Left wing ?

You make him sound like Alf Garnetts son-in-law Mike, the scouse git.

I wonder what will be going through Wilf Rosenberg’s mind if he ever reads this thread?

Some point in 2008

If the upgrades work then we should stick with for now. However the cost is relevant if it becomes higher than buying off the peg. I am sure the USA would sell the F22 to the RAF in the future if we needed it.





I already did comment. It is not true. My sources are pilots (but of course only a few) but the RAF/MOD policy and the Governement cuts would also imply that they too would not agree with this angry Harrier pilot who may lose his job.



This is an interesting one. I too feel it reduces our flexibility. However it would appear the current thinking is that a carrier is quite a big target and as such needs quite an expensive fleet to protect it adequately. There are not too many places where we would not have use of friendly airstrips. As you know Ascension Island was used as a staging and refueling post in the Falklands. Tornados refuel 3 at a time and they train a lot for this purpose and are quite used to popping over the Atlantic to the US for excercises. The two man crew helps on long trips. And we still have the subs!

Fine except 1) US Law prohibits the sale of the F22 abroad and 2) an F-22 export version would have significantly fewer capabilities than the U.S. version and this could weaken the business case for an export jet and 3) the additional re-design costs would have to be incorporated into the price of the jet making them even more prohibitively expensive to acquire (considering the small quantity that would be involved this would be a considerable additional expence) and 4) the additional conversion to type costs - pilot training, maintenance service lines, integration into electronic systems etc. would also be huge for the comparitvely few 'B' spec jets bought.



Is Ian Smith Watson a pilot or just someone who posts his opinion on the internet for you to present as your own?

It were true in Operation Granby where the Buccaneers were needed to laser designate targets for the GR1's after they were re-tasked to medium level operations after suffering an unacceptably high attrition rate at low level but that was then and this now I guess.

When the GR4's replaced the Harriers in Afghanistan Des Browne (Defence Secretary) described Joint Force Harrier’s provision of close air support services in theatre as "Amongst the most potent of all our capabilities in deterring and denying the insurgency.” But also noting

Not quite 'in' the Falklands though is it. At 7500 Km's it would present a logistical nightmare and sortie durations would also be completely impractical in providing support to the grunts on the ground. The subs it is then if they can manage to navigate their way out of harbour without beaching themselves.



The Nation's Security is not a left, centre or right of politics issue for me. Perhaps you will discover I'm not as left wing as you wish to portray me?

I now look forward to seeing the details of the much trumpeted but so far invisible Universal Credit proposals from the other noted right wing Tory left in the cabinet.

For goodness sake! Are you two still at it?
You're worse than G1 & Gotcha.

Lifted from rlthis threadrl as I don’t want this debate to dominate that thread as well.



I shall stoop down to your level now shall I.. (or try to)

I remember when Leeds used to be a city that had no airs or graces about anything or anyone. Everyone was equal and we didn’t have the likes of yourself taking moral high grounds on such trivial matters as the ones you mentioned above.

I was in the Hospital some time this week (lost track of time) and do you think I went around telling the nurses to serve me before the ‘unworthy foreigners’ at 3am in the morning?

I didn’t because unlike you, I understand that I’m not better or worse than them. I’m in the same place as them so am equal. There’s a word that would suit you nicely and that’s snob. You go around telling everyone how life should be lived whilst living in the same city as them. At the same time you also have a go at the government for trying to control aspects of your own life.

You stand on the Western Terrace with fans you don’t like because of where they come from - SNOB!

You boast (and you’re not the only one) on this thread that it only took you a short while to find a job after losing your last one. Well congratulations, but it just goes to show that you know fk all about long term unemployment. Your experience of the long term unemployed is whatever is on Jeremy Kyle or in the paparazzi who do their very best to portray a majority of the long term unemployed as ‘lazy, work-shy, good-for-nothing, idle spongers’.

You’ve only experienced short term unemployment - you really don’t understand. //peakwalking.blogspot.co.uk/:34476.jpg