VÆRNEPLIGT

The obligation to do værnepligt ("national service") is part of the Danish constitution. However, both the number of young men doing it and the length of time they do it for, have fallen sharply in recent years. In particular, there are now so many volunteers that it is almost completely non-compulsory. My elder son did it for four months a couple of years ago, since it paid him a good wage, and - being sporty - kept him fit. But I don't think he thought, even at the time, that he was contributing much to Denmark's future defence. What he did learn was that the way to get on in the army is not to have any original thoughts or ideas whatsoever.

Now we are in the middle of hard economic times, and the Defence Ministry has to find kr.2,7 billion in savings; abolishing the expensive and inefficient værnepligt is an obvious target. Because of its place in the constitution, abolition is in fact not possible without a referendum. Politicians are therefore looking to "suspend" it in the first instance.

Britain has not had compulsory national service since the end of the 1950's. If there are enough volunteers, then that is a much better way to recruit. Volunteers tend to be both more motivated and to stay for longer, thereby giving a better return on the investment in their training. Certainly the British Army has a good reputation amongst the world's defence forces.

Some right-of-centre Danish politicians are beginning to foam at the mouth at the supposed weakening of Denmark's defences. Yet the fact remains that Denmark would be very hard pressed to defend itself against anybody, without help from its NATO allies. Recognising that, and reshaping defence priorities to reflect the reality, is a sensible way forward. Værnepligt should go.

Walter Blotscher