YOUR VIEWS

RE: DEFENCE CUTS

ON the continent they admire Mr. Cameron for his decisions and the British people for not taking to the streets as they do in France for less.
Britain facing hard times needs hard decisions and the island's politicians accept her reality and act accordingly. So maybe, you should give Mr. Cameron some credit as he seems to be willing not to repeat the reaction of Britain of around 1900.

The then decision to be taken was, should Britain remain a global naval power, keep the empire alive and defend it around the world and/or be a European super power.

Really, at the time no decision was taken as Britain decided to maintain her status as empire, naval world power and European super power. Unfortunately the inherent strength of Britain at the time would have possibly allowed for one of the options only.

Possibly going for all three options marked the start of the British problems, if not decline, ever since.
The reason possibly: Britain did not want to accept her real position in the then world. I think, Mr. Cameron does accept the position Britain is today - namely - a medium European power (like Germany and France).

As a European power Britain does not need aircraft carriers and a fleet of Harrier successors, nor atomic bombs on a fleet of atomic submarines , all of which are investments Britain could not afford anyway. I think it is wise to arrange Britain with her actual strength and possibilities and Mr. Cameron should be applauded for showing the greatness of departing from many old British dreams - which, I understand well , is a very difficult task. I guess, he is shooting for a strong Britain in her European context and move from the fringes into the centre.

Isn't it noticeable that the man who condemned Europe before the election now seems to accept that the French coast and with it the European continent is so much closer than the East coast of the USA. Britain as an active partner in Europe - that would be it.

Heinz H. König
Hamburg
Germany