Hi Jane. So the UK has 2 aircraft carriers but doesn't make its own fighter aircraft. It has 6 destroyers and 12 frigates, which is essentially 9 per carrier--barely enough. France has 1 aircraft carrier and 10 firgates, so really isn't far behind the UK. France also build fighter aircraft. The real muscle of the UK is it nuclear sumbarines, which really aren't useful for any sort of non end-of-the-world conflict.

So I enjoyed Allan's story not so much for the facts as the general feel for what's gone on with the U.K. military in the past couple of decades. Like you, I'm a peace-nik really, so don't care. It's only intersting to me when some British leaders talk as if the UK is some powerful fighting nation. The numbers just don't back it up.

All Europe is weak. And the U.S. isn't without its problems either.