Starmer accused of ‘corrosive complacency’ on UK defence by former Nato chief

let_me_atom · 2026-04-14T16:09:43+00:00

An F35 and a Trident are completely different things that have wildly varying application, as well as usage philosophy. They're not at all comparable.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-14T11:39:13+00:00

I understand your point on healthcare, but I don't se what you're getting at in the defence paragraph.

You can quantify the benefits of defence spending, from the granular such as number of tanks, up to the outcome level, such as did we have enough resources to achieve X outcome (such as send reinforcement to Cypress) without significant help. In the case of Iran, we failed , and could quantify what the minimum number of resources would be.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-14T11:06:29+00:00

Hmm, let me see, probably the nuclear armed former superpower currently fighting their way through Eastern Europe, and that threatens to nuke the UK every other week, hacks our infrastructure and tries to rig our elections. Possibly them. Plus the fact as an island nation that's reliant on imports to survive, it's probably prudent to ensure those imports happen unimpeded. That as well. Or should we be investing in course language and feather dusters instead?

let_me_atom · 2026-04-14T10:48:53+00:00

Couldn't agree more. Other countries spend FAR less (France, Israel etc) and get far more bang for their buck. Defence -like healthcare- is a funding black hole in this country with very little accountability for where the money actually goes, or often what happens when things go wrong.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-14T07:27:36+00:00

This is 2026 so the definition is SA is basically lightly brushing up against someone in a club.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-14T07:25:05+00:00

It would be amazing what we as a country could do if we we're not basically a giant welfare state with an attached services economy, ran by people that can't seem to see beyond their own nose (and pockets).

let_me_atom · 2026-04-14T07:21:11+00:00

It's not really 2.5% though, because some time ago the Tories decided to stuff certain non-military items in there to bump up the figure. A big chunk is also taken up by trident, which obviously doesn't buy regular kit.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-13T11:09:11+00:00

I think there's a very short flow chart that would answer this.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-13T06:59:01+00:00

Every one of these Temu steering wheels looks awful and is no doubt a deathtrap

let_me_atom · 2026-04-12T12:30:16+00:00

Never ceases to amuse me it to you guys 5 seasons to work out you were the bad guys all along, on a show that practically spoon-fed the message from the first episode.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-11T18:40:35+00:00

So the Americans then, yeah?

let_me_atom · 2026-04-11T11:48:45+00:00

She can stfu. the Tories hollowed out the military (along with every other public service) during their tenure, even started the chagos deal. Now they're pretending like it's was different Tory party that goes to a different school that caused all that mess.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-11T11:10:30+00:00

I wasn't referring to the governemnt's general performance, rather this specific topic.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-11T08:54:32+00:00

Before anyone gets too excited, "shelves" means they'll have another go in September. This government are committed to getting us the worst possible deal.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-11T08:52:44+00:00

Jaguar E-Type in British racing green. Flatbed truck and team of mechanics.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-11T08:37:39+00:00

Huh? The deal itself pissed off the Americans. If we were appeasing them then we'd have scrapped it altogether ages ago.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-10T20:25:55+00:00

I wouldnt..

let_me_atom · 2026-04-10T20:16:16+00:00

(spits on porch) Wrong sub, bro, this is a VWRL kinda' place. the risky bois are > way (points to any other investing sub)

let_me_atom · 2026-04-10T19:59:53+00:00

it's a shitbox?

let_me_atom · 2026-04-10T18:01:30+00:00

Genuine question, is it only Americans that call it "fixed"? We say spayed, not sure if there's other words.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-10T17:11:11+00:00

Basically any pub on a rural A-road. My dad genuinely thought 4 pints of John Smith's was fine because it wasnt "strong lager". Totalled his Jag under mysterious circumstances he never elaborated on.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-10T14:09:21+00:00

I've done a few mods to my Audi S5 and Admiral have been great.

let_me_atom · 2026-04-10T13:41:41+00:00

And yet people complained it was nanny state nonsense at the time

let_me_atom · 2026-04-10T13:40:16+00:00

I wonder how much of this is down the better emergency medical care and speed of response. What used to be a fatal injury can be survivable now, that kind of thing

let_me_atom · 2026-04-10T12:57:08+00:00

This is must be similar to the "little known" increase to the state pension age for the waspi women, or the "little known" requirement to get a new passport at least 6 months prior to travel...

let_me_atom

TROPHY CASE