SIMON JENKINS (Lovely new aircraft carrier, sir, but we’re fighting in the desert, Comment, February 24) rightly identifies the serious underfunding and undermanning of the army. But he misidentifies the culprits as the “brass hats” squabbling to protect “their precious toys” - aircraft carriers, combat aircraft and a replacement for Trident. Given that no one can know the nature of the next half dozen conflicts (how many foresaw the Falklands, Gulf wars or Afghanistan even a year before?) and the fact that wars are fought from tanks, ships and aircraft ordered 10, 20 or even 30 years previously, the service chiefs are right to strive to maintain a “balanced” force capability.

Perhaps when we come within missile range of a nuclear-armed Iran, we shall all be grateful to our maligned service chiefs, struggling to maintain a “balanced” defence capability. No. The culprits are the politicians, who committed our armed forces to the two most intense and prolonged wars since Korea, while being unwilling to vote the necessary resources.

The proportion of resources devoted to defence is today less than half what it was at the time of the Falklands - 2.2% of gross domestic product in 2007, compared with 5.1% in 1982. No one bears a greater responsibility for this than Tony Blair and his chancellor over the past 10 years. There is a moral obligation on those who will the ends to provide the means. We are calling for defence appropriations to a minimum of 3% of GDP - anything less and our front line will continue to shrink and our forces to bleed.

Winston Churchill President, UK National Defence Association

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