Not punching above our weight any more? Given his enthusiasm for the UK to “punch above its weight” and following his government’s draconian defence cuts, the numbers of servicemen and women at Mr Cameron’s disposal are extremely modest compared to those available to his 19th and 20th century predecessors. A deteriorating situation in Eastern Europe might find the UK with little choice but to leave any punching to others.

“Not punching above our weight any more?”

One of our key members in the Sout-West had this published by the Western Morning News | Posted: August 04, 2014 

What do you think?

“In recent times ministers have been fond of stating that being a union of four nations allows the UK to “punch above its weight” especially when it comes to military or foreign affairs. I read that our Prime Minister has developed this theme further and is now saying that being part of a European Union of 28 nations increases the UK’s ability to act in this way.

I suspect this belligerent mindset harks back to the days of Empire when the British political and military establishment had at their disposal a fleet on every ocean and regiments on every continent. Such a situation obviously no longer exists by any stretch of the imagination.

Today the Prime Minister is one of the most vociferous, second only to the Americans, in calling for action against Russia over Ukraine. At present this action is confined to trade and financial measures but economic war could escalate into something more serious.

Given his enthusiasm for the UK to “punch above its weight” and following his government’s draconian defence cuts, the numbers of servicemen and women at Mr Cameron’s disposal are extremely modest compared to those available to his 19th and 20th century predecessors. 

A deteriorating situation in Eastern Europe might find the UK with little choice but to leave any punching to others.”

by Steve Wright

Ilminster, Somerset

Read more: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/WMN-Letters-punching-weight/story-22066558-detail/story.html#ixzz39pKgP41J