Mothballing the Fleet (Fred Thompson on Iran)

National Review Online ^ | March 28, 2007 5:15 PM | By Fred Thompson

[DBCJR]

Tony Blair’s getting angrier every day. But if past Iranian hostage takings are an indication, he may be upset for a while. The American-embassy hostages were held for 444 days, and the Israeli soldiers kidnapped last year by Iran’s Hezbollah puppets still aren’t free.

Blair is threatening to escalate to a “different phase,” but Iran’s leadership knows something that most Americans don’t. Two months ago, Britain’s government announced plans to mothball almost half its naval fleet due to defense-budget cuts. Much of its existing navy is already so degraded; it would take over a year to get into action. According to the British newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, senior naval officers say that the cuts “will turn Britain’s once-proud Navy into nothing more than a coastal defense force.”

In fact, the British naval forces have been so neglected; the U.K. probably couldn’t pull off the Falkland Islands mission today. The world’s fifth-largest economy now supports an army that ranks 28th in size.

What are they thinking?

Continued below

[Thumper1960]

Folks think of Britain as being European for the classical reasons. In modern times, it has been Britain who has been the last line in defense of freedom from continental Europe's usual thugs, despots and dictators. Having Britain succumb to the grandiose European Union nightmare links Britain more with the continent and forces folks to see Britain as Europe incarnate.

[WLR]

"I do agree with your tactic of the US President stating clearly how we are prepared to help. In so doing, are we not also suggesting courses of action? Would that not be extending our wisdom?"

We can only offer to help in the use of force. The US has apparently rolled up some 300 Iranian agents in Iraq and part of this is about them wanting a trade. We cannot get sucked into the Israeli style trading of 100s of terrorists for their solders so force is the only option we can support.

Does that make sense?

W