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Is Britain Secretly Funding Its Nuclear Submarine Program? (nytimes.com)
Why is the U.K. funding a risky $22 billion joint project with China to produce electricity at twice the cost? mdsolar quotes a nuclear specialist from the University of Oxford:
...it only makes sense if one considers its connection to Britain's military projects -- especially Trident, a roving fleet of armed nuclear submarines, which is outdated and needs upgrading. Hawks and conservatives, in particular, see the Trident program as vital to preserving Britain's international clout...the government and some of its partners in the defense industry, like Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems, think a robust civilian nuclear industry is essential to revamping Britain's nuclear submarine program...
Merging programs like research and development or skills training across civilian and military sectors helps cut back on military spending. It also helps maintain the talent pool for nuclear specialists. And given the long lead times and life spans of most nuclear projects, connections between civilian and military programs give companies more incentives to make the major investments required. One might say that with the Hinkley Point project, the British government is using billions of Chinese money to build stealth submarines designed to deter China.
The Op-Ed -- published in The New York Times -- calls for more openness about military spending, arguing "If Britain's energy policy were solely about energy, rather than also about defense, the nuclear sector would be forced to stand on its own two feet."
Merging programs like research and development or skills training across civilian and military sectors helps cut back on military spending. It also helps maintain the talent pool for nuclear specialists. And given the long lead times and life spans of most nuclear projects, connections between civilian and military programs give companies more incentives to make the major investments required. One might say that with the Hinkley Point project, the British government is using billions of Chinese money to build stealth submarines designed to deter China.
The Op-Ed -- published in The New York Times -- calls for more openness about military spending, arguing "If Britain's energy policy were solely about energy, rather than also about defense, the nuclear sector would be forced to stand on its own two feet."
Trump: I will build a wall and make Mexico pay for it
May: I will build a new nuclear submarine fleet and make China pay for it
One has to balance the practicalities between effectiveness and usefulness.
I imagine lead would do a much better job at blocking alien mind-reading technology than tin; however, tinfoil would be lighter and easier to wear. If the leadfoil is too heavy to wear when walking the dog, who really is going to use it?
Tin foil might only block out some alien technologies and leadfoil blocks them, but let's face it; no-one is going to wear the leadfoil in public unless they're crazy, So it's tinfoil for me all the way. Might not work as well, but at least it is wearable.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
Britain is an island mon, like Hawaii or Jamica. We got the blue skies every day. Never rains, just a tropical paradise. Britain's sheep grow spandex instead of wool.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
I think most of us have suspected for some time that mdsolar is a shill for the nuclear industry, paid to make supporters of renewable energy look ridiculous, but this latest screed is just too over the top and risks exposing his true agenda.
Watch this Heartland Institute video