Disappointing lack of focus on defence and security on the general election campaign trail - Yorkshire Post Letters

The latest Yorkshire Post item by Patrick Mercer (09/06/24) should make readers take notice of what he writes on security and defence and the threat from Putin and Russia.

It is disappointing that defence and security have had little mention during the election campaign, there is a war going on in Europe, in Ukraine, where a nation and its people are fighting and dying to preserve freedom and their very existence from the grasp of a Stalin like Putin, a former KGB high ranker.

The Ukrainian pleas for the weapons and ammunition that would enable them to hit Russian bases, missile and air force sites up to and beyond the Russian border make sense in strategic and tactical sense.

Knowing that his forces have been immune to any such strikes, thanks to craven Biden and Scholz, gives him much leeway.

Putin has made regular threats including nuclear ones so often, he cannot be insane enough to contemplate first strike.

It remains to be seen just how effective the relaxing of restrictions by Biden is and will he go further.

I doubt it, it is not in his nature to make strong decisions, I read reports when Barack Obama authorised the decision to go after Osama bin Laden, Biden voted against?

Talking of the Germans, lax security standards for them, Scholz revealing openly that NATO members have forces in Ukraine, and a Luftwaffe general discussing secret matters on a mobile phone with no security, the Russians picked up his comments and made them public.

This crass, moronic German officer, was he sacked? No, not a surprise?

Here we have had Sunak and Defence Secretary Shapps telling us how much more secure we would be with them in power, forgetting to mention the deep cuts in defence spending and armed force numbers, since their election win in 2010, along with the austerity cuts that have inflicted so much pain and distress. Cameron and Osborne started this slashing of defence spending,

Imagine for a moment where the Ukrainians are compelled to accept a 'peace' leaving Putin to retain the lands he has taken, a peace demanded by the likes of Biden and Scholz.

What next, the Baltic States, Poland?

Biden could then campaign for a second term, waving a piece of paper 'peace in our time', and Putin would plan for his next assault on Ukraine.

Where would NATO stand then, Poland and the Baltic States are in NATO.