Sunday, October 16, 2016

A suggestion for Labour on Trident

Owen Smith's failed pitch to the Labour selectorate was basically "Corbynism with bonus weapons of mass destruction", so the people who voted for Jeremy Corbyn may now want to ask for a refund, because it looks like Corbynism plus Trident is exactly what they're going to get anyway.  A few months ago, I defended Corbyn when he was met with affected bewilderment over his statement (which was really an affirmation of the bleedin' obvious) that he would never authorise the use of nuclear weapons as Prime Minister.  "This buffoon doesn't understand that a nuclear deterrent is already defunct without the credible threat of its use!" was the cry.  The reality, of course, is that -

a) undermining the nuclear "deterrent" is kind of the object of the exercise for any lifelong opponent of nuclear weapons,

and

b) Trident is not, unfortunately, rendered useless simply by one Prime Minister at one particular moment at time saying that he would not fire the missiles.  Unless he actually disarms, the weapons are still there in working order for his successor to use after he departs the stage.

So Corbyn's position was perfectly logical and consistent, but I suspect it's going to be much harder to justify now that Labour's collective stance is apparently that "we must get behind" a weapons system that their leader considers to be abhorrent and unusable.  In view of which, let me make a modest suggestion.

We all know that the 'deterrent' theory is utter garbage anyway - does anyone seriously think that Switzerland is more at risk than we are of nuclear annihilation over the next twenty years because it doesn't have a 'deterrent' and we do?  If anything, the reverse is true.  But just for the sake of argument, let's look at the issue from the perspective of someone who truly believes that we are somehow being kept safe by a deterrent effect.  That person would surely have to acknowledge that, like it or not, the deterrent would indeed temporarily cease to exist for the duration of a hypothetical Corbyn premiership.  Corbyn would never authorise the use of nuclear weapons.  He would ensure that his named 'second person' is someone who would never authorise the use of nuclear weapons.  His handwritten 'letters of last resort', to be opened by Trident submarine commanders in the event of the government being wiped out, will order that nuclear weapons should never be used.  What's more, any theoretical enemy of the UK will know all of these facts to be true.  That ensures there will be no deterrent whatsoever from the moment Corbyn takes office until the moment he resigns, and yet Labour are currently proposing to waste huge amounts of money by having the non-deterrent redundantly at sea during the whole of that period, for every hour of every day of every week.

So why not simply pledge to take Trident out of operation (apart maybe from the odd training exercise) for the duration of Corbyn's tenure as PM, and save the fabled "hardworking families" of this country a lot of cash?  What exactly would we be losing?  Perhaps Owen Smith can explain.

*  *  *

Fanciful notion though it may seem, I genuinely went to a "separatist dinner" earlier tonight in Glasgow.  I think the common factor linking the people who were invited is that they are all active on Twitter, so I was kind of an odd one out, because I'm not really a heavy Twitter user (leaving aside the odd epic slanging-match with Duncan Hothersall and Neil "Alligators" Lovatt, naturally).  But I did know a few of the people there.  Not a huge amount to report from the evening, although my jaw dropped a tad when I learned that a prolific nationalist Twitter user who I had always assumed (with a certain amount of justification) to be a man is actually a female of the species.  And for the first half of dinner I was sitting next to Katie McGarvey, who brandished a flick-knife and then flung a large quantity of alcohol onto my trousers.  I'm sure you get the picture.  (Actually, the weapon came with dinner, and she apologised profusely for accidentally knocking over her drink.)

33 comments:

  1. " although my jaw dropped a tad when I learned that a prolific nationalist Twitter user who I had always assumed... to be a man is actually a [woman]."

    Angry Salmond a girl!

    Say it ain't so!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh James, we cannae let that go! Whozzat? 😁

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh James, we cannae let that go! Whozzat? 😁

    ReplyDelete
  4. There is another another one out there who purports to be a wumman and in fact is a bloque. Funny World.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paul was at conference. First I saw his badge with the spiffy pink high heels, then I looked at his face and saw it was Paul, then I checked his delegate's card.

      He flogged one of my books to a punter, so that's his good deed for the weekend.

      Delete
  5. Performing a benefit/risk analysis for Scotland would completely blow the whole case out of the water!
    Even if we accept the inflated employment figures that Trident supporters like to bandy around,anyone who doesn't believe that having it and the weapons storage facility located in our central belt makes us a top priority military target for e.g. Russian military planners is delusional.
    We are firmly on their target list as a direct result of hosting the system.
    Supporters may say that this will never happen due to the deterrence effect but that assumes your adversary is acting in a rational manner and has constraints operating on him/her.
    A few hundred jobs does not justify the probable few million lives lost should it come to it unless if course that decision is being taken by another country remote from the risk.
    As always,Scots are expendable for English military planners.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Is it the Rev? I thought that beard looked fake!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Glasgow Working Class 2October 16, 2016 at 10:18 AM

    James, you supported Corbyn because he is a loser!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That makes two of you then GWC

      Delete
    2. Glasgow Working Class 2October 16, 2016 at 10:40 AM

      I did not vote for either candidate as both were losers. Each spouting the usual socialist crap for the benefit of the faithful. Just like the Nat sis who carry on with Thatcherite ideology and pretend to be somewhat different.

      Delete
    3. On the topic of the human gender of "posters" you,GWC, are obviously neither. You are simply a louse.

      Delete
    4. Glasgow Working Class 2October 16, 2016 at 11:44 AM

      Not an unexpected response from you. That is the game you Nat sis play when anyone exposes your hypocrisy and inadequacy. Now go look at wee pics of Knickerless and occupy your hands.

      Delete
    5. The Britnat si loves merciless, directionless Tory rule and has previously written about its desire for armed militias in every workplace. All the better to stifle dissent against auntie Cruella's overlordship.

      Delete
    6. The Britnat si loves merciless, directionless Tory rule and has previously written about its desire for armed militias in every workplace. All the better to stifle dissent against auntie Cruella's overlordship.

      Delete
  8. Might your prolific nationalist Twitter user be Mr Malky?
    If so, easy mistake to make 😊

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm guessing Peter A. Bell.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Glasgow Working Class 2October 16, 2016 at 7:53 PM

    The Scots Nats are shouty-pouty kiddie-winkies:   True, I did not watch or listen to much of the SNP conference last week but the bits I did hear quoted on the news indicated that were anyone 'brave-hearted' enough to stick a needle into their leader, 'Mrs. MacDumpling', they should stand well back because the jet stream of escaping hot air could be dangerous!  Not-so-bonnie Scotland is flat broke (and getting broker by the day) and only the soppy English would take it on as a partner.  If she truly thinks that the 'Kaiserin' would warmly welcome a country even more bankrupt than Greece she needs her 'wee heed' examined.

    From an observer of Scottish whinging:

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The poster above is a racist tory sockpuppetOctober 16, 2016 at 8:38 PM

      The troll calls scottish people "jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister & her predecessor

      Delete
    2. The Britnat si loves merciless, directionless Tory rule and has previously written about its desire for armed militias in every workplace. All the better to stifle dissent against auntie Cruella's overlordship.

      Delete
    3. Glasgow Working Class 2October 16, 2016 at 10:31 PM

      Nat sis on the run, Nat sis on the run. Reminds me of a popular song.

      Delete
    4. Gwc2 says "Scotland is flat broke" - can you please remind us what the UK national debt is??

      Where is your nurse with the medication? Britnat si imbecile!

      Delete
  11. Bumblefuck tories for unityOctober 16, 2016 at 8:46 PM

    BloombergVerified account ‏@business Oct 12

    Hammond is bracing for U.K. government finances to take a hit from Brexit, official says


    SkyNews@SkyNews Oct 16

    Fears Hammond could quit Cabinet: Chancellor 'excluded from meetings'

    ReplyDelete
  12. Theresa Trump and the BrexitearsOctober 16, 2016 at 8:54 PM

    nick tolhurst ‏@nicktolhurst 5h

    John Redwood calls for firms bosses to be removed if they disagree with #Brexit. Remind me when did we vote 4 UK to become 1950s Argentina?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A lot of people are referring to this threat of Redwood's, but it appears to have been made in 2014 - he mentions the 2015 election as forthcoming, in the link that is usually provided by those who quote him.

      Has he reiterated it now?

      Delete
    2. Glasgow Working Class 2October 16, 2016 at 10:27 PM

      You probably supported the Argie Fascist regime that invaded the Falklands.

      Delete
    3. The troll calls scottish people "jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister & her predecessor

      Delete
  13. James since we are basically all on standby for a new referendum how about a suggestion of who we should be speaking.
    Rather than wasting time with unionist idiot commentators online perhaps our efforts would be better directed face to face with people who might be influenced. If not to vote YES perhaps to stand back and let the younger generation move forward.
    The hardline unionists, racists and sectarian bigots can be ignored but who by age and social background can be moved?

    I did see a grand child face up her grandmother who was spouting the usual lies. I don't know if it made a difference but it might if your granddaughter says " that is me your talking about ". Maybe when that elderly woman is sitting with her friends while they spout insults and lies repeated from the BBC and Daily Record she'll remember who they are talking about.

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    Replies
    1. Glasgow Working Class 2October 17, 2016 at 10:14 AM

      I am on standby to fight you racist anti English fash Nat sis. No way are you handing Scotland over to the whims of the Capitalist EU and the Bundesbank. We will fight you on the beaches and up the closes.

      Delete
    2. The troll calls scottish people "jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister & her predecessor

      Delete
    3. Glasgow Working Class 2October 17, 2016 at 12:44 PM

      I suppose the Nat sis who voted for brexit are racist and fascist!

      Delete
    4. The troll calls scottish people "jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister & her predecessor

      Delete