ChatterBank0 min ago
The U K As A Nuclear Superpower?
21 Answers
No link but, since it's election time, do you think a cash-strapped future Government could cancel Trident?
I'd cancel the damn thing in a heartbeat - a waste of money on something that would/could never be used - just a "big boy's toy", used for posturing purposes by those who think the UK still has a credible role as a Global Policeman.
But would the 'dark forces' inside the the Defence Establishment allow any Government (of any hue) to pull the plug?
I'd cancel the damn thing in a heartbeat - a waste of money on something that would/could never be used - just a "big boy's toy", used for posturing purposes by those who think the UK still has a credible role as a Global Policeman.
But would the 'dark forces' inside the the Defence Establishment allow any Government (of any hue) to pull the plug?
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by sunny-dave. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I believe in our nuclear deterrent, personally.
I don’t think it’s there to enable us to act as a global policeman exactly.
With nuclear warhead proliferation again threatened, now is not the time to be considering such a move.
Not to mention the “America First” and anti NATO sentiments of the current White House. Tho admittedly that is hopefully an aberration.
It might not be though.
It’s also quite a specific form of deterrent, launched from undersea.
I don’t think it’s there to enable us to act as a global policeman exactly.
With nuclear warhead proliferation again threatened, now is not the time to be considering such a move.
Not to mention the “America First” and anti NATO sentiments of the current White House. Tho admittedly that is hopefully an aberration.
It might not be though.
It’s also quite a specific form of deterrent, launched from undersea.
Lots of things could happen. I think it unlikely. Although I've been wondering for a while whether it's outgrown it's usefulness. Probably still a deterrent against powerful countries unless they get the impression we'd not use it. That'd be a daft signal to give them. But the main thing now is to prevent smaller, volatile, less civilised countries getting hold of the weapon and using it, because they have no real morals preventing them using such violence as a terrorist weapon nor any care for their fellow citizens.
The question, as you allude to, is whether the UK is grown-up enough to scrap these toys - hopefully but not at all certain. The most often resorted to justification is a version of "Be afraid, be very afraid". The "enemy" supposedly being intimidated is always quite unspecific. The military establishment (not just in the UK but everywhere) is definitely way short of being grown up.
SD: "I'd cancel the damn thing in a heartbeat - a waste of money on something that would/could never be used" - you need it so you don't need it. if we didn't have we are defenceless against an agressor who does. Nukes have kept the peace since the last war.
cue usual BS arguments from the anti British, "they didn't deter argentina" - "who do they deter" - yada yada yada!
cue usual BS arguments from the anti British, "they didn't deter argentina" - "who do they deter" - yada yada yada!