Map of UK's strategic nuclear targets

[cryingfreeman]

Okay, no biters.... the real reason: Any time we go to war with a nation (e.g. Iraq, Libya, and shortly Syria and Iran), the government primes the public first with months / years in advance with rhetoric, tongue-lashing and general media-conveyed propaganda. The Russians know the score that once Syria and Iran are taken down, it's really only them and China left, so... they're playing a little game over this medal. They know they are soon going to be painted in a very negative light and want to get some positive PR in before then... Or, perhaps even more to the point, they wanted a reaction out of the Foreign Office to test the waters of intent... Just my humble opinion. Well, not just mine. I asked a Russian I know - without disclosing my own theory first - and her initial reaction was the very same as mine.