Posted on 07/25/2007 12:06:04 PM PDT by JZelle
The release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the final book in the series, has momentarily diverted the public's attention from certain realities: The weather, which normally depresses during winter months when there is less sunlight, has been crying unmercifully on Britain, bringing what the Daily Telegraph calls "chaos and misery" as homes are flooded, flights are canceled or delayed, and train and subway service is disrupted.
A government document obtained by the media reveals Britain has nearly "run out of troops" to defend the country or fight abroad. The Conservative Party, under leader David Cameron, failed to win the first by-election since Gordon Brown assumed the premiership, coming in third. The Tories appear to have gotten the message not to mimic the Labor Party. A Tory supplement recently published in the Daily Telegraph titled "Breakdown Britain: A Guide to Our Broken Society and How to Fix It" mainly emphasizes those issues — family breakdown, economic independence, personal responsibility, education choice — the Tories had downplayed in a failed attempt to cross-dress as "compassionate conservatives."
Nowhere does Britain's breakdown and loss of direction appear clearer than in the inconsistent ways the courts treat faith. A nation that has had its ups and down with religion throughout its long history — and is now challenged over how to accommodate its growing Muslim population — appears openly hostile to anything that resembles Christianity and the dwindling number of churchgoers who still practice that faith.
Three recent legal cases highlight the British establishment's growing anti-Christian animosity and spiritual confusion.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Maggie, what have they done with your party?
At least Shambo's getting axed.
I don’t get it. Britain has only a couple thousand troops in Iraq and Afghanistan total - do they only have a few more thousand in their entire Army ???
Most of the active army is attached to UNIT, and fighting the vigorous Alien Threat.
LOL! And apart from holding back the Nestene terror, we also have a serious army based in Germany. 300 MBT making Putin think twice about realpolitick in mittelEurope.
they have about 180,00.
During the Cold War they were in the top ten despite the size. Today they rank around 30th....Right behind Mexico and Morocco but just above Israel.
So how is it they’re out of soldiers if there are 180K total ?
Percentage-wise they probably have the same in Iraq and Afghanistan that we do.
LOL - would that include Asian aliens ?
I don't recognise my own country from this sad and despondent little article.
The British army has a heavy presence in Germany. When UK lefties ask me (scandalised) why America has been in Iraq for longer than WWII lasted, I always point out that we (the UK and the US) both have heavy forces in Germany 60 years after the event!
Also we in Britain can always mobilise 10% of the people who work for our socialised Health Service, and crush any country on earth under sheer weight of numbers :0)
True.
While the numbers are about the same, it’s deceptive in that Britain spends much more per soldier and has a far more modern military.
let’s be honest....consider the training a Mexican soldier gets and his equipment versus what a British soldier is capable of. On paper the forces are about the same in numbers, but in the real world 100 Royal Marines could easily take out 5,000 Mexican or Moroccan soldiers.
Over 13,000 UK troops are in Iraq and Afghanistan. Britain has commitments to Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Germany, the Balkans etc etc that have stretched resources.
No need to worry. This article isn’t at all a reflection of Britain. It is also factually incorrect on several points: ‘Shambo’ is to be put down. Jewellry can only be worn if it is a necessity in one’s religion in schools. Christianity does not require it. The girls’ school who have stopped her wearing the ring have themselves said that they are committed to making the Christian faith a key part of their teaching.
Furthermore, the fact that Britain is stretched thin militarily whlst helping our US friends is used as a negative point. Would the author prefer that we had lots of military reserves but stayed at home? Only today, the government has announced 2 new aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy.
The flooding in the UK has brought out the Blitz spirit again in the UK people. Pubs are staying open with signs saying ‘Open Come Hell or High Water!’. England Rugby stars are helping elderly people out of the flood waters near where they live. A real community effort has flourished.
As for Britain’s ‘growing Muslim population’: it currently represents 2-3% of the population. That number has probably come down since many Poles and Eastern European workers have come to the UK in recent years.
Britain is far from doomed.
Ah. The same problem Americans have - we’re committed so many places that 1M+ in the Services is still considered understaffed.
Thanks.
No worries. This article as a whole is very misleading. I assume Cal Thomas, the author, is standing in the street with a ‘Britain is doomed’ sandwich board as we speak.
Glad to hear this!
Ha ! You might be doomed because your new PM has banned reality when speaking of terrorism and those who commit terrorist acts, but otherwise you’re probably no worse off than we are. :)
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