Britain

Philippines
March 4, 2007 9:53pm CST
The prime minster will apparently call for a debate on whether the UK should continue it's policy of sending troops to world trouble spots after he steps down. Do you think we should remain an influential power (with the increase in budget requirements that that will entail)? Or do you think it's time we stepped back and concentrated on working with other countries more to resolve world problems? If you think we should remain a major defense power, what do you think we should cut back on to fund it? Or is increasing taxes an acceptable solution?
1 person likes this
4 responses
5 Mar 07
It depends on the focus for sending troops into world trouble spots. I still believe that it was correct to take action (however agonisingly late and ineffectual) to prevent genocide in Bosnia, while i believe the Iraq invasion was totally wrong on all sorts of practical and moral grounds. I think Blair is behaving in a very childlike and simplistic manner here - he was wrong, most people knew he was wrong at the time and now there is ample evidence that the anti war majority were right all along he is sullenly saying "Do you want Britain to be a great power or not?" It totally muddies the issue, it is not about being a great power or not, it has more to do with how you use your moral compass
• Philippines
5 Mar 07
for someone that is not a citizen of your country i would say if its possible for you to be active more on the problems unresolve, it would be wise than sending more and more of your brave soldiers, its just what ive seen in the news lately in iraq and afghanistan,
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
5 Mar 07
I think that the UK should work together for world peace if at all possible the way the world is going on these days they need all the help that they can get to overcome all these dreadful violence, distruction and terrorist that exists in the world today. I do not personally know the tax system in the UK.
@aries_0325 (3060)
• Philippines
5 Mar 07
The UN is a toothless organisation that now only seems to exist for it's own end. Corruption is rife. Britain is still one of the few countries in the world capable of expeditionary warfare although that capability is rapidly diminishing due to lack of funds and a hostile government - read labour party scum. One thing is certain. Reducing our capabilities to that of merely a defence force is a folly. Look at the 1920's and 30's. It is vitally important that Britain protects it's national interest and this means we must have, AND PAY FOR, a professional armed forces. We are an island and rely on trade, therefore it's in our interest to have a capable navy and be able to "project force". It is very easy to cut capability but it is impossible to regain that experience and hardware at short notice. We may not have any domestic threat now but who knows what may happen in 50 years time. It is not good to continually hide behind the skirts that are the US armed forces like Europe has done for the past 50 years. I'll leave you with another saying In order to prepare for peace you must first prepare for war.