UK army strength

[NotAllThere]

I don't care pal, you are just a source of negativity, self-pity and boorish views.

He's just demonstrated it can't be self-pity, so FTFY.

[meridian]

I don't care pal, you are just a source of negativity, self-pity and boorish views.

Here’s the thing, right.

Although I’m not British, I’ve lived here for most of my life. I love it here, and for much of it I thought Great Britain was, well, great. Still do, for the most part.

It had a great reputation for fair play and diplomacy. Internationally respected. Makes calm, rational decisions and influences others.

Sure, there have been some downsides (Iraq, etc) but generally it’s been ticking along well.

So what I don’t like is a country that I love, being sold down the river by liars and charlatans that have turned it into an international laughingstock.

And I’m sorry that you think that calling this out is negative. I happen to think of it as tough love.

[CryingSheep]

Here’s the thing, right.

Although I’m not British, I’ve lived here for most of my life. I love it here, and for much of it I thought Great Britain was, well, great. Still do, for the most part.

It had a great reputation for fair play and diplomacy. Internationally respected. Makes calm, rational decisions and influences others.

Sure, there have been some downsides (Iraq, etc) but generally it’s been ticking along well.

So what I don’t like is a country that I love, being sold down the river by liars and charlatans that have turned it into an international laughingstock.

And I’m sorry that you think that calling this out is negative. I happen to think of it as tough love.

I feel your pain...

Someone like you with an EU passport and a British passport (or at least the possibility of getting one) probably has the least bias view over the Brexit issue! With both passports you will keep the ability to free travel or work both in the EU and in the UK, and since you have your life in the UK why would you be worried with anything else than UK doing well!?

But very few people seem to understand this...

[TwoWolves]

So the entire defence of Europe is going to be left to just the Americans?

What a lot of naïve fools you lot are.

Seventy years of relative peace is not the new normal, it's an anomaly.

[BrilloPad]

I don't know if we should be worried. Do we need a large standing army? Honestly, are we saying the army is deployed and at capacity. My understanding was that there was a concentration on technology now rather than pure numbers. And cooperation with other nations, so specialisation.

Also, I can't see a country that could or would attack us, so not sure a large army is needed.

Willing to be educated on this though.

Thankfully we have nukes.....

[BrilloPad]

So the entire defence of Europe is going to be left to just the Americans?

What a lot of naïve fools you lot are.

Seventy years of relative peace is not the new normal, it's an anomaly.

Thanks to nukes.

[OwlHoot]

Also, I can't see a country that could or would attack us, so not sure a large army is needed.

Willing to be educated on this though.

They might not invade the UK directly, but they could start taking liberties with British possessions and assets abroad. Nothing has magically changed about human nature and politics in the last sixty years - Foreign powers, including our allies, will start nipping at our ankles if they think they can get away with it!

For example, the Iranians would have thought twice about hijacking that British-registered oil tanker if we'd had warships in the Persian Gulf (and the Royal Navy currently had more than about half a dozen seaworthy ships generally - We probably have fewer ships now than in the time of King Alfred back in the 800s when the Navy was first founded )

[Old Greg]

I don't know if we should be worried. Do we need a large standing army? Honestly, are we saying the army is deployed and at capacity. My understanding was that there was a concentration on technology now rather than pure numbers. And cooperation with other nations, so specialisation.

Also, I can't see a country that could or would attack us, so not sure a large army is needed.

Willing to be educated on this though.

More gunboats is what is needed.

[woohoo]

They might not invade the UK directly, but they could start taking liberties with British possessions and assets abroad. Nothing has magically changed about human nature and politics in the last sixty years - Foreign powers, including our allies, will start nipping at our ankles if they think they can get away with it!

For example, the Iranians would have thought twice about hijacking that British-registered oil tanker if we'd had warships in the Persian Gulf (and the Royal Navy currently had more than about half a dozen seaworthy ships generally - We probably have fewer ships now than in the time of King Alfred back in the 800s when the Navy was first founded )

Yep but that's exactly what I mean. Do we have a shortage of people to crew these warships? Or do we need more warships.

[woohoo]

He's just demonstrated it can't be self-pity, so FTFY.

He is a source of self-pity. I'm really not sure what you are on about Nat.