Strange how the defence budget is so strapped, but we can come up overnight with 50 Billion for a waste of space like Northern Rock ?!
I can't help thinking we'd be better off with Harrier 2+ & AMRAAMS, with decent helo' forces - inc. more Merlins & Chinooks - from a few more, say 2/3rds the size but decidedly more versatile ships with a large Marines/ Army detachment - or is that too bleeding obvious ?
" Every Nation prepares for the previous war "...