Context man, they were recently in a civil war and the communication and transportation was so bad that towns had to be prepared by themselves to affront any possible Britain retaliation; but now with the biggest army in the world, with carriers, combat helicopters and combat jets doesn't seem to have too much sense.

vietnam, iraq and afghanistan are all proof that the largest military in the world can be defeated without having an aircraft carrier. But the citizenry can't be armed with pitchforks and expect to be able to overthrow the government (see North Korea)