If you see me surfin' put the SAR helicopter and lifeboat on standby!
If the current Government win the election, will they follow Dubya into more adventures? Neither Syria or Iran are subject to embargoes or no fly zones. If we do follow Dubya into action will they want UK forces to undertake autonomous operations? If so, and we agree, and lack air defence.....
As you know, our amphibious forces are very capable, and we have put a lot of time, effort and money into them. In my view they are a bigger bargining chip than the limited number of GR7/9s a CVS can carry. If we can deploy such a force, and defend it ourselves, we have a considerable bargaining chip, not least with Washington. And with the increasing number of Hawks in the US Administration, they need to exert a restraining influence is greater than before. But if we rely on US aircraft for ALL of our air defence, the potential influence is reduced.
This isn't anti Americnism, simply trying to show how Blair makes out he's Dubya's partner, yet refuses to fund the tools necessary for such a role.