The British government seems to have mastered a secret hidden from ours:
It can make unpopular decisions merely because they seem the wise thing to do. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher`s cabinet gave a stunning display of this ability the other day. With a general election only months away, it chose a U.S.-built air defense system over one made in Britain, and even announced the choice openly.
The choice is a setback for British technology, which had produced a system called Nimrod for detecting the approach of low-flying planes or missiles. Its rival was the Boeing Company`s AWACS (for Airborne Warning and Control System). The case for Nimrod was that it would save 2,500 British jobs and keep a big investment at home–$1.3 billion of taxpayers` money. The case for AWACS was that it works a lot better.
Mrs. Thatcher had said her government would base its decision on what was best for Britain`s defenses, not on what was politically expedient. The astonishing thing is that she meant it. American political leaders often make promises like this too; they may be shocked to learn that it`s possible to carry them out.
