[Teaddict]

The British military intervention in Libya is unsustainable, the head of the Navy has said.

Adml Sir Mark Stanhope said the campaign would have been more effective without the Government's defence cuts.

The aircraft carrier and the Harrier jump-jets scrapped under last year's strategic defence review would have made the mission more effective, faster and cheaper, he said.

Sir Mark warned that the Navy would not be able to sustain its operations in Libya for another three months without making cuts elsewhere.

The First Sea Lord's comments will stir the debate over defence cuts that have left Britain without a working aircraft carrier and forced the Royal Navy's Harrier jump jets to be mothballed.

Highlighting military anger over the shrinking Armed Forces, another admiral warned that "comical" defence cuts would leave the Navy without enough ships to be effective.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...e-to-cuts.html

Unacceptable - just like the last government - commit British military whilst not ensuring proper funding. Due to the short term policies of this coalition government, our military operations are less effective, unable to launch quick offensives and have resulted in higher costs.

[Aphotic Cosmos]

I read a story about how the RN is already training pilots in French in preparation for them being embedded on the Charles de Gaulle, flying Rafales as a full time component of the ship's air complement.

Perhaps we should be a protectorate of France. They still do things right. After all, the last time folk from across the Channel invaded we were dragged forwards about 200 years . . .

Just sayin'

[creak]

Since time immemorial The Telegraph have been dragging crusty old generals out of retirement to bemoan the state of the military and bang the drums for more defence spending. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[pol pot noodles]

(Original post by Aphotic Cosmos)
Perhaps we should be a protectorate of France. They still do things right. After all, the last time folk from across the Channel invaded we were dragged forwards about 200 years . . .

Just sayin'

I think I'm going to be sick.
Don't even joke about that. Not about France. Never about France.

[Aphotic Cosmos]

(Original post by pol pot noodles)
I think I'm going to be sick.
Don't even joke about that. Not about France. Never about France.

Better than the yanks! Amazing food, rolling green hills, a millennium of intimately shared history (OK, so mostly killing each other, but still) and beautiful women!

Vive la France! Vive la union de Angleterre et France!

[Teaddict]

(Original post by Aphotic Cosmos)
Better than the yanks! Amazing food, rolling green hills, a millennium of intimately shared history (OK, so mostly killing each other, but still) and beautiful women!

Vive la France! Vive la union de Angleterre et France!

There was actually a genuine attempt by a French prime minister to create a union between France and Britain. Our Prime Minister said no. France then asked to join the Commonwealth. We said no. They then signed the Treaty of Rome to form the ECSC.

[Aphotic Cosmos]

(Original post by Teaddict)
There was actually a genuine attempt by a French prime minister to create a union between France and Britain. Our Prime Minister said no. France then asked to join the Commonwealth. We said no. They then signed the Treaty of Rome to form the ECSC.

I know

Makes me sad that we didn't go through with it. I guess it's somewhat irrelevant with the EU though.

Although I did read something somewhere that suggested that the French PM would have been tried for treason had it gone through

[Snagprophet]

At least our troops aren't vulnerable to attacks from the defence cuts, unlike Labour not providing the best equipment to our soldiers. Anyway, we won't be needing ground troops anyway so yeah.

[That Bearded Man]

Britain couldn't afford Iraq, it's large contributions to charity, unfortunately it's viewed as a necessity (I understand why, but why not invade Syria? And why is it a mainly British/American ally. The war looks set for a deadlock or a long drawn out war hopefully the oil will cover some of it

[pol pot noodles]

(Original post by Aphotic Cosmos)
I know

Makes me sad that we didn't go through with it. I guess it's somewhat irrelevant with the EU though.

Although I did read something somewhere that suggested that the French PM would have been tried for treason had it gone through

An equal union with Her Majesty as head of state, as was proposed, I am in favour of, but the UK a protectorate of France?

[Aj12]

(Original post by That Bearded Man)
Britain couldn't afford Iraq, it's large contributions to charity, unfortunately it's viewed as a necessity (I understand why, but why not invade Syria? And why is it a mainly British/American ally. The war looks set for a deadlock or a long drawn out war hopefully the oil will cover some of it

Tbh geopolitics aside I believe it is on Turkey to help the Syrians.

[beepbeeprichie]

OP is dead on. If we are going to stop dictators ( as we should) then we need a much more powerful military. I despise Obama for his reluctance and hesitation in removing despots.

[Teaddict]

(Original post by Aphotic Cosmos)
I know

Makes me sad that we didn't go through with it. I guess it's somewhat irrelevant with the EU though.

Although I did read something somewhere that suggested that the French PM would have been tried for treason had it gone through

Probably would have been. I don't know about a union, but perhaps letting France join the Commonwealth might have prevented the EU being formed? In regards to the EU, we should have joined straight away - we could then have been in a place to influence it from the very beginning.

[Will Lucky]

(Original post by beepbeeprichie)
OP is dead on. If we are going to stop dictators ( as we should) then we need a much more powerful military. I despise Obama for his reluctance and hesitation in removing despots.

I don't think its Obamas fault, I think its the people behind him, they don't want to go into another war like Iraq or Afghanistan for the wrong reasons. Unfortunately I think America may hesitate like this for the next few years.

[hamijack]

I love how Cameron wants to be this great world leader with military successes and reducing the deficit, yet everything I hear about him an his government is internal conflict, votes of no confidence and u-turns.

[Aj12]

(Original post by hamijack)
I love how Cameron wants to be this great world leader with military successes and reducing the deficit, yet everything I hear about him an his government is internal conflict, votes of no confidence and u-turns.

Blame the Lib Dems. Most of the problems in government is them getting above their station.

[Teaddict]

(Original post by Aj12)
Blame the Lib Dems. Most of the problems in government is them getting above their station.

Quite right, but I fully blame the Conservatives on defence issues.

[Aj12]

(Original post by Teaddict)
Quite right, but I fully blame the Conservatives on defence issues.

Yup. Well done to Fox for fighting his corner. Did you know when Labour was in power Fox held regular meetings with his counterpart in government? Seems defense sectary's is the one area that crosses party lines.

[hamijack]

(Original post by Aj12)
Blame the Lib Dems. Most of the problems in government is them getting above their station.

Sure, not because the policies are ill-thought out and hastily implemented and then when experts say "hang on a minute..." the government has a knee-jerk reaction and baulks away from it's course.

[Harpoon]

It is actually a joke the state of this country's Armed Forces. Now I don't agree that its the current Conservative/Lib Dem Government that caused it, neither do I agree that it was the previous Labour Govt. either. I believe its an ongoing trend in whichever Government to run down the Armed Forces. And while yes we need a strong RAF and Army, lets not forget that we are an Island nation and therefore need a strong and capable Navy first and foremost.