alpine_saint

Because we have a lot more global interests/legacies/responsibilites/enemies than all of those countries, except possibly the Spanish, but in their case it was all longer ago and they dont really have any overseas territories any more. And also we for some bizarre reason, like to play global cop. Its some sort of imperial throw-back, to be sure.

This was also my wish (especially if we got a couple of additional Astute hulls for it), but apparently its been ruled out as being more expensive (warhead and possible cruise missile itself development), take too long (warhead development), and has increased vulnerability (needs to be closer to target and/or requires forward staging bases)

I think people who make your argument miss an essential point, which has been well made in the Telegraph editorial on the report. Designing, developing and deploying such systems takes a huge amount of time. I think the current estimate is about 10 years. The Vanguards and Trident have been in sevice for ca. 20 years already, so it will be ca. 30 years by the time they are decomissioned. Now, cast your mind back over the last 30 years, and how the geo-political landscape has evolved. How can we tell from here what the landscape will be in 10 years, 20 years, 30 years ? You cannot replace these systems overnight, even the LibDem report makes it clear a new warhead for a cruise missile system is going to take 2 DECADES to develop and deploy. We need to decide are we a nuclear power (Trident sub replacements like-for-like) or not (unilateral disarmament). That's it. The LibDem policy is utter b*ll*cks.

Its not at all. But the schadenfreude on display here is almost as bad as what they did.

Why do some of you take gloating pleasure out of their dismissal from the job ? They are morons, who are consumed by jealousy. They are prats. But I bet they have innocent families that will suffer from the loss of income. FFS, stop stooping to their level. We are better than that.

Has-been player, been underachieving for years. Absolutely dire on the big stages. One last attention-seeking media w*nk-fest for him before middle age and mediocrity beckons.

Aw, no. Was a big fan of his. Remember some stunning 4 x 400m performances.

Yep, cheaper than my missus was told at the stadium.

Deary me. The only debate this report has brought anything to is the ongoing concern about the sanity and reality awareness of members of the LibDem party. Your heroes spend months going through a list of 700 alternative proposals, cant find anything cheaper (hence waving the white flag), then come up with a typical loony half-baked LibDem cockamamie plan about only buying two new subs and sending them to sea without warheads ? Absolutely bonkers. As bonkers as the SDSR ws in 2010, which has totally emasculated the Navy. Was this exercise about saving money ? Or was it about trying to deliver unilateral disarmament under the cover of saving money? . After all, even this moronic plan would still require about 2/3 of the outlay and running costs, whilst totally trashing the operational viability of the UK independent nuclear deterrence. The LibDem are a bunch of dogmatic loonatics who are doing massive damage to the country. Sooner they are gone, the better. Utterly ridiculous the amount of sway they have over Govt. policy, considering the miniscule amount of seats they bring to the coalition.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk-news/2013/jul/16/trident-alternatives-nuclear-submarines-lib-dems Last sentence: "Investing in the development of a new warhead, new missile, new platform and new infrastructure means that transitioning to any of the realistic alternative systems is now more expensive than a 3 or 4-boat Successor Trident fleet." Wonder how much money the review wasted ? Inadequate w'*nkers..

Jeez, do we really want the World Cup held there ?

Yep. Claus's Monday Morning ditty in the Echo or the OS about how the players let everyone and themselves down but are relaxed they will turn things around next this coming weekend against xxxxxx used to drive me incandescent. And I swear Jose says the same thing every summer. Personally, if I had a gaffer with a weak grasp on the lingo I'd expect everyone knuckling down, fairly serious, with limited banter going on.

Its as much about weakness as "gaps" Another CB, get rid of Fonte or Hooiveld Winger with pace Striker Another GK, make Kelvin GK-Trainer.

Really, really into Stargate Universe now. For those of you who havent tried it, and got put off by the moaning that it aint Stargate Sg-1, just try out the story arc of the last 2 episodes of the first series, and first episode of the second series. Absolutely brilliant. "Incursion Part 2" is just about the best Sci-Fi I've seen since the very first time I watched Star Trek TNG "Best of Both Worlds" Part 1.

Hiya, Not a lot of hotel options in the centre of Villach. Holiday Inn and Hotel Romantik Post are very central and good for the stadium, but f**king expensive. If you have transport, look for a hotel round the Ossiachersee or Faakersee, loads of B&Bs with cheap prices (though of course these matches are in the peak of the holiday season). Try out Booking.com and set the distance to less than ca. 15km. The rumours I am getting is that because Saints are training at the ground of Velden FC, they will be staying in Velden, but this might be wrong. Velden is on the edge of the Wörthersee (the other end is Klagenfurt and the Euro2008 stadium, which is closed for building work, hence Villach Stadion Lind being used for the games) is a rich boys playground, lots of celebs have appartments there. Likely hotel is the Hotel Casino, but this is speculation on my part. No advance tickets for the game. My missus went to the stadium and asked. The staff recommend arriving in good time for the game (1 hour ahead) especially for Schalke, who are bringing a big contingent.

Lest you forget, they got within 14 runs...

England chokling again at 9-for... Finn is a useless tw*t.

As if an Aussie would have walked....

Prior gone... ....and probably Englands hopes.

ffs.

Ffs.......

He just survived an LBW on review. Very lucky..

Yep, my thoughts too. Said yesterday one batsman's innings would win this game (and it probably has). Agar deserves MOM for that performance, along with removing the England captain as his first wicket.

FFS. I see KP has let his nature get the better of him yet again. Really, really poor from such a supposed elder statesman of the England team.

Dodi