The Tyranny of Committee
Spotting the Spirit is a pre-requisite to its exorcism.
"Thank you for all coming to the meeting, I think it has been a great success. If I could just review the comments and actions from all departments for this Manouevrist Approach to Spending Committee.
J1: Gives their apologies - they are mid handover with ChatGPT, trying to resolve the retention crisis.
J2: Each bad thing considered in isolation over a specific time period is unlikely. Noted. So we can take risk.
J3: DETER is preferred to DEFEND anyway. This subtle change in high brow wording will give us a lot of flexibility as we continue to hollow. Helpfully gives the illusion of precision in language. "A Whole Fleet Management approach to Operations." TYFYS.
J4: I note you are in agreement with J3, but that you could do with more stuff for reasons of redundancy. I also note your comment that there isn't enough as it is, therefore actually reinforcing the justification for further reduction.
J5: The future is agile. Noted. Also an action point: find out why the future still hasn't arrived yet. The Chief of the Defence Staff is concerned about all the promises over the last few thousand years and is worried that there is some friction in the J5 to 3 handover. Please look at the Standard SOP Procedures.
J6: Nothing heard.
J7: New Defence Line of Development to simulate simulation is being taken forward - as previously noted, please make sure that it is the highest specification so it is as realistic as possible. Long term messaging plan to denigrate training of the past, synergised by the "Can't Be Too Careful" campaign. Main effort remains improving numbers on Standard Learning Credits and Maths Level 2.
J8: All forms to be doubled in length and content in order to increase monetary efficiency by PREVENTing spending. Dirlauth with J4 authorised.
J9: Contractors enable contraction. Stay the course. J2 confirms bad things are unlikely. Worryingly, some bad things did happen this year, but that is not evidence of a trend. J9 send out the annual memo condemning the bad things.
Also, many congratulations to Sarah on her promotion. She has been working hard sending the invites out for these things - always good to keep us hard charging military types honest. She also supplied the cakes. Thanks, Sarah.
Our successors will meet next year, same date, same time, same agenda."
I actually think that J3 has a good point (if by accident)! Deterrence is both cheaper and more civilized than defense - but while most people think only of nuclear deterrence, a capable army that also serves as a wing of the government that assists in infrastrucutre projects and relief could be a useful tool of statecraft.