For Want of Frigates

In a series of dispatches, Admiral Nelson once lamented for lack of small warships in his fleet. This article from the Sun says history repeats itself:

THE Royal Navy is being forced to stop drug-busting for nine months of the year because of cutbacks...
... after seven frigates and destroyers were axed, admirals have decided they can no longer spare a full-time presence in the US-led Caribbean operation...

The retreat spells great news for international smugglers whose path from the cocaine fields of South America will now be far clearer.
And it follows retiring First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West’s broadside to ministers in The Sun this week, in which he warned the Navy no longer has enough ships to deal with any major new crisis.

What a shame this is occuring so soon after the terrorists attacks on our big ships with small craft, such as the attack on USS Cole in 2000!