MLF
Back in the days of the Cold War (Early 60s?), a multilateral nuclear deterrent force was discussed. It was called the MLF (Multinational Force), and UK, US, France and Germany would provide mixed nationality crews for the Nuclear Missile Firing submarines. It never went ahead, but perhaps the experiment was best explained by the satirical singer, Tom Lehrer, who wrote a suitable song.....
THE MLF LULLABY
Sleep baby sleep - in peace you may slumber
No danger lurks, your sleep to encumber.
We've got the missiles, peace to determine
And one of the fingers on the button will be German.
Why shouldn't they have nuclear warheads,
England says no but they are just sore heads
I say a bygone should be a bygone.
lets make peace the way they did in Stanleyville and Saigon.
Once all the germans were warlike and mean
But that couldn't happen again.
We taught them a lesson in 1918
And they've hardly bothered us since then
So
Sleep baby sleep in peace you may linger
Just hope your buddies don't give us the finger.....
MLF - may scare Bresniev,
I only hope he's half as scared as I.
Even although MLF did not go ahead, a similar current force exists - the NATO E-3A Component at Geilenkirchen where the NATO AWACS is flown by mixed multilateral crews. It sometimes has its limitations, but has provideed a very expensive capability to the member nations for nearly 30 years. It can work and perhaps it shows a way ahead?