Clinton 'warns' UK on defence cuts.

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**Frazzled**

Gorskar.da.Lost wrote:If I may venture my opinions?
Who cares if Hillary Clinton runs her mouth off? I can appreciate that we have certain commitments to the US in terms of military aid and suchlike, but it seems to me that we're still doing our bit. If she wants to whine a bit to justify her position in the US government, then good for her. After all, even though we are allies with the United States that doesn't mean we shouldn't put our own needs as a country first.

A very reasonable position.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Kilkrazy wrote:Wales isn't a separate state. It has been a principality and dependency of England since the late 13th century.

That said, there is a different cultural and linguistic identity, so "statehood" would be entirely appropriate within the United States as long as the Welsh wanted it. I mean, it's moving that way anyway with the Cardiff Assembly.

Wales would become about the 35th largest state in terms of GDP and population.

Part of the difficulty of integrating the UK into the USA would be to disentangle aspects of government spending such as the amount of public jobs in Wales, like the DVLA, if the UK regions were brought in as separate states.

I don't see Eire joining the USA at the moment, they seem to get more out of the EU. I also don't see Northern Ireland integrating with Eire, either within the EU or as a US state.

Of course there is also a huge issue of whether the existing USA population would want to incorporate the British Isles.

Any views on that from Dakka's US members?

We're kind of busy with Mexico at the moment, but sure why not.

Sign up Mexico at the same time. UK would split into states of no more than 10MM each. That would be counterbalanced by Mexico's states which are of a similar population. Tell Puerto Rico to gak or get off the pot once and for all. Maybe annex Canada at the same time. Lets do it. 2015., the year the USA Biggie Sizes!

**olympia**

What's the story with the new British aircraft carriers? It would be a pity if those things got cut.

**ShumaGorath**

Kilkrazy wrote:Indeed.

So based on one reply, which I think we can agree is unanimous, the US would not be worried about that fact that, overnight, the British would come to comprise 20% of the population.

I'd love it. Brits are great.

**mattyrm**

ShumaGorath wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:Indeed.

So based on one reply, which I think we can agree is unanimous, the US would not be worried about that fact that, overnight, the British would come to comprise 20% of the population.

I'd love it. Brits are great.

Im great mate, the rest of them arent much cop though.

**Albatross**

olympia wrote:What's the story with the new British aircraft carriers? It would be a pity if those things got cut.

Nah, looks like they're going ahead. The cuts are going to be less than forcast after a 'personal intervention' from Cambo.

**ShumaGorath**

mattyrm wrote:
ShumaGorath wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:Indeed.

So based on one reply, which I think we can agree is unanimous, the US would not be worried about that fact that, overnight, the British would come to comprise 20% of the population.

I'd love it. Brits are great.

Im great mate, the rest of them arent much cop though.

But I hate you. This throws my whole world upside down.

**Albatross**

Matty's a... 'one-off', let's say.

**chaos0xomega**

Sign up Mexico at the same time. UK would split into states of no more than 10MM each. That would be counterbalanced by Mexico's states which are of a similar population. Tell Puerto Rico to gak or get off the pot once and for all. Maybe annex Canada at the same time. Lets do it. 2015., the year the USA Biggie Sizes!

We don't want Mexico. Not yet anyway. First there needs to be a long-drawn out, politics induced quagmire of a war to pacify the drug cartels and eliminate other such 'undesirables' (for lack of a better term) from the population. Then we can annex Mexico... maybe... really, we should have just annexed them during the Mexican American War, but that boat sailed about 200 years ago. Canada on the other hand... lets do it.

Speaking of Puerto Rico, IIRC, there is supposed to be another Plebescite to determine their status next year.

What's the story with the new British aircraft carriers? It would be a pity if those things got cut.

I hear conflicting things. Some say they are being axed, a few others say they are going to be kept, some say there are going to be modifications to the program (they will continue construction but at a much slower rate and are going to lose a good bit of the intended bells and whistles).

**loki old fart**

mattyrm wrote:
ShumaGorath wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:Indeed.

So based on one reply, which I think we can agree is unanimous, the US would not be worried about that fact that, overnight, the British would come to comprise 20% of the population.

I'd love it. Brits are great.

Im great mate, the rest of them arent much cop though.

Self praise is no recommendation.

**Kilkrazy**

chaos0xomega wrote:

Sign up Mexico at the same time. UK would split into states of no more than 10MM each. That would be counterbalanced by Mexico's states which are of a similar population. Tell Puerto Rico to gak or get off the pot once and for all. Maybe annex Canada at the same time. Lets do it. 2015., the year the USA Biggie Sizes!

What's the story with the new British aircraft carriers? It would be a pity if those things got cut.

I hear conflicting things. Some say they are being axed, a few others say they are going to be kept, some say there are going to be modifications to the program (they will continue construction but at a much slower rate and are going to lose a good bit of the intended bells and whistles).

Part of the problem is that they have been ordered without launch catapults, so the only aircraft that will be able to fly off them is the F35, which is going to cost £100 million per aircraft, so we won't be able to afford any planes to go with the carriers.

**notprop**

I for one welcome our new(?) American overlords and throw in my hat for the position of Anglo-american cultural unification minister (sectretary).

First on the list of information programmes - Association Football, America's new favourite sport..............

God Save Ronald McDonald!

**chaos0xomega**

lol, bringing proper association football to America would be a godsend. American Football doesn't really interest me...

I also look forward to what the impact on the NHL would be

**Mr Mystery**

But if we joined America, I'd have to start spelling badly.

Colour, not color.
Night, not nite.
Favour, not Favor.

Etc.

And it's toe-mah-toe. Not toe-may-toe.

**notprop**

Kilkrazy wrote:
chaos0xomega wrote:

Sign up Mexico at the same time. UK would split into states of no more than 10MM each. That would be counterbalanced by Mexico's states which are of a similar population. Tell Puerto Rico to gak or get off the pot once and for all. Maybe annex Canada at the same time. Lets do it. 2015., the year the USA Biggie Sizes!

What's the story with the new British aircraft carriers? It would be a pity if those things got cut.

I hear conflicting things. Some say they are being axed, a few others say they are going to be kept, some say there are going to be modifications to the program (they will continue construction but at a much slower rate and are going to lose a good bit of the intended bells and whistles).

Part of the problem is that they have been ordered without launch catapults, so the only aircraft that will be able to fly off them is the F35, which is going to cost £100 million per aircraft, so we won't be able to afford any planes to go with the carriers.

Nothing that a 40year old plane and a ramp couldn't sort out. Chin up old bean where's that Dunkirk spirit!

**chaos0xomega**

Mr Mystery wrote:But if we joined America, I'd have to start spelling badly.

Colour, not color.
Night, not nite.
Favour, not Favor.

Etc.

And it's toe-mah-toe. Not toe-may-toe.

Nah, you'd be fine. You ever here someone from the Deep South of the USA speak? Hell, try to understand a cajun, lord knows I cannot and their my own countrymen.

**George Spiggott**

notprop wrote:Nothing that a 40year old plane and a ramp couldn't sort out. Chin up old bean where's that Dunkirk spirit!

If you're talking about the Harrier I've heard they're being cut.

**Frazzled**

chaos0xomega wrote:

Sign up Mexico at the same time. UK would split into states of no more than 10MM each. That would be counterbalanced by Mexico's states which are of a similar population. Tell Puerto Rico to gak or get off the pot once and for all. Maybe annex Canada at the same time. Lets do it. 2015., the year the USA Biggie Sizes!

We don't want Mexico. Not yet anyway. First there needs to be a long-drawn out, politics induced quagmire of a war to pacify the drug cartels and eliminate other such 'undesirables' (for lack of a better term) from the population. Then we can annex Mexico... maybe... really, we should have just annexed them during the Mexican American War, but that boat sailed about 200 years ago. Canada on the other hand... lets do it.

Speaking of Puerto Rico, IIRC, there is supposed to be another Plebescite to determine their status next year.

What's the story with the new British aircraft carriers? It would be a pity if those things got cut.

I hear conflicting things. Some say they are being axed, a few others say they are going to be kept, some say there are going to be modifications to the program (they will continue construction but at a much slower rate and are going to lose a good bit of the intended bells and whistles).

I think you're confusing "don't want" with "already here." Lets make it official and get the oil and cool pyramids.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

notprop wrote:I for one welcome our new(?) American overlords and throw in my hat for the position of Anglo-american cultural unification minister (sectretary).

First on the list of information programmes - Association Football, America's new favourite sport..............

God Save Ronald McDonald!

Just visualize a UK/Mexico football team. GOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!

Plus the UK would join up with countries that have fought France, and won (

).

**Tyyr**

Mr Mystery wrote:But if we joined America, I'd have to start spelling badly.

Colour, not color.
Night, not nite.
Favour, not Favor.

Etc.

And it's toe-mah-toe. Not toe-may-toe.

We'd be saving you from a lot of extraneous U's. You're welcome.

**Hordini**

Tyyr wrote:
Mr Mystery wrote:But if we joined America, I'd have to start spelling badly.

Colour, not color.
Night, not nite.
Favour, not Favor.

Etc.

And it's toe-mah-toe. Not toe-may-toe.

We'd be saving you from a lot of extraneous U's. You're welcome.

I'm with Tyyr on the frivolous U's, but I'd like to point out that "nite" isn't the proper spelling of "night" anywhere, America or otherwise.

**Frazzled**

Unless its Nick at Nite of course.

**Hordini**

Frazzled wrote:Unless its Nick at Nite of course.

Yes, of course. That ought to go without saying.

**notprop**

Frazzled wrote:.......................................
Automatically Appended Next Post:

notprop wrote:I for one welcome our new(?) American overlords and throw in my hat for the position of Anglo-american cultural unification minister (sectretary).

First on the list of information programmes - Association Football, America's new favourite sport..............

God Save Ronald McDonald!

Just visualize a UK/Mexico football team. GOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!

Plus the UK would join up with countries that have fought France, and won ( ).

I get where you're coming from.

So second film to be produced by the AACU (kinda ring to that?) would be an educational film on History.

The third would have to be a film introducing mainland americans to the intracacies of the pointless rabble rousing from scotland and how to eat a deepfried Mars bar.

The fourth would have to be a film introducing new Island americans to the intracacies of the pointless rabble rousing from texas and how to eat a deepfried chicken and 4 gallon cokes.

NOw how do we spin it when the population become aware that you only wanted us for our oil and haggis?

**SilverMK2**

It would be interesting to see America's reaction when you see some actual left wing politicians throwing their hats (or perhaps the state's hats?) into the ring

I would hope that the UK joining the USA would mean the creation of a third party (or even a third and fourth) so that you guys can actually get some choice and movement in your politics.

I would also hope that the UK then gets some control over how Hollywood rapes our history and poop out a load of rubbish (see the latest Robin Hood film, as well as other more annoying ones such as U571, etc). And with our newfound access to guns, you'd better take notice or we'll pop a cap in LA's ass!

Oh, and we also expect some access to all the military tech descended from all the stuff we have given you over the years

**Frazzled**

SilverMK2 wrote:It would be interesting to see America's reaction when you see some actual left wing politicians throwing their hats (or perhaps the state's hats?) into the ring

I would hope that the UK joining the USA would mean the creation of a third party (or even a third and fourth) so that you guys can actually get some choice and movement in your politics.

I would also hope that the UK then gets some control over how Hollywood rapes our history and poop out a load of rubbish (see the latest Robin Hood film, as well as other more annoying ones such as U571, etc). And with our newfound access to guns, you'd better take notice or we'll pop a cap in LA's ass!

Oh, and we also expect some access to all the military tech descended from all the stuff we have given you over the years

I think the merger should come with the requirement that the President have to go before Congress weekly and get harangued just like your Prime Minister goes before Parliament. That would be epic cool.

**Kilkrazy**

I would pay good money to see Dennis Skinner, widely known as "The Beast of Bolsover", throw it down in Congress.

**Tyyr**

SilverMK2 wrote:And with our newfound access to guns, you'd better take notice or we'll pop a cap in LA's ass!

Believe me, no one will try and stop you.

**SilverMK2**

Frazzled wrote:I think the merger should come with the requirement that the President have to go before Congress weekly and get harangued just like your Prime Minister goes before Parliament. That would be epic cool.

All those in favour say "Aye!":

"RABBLERABBLERABBLE!"

**loki old fart**

Trident is getting put on hold.
The two aircraft carriers will be built. The first will have helicopters, till the second one is built.
Then the first will be sold or mothballed.
Arkroyal will be scrapped, as will the planes.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1321713/Cameron-announces-defence-cuts-Trident-hold-years.html

Former Navy chiefs Admiral Lord West and Admiral Sir Jonathon Band have both warned that the absence of jets on board the carriers would make it impossible to retake the Falklands
if the Argentinians chose to invade.

For the next ten years the UK will have just one active carrier, armed with helicopters, with HMS Queen Elizabeth entering service in 2016.

That will leave the UK dependent on the French or Americans to help in the event of a new Falklands crisis over the next decade.

You'll lend us one won't you

**Ketara**

No. The announcements haven't been made yet. This is what the Daily Mail THINKS he will announce.

**loki old fart**

We'll see

Stupid enough to be right