That is a very big question CM and rather than personally answer it I would like to direct you to the SNP website and let you read their take on what independance for Scotland could mean.

You can also read the stories of other independant countries like Ireland, Norway, New Zealand, Australia ect

http://www.snp.org/

I was never really in favour of independence simply because it could mean that Scotland became a permanent socialist state.
There would be too many "generous" benefits for non-producers and too much reliance on North Sea Oil.

Then all that would be needed to bankrupt the country would be a problem with the oil supply, a price collapse or a reduction in the demand for NS Oil (as it's different from other oil).

I don't doubt that we have the capabilities to be independent. After all, I lived in Ireland for 10 years and if they can do it, so can we.

But wait a second. Everyone goes on about the Celtic Tiger economy and how wonderful it is. No it's not. One of the main reasons for leaving there was the Euro and being tied to Euro interest rates. I sold up and moved back here.

Ireland now has the worst consumer debt ratio in the world at 190% Interest rates are creeping up. Property prices are down 20% on last year and new building work is being put on hold. Their whole economy is based on an emperor with no clothes.

The Scots, by comparison, have a more stable track record when it comes to finance. We don't get carried away. Hence no negative equity here in the early 1990's

Many of the top fund managers are Scots. There is a saying in the City that you should only invest in a fund if it has the word "Scots" in the title. Many overseas investors think the same way.

But to answer your question, we would stay a part of NATO for the immediate future, then probably play a role similar to France. Stay part of the EU but have the Pound as currency and tie to London interest rates.

Keep the NHS but have better provision for dentists and the elderly as well as cutting down waiting times by allowing operations in the evening and at weekends.

Our soldiers already make up a larger proportion of the army (per head of population) so we would continue to have an army, probably for humanitarian reasons rather than agressive ones.

All in all it might take 20 years to unravel everything but I have no doubt we could do it and do it quite well.

I have a few ideas of my own that I'll let you know later if you like.

If Scotland broke away, they'd be like Denmark.

Good people with their own values.

With a slightly dodgy economy it's true but that'll sort itself out.

As for the UN and the related questions you referred to, CM, better by far to have a small extra nation with its own strong values to exist and ask the smugness of Westminster some really searching questions.