Summary
Various news outlets and newspapers report that a Royal Marine has died after the vehicle he was travelling in was caught in an explosion south of Kabul. | Many news outlets report that yesterday's bombings have renewed fears that Sectarian violence could engulf the country, just days after American troops withdrew from Iraq. | Various papers report that two explosions and gunfire have been heard near security sites in Damascus, with eyewitnesses saying the sites were targeted by vehicles rigged with explosives. | The Press Association, British Forces News, Reuters, Defense News and the Guardian report that the MOD has announced it is buying around 100 extra Foxhound vehicles and advanced Counter-IED equipment for troops in Afghanistan. | Various papers report that the US has admitted for the first time that it 'bears significant responsibility' for a NATO air strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers but stopped short of issuing an apology to Pakistan. | In the Daily Mirror, British families have sent Christmas messages to their loved ones serving in Afghanistan over Christmas. | The Daily Star publishes extracts from poignant letters sent to loved ones from troops serving in Afghanistan at Christmas. | The Sun publishes a poignant open letter by the bereaved mother of Private Daniel Prior, who was killed in Afghanistan as the family face their first Christmas without him. | Also in the Sun is a report that a stockpile of IEDs has been found during an operation to clear Taliban fighters from three districts in Helmand province. | The Daily Telegraph and FT reports on major changes at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) that could happen following proposals being put forward to Ministers by the Chief of Defence Materiel, Bernard Gray. | Various papers carry further coverage of the situation developing around the Falkland Islands, with Lord West calling for a nuclear submarine to be sent to patrol the surrounding waters. | The Daily Mail reports that Tesco have reatreated on its Military Wives Choir ban in a branch in North Yorkshire. | The Daily Express has said it has been victorious in its campaign to get the VAT refunded on a new memorial for Bomber Command. | Various papers carry speculation in the Daily Telegraph, Independent and The Sun, saying that British Forces could give support to international troops fighting Islamist insurgents in Somalia.
Plans to shake up Defence Equipment and Support
The Daily Telegraph and FT reports on major changes at DE&S that could happen following proposals being put forward to Ministers by the Chief of Defence Materiel, Bernard Gray.
Today a MOD spokesman said: "A number of newspapers today have speculated about how the MOD is planning to reform the Defence, Equipment and Support organisation in Bristol. The MOD is undertaking a review into DE&S and three options for the future of the organisation are currently being considered. No decisions have yet been made.
"Bernard Gray, the Chief of Defence Materiel and the Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology, Peter Luff, have bothe been interviewed by BBC Radio 4 for a documentary, due to be transmitted at 20.00hrs on 27th December which will examine the future of procurement at the MOD. Both were repeatedly asked to comment on whether there would be an increased private sector role in DE&S. Since no decisions have yet been made, the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology said: "We will be as radical as we need to be to achieve the changes we need to improve the performance of the organisation and I think that will involve a greater involvement with the private sector in some way. I'm open minded on the options. The only thing I'd say is that I think the status quo is quite unlikely to endure.
"There has been some suggestions in the media that the changes to DE&S could result in the numbers of civil servants being halved. It is important to note there are no plans to reduce civilian staff numbers beyond the reuctions already decided in the SDSR."
