Como gastar pilim na tropa... com a ajuda do wikileaks

Like most NATO allies, Portugal falls short of
the NATO official standard of two percent of GDP dedicated to
military spending. Portugal is currently at 1.3 percent and
spends that money unwisely.


Portugal has more generals and
admirals per soldier than almost any modern military: 1 per 260.
The U.S., by comparison, has a ratio of 1 per 871.

The image of generals sitting around doing nothing is no mere allegory.

Portugal has an additional 170 generals and admirals receiving
full pay while in inactive reserve status.



Regarding defense procurement, the MOD´s desires
and actions seem to be guided by peer pressure and the desire
for expensive toys. The MOD purchases weapons platforms as a
matter of pride, regardless of their utility. The two most
obvious examples are their two submarines (currently delayed)
and 39 fighter jets (only twelve of which are airworthy).


With 800 kilometers of coastline and two distant
archipelagoes to defend, the two German submarines they
purchased in 2005, and which are still under construction,
are not the wisest investment. The subs have no formal mission
task and lack the resources even to patrol aimlessly. Portugal
purchased the submarine hulls but failed to order missile
systems, meaning the subs will be without a strike capability
even if they did have a mission. The two submarines replace two
50-year old Daphne class submarines that, although officially
in service, were described by a U.S. Navy submariner as
”deathtraps” that rarely left the pier.
Meanwhile, Portugal has few serviceable coastal patrol craft for littoral defense and to
address narcotrafficking, migration, and fisheries.
 Portugal has a few early-generation F-16s, but only one operational C-130 to
get its soldiers and equipment to and from the fight. (Note: this
C-130 spent three months in Afghanistan in 2008 and may return
for a 2009 deployment. End note.)






Similar funny accounting occurred with patrol
helicopters, a critical necessity for Portugal´s two Atlantic
archipelagoes. The European-made EH-101 was ruled cheaper than
U.S. competition, but only because spare parts and service were
not included in the European proposal. Weeks after entering
service, the EH-101s were grounded for lack of spare parts. The
20-year old Pumas the EH-101s were supposed to replace were
forced back into service.



BOF