(no such thing as the BEF I guess)

Hold on chaps. I’m not saying the UK is beyond critisism but the BEF made up less than 10% of the total force defending France and the low countries in 1940. They stopped the Germans dead in their tracks while the French and to a lesser extent the Belgians were retreating around them. They had to pull out before they were completely surrounded, they didn’t just scarper.

They also scared the cr** out of Rommel at Arras by interdicting his supply routes. He had to turn round and backtrack to deal with the situation. It was his worst nightmare and possibly facilitated a couple thousand more troops being pulled from the beaches at Dunkirk. Problem was the French were supposed to join in the attack as well and decided not to show up so in the end the British ‘counter attack’ was broken up but not before they had all but routed an SS Panzer division.

They were however out gunned and out numbered. German records show that the BEF was the only force that gave them any real cause for concern during the Battle of France in 1940 and it is conceited arrogance to impune them without learning what really happened to them. If of course that was your point.

Yep. The USA is the most powerful nation on Earth. So were the Greeks at one point, and the Romans and the British by all (except American) accounts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Enjoy it while it lasts and don’t f*** the rest of us up while you are at it and don’t take the rest of us out if/when one day the USA implodes.

Don’t mention Cardington! DVLA. Gives me the jitters. I don’t think though that it is about where to move it to, its about ‘moving’ it. Or am I getting this all wrong? Is it really the last of its kind? If it is perhaps it should be preserved but I really want to see that Vulcan fly again. On the other hand whats the point if you only get to see it fly for a season or two?

One other thing. I am kind of hoping airships become commercially viable again and Cardington is the current favourite place to base them. No I think Cosford should sort it out but again, they turned down an SR71 for lack of space.

He might be getting burgered where he is going.:eek: 😀

For the worlds sake I’m glad Britain went in with the Americans not that I was a big fan of the war. I’m also glad that Britain went with such large numbers too because it give them some political clout and Washington might just listen to what the Brits say even if they don’t listen to anybody else. Why? Suprisingly because I think Britain is a moderator in all of this, if the Americans went alone with Bush Jnr in charge we could all be in an awful lot of trouble with the US military on the rampage with no other nations whos opinions must be taken into account.

Its not that I don’t like Blair or even Bush for that matter but I don’t trust Blair (on Europe) and I don’t think Bush is capable of running the USA which is just as well because I don’t even think he is. Bush Snr doesn’t like him much he’s a family embarracement (scuse spelling) but I wonder why didn’t he install his other son? Not pliable enough I expect.

Keep your friends close and all that cr**. So I have to agree that the UK is cleaning up the mess the USA is leaving lying about the place. They are also a moderate voice in the US camp and the USA actually listens sometimes. And to those who call the Brits American lap dogs (though not in this thread or even forum for all I know, but I have heard the insult) think again. Just an opinion.