Nato is sinking

Published on 10/08/2012 00:00

JIM Sillars thinks Scotland is Nato’s “unsinkable carrier” (your article, 9 August), while some of us might think “target” would be more appropriate.

I would argue that Mr Sillars shows 20th century thinking on 21st century problems.

Were a much reduced Russia to decide to take on the West it would do so by turning off energy supplies or cyber attack. The recent IT debacles at RBS and O2 show what happens when IT systems malfunction. Nato is now an expensive bunch of warmongers without an enemy.

Perhaps Mr Sillars could also explain from where the Nato membership fee and the extra military spending of many millions is going to be found. Would he prefer to cut nurses or teachers? And just as the SNP assertion of a seat on the MPC was rubbished, the idea that staying in Nato and removing Faslane is also farcical.

The US battle fleets, when not upsetting countries in the Middle East, regularly exercise with Argentina and other South American countries rather than in the North Atlantic and its main focus has moved to the Pacific, which is the main generator of global economic activity. Its allegiance to Nato is now much reduced.

Even some present participants are considering their membership, especially as the Republic of Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland are not members.

As it approaches the referendum the SNP has ditched its euro plans and might find it is approaching Nato’s front door just as other nations are sneaking out the back.

Bruce D Skivington

Gairloch

Wester Ross