WILL THERE ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND? – AT 11:24 A.M. ET:  Well, Michelle may be getting a brand new, really keen coat from England, but we may not be getting much more military support from that ally if things continue the way they're going.  This is really a wrenching story:

The RAF will shrink to its smallest size since the First World War, under unprecedented cuts being proposed at the Ministry of Defence.

In the most significant changes to Britain’s defences since the post-Suez review of 1957, ministers and officials plan to scrap large parts of the Armed Forces.

The Services will lose up to 16,000 personnel, hundreds of tanks, scores of fighter jets and half a dozen ships, under detailed proposals passed to The Daily Telegraph.

But the RAF will bear the brunt of the planned cuts. The Air Force will lose 7,000 airmen – almost one sixth of its total staff – and 295 aircraft. The cuts will leave the Force with fewer than 200 fighter planes for the first time since 1914. In addition, the Navy will lose two submarines, three amphibious ships and more than 100 senior officers, along with 2,000 sailors and marines.

The Army faces a 40 per cent cut to its fleet of 9,700 armoured vehicles and the loss of a 5,000-strong brigade of troops.

The Telegraph has also learnt that the “black hole” in MoD finances, caused by orders which have been made but cannot be paid for, is approaching £72  billion over the next decade – double the amount previously suggested.

COMMENT:  That is grim.  Imagine, an RAF cut down to World War I size.  There are some elderly men still alive who fought in the Battle of Britain in 1940 who are undoubtedly shaking their heads in utter dismay.

I met Liam Fox, Britain's new defense minister, in New York last year, before the British election and before he assumed his new post.  He's a terrific guy, a medical doctor by training, and he didn't sound like a man who intended to preside over fading glory.  Rather, he wants to strengthen defense.

But Fox is faced with an impossible budget situation.  Conservatives are blaming previous Labour governments, claiming they spent Britain into a deep hole, and that defense must now suffer as a result.

However, there may be a bright side.  It's being reported that these proposed cuts are part of a game of psychological warfare.  Those leaking the information know that the British public will be angered that their defense will be reduced so far, and public reaction is being counted on to reverse some of the reductions.  I hope that's so.  Britain is always a question mark.  On the one hand, the Brits are a gallant people.  On the other, they've gotten very used to nanny taking care of things.  And the rising Muslim influence in Britain, which is truly frightening, is not helping matters.

If the American president were more defense oriented, he might be able to put some pressure on the Brits to tough it out on defense.  But look who we've got.  The closest relationship the Obamans have with England may be a fashion designer.  (See story below.) 

We need some change we can believe in.

August 7, 2010