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Team Harris will take this right now – politicalbetting.com

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  • DoubleCarpetDoubleCarpet Posts: 888
    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    7. But Keely has come in 12 bp's since I posted and is the poster girl for BBC coverage.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 55,239
    Le epuration
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,814
    Leon said:

    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    kle4 said:

    Leon said:

    I mean, you can see why the Brits invented team sports to replace this Olympics shit

    I thought it was because we were so socially awkward we needed clear rules of engagement in order to hang out together in larger groups.
    No, turns out it’s quite dull. Even the Olympics. Much better on telly, and even then fairly dull
    You’re there to make some noise for the Brits. Show some patriotism, for a change, instead of always running the country down.

    I remember golden Saturday during London 2012, when I was in the stadium to see the British golds. The atmosphere was incredible, but you only really see what is going on when you have it on TV at home.
    Yes whatever
    I remember you yourself were raving about Golden Saturday.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,061
    kle4 said:

    Nigelb said:

    This is the strongest argument of favour of Walz, and it is a strong one.

    @GovTimWalz represents the course-correction on class, rural & regional messaging that Dems have needed for decades. As someone for whom PLACE outstrips every other identity, I've never felt seen or represented in the White House in my lifetime & that would change with VP Walz.
    https://x.com/Sarah_Smarsh/status/1820485202717847615

    I'd never heard of him until today, his name must have slipped past me as an option amongst flashier candidates.
    Currently second favourite in the betting.
    If he were from PA rather than MI, he’d already have it, I think. Hugely popular with the Democratic base.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 71,354
    carnforth said:

    Yokes said:

    Briefly.

    Iran has informed the Israelis via intermediary that they will attack israel directly

    Russias defence minister has completed a meeting with the Iranians in recent hours

    A number of Western countries are into active evacuation of citizens from Lebanon. Bear in mind thats a step up from 'get yourselves out and do not go'.

    Certainly suggests an anywhere from 6 to 48 hours timeline.

    What's the most likely retaliation target?
    If they could possibly eliminate Netanyahu in a surgical strike that would seem (a) appropriate and (b) would probably make everything else much easier.

    But the Ayatollahs are so useless they can’t even rig an election properly. I think that would be beyond their powers.

    So I’m guessing they’ll ask Hezbollah to do something drastic, like plaster all of Galilee with rockets.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,984
    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    I think if GB had won the triathlon relay then Alex Yee would have stood a good chance, but sadly it didn’t happen.

    If Murray had clung on for the doubles gold. he’d have been a shoo-in.

    Athletics counts for more than track cycling in the mental hierarchy, I think.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,984
    edited August 5
    ydoethur said:

    carnforth said:

    Yokes said:

    Briefly.

    Iran has informed the Israelis via intermediary that they will attack israel directly

    Russias defence minister has completed a meeting with the Iranians in recent hours

    A number of Western countries are into active evacuation of citizens from Lebanon. Bear in mind thats a step up from 'get yourselves out and do not go'.

    Certainly suggests an anywhere from 6 to 48 hours timeline.

    What's the most likely retaliation target?
    If they could possibly eliminate Netanyahu in a surgical strike that would seem (a) appropriate and (b) would probably make everything else much easier.

    But the Ayatollahs are so useless they can’t even rig an election properly. I think that would be beyond their powers.

    So I’m guessing they’ll ask Hezbollah to do something drastic, like plaster all of Galilee with rockets.
    Interesting thought though. They do have Russian friends. Russians are quite good at assassination (or at least botched assassination leading to lifelong disability and disfigurement).
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,700
    DM_Andy said:

    Roger said:

    Eabhal said:

    I like Northumbria Police's style: https://x.com/northumbriapol/status/1820506183297343819?t=QZg3QaQNjGtOR1aymt2wKw&s=19

    I hope a fear of your face and name being plastered all over social media is going to limit this to only the most hardcore individuals.

    Clever move. Photograph them and put their mug shots in the local papers. Then hold them in custody until their trial. This thing isn't going to last too long. They'll be joining the ANL before you can say cheese
    They've had their trial, at least they are smart enough to plead guilty - they are on remand until sentencing.

    The true nazi whacko believers would probably see a custodial as a badge of honour but I doubt any of them are actually on the frontline rather than agitating from the sidelines or online.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,814
    edited August 5
    Leon said:

    Why did they build their national stadium in literally the worst place in France and six hours walk from the nearest tube station

    It is still bewildering

    Un homme dans une gare isolée
    Une valise à ses côtés
    Deux yeux fixes et froids
    Montrent de la peur lorsqu'il
    Se tourne pour se cacher
  • On topic - if the Govt here was level-ish with 3 months to the election then most of us would be expecting them to win. 45% will answer any poll as the Orange Leader dictates but 45% are unlikely to be enough unless he can broaden his appeal and he seems going all out to limit his appeal to 'real' and 'true' supporters. Unless the Dems fail to turn out that is a very poor strategy
  • EScrymgeourEScrymgeour Posts: 141
    TimS said:

    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    I think if GB had won the triathlon relay then Alex Yee would have stood a good chance, but sadly it didn’t happen.

    If Murray had clung on for the doubles gold. he’d have been a shoo-in.

    Athletics counts for more than track cycling in the mental hierarchy, I think.
    Is it still done by public voting? If Josh Kerr beats Ingebrigtsen Scots will vote as one.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,620
    edited August 5
    DM_Andy said:

    There was a comment on Sky News that the protestors say they aren't racist but they just want their country back. I would love them to explain what that looks like in a way that's not racist.

    They want the UK to be full of the descendants of St George.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,213
    a

    DM_Andy said:

    Roger said:

    Eabhal said:

    I like Northumbria Police's style: https://x.com/northumbriapol/status/1820506183297343819?t=QZg3QaQNjGtOR1aymt2wKw&s=19

    I hope a fear of your face and name being plastered all over social media is going to limit this to only the most hardcore individuals.

    Clever move. Photograph them and put their mug shots in the local papers. Then hold them in custody until their trial. This thing isn't going to last too long. They'll be joining the ANL before you can say cheese
    They've had their trial, at least they are smart enough to plead guilty - they are on remand until sentencing.

    The true nazi whacko believers would probably see a custodial as a badge of honour but I doubt any of them are actually on the frontline rather than agitating from the sidelines or online.
    Do we have any hardcore Nazis like the US or Russians types - genuinely scary, committed etc.

    The ones I’ve seen come to trial all seem both nasty and pathetic.
  • kyf_100kyf_100 Posts: 4,938
    DM_Andy said:

    There was a comment on Sky News that the protestors say they aren't racist but they just want their country back. I would love them to explain what that looks like in a way that's not racist.

    If I remember correctly, the phrase was popularised by William Hague in respect to the EU, appealing to Eurosceptics worried about the UK joining the Euro during the 2001 election campaign. It was also criticised as being xenophobic at the time. Unlikely this lot are talking about wanting to be free from Brussels, though.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,407
    DavidL said:

    Yokes said:

    Briefly.

    Iran has informed the Israelis via intermediary that they will attack israel directly

    Russias defence minister has completed a meeting with the Iranians in recent hours

    A number of Western countries are into active evacuation of citizens from Lebanon. Bear in mind thats a step up from 'get yourselves out and do not go'.

    Certainly suggests an anywhere from 6 to 48 hours timeline.

    Feck. Netanyahu is becoming a serious liability. The world did not need this.
    Unless this is WWE conflict.

    Iran need to be seen to hit back, and Israel to deflect it.

    So lots of flash and noise, but little bang.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 4,574
    kyf_100 said:

    DM_Andy said:

    There was a comment on Sky News that the protestors say they aren't racist but they just want their country back. I would love them to explain what that looks like in a way that's not racist.

    If I remember correctly, the phrase was popularised by William Hague in respect to the EU, appealing to Eurosceptics worried about the UK joining the Euro during the 2001 election campaign. It was also criticised as being xenophobic at the time. Unlikely this lot are talking about wanting to be free from Brussels, though.
    That was "In Europe, not run by Europe", wasn't it?
  • KnightOutKnightOut Posts: 142
    I spent Golden Saturday going to a pre-season Friendly at Accrington and consequently missed all the excitement...
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,700
    Luke Tryl
    @LukeTryl
    ·
    26m
    On a lighter unexpectedly note our focus group in Basildon tonight were strongly of the opinion Mel Stride should go into audio book narration after seeing a clip of him. So there’s something if the leadership bid doesn’t work out.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,814
    KnightOut said:

    I spent Golden Saturday going to a pre-season Friendly at Accrington and consequently missed all the excitement...

    "Accrington Stanley? Who are they??"
  • TimSTimS Posts: 12,984

    a

    DM_Andy said:

    Roger said:

    Eabhal said:

    I like Northumbria Police's style: https://x.com/northumbriapol/status/1820506183297343819?t=QZg3QaQNjGtOR1aymt2wKw&s=19

    I hope a fear of your face and name being plastered all over social media is going to limit this to only the most hardcore individuals.

    Clever move. Photograph them and put their mug shots in the local papers. Then hold them in custody until their trial. This thing isn't going to last too long. They'll be joining the ANL before you can say cheese
    They've had their trial, at least they are smart enough to plead guilty - they are on remand until sentencing.

    The true nazi whacko believers would probably see a custodial as a badge of honour but I doubt any of them are actually on the frontline rather than agitating from the sidelines or online.
    Do we have any hardcore Nazis like the US or Russians types - genuinely scary, committed etc.

    The ones I’ve seen come to trial all seem both nasty and pathetic.
    We have a different tradition I think, more beer than vodka-fuelled, more football hooligan than cosplay SS.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,700

    a

    DM_Andy said:

    Roger said:

    Eabhal said:

    I like Northumbria Police's style: https://x.com/northumbriapol/status/1820506183297343819?t=QZg3QaQNjGtOR1aymt2wKw&s=19

    I hope a fear of your face and name being plastered all over social media is going to limit this to only the most hardcore individuals.

    Clever move. Photograph them and put their mug shots in the local papers. Then hold them in custody until their trial. This thing isn't going to last too long. They'll be joining the ANL before you can say cheese
    They've had their trial, at least they are smart enough to plead guilty - they are on remand until sentencing.

    The true nazi whacko believers would probably see a custodial as a badge of honour but I doubt any of them are actually on the frontline rather than agitating from the sidelines or online.
    Do we have any hardcore Nazis like the US or Russians types - genuinely scary, committed etc.

    The ones I’ve seen come to trial all seem both nasty and pathetic.
    Yes we do but they keep below the radar as they are so committed they are not stupid enough to throw away years of agitation chances just to throw a bottle at a policeman.

    Very small number though.

    https://hopenothate.org.uk/2023/12/05/the-fascist-fringe-patriotic-alternative-and-its-splinter-groups/
  • TazTaz Posts: 14,362
    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    Have we all forgotten about Luke the Nuke !

    I guess that’s the penalty for excelling at the start of the year.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,814

    Luke Tryl
    @LukeTryl
    ·
    26m
    On a lighter unexpectedly note our focus group in Basildon tonight were strongly of the opinion Mel Stride should go into audio book narration after seeing a clip of him. So there’s something if the leadership bid doesn’t work out.

    Ain't nothin' gonna to break Mel Stride
    Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no
    I got to keep on moving
    Ain't nothin' gonna break Mel Stride
    I'm running and I won't touch ground
    Oh no, I got to keep on moving
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,213

    While I'm here, my view on asylum seekers in hotels. I don't think it's controversial to say that they shouldn't be there. It's a significant failure of governance over several years for the asylum system to be so mismanaged that the HO has had to block-book a significant number of hotels to house them, with the consequential public disquiet. And it's a Tory failure, as they've presided over a system that has seen Holiday Inns etc. requisitioned; nobody reasonable could pin this on Labour's five weeks of rule in the last 14 years. I make no comment on the scum that are attacking the hotels, except to say that it's grotesque and my heartfelt sympathies are with the residents and the staff.

    But here's a prediction. Within two years, maybe sooner, there won't be any, or hardly any, asylum seekers in hotels. Because Starmer and Cooper agree with me, and they'll succeed in turning around the system by processing the huge backlog that has caused the need for so much temporary accommodation. Watch this space - they're determined to put an end to it.

    It’ll be interesting what the solution to systemic inertia is. Remember the hotels are being used because every other option was objected to and ruled out.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,620
    Taz said:

    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    Have we all forgotten about Luke the Nuke !

    I guess that’s the penalty for excelling at the start of the year.
    Darts isn't a real sport, it's a pub game like snooker.
  • EScrymgeourEScrymgeour Posts: 141
    Who said earlier Brum was quiet? Seems to be simmering as Muslim demonstrators are blocking roads.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 4,574
    edited August 5
    Pole Vault final hotting up.
  • kyf_100kyf_100 Posts: 4,938
    edited August 5
    carnforth said:

    kyf_100 said:

    DM_Andy said:

    There was a comment on Sky News that the protestors say they aren't racist but they just want their country back. I would love them to explain what that looks like in a way that's not racist.

    If I remember correctly, the phrase was popularised by William Hague in respect to the EU, appealing to Eurosceptics worried about the UK joining the Euro during the 2001 election campaign. It was also criticised as being xenophobic at the time. Unlikely this lot are talking about wanting to be free from Brussels, though.
    That was "In Europe, not run by Europe", wasn't it?
    A quick Google, as my memory is failing me on things that happened over twenty years ago...

    From 2001 -

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/mar/05/conservatives.election20011

    "Let me take you on a journey to a foreign land - to Britain after a second term of Tony Blair," Mr Hague told the Tory spring conference in Harrogate as he warned of the prime minister's determination to destroy Britain by surrendering more powers to Brussels.The use of such a loaded term....... was condemned by Michael Heseltine."

    And

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/468183.stm

    Hague's speech to the Conservative party conference 1999, ending with the - "come with me and I will give you your country back" (again in respect to the EU).

    Further commentary on that here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1201755.stm

    In short, Hague used the term meaning 'take our country back from the Brussels bureaucrats' but it was criticised as xenophobic at the time. And I am certain that 'take our country back [from Brussels]' was not what the rioters meant!

    Just pointing out that eurosceptics have used it in relation to the EU. [Feel free to Insert discussion of venn diagram between eurosceptics and racists here].
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,098
    carnforth said:

    kyf_100 said:

    DM_Andy said:

    There was a comment on Sky News that the protestors say they aren't racist but they just want their country back. I would love them to explain what that looks like in a way that's not racist.

    If I remember correctly, the phrase was popularised by William Hague in respect to the EU, appealing to Eurosceptics worried about the UK joining the Euro during the 2001 election campaign. It was also criticised as being xenophobic at the time. Unlikely this lot are talking about wanting to be free from Brussels, though.
    That was "In Europe, not run by Europe", wasn't it?
    "48 hours to save the pound" ... is what I recall.

    Which turned out to be Project Fear since Labour won and we still have it - the aforementioned pound - to this day.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 43,311

    DavidL said:

    Yokes said:

    Briefly.

    Iran has informed the Israelis via intermediary that they will attack israel directly

    Russias defence minister has completed a meeting with the Iranians in recent hours

    A number of Western countries are into active evacuation of citizens from Lebanon. Bear in mind thats a step up from 'get yourselves out and do not go'.

    Certainly suggests an anywhere from 6 to 48 hours timeline.

    Feck. Netanyahu is becoming a serious liability. The world did not need this.
    Unless this is WWE conflict.

    Iran need to be seen to hit back, and Israel to deflect it.

    So lots of flash and noise, but little bang.
    Hopefully Israel will flatten the nutters
  • DM_AndyDM_Andy Posts: 1,127
    Taz said:

    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    Have we all forgotten about Luke the Nuke !

    I guess that’s the penalty for excelling at the start of the year.
    Does SPOTY ever go to someone where the BBC don't have any rights in that sport? I believe that Bob Nudd regularly got the most votes in SPOTY in the 1990s but the BBC wouldn't even feature him because they didn't cover sports fishing.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,399
    KnightOut said:

    I spent Golden Saturday going to a pre-season Friendly at Accrington and consequently missed all the excitement...

    By contrast. I was at St. James' Park for a men's footy quarter final. Brazil 3 Honduras 2 (with nine men). Neymar scored.
    Got home about five minutes before the first gold.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 4,574
    kinabalu said:

    carnforth said:

    kyf_100 said:

    DM_Andy said:

    There was a comment on Sky News that the protestors say they aren't racist but they just want their country back. I would love them to explain what that looks like in a way that's not racist.

    If I remember correctly, the phrase was popularised by William Hague in respect to the EU, appealing to Eurosceptics worried about the UK joining the Euro during the 2001 election campaign. It was also criticised as being xenophobic at the time. Unlikely this lot are talking about wanting to be free from Brussels, though.
    That was "In Europe, not run by Europe", wasn't it?
    "48 hours to save the pound" ... is what I recall.

    Which turned out to be Project Fear since Labour won and we still have it - the aforementioned pound - to this day.
    Only because we failed Brown's entirely subjective "five tests". Ah, slogans we have known.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 42,098

    Taz said:

    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    Have we all forgotten about Luke the Nuke !

    I guess that’s the penalty for excelling at the start of the year.
    Darts isn't a real sport, it's a pub game like snooker.
    Phil Taylor got a podium at Spoty.
  • kjhkjh Posts: 11,782
    kjh said:

    Leon said:

    kle4 said:

    Leon said:

    I mean, you can see why the Brits invented team sports to replace this Olympics shit

    I thought it was because we were so socially awkward we needed clear rules of engagement in order to hang out together in larger groups.
    No, turns out it’s quite dull. Even the Olympics. Much better on telly, and even then fairly dull
    If you aren't enjoying it why not give your ticket to someone who will. I imagine they were sort after.

    I always think that the grid walk at GPs should dump the celebrities and invite some random people watching in the crowd who are sitting on the grass banks, ideally youngsters. Make their day rather than a celeb, who doesn't care and probably isn't a fan.
    'sort after'?????

    I wonder what other gibberish I type?

    I also note the ladies are doing the Frisbee throwing at the moment. If Leon wants more excitement he could offer to catch them for them.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 42,549
    malcolmg said:

    DavidL said:

    Yokes said:

    Briefly.

    Iran has informed the Israelis via intermediary that they will attack israel directly

    Russias defence minister has completed a meeting with the Iranians in recent hours

    A number of Western countries are into active evacuation of citizens from Lebanon. Bear in mind thats a step up from 'get yourselves out and do not go'.

    Certainly suggests an anywhere from 6 to 48 hours timeline.

    Feck. Netanyahu is becoming a serious liability. The world did not need this.
    Unless this is WWE conflict.

    Iran need to be seen to hit back, and Israel to deflect it.

    So lots of flash and noise, but little bang.
    Hopefully Israel will flatten the nutters
    Israel is still fighting (and losing soldiers...) in Gaza.
    Israel looks like it is squaring up to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

    I really, really doubt that Israel could manage a third front against the power that is feeding those two conflicts, even if the countries were adjacent.

    But also note Putin's cold hand in all of this.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,399

    Taz said:

    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    Have we all forgotten about Luke the Nuke !

    I guess that’s the penalty for excelling at the start of the year.
    Darts isn't a real sport, it's a pub game like snooker.
    Big pub that can spare an entire room for a snooker table.
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 3,779

    a

    DM_Andy said:

    Roger said:

    Eabhal said:

    I like Northumbria Police's style: https://x.com/northumbriapol/status/1820506183297343819?t=QZg3QaQNjGtOR1aymt2wKw&s=19

    I hope a fear of your face and name being plastered all over social media is going to limit this to only the most hardcore individuals.

    Clever move. Photograph them and put their mug shots in the local papers. Then hold them in custody until their trial. This thing isn't going to last too long. They'll be joining the ANL before you can say cheese
    They've had their trial, at least they are smart enough to plead guilty - they are on remand until sentencing.

    The true nazi whacko believers would probably see a custodial as a badge of honour but I doubt any of them are actually on the frontline rather than agitating from the sidelines or online.
    Do we have any hardcore Nazis like the US or Russians types - genuinely scary, committed etc.

    The ones I’ve seen come to trial all seem both nasty and pathetic.
    R4's PM programme tonight made a bit of a point of reading out the names of people who had already appeared in court after the disturbances. And specifically which of them had cried when they were given into custody.

    I'm not much of a fan of public shaming, but at least if you're going to play the 'patriot' hardman for a night do a salute as you're sent out of the court the day after by the beak who's told you you're just a nasty little boy.
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,678

    Taz said:

    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    Have we all forgotten about Luke the Nuke !

    I guess that’s the penalty for excelling at the start of the year.
    Darts isn't a real sport, it's a pub game like snooker.
    I always say that what separates a sport from a game is that a sport can't be meaningfully played over the telephone. So darts is a sport.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,399
    Time to consider my traditional annual Yankee on the winners of each of the four football divisions.
    Am going for City, Leeds, Bolton. Any tips for League Two?
  • Darts is a sport - Golf is a game
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 28,412

    DavidL said:

    Yokes said:

    Briefly.

    Iran has informed the Israelis via intermediary that they will attack israel directly

    Russias defence minister has completed a meeting with the Iranians in recent hours

    A number of Western countries are into active evacuation of citizens from Lebanon. Bear in mind thats a step up from 'get yourselves out and do not go'.

    Certainly suggests an anywhere from 6 to 48 hours timeline.

    Feck. Netanyahu is becoming a serious liability. The world did not need this.
    Unless this is WWE conflict.

    Iran need to be seen to hit back, and Israel to deflect it.

    So lots of flash and noise, but little bang.
    Could we give them a ring and some fold up chairs?
  • DM_AndyDM_Andy Posts: 1,127
    Tres said:

    While I'm here, my view on asylum seekers in hotels. I don't think it's controversial to say that they shouldn't be there. It's a significant failure of governance over several years for the asylum system to be so mismanaged that the HO has had to block-book a significant number of hotels to house them, with the consequential public disquiet. And it's a Tory failure, as they've presided over a system that has seen Holiday Inns etc. requisitioned; nobody reasonable could pin this on Labour's five weeks of rule in the last 14 years. I make no comment on the scum that are attacking the hotels, except to say that it's grotesque and my heartfelt sympathies are with the residents and the staff.

    But here's a prediction. Within two years, maybe sooner, there won't be any, or hardly any, asylum seekers in hotels. Because Starmer and Cooper agree with me, and they'll succeed in turning around the system by processing the huge backlog that has caused the need for so much temporary accommodation. Watch this space - they're determined to put an end to it.

    It’ll be interesting what the solution to systemic inertia is. Remember the hotels are being used because every other option was objected to and ruled out.
    No the hotels are being used because the Tories defunded the processing of asylum seekers in a timely fashion whilst hosing money over in Africa. .
    It was worse than that, the Illegal Migration Act 2023 stopped asylum seekers from having their claim determined in the UK, they would all be held in detention or hotels until they got removed to Rwanda and only then would have their claim determined.

  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,009
    Sandpit said:

    200m athletes already running under 20s, in the 1st round heats of the competition!

    200 million athletes. That's a lot!
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,814

    Taz said:

    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    Have we all forgotten about Luke the Nuke !

    I guess that’s the penalty for excelling at the start of the year.
    Darts isn't a real sport, it's a pub game like snooker.
    Whereas Cricket is pure tedium...
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 3,779
    dixiedean said:

    Taz said:

    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    Have we all forgotten about Luke the Nuke !

    I guess that’s the penalty for excelling at the start of the year.
    Darts isn't a real sport, it's a pub game like snooker.
    Big pub that can spare an entire room for a snooker table.
    In my experience - police stations have excellent snooker tables.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,576
    Duplantis miles over that 6.00 pole vault.

    Just put the world record up there and be done with it.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,700
    ydoethur said:

    DM_Andy said:

    ydoethur said:

    #New General Election Poll

    🔵 Harris 48% (+4)
    🔴 Trump 44%

    Last poll - 🔵 Harris +1


    Who is Too old for president

    🔴 Trump 51%
    🔵 Harris 12%

    Morning Consult


    https://x.com/PpollingNumbers/status/1820505683734995435

    Who are the 12%?
    To be fair Kamala will be 60 if she becomes President, that would rank her 13th out of 46 for oldest people to start being President.

    The 12% want Buttigieg. Age 42.
    I think I am right in saying the youngest President elected was Kennedy (43) and the youngest ever was Theodore Roosevelt (42).

    Harris may be slightly above average age but she doesn’t really compare to Biden, Trump, Reagan or even Eisenhower. Anyone saying she’s too old is talking nonsense.
    Yep. The one thing you can't say about her is that she is too old.

    And maybe that will be enough?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,620
    Why are Greece allowed to be sponsored by Hellas on the front of their kit?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,700
    Wow. Stewards inquiry on the 5000m race
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,061
    26 strikes, and you’re out ?

    Hooligans in Liverpool beginning to appear in court. As anyone with any sense of the place could have told you, those involved in the riots were experienced criminals whose whole lives have been spent preying on the city's poor and they saw another chance.
    https://x.com/KyleWOrton/status/1820497968744869943
  • pm215pm215 Posts: 1,129
    Tres said:

    While I'm here, my view on asylum seekers in hotels. I don't think it's controversial to say that they shouldn't be there. It's a significant failure of governance over several years for the asylum system to be so mismanaged that the HO has had to block-book a significant number of hotels to house them, with the consequential public disquiet. And it's a Tory failure, as they've presided over a system that has seen Holiday Inns etc. requisitioned; nobody reasonable could pin this on Labour's five weeks of rule in the last 14 years. I make no comment on the scum that are attacking the hotels, except to say that it's grotesque and my heartfelt sympathies are with the residents and the staff.

    But here's a prediction. Within two years, maybe sooner, there won't be any, or hardly any, asylum seekers in hotels. Because Starmer and Cooper agree with me, and they'll succeed in turning around the system by processing the huge backlog that has caused the need for so much temporary accommodation. Watch this space - they're determined to put an end to it.

    It’ll be interesting what the solution to systemic inertia is. Remember the hotels are being used because every other option was objected to and ruled out.
    No the hotels are being used because the Tories defunded the processing of asylum seekers in a timely fashion whilst hosing money over in Africa. .
    And as with a fair number of other problems, fixing it is going to require a chunk of upfront investment (more people processing applications) before we get a return (stopping spending a fortune block booking hotels). The big test for Labour in my view is how many of this class of problem they successfully tackle versus kicking the can down the road and continuing to spend on the band aid fixes.
  • DumbosaurusDumbosaurus Posts: 794
    edited August 5
    ohnotnow said:

    a

    DM_Andy said:

    Roger said:

    Eabhal said:

    I like Northumbria Police's style: https://x.com/northumbriapol/status/1820506183297343819?t=QZg3QaQNjGtOR1aymt2wKw&s=19

    I hope a fear of your face and name being plastered all over social media is going to limit this to only the most hardcore individuals.

    Clever move. Photograph them and put their mug shots in the local papers. Then hold them in custody until their trial. This thing isn't going to last too long. They'll be joining the ANL before you can say cheese
    They've had their trial, at least they are smart enough to plead guilty - they are on remand until sentencing.

    The true nazi whacko believers would probably see a custodial as a badge of honour but I doubt any of them are actually on the frontline rather than agitating from the sidelines or online.
    Do we have any hardcore Nazis like the US or Russians types - genuinely scary, committed etc.

    The ones I’ve seen come to trial all seem both nasty and pathetic.
    R4's PM programme tonight made a bit of a point of reading out the names of people who had already appeared in court after the disturbances. And specifically which of them had cried when they were given into custody.

    I'm not much of a fan of public shaming, but at least if you're going to play the 'patriot' hardman for a night do a salute as you're sent out of the court the day after by the beak who's told you you're just a nasty little boy.
    Yeah - wording this carefully so as to not come even close to falling foul of the new rule, there was only one reported reaction that imo was in the "expected character". I am assuming that the media are reporting on the tears to make it clear what type we are dealing with, and good on them for that. Although I think one of the cryers we'd already been treated to videos of crying after a police dog taught him a lesson so he may well make a habit of it.
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,747
    I didn’t go to Super Saturday but I did see David Rudisha break the WR for 800m on the same night Bolt won gold in 200m. Been to a fair few live sports events but have never known a buzz like it for those two races.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,213
    TimS said:

    a

    DM_Andy said:

    Roger said:

    Eabhal said:

    I like Northumbria Police's style: https://x.com/northumbriapol/status/1820506183297343819?t=QZg3QaQNjGtOR1aymt2wKw&s=19

    I hope a fear of your face and name being plastered all over social media is going to limit this to only the most hardcore individuals.

    Clever move. Photograph them and put their mug shots in the local papers. Then hold them in custody until their trial. This thing isn't going to last too long. They'll be joining the ANL before you can say cheese
    They've had their trial, at least they are smart enough to plead guilty - they are on remand until sentencing.

    The true nazi whacko believers would probably see a custodial as a badge of honour but I doubt any of them are actually on the frontline rather than agitating from the sidelines or online.
    Do we have any hardcore Nazis like the US or Russians types - genuinely scary, committed etc.

    The ones I’ve seen come to trial all seem both nasty and pathetic.
    We have a different tradition I think, more beer than vodka-fuelled, more football hooligan than cosplay SS.
    I'm not talking about the SS cosplay types - more the prison gang types with multiple murders who are really not afraid of anything that might be done to them.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,061

    Taz said:

    boulay said:

    Assuming KH wins the 800m (currently 1.16), the current 2.04 for SPOTY looks very good value?

    What are Finucane’s odds for SPOTY as she’s tipped for a bagful of golds.
    Have we all forgotten about Luke the Nuke !

    I guess that’s the penalty for excelling at the start of the year.
    Darts isn't a real sport, it's a pub game like snooker.
    Whereas Cricket is pure tedium...
    Watching cricket requires a mental discipline trainspotters can only aspire to.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,009

    Leon said:

    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    kle4 said:

    Leon said:

    I mean, you can see why the Brits invented team sports to replace this Olympics shit

    I thought it was because we were so socially awkward we needed clear rules of engagement in order to hang out together in larger groups.
    No, turns out it’s quite dull. Even the Olympics. Much better on telly, and even then fairly dull
    You’re there to make some noise for the Brits. Show some patriotism, for a change, instead of always running the country down.

    I remember golden Saturday during London 2012, when I was in the stadium to see the British golds. The atmosphere was incredible, but you only really see what is going on when you have it on TV at home.
    Yes whatever
    I remember you yourself were raving about Golden Saturday.
    "Three sock Saturday."
  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 3,779

    Why are Greece allowed to be sponsored by Hellas on the front of their kit?

    Because somehow Germany are getting the money?
  • moonshinemoonshine Posts: 5,747

    DavidL said:

    Yokes said:

    Briefly.

    Iran has informed the Israelis via intermediary that they will attack israel directly

    Russias defence minister has completed a meeting with the Iranians in recent hours

    A number of Western countries are into active evacuation of citizens from Lebanon. Bear in mind thats a step up from 'get yourselves out and do not go'.

    Certainly suggests an anywhere from 6 to 48 hours timeline.

    Feck. Netanyahu is becoming a serious liability. The world did not need this.
    Unless this is WWE conflict.

    Iran need to be seen to hit back, and Israel to deflect it.

    So lots of flash and noise, but little bang.
    Quite the moral hazard the Ayatollahs are creating if it’s the same flash bang as last time. They’re underlining to their own cadre of military elites that Israel can strike you and kill you whenever they like. And they’ll do nothing much about it.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 11,044

    While I'm here, my view on asylum seekers in hotels. I don't think it's controversial to say that they shouldn't be there. It's a significant failure of governance over several years for the asylum system to be so mismanaged that the HO has had to block-book a significant number of hotels to house them, with the consequential public disquiet. And it's a Tory failure, as they've presided over a system that has seen Holiday Inns etc. requisitioned; nobody reasonable could pin this on Labour's five weeks of rule in the last 14 years. I make no comment on the scum that are attacking the hotels, except to say that it's grotesque and my heartfelt sympathies are with the residents and the staff.

    But here's a prediction. Within two years, maybe sooner, there won't be any, or hardly any, asylum seekers in hotels. Because Starmer and Cooper agree with me, and they'll succeed in turning around the system by processing the huge backlog that has caused the need for so much temporary accommodation. Watch this space - they're determined to put an end to it.

    It’ll be interesting what the solution to systemic inertia is. Remember the hotels are being used because every other option was objected to and ruled out.
    I don't think that's true. Many suggest that the hotels are being used because the Tories didn't want to process people, as that meant given some of them asylum. They ran up the waiting list deliberately.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,700

    Leon said:

    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    kle4 said:

    Leon said:

    I mean, you can see why the Brits invented team sports to replace this Olympics shit

    I thought it was because we were so socially awkward we needed clear rules of engagement in order to hang out together in larger groups.
    No, turns out it’s quite dull. Even the Olympics. Much better on telly, and even then fairly dull
    You’re there to make some noise for the Brits. Show some patriotism, for a change, instead of always running the country down.

    I remember golden Saturday during London 2012, when I was in the stadium to see the British golds. The atmosphere was incredible, but you only really see what is going on when you have it on TV at home.
    Yes whatever
    I remember you yourself were raving about Golden Saturday.
    "Three sock Saturday."
    LOL
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,061
    edited August 5
    Sandpit said:

    Duplantis miles over that 6.00 pole vault.

    Just put the world record up there and be done with it.

    Don’t vaulters prefer to make a meal of it ?
    Didn’t Bubka make a very good living out of getting rewarded each time he broke it ? In 10cm increments.

    Anyway, it’s currently 6.24m.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,399
    Time for Wigan's finest.
  • carnforthcarnforth Posts: 4,574
    Nigelb said:

    Sandpit said:

    Duplantis miles over that 6.00 pole vault.

    Just put the world record up there and be done with it.

    Don’t vaulters prefer to make a meal of it ?
    Didn’t Bubka make a very good living out of getting rewarded each time he broke it ? In 5cm increments.
    Duplantis does 1cm.
  • londonpubmanlondonpubman Posts: 3,639
    👍👍👍
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,620
    Spandau Ballet!

    True Gold!
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,009
    TimS said:

    a

    DM_Andy said:

    Roger said:

    Eabhal said:

    I like Northumbria Police's style: https://x.com/northumbriapol/status/1820506183297343819?t=QZg3QaQNjGtOR1aymt2wKw&s=19

    I hope a fear of your face and name being plastered all over social media is going to limit this to only the most hardcore individuals.

    Clever move. Photograph them and put their mug shots in the local papers. Then hold them in custody until their trial. This thing isn't going to last too long. They'll be joining the ANL before you can say cheese
    They've had their trial, at least they are smart enough to plead guilty - they are on remand until sentencing.

    The true nazi whacko believers would probably see a custodial as a badge of honour but I doubt any of them are actually on the frontline rather than agitating from the sidelines or online.
    Do we have any hardcore Nazis like the US or Russians types - genuinely scary, committed etc.

    The ones I’ve seen come to trial all seem both nasty and pathetic.
    We have a different tradition I think, more beer than vodka-fuelled, more football hooligan than cosplay SS.
    More Pringle than Hugo Boss.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 51,814
    Gold for Keely!
  • DavidL said:

    Yokes said:

    Briefly.

    Iran has informed the Israelis via intermediary that they will attack israel directly

    Russias defence minister has completed a meeting with the Iranians in recent hours

    A number of Western countries are into active evacuation of citizens from Lebanon. Bear in mind thats a step up from 'get yourselves out and do not go'.

    Certainly suggests an anywhere from 6 to 48 hours timeline.

    Feck. Netanyahu is becoming a serious liability. The world did not need this.
    Unless this is WWE conflict.

    Iran need to be seen to hit back, and Israel to deflect it.

    So lots of flash and noise, but little bang.
    I love that analogy.

    But I'm curious how @DavidL reckons Netanyahu is being a liability for the suggested actions of Iran.

    Iran's actions are not Netanyahu's responsibility, any more than saying that Zelensky is becoming a liability for the actions of Russia.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,399
    MaxPB said:
    Didn't realise he wasn't white.
    Nor indeed that his Dad was an International chess Master.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,603
    kinabalu said:

    carnforth said:

    kyf_100 said:

    DM_Andy said:

    There was a comment on Sky News that the protestors say they aren't racist but they just want their country back. I would love them to explain what that looks like in a way that's not racist.

    If I remember correctly, the phrase was popularised by William Hague in respect to the EU, appealing to Eurosceptics worried about the UK joining the Euro during the 2001 election campaign. It was also criticised as being xenophobic at the time. Unlikely this lot are talking about wanting to be free from Brussels, though.
    That was "In Europe, not run by Europe", wasn't it?
    "48 hours to save the pound" ... is what I recall.

    Which turned out to be Project Fear since Labour won and we still have it - the aforementioned pound - to this day.
    Only because Hague's election campaign put the fear of God into them so they didn't dare ditch the pound. He almost decimated Labour's majority.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,700
    Gold!!!
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 54,576
    KEELY!!!!
  • EScrymgeourEScrymgeour Posts: 141
    Well done lass.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 50,213

    While I'm here, my view on asylum seekers in hotels. I don't think it's controversial to say that they shouldn't be there. It's a significant failure of governance over several years for the asylum system to be so mismanaged that the HO has had to block-book a significant number of hotels to house them, with the consequential public disquiet. And it's a Tory failure, as they've presided over a system that has seen Holiday Inns etc. requisitioned; nobody reasonable could pin this on Labour's five weeks of rule in the last 14 years. I make no comment on the scum that are attacking the hotels, except to say that it's grotesque and my heartfelt sympathies are with the residents and the staff.

    But here's a prediction. Within two years, maybe sooner, there won't be any, or hardly any, asylum seekers in hotels. Because Starmer and Cooper agree with me, and they'll succeed in turning around the system by processing the huge backlog that has caused the need for so much temporary accommodation. Watch this space - they're determined to put an end to it.

    It’ll be interesting what the solution to systemic inertia is. Remember the hotels are being used because every other option was objected to and ruled out.
    I don't think that's true. Many suggest that the hotels are being used because the Tories didn't want to process people, as that meant given some of them asylum. They ran up the waiting list deliberately.
    There were other accommodation options - one by one, ruled out or blocked.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 62,700

    This is the Nazi language of the Warsaw ghetto.

    Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says starving Gazans "to death" may be moral, but the "world won't let us"

    https://x.com/haaretzcom/status/1820496414629351556

    Is he one of the extreme right nationalist Israeli cabinet ministers that the PM is desperate to keep onside?
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,399
    Gold for Wigan.
    Get in!
    Possible SPOTY too?
  • Nigelb said:

    26 strikes, and you’re out ?

    Hooligans in Liverpool beginning to appear in court. As anyone with any sense of the place could have told you, those involved in the riots were experienced criminals whose whole lives have been spent preying on the city's poor and they saw another chance.
    https://x.com/KyleWOrton/status/1820497968744869943

    The lack of investment in prisons is another area in which we are being penny wise and pound foolish.

    People should not be in prison for any victimless crimes, but when people are serial lawbreakers who have victims they should be put away and kept away for lengthy periods of time.

    Getting the repeat offenders off the streets and keeping them off stops all their crimes they'd be doing while free.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,620

    This is the Nazi language of the Warsaw ghetto.

    Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says starving Gazans "to death" may be moral, but the "world won't let us"

    https://x.com/haaretzcom/status/1820496414629351556

    Is he one of the extreme right nationalist Israeli cabinet ministers that the PM is desperate to keep onside?
    Yup, nasty homophobe too.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 53,798

    DavidL said:

    Yokes said:

    Briefly.

    Iran has informed the Israelis via intermediary that they will attack israel directly

    Russias defence minister has completed a meeting with the Iranians in recent hours

    A number of Western countries are into active evacuation of citizens from Lebanon. Bear in mind thats a step up from 'get yourselves out and do not go'.

    Certainly suggests an anywhere from 6 to 48 hours timeline.

    Feck. Netanyahu is becoming a serious liability. The world did not need this.
    Unless this is WWE conflict.

    Iran need to be seen to hit back, and Israel to deflect it.

    So lots of flash and noise, but little bang.
    I love that analogy.

    But I'm curious how @DavidL reckons Netanyahu is being a liability for the suggested actions of Iran.

    Iran's actions are not Netanyahu's responsibility, any more than saying that Zelensky is becoming a liability for the actions of Russia.
    The assassinations of Fuad Shukr and Ismail Haniyeh would have been provocative at any time but right now, with feelings running so high over Gaza, it is inviting a war. The last round of assassinations were intended to provoke Iran but they rather ducked out. Are they going to so this time? @Yokes thinks not and I defer to his knowledge.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,368

    kinabalu said:

    carnforth said:

    kyf_100 said:

    DM_Andy said:

    There was a comment on Sky News that the protestors say they aren't racist but they just want their country back. I would love them to explain what that looks like in a way that's not racist.

    If I remember correctly, the phrase was popularised by William Hague in respect to the EU, appealing to Eurosceptics worried about the UK joining the Euro during the 2001 election campaign. It was also criticised as being xenophobic at the time. Unlikely this lot are talking about wanting to be free from Brussels, though.
    That was "In Europe, not run by Europe", wasn't it?
    "48 hours to save the pound" ... is what I recall.

    Which turned out to be Project Fear since Labour won and we still have it - the aforementioned pound - to this day.
    Only because Hague's election campaign put the fear of God into them so they didn't dare ditch the pound. He almost decimated Labour's majority.
    It was a terrible campaign. And "he almost decimated Labour's majority" is as accurate as a Farage retweet.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 71,061
    carnforth said:

    Nigelb said:

    Sandpit said:

    Duplantis miles over that 6.00 pole vault.

    Just put the world record up there and be done with it.

    Don’t vaulters prefer to make a meal of it ?
    Didn’t Bubka make a very good living out of getting rewarded each time he broke it ? In 5cm increments.
    Duplantis does 1cm.
    Bubka too.
    Place value idiocy there.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 11,044

    DavidL said:

    Yokes said:

    Briefly.

    Iran has informed the Israelis via intermediary that they will attack israel directly

    Russias defence minister has completed a meeting with the Iranians in recent hours

    A number of Western countries are into active evacuation of citizens from Lebanon. Bear in mind thats a step up from 'get yourselves out and do not go'.

    Certainly suggests an anywhere from 6 to 48 hours timeline.

    Feck. Netanyahu is becoming a serious liability. The world did not need this.
    Unless this is WWE conflict.

    Iran need to be seen to hit back, and Israel to deflect it.

    So lots of flash and noise, but little bang.
    I love that analogy.

    But I'm curious how @DavidL reckons Netanyahu is being a liability for the suggested actions of Iran.

    Iran's actions are not Netanyahu's responsibility, any more than saying that Zelensky is becoming a liability for the actions of Russia.
    Here's some Wikipedia extracts. These are Netanyahu's responsibility and have no equivalent in terms of Ukrainian action against Russia before Russia's invasion:

    On 25 December, Razi Mousavi, an Iranian commander, was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike at his residence in Sayyidah Zaynab, 10 km (6 mi) south of Damascus, amid the Israel–Hamas war. Mousavi's assassination marked the highest-ranking killing of a senior Iranian military official since the targeted assassination of Qasem Soleimani, until the subsequent killing of Mohammad Reza Zahedi in 2024.[46][47]

    On 20 January 2024, Sadegh Omidzadeh, along with four other Iranian officials, Ali Aghazadeh, Saeed Karimi, Hossein Mohammadi,[48] and Mohammad Amin Samadi,[49] was killed during a meeting at a building in the Mezzeh district of Damascus. The Israeli airstrikes, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, resulted in the complete destruction of the building, leading to the death of at least 10 military personnel.[50]

    On 1 April, Israel bombed the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria. The attack killed 16 people, including multiple Iranian officers and proxy fighters. Most notably, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a commander for the Quds Force was killed in the airstrike.[16]

    On the morning of 19 April, Israel retaliated against Iran. Israel attacked three targets in or near Isfahan International Airport, including a military base. One of the targets was a radar for the Natanz nuclear site. Iran claimed that its air defense shot down all Israeli projectiles and that the explosions were from air defense, but satellite images showed a destroyed air defense battery and damage to the radar system.[71][72] Israel did not comment or claim responsibility for any attack. In southern Syria, SAA bases were targeted, leading to material losses.[73] Explosions and fighter jets were also heard in Iraq,[74] and debris from an Israeli missile was found in central Iraq, suggesting Israel fired from there.[75]


    Now, Israel had reason for these attacks, and one could write a long list of Iranian actions too. But this isn't like Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 51,603

    kinabalu said:

    carnforth said:

    kyf_100 said:

    DM_Andy said:

    There was a comment on Sky News that the protestors say they aren't racist but they just want their country back. I would love them to explain what that looks like in a way that's not racist.

    If I remember correctly, the phrase was popularised by William Hague in respect to the EU, appealing to Eurosceptics worried about the UK joining the Euro during the 2001 election campaign. It was also criticised as being xenophobic at the time. Unlikely this lot are talking about wanting to be free from Brussels, though.
    That was "In Europe, not run by Europe", wasn't it?
    "48 hours to save the pound" ... is what I recall.

    Which turned out to be Project Fear since Labour won and we still have it - the aforementioned pound - to this day.
    Only because Hague's election campaign put the fear of God into them so they didn't dare ditch the pound. He almost decimated Labour's majority.
    It was a terrible campaign. And "he almost decimated Labour's majority" is as accurate as a Farage retweet.
    Labour's majority went from 179 to 165, just 4 short of decimation. The Tories even gained a seat!
  • kinabalu said:

    carnforth said:

    kyf_100 said:

    DM_Andy said:

    There was a comment on Sky News that the protestors say they aren't racist but they just want their country back. I would love them to explain what that looks like in a way that's not racist.

    If I remember correctly, the phrase was popularised by William Hague in respect to the EU, appealing to Eurosceptics worried about the UK joining the Euro during the 2001 election campaign. It was also criticised as being xenophobic at the time. Unlikely this lot are talking about wanting to be free from Brussels, though.
    That was "In Europe, not run by Europe", wasn't it?
    "48 hours to save the pound" ... is what I recall.

    Which turned out to be Project Fear since Labour won and we still have it - the aforementioned pound - to this day.
    Only because Hague's election campaign put the fear of God into them so they didn't dare ditch the pound. He almost decimated Labour's majority.
    He almost decimated Labour's majority?

    So he almost cut Labour's majority by 1/10th?

    Bemusing way to describe Labour winning 412 seats (down 6) from 418 the previous time.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,174
    dixiedean said:

    Gold for Wigan.
    Get in!
    Possible SPOTY too?

    Odds on. Josh Kerr and Emma Finucane might be a threat. I note that you can get 100 on Bellingham. I doubt he’ll win but I’d be surprised if he wasn’t nominated.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 11,044

    This is the Nazi language of the Warsaw ghetto.

    Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says starving Gazans "to death" may be moral, but the "world won't let us"

    https://x.com/haaretzcom/status/1820496414629351556

    Is he one of the extreme right nationalist Israeli cabinet ministers that the PM is desperate to keep onside?
    Yes
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 28,368
    MaxPB said:

    This is the Nazi language of the Warsaw ghetto.

    Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says starving Gazans "to death" may be moral, but the "world won't let us"

    https://x.com/haaretzcom/status/1820496414629351556

    Israel needs an election badly to get rid of these kind of people. I'm sure most Israelis don't support this.
    The problem is if Netanyahu loses power he likely goes to jail. For him it's best to spend as long as he can tearing up the Middle East to avoid that eventuality.
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 11,044
    MaxPB said:

    This is the Nazi language of the Warsaw ghetto.

    Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says starving Gazans "to death" may be moral, but the "world won't let us"

    https://x.com/haaretzcom/status/1820496414629351556

    Israel needs an election badly to get rid of these kind of people. I'm sure most Israelis don't support this.
    They don't. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Israeli_legislative_election
  • DavidL said:

    DavidL said:

    Yokes said:

    Briefly.

    Iran has informed the Israelis via intermediary that they will attack israel directly

    Russias defence minister has completed a meeting with the Iranians in recent hours

    A number of Western countries are into active evacuation of citizens from Lebanon. Bear in mind thats a step up from 'get yourselves out and do not go'.

    Certainly suggests an anywhere from 6 to 48 hours timeline.

    Feck. Netanyahu is becoming a serious liability. The world did not need this.
    Unless this is WWE conflict.

    Iran need to be seen to hit back, and Israel to deflect it.

    So lots of flash and noise, but little bang.
    I love that analogy.

    But I'm curious how @DavidL reckons Netanyahu is being a liability for the suggested actions of Iran.

    Iran's actions are not Netanyahu's responsibility, any more than saying that Zelensky is becoming a liability for the actions of Russia.
    The assassinations of Fuad Shukr and Ismail Haniyeh would have been provocative at any time but right now, with feelings running so high over Gaza, it is inviting a war. The last round of assassinations were intended to provoke Iran but they rather ducked out. Are they going to so this time? @Yokes thinks not and I defer to his knowledge.
    Most people on this site have been saying that Israel should not be going after Hamas in Palestine and should be going after the leaders abroad. But then when Israel goes after the leaders abroad, they're accused of provoking a war.

    So which is it? How can Israel best defend itself in your eyes?

    Does it have the right to target Hamas in Gaza?
    Does it have the right to target Hamas abroad?

    Which is better?

    Personally, I'd rather there were no innocent Palestinian civilian casualties. Targeting the Hamas leaders abroad is preferable to blowing up people in Gaza, preferably, but its bloody difficult.

    Israel should be applauded should they not for getting Shukr and Haniyeh? Far better than killing more people in Gaza in my eyes.
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 48,627

    kinabalu said:

    carnforth said:

    kyf_100 said:

    DM_Andy said:

    There was a comment on Sky News that the protestors say they aren't racist but they just want their country back. I would love them to explain what that looks like in a way that's not racist.

    If I remember correctly, the phrase was popularised by William Hague in respect to the EU, appealing to Eurosceptics worried about the UK joining the Euro during the 2001 election campaign. It was also criticised as being xenophobic at the time. Unlikely this lot are talking about wanting to be free from Brussels, though.
    That was "In Europe, not run by Europe", wasn't it?
    "48 hours to save the pound" ... is what I recall.

    Which turned out to be Project Fear since Labour won and we still have it - the aforementioned pound - to this day.
    Only because Hague's election campaign put the fear of God into them so they didn't dare ditch the pound. He almost decimated Labour's majority.
    "Almost" doing a lot of work there. It's like when I almost played for England.
  • another_richardanother_richard Posts: 26,585

    This is the Nazi language of the Warsaw ghetto.

    Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says starving Gazans "to death" may be moral, but the "world won't let us"

    https://x.com/haaretzcom/status/1820496414629351556

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockade_of_Germany_(1914–1919)

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnip_Winter

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockade_of_Germany_(1939–1945)
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