Super EU/ Super NAFTA, Hell No, Resurrect British Empire?

MustaphaMond · Coal Joined: Apr 29, 2008 Posts: 8

The following countries all have the same head of state, governmental system and share a common culture, Australia, Canada, England, Ireland (north), New Zealand, Scotland, Wales. All of them but one have resource bases greater than their populations and minus immigration falling/stable populations. Many of them face invasion/take over by neighbours for those resources and complete loss of power by said head of state/ruling elite/common people, if invasions occur.

England has what the others lack namely the means to protect their territories in the form of advanced weapons technology including nuclear, hundreds tonnes of Plutonium & Uranium, and what will be an increasingly desperate/motivated population. Is it not possible that it might be in the interest of all parties to go back to the situation in 1940 single armed force and high degree of integration between the governments so that they effectively work as one, and keep various foreigners (Europeans(English)/Yanks/Indonesians) off their land.

New Capital in New Zealand? Far away from everybody.

Kaj · Heavy Crude Joined: Dec 06, 2006 Posts: 378

You forgot to mention India, who have an elite population the size of a small country who speak with better English accents than many brits. They've maintained the colonial structure of the country too. And now that the country have all of our call centres, they have absorbed even more of our wonderful culture: some of their training actually conisists of watching gritty british soaps.

They have powerful enemies, so obviously what we should do is reinvade the country and put it back under our magnanimous protection.

Because the sun never did set on our empire, it's just been a bit cloudy for the last 50 years.

Gerben

Many of these countries have closer economic ties to their neighbours than to each other. There is already a commonwealth in place. I don't think most of the nations seek more collaboration, just because England would need their resources. They can pay for it like everybody else.

And I don't think invading India would be a smart move. They have nukes as well.

energycity · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 22, 2008 Posts: 125

Interesting idea; alliances to secure food and energy supplies – that’s very possible.

I have tried to raise enthusiasm for a European Union response to Peak Oil but there seems to be little interest. People instead seem to be focused on how their particular country will cope (or are planning to migrate to one that offers better prospects). As if borders will be respected when TSHTF.

If we leave it to the nation states and there is a PO sudden collapse I can imagine the rise of extreme governments with national armies securing basic resources for their population at almost any cost. Perhaps 2 or 3 countries will band together to protect what they have or add to what they have by annexing another land (bringing about "regime change" and a tame government).

All this might seem impossible now but that’s because few of us have lived through really hard economic times and many of us are used to the pampered lives and liberal attitudes of life in wealthy western democracies (I know I am and very enjoyable it has been too!).

Kaj · Heavy Crude Joined: Dec 06, 2006 Posts: 378

GASMON

Resurrect British Empire?

The Royal Navy, still the largest in the world in September 1939, included:

15 Battleships & battlecruisers, of which only two were post-World War 1. Five 'King George V' class battleships were building.

7 Aircraft carriers. One was new and five of the planned six fleet carriers were under construction. There were no escort carriers.

66 Cruisers, mainly post-World War 1 with some older ships converted for AA duties. Including cruiser-minelayers, 23 new ones had been laid down.

184 Destroyers of all types. Over half were modern, with 15 of the old 'V' and 'W' classes modified as escorts. Under construction or on order were 32 fleet destroyers and 20 escort types of the 'Hunt' class.

60 Submarines, mainly modern with nine building.

45 escort and patrol vessels with nine building, and the first 56 'Flower' class corvettes on order to add to the converted 'V' and 'W's' and 'Hunts'. However, there were few fast, long-endurance convoy escorts.

Fast forward to 2007

"Navy to cut its fleet by half."

"Royal Navy commanders were in uproar yesterday after it was revealed that almost half of the Fleet's 44 warships are to be mothballed as part of a Ministry of Defence cost-cutting measure. ...

A need to cut the defence budget by £250 million this year to meet spending requirements has forced ministers to look at drastic measures.

MoD sources have admitted it is possible that the Royal Navy will discontinue one of its major commitments around the world at a time when Sir Jonathon Band, the First Sea Lord, has said more ships are needed to protect the high seas against terrorism and piracy.

The six warships to be mothballed are the Type 22 frigates Cumberland, Chatham, Cornwall and Campbeltown and two Type 42 destroyers Southampton and Exeter.

It is likely that they will eventually be sold or scrapped. There are also fears in the Admiralty that two new aircraft carriers, promised in 1998, might never be built.

Meanwhile the French navy, which will be far superior to the Royal Navy after the cuts, will announce before the April presidential elections that a new carrier will be built.

Two of eight advanced air defence Type 45 destroyers on the Navy's order books will not be bought, defence sources said. The order is already six months behind schedule and £157 million over budget.

A senior officer, currently serving with the Fleet in Portsmouth, said:"What this means is that we are now no better than a coastal defence force or a fleet of dug-out canoes. The Dutch now have a better navy than us.'"

Not sure if these cuts went ahead, but I dont think we brits could pick a fight with our own shadow these days. Our boys n gals in Iraq / Afghanistan suffering re equipment quality / cut-backs.

We can only watch the sun go down, with a gin & tonic, and remember the past.

Such a shame, (happened to the romans also).

Gasmon
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Constantus excrementia et level variatum

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Twilight · Expert Joined: Mar 02, 2007 Posts: 2971 Location: UK

Indeed, the Royal Navy is in a pitiful state. If the nuclear subs were to sit on the sidelines, the task force assembled for the Falklands (in a fortnight!) would finish today's navy in a few minutes.
_________________
"The American people are watching the numbers climb higher and higher at the pump and they're waiting to see what the Congress will do." - George W Bush

energycity · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 22, 2008 Posts: 125

MustaphaMond · Coal Joined: Apr 29, 2008 Posts: 8

Let me get this straight Royal Navy UK is busy leaving ships to rot in harbour/scraping them, while Royal Navy Canada is busy building new ones to defend the Arctic.

Could we just go to the Canadians and say here are some Type 42 & 45s, with crews if you want them, and in return if it goes a bit 1840s Irish in twenty years, you will let us come to your country right.

Everyone 's a winner, Canada gets many more boats for its money and we don't starve. Or is there some reason the mothballed boats wont work in the Hudson bay/Northwest Passage.

Plantagenet

Nickel

MustaphaMond · Coal Joined: Apr 29, 2008 Posts: 8

If the Northwest Passage is so narrow, why doesn't the Canadian government just set up a small radar/sonar base with howitzer attached. Any vessel which doesn't show due respect take pot shots at. Must be cheaper than new Ice Breakers.

I know you're just jealous we didn't sell you the Melbourne, that worked, it sank two warships, and I was told (not sure how true) was a joy to operate in the tropics having been designed for the cold north Atlantic.

Nickel

energycity · Heavy Crude Joined: Apr 22, 2008 Posts: 125

btu2012