6445692.jp