Pheonix Think Tank responds to questions about Falklands defense.

This letter by Sharkey Ward says it all and reinforces my belief that without a strong Navy, the UK is in peril.

“Sir,
It is a sad thing for Britain when Ministry of Defence spokesmen blatantly mislead the nation as in the last paragraph of Thomas Harding’s excellent article on our lack of ability to prevent Argentina retaking the Falklands (12 June 2011).
We are told by MoD that “Our ability to reinforce [The Falklands]  rapidly by air has been maintained.” This is utter nonsense. As in 1982, the Royal Air Force would not send its transport aircraft and refuelling tankers anywhere near the Falklands if British forces did not have control of the skies over the islands. Further, any invasion of the Falklands by Argentina would be conducted without warning and Mount Pleasant airfield would be the first bit of real estate that Argentina Forces would secure. Air supremacy and airspace denial would be the prerogative of Argentina, not Britain.
The only real deterrent to Argentina is for Britain to maintain a carrier battle group capability. Without such a capability Britain would be unable to contest an Argentinian invasion.
When will the MoD (RAF) start telling the public and our politicians the truth about such matters?
Yours sincerely,
‘Sharkey’ Ward.”

RAF boosters (and they're to be found under every bloody rock between here and Plymouth) are operating on "hope and change"....hope that they are never tasked with anything more strenuous than a Libya type campaign and change in the form that they think that someone will change the subject.

I won't let them.

The UK is a maritime nation and needs a strong Navy.  Not another repeat of failed Air Force centric thinking.