Examination of witnesses (Questions 280
- 289)
WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH 2000
VICE ADMIRAL
SIR IAN
GARNETT, AIR
COMMODORE VAUGHAN
MORRIS, COMMANDER
TOM HERMAN
OBE, COMMANDER RICHARD
HAWKINS and AIR
COMMODORE GLENN
TORPY
Mr Cann
280. As part of NATO?
(Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett) As part of NATO.
Dr Lewis: When was the plan formally
proposed?
Chairman: We dare not to go back over
this again, interesting though it is.
Dr Lewis
281. What do you think were the greatest problems
that you faced in orchestrating the United Kingdom involvement
in the conduct of the air campaign?
(Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett) In retrospect, there
were not any great problems. We were part of a NATO operation,
we supplied some very effective equipment and well trained people.
We have discussed the weapons, we have discussed the difficulty
of attacking some targets. There were bound to be some problems
on a day-to-day basis, but they were not so significant that they
can stand up as being great problems at this stage.
282. Was there any particular short-coming or
deficiency that you would single out as most requiring remedial
action?
(Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett) We have discussed some
of these already. A greater ISTAR capability, greater air-to-air
refuelling capability, more secure communications, greater ability
to drop precision weapons by air in all weathers. All these have
been addressed.
283. When you are drawing up courses for staff
officers in the future, based on your experiences, would you say,
as we have heard in the past, that there were four factors responsible
for the victory, namely, air, cohesion of the alliance, the possibility
eventually of a ground threat and the Russian role, or would you
say, as some commentators have said, inside and outside the services,
that this was a change from all historical experience - that this
was the first case of a campaign being won by air power alone?
(Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett) Fortunately I do not
have to draw up courses for staff officers. I do not have to address
that. As a joint commander I am fully aware that whatever we do
in operations ends up employing all elements of our forces, some
to a greater degree than others, depending on the circumstances.
284. That is a good way of avoiding answering
the question. Is it your opinion that this was the first case
in history of a campaign won by air power alone or not?
(Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett) I do not think so,
no.
Chairman
285. The last question, and this really is a
career terminating question, Admiral, if you get this wrong you
really will be into education. Are you personally satisfied that
the military strategy adopted by NATO to coerce the Serb Government
into compliance with the UN resolutions was soundly based and
well chosen?
(Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett) It reflected the political
realities of the alliance.
286. If you were fighting another war, would
you do the next one the same as the last one?
(Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett) I do not think you
can say that, it depends on the circumstances. No war is necessarily
going to be like the last one, and the next one is not going to
be like this one.
287. We can avoid some of the worst mistakes
perhaps?
(Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett) Out of every conflict
comes lots of lessons.
288. Do you think that we need to revise our
doctrine for involvement in crises of this sort?
(Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett) I am sure
it needs to be revised. The degree to which it needs to be revised,
I do not know, because I do not know the doctrine any more, although
I use it. Something that I know they are doing is what we did,
looking at the doctrine we have today and seeing where it might
need to be adapted as a result of the lessons that we have learned.
289. Perhaps you can ask them to let us know
when it is finished. We would like to come and listen to it.
(Vice Admiral Sir Ian Garnett) It will be my pleasure.
Chairman: Thank you very much. I appreciate
your answers. You were very diplomatic with some and very awkward
with others, but we will come back to you with additional questions
and we will come back to you with questions which we think will
be helpful to have further amplification upon. Gentlemen, thank
you very much.
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