The Prime Minister isn’t really an equivalent to a President, though, however much Blair wished otherwise. We’ve got the Queen above them, so Prime Ministers are supposed to be just like the rest of us Joe Public, and we get our knickers in a twist when they start thinking they’re better. The same goes for the whole…

They have an obsession with penny-pinching (as long as it’s in the public eye).

Personally, I’m all for saving money where practical. I just never really understood why the British always seem to have such a bug up their collective butt about having dedicated executive aircraft, when pretty much every other country on Earth (including a bunch in sub-Saharan Africa) have them, and nobody in those…

Oh I’m also in agreement that calling the UK the weakest western military is alarmist hyperbole. All I’m saying is that the past decade at least has definitely been managed decline. Again if the defence of contiguous Europe was truly tested I’m sure the ties between the big boys and older powers will be sure to ensure…

90’s UK had some amazing bands. That effectively covers the whole Britpop era going on in contrast to Grunge in the US. Great musical times!

Bear in mind that in the collective mindset of corporate Britain back then, that was effectively saying ‘you’re crap at your job and we hate you; we just can’t find a cost-efficient way to fire you and you will never progress within our organisation.’

Heh. This is the zeitgeist of the British business 80s and 90s.

It is challenging to envision bringing Russia into a coalition when they are dumb-bombing cities via helicopter.

Not really. The point is a different focus in terms of security - not letting the military wag the dog but rather have a comprehensive concept that includes both economic and military means. Add to that that the German constitution specifically prohibits any war of aggression and your needs are relatively limited.

It must be nice to have the second oldest commissioned naval vessel.

Dat P1 is such a weapon. I love it.

For my own part. I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen the representative of our country. He is a bird of bad moral character. He does not get his living honestly ... besides he is a rank coward: The little king bird not bigger than a sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district.

Why do sports teams in North America embrace non-native mascots like lions and tigers and leprechauns? Have you used up all your own carnivorous predators and creepy magical homunculi?

I don't really get how almost punching a bald eagle translates into six people being raided across London and Kent. Like SWAT night raids?

English football fans have been engaged in an arms race of animal-directed hooliganism ever since a Newcastle United fan was jailed for punching a police horse:

Ever seen the Mexican flag?

Fact: The English have superior names for criminal acts. “violent disorder”