How much should we, as a nation, be paying to defend ourselves from foreign attack? And is it okay for part of our defense systems to be... a little bit nuclear? The reason I ask is that I read an article yesterday by a woman who used to be an advisor to Hans Blix (he of the 'Weapons of mass distruction? Where??' fame). She was discussing the imminent renewal/replacement of the UK government's nuclear weapons system. One thing struck me immediately - it's really rather expensive. How much? Oh, approximately £25-40 billion. Yup, billion. That, as Jamie Oliver would be quick to tell you, pays for an awful lot of nutritious school dinners (not that any kids would eat them. They want fat in their diet! How about forming some mechanically reclaimed chicken into the shape of a nuclear warhead? In breadcrumbs, of course...) £25 billion would pay for a great many things. How can the government possibly believe that this is money well spent? I suppose that, in ten years time, as I sit here enjoying my first nuclear winter, I may come to appreciate their wisdom. Meanwhile though, I really wish they would consider using this money on things other than bombs!
