Britain's place in the world and strategic needs

[stalin]

Britain's place in the world and strategic needs

i can't see why you all won't accept a valid perspective that Britain becomes a tycoons paradise, so that tycoons from everywhere got there together to hold the rest of the world in their sway; what's not to like about this idea?

[copenhagen]

Originally Posted by stalin

income in the UK covers only Britain's horrendously high taxes and living cost. China population has no taxes to pay, and they buy everything there at such low prices, the UK can only dream about... the very idea of income as an indication of anything is strawman and loaded.

I've seen their wealth in China. Shangahai has it in spades. I've also seen the base poverty just around the corner that this nation hasn't seen for well nigh on a hundred years with people living a lifestyle unchanged for centuries. You don't know what you're talking about again and you're just trolling this thread basically. Start a Russian economy/place in the world thread if you wish to prove otherwise....

[stalin]

Originally Posted by copenhagen

I've seen their wealth in China. Shangahai has it in spades. I've also seen the base poverty..people living a lifestyle unchanged for centuries

that isn't poverty, that's freedom - when you live without the so called 'high living standard' imposed on you. China does grant her people every opportunity to get rich, but there are also those who feel satisfied with what they've already got.

[copenhagen]

Originally Posted by stalin

that isn't poverty, that's freedom - when you live without the so called 'high living standard' imposed on you. China does grant her people every opportunity to get rich, but there are also those who feel satisfied with what they've already got.

Up to your neck in a dirty paddy field with an ox on the outskirts of Shanghai is freedom is it? You'd know this would you? You know how he'd feel that would you? Seriously you're a fool sir!

[billscottmorri]

Originally Posted by stalin

i can't see why you all won't accept a valid perspective that Britain becomes a tycoons paradise, so that tycoons from everywhere got there together to hold the rest of the world in their sway; what's not to like about this idea?

Well, it is not true so I supppose that is one thing not to like about it.

[stalin]

Originally Posted by copenhagen

Up to your neck in a dirty paddy field with an ox on the outskirts of Shanghai is freedom is it?

yes it is, unlike the British farmers who got their cattle taken away from them and destroyed, on a false account of the so called 'mad cow' desease... you also can't afford being poor in Britain, simply because of the public transport and housing cost and other innumerable payments that you wouldn't have to pay if you lived in China.

[copenhagen]

Guys this is a great thread. I think its trying to be hijacked by dumbness. Hopefully it can get back on track. The problem is I don't think our government has a strategic plan for us. Juswt more of the usual bumbling from one cut to the next without direction...

[billscottmorri]

Originally Posted by copenhagen

Guys this is a great thread. I think its trying to be hijacked by dumbness. Hopefully it can get back on track. The problem is I don't think our government has a strategic plan for us. Juswt more of the usual bumbling from one cut to the next without direction...

On one hand you are dead right, there is not a clear pathway, or even very clear objectives set by HMG for what the defence requirements are - at least not one that is widely shared.

Without this it falls to to MOD to cope, and to be ready to do whatever comes its way. This worked unbelievably well in the Falklands when a task force was at sea within DAYS of the order to go. It worked not so well in Helmand where the MOD must take the blame for saying yes to a task that was not within reach or even very sensible.

The UK remains one of the very few interentionist governments willing and able to put its forces into the firing line pretty much anywhere in the world in almost any scenario from full blown symetrical war in Iraq 1 through to whatever sneaky tasks the SAS / SBS are up to in Africa.

If I was involved in the planning for the future I would say that the UK is most likely to need the capability for small to mid size interventions far from home and near, largely against forces from the developing world with decent kit but poor training and a very great deal of low impact SF activity.

The overhaul of the Reserve seems to be a smart move long overdue.

So far Number 10 has not asked my opinion though.

[Selous]

I wish they would ask us

I'm not so sure about the reserve reforms, as I haven't looked into them much,aren't they just using reservist numbers to make up for regular personnel cuts? What do the reserve reforms look like?

Happy St Andrews Day btw, Bill

[billscottmorri]

Originally Posted by Selous

I wish they would ask us

I'm not so sure about the reserve reforms, as I haven't looked into them much,aren't they just using reservist numbers to make up for regular personnel cuts? What do the reserve reforms look like?

Happy St Andrews Day btw, Bill

Thank you for the kind wished on this special day!

On the Reserves though, I think that there is a reality in the UK for a smaller, better core standing force with a scaleable reserve so the basic approach seems sound as with the idea of twinning more closely with regular units.