The real reason the RN and RAF are in danger of becoming token forces
There's a lot of threads on the forum and elsewhere such as AARSE and the meejaa about the catastrophe that is the navy's downsizing and the RAF's increasing irrelevance where money has been spent in spades (Typhoon) and it's obselescence where money should have been spent but wasn't (transport fleet, SH etc).
Now many people think that this is because of the government's complete lack of knowledge/experience of the military, but it occurred to me in a post-prandial moment of reflection today that this government isn't stupid and neither is Her Majesty's so-called opposition.
Ask yourself this: why would the government really preside over swingeing cuts in some parts of the military and not others? But especially why is the opposition so muted on the subject unless...unless they had an agenda by which they had something to gain too?
No, this isn't the start of a conspiracy theory, but think on this. Who has the type of (nuclear) aircraft carriers their lordships in the Admiralty would give their spines for - assuming they had some of course? If you said the yanks, get the conehead hat on. If you said the French then top marks.
Secondly, who has the first-class medical facilities and specialist CRBN detection kit that will be needed in the 21st century and is developing serious capability through solid investment in uber-UAVs such as Global Hawk (to be known, of course as the Euro Hawk)? Prat at the back? No it isn't the Irish, it is our old friends Ze Germans.
Now for your third and final question: who is the only nation in Europe that has troops that are crazy enough, up for it enough, and capable enough to mix it with Johhny Taliban and the Mahdi Army despite overwhelming odds, zero support from their government and mounting casualties?
It's us.
So what?
Well, David Cameron's not exactly eurosceptic, nor is Gordon Brown, and as for Mingis - forget it.
The reason why none of these contributors to global warming actually say anything is because this, if nothing else is, must be the biggest combat indicator that Britain's full integration into a United States of Europe is not only not to far off, but has already been tacitly accepted by all parties. No doubt the parties all think it's a great idea, but a tough sell to the uneducated untermensch like us who cannot see the bright shining 'truth', so like all tough sells, don't sell it in one go, but make lots and lots of little sells, in this case starting with the military.
Britain being invaded? No problem, because the French will sail to save us! Falklands in danger of being invaded? No chance, because our GCHQ intercepts and German Eurohawks flown from Ascension will warn us! Somebody need their aarses given a good kicking on the ground? Stand aside cheese eaters and step forward the British Army's thin red line of 'eroes.
Think about it. Watch the news. Watch your MP and watch the parties. If the opposition isn't making hay, then they're either totally, unforgiveably crap (possible) or they're letting someone else achieve their aims, for whom they can conveniently blame later. If the government is getting away with it then why?
This year marks the 300th anniversary of the Union. When the USA was 200 they landed the first spacecraft on Mars. What have we done? What are we doing? F**k all, because the government doesn't want patriotism. That is not conducive to compliance or apathy. What has the government or opposition said against the possibility of the Scottish Nats getting into Holyrood and tabling a referendum on independence? Nothing - because it won't make any difference when it's just another state in the US of E. Why did John Prescott want a regional assembly in the North East? So the whole country would be primed with regional assemblies along the lines of America's state governors. How will the Northern Ireland issue finally be solved? By both North and South being states in the US of E.
This is the beginning of the Britain's death of a thousand cuts and we are being offered up as the thin end of the wedge. My prediction in an envelope is a european defence treaty that will supersede NATO within the next 2 years and it will be along the lines of: Brits - blood and guts; everyone else - everything else.
Many people have posted comments along the lines of "you took the Queen's shilling so shut up or PVR", but boll*cks to that. I'm a citizen soldier and what's happening is not only wrong but will end up in British deaths when the frogs don't turn up to give air support, so that gives me a vote as well as a voice.
If you love your country the way it is then it's time we in the military stood up and were counted. How? All those who are leaving the forces in the next 18 months (ie prior to the next general election) put themselves up for election either as independents, in a party (doesn't matter which, they're all the same) or we form our own party. Me, I'm going to have a tilt at the second option unless there's support for doing the third.
After all I'd hate to throw a political party and no one turn up.
So what say you men of Britain? Are you with me or against me?