THINK DEFENSE Blog posted what I consider some pretty inflammatory stuff about the US in regards to our concern about UK defense spending.
via THINK DEFENSE.
In the run up to any possible defence cuts in the UK, the press starts to spin that the Americans are concerned about the UK and its “reliance on US support” to defend its self. Principally the USA seems to be concerned by our reductions in the Army to 82,000.Uh wait...what?
It’s no surprise that the USA is concerned by the reductions in our Army. Given their massive superiority in the air and at sea to pretty much the rest of the world combined but their proportionality smaller land forces. The British Army has shouldered more of the burden in American lead operations than any other international force. My question is should we be worried about US reactions?
I for one am sick of the UK media constantly acting like the USA has a veto on British Government spending decisions and I am even more sick of British politicians bending over “special relationship issues”.
I know at the heart of it none of this is the USA’s fault. It is our major ally and nine times out of ten the best one to have. However the United Kingdom is a strong ally to have as well with a powerful economy and one of the most capable military’s in the world. For quite some time now we have been putting in at least as much as we get back from the “special relationship”. Why should we feel that we have to answer to anyone for domestic spending decisions?
You're pissed because we're concerned that you're about to decrease your Army to 82,000? News flash buddy. That will make the British Army nothing more than a police force. We're fighting on this side of the pond to not see the USMC fall to 150,000. At 82k the British Army would in effect not even be able to deploy a Brigade.
You vaunted air and sea power is not that impressive by any standard. You can take a look at whats going on in the Pacific and you see even what would once be considered 2nd rate forces equaling that AND having gear that is at the very least equal to if not superior to what the UK is currently and projected to field.
Once the UK was innovative and a defense leader...now its falling on the technological lead of the US.
And you say you're tired of hearing about how the "special relationship" is threatened by these cuts?
I've haven't said it out loud but the future of Europe military lies with the likes of Poland, the Scandinavian Countries and others...but definitely not with the UK. In one more generation the "special relationship" will be seen as a minor footnote in history and the UK will become a minor power with no real influence. Its importance is already on the wane and the efforts to drag the US into the Syrian conflict are telling....just like the events in Libya were. You want that fight but in the end we'll be doing the heavy lifting.
So fear not THINK DEFENSE. On this side of the Atlantic we tire of it too.