Trident
This Blog earlier supported a Lib Dem proposal to re-examine the case for Trident. Something on these lines is now coalition policy as an adjunct to the defence review shortly to begin. I have previously suggested that Trident is over specified, capable more or less of ending the world as we know it and designed to deter the Soviets in the cold War.
I remain of the view that we should retain our own independent deterrent, but something able to deliver a surgical knockout rather than devastation beyond imagination would be a more credible deterrent against the kind of ‘rogue’ threats we may face. The problem is that a new system from scratch may well be more expensive to set up, than simply to keep Trident operational with an upgrade. Also Trident has the advantage that once set up it is relatively cheap to run.
It has another advantage. In negotiations for nuclear disarmament it provides scope for reduction to give a lead, while remaining in force until the time comes when all nuclear weapons become history. That is the main goal for which we strive.