Why On Earth......

[diddlydo]

Is this government spending EXTRA billions on defence when the biggest war we're fighting at the moment is Covid? Complete madness.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54988870

[rowanwitch]

Maybe because there is also a chance to offset some of the spend because of jobs being created in the defense sector, space technology and best of all shipbuilding with all the new navy vessels being built in the uk. The saving in benefits, the demonstration of commitment to investing in the North, make it a potential vote winner in the next election.

[ToraToraTora]

steady rowan you'll overload their tiny minds!

[tinkerbell23]

Always money for war.... but we cant feed hungry children!

[ToraToraTora]

where's the war?

[tomus42]

jno //... now why didn't those italics work? //

Use capital 'I's and leave a space between the ][ brackets and the text you want to italicize. That's what works for me anyway.

[Theland]

Keep the asylum seekers from crossing the Channel?

[emmie]

that;s down to the parents, there should be plenty of help out there

[allenlondon]

Oh yes, let’s all be Big and Macho, and Prepare For War!

You never know who might be planning to invade us.

Or, abolish the belligerent forces and spend it all on looking after our people.

[emmie]

belligerent forces helped keep us from getting erased by the Germans, remember that when you are having a bad day

[rowanwitch]

There are no enemies massing troops, they are in cyber labs, working out how to cause mayhem via the web, crash the financial services and you will have chaos and hungef that our previous enemies could only dream off, no money moves we grind to a halt with no back up in place.Take out the satellites planes are grounded ships don't sail, no food arrives. This is the 21st century and we need to catch up and fast.
Defence against terror is mostly information gathering and interpretation
Deployment in humanitarian crises needs fast ships and military aircraft as well as their use in overt conflict and we need to protect our shipping in international waters.

A stable world comes from strong defences, they give us time to negotiate by making the cost of attack too high. In this way nations can work together because there is an ability to see forward. It may mean sacrifice of the few now for the long term good. Not my decision though I understand it.

[bobbinwales]

//Or, abolish the belligerent forces and spend it all on looking after our people.//
Defence isnt my priority iether allenoflondon but those who work for BAE systems for example it is money being spent on looking after are people- its called employment here

[allenlondon]

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m no pacifist. Violence is sometimes necessary.

But NOT at every turn!

Violent action should be controlled and cautious. Too often it is toddler-like in its lashing out without thinking.

[naomi24]

It’s not about ‘violence’ per se. As Rowan has explained this is about defeating a new weapon - the cyber attack.

[bobbinwales]

A know your a big fan of China allen. Do they not spend to much money on defence, cyber attacks and cybersecurity???

[rowanwitch]

It seems on the surface it is China that may pose the greatest risk, they seem to have their fingers in every cyber pie right now. The Russians are so obvious you wonder what they are up to behind the scenes, and don't forget even a small state with a few brilliant minds could now cause absolute mayhem on a global scale and we need the budget to watch everyone.

[allenlondon]

“ A know your a big fan of China allen.”

I see you’re following the Great Answerbank Tradition, bobbin, of making things up. (I would say lying, but that tends to rile Nanny).

China, after throwing off the yoke of imperialism and the Japanese, has descended into abject state capitalism, of which I am No Fan or defender.

[emmie]

tell that to the downtrodden masses in China, Hong Kong.

[dannyk13]

Tomus put [i] ,and without leaving any space,before and after the word/s you wish to italicise.

[jno]

dannyk, I did that - as is unfortunately obvious - at 15:04 yesterday and it didn't work. I think OG must be right, it's the apostrophe.

Sorry for the diversion, diddlydo.

[Ken4155]

So many successive governments have neglected strengthening the defence of our realm to such an extent that our army now resembles nothing more than a rather large militia. As for who might be 'planning to invade us', i doubt we have enough resources to repel even Grand Fenwick.