They have no idea what they are doing. Don’t expect good government from any of them.

Ooops! my bad, I misread the article I was viewing before posting.
All makes sense now. That’ll teach me to post on 45 mins sleep in 28 hours!

Still, my other point about a US customer ordering US products not being surprising stands.

So you come in here, don’t bother to read the article properly, and then start saying all the Europeans have sour grapes because they dare to discuss the issue. Your other point is equally invalid, trying to make yourself appear “diplomatic”, by attacking others for discussing the opposite view a topic in the manner you did is hardly impressive.

Sure it does. Of the Top 10 nations by GDP the only nations not also in the Top 10 by military expenditure are Brazil and Canada. And Brazil will be in the Top 10 by military expenditure soon enough (currently #12) and Canada will be kicked out of the Top 10 nations by GDP soon enough and replaced by India which is in the Top 10 by military expenditure, making it ten for ten.

Again, having a large economy does not mean they will buy a CVF. Similarly, the US having lots of nukes, does not mean they will flatten Brazil.
Also, adding HTML formatting does not change the fact that you are wrong.

Well it’d get them a serious carrier a near decade or so earlier than they’re otherwise likely to. I’m sure the Navy wouldn’t mind trading up early.

Large economy does not make large defence budget.

Wow thats a serious mistake! I would understand if they had given you the option Su-25 as it does look similar to the A-9 but A-10 …geeez:mad:

From what I understand of aircraft recognition for most squadrons its “Learn what aircraft the RAF operate…its in the blue book or on the big poster and pass the exam”! In respect of the wing aircraft recognition competitions the officers running it tended to have a chip on their shoulder about it all….”These teenagers couldn’t possibly know more then me…I went to RAF Akrotiri once and took some pictures” types. If you tried to engage them in conversation about the subject they tended to be very dismissive…heck I got told off once by one of those types at a camp. There was a picture of the British Aerospace EAP technology demonstrator on the wall of a room and the officer goes “have a look its the new Eurofighter which the RAF will start flying soon”, I politely said “Sorry sir thats the EAP technology demonstrator not Eurofighter”. Rather then let me letting me explain why and taking an interest that one of his cadets had learnt something he gave me a very public dressing down in front of the other cadets about how wrong I was…nuts!

On the plus side, he is unwilling to learn, so probably never got far 🙂

The tail makes me immediately think EAP, as they used a tail from a Tornado IIRC. There is also the matter of the engines… I was never in the cadets or ever taught to recognise aircraft.

Exclamation marks and pretending to act like an alpha-male don’t necessarily mean you have a point. Boeing recieved plenty of subsidies as well. They were a bit more candid about it, but nevertheless…

WTO Rules Boeing Got Improper U.S. Subsidies
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704254304576116051390545350.html

You are quite correct.

Um “Pot painting the kettle black” US Agent.

Seconded. Its quite funny reading through the thread looking at Americans making posts accusing others of being nationalistic, whilst themselves making snide remarks about European countries, EADS, Airbus ect.

Your sudden concern for the US taxpayers is most welcome after the US has propped up European defense for the past 65 years…:rolleyes:

Remember off shore procurement schemes of the 50s…buying Hunters for the RAF, Belgium and the Netherlands, Mysteres for the French air force…giving away arms (which is why all the UK museums have Mysteres, T-33s and F-100s on display) to NATO air arms, providing heavy lift transport to allow NATO forces to support UN peacekeeping missions…
When the US did ell aircraft to NATO members, they came with heavy offsets, (and for the last 30 years) they only bought US aircraft only when a local candidate was not available wheras the US did buy European aircraft in the face of domestic competition (especially helicopters).

Ahh, the history game, eh? So what about those Irish Americans that collected money to support the IRA, a terrorist organisation? I wonder if they still felt the same about supporting terrorists post 9/11? Hmm?

OK, so basically there is no point.

Accidents and mishaps, either by bad luck or by bad conduct are hardly news, they may happen anywhere and at any time. But that was not the argument, and that was not what I disagreed with. In fact, the two cases I posted (1972, 1997) where instances when two infamous wreckages took place in Greece, so you see, I’m informed decently enough.

It doesn’t matter anyway. The last three days have proved beyond any doubt the worthiness and potential of the seamen. The thousands of lives “evacuated from hell” (in their own words) speak for themselves.

There is a point, and the point is that the claim by another forum member about Greek crews abandoning the passengers is not baseless, and is in fact based on an actual event.

Touchy, aren’t you? That said, most of the Greek forum members I’ve met have been fairly touchy, and a tad over patriotic. Also, a fair number of them were forever telling me how much they hate the UK, ironic really as they all moved from Greece, to live in England. Such irony 😀