Do the Americans underestimate just how powerful the UK actually is?

Matty

First of all, to the youthfull Americans that love to say things like "haha we beat you in the revolutionry war", The Brits had bigger fish to fry, namely Spain and France, and the Americans were colonists, so i dare say the crown wasnt as interested in fighting thier own (Thomas Paine was English for example). You cant say a bunch of civilians were as good as the Imperial Army, and if you check the official casualty figures, the Red coats killed more than they lost, same goes for 1812, being the only two wars in which the Americans lost more men than they killed. But thats irrelevent, and wont be interesting to the type of person that gloats over the deeds of people from 300 years ago, as they like to take credit for other peoples efforts, while they get fat and live decadent lives.

Secondly, the two nations are the closest of allies. Ive done 5 tours, and worked alongside the Americans extensively in all of them, Particularly during the inital push into Iraq in which i was alongside the USMC MEU and we were backed up by thier air-wing. (Thanks for that by the way. we needed you)

In in Helmand province now and once again, i have to salute the USAF. If it wasnt for US air-support id be a dead man now, and i have nothing but love for the Americans as a result. Thanks again.

Finally id like to say that sadly, despite all the flag waving that goes on. Britain isnt a powerful country. You may be loathe to accept it. But it isnt. They were once, they arent now.

The only good troops we have (and granted they are exceptional at what they do) is the Royal Marines Commandos. The Parachute regiment, the SBS/SAS and SRR perhaps.. thats about it. What do they number? 10,000 -12,000 Max?

Let me tell you things in real terms. Our societys are more interested in our capitalist life styles and funding the Social services than the military.

The FRENCH have a bigger and more compotent navy than Britain (Britain is an island)
The RAF is under-funded and weak.
The Army is weak. Recruting has slipped and 80% of the people in it conducted weak, pointless basic training that doesnt allow them any strength of mind or physical fortitude.

I have to say, that the Americans are in rather bad shape as well, massively under-manned. (most are on their third tour) Half of the guys deployed now are National Guard (lets face it, civilians in uniform) And I dont rate the run of the mill soldiers over much, same with the Brits, i dont feel they train them hard enough. Again the SEALS and Force Recon/ SF guys are good, but they are in the minority.

Point im making is, neither are the Best there is... The Isrealis are the best, you fight a war for a few decades you get good at it.

The British and the Americans are the best of allies, and will remain so, but essentially the same people, they have the same problems. In that the two great nations are more concerned with the economy than defence.

And i am saddened by this weakness, as always, the many take the credit for the few.

I love both nations dearly, but i fear for the worst in the future. All empires fall eventually, and the Chinese are currently building 12 subs for every one the Americans build. I think that a storm is brewing, and neither the Americans (and especially the Brits) will be able to deal with it.

Anonymous

Who cares? Aren't those two countries allies?

njmizerny

The uk is my most beloved country besides my home country of america the greatest and most powerful ally in the world

The Voice of Reason

Okay, easy with the little big man syndrome! We are close allies and I expect we will be for a long, long time...

morgana

americans tend to underestimate any and every other nations intelligence/military servies

redgator40

HAHAHAHA you couldn't hold onto to this country.

romanisis

They need the UK, Ohhhh do they need us.

The Mechanic

It is great that the UK is such a close good friend of the United States. I have had the chance to work along side your military and I only have great things to say about their professionalism and abilities. Thanks

nobody

I suggest you look at the population of both countries and figure it out.

To add to that, are you under 20 years old or just an idiot?

whip

there good at what they do with out a doubt,but weren't they the ones who said iraq had weapons of mass destruction? i believe there was and alot of this was moved to syria while they messed around at the united nations.could they have all been wrong? i doubt it.

jeeper_peeper321

It's all about numbers.

The British military has 195,900 divided between the Navy, Army, Marines and Air force.

The US military has 1,426,700.

The SAS has Three regiments, with a couple of hundred operators in each.

The US marine Corps has 186,209 Marines alone.

Britian's Navy has 88 Vesseals,

The US navy has 280 vessels.

But to put a point on it,

The British military, is the equivivant to the US Marine Corps.

They both have approx the same number of Aircraft, Special Forces and Infantrymen.

Then you can add the US Army, Navy and Air Force.

You have to remember, Britian had to use a civilian luxury liner, just to move soldiers to the Falklands.

And the British navy is half the size now, it was then.

So this is a silly comparison.

digital dan

I think the Crown underestimated how powerful the Colonies were in the late 18th century. The British had the greatest military force in the world since the Romans and the Americans fought a guerilla war and won!

I respect the British defense establishment. However, one should not compare the two as we are strategically tied together whether you like it or not.

RayN-is-back

It's a know fact that I'm smarter than you It's a known fact that your sailors and thus your nation were humiliated

BAD KARMA

Well the Brits may have SAS, but they dont have Delta, seals, special forces and Devgru. Id say when you get to a level that these special ops soldiers are at, you cant compare them. I dont know why you say SAS can take on American marines. Marines are conventional and SAS are special ops.

In Afghanistan the Seals have the highest number of enemy captures and kills than any unit including SAS.

Actually the Israeli intel is better than the UK and America, though this is because the Israelis believe in torture and things like that. They have to be when the enemy is right next to them.

Paul B

Both of them are overated.

I think Isreal's Mossad is recognised as the most effective intelligence agency in the world by most insiders.

MI6 has always been so riddled with double agents its a bit of a joke. They also told Tony Blair the US assessment of Iraqi WMDs was credible.

zoe32forever

For us on this very small island known to the local natives as England..... We are a great country, theres a mass grave in France from the battle of the somme..WW1. and the headstone reads "the yorkshire regiment held this post and still do" we are proud people.!!! I went to Boston in America afew years ago, all the names for places is like being back in England.,but then we did invade and take over small parts of countries ALL over the world. And i think we hold on to that, the history of Britian is really so fantastic....makes me proud. x

Risin N

haha.. i live in canada, and in grade 10, everyone, or most people, i know everyone from my school did and a couple other schools i know of watched it, anyways, it does talk about how the UK has the strongest education system, center of innovation and invention, and it said something about largest military, or something, its on youtube now i think

bails

Us powerful, my ****
British intellegence best on the world. So how come we thought Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

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