Is Britain too weak?

Has Britain allowed itself to become a target for Iranian mischief by weakening its military? In 1979 our president, Jimmy Carter, was also taken advantage of by Iran. What is your opinion?

[ASWnut101]

A very possible idea. I think so.

[Yahoshua]

Militarily no, but I do see that that England (and the U.S.) are both falling prey to the multi-culti line of thought and are falling into a "blame the victim" routine. So it seems the same is being played out here that the sailors are being blamed for being taken prisoner, but people are too afraid to stand up for themselves or their countrymen. A sad state of affairs.

Originally Posted by Yahoshua

Militarily no, but I do see that that England (and the U.S.) are both falling prey to the multi-culti line of thought and are falling into a "blame the victim" routine. So it seems the same is being played out here that the sailors are being blamed for being taken prisoner, but people are too afraid to stand up for themselves or their countrymen. A sad state of affairs.

'Blame the victim' is very much in play. Thank you for your input Yahoshua

[Oberon]

One of the main problems the British Government has is short-sightedness. Ever since the Berlin wall come down, we've convinced ourselves that the world is suddenly a much safer place and we don't need large standing armies, or a powerful Navy or Air force, if we can cut corners by sending our troops to places with inadequate provisions, well they can improvise, and so what if our fleet air arm hasn't got any adequate Anti-air fighters, we're not fighting the Cold War anymore, we don't need them.

And then we suddenly find ourselves out-manuevered by an enemy we'd thought below us, and suddenly we're running to catch up, having cut our forces too small and spreading them out too wide.

Originally Posted by Oberon

One of the main problems the British Government has is short-sightedness. Ever since the Berlin wall come down, we've convinced ourselves that the world is suddenly a much safer place and we don't need large standing armies, or a powerful Navy or Air force, if we can cut corners by sending our troops to places with inadequate provisions, well they can improvise, and so what if our fleet air arm hasn't got any adequate Anti-air fighters, we're not fighting the Cold War anymore, we don't need them.

And then we suddenly find ourselves out-manuevered by an enemy we'd thought below us, and suddenly we're running to catch up, having cut our forces too small and spreading them out too wide.

So are you saying that Britain has allowed itself to become weak?

Perhaps I should have made this a poll.

[gnirtS]

Originally Posted by waste gate

Has Britain allowed itself to become a target for Iranian mischief by weakening its military? In 1979 our president, Jimmy Carter, was also taken advantage of by Iran. What is your opinion?

No, Britain (or more accurately its weak excuse for a leader, Blair) has made itself a target by blindly following america into its wars. If Blair showed any spine or backbone and just said no the place would be far less of a target both home and abroad.

Yes the UKs military is very weak these days to the extent it could not start and certainly not win a war against even a minor nation with its dated air force, dated and downsized navy and massively overstretched army but it wouldn't be a problem if its leaders stood up to others and just did whats right for the country not what someone asks for a favour.

If the Falklands were invaded today, there'd be no way to reclaim them (and i doubt blair would want to or have the balls to try either). Ancient dated aircraft on a pathetic excuse for a carrier that isn't even capable of providing its own fleet defence screen yet alone offensive action.

Kidnapping the Iranians in Iraq most probably directly triggered this latest incident.

[baggygreen]

Wastegate - in my opinion, britain became a target for the iranians due to their soft ROE, which came about as a result of pandering to soft, pansy-bellied pacifists who unfortunately make up too much of society. But thats just my opinion.

Originally Posted by gnirtS

No, Britain (or more accurately its weak excuse for a leader, Blair) has made itself a target by blindly following america into its wars. If Blair showed any spine or backbone and just said no the place would be far less of a target both home and abroad.

I think not - as has been shown before, attacks by different organisations against western targets have been going on for years, well before the invasion of afghanistan and later iraq. But i suppose they knew in advance, probably from divine foresight, that the invasions were gonna happen??

Originally Posted by gnirtS

Yes the UKs military is very weak these days to the extent it could not start and certainly not win a war against even a minor nation with its dated air force, dated and downsized navy and massively overstretched army but it wouldn't be a problem if its leaders stood up to others and just did whats right for the country not what someone asks for a favour.

If the Falklands were invaded today, there'd be no way to reclaim them (and i doubt blair would want to or have the balls to try either). Ancient dated aircraft on a pathetic excuse for a carrier that isn't even capable of providing its own fleet defence screen yet alone offensive action.

I have to agree, parts of this statement is true enough, but only to an extent. The british forces have been so downsized that they would struggle to fight a full-scale conventional war. What are the chances of that happening these days though? not very high. "oh but if they invade iran" someone may say... if that happens then we (the west) would be fighting almost an entire nation, military and civilian - thats not what id call conventional warfare.

Originally Posted by gnirtS

Kidnapping the Iranians in Iraq most probably directly triggered this latest incident.

Did it now? Firstly, I think you'll find that the Iranians detained were not kidnapped, but were in fact engaged in illegal activities within the borders of Iraq, were on falsified diplomatic passports, and were consorting with criminal (or insurgent, or revolutionary - whatever you please) elements. Detained for aiding and abetting hostile actions against several nations. That is not kidnapping, last i checked. Now, before getting indignant on me and claiming the same case for the britons detained, they were conducting a UN approved action in friendly waters on a neutral, consenting ship, when they were taken. thats a lot more like kidnapping to me.

Secondly on that point, hell its moot anyway - Iran have said that it wasnt related to any detentions of any citizens in Iraq. So what are you going to do - believe them on one point and not the other??


Just as a final, completely opinionated note - your sig makes me sick. And if you really feel that way, hell why not be a real patriot and put a picture of a burning british flag up as well.

[August]

Originally Posted by baggygreen

Just as a final, completely opinionated note - your sig makes me sick.

Irritating people is the whole point of trolling Baggy. Yanking peoples chains under cover of internet anonymity is how he gets his jollies.

[redacted]

Due to Gnirt's sense of fair play.