Shard

Does the UK really need a nuclear deterrent? In the age of austerity and guerrilla terrorism, I am finding the argument for the £100 BN Trident renewal increasingly flimsy. Is it purely a political obligation to NATO and the USA? What do you think on this issue?

Yorkiechef

Get rid. If the threat is Russia , then France also has a deterrent. Plus, if America is our friend, they have it in spades. Buy more cruise missiles and Nuc tip those and more helicopters that kill tanks.

Shard

That's pretty much what I am thinking.

Yorkiechef

Britain having trident or Polaris never prevented WW3, USA having it prob did. Well done USA.....

mdizzle

It's because a lot of people in Britain get a bit excited about the thought of Britain as a major military force. Absolute weirdos.

magnumpi

Actually UK is fifth biggest ass kickers in the whole wide universe

Yorkiechef

No question, they can make some big bangs.....

I like the idea of removing it and the servicing of it from britains shores.

magnumpi

If it got cancelled just think of all the fat people weddings it would fund :@)

scootb

I think they haven't needed nukes for a long time now,any wars now are going to be over resources,so the use of nukes seems highly unlikely these days.
Even in the days of the cold war I think it was highly unlikely anyone would have launched a nuke,it was more a battle of bluffs.

scrubbedexpat091

They probably don't need them, no country needs them, but as long as they exist, some countries will keep them around, only way to rid the world of them is to convince every country to keep promises and actually dispose of theirs which will never happen.

If the US and France have them, I'd think that would be sufficient, other countries know if they do something to the UK or Canada or anyone else, the US and France would likely intervene.

Oink

If the French have them, we'll have them.

magnumpi

Yeh but we could never make soft fresh crusty missiles like the French do every morning.

mdizzle

I for one am glad we have the French to protect us.

plasticcanuck

That might happen. After all, they've closed down their white flag making factory so might fight for a change.

JamesM

Given how quickly France have rolled over in previous conflicts it's probably safer if we have them rather than they.

I'm surprised people think the US would bail in and help us. They are usually late to any party trying to assess what is in it for them.