Do you actually know anything about Britain or do you just throw out cliches?. I am surprised you didnt claim we give free money to Muslims. You clearly know little or nothing about Britain and even less about the British military or the British in the Cold War.
Britain has never needed the umbrella of American military protection that other European nations needed and have needed. During the Cold War, Britain still had an Empire well into the 1960’s, and had a large armed forces and was (as we still are) a nuclear power. And since the end of Empire and then Cold War, we have always punched above our weight when it comes to war: Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia.
In the 1950’s and 60’s and even into the 70’s, Britain fought several wars which had no American involvement. And all this at a time when we were the major European power against the USSR. If we need you, why did we NOT need you later either in 1982?.
You seem to think that because America has bases in the UK and has had since 1945 that that means Britain ‘needs’ America there to protect it. You are here and have been here for 60 years because you are our biggest ally, be it against the USSR and now in a post 9-11 world. You have been here and are here because it has suited and suits YOUR military strategy. We were the ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’ that allowed America to defend mainland Europe and stand against the USSR. And also because we are your most faithful military ally, one that although weaker than we were, still have a sizeable and respected military power and ability. And for many years after 1945, still had a formidable military force at America’s side.
If America had left most of Europe in 1960 or 1970 or 1980, the USSR would have overran it. If America had left Britain in 1960, 1970 or in 1980, Britain would still have been able to defend itself.
Thats the difference........you are correct that America protects and protected Europe and allowed the continent to become complacent. But you are wrong to suggest that Britain was a nation that has needed American protection.
We were and are the one major European power that DIDNT need it. Not in 1950, not in 1980, not in 2012.
I hope you’re right. I’d say “may it always be so,” but the way things are going, I’m not sure that’s the right thing to hope for.
I’ll wager that you feel the same.
“We were and are the one major European power that DIDNT need it. Not in 1950, not in 1980, not in 2012.”
You might have been able to defend the Falklands in 1950, but you couldn’t in 1980 on your own, and it is only the more ineffective Argentines that give you a comparative advantage in 2012 - and you’re not going to leave the island essentially undefended as you did in 1982.
30 ships is not enough for an island nation to defend itself, much less project power to defend interests.
We’re headed there ourselves, but it’ll take at least a decade before we see hints of the Royal Navy’s level of incapability in the US Navy.