Be ahead of the game.China will be world leader in 5 years' time,yet no-one,not even Mr Corbyn,can see it,it's China that must be heard and must not be ignored.It is v foolish and against UK's interest not to.
First, given the amingly obvious to the likes of you and me, we as a nation are not great at accepting cold hard truths in any policy area.
Ain't that so? In the case of Brexit we actually voted for muddle, when things were more sorted before. Maybe Britain is just
For those concerned about loss of sovereignty or d is Britain mediocre
we would struggle to beat a carpet nowadays.
Arguably the last time we lost a War was the US War of Independence buthout being alongside NATO or the U.N. and/or the USA
We have lost quite a few since then!
Pehaps most recently we left Basra and Helmand much as the US leut often it means "Out of their depth".
No that is not comparable at all.
In Vietnam the US left with Saigon in the hands of the Communist North Vietnamese. We have left Iraq in the hands of the elected Iraqi government not Saddam and the Baath Party.
She's we beat Nasser it was just US economic policy forced us to withdraw, Palestine and Aden were just products of decolonisatipn not military defeats. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK and was a series of terrorist atrocities and not a conventional war.
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces no
Let me count the ways you are mistaken.
But better still, listen to The Reunion, recently broadcast. See if your interpretation skills are sufficient to understand what happened in Basra.
Yes Gordon Brown had no stomach for the fight unlike George W Bush
So which was it, victory or defeat?
In the sense that Basra did not fall to the Baathists but remains under the control of the Iraqi Government it was not a defeat but that was down to George W Bush not Labour PM Gordon Brown who did indeed risk a retreat through his reckless recall of British forces from Basra
Ain't that so? In the case of Brexit we actually voted for muddle, when things were more sorted before. Maybe Britain is just
For those concerned about loss of sovereignty or had seen their wages undercut and services pressured by free movement without transition controls things were certainly not sorted before.
Nor compared to most of the 193 nations in the world is Britain mediocre
we would struggle to beat a carpet nowadays.
Arguably the last time we lost a War was the US War of Independence but we are unlikely to be fighting anyone outside of Argentina and Spain (and probably not even them now the Falklands and Gibraltar are relatively settled) without being alongside NATO or the U.N. and/or the USA
We have lost quite a few since then!
Pehaps most recently we left Basra and Helmand much as the US leut often it means "Out of their depth".
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces present but as it became more violent Gordon Brown decided to withdraw British troops leaving US troops to replace them.
So the fault for that can be fairly laid at the door of Labour PM Gordon Brown but Basra did not fall back under Baathist control no
We have the troops for surgical strikes, quick short-term interventions, stabilisation for development and training/education, but not for sustained heavy counter-insurgencies which tend to run for years and require tens of thousands and the cooperation of friendly local forces.
It was clear that HMG expected neither Iraq or Afghanistan to develop that way but couldn’t really cut and run once it did.
We went into Iraq thinking it would be like NI. We ignored the crucial difference that in NI there was an established order, against which "insurgents" rebelled, and which HMF were seeking to uphold. In Iraq there was no order for us to uphold.
The Red Arrows are living on borrowed time - the recent decision to extend the airframes to 2030 means that the production line will be closed, and there won't be a suitable UK airframe in production to replace them, except perhaps a son-of-Taranis drone. And for an alternative view, from someone who takes a more holistic view of British power, see https://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/redefining-reds.html
It's a lovely idea to pretend that we can just ignore the Middle East, but for as long as the world economy remains vulnerable to oil shocks, and we are part of that world economy, then we have an interest in ensuring free passage through Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb - it's no coincidence that just about every major recession has been preceded by a spike in the oil price. The fact that traffic has flowed through Hormuz for 26 years despite Iran and Saudi being engaged in low-level war is one bit of evidence that what we're doing there is doing some good.
And you could view the initial spread of ISIS as a direct result of Miliband's unwillingness to support limited action in Syria, whereas the retreat of ISIS came from Western intervention and support. There's no good answers, and the history is grim but complete withdrawal is not going to make things suddenly better.
It’s depressing if the RAF and ministers have decided to extend the airframe life rather than order new aircraft.
It strikes me as penny-wise and pound-foolish, just like the idiotic decision to delete cannon from the Eurofighter to save a trivial sum.
You want the government to buy RAFAT 10 x new Hawk T2s at 18 million quid each?
There are only 28 T2s in the whole fleet for LIFT so it’s not going to happen. The airframes haven’t been relifed in the structural sense. They are sustained by taking parts off the large supply of redundant T1s. A supply which is soon to increase when 100 squadron’s activities are privatised. However, some parts are more plentiful than others and for Reds it’s going to be canopies. Once that supply is exhausted no more T1...
The Typhoon has a 27mm Mauser cannon which has been used, probably to minimal effect, against ISIS on Op Shader.
Ain't that so? In the case of Brexit we actually voted for muddle, when things were more sorted before. Maybe Britain is just
For those concerned about loss of sovereignty or had seen their wages undercut and services pressured by free movement without transition controls things were certainly not sorted before.
Nor compared to most of the 193 nations in the world is Britain mediocre
we would struggle to beat a carpet nowadays.
Arguably the last time we lost a War was the US War of Independence but we are unlikely to be fighting anyone outside of Argentina and Spain (and probably not even them now the Falklands and Gibraltar are relatively settled) without being alongside NATO or the U.N. and/or the USA
We have lost quite a few since then!
Pehaps most recently we left Basra and Helmand much as the US leut often it means "Out of their depth".
No that is not comparable at all.
In Vietnam the US left with Saigon in the hands of the Communist North Vietnamese. We have left Iraq in the hands of the elected Iraqi government not Saddam and the Baath Party.
She's we beat Nasser it was just US economic policy forced us to withdraw, Palestine and Aden were just products of decolonisatipn not military defeats. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK and was a series of terrorist atrocities and not a conventional war.
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces present but as it became more violent Gordon Brown decided to withdraw British troops leaving US troops to replace them.
So the fault for that can be fairly laid at the door of Labour PM Gordon Brown but Basra did not fall back under Baathist control no
We have the troops for surgical strikes, quick short-term interventions, stabilisation for development and training/education, but not for sustained heavy counter-insurgencies which tend to run for years and require tens of thousands and the cooperation of friendly local forces.
It was clear that HMG expected neither Iraq or Afghanistan to develop that way but couldn’t really cut and run once it did.
Be ahead of the game.China will be world leader in 5 years' time,yet no-one,not even Mr Corbyn,can see it,it's China that must be heard and must not be ignored.It is v foolish and against UK's interest not to.
First, given the amingly obvious to the likes of you and me, we as a nation are not great at accepting cold hard truths in any policy area.
Ain't that so? In the case of Brexit we actually voted for muddle, when things were more sorted before. Maybe Britain is just
For those concerned about loss of sovereignty or d is Britain mediocre
we would struggle to beat a carpet nowadays.
Arguably the last time we lost a War was the US War of Independence buthout being alongside NATO or the U.N. and/or the USA
We have lost quite a few since then!
Pehaps most recently we left Basra and Helmand much as the US leut often it means "Out of their depth".
No that is not comparable at all.
In Vietnam the US left with Saigon in the hands of the Communist North Vietnamese. We have left Iraq in the hands of the elected Iraqi government not Saddam and the Baath Party.
She's we beat Nasser it was just US economic policy forced us to withdraw, Palestine and Aden were just products of decolonisatipn not military defeats. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK and was a series of terrorist atrocities and not a conventional war.
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces no
Let me count the ways you are mistaken.
But better still, listen to The Reunion, recently broadcast. See if your interpretation skills are sufficient to understand what happened in Basra.
Yes Gordon Brown had no stomach for the fight unlike George W Bush
So which was it, victory or defeat?
In the sense that Basra did not fall to the Baathists but remains under the control of the Iraqi Government it was not a defeat but that was down to George W Bush not Labour PM Gordon Brown who did indeed risk a retreat through his reckless recall of British forces from Basra
Come on HYUFD, you can say it, go on, you know you want to.
Ain't that so? In the case of Brexit we actually voted for muddle, when things were more sorted before. Maybe Britain is just
For those concerned about loss of sovereignty or had seen their wages undercut and services pressured by free movement without transition controls things were certainly not sorted before.
Nor compared to most of the 193 nations in the world is Britain mediocre
we would struggle to beat a carpet nowadays.
Arguably the last time we lost a War was the US War of Independence but we are unlikely to be fighting anyone outside of Argentina and Spain (and probably not even them now the Falklands and Gibraltar are relatively settled) without being alongside NATO or the U.N. and/or the USA
We have lost quite a few since then!
Pehaps most recently we left Basra and Helmand much as the US leut often it means "Out of their depth".
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces present but as it became more violent Gordon Brown decided to withdraw British troops leaving US troops to replace them.
So the fault for that can be fairly laid at the door of Labour PM Gordon Brown but Basra did not fall back under Baathist control no
We have the troops for surgical strikes, quick short-term interventions, stabilisation for development and training/education, but not for sustained heavy counter-insurgencies which tend to run for years and require tens of thousands and the cooperation of friendly local forces.
It was clear that HMG expected neither Iraq or Afghanistan to develop that way but couldn’t really cut and run once it did.
We went into Iraq thinking it would be like NI. We ignored the crucial difference that in NI there was an established order, against which "insurgents" rebelled, and which HMF were seeking to uphold. In Iraq there was no order for us to uphold.
I think we went into Iraq thinking it would be like Kosovo.
Ain't that so? In the case of Brexit we actually voted for muddle, when things were more sorted before. Maybe Britain is just
For those concerned about loss of sovereignty or had seen their wages undercut and services pressured by free movement without transition controls things were certainly not sorted before.
Nor compared to most of the 193 nations in the world is Britain mediocre
we would struggle to beat a carpet nowadays.
Arguably the last time we lost a War was the US War o/or the USA
We have lost quite a few since then!
Pehaps most recently we left Basra and Helmand much as the US leut often it means "Out of their depth".
No that is not comparable at all.
In Vietnam the US left with Saigon in the hands of the Communist North Vietnamese. We have left Iraq in the hands of the elected Iraqi government not Saddam and the Baath Party.
She's we beat Nasser it was just US economic policy forced us to withdraw, Palestine and Aden were just products of decolonisatipn not military defeats. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK and was a series of terrorist atrocities and not a conventional war.
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces present but as it became more violent Gordon Brown decided to withdraw British troops leaving US troops to replace them.
So the fault for that can be fairly laid at the door of Labour PM Gordon Brown but Basra did not fall back under Baathist control no
We have the troops for surgical strikes, quick short-term interventions, stabilisation for development and training/education, but not for sustained heavy counter-insurgencies which tend to run for years and require tens of thousands and the cooperation of friendly local forces.
It was clear that HMG expected neither Iraq or Afghanistan to develop that way but couldn’t really cut and run once it did.
It is the US who have the manpower for the latter
They may have the manpower but were and are as unwilling to use it as we are.
Ain't that so? In the case of Brexit we actually voted for muddle, when things were more sorted before. Maybe Britain is just
For those concerned about loss of sovereignty or had seen their wages undercut and services pressured by free movement without transition controls things were certainly not sorted before.
Nor compared to most of the 193 nations in the world is Britain mediocre
we would struggle to beat a carpet nowadays.
Arguably the last time we lost a War was the US War o/or the USA
We have lost quite a few since then!
Pehaps most recently we left Basra and Helmand much as the US leut often it means "Out of their depth".
No that is not comparable at all.
In Vietnam the US left with Saigon in the hands of the Communist North Vietnamese. We have left Iraq in the hands of the elected Iraqi government not Saddam and the Baath Party.
She's we beat Nasser it was just US economic policy forced us to withdraw, Palestine and Aden were just products of decolonisatipn not military defeats. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK and was a series of terrorist atrocities and not a conventional war.
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces present but as it became more violent Gordon Brown decided to withdraw British troops leaving US troops to replace them.
So the fault for that can be fairly laid at the door of Labour PM Gordon Brown but Basra did not fall back under Baathist control no
We have the troops for surgical strikes, quick short-term interventions, stabilisation for development and training/education, but not for sustained heavy counter-insurgencies which tend to run for years and require tens of thousands and the cooperation of friendly local forces.
It was clear that HMG expected neither Iraq or Afghanistan to develop that way but couldn’t really cut and run once it did.
It is the US who have the manpower for the latter
They may have the manpower but were and are as unwilling to use it as we are.
Yet they still have a presence in Afghanistan 17 years later and stayed in Iraq for years
First, given the amingly obvious to the likes of you and me, we as a nation are not great at accepting cold hard truths in any policy area.
Ain't that so? In the case of Brexit we actually voted for muddle, when things were more sorted before. Maybe Britain is just
For those concerned about loss of sovereignty or d is Britain mediocre
we would struggle to beat a carpet nowadays.
Arguably the last time we lost a War was the US War of Independence buthout being alongside NATO or the U.N. and/or the USA
We have lost quite a few since then!
Pehaps most recently we left Basra and Helmand much as the US leut often it means "Out of their depth".
No that is not comparable at all.
In Vietnam the US left with Saigon in the hands of the Communist North Vietnamese. We have left Iraq in the hands of the elected Iraqi government not Saddam and the Baath Party.
She's we beat Nasser it was just US economic policy forced us to withdraw, Palestine and Aden were just products of decolonisatipn not military defeats. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK and was a series of terrorist atrocities and not a conventional war.
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces no
Let me count the ways you are mistaken.
But better still, listen to The Reunion, recently broadcast. See if your interpretation skills are sufficient to understand what happened in Basra.
Yes Gordon Brown had no stomach for the fight unlike George W Bush
So which was it, victory or defeat?
In the sense that Basra did not fall to the Baathists but remains under the control of the Iraqi Government it was not a defeat but that was down to George W Bush not Labour PM Gordon Brown who did indeed risk a retreat through his reckless recall of British forces from Basra
Come on HYUFD, you can say it, go on, you know you want to.
Yes it was a defeat for Gordon Brown not the British military
Ain't that so? In the case of Brexit we actually voted for muddle, when things were more sorted before. Maybe Britain is just
For those concerned about loss of sovereignty or had seen their wages undercut and services pressured by free movement without transition controls things were certainly not sorted before.
Nor compared to most of the 193 nations in the world is Britain mediocre
we would struggle to beat a carpet nowadays.
Arguably the last time we lost a War was the US War of Independence but we are unlikely to be fighting anyone outside of Argentina and Spain (and probably not even them now the Falklands and Gibraltar are relatively settled) without being alongside NATO or the U.N. and/or the USA
We have lost quite a few since then!
Pehaps most recently we left Basra and Helmand much as the US leut often it means "Out of their depth".
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces present but as it became more violent Gordon Brown decided to withdraw British troops leaving US troops to replace them.
So the fault for that can be fairly laid at the door of Labour PM Gordon Brown but Basra did not fall back under Baathist control no
We h
It was clear that HMG expected neither Iraq or Afghanistan to develop that way but couldn’t really cut and run once it did.
We went into Iraq thinking it would be like NI. We ignored the crucial difference that in NI there was an established order, against which "insurgents" rebelled, and which HMF were seeking to uphold. In Iraq there was no order for us to uphold.
I think we went into Iraq thinking it would be like Kosovo.
Many a US serviceman was reported to have said that if they heard one more Brit tell them how the Brits were the COIN Ops experts on account of our NI experience, they would lamp them.
On extending airframe life. The perennial discussion about re-engining the US Airforce's B52 bombers continues and it looks like there's a plan in place to put new engines on, which should extend the life of the planes past 2050, when they will be 100 years old.
Be ahead of the game.China will be world leader in 5 years' time,yet no-one,not even Mr Corbyn,can see it,it's China that must be heard and must not be ignored.It is v foolish and against UK's interest not to.
China better start intervening a bit more then
And it will. And there will plenty about that we don’t like at all.
First, given the amingly obvious to the likes of you and me, we as a nation are not great at accepting cold hard truths in any policy area.
Ain't that so? In the case of Brexit we actually voted for muddle, when things were more sorted before. Maybe Britain is just
For those concerned about loss of sovereignty or d is Britain mediocre
we would struggle to beat a carpet nowadays.
Arguably the last time we lost a War was the US War of Independence buthout being alongside NATO or the U.N. and/or the USA
We have lost quite a few since then!
Pehaps most recently we left Basra and Helmand much as the US leut often it means "Out of their depth".
No that is not comparable at all.
In Vietnam the US left with Saigon in the hands of the Communist North Vietnamese. We have left Iraq in the hands of the elected Iraqi government not Saddam and the Baath Party.
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces no
Let me count the ways you are mistaken.
But better still, listen to The Reunion, recently broadcast. See if your interpretation skills are sufficient to understand what happened in Basra.
Yes Gordon Brown had no stomach for the fight unlike George W Bush
So which was it, victory or defeat?
In the sense that Basra did not fall to the Baathists but remains under the control of the Iraqi Government it was not a defeat but that was down to George W Bush not Labour PM Gordon Brown who did indeed risk a retreat through his reckless recall of British forces from Basra
Come on HYUFD, you can say it, go on, you know you want to.
Yes it was a defeat for Gordon Brown not the British military
Yes it was a defeat for the British Government = "us".
It’s depressing if the RAF and ministers have decided to extend the airframe life rather than order new aircraft.
It strikes me as penny-wise and pound-foolish, just like the idiotic decision to delete cannon from the Eurofighter to save a trivial sum.
They didn't really have much choice at a time when the budget is generally tight and there's particular pressure on the plane budget as we're in the middle of trying to ramp up F-35 procurement to get them onto the shiny new carriers. That's the kind of thing that is so high profile and involves so many other moving parts, they can't really back down on.
I imagine the thinking is that by 2030 they may be able to scrounge a few T2's from training as by then training for our few remaining manned aircraft will be done entirely on PlayStation 6's.
I've not seen figures from Syria, but in Afghan around 10% of sorties resulted in "action", and those "actions" were split pretty much 1:1:1 between fly-pasts, strafing with a gun, and dropping something that went bang.
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces no
Let me count the ways you are mistaken.
But better still, listen to The Reunion, recently broadcast. See if your interpretation skills are sufficient to understand what happened in Basra.
Yes Gordon Brown had no stomach for the fight unlike George W Bush
So which was it, victory or defeat?
In the sense that Basra did not fall to the Baathists but remains under the control of the Iraqi Government it was not a defeat but that was down to George W Bush not Labour PM Gordon Brown who did indeed risk a retreat through his reckless recall of British forces from Basra
Come on HYUFD, you can say it, go on, you know you want to.
Yes it was a defeat for Gordon Brown not the British military
Yes it was a defeat for the British Government = "us".
Finally!
I never voted for Gordon Brown so it was not a military defeat it was an inept decision of Brown to withdraw troops far too early leaving the US to finish the job
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces no
Let me count the ways you are mistaken.
But better still, listen to The Reunion, recently broadcast. See if your interpretation skills are sufficient to understand what happened in Basra.
Yes Gordon Brown had no stomach for the fight unlike George W Bush
So which was it, victory or defeat?
In the sense that Basra did not fall to the Baathists but remains under the control of the Iraqi Government it was not a defeat but that was down to George W Bush not Labour PM Gordon Brown who did indeed risk a retreat through his reckless recall of British forces from Basra
Come on HYUFD, you can say it, go on, you know you want to.
Yes it was a defeat for Gordon Brown not the British military
Yes it was a defeat for the British Government = "us".
Finally!
I never voted for Gordon Brown so it was not a military defeat it was an inept decision of Brown to withdraw troops far too early leaving the US to finish the job
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces no
Let me count the ways you are mistaken.
But better still, listen to The Reunion, recently broadcast. See if your interpretation skills are sufficient to understand what happened in Basra.
Yes Gordon Brown had no stomach for the fight unlike George W Bush
So which was it, victory or defeat?
In the sense that Basra did not fall to the Baathists but remains under the control of ces from Basra
Come on HYUFD, you can say it, go on, you know you want to.
Yes it was a defeat for Gordon Brown not the British military
Yes it was a defeat for the British Government = "us".
Finally!
I never voted for Gordon Brown so it was not a military defeat it was an inept decision of Brown to withdraw troops far too early leaving the US to finish the job
It...was...a...military...defeat...
No it was a Gordon Brown withdrawal the blame for which lies with him
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces no
Let me count the ways you are mistaken.
But better still, listen to The Reunion, recently broadcast. See if your interpretation skills are sufficient to understand what happened in Basra.
Yes Gordon Brown had no stomach for the fight unlike George W Bush
So which was it, victory or defeat?
In the sense that Basra did not fall to the Baathists but remains under the control of ces from Basra
Come on HYUFD, you can say it, go on, you know you want to.
Yes it was a defeat for Gordon Brown not the British military
Yes it was a defeat for the British Government = "us".
Finally!
I never voted for Gordon Brown so it was not a military defeat it was an inept decision of Brown to withdraw troops far too early leaving the US to finish the job
It...was...a...military...defeat...
No it was a Gordon Brown withdrawal the blame for which lies with him
Iraqi government troops with US support had to retake it from the militias after we left with our tail between our legs.
As that article suggests Basra was initially peaceful with British forces no
Let me count the ways you are mistaken.
But better still, listen to The Reunion, recently broadcast. See if your interpretation skills are sufficient to understand what happened in Basra.
Yes Gordon Brown had no stomach for the fight unlike George W Bush
So which was it, victory or defeat?
In the sense that Basra did not fall to the Baathists but remains under the control of ces from Basra
Come on HYUFD, you can say it, go on, you know you want to.
Yes it was a defeat for Gordon Brown not the British military
Yes it was a defeat for the British Government = "us".
Finally!
I never voted for Gordon Brown so it was not a military defeat it was an inept decision of Brown to withdraw troops far too early leaving the US to finish the job
It...was...a...military...defeat...
No it was a Gordon Brown withdrawal the blame for which lies with him
Military defeat. Look it up.
Yes a defeat on the battlefield, not a withdrawal of troops by a hapless PM leaving your allies to fill in the gap!
Comments
https://twitter.com/barnespa/status/983281830941077504
There are only 28 T2s in the whole fleet for LIFT so it’s not going to happen. The airframes haven’t been relifed in the structural sense. They are sustained by taking parts off the large supply of redundant T1s. A supply which is soon to increase when 100 squadron’s activities are privatised. However, some parts are more plentiful than others and for Reds it’s going to be canopies. Once that supply is exhausted no more T1...
The Typhoon has a 27mm Mauser cannon which has been used, probably to minimal effect, against ISIS on Op Shader.
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/12/22/air-force-solidifies-options-for-b-52-engine-replacement/
NEW THREAD
Finally!
http://www.deltapoll.co.uk/breaking-the-grip
Perhaps next time you’ll engage with my argument, rather than just making an ad hominem attack.
I imagine the thinking is that by 2030 they may be able to scrounge a few T2's from training as by then training for our few remaining manned aircraft will be done entirely on PlayStation 6's.
I've not seen figures from Syria, but in Afghan around 10% of sorties resulted in "action", and those "actions" were split pretty much 1:1:1 between fly-pasts, strafing with a gun, and dropping something that went bang.
As for what 1.26% of GDP buys Germany, see http://www.dw.com/en/german-military-short-on-tanks-for-nato-mission/a-42603112
Their entire submarine fleet is currently out of service - Dönitz must be spinning in his grave - and availability of their tanks and aircraft is not much better.