No wonder we can't even topple a tin-pot gangster like Gaddafi: Invincible, pride of the Falklands, is broken up in knacker's yard
All the EU (in fact the entire free world including Latin America and Africa) need not spend a dime in having their own military.
They know that if the slightest thing happens against them militarily, the US Military will jump in, on the US taxpayers’ dime.
Anyone know how much she was sold for scrap? We sink our carriers for artifical reefs..a far more fitting end..
In today’s British Navy, Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey would be on permanent half pay...
They retired all their Harriers.
If they ever do get some F-35’s, what are they going to do with them?
The posters to the article are very creepy. They sound like they welcome the coming of Sharia law.
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Sad to see a proud fighting ship end up like that.
Mike
Various posters are making interesting comments. From a little Internet searching I find that in 2011, the U.K.’s defense spending (total) is running almost 2.96% of GDP, and in 1985 it was running almost 5.28% of GDP.
http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/downchart_ukgs.php?chart=30-total&view=1&year=&state=UK
Other, sources give slightly lower figures, for example, Wikipedia shows the U.K. in 2010 at 2.7% of the 2009 GDP, while the U.S. is currently at 4.7%.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
This source shows the UK at 2.5%...
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/Organisation/KeyFactsAboutDefence/DefenceSpending.htm
However, there may be another way to look at it. I enjoy alternate history and speculation now and then, so, let’s assume:
The UK, in 2011, for whatever reasons, decides it needs to install a gov’t to its liking in Libya. It has minimal to no assistance from the U.S. or other NATO allies.
Libya never unloaded it’s WMD’s. (Dubya didn’t scare them enough in 2002-2003, perhaps?) Perhaps it will use them through 3rd parties.
At the same time, Argentina sees it’s new chance in the Falklands. And, the Scottish National Party (now a majority in Scotland) pushes through legislation for a referendum on Independence from the UK.
How does this play out? Obviously, the UK “can” defeat Libya and Argentina at the same time. But will it? What happens to UK support of the US in other places? What is the cost to the UK? And will some additional party take advantage of the situation?