Wouldn't it be nice

This is refreshing: The BBC reports today that

Deputy leader of the Commons Nigel Griffiths has quit the government [of Tony Blair] in protest at plans to renew the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system. ...

Jim Devine, a parliamentary private secretary, has also indicated he will resign over the issue.

The UK relies on Trident submarines as its nuclear weapons platform. As the subs age, the question is if the fleet is to be replaced (at an estimated cost of £20 billion, or $36.8 billion) or simply to be gradually decommissioned in a course of nuclear disarmament. And two of Tony Blair's officials are prepared to quit in protest over the failure to disarm.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could actually imagine two US government officials resigning over such a matter? But oh, consider the problems.

A survey for BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend programme found that out of the 101 Labour MPs who responded, 22 said they supported the renewal of Trident.

A total of 64 said they opposed it, and a further 15 remained undecided.

Despite the opposition, Blair has the support of the Tories on this and the plan to re-nuke is likely to pass when it comes up in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Which means, if you listen to the advice of some House Democrats speaking on Iraq, opponents shouldn't even try to stop the program for fear of being labeled soft on defense.