-:Undertaker:-
03-02-2010, 09:23 PM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1248171/Green-paper-reveals-defence-budget-cuts-new-alliance-France.html
Afghanistan top priority with £5bn funding next year
More cooperation with allies as spending cuts bite
Prospect RAF and Navy could merge
New aircraft carriers still likely despite 'tough choices'
Trident nuclear deterrent's £20bn update to go ahead
The Tories questioned Labour's call for Britain to rely more on France on defence today as it attacked its commitment to recent conflicts. Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox queried how much the UK could afford to rely on European allies after the Government said this would be increasingly crucial. Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, in a green paper, warned spending cuts would mean greater cooperation with other countries as well as the U.S. But Dr Fox said: 'For us there are two tests: do they invest in defence? And do they fight? Sadly, too few European allies pass both these tests.'http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/03/article-1248171-078F8DD9000005DC-739_468x286.jpg
France vehemently opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Its president Jacques Chirac created a diplomatic crisis by warning he would veto a second UN resolution. They did join Nato-led forces in Afghanistan in 2001, despite not being part of the alliance. They now have around 3,500 troops in the country - roughly a third of the British contingent - and 38 have died there. Britain's death toll stands at 253.
Today's paper came as Gordon Brown faced fresh accusations that he imposed 'arbitrary' cuts on the Armed Forces while he was Chancellor. Published ahead of a full-scale strategic defence review after the election, it did not refer to specific programmes, other than to confirm the decision to go ahead with the £20billion update of the Trident nuclear deterrent. But it made clear that the SDR would be set against a backdrop of tightening budgets as the Government battles to reduce the £178billion deficit. 'The wider financial context means resources across government will be constrained. We should not underestimate the scale of that challenge,' it said.France? - the country which refuses to help the United Kingdom and United States in the face on conflict. The country which detests everything about the UK-US close alliance and thus tries everything along with Germany to weaken UK-US power both militaraliy and economically. It would be a very sad day to see the RAF/Royal Navy merged. I'm glad the Trident project is being preserved though as thats the most important part of our defence although we shouldnt be having any of these cuts if we cut our international aid to nations such as India and China which have vast nuclear weapon programmes and increase their military spending year on year, not to mention the various other wastes we give our money to.
Another step via the backdoor to the creation of an EU army.
Thoughts, should the armed forces be cut & what would you cut?
Afghanistan top priority with £5bn funding next year
More cooperation with allies as spending cuts bite
Prospect RAF and Navy could merge
New aircraft carriers still likely despite 'tough choices'
Trident nuclear deterrent's £20bn update to go ahead
The Tories questioned Labour's call for Britain to rely more on France on defence today as it attacked its commitment to recent conflicts. Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox queried how much the UK could afford to rely on European allies after the Government said this would be increasingly crucial. Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, in a green paper, warned spending cuts would mean greater cooperation with other countries as well as the U.S. But Dr Fox said: 'For us there are two tests: do they invest in defence? And do they fight? Sadly, too few European allies pass both these tests.'http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/03/article-1248171-078F8DD9000005DC-739_468x286.jpg
France vehemently opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Its president Jacques Chirac created a diplomatic crisis by warning he would veto a second UN resolution. They did join Nato-led forces in Afghanistan in 2001, despite not being part of the alliance. They now have around 3,500 troops in the country - roughly a third of the British contingent - and 38 have died there. Britain's death toll stands at 253.
Today's paper came as Gordon Brown faced fresh accusations that he imposed 'arbitrary' cuts on the Armed Forces while he was Chancellor. Published ahead of a full-scale strategic defence review after the election, it did not refer to specific programmes, other than to confirm the decision to go ahead with the £20billion update of the Trident nuclear deterrent. But it made clear that the SDR would be set against a backdrop of tightening budgets as the Government battles to reduce the £178billion deficit. 'The wider financial context means resources across government will be constrained. We should not underestimate the scale of that challenge,' it said.France? - the country which refuses to help the United Kingdom and United States in the face on conflict. The country which detests everything about the UK-US close alliance and thus tries everything along with Germany to weaken UK-US power both militaraliy and economically. It would be a very sad day to see the RAF/Royal Navy merged. I'm glad the Trident project is being preserved though as thats the most important part of our defence although we shouldnt be having any of these cuts if we cut our international aid to nations such as India and China which have vast nuclear weapon programmes and increase their military spending year on year, not to mention the various other wastes we give our money to.
Another step via the backdoor to the creation of an EU army.
Thoughts, should the armed forces be cut & what would you cut?