Is the British Empire finally crumbling?

2007-04-04 01:53:02

#1

Braddock: Agitator; +916|6719|Éire

It's been a bad time for the Empire recently...

Iran: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wir … id=2975547

Iraq: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/mid … 296829.ece

Afghanistan: http://www.newstatesman.com/200702260027

Argentina: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/258571.stm

Ireland: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6515359.stm

Iran abducts 15 British sailors and parades them on TV, Argentina - on the 25th anniversary of the Falklands war - once again expresses it's desire to reclaim the disputed Malvinas Islands, power is returned to the people of the six counties in Ireland and failure looks inevitable in both Iraq and Afghanistan ...has the British empire finally had it's day? Does Britain have to do something spectacular on the world stage to re assert itself as a global force?

Discuss.

2007-04-04 01:58:07

#2

PureFodder: Member; +225|6714

We still have an Empire?

I thought it was more like the occasional little island or large rock thet we still owned. Oh and N. Ireland.

2007-04-04 02:03:04

#3

Varegg: Support fanatic :-); +2,206|7239|Nårvei

Dont think Britain is even close to be called a empire anymore, the loose connections still called the commonwealth could maybe pass for the remains of what was one of the greatest empires imho

Wait behind the line ..............................................................

2007-04-04 02:04:24

#4

neon_flux601: Member; +18|6680|Sidahnee Orstrayleeah

The 'British Empire' had its day a long, long time ago my friend.

I'm more interested in what Harry and Will are getting up to frankly.

...also, Empires don't re-assert themselves... they collapse.

Every dog has his day.

2007-04-04 02:06:12

#5

Ghosty: Member; +3|7101|Leicester,UK

"The sun never set on the British Empire"
can't remember who said it but its true. We just went in for mid-morning tea and scones.

2007-04-04 02:07:10

#6

[THE] comben: Wee and Biscuits; +43|6962|Cardiff

LOL. british empire...... :S

2007-04-04 02:37:28

#7

BVC: Member; +325|7124

They gave away the true jewels in the crown, to be honest

2007-04-04 02:39:32

#8

crashmctavish: Liquidat0r's Neuro Surgeon.....; +4|6870|uk

Empire - a group of countries under a single authority.

I didnt think we had any countries still under our control.

O yes, the empire is dead.

2007-04-04 02:56:40

#9

JahManRed: wank; +646|7057|IRELAND

The reason we work like dogs and pay taxes through the roof in the UK, is the vain attempt at holding onto global influence and power. Gone are the days were the UK Navy, air force and armies were payed for by plundering and colonizing or by Scottish oil and gas. Britain is a small Island and Northern Ireland is contributing feck all, in fact we are a drain on UK resources. Its time to down size the armed forces, concentrate on homeland security and let go of the notion of empire for good. If the moneys spent on war and maintaining power and influence was spent on social programmes at home, our standard of living would rise.
And Blair, Brown or Cameron, whoever is going to be running things, should forge closer ties with Europe and scale back the economic and military ties withe US, its costing the tax payer and is unrealistic.

2007-04-04 03:10:12

#10

GAIKIWARRIOR: Judge Death; +64|7172|PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA

hey we still got the Falkland Islands !

2007-04-04 03:19:24

#11

maffiaw: ph33r me 傻逼; +40|6850|Melbourne, AUS

there hasn't been a 'British Empire' for a long while my friend. At least for 50 + years.
What you mean is the "UK losing its political or military power", which I would disagree. If they were US sailors, it would be the same situation right now. Any incursion into Iran would be suicide for either country. Even bombing runs would be dangerous - Iran has a much more superior AA capability than Iraq (SAMs and the like).

Last edited by maffiaw (2007-04-04 03:19:50)

2007-04-04 03:51:25

#12

Braddock: Agitator; +916|6719|Éire

I'll clarify my position... I'm actually Irish and have never been fond of the British Empire (for obvious, close to home reasons), my OP for this thread was half tongue in cheek but it struck me this week in the news that elements in the global community seem to be sticking it to Britain at the moment.

It could just be coincidentally bad timing that the devolution of power to Northern Ireland, the anniversary of the Falklands and the taking of British sailors all happened in the one fortnight but it does point out the holes in what was once a military and global power to be feared or at least respected. Blair's love affair with Bush does seem to smack of being one last feeble attempt at getting Britain back on the super power map (Thatcher consolidated her position with the original Falklands conflict, which restored an artificial sense of pride in the 'empire'). Following the disastrous Afghani and Iraqi campaigns it seems Britain now is getting kicked while it's on the ground.

I personally think Britain should give up the illusion of the great Empire and jump fully on the Euro-bandwagon and help in the construction of the next great super power ...Europe!

PS: On the Iranian issue I actually think Britain is acting responsibly and in the best interests of the Sailors and cannot condemn them on this issue.

Last edited by Braddock (2007-04-04 03:54:54)

2007-04-04 03:53:00

#13

oug: Calmer than you are.; +380|6948|Πάϊ

...and also, you lost India to that Gandhi person... that can't be good!

_ƒ³

2007-04-04 05:54:24

#14

blademaster: I'm moving to Brazil; +2,075|7074

PureFodder wrote:
We still have an Empire?

I thought it was more like the occasional little island or large rock thet we still owned. Oh and N. Ireland.

lol those Irish must be mad that you own their piece of land.

2007-04-04 05:56:11

#15

iamangry: Member; +59|7074|The United States of America

Great Britain may not be the most powerful nation, the richest nation, or the most technologically advanced nation. But they have something only a select few nations can say they have... the proliferation of their language. So long as there are a billion people speaking ENGLISH, the empire is still strong if only in legacy. I can think of only four other cultures that can also say they proliferated their language... the greeks (MATH), the romans (law), the French, the Spanish.

Besides, the colonies of Britain still act with relative hegemony... at least most of the big ones do. I mean, when was the last time Australia, Canaada, Britain, or the US were on opposite sides of a conflict? So while the British Empire no longer exists in name, it still goes on strong in spirit.

2007-04-04 06:07:24

#16

blademaster: I'm moving to Brazil; +2,075|7074

yeah British sure did own a lot of foreign land

The British Empire, which in the early decades of the 20th century covered nearly 30 million square kilometress with a population of 400-500 million people (roughly a quarter of the world's population), was the most extensive area under a single country's rule in history.

https://www.teachersparadise.com/ency/en/media/b/b3/britemp.jpg

Territories that have been under British control.

2007-04-04 06:15:24

#17

LostFate: Same shit, Different Arsehole; +95|6914|England

We dont need an empire ! we stand for whats good in the world, where there is trouble in the world you will see us try and sort it out where theres hunger you'll see you send aid..

And yeah where theres Terrorists you'll see us send in the Best Army in the world The British Army.

2007-04-04 06:18:14

#18

Braddock: Agitator; +916|6719|Éire

LostFate wrote:
We dont need an empire ! we stand for whats good in the world, where there is trouble in the world you will see us try and sort it out where theres hunger you'll see you send aid..

And yeah where theres Terrorists you'll see us send in the Best Army in the world The British Army.

...you left out oil on that list.

2007-04-04 06:22:27

#19

LostFate: Same shit, Different Arsehole; +95|6914|England

Braddock wrote:
LostFate wrote:
We dont need an empire ! we stand for whats good in the world, where there is trouble in the world you will see us try and sort it out where theres hunger you'll see you send aid..

And yeah where theres Terrorists you'll see us send in the Best Army in the world The British Army.
...you left out oil on that list.

O rly? I guarantee no one in the British Army went to iraq for oil !

2007-04-04 06:24:59

#20

Braddock: Agitator; +916|6719|Éire

LostFate wrote:
O rly? I guarantee no one in the British Army went to iraq for oil !

I know ...they went because Blair does whatever Bush tells him to do.

2007-04-04 06:27:00

#21

LostFate: Same shit, Different Arsehole; +95|6914|England

Yup, but where as the americans just wanna kill people, the british army has values an standards that they live by.

2007-04-04 06:28:30

#22

tiptopT: Member; +72|7011|Scotland's Capital

LostFate wrote:
Braddock wrote:
LostFate wrote:
We dont need an empire ! we stand for whats good in the world, where there is trouble in the world you will see us try and sort it out where theres hunger you'll see you send aid..

And yeah where theres Terrorists you'll see us send in the Best Army in the world The British Army.
...you left out oil on that list.
O rly? I guarantee no one in the British Army went to iraq for oil !

They went for a sun tan

I agree there hasnt been an Empire for ages and im not sure jumping on the Euro-bandwagon is the best idea either, i prefer we just "paddle" with the Euros at the moment. Damn Brussels making stupid laws Also dont want no bank outside the UK governing our rates etc..hard enough to get a mortgage as it is

2007-04-04 06:30:34

#23

jord: Member; +2,382|7107|The North, beyond the wall.

tiptopT wrote:
LostFate wrote:
Braddock wrote:

...you left out oil on that list.
O rly? I guarantee no one in the British Army went to iraq for oil !
They went for a sun tan

I agree there hasnt been an Empire for ages and im not sure jumping on the Euro-bandwagon is the best idea either, i prefer we just "paddle" with the Euros at the moment. Damn Brussels making stupid laws Also dont want no bank outside the UK governing our rates etc..hard enough to get a mortgage as it is

Not to mention that Euro.

I hate Euro's.

2007-04-04 06:33:54

#24

superfly_cox: soup fly mod; +717|7210

British Empire is the most influential empire as far as modern society is concerned.

Not a bad list of countries to have left you imperial mark on.

2007-04-04 06:36:42

#25

Collateralis: Beep bep.; +85|6799|Stealth on Grand Bazaar

Braddock wrote:
It's been a bad time for the Empire recently...

Iran: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wir … id=2975547

Iraq: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/mid … 296829.ece

Afghanistan: http://www.newstatesman.com/200702260027

Argentina: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/258571.stm

Ireland: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6515359.stm

Iran abducts 15 British sailors and parades them on TV, Argentina - on the 25th anniversary of the Falklands war - once again expresses it's desire to reclaim the disputed Malvinas Islands, power is returned to the people of the six counties in Ireland and failure looks inevitable in both Iraq and Afghanistan ...has the British empire finally had it's day? Does Britain have to do something spectacular on the world stage to re assert itself as a global force?

Discuss.

Discuss an archaic term which no longer applies to 'Britain'. Good one. I would really love to give you -1 Karma for such a stupid post, but I can't.

And this isn't Star Wars, we don't call ourselves 'The Empire' otherwise we would have to get out Darth Vader from the attic and prance him about as our head of state.

BF2S Forums Is the British Empire finally crumbling?

PureFodder wrote:

LostFate wrote:

Braddock wrote:

LostFate wrote:

LostFate wrote:

LostFate wrote:

Braddock wrote:

LostFate wrote:

tiptopT wrote:

LostFate wrote:

Braddock wrote:

Braddock wrote:

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