Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

1629 published comments with 50 censored.

Should Trident be renewed?

Tony Blair is expected to set out plans for a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines to carry Trident missiles.

The lifespan of the current system ends in 2024 but MPs will vote on the white paper now to ensure the replacement, which could cost up to £25bn, is ready by then.

How important is an independent nuclear deterrent for UK security? Is there still a nuclear threat? Would the money be spent on different defence equipment? Send us your comments.

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The following comments were censored from this thread on the BBC's 'Have Your Say' section of their news website.

Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by Chris on Mon Dec 04 10:15:39 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Why do we need these weapons of mass distruction?

To stop us being invaded seems to be the answer?

Just walk down any street in the UK we have been invaded and over run already.

Waste of money.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by verwoodspring on Mon Dec 04 11:15:45 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

We should use them - of at least threaten to. I would make to a quick end of the Iraq war. Swift and effective.

So There, South of England, United Kingdom

I believe every country needs some kind of nuclear deterrent but are you seriously suggesting bombing iraq with a nuke? That is crazy.

widuran Bertram, Letchworth, United Kingdom

Yes. I'm sick of it. Let's end it like we did with Japan in WW2. It did the job then, and it will do the job now. Game over.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by stubooth on Mon Dec 04 11:27:20 UTC 2006. 2 recommendations.

Actually, a biological or chemical arsenal would be more effective as a deterrant as we are far more likely to use those - they don't destroy the oil when we decide to anihilate the rag heads!

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by taxpayer666 on Mon Dec 04 11:43:05 UTC 2006. 3 recommendations.

Of course we still need a nuclear deterrent! The Soviet Union may not exist anymore, but its nuclear arsenal does, they still have over 10,000 warheads that can be pointed at us in a matter of minutes; and don’t forget China’s arsenal!

We are also right in trying to stop states like Iran from gaining the bomb. Proliferation worries aside, we need to remember that a major part of their government is controlled by backward thinking religious elements.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by AngryYoungAlex on Mon Dec 04 12:39:50 UTC 2006. 8 recommendations.

"we already HAVE been invaded. Smith and Jones were once the most common surnames; now they are Patel and Singh."

I don't think it counts as an invasion if you invite them over to rebuild your economy after losing a large chunk of your workforce in a war. Also I don't remember the Vikings paying tax.

Moron.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by Webstu1234 on Mon Dec 04 12:44:36 UTC 2006. 3 recommendations.

Alternatively we could keep the money and if ever we needed Nuclear weapons then maybe George bush could give his girlfriend Tony a couple as a birthday present.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by PropogandaMatrix on Mon Dec 04 12:32:02 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

The comments about the UK being invaded if we do NOT have a nuclear deterrent are so ignorantly laughable it's, well, funny! Who's going to invade us? Why? What do we have that anyone would want? Oh, and for your information: we already HAVE been invaded. Smith and Jones were once the most common surnames; now they are Patel and Singh. We've had a nuclear deterrent since the 60s but it hasn't stopped the UK from becoming an outpost of Asia. So why waste the money? Spend it on useful things!!!

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by HarryEnfield on Mon Dec 04 13:20:06 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Oh, and for anyone who is actually interested in real evidence as opposed to rhetoric and propoganda about 9/11 I suggest you check out Professor Steven Jones peer-reviewed case study Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Collapse at physics911.net. Also watch some of Dr. David Ray Griffin's videos on Google video. I can guarantee you will not be unmoved by them. The evidence against the official version of events is damning in the extreme.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by scotbot on Mon Dec 04 12:44:36 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

"For your information: we already HAVE been invaded. Smith and Jones were once the most common surnames; now they are Patel and Singh. We've had a nuclear deterrent since the 60s but it hasn't stopped the UK from becoming an outpost of Asia." ~ PropogandaMatrix


Is that what really happened? I don't think you can call UK-invited immigration an invasion. That's rather insulting to our former colonies.

Anyway, the money would only be spent on their cremation of care. Nothing of any note.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by HarryEnfield on Mon Dec 04 13:16:31 UTC 2006. 2 recommendations.

If we all give up nuclear weapons, what's to stop the likes of the 9/11 bombers from getting hold of the technology and holding everyone who doesn't sign up to their extremist views to ransom? Would you trust them with a nuke? Paul Hartley, Nottingham, United Kingdom

I wouldn't trust them, no, but it's too late anyway. The culprits of 9/11 were the US government. That has been proven, despite the fact that most prefer to believe the crazy notion that savages in a cave did it!!

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by ClawKnows on Mon Dec 04 12:48:36 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

hmmm so the idea is you obtain peace through having the biggest weapon right? so if we keep building bigger and more powerful weapons then we will get safer and safer right? So eventually we will invent a weapon so powerful that we can blibk out all of humanity with the click of a button......then we will really be safe won't we??

There really are some short-sighted war-mongering morons on this site.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by Webstu1234 on Mon Dec 04 13:24:44 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

If tony blair could take his hand out of george bush's trousers for more than five minutes then maybe this government could sit down and have a serious discussion on what is a serious subject.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by SiriusWonderblast on Mon Dec 04 14:01:12 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Personally, I recommend building a new Grand Fleet and shelling bejaysus out of any johnny-upstarts. Remember, many major cities are near the coast! Ah, the good old days...

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by scala20 on Mon Dec 04 14:04:48 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

"We should use them - of at least threaten to. I would make to a quick end of the Iraq war. Swift and effective."

So There, South of England, United Kingdom"

Maybe dropping one on So There's house on the way would be fairly productive too... Moron!

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by scotbot on Mon Dec 04 14:14:50 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

'"Exactly when did President Ahmedinejad say he wanted to 'wipe Israel off the map'? Do you understand Farsi? Or is this something you've read in the right-wing media? It's merely Zionist propaganda that feeds warmongers."

'Wu Shu

'On the 8th of December 2005, Wu Shu. Try this link ******** /4510922.stm and then apologise for your ignorance to the guy you have just offended.' ~ Barry Lane, UK


No, Barry, it is you who is wrong: tinyurl.com/jvjva

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by tre-cool on Mon Dec 04 14:27:32 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

I think the concept of a "nuclear deterrent" is incredibly outdated. Warfare has changed radically over the past 40 years, it's not like there are boundary defined enemies anymore. I doubt suicide bombers (al la July 7th) would be put off by Britain's proposed Trident update programme.
Aled Morris,

Depends what you point them at.
Why don’t we target Mecca, Medina and a couple of other Holy Hot-spots.
First sign of trouble, we total them.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by tre-cool on Mon Dec 04 14:23:26 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Maybe dropping one on So There's house on the way would be fairly productive too... Moron!

chris kyle, Bognor Regis,

Typical leftie - When someone disagrees with you, abuse them.

Why not go for a fact-based rebutall instead.
Of that's right, the facts don't support your argument, as always.
Oh well, back to the leftie abuse.
Has anyone had a go at Thatcher yet?

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by afrosia on Mon Dec 04 14:09:10 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

I could not think of a better friend than the USA.

Brad Stone, Essex, United Kingdom

Tell that to the families of the people who died on July 7th 2005.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by CharlesBradlaugh on Mon Dec 04 15:31:51 UTC 2006. 3 recommendations.

Never has the security of our islands been so under threat and it is churlish to imagine ourselves as being defenceless.

There is also a huge threat from the enemies within, but that is another issue.

Chris Green, Hagley, Stourbridge, Worcs, United Kingdom

I think you'll find that the threat from Napoleon, the Kaiser and Hitler was considerably greater. But good scaremongering to support your view. I take it the internal threat are the BNP Nazis? I could certainly nuke them!

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by barrylane on Mon Dec 04 14:07:10 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

"Exactly when did President Ahmedinejad say he wanted to 'wipe Israel off the map'? Do you understand Farsi? Or is this something you've read in the right-wing media? It's merely Zionist propaganda that feeds warmongers."

Wu Shu

On the 8th of December 2005, Wu Shu. Try this link ******** /4510922.stm and then apologise for your ignorance to the guy you have just offended.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by Webstu1234 on Mon Dec 04 15:35:09 UTC 2006. 2 recommendations.

You can see all censored posts at:

newssniffer.newworldodour.co.uk/

Fact: This government is run by a bunch of brown nosed, mucky rent boys that should never have a pay rise ever again.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by Martin1983 on Mon Dec 04 15:38:30 UTC 2006. 4 recommendations.

"If you actually investigated you will find then when asked Israel did NOT apologise but blamed Palestinian terrorists. So they are no better than the terrorists." - widuran Bertram, Letchworth

I investigated and I read reports of the prime minister and defence minister's regrets. They also blamed the terrorists too. Which is fair enough, because if the Palestinian terrorists didn't keep shooting bloody rockets all the time, Israel wouldn't have needed to respond!

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by TonySweeting on Mon Dec 04 15:50:12 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

...and you really think that would have happened even if we had nothing to do with Iraq then? The word naive springs to mind.

Woo Hoo, Europe

We're getting somewhat off topic I know but:

I disagree with elements of US/UK foreign policy. However I do not feel the urge to go out and murder random innocent civilians. If you pull the trigger, you are responsible no matter the injustice (real or perceived). Stop making excuses for these scum. They killed, they are the murderers. No one else

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by basalte on Mon Dec 04 15:54:23 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

"Trident.What the B****Y H**L is it for ?" Who said that ? A left wing militant ? Ken Livingstone (or another hate figure in fashion ?)NO, IT WAS FIELD MARSHAL LORD CARVER.
If the military don`t even want it, then why the B***y H**l should we ??????

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by widuran on Mon Dec 04 15:49:18 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Yes of course Phil, that's right. The BNP are the ones who have undergone terrorist training in the middle east, blown up trains and buses and are planning to do more of the same in the future.

Suggestion - Try taking your blinkers off occasionally. It's a big world out there and there is a lot more to it than the editorial column of the Socialist Worker (sic) will tell you about.

[Harry-Flashman]

The BNP are nazis and deserve to be nuked just like the terrorists.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by tre-cool on Mon Dec 04 15:55:31 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

The BNP are nazis and deserve to be nuked just like the terrorists.

widuran Bertram,

Are you sure you don't want to join?
Wanting to incinerate people just because you don't like their political beliefs! You sound fairly fascist yourself.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by afrosia on Mon Dec 04 14:19:58 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Dang and here I was thinking it was homegrown Islamic fruitcakes who were responsible. Ah well, live and learn.

Tony Sweeting, Leicester, United Kingdom

...and you really think that would have happened even if we had nothing to do with Iraq then? The word naive springs to mind.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by kayble on Mon Dec 04 17:13:49 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

One day it is announced that road charging will take £28bn from us, just for the privilege of driving. The next day it is announced that upto £25bn is to be spent on replacing Trident. Assuming that the taxpayer pays for both, that’s £53bn we will be shelling out. Who suddenly feels a bit skint?!

Or maybe the government wants to use our £28bn from road charging to pay for trident. Isn't the timing of these two announcements quite convenient?! Who thinks the £28bn will be spent on roads now?

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by sun_rise on Mon Dec 04 17:13:39 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Are you trying to imply that Islam is evil, and by extension, all millions of Muslims are therefore evil by default. If so, isn't that somewhat racist?

Alois Irlmaier

Surely "muslim" is a description of a person who follows the islamic religion. I don't think rhe word "muslim" describes a member of a particular race. Are there not white european muslims?

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by lickyalips on Mon Dec 04 18:11:54 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

If Trident was used for ethnic cleansing would it be a nuclear detergent?

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by judo_chop on Mon Dec 04 18:16:50 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Yes of course Phil, that's right. The BNP are the ones who have undergone terrorist training in the middle east, blown up trains and buses and are planning to do more of the same in the future.

[Harry-Flashman]

no, but it seems they have undergone the same "making propaganda" training that the nazi's underwent, and deluded people like you seem to be falling for their disgusting racist bile.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by james__uk on Mon Dec 04 18:15:22 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

We use our nuclear tech responsibly, but can you trust others to be similarly responsible? Religious nutcases like Bush and some others cannot be trusted with powerful weapons. But that fact is no reason to disarm ourselves.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by gerardmulholland on Mon Dec 04 18:21:07 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

The new Trident missiles are not under exclusive UK control. A US officer aboard each sub has a key which he can only use if the US President says so. UK pays for the UK PM to have a veto over the use of a very small part of the vast US arsenal. Against which civilian populations -and in what circumstances- does Mr Blair think that he or his successors would be morally justified in agreeing to fire these WMDs on America’s behalf? He –and his supporters- are clearly mad!

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by Francis_Urquhart on Mon Dec 04 18:20:27 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Target
My latest Sat-Nav has you pin-pointed big boy,
and as I have pressed the button first, I'll have the seventy virgins - You can be the martyr.

[natomas], Denny, United Kingdom

Aggressor
I don't think you understand Westerner. My life is nothing. I care not if I live or die. Nothing you can threaten me with has any meaning to me. My life is your death. My death is my salvation. Your nuclear weapons cannot destroy my belief only strengthen it. Be afraid Westerner - we are coming...

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by natomas on Mon Dec 04 18:12:30 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Aggressor

Do your worst you infidel - if you kill me I will become a martyr and have 70 blessed virgins in heaven. And by the way I represent no established state so you have nobody to fire your missiles at. I always thought western politicians were fools...

Francis Urquhart, London, United Kingdom

Target
My latest Sat-Nav has you pin-pointed big boy,
and as I have pressed the button first, I'll have the seventy virgins - You can be the martyr.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by Harry-Flashman on Mon Dec 04 15:41:59 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

I take it the internal threat are the BNP who aim to destabilise society with racism?

phil b,

Yes of course Phil, that's right. The BNP are the ones who have undergone terrorist training in the middle east, blown up trains and buses and are planning to do more of the same in the future.

Suggestion - Try taking your blinkers off occasionally. It's a big world out there and there is a lot more to it than the editorial column of the Socialist Worker (sic) will tell you about.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by sardony on Mon Dec 04 18:40:42 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

NO NO NO.... The UK needs a new leader, that doesn't have his head up President Bush's rear end....

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by fluffy_the_kraken on Mon Dec 04 18:43:14 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Perhaps we should declare the UK as a Neutral country and dispense with all this horrendously costly military power-mongering crap. Seems to work very well for the citizens of neutral countries.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by EGBERT_GNOSH on Mon Dec 04 19:38:41 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

If we did get rid of the bomb, what would Tony do?

'On my signal - unleash Prescott'

WHEEEEEEEEEeeee e e e

BOOM!!!
That's gotta be 1 megga ton at least... HA HA HA

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by moz_1983 on Tue Dec 05 10:05:47 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

"...You say that like it's a bad thing.. :P" -

"The most democratic and least theocratic MiddleEastern state,people of all genders and sexualities have rights, as well as Israeli Arabs."

It was tongue in cheek.Freedom of speech? As long as you're not Palestinian. Freedom of sexuality? See the recent uprising of Ultra Orthodox protesters against Gay Pride marches where people were stabbed on live tv. We are supposed to learn from history, clearly Isreal have forgotten what happened in WW2.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by artisticmickscanlon on Tue Dec 05 10:38:04 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

In my opinion for the Archbishop of Canterbury to talk of "morality" in relation to the question of Trident being up-dated or not is, to say the least, unfortunate. The Archbishop suffers from "moral delirium tremens". He has said that he cannot understand why there is still predjudice and bigotry against Homosexuals, when he should know, if he has ever read the Bible that it has nothing to do with "predjudice and bigotry", it is God's law given to Moses. Or does he mean that they are not IN

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by RightyRightwing on Tue Dec 05 11:00:14 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

phil b, United Kingdom

Typical leftist & revisionist nonsense & propaganda from you Phil, but we do come to expect nothing more from you.

You lefty lot cannot stand the fact that the only reason you have a Great Britain to denigrate & abuse today is because of our American allies & their tremendous sacrifices for us & Europe.

Peace through strength - & unity in our cause through our established historical friends & international partners.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by ccdingabell on Tue Dec 05 11:22:57 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Britain needs nuclear weapons, who knows what the future holds, and the future is just around the corner. David Simpson, Istanbul,..

What an ignorant man! You have no idea about what it is you speak. A plank of the highest order.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by stubooth on Tue Dec 05 12:49:51 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

We've had a nuclear deterrent since the fifities.
.... etc

It didn't stop the threats listed at all, because that is not what they're for.

have you ever seen the guy with the big car and a small penis? Next time you get chance to stand next to Kim Jong Il, George Bush and Tony blair in the toilets, have a quick look, I think you'll get what I mean.

Still, if anyone else is going to have them, then we should all have them.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by RightyRightwing on Tue Dec 05 13:05:59 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

There is nothing 'romantic' or 'wishy-washy' about it. Ignore the church at your peril.

Guy Troup, Exeter

Thats right - afterall your Church has killed more people than nuclear weapons have.

I am not surprised militant religion is threatening us on this & attempting to usurp man made democratic laws, its what it does best on behalf of its invisible friends & dieties.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by powerfuleablair on Mon Dec 04 16:51:11 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

No we should spend the money developing alternative fuels instead of oil and hydrocarbons.
Then the muslim terrorists would have no oil money to buy weapons with, and Iran would have no money to threaten Israel and us with.

Also we would be able to stop muslim immigration - and the terrrorism it brings - without fear of an oil blockade from the Arabs.

It would also be better for the environment a real win win solution.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by captainsharpshooter on Mon Dec 04 17:42:20 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

Typical BBC - your "in pictures" feature on nuclear weapons - we've got Welsh, numerous Scottish, Pakistani, Japanese, Indian all having their say - NOT ONE SINGLE WHITE ENGLISHMAN - sheer PC positive discrimination - I loathe the BBC and hate the idea of having to pay a poll tax for institutionalised liberalism. Get rid of the licence fee NOW. And yes of course we need a new deterrant

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by lickyalips on Mon Dec 04 17:59:13 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

If Trident was used for ethnic cleansing would they be a nuclear detergent?

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by Vulkenstein on Mon Dec 04 19:00:17 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

We should certainly have them and, what is more, we should be ready and willing to use them! If responsibility for any future 9/11 or 7/7-style attack can be traced to any given country, a major city in that country should be selected and erased from the map as a warning to others.

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Does the UK need a nuclear deterrent?

Written by andycomment on Mon Dec 04 20:09:18 UTC 2006. 1 recommendations.

British forces have failed in their objectives in Iraq and Afghanistan because they weren't good enoygh. Giving such incompetents a huge sum of money for more equipment is simply stupid.

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