Uks Nuclear Missiles

[AliceTickband]

Can the UK launch nuclear missiles without help from any other country?

[EDDIE51]

Yes, that is why we have Trident.

[venator]

I should think we've promised the UN and the Americans we would seek approval first

[EDDIE51]

We do not HAVE to ask anyone. It is an independant nuclear force.

[AliceTickband]

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmdfence/986/986we13.htm

I have just read the info contained within the above link and it would seem that the UK is not in sole charge of its own missile launching and targeting.

It seems that we have a special relationship to be the scapegoat for US foreign policy......who knew? (Spot the sarcasm there?)

[nilrac52]

The link makes interesting reading and made me laugh. The UK will most certainly do their own thing and will not seek approval from anyone. I just hope and pray that this will never become an issue.

[EDDIE51]

^^ None of that changes the fact that we CAN launch without the USA's say so. It is never going to happen but in theory we could. Which is what you asked .
In reality I can not see a sitution where a nuclear strike by any country will result in anything other than the end of the western world.

[nilrac52]

Yes Eddie51. Exactly. Scary scary thought isn't it. Again, I just hope and PRAY that it does not become reality.

[EDDIE51]

Yes, my personal view is that we should scrap Trident but spend the money on a fleet of smaller surface ships that would actually be usefull.
Remember our navy currently has more Admirals than it has ships!

[mushroom25]

so, should Labour reverse their declared policy on trident to ensure support from the SNP?

[ichkeria]

I think you mean 'should Labour scrap their trident policy in order to give the latest desperate Tory election smear some basis in reality' :-)

[dannyk13]

The defence of the UK (Trident etc) should not be allowed to become a political football.

[Old_Geezer]

One has no time to seek approval if responding to incoming.
First use may be a different matter though.

[Old_Geezer]

You have a limited imagination Eddie :-)

[jno]

two atomic attacks on Japan didn't end the world, they just ended the war. It really depends on circumstances. Nuke Rwanda and nobody outside will notice. Nuke Putin and he'll be extremely cross and the prognosis for world peace will not be good.

But what Trident's purpose in the real world is, is beyond me.

[ichkeria]

The problem with a nuclear deterrent is at what point would one actually use it?
As nicely demonstrated by the Yes Prime Minister scene I posted a few months ago. Faced with a cunning or possibly mad enemy it starts to lose its effectiveness perhaps.

Nonetheless it feels very wrong that the UK should give up Trident at this time.

[dave50]

There is one group who would be glad to wipe the western world of the face of the earth using nuclear weapons, Islam extremists such as IS. Lets just hope they never get hold of such a device.

[venator]

Yes, once an Islamic extremist group gets a nuclear device, there's a good chance they will use it on America, The UK or Israel

They would have no fear of reprisals - mass martyrdom would be quite acceptable.

In that case our nuclear deterrent would cease to deter.

So should we just give up now?

[ToraToraTora]

Yes, there is often the standard BS trotted out about needing permission from the US but that is c0blers. You can never get the unilateralists to see this but you need them so you don't need them, it's a paradox.

[mushroom25]

Muhammad said: “Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war…When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these you also accept it and withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them…. If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah’s help and fight them." (Sahih Muslim 4294.)

they will be compassionate. they will seek to convert us. Then they'll nuke us.

[venator]

I reckon they might skip steps one & two, mushroom