Al Murray

Because, you know, the outbreak of the Second World War and the outbreak of the First World War is a lot to do with the failure of deterrence, isn't it?

You know, the alliance is designed to deter Germany from action before the First World War.

They don't deter Germany.

In fact, they they egg Germany on to do something before those alliances close against it, which they then close against it.

Right.

Yes.

Chaiman's direction of policy before the war is to, you know, fortress Britain, to deter the Germans from tussling with Britain as he re-arms, because he is re-arming like mad.

There's no two ways about it.

You don't lay down all those aircraft carrier keels in 38-39 if you're not re-arming like mad, right?

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But that deterrence fails, right?

And the thing is, deterrence is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?

As much as in your eye.

So the Germans think they're deterring the British and the Allies from invading Norway, but they're not.

They're actually tying up their own resources.

And I think...

You know, when people talk about deterrence, you know, because some people say, well, the nuclear deterrent didn't stop the war in Ukraine.

You know, the Russians aren't deterred.

Well, they're deterred from using nuclear weapons by the nuclear deterrent.