Well Darlings,
To the little man in the street, the nation's security remains a mystery. He pays a lot of money for it, in taxes, and just hopes all is well. But is it? Recent news shows us, a nation's security can also be a mystery to those in charge of it. Bill Clinton knew where he had put some things, however apparently they didn't include the launch codes for the nation's nuclear missiles. I guess, were things to have ever become hairy, the future of the United States might have depended on a shot in the dark. Perhaps it's just as well then that, at the time, few knew about the president’s shortcomings.
In the UK, our shortcomings are not so well hidden. David Cameron has revealed the coalition government had little choice but to go ahead with the building of two new aircraft carriers, simply because of the penalty clauses and guarantees agreed to by the last Labour administration. Apparently, as part of a fifteen year agreement to protect jobs on the River Clyde and in Portsmouth, these include paying the shipbuilders to do nothing for twelve years should the contract be cancelled. Nice work when you can get it, isn't it? What nutcase agreed to that? There's not another business in the world that would sign up to such a contract when placing an order!
With the decision to decommission HMS Ark Royal and retire our Harrier jump jets, this will leave the UK without a jet-bearing aircraft carrier until 2020, when (if they are ready on time) the navy will receive fifty joint-strike aircraft for HMS Prince of Wales, the second of the ships to be built. HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first, will be commissioned for just three years, between 2016-19, and then only as a helicopter carrier, before being mothballed, or possibly sold. Er, isn't our slip showing a bit here?
Quite simply, I am not happy when the prime minister tells us there has been a thorough assessment, and Britain will still be able to cope with all foreseeable military threats. It's the unforeseeable ones I'm concerned about! We didn't see war in the Falklands coming, and were totally unprepared for it. Though we have that covered now, who knows how much the rest of the political world might change in ten years? To the best of our ability, we should remain capable of coping with any eventuality; it is the first duty of the government, and regardless of cost.
Yes, more often than not, we pay for protection we never need use, but only because without it we would not be protected, and very probably regret it. This country's defence should rest on what it is capable of doing if challenged, and not on poking its nose into other countries' affairs, invading them, and trying to impose its will. It worked in the Cold War, it is what war and defence is all about, not the Marquess of Queensberry rules. When attacked, there should be but one goal: to win. We should not pussyfoot around. Hurt us, and we annihilate you! End of!
Like it or not, it keeps the peace!
The Bitch! (22/10/10)
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