Is there a good thread about the Trident issue yet?

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

If so, can someone link to it for me, because I can't find one?

I may be being a dunce in not finding it though.

If not, can we have one? I don't understand the issue enough to have a stance on it.

Well we can have a new one.

What's the issue?

The basic problem IMO with Trident is it's fundamentally flawed and we're like an outpost of America with it. But a new system will take 20+ years to develop. In the meantime Trident costs money and people argue we're going against all sorts of nuclear proliferation agreements by not giving up our nukes.

Why do we need nukes?

Short answer: because other people have them.

Would we be okay without them?

Probably - France's nuclear shield is extended to us cos we're friends and America would probably be more than happy to send a few nukes on our behalf.

BUT having them sens a wider message (essentially, don't fuck with us, we've got nukes) and no-one's going to willingly be the first to relinquish the ability to vapourise anyone who looks shifty. I personally don't think Trident is something we can give up. Yes, it's broke. Yes, we need a new one, but if Trident will keep going 20 years while we develop a new one then we need to keep it. IMO.