Britain a laughing stock?

[rov1100]

Why does Britain insist in punching above our weight in the world when it comes to military matters? Our fiascos in Libya recently show poorly co-ordinated plans. We are now a laughing stock!

We have had the Chilcot inquiry to insure that lessons are learnt. But will the politicians take note of the past failings?

Are we living on past glories?
Are the politicians not up to scratch?
Is it a diversion from the failed economy?
Should our defence expenditure match our ability to influence world events?

[rov1100]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12665575

[Old_Geezer]

All countries that try to do something will err on occassion. Better than sitting out all the time.

[andy-hughes]

No-one can seriously try and defend either William Hague's handling of this incident, or the backlash that will result from it.

I believe Mr Hague to be a man of honour, and i hope he will hold up his hands in the House, and admit that he and his office got this badly wrong.

As experienced army personal have advised through the media, the best way to approach a revolutionary army in a lawless area like Lybia is to approach trusted commanders on the ground, and negotiate a cladestine meeting. Arriving by helecoper is hardly in the spirit of secrecy, and arriving unannounced with arms is likely to result n a response of the 'shoot first, ask questions afterwards ...' variety.

Quite how Mr Hague would feel if the rebels had parachuted into Whitehall for a chinwag about things is a conversation no doubt being conduted behind closed doors as I write ...

[McMouse]

Laughing stock? I don't think so. Punching above our weight? I don't think so either. Our special forces are probably the best in the world, though on this occasion they were there to escort a clandestine diplomatic approach to the Libyan dissidents. No doubt they could have resisted capture and escaped in the the same helicopter but that would have meant killing. It's easy selling our country short.....where's your patiotism?

[Answerprancer]

I like Bill Bailey's analogy of USA being like the big playground bully going round shouting "give us yer sweets!" and England like the little nerdy kid who peers out from behind him, shaking his fist and going "Yeahh!"

[madmaggot]

One has to wonder if GB or the US would care about Libya if they had no oil?

[Answerprancer]

"one cock up" - hmm, Sebastian Coe comes to mind ;-)

[Davethedog]

Don't be silly that wasn't a cock up on Labour make cock ups Tories make measured insurgance.

If we are a laughing stock this government is making us so.

[Old_Geezer]

No oil ? Well as usual I'd guess they'd care, but not have sufficient incentive to act. Save from rhetoric and complaints at the UN of course.

[rov1100]

I think the analogy by Douglas Alexander in the commons today sums it up:

"If a new neighbour moved in next door to you would you ring his bell or climb over the back fence to introduce yourself?"

[andy-hughes]

McMouse - it is acknowledged that in some areas we are definitely punching about our weight -

David Cameron talks about establishing a 'no fly zone' over Lybia - tricky, since the Tornadoes we would need to do that are being de-commissioned at the end of April, and we do not have any other suitable aircraft to perform that task.

I'd call that a definition of punching above our weight.

[prendy91]

i agree totally...we were made to look fools

[birdie1971]

Amazing that our Government is decommissioning aircraft and ships, laying off members of our armed forces left right and centre whilst simultaneously announcing that the UK can somehow impose a 'no fly zone' over Libya! It was only by a monumental stroke of luck that HMS Cumberland managed to be diverted, literally on her way to the scrap yard, in order to rescue dozens of refugees from Libya.

I know this Government is hell-bent on saving money but deliberately carving up your own armed forces in a time of heightened terrorist threats (so we are told by the very same Government) and at a time when mass protests at oppressive regimes is at an all time high, seems to me to be a particularly stupid and short-sighted policy.

[mightyWBA]

Based on military strength the United Kingdom is still the 5th most powerful nation in the World.
So long as we don't take on the USA,China,Russia and India we could have a good go at everybody else.
Plus the fact we could wipe out the World with our nukes if we really got angry :-)
http://www.globalfirepower.com/

[youngmafbog]

Very easy to spout off after the event. With hindsight this is an atrocious miscalculation.

Hague has never appeared to settle into this role, I dont think it suits him at all. Lets not forget though that all ministers, of whatever persuasion, will take advise from senior civil servants so Hague is not totally to blame.

As for a laughing stock, hardly. In fact our forces did exactly the right thing, surrendered and did not kill anyone, which without doubt they could have done. It show that we can be restrained and not Gung ho like the septics.

[birdie1971]

^^^ “... [they] surrendered and did not kill anyone, which without doubt they could have done.”

Really? How do you reach that conclusion?

Whilst I would be the first to admit that our SAS are extremely well trained and highly skilled military personnel, they are still able to be caught – just like anyone else. To suggest that they could have simply killed their captors and escaped is just whimsy.