The Defence debate

Given that the EU is waging war with Russia over Ukraine, Juncker's plans for an EU Army need more discussion.

Nick Clegg described them as a "dangerous fantasy" in last year's debate with Nigel Farage and Ed Miliband just a couple of weeks ago tried to brush the subject aside by saying "that's not going to happen".

Thank God for UKIP.

I totally against Trident.

Spending £100bn on WOMD is abhorrent when 1m are using foods and the NHS needs funding.

I think we should still spend 2% of GDP on defence. Just in a totally different way.

Since there has been no proper, sustained thread on defence which is a vital part of deciding who should govern us, I thought I'd start one.

http://forces.tv/31265119

So, what do people think?

Me? I'm pro Trident, pro 2% GDP of spending on defence, increased conventional weaponry and increased number of ships, planes and soldiers.

I'm anti NATO, anti USA and would like us to leave the organisation, and I would take no part in EU military forces and the only conflicts I would like to see is those that are legal under the UN direction (within a coalition) and/ or self defence of territory and British civilians.

I will probably vote UKIP on this basis.

Thoughts?

Although, I can see where you are coming from and I have to respect your opinion, I would say you are narrowing pur options to the extreme. I agree that spending 2% of GDP on defence is completely reasonable and given the UK's stature in the larger community of nations, it is certainly needed. I do not agree with an EU army. I believe that it is just a cause to show off to the American's and will only cause conflict with other essential organisations such as NATO and the UN. This anti-American thing is understandable though anti-NATO is a huge step in the wrong direction.

I most certainly would not advise you to vote UKIP. Vote anyone else - vote Labour, Tory, Lib Dem, even vote SNP if you have to but stay well away from UKIP.

I'm not 'anti American', I probably came across the wrong way. I'm anti special relationship. I would like that ended, and a more hybrid and independent outlook where we can operate and project force alone, much like the Falklands. That doesn't mean we won't work with them, it just means we won't be their poodle and we won't be in NATO.

I like Labours policy on a strategic defence review immediately, but only if it done on threat basis, not a resource basis.

None of the parties have credibility either. Not even UKIP, but there is no way im voting Lib Dem as a protest vote.

Expand it, I'd like to put it up to 5% if only it was possible

At the moment our defence budget is nothing about defence and all about the ability to wage war. It needs to be cut down to an actual defence force and trident scrapped.

I'm not 'anti American', I probably came across the wrong way. I'm anti special relationship. I would like that ended, and a more hybrid and independent outlook where we can operate and project force alone, much like the Falklands. That doesn't mean we won't work with them, it just means we won't be their poodle and we won't be in NATO.

I like Labours policy on a strategic defence review immediately, but only if it done on threat basis, not a resource basis.

None of the parties have credibility either. Not even UKIP, but there is no way im voting Lib Dem as a protest vote.

At the moment our defence budget is nothing about defence and all about the ability to wage war. It needs to be cut down to an actual defence force and trident scrapped.

You need to be able to wage a war to defend yourself. If you cut the defence budget any more you might as well rename it the national militia.

I wish people understood with live in a world with sunshine and lollypops