To Renew Trident?

[CartesianFart]

Because I'm too lazy and busy to research it at the minute

Mee too.

does anyone know if Britian's place in the Security Counsel would be at risk if we lost our nuclear capability? Especially if other nations gain it?

I can't say i know but it would ruin Britian's leverage in some diplomatic intrique.

 

[Mise]

Am I correct in thinking that this is the only strategic nuclear weapons capability that the UK has, or are there still bombers and cruise missiles lying around over there?

According to wiki (lost the link), our nuclear capabilities are limited to Trident.



It's true that we do have some time to mull this over, but I don't see why that should prohibit us from making a decision now. I feel that the UK should keep an independent nuclear arsenal out of principle. The British armed forces are small but very modern; I think that this mould should be applied to our nuclear power as well. SLBMs certainly seem to offer the most effective nuclear deterrent, and developing one as independently as possible should be a goal. I would support an Anglo-French collaboration over an Anglo-American one, although I appreciate that it would be much more convenient (and cheaper) to keep it Anglo-American.

 

[ComradeDavo]

I'd go Anglo-French over Anglo-American as well.

 

[Yeeek]

I want a European Army, so SBLM's, Aircraft Carriers, Main Battle Tanks, Fighters, Bombers, you name it, should be a joint European effort in my opinion.

Now if we could get over the Eurofighter/Rafale pit fight that would be great.

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

I'd go Anglo-French over Anglo-American as well.

I'd much prefer Anglo-Anglo. Being reliant on any country isn't a good system. But given we are tied so closely to the US, Anglo-American makes more sense to me.

 

[Abaddon]

When was the last time UK used nukes as a leverage point.... only crazies use nukes now as a threat.

 

[Steph]

What we are doing for the Aircraft Carriers seems a good idea.
The British one will be build by Thales (French) and BAE (English), and France will then reuse the design to build the French carrier.
So it reduces the overall cost.

We could do the same for submarines

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

When was the last time UK used nukes as a leverage point.... only crazies use nukes now as a threat.

Exactly why we should keep them, so we can't be blackmailed.

 

[Disgustipated]

it isn't working against Iran

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

it isn't working against Iran

Perhaps because they aren't threatening the nuke us, which would only result in retaliation.

What is the point in threatening to nuke Theran? It's not going to get the sailors back is it?

 

[Disgustipated]

but it would feel oh so good.

 

[ComradeDavo]

I'd much prefer Anglo-Anglo. Being reliant on any country isn't a good system. But given we are tied so closely to the US, Anglo-American makes more sense to me.

We are reliant on Europe and America economically anyhow.
Anglo-French is better than Anglo-American because we are more politiclaly similar.

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

We are reliant on Europe and America economically anyhow.

True, but that doesn't mean we should be reliant upon them for the maintainence of our nuclear capability also.

Anglo-French is better than Anglo-American because we are more politiclaly similar.

Recent history would tend to disagree matey. Although I imagine there are many who would have prefered to be in line with Europe, our foreign policy is very much in line with Washington's.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Recent history would tend to disagree matey. Although I imagine there are many who would have prefered to be in line with Europe, our foreign policy is very much in line with Washington's.

You mean Blair's, not 'ours'. The publics foriegn policy seems much mor ein line with France than it ever did with America.

 

[PrinceOfLeigh]

You mean Blair's, not 'ours'. The publics foriegn policy seems much mor ein line with France than it ever did with America.

Whilst I agree that it's not a popular policy with the public, it's the elected Government's foriegn policy and is by default 'ours'.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Whilst I agree that it's not a popular policy with the public, it's the elected Government's foriegn policy and is by default 'ours'.

Elected? Only 35% of votes cast were for Labour. You know what i think of our current system!

 

[emzie]

I'm curious now, is it £20b over a set time frame, or £20b upfront?

 

[EdwardTking]

anyone who thinks that the UK is not a world power anymore is kidding themselves.

I am a 51 year old Brit who thinks that the UK is not a world power anymore.

I think it is those Brits think the UK is a world power who delude themselves.

At the moment, there is:

(i) One hyper-power

USA

(ii) Four powers

China
India
Japan
Russian

(iii) and a number of third tier countries such as

France
Germany
Italy
UK

 

[ComradeDavo]

You see, comibed those third tier countries make a power, and that power is called 'The European Union'

 

[Sophie 378]

Edward, what's your system for ranking countries? What do you factor in to get these groups? (GDP? Population? Land area? Military spending? Education? Economy? etc...)