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Ahmenijad could be the smartest motherfucker around. Brittain can't do shit unless they contract this out to Carrier Strike Group 12, Destroyer Squadron 2, and Carrier Air Wing 1, which all happen to be US assets. The once proud Brittish Navy could not even handle the Iranian Navy these days. It would not even be a fair fight. Meanwhile the US congress just announced we are pulling out. So chances are Iran gets to beat its chest and no one is going to do jack shit about it. The only wildcard is Bush is fucking nuts as well.



I'm beginning to think you are right. Although the Brits have 91 active ships with 2 jumpjet carriers, looking at the armament load on them is mostly defensive in nature. They probably have around 50 Harriers on the two carriers and I'm sure they have the latest small JDAM's. I didn't see any platform that could launch Tomahawks, including their fast attack subs, but I believe they surely have the capability. On the Iranian side, their air force is a hodge-podge of old U.S., French and Soviet birds with some rebuilt Mig-29's as their most formidible platform. They have look down shoot down and would give the Harriers a tough time. I doubt, however, that any of them are in really good shape. If I were the Brits, I'd attack at night. The Arabs do not like to fight at night for religious reasons. Bottomline, the Brits could hit a number of strategic facilities but I don't think they could sustain a prolonged event.

Even with W being a little out there, don't believe Her Chaney will go to the mat on this one over 12 sailors, at least not at the moment.



According to this story the Britts don't have 84 ships, they have 40ish ships and they plan to mothball 50% of that. I'm sure those carriers are commited elsewhere and they simply don't have the support vessels to prevent another carrier from getting sunk.

Bush already wants to hit Iran. Now he may have an excuse.

British Royal Navy to mothball half of fleet: report



Almost half of the British Royal Navy's 44 warships are to be mothballed as part of cost-cutting measures by the Ministry of Defense (MoD), London's Daily Telegraph reported on Friday.

The British government has said that 13 warships are in a state of "reduced readiness," putting them around 18 months away from active service, according to the report, which added that a further six destroyers and frigates were being proposed for cuts.

The report said a need to cut the defense budget by 250 million pounds (around 486 million U.S. dollars) this year to meet spending requirements had forced ministers to look at drastic measures.

Senior officials said the plan would turn Britain's Navy into nothing more than a coastal defense force.

"What this means is that we are now no better than a coastal defense force or a fleet of dug-out canoes." said a senior official.

MoD sources admitted it was possible that the Royal Navy would discontinue one of its major commitments around the world, the report said.

It is likely that the six destroyers and frigates to be mothballed will eventually be sold or scrapped. There are also fears that two new aircraft carriers promised in 1998 might never be built, the report added.

Recently, the MoD has been criticized for not giving proper backing to troops which has dogged operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The MoD said it had no plans to cut the destroyer and frigate fleet but it "routinely reviewed" defense capabilities "to ensure resources are directed where our front line armed forces need them most."

"We are some way from any decisions and just because a proposal is looked at does not mean that it will be implemented," a spokesman said.

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"This thing is ready to do damage!"