January 26th 2024.
As someone who has spent the past twenty years either serving in the military or covering defense news as a journalist, I can confidently say that British militarism follows a predictable pattern every year. It begins with generals and politicians lamenting the supposed lack of funding for our already well-funded military, even though they usually end up getting the money they ask for. Then, like clockwork, the topic of conscription is brought up.
This year was no different. Army chief General Sir Patrick Sanders gave a speech in Twickenham, expressing concern over the dwindling recruitment numbers for the UK's Armed Forces and emphasizing the need for a "Citizen Army" to prepare for potential conflict with Russia. This sparked a frenzy of debate about conscription.
I have seen this play out time and time again throughout my years in the military and as a defense journalist, including my deployments to Afghanistan. But this time, the discussion took a different turn, as General Sanders himself clarified that he is not in favor of conscription. Despite this, the topic has sparked a heated debate both online and in the press.
In my opinion, these calls for conscription should be seen in the same light as other moral panics, such as the "Stop the Boats" campaign and calls to bring back hanging. They stem from a cynical mindset and tap into a nostalgic desire for a time when Britain was seen as a powerful and disciplined nation.
It is worth noting that Britain still operates on a mindset that dates back to 1945. This is evident in the way some people view conscription as a means of improving or disciplining the nation. Even Tory MP Tobias Elwood remarked on this, stating that the world has a "1939 feel" to it, the year conscription was implemented for World War 2.
These calls for conscription are not only misguided, but they also serve to distract from the real issues at hand. The military and the state must constantly justify their massive and wasteful war spending, while pensioners are left to struggle through five months of freezing temperatures every year.
It's also worth mentioning that on the day of General Sanders' speech, Palestine liberation protesters made their voices heard by painting Twickenham stadium red, drawing attention to the ongoing tragedy in Gaza. It serves as a reminder that while we may be discussing conscription and preparing for a hypothetical war, there are real conflicts and injustices happening in the world that deserve our attention.
As someone who has spent the past twenty years either actively serving in the military or closely observing it as a defense journalist, I can confidently say that British militarism operates on an annual cycle of familiar patterns. These include impassioned speeches by army generals and politicians bemoaning the lack of funds for our already well-funded armed forces, despite the fact that they usually receive the necessary resources. And inevitably, the topic of conscription is brought up, triggering a frenzy of debates and discussions.
Most recently, General Sir Patrick Sanders sparked a new wave of discourse when he emphasized the need to prepare for a "Citizen Army" in the face of potential threats from Russia. This led to widespread speculation about the possibility of conscription, despite General Sanders himself not being in favor of it. When questioned about the matter, both the Ministry of Defence and Rishi Sunak's spokesperson confirmed that there are no current plans for conscription. However, this has not stopped the debate from spreading like wildfire, both online and in the media.
In my opinion, these calls for conscription should be seen in the same light as other fear-mongering tactics, such as "Stop the Boats" and "Bring Back Hanging." They stem from a place of cynicism and tap into the nostalgic mindset that permeates British politics. It's no secret that our country still operates on a "Windows 1945" mentality, where conscription was seen as a necessary and even beneficial process during World War 2. Even today, politicians like Tory MP Tobias Elwood refer to the current state of the world as having a "1939 feel," the year when conscription was implemented for WW2.
But the reality is, these calls to arms are not made with the national security interest in mind, but rather to justify the excessive and wasteful war spending that benefits the military and the state. Meanwhile, vulnerable members of society like your grandmother are left to suffer through five months of freezing temperatures every year.
It's worth noting that just hours before General Sanders' speech, Twickenham stadium was vandalized with red paint by Palestine liberation protesters, drawing attention to the ongoing violence and suffering in Gaza. It serves as a stark reminder that while we debate the merits of conscription, innocent lives are being lost and communities are being torn apart by conflict. Perhaps it's time for us to focus on more pressing issues and find more productive and peaceful solutions, rather than constantly glorifying militarism and war.
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