Whatever happened to the cry,"Millions for defense but not a penny for tribute!" that served to straighten the backbone of many a right minded citizen?
Oh, that was the United States - uttered by Robert Harper in1797 after the fwench demanded a bribe to stop attacking our ships - not the British.
Apparently the Brits were not listening either then or now as their run-away social spending to keep the wogs and white trash happy (tribute) has stripped them of their ability to maintain simple, single ship coverage of their island in the event of an emergency.
No warships left defending Britain after Defence cutbacks
Defence cuts have left the stretched Royal Navy unable to provide an emergency standby ship to protect British waters for a month.
The Navy normally provides a minimum coverage of a frigate or destroyer fulfilling the role of Fleet Ready Escort (FRE) in order to be able to respond quickly to a potential threat at home or abroad.
However, slashed Defence budgets and the war in Libya has meant there hasn't been a vessel available since the start of October.
The last ship to fill the role, called the FRE, was HMS Portland but that left for war games off the coast of Scotland in October, and it is now having a rest period in Plymouth on the south coast.
Former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord Alan West said: "I would hardly say it is a luxury. If there was a terrorism incident in UK waters, this would historically be the ship sent in to deal with it.
"It's a big problem. If we haven't got a ship ready to do this role then it's worrying. It's a very unsatisfactory position to be in."
8 comments:
A sad day. Mighty Britannia and John Bull have been brought low by a chronic parasitic infection that is accomplishing what neither Napoleon nor Hitler were able to accomplish. Would that a generation of Tories would rise and snatch back this great nation from history's abyss.
We might have to revive the "Lend-Lease" program and send them a few four stackers.
Ah, but I'll bet there's money for the takers.
Andy - I duuno. Unless England experiences a great awakening, she is doomed; no doubt headed for the dustbin of history.
Pewster - I would be surprised if we had any four-stackers left except in a museum. We are far below the 600 ship fleet of the fifties and the 1,200 ship fleet after the end of WWII.
Britain's priorities are upside down. They are making cuts in the wrong places.
You'd think that an island nation would recognise the importance of a navy... I predict that they'll learn, if they do, the hard way.
Rule Britannia.
Post a Comment