Once the expertise has gone it will be almost impossible to get it back. Practically, and politically (' well you have managed without it all this time' ). What else will be sacrificed to President Blairs' desire to strut the world stage 'like a colossus'.
In c1400 Christine de Pizan wrote :
'What will the wise Prince do when he must undertake wars and fight battles ? First of all, he will consider how much strength he has or can obtain , how many men are available and how much money. For unless he is well supplied with these basic elements , it is folly to wage war, for they are necessary to have above all else, especially money.'
Oh that WE had such a wise Prince. The British Armed Forces ( the ONE part of the UK that commands world wide respect ) are being destroyed from within.