Do We Need A Nuclear Deterrent?

[chickenstrip]

Heard some ex-General on the news the other day spouting about "Russia is a threat, an Islamic state is a threat", Pakistan, which I've often thought could wind up as a nuclear-endowed Islamic state in the hands of extremists, Iran who seem a little unpredictable etc, and we involved for better or worse in much of it (mostly due to our 'tug-the-forelock to US hawks' mentality - even if we changed this last, is it too late to be disassociated with them in the eyes of others?).

Is now a good time to ditch Trident and not have a nuclear capability?
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Lord Percy]

I don't think it's too late at all.

In fact if the UK was the first to do it, it might be easier? Because then there'd be other nations who would still be willing to back us up if we were attacked. NATO allies and all that.

So we'd be protected by others, while at the same probably displaying quite a serious global message about nuclear disarmament.

I wonder if there'd still always be a secret stash somewhere though.

[chickenstrip]

[dydey90]

[The Artist]

Get rid of the deterrent, keep some Nukes hidden away somewhere so when the shit does hit the fan, we can pull them out the bag at the last minute.

[chickenstrip]

[chickenstrip]

There is no point to nukes except as a deterrent to others. But it's a vicious circle, and now they exist, can you really ever be without them? If we had been a different nation, quietly minding our own business, staying out of controversial world affairs, maybe we would never have needed them. But you'd have to obliterate a lot of history now to get us to that point. We are in it 'til the endgame?
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[swampy]

I've made no secret of the fact I think Trident is an extortionately expensive exercise in national willy waving.

I don't think it is a deterrent - any nuclear war would be global, and any attack would result in the aggressors country being so heavily destroyed that it is illogical to launch the attack to start with - the old 'MAD' scenario.
____________________
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." Hunter S Thompson
"Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death..." Hunter S Thompson

[chickenstrip]

[Rogerborg]

They're not "our" nukes anyway, we rent them from Barry Osama. I very much doubt that we'd ever actually use them even in response to a first strike. Don't have the right paperwork, Caruthers can only find a green pen.


Russia could cripple us by just turning off the gas next winter.

Excitables could just sail a freighter up the Thames then say "Not us, religion of peace".

China have no interest in starting something half way round the world. We're literally insignificant to them. If they wanted to bring us to heel, they could just pause shipments of white goods until we caved in, or just dump Sterling.

Argentina is fixing to have another bite at the Malvinas - they don't seem very deterred by our oh-so-scary nukes.

They're an imperial relic that serve no purpose. Spend the money on bayonets and boot polish.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[RichardCraniu...]

It's not just a deterrent to a nuclear attack, it's the biggest guarantee of sovereignty the UK has. Nukes are one of the reasons Israel still exists today

With regards to Japan, nobody has invaded because America. That and they have a "turn key" nuclear capability, meaning they could have nukes when ever they want.

I think the deterrent should stay personally. Maybe a shared one with France could be a less costly solution but that would probably be too difficult to sort out.

If the UK wish to remains a nuclear power then a continuous at sea deterrent is the only option. Silos are too easy to take out in a first strike
____________________
ZX6R 636

[Tungtvann]

Get rid of them. The UK would never use them first and even if we got nuked, there's no point in sending a few back their way, I think that's policy as well.

[chickenstrip]

[J4mes]

Is dumping our nukes and expecting the other powers to back us a bit like asking your mates to back you in a bar fight but instead of throwing punches you're going to flick ears?

Are we likely to get in to any bar fights?

[chickenstrip]

[RichardCraniu...]

[chickenstrip]

[swampy]

[Rogerborg]

[chickenstrip]

So why aren't our political masters ditching them? Even the worst of the Tory Lords must see that we are not and cannot be the Imperial power of our past? Would there be repercussions with our allies? Would it weaken our say in NATO? What am I missing?

Why can't we just say to the Yanks, ok, you want to be the world's policeman, go ahead, but you can't expect lil' ol' Britain to come along with you all the time? Are they the only reason we keep em? Cos it makes the Yanks happy?

Oh, wait a minute...

What Rogerborg said about Putin cutting off our gas supplies...do we now need the Yanks for oil and gas? Maybe we could cosy up to Putin instead?

Bloody hell, this is all very complex. Think I'll go weed me garden
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[oldpink]

as Roger said there not our "Nukes"
we can't launch them unless America says so
all we do is store them (40 miles from my home) and ferry them about in very expensive submarines for the yanks

I've been a member of CND since 1970 when I was 14, my mind hasn't changed since them
use the money for health and Education instead
____________________
I have become comfortably numb

Theory & hazard 24-may 2016, CBT 8th June 2016, MOD 1 2nd Aug 2016 Mod 2 2nd-Nov 2016 - Current bike CBR 600 RR

[Old Git Racing]

Dump them, next time a nuke is used it wont matter if you have them or not. Nukes aren't a 'limited' weapon, neither are the politics surrounding them.
Spend some of the money on an effective armed services and back our people who we seem to send regularly on shitty jobs without the right kit.
OGR
____________________
2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[J4mes]

Can someone provide a genuine source that tells us we neither own nuclear weapons nor are we able to launch anything without US consent?

Wikipedia and media sources do not count.

I think it's incredibly naive to think this information is in the public domain. Even if the government make statements concerning the topic.

[J4mes]

[chickenstrip]