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2007-10-01 Britain

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Posted by Seafarious 2007-10-01 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 France reportedly wants GERMANY to have a stronger role in EU defense - my EU-speak interpetation could be wrong, but IMO sounds like the Euros want EU Defense to be "specialized", wid major Euro nations having a Nation-specific NICHE FUNCTION/CONTRIBUTION, espec as per the protection of Euro-Socialism.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2007-10-01 00:56|| 2007-10-01 00:56|| Front Page Top

#2 What does England need a navy for? It's not like it is an island. Except for the parts around the coast, I mean.

Posted by SteveS 2007-10-01 07:54|| 2007-10-01 07:54|| Front Page Top

#3 This flies in the face of the claims to various and sundry bits of sea floor that the Brits have been making to secure mineral rights. You can claim all the land you want, but if you don't have the military might to back up your claims, the rest of the world just laughs at you.

Posted by RWV 2007-10-01 12:27|| 2007-10-01 12:27|| Front Page Top

#4 but IMO sounds like the Euros want EU Defense to be "specialized", wid major Euro nations having a Nation-specific NICHE FUNCTION/CONTRIBUTION

Yup. That would accomplish two things for them:

(1) cut down on the inefficiencies that have plagued multi-country design efforts for equipment

(2) lock the UK into the EU only for defense, since the Britain would give up the goal and reality of having a complete defense capability of her own

Posted by lotp 2007-10-01 13:04|| 2007-10-01 13:04|| Front Page Top

#5 In other words, it would end US-UK military cooperation of the sort we've seen in Iraq and Afghanistan. It would end UK purchase of US mil tech and v.v.

Bottom line up front: it would end the special relationship. Intentionally and as a main goal, not accidently and as a side effect.

Posted by lotp 2007-10-01 13:06|| 2007-10-01 13:06|| Front Page Top

#6 Righto LOTP, and as an added depressant, read the article and accompanying chart (and afew of the comments) which show a specific target in eliminating ALL minesweeping vessels. Practically an engraved invitation for "enemies" to invest NOW in naval mines and related technology.

If Britain feels no need for this portion of the fleet, it will be interesting to see any follow up commentary on how it addresses this - perhaps anti-mine naval air capability from the carriers? But see Seafarious's comment about escorting.

And we complain about congress providing advance notice of withdrawal and troop reduction deadlines? This is essentially a request for applicants to assume sovreignty right into the Thames estuary.

Posted by Unomoling B. Hayes5535 2007-10-01 13:17|| 2007-10-01 13:17|| Front Page Top

#7 Australia has pretty much replaced the UK as the Special Relation. England's best hope is to secede from the UK and join EFTA.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2007-10-01 13:30|| 2007-10-01 13:30|| Front Page Top

#8 Who is NATO is/was tasked with extra-minesweeping? The Dutch?

Posted by Thomas Woof 2007-10-01 16:41|| 2007-10-01 16:41|| Front Page Top

#9 Perhaps labour should just sell the Falklands before they are grabbed up again and the UK humiliated for their inability to reclaim their soverieng territory.

Might want to escalate the talks about Gibralter and other areas as well because once the Falklands go others will start to get funny ideas.

At least they can be certain nobody is gonna grab Diego Garcia as long as the current tennant (US Military) is willing to pay rent.

Posted by rjschwarz 2007-10-01 17:52|| 2007-10-01 17:52|| Front Page Top

#10 Brown has a hard on to spend all he can from the public purse on the NHS--with all the jobs for Islamist doctors that entails.

Posted by Classical_Liberal 2007-10-01 18:04|| 2007-10-01 18:04|| Front Page Top

#11 The 2 new carriers, once operational, will leave the British much better off to fight a Falklands type war than it was in 1982. As for cutting the military in favor of social programs, that's what socialists do. At least as a former finance minister, I hope he at least has a clue how to balance the budget.

Posted by ed 2007-10-01 18:37|| 2007-10-01 18:37|| Front Page Top

#12 Who is NATO is/was tasked with extra-minesweeping?

The Germans.

Posted by Pappy 2007-10-01 20:33|| 2007-10-01 20:33|| Front Page Top

#13 BRITAIN > ROYAL NAVY'S RADIO-CONTROLLED SUPERSHIP. 'Tis to be a cross/hybrid bwtn an aircraft carrier and Type 45 Destroyer class, circa Year 2020.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2007-10-01 23:44|| 2007-10-01 23:44|| Front Page Top

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