| Submit your comments on this article |
| Britain |
| Scottish Independence: Trident Could Move To US Or France |
| 2012-10-22 |
| ALEX Salmond has said Trident could be relocated to the US or France after independence, as he ruled out the prospect of a “Cyprus-style” leaseback scheme that would see the nuclear weapons system remain in Scotland. The First Minister’s comments came amid growing concerns that it would be prohibitively expensive for the UK government to move the submarine-based system, which is based in Faslane on the Clyde, south of the Border if Scots vote to leave the UK in 2014. The SNP conference agreed to change policy and back Nato membership last Friday, but only on the condition that Scotland got rid of the Trident system to which the party has long been opposed. And Mr Salmond made it clear yesterday there would be no Guantanamo Bay or Cyprus-style UK enclave at Faslane, which could see the Trident system remain after the split. Instead, he said the UK government would be left with “two choices” if the SNP held the reins of power in an independent Scotland. “They could move Trident to another facility in the rest of the UK,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. “Or alternatively, they could use the nuclear facilities in America or in France for that matter. Nuclear facilities incidentally in America – because Trident is effectively an American weapon.” He added: “Of course, they could decide on what would be a much better policy, which would be to decommission the weapon system. “That would be a matter for the London government, but that doesn’t mean that we’re going to think it amenable to lease out part of Scottish territory in... a Cyprus situation.” The SNP plan to write opposition to nuclear weapons into the constitution of an independent state, making possession of them illegal in Scotland. “That’s a perfectly reasonable choice for any country to make, and the idea there are not choices then for a London government is ridiculous,” Mr Salmond added. “If they want to lease out part of Scotland, like Cyprus, then what’s the problem with stationing the Trident system on the east coast of American bases, which were actually built for that exact submarine system?” The US has been the UK’s closest military partner since the Second World War and recent strategic partnerships have also been agreed with France. But defence expert Tim Ripley last night played down the prospect: “No country has ever kept their deterrent force in a foreign country, based on the principle that your last resort has to be somewhere where you have total control of it. “The issue is whether British nuclear warheads ought to be kept in a foreign country. The independent nuclear deterrent implies you have independent national control over them.” Mr Salmond’s comments came under fire from Labour defence spokesman Jim Murphy. “The SNP’s defence policy is a huge risk and could cost an independent Scotland a place in Nato as well as thousands of defence jobs. Their rushed and reckless plans could be damaging to Scotland at home and overseas,” he said. The SNP conference narrowly voted to change party policy and join nuclear defence alliance Nato. But the leadership is facing pressure to secure a written guarantee from Nato that an independent Scotland can join without nuclear weapons. Backbench MSP Sandra White will put forward her resolution at the National Council, the governing body of the party. |
| Posted by:Sherry |
| #17 A newly independent Escosse would still need $$$ to maintain its normal quality-of-life + econ AMAP ALAP - pragmatically, that means or infers serious negotiation wid the English as per massive base leasehold $$$ before any kicking 'em out. Iff London or the Euros can't or won't pay for it, that means asking Washington DC to do so in lieu of same, to secure the NATO Alliance + protect the 60%-n-declining Non-Muslim French from the 40%-n-rising French that are??? PROTECTING FRANCE FROM FRANCE??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-10-22 20:29 |
| #16 And speaking of Scotland and Ye Olde North Sea: Now the fishing were bad, and me boat laid up, Now, me and the lad weren't shirkers; When this bloke come into the village pub And he says he's looking for workers. He talked like a bit of a Yank, I thought, Tho' he stood us a couple or three; And he sez they're building a hoily rig, To get hoil out of the sea. "How much would we earn?" I ventured to ask? "Ooh, twenty - thirty pounds for sure." "Is that a month?" He only laughed, "A week!... eh, maybe more!" So I went home and told the missus this yarn For I'd heard such tales before And I couldn't see what good could come From drilling these holes offshore. I'd rather work the boat wi' me boy But t'ol' woman, she sits and frets, "Sez you could earn more money there in a month Than the whole bloody year wi' yer nets!" So anyways, we took the job, Me and the lad, we're in the tug: And I couldn't see much harm could come, 't'were it only some beer in me mug. We worked on this great platform thing With this drill going, "Whee- whee- whee!" As it drilled a bloody great big hole In the bottom of the ol' North Sea. But there weren't no gas, and there weren't no hoil, Not a sight nor a trace we found 'Til one day my lad he says to me, "Ere, Dad, our tug's aground!" As I looked over t'side, well, what could I hear, But this sound, "GLUG, GLUG, GLUG, GLUG." And the old North Sea just swirling away Like out of a bathroom plug! It looked just like a desert, boy, Enough to make a man afraid As the ol' North Sea went, "GLUG, GLUG, GLUG." Down this bloody great hole we'd made. Then a hiss... and a roar... and a cloud of steam From out of the hole it came Then up popped the head of the Devil himself, Shouting, "Hey! What's the bloody game? You've put out all me furnaces, You've put me fires out! And Hell's all cold and sopping wet... You pudding-headed lout! You've wrecked my ruddy furnaces, Cooled down me bloody hobs! I'll never get Hell hot again, I've lost my ruddy job!" So we've done some good with our hoily rig, We doused Hell in a hurry. So now, when you die, there's only Heaven... There's no more need to worry. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2012-10-22 20:02 |
| #15 It doesn't have that much... It also has a bunch of people who think the state should do everything for them... That oil won't replace the revenue from the English. Especially if Shetland decides it also wants to be free... |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2012-10-22 17:43 |
| #14 Scotland looks like becoming the equivalent of North Korea, just with a smaller private sector... Scotland has oil. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2012-10-22 17:38 |
| #13 All this begs a question: why would a regional, second-rate power like Britain even need nuclear weapons? After the first half of the 20th Century, would you still trust the Germans? /heh |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2012-10-22 15:10 |
| #12 If you split up a family the mortgage on the house doesn't just magically disappear. The US and UK invested billions in Holly Lock. If we must leave... Scotland should pay for the asset! Really! |
| Posted by: Water Modem 2012-10-22 13:08 |
| #11 All this begs a question: why would a regional, second-rate power like Britain even need nuclear weapons? To n00k France. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2012-10-22 13:00 |
#10 A couple of places in the far southwest, but these are also places where tourism is a major industry. Not sure how tourism is a bar. I once saw a boomer in Port Canaveral while headed out for deep sea fishing. Saw a couple of Russian "trawlers" out there, too. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2012-10-22 12:20 |
| #9 What happens to the Scottish sailors? What happens to Scottish military pensions? Friggin idiots. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2012-10-22 11:45 |
| #8 The SNP plan to write opposition to nuclear weapons into the constitution of an independent state, making possession of them illegal in Scotland. I am sure Muslim terrorists will obey the Scottish constitution just like they obey every other infidel law. Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2012-10-22 11:23 |
| #7 All this begs a question: why would a regional, second-rate power like Britain even need nuclear weapons? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2012-10-22 11:12 |
| #6 Scotland looks like becoming the equivalent of North Korea, just with a smaller private sector... |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2012-10-22 10:44 |
| #5 One more split to the benefit of the EU takeover. Scotland will become the equivalent of Rhode Island. Buh, bye Britain. You had a helluva run but it's now all over. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2012-10-22 08:42 |
| #4 One problem is you need a deep inlet and there aren't many of those in England. A couple of places in the far southwest, but these are also places where tourism is a major industry. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2012-10-22 04:33 |
| #3 Scottish Independence: Productive people could move... anywhere. |
| Posted by: Lionel Panda6719 2012-10-22 03:22 |
| #2 That's sad. I served on two boomers out of Holy Loch and the Scots were the most hospitable people in the 1970's. |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2012-10-22 00:41 |
| #1 And econ-troubled IRELAND says ....??? Iff no more SCAPA FLOW, I suspect the RN will spread out the Tridents along the English ports - don't be surprised iff Londoners see a Trident Sub parked next to Big Ben or Whitehall. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-10-22 00:38 |