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Army crisis grows as SAS commander quits
Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent, The Telegraph, 7 Jun 08
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One of Britain's most senior SAS commanders has resigned – a move that will fuel fears that the effect of overstretch is reaching crisis point in the military.
Brig Ed Butler, who was one of the Army’s key strategists in the war in Afghanistan, decided to leave amid concerns that the pressure of operations was having a “negative impact” on his family life.
It is also understood that the highly decorated 46-year-old officer, who has won the Distinguished Service Order and is a CBE, was “disappointed” not to have been offered the position of Director of Special Forces.
As DSF he would have been responsible for all of Britain’s special forces operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, liaising with allies and briefing the Prime Minister on special forces operations.
His resignation follows that of Lt Col Stuart Tootal, who left last year in protest at the “appalling” and “shoddy” treatment of troops.
Lt Col Tootal, who served with Brig Butler in Afghanistan and was also awarded the DSO, is understood to have become disillusioned with service life after he also failed to be offered a key staff job.
The commanding officer of 22 SAS, who can not be named for security reasons, also resigned last year following frustrations with his career....
SAS chief resigns over lack of kit
Michael Smith, Sunday Times, 8 Jun 08
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A FORMER head of the SAS has quit the army after criticising the government for risking soldiers’ lives by failing to fund troops and equipment.
Brigadier Ed Butler, one of Britain’s most experienced and decorated special forces soldiers, is the most senior of three key commanders to have resigned in the past year amid widespread anger over lack of funding.
News of his resignation comes in the same week that General Sir Richard Dannatt, head of the army, called for better treatment for the forces and more money to be spent on defence.
In a statement issued through the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Butler said he was leaving for “a number of factors and reasons” and singled out difficulties faced by service personnel.
He praised the “extraordinarily brave men and women” who repeatedly did their job well in the face of “constraints and restraints”. He said the country owed them “a huge debt of gratitude”.
The MoD said it was “not a protest vote”. But close friends said Butler was disappointed that the government put soldiers’ lives at risk by failing to pay for sufficient troops and equipment.
“He was very frustrated at the cuts going on in the army at present,” one close associate said. “Sadly, many of the concerns held by senior officers have not been resolved and, across the armed forces, there are a lot of officers and soldiers who are not happy.” ....
Army crisis grows as SAS commander quits
Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent, The Telegraph, 7 Jun 08
Article link
One of Britain's most senior SAS commanders has resigned – a move that will fuel fears that the effect of overstretch is reaching crisis point in the military.
Brig Ed Butler, who was one of the Army’s key strategists in the war in Afghanistan, decided to leave amid concerns that the pressure of operations was having a “negative impact” on his family life.
It is also understood that the highly decorated 46-year-old officer, who has won the Distinguished Service Order and is a CBE, was “disappointed” not to have been offered the position of Director of Special Forces.
As DSF he would have been responsible for all of Britain’s special forces operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, liaising with allies and briefing the Prime Minister on special forces operations.
His resignation follows that of Lt Col Stuart Tootal, who left last year in protest at the “appalling” and “shoddy” treatment of troops.
Lt Col Tootal, who served with Brig Butler in Afghanistan and was also awarded the DSO, is understood to have become disillusioned with service life after he also failed to be offered a key staff job.
The commanding officer of 22 SAS, who can not be named for security reasons, also resigned last year following frustrations with his career....
SAS chief resigns over lack of kit
Michael Smith, Sunday Times, 8 Jun 08
Article link
A FORMER head of the SAS has quit the army after criticising the government for risking soldiers’ lives by failing to fund troops and equipment.
Brigadier Ed Butler, one of Britain’s most experienced and decorated special forces soldiers, is the most senior of three key commanders to have resigned in the past year amid widespread anger over lack of funding.
News of his resignation comes in the same week that General Sir Richard Dannatt, head of the army, called for better treatment for the forces and more money to be spent on defence.
In a statement issued through the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Butler said he was leaving for “a number of factors and reasons” and singled out difficulties faced by service personnel.
He praised the “extraordinarily brave men and women” who repeatedly did their job well in the face of “constraints and restraints”. He said the country owed them “a huge debt of gratitude”.
The MoD said it was “not a protest vote”. But close friends said Butler was disappointed that the government put soldiers’ lives at risk by failing to pay for sufficient troops and equipment.
“He was very frustrated at the cuts going on in the army at present,” one close associate said. “Sadly, many of the concerns held by senior officers have not been resolved and, across the armed forces, there are a lot of officers and soldiers who are not happy.” ....
