MAGA stood for no foreign wars. Trump's been captured by the neocons.
Maybe. But I think it's more likely he simply wants the buzz and attention an episode like this affords. He gets to use his big military, say menacing things in a menacing voice, looking tough as hell in his USA cap, this is not an aspect of the presidency that he is about to deny himself. Vanity is all.
Bigger issues at stake, but he looks like a tourist from a cruise ship with good life support.
British planes in the sky protecting our interests
Nooooo, not the refurbished Mosquito!
We had the dingy out this morning... Noooooo too, not the flagship!
If the army deploy their ballista then we really are all in.
However after the occupation we can run bus services for our overlords in the new Ajax armoured vehicles. (Note to PM: ask Dyson about vacuuming out the Ajax corpses)
I expect still the position of most Labour party members and SKS knows that, hence his totally sit on the fence position earlier
He's not sitting on the fence
It's called statesmanship
He was a robot parroting a speech written and performed by a lawyer. Nothing other than Starmerbot switched to “fuck we have an issue mode”. Look at the droog as he delivers it. The chap looks like he’s carrying a turd in his pants.
What are Andy Burnham’s policies? In 2015 and 2010 it was fairly centrist stuff.
He was Blairite under Blair, Brownite under Brown, social democratic under Ed Miliband, mildly Corbynite under Jezza and now is positioning himself as the soft left alternative to Starmer
British planes in the sky protecting our interests
Nooooo, not the refurbished Mosquito!
We had the dingy out this morning... Noooooo too, not the flagship!
If the army deploy their ballista then we really are all in.
However after the occupation we can run bus services for our overlords in the new Ajax armoured vehicles. (Note to PM: ask Dyson about vacuuming out the Ajax corpses)
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Who is the 'we' you are talking about? You don't sound fine with it, Eddie Izzard doesn't seem happy either, and nor am I. Who is this 'we' that is OK with it? I have never met them.
What are Andy Burnham’s policies? In 2015 and 2010 it was fairly centrist stuff.
He was Blairite under Blair, Brownite under Brown, social democratic under Ed Miliband, mildly Corbynite under Jezza and now is positioning himself as the soft left alternative to Starmer
All those bar Jezza are consistent with pragmatic soft left. The differences between Blair, Brown, Miliband and Starmer are not significant ideologically, more presentationally.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Not quite a perfect formulation. We were sort of fine with Israel killing circa 70,000 of *not* their own people.
Most of us have no experience living under a repressive or oppressive Government.
We imagine it’s a state of perpetual fear and terror but as we know such regimes come in a number of flavours and all have their supporters whether from an ethnic or political standpoint.
In addition, you have the apolitical who simply want to work, live and provide for their families. In most oppressive regimes, there’ s enough realisation among the ruling elite to know an economy has to function even if it’s corrupt or just badly run or exploited for personal gain.
Thus, if you say nothing and keep your head down, you get paid, you can feed your family. You might have to publicly support the regime at work or at a rally but you can survive and if that’s all you know….
Anarchy means no work, no money and no food. It means no law and order so you can be attacked in the street with no consequences - for those who argue anarchy is better than repression, that’s the counter argument.
Spain first western nation to outright reject the US and Israeli strikes.
'Spain openly rejected the strikes. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said, "We reject the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order." https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/2027707726738923754?s=20
China, Pakistan and Turkey also opposed to the strikes and Russia has sharply criticised the US led action but Zelensky welcomes the action saying Iran has supported Putin. Canada and Australia in favour. The UK joining France and Germany in the middle calling for a meeting of the UN SC while also saying Iran should not get a nuclear bomb. Norway has said the strikes breach international law, Lebanon that it does not want its country dragged into these operations. Saudi and the Gulf States have condemned Iranian strikes on their territory seeking US bases to hit
I expect still the position of most Labour party members and SKS knows that, hence his totally sit on the fence position earlier
He's not sitting on the fence
It's called statesmanship
Patel today was denouncing sitting on the fence, while sitting on the fence. Lots of robust words but not a single word suggesting that we should participate, or even if you look carefully, that the US attack was right. A small piece of weaselly genius
Spain first western nation to outright reject the US and Israeli strikes.
'Spain openly rejected the strikes. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said, "We reject the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order." https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/2027707726738923754?s=20
China, Pakistan and Turkey also opposed to the strikes and Russia has sharply criticised the US led action but Zelensky welcomes the action saying Iran has supported Putin. Canada and Australia in favour. The UK joining France and Germany in the middle calling for a meeting of the UN SC while also saying Iran should not get a nuclear bomb. Norway has said the strikes breach international law, Lebanon that it does not want its country dragged into these operations. Saudi and the Gulf States have condemned Iranian strikes on their territory seeking US bases to hit
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Not quite a perfect formulation. We were sort of fine with Israel killing circa 70,000 of *not* their own people.
Not justifying it, nor do I have a settled opinion, but I ask myself the question as to what I might do if someone threatened to kill me, everyone that I cared about, and basically wipe my ever existing from the face of the earth. Mostly I wonder why @leon has picked on my post, but in the greater world I really can't tell you that I can draw a line.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Not quite a perfect formulation. We were sort of fine with Israel killing circa 70,000 of *not* their own people.
Well I wasn't. "We" makes a lot of assumptions. Perhaps you should amend it to read: "I was sort of fine with Israel killing circa 70,000 of *not* their own people." If in fact you were part of the "we". or did you mean "They"?
Everyone seems to want the regime gone but no one wants to do the dirty work except the US and Israel. Starmer is absolutely pathetic hiding behind mythical "international law" that Iran certainly gives zero fucks about.
Putting that on a pedestal above everything else is all Starmer seems to genuinely believe in.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Not quite a perfect formulation. We were sort of fine with Israel killing circa 70,000 of *not* their own people.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Who is the 'we' you are talking about? You don't sound fine with it, Eddie Izzard doesn't seem happy either, and nor am I. Who is this 'we' that is OK with it? I have never met them.
I think it's this new PB stricture - debuted today - that if you don't loudly and unequivocally support doing "whatever it takes" to unseat a wicked tyrant, regardless of consequences or chances of success, you are an enthusiastic fan of said wicked tyrant and all their wicked tyranny.
Not that anyone cares, but so far, I think my opinion on this conflict is:
Let them use the bases. I see no reason to act to defend the Iranian regime. I also see no reason to hold back intelligence that might be useful.
But
Not a penny of British financial input, not a single bit of ball sweat from any British forces. Nada. Zilch.
Intelligence and bases is where we should be right now. If they would like assistance with naval platforms etc... I'd probably say yes to that too in order to keep oil trade going to prevent a price spike.
I have no problem hitting Iran where it hurts with everything we've got.
Everyone seems to want the regime gone but no one wants to do the dirty work except the US and Israel. Starmer is absolutely pathetic hiding behind mythical "international law" that Iran certainly gives zero fucks about.
Putting that on a pedestal above everything else is all Starmer seems to genuinely believe in.
It's just a peg to hang his hat on. He's broadly in the right area though isn't he? - entirely happy with the target, but uncomfortable with the legitimacy of doing so.
Not that anyone cares, but so far, I think my opinion on this conflict is:
Let them use the bases. I see no reason to act to defend the Iranian regime. I also see no reason to hold back intelligence that might be useful.
But
Not a penny of British financial input, not a single bit of ball sweat from any British forces. Nada. Zilch.
Intelligence and bases is where we should be right now. If they would like assistance with naval platforms etc... I'd probably say yes to that too in order to keep oil trade going to prevent a price spike.
I have no problem hitting Iran where it hurts with everything we've got.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Not quite a perfect formulation. We were sort of fine with Israel killing circa 70,000 of *not* their own people.
Did they though? Did they?
The Israeli government now accepts the figures from the Gazan Ministry of Health as accurate.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Not quite a perfect formulation. We were sort of fine with Israel killing circa 70,000 of *not* their own people.
Did they though? Did they?
Oh was it that AI again? Amazing. It seemed so real.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Who is the 'we' you are talking about? You don't sound fine with it, Eddie Izzard doesn't seem happy either, and nor am I. Who is this 'we' that is OK with it? I have never met them.
I think it's this new PB stricture - debuted today - that if you don't loudly and unequivocally support doing "whatever it takes" to unseat a wicked tyrant, regardless of consequences or chances of success, you are an enthusiastic fan of said wicked tyrant and all their wicked tyranny.
Your alternative solutions are warmly welcomed for stopping tyrannical regimes from murdering their own people
A committee perhaps? Or a strongly worded tweet? Maybe a benefit concert with lots of flags? Dunno The floor is yours.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Not quite a perfect formulation. We were sort of fine with Israel killing circa 70,000 of *not* their own people.
Did they though? Did they?
The Israeli government now accepts the figures from the Gazan Ministry of Health as accurate.
No data on combatants though. The figures do show a massive over representation of young men.
Add in Egypt's refusal to open the border it's not clear the civilian casualties are remarkable for a warzone.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Who is the 'we' you are talking about? You don't sound fine with it, Eddie Izzard doesn't seem happy either, and nor am I. Who is this 'we' that is OK with it? I have never met them.
I think it's this new PB stricture - debuted today - that if you don't loudly and unequivocally support doing "whatever it takes" to unseat a wicked tyrant, regardless of consequences or chances of success, you are an enthusiastic fan of said wicked tyrant and all their wicked tyranny.
Your alternative solutions are warmly welcomed for stopping tyrannical regimes from murdering their own people
A committee perhaps? Or a strongly worded tweet? Maybe a benefit concert with lots of flags? Dunno The floor is yours.
What an asinine comment. I may be doing him a disservice but Kinabalu probably isn't a military strategist and nor am I. It's not up to us to think of a better solution for deposing a murderous regime. It doesn't mean that we are not allowed to criticise what seems to be a half baked intervention which will leave Iranians no freer than they were before. Again I hope I'm wrong and Trump has the plan that goes beyond bombing the shit out of everything.
'The corrupt and repressive Iranian regime must never have nuclear weapons. The leadership of Iran must go. But that does not justify the President of the United States engaging in an illegal, dangerous war that will risk the lives of our American service members and our friends without justification to the American people.
'The President has launched our nation and our great military into a war of choice, risking American lives and resources, ignoring American law, and endangering our allies and partners. It does nothing to help with the urgent problems here at home that Americans face every day. This nation learned the hard way that an unnecessary war, with no plan for what comes next, can lead to years of chaos and put America in still greater danger.' https://x.com/PeteButtigieg/status/2027777322699440142?s=20
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Who is the 'we' you are talking about? You don't sound fine with it, Eddie Izzard doesn't seem happy either, and nor am I. Who is this 'we' that is OK with it? I have never met them.
I think it's this new PB stricture - debuted today - that if you don't loudly and unequivocally support doing "whatever it takes" to unseat a wicked tyrant, regardless of consequences or chances of success, you are an enthusiastic fan of said wicked tyrant and all their wicked tyranny.
Your alternative solutions are warmly welcomed for stopping tyrannical regimes from murdering their own people
A committee perhaps? Or a strongly worded tweet? Maybe a benefit concert with lots of flags? Dunno The floor is yours.
Sounds good. If only we could pop back 20 odd years and replace the Iraq war with a benefit concert with lots of flags.
Working with veterans who come in various forms of fu*ked up, seems a world away from the comments here.
War is a necessary evil but it should be with regret for the loss of lives and the damage it leaves behind. Saying that those who choose to serve are ‘commendable somewhat falls short of the sacrifices they make. And their families too that have to live with these damaged souls.
Respect those that have been there. Challenge those that want to send them there to ensure the necessary evil is necessary.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Not quite a perfect formulation. We were sort of fine with Israel killing circa 70,000 of *not* their own people.
Well I wasn't. "We" makes a lot of assumptions. Perhaps you should amend it to read: "I was sort of fine with Israel killing circa 70,000 of *not* their own people." If in fact you were part of the "we". or did you mean "They"?
I bet you weren't. And I wasn't. So in fact "we" weren't.
I was just returning the "we" word in the spirit of the original post.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Who is the 'we' you are talking about? You don't sound fine with it, Eddie Izzard doesn't seem happy either, and nor am I. Who is this 'we' that is OK with it? I have never met them.
I think it's this new PB stricture - debuted today - that if you don't loudly and unequivocally support doing "whatever it takes" to unseat a wicked tyrant, regardless of consequences or chances of success, you are an enthusiastic fan of said wicked tyrant and all their wicked tyranny.
Your alternative solutions are warmly welcomed for stopping tyrannical regimes from murdering their own people
A committee perhaps? Or a strongly worded tweet? Maybe a benefit concert with lots of flags? Dunno The floor is yours.
Sounds good. If only we could pop back 20 odd years and replace the Iraq war with a benefit concert with lots of flags.
I'm afraid that Mr Trump is the sort of leader I'd try to avoid having anything to do with, and would rather not follow him anywhere at all. His cause might be just and his intentions noble, but he's still a bloke who will leave anyone in the lurch without a second thought.
The Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards has cleared me of breaching the ministerial code.
But with regret, remaining in office has become a distraction, so I have resigned from government.
I will continue serving the people I’m proud to represent in Makerfield and pushing for the radical change our politics and country needs.
Nice example of the rather unexamined way in which it is right to resign government office because your presence is a 'distraction' - what a useful word - but to overlook the fact that being a distraction causing MP is also to occupy an office.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Who is the 'we' you are talking about? You don't sound fine with it, Eddie Izzard doesn't seem happy either, and nor am I. Who is this 'we' that is OK with it? I have never met them.
I think it's this new PB stricture - debuted today - that if you don't loudly and unequivocally support doing "whatever it takes" to unseat a wicked tyrant, regardless of consequences or chances of success, you are an enthusiastic fan of said wicked tyrant and all their wicked tyranny.
Your alternative solutions are warmly welcomed for stopping tyrannical regimes from murdering their own people
A committee perhaps? Or a strongly worded tweet? Maybe a benefit concert with lots of flags? Dunno The floor is yours.
Sounds good. If only we could pop back 20 odd years and replace the Iraq war with a benefit concert with lots of flags.
I note you have no solutions to current issues.
May I loudly proclaim my complete solidarity with any Kinabalus who have no solutions to current issues and my entire distrust of those who think they have.
If you want a penthouse suite in the Atlantis Hotel Dubai for later this year you will probably never get a cheaper deal than you will next week
Hmm. My planned holiday flights with Qatar Air are not looking such a bargain anymore.
My son's planned holiday in Jordan in no longer. His flight to Amman was cancelled this morning.
I fly to Saigon in 2 weeks, via Doha. On the other hand I haven't paid for hotels, local transport or tours/guides yet so I could just cancel if they cancel the flights
The regime FM spokesman admits he "can't confirm" whether Khamenei is alive.
2 hours ago, they insisted Khamenei was alive and about to hold a speech within minutes. Very interesting.
It looks like he’s toast . You’d think they would have had him out there doing a broadcast by now if he wasn’t .
He absolutely would have filmed a broadcast by now if he wasn’t somehow indisposed. If he’s not dead he must be injured or they’re very paranoid about giving his location away.
The Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards has cleared me of breaching the ministerial code.
But with regret, remaining in office has become a distraction, so I have resigned from government.
I will continue serving the people I’m proud to represent in Makerfield and pushing for the radical change our politics and country needs.
Nice example of the rather unexamined way in which it is right to resign government office because your presence is a 'distraction' - what a useful word - but to overlook the fact that being a distraction causing MP is also to occupy an office.
Passed a pro Iranian monarchy protest in London today (or at least pro heir to the shah), hadn't expected that.
We have a lot of Persian friends here in LA, none of whom have any love the Terhran government or the Mullahs.
They desparately hope for the overthrow of the regime, and its replacement (ideally) with a liberal democracy of sorts. All of them have friends and family back in Iran.
But they are also scared. Scared that American and Israeli bombing is going to kill their friends and loves ones. And scared that the inevitable destruction of infrastructure and power and water and food distribution will lead even greater suffering. They also fear that the most likely replacement will be Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander who is willing to say the right things to Trump, while continuing to inflict suffering on the Iranian people.
Most of them would love it if the Shah's son took over and led a transitional government. None of them believe it is likely to happen without boots on the ground, because the people with the guns have no interest in democracy or human rights.
Spain first western nation to outright reject the US and Israeli strikes.
'Spain openly rejected the strikes. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said, "We reject the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order." https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/2027707726738923754?s=20
China, Pakistan and Turkey also opposed to the strikes and Russia has sharply criticised the US led action but Zelensky welcomes the action saying Iran has supported Putin. Canada and Australia in favour. The UK joining France and Germany in the middle calling for a meeting of the UN SC while also saying Iran should not get a nuclear bomb. Norway has said the strikes breach international law, Lebanon that it does not want its country dragged into these operations. Saudi and the Gulf States have condemned Iranian strikes on their territory seeking US bases to hit
Spain is invading Gibraltar having been invited there by Lammy and Starmer.
What is it about Labour governments and hating British sovereignty over Gibraltar?
The Chief Minister thinks otherwise.
Actually @nigelmp, this was a proposal agreed by Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, Liz Truss, James Cleverly and David Cameron as Foreign Secretaries. These parts had been negotiated and agreed BEFORE David Lammy and Keir Starmer had been elected. This is an excellent deal for for Gibraltar to deal with the huge problems Brexit created for us.
The Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards has cleared me of breaching the ministerial code.
But with regret, remaining in office has become a distraction, so I have resigned from government.
I will continue serving the people I’m proud to represent in Makerfield and pushing for the radical change our politics and country needs.
Nice example of the rather unexamined way in which it is right to resign government office because your presence is a 'distraction' - what a useful word - but to overlook the fact that being a distraction causing MP is also to occupy an office.
Spain first western nation to outright reject the US and Israeli strikes.
'Spain openly rejected the strikes. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said, "We reject the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order." https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/2027707726738923754?s=20
China, Pakistan and Turkey also opposed to the strikes and Russia has sharply criticised the US led action but Zelensky welcomes the action saying Iran has supported Putin. Canada and Australia in favour. The UK joining France and Germany in the middle calling for a meeting of the UN SC while also saying Iran should not get a nuclear bomb. Norway has said the strikes breach international law, Lebanon that it does not want its country dragged into these operations. Saudi and the Gulf States have condemned Iranian strikes on their territory seeking US bases to hit
Spain is invading Gibraltar having been invited there by Lammy and Starmer.
What is it about Labour governments and hating British sovereignty over Gibraltar?
The Chief Minister thinks otherwise.
Actually @nigelmp, this was a proposal agreed by Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, Liz Truss, James Cleverly and David Cameron as Foreign Secretaries. These parts had been negotiated and agreed BEFORE David Lammy and Keir Starmer had been elected. This is an excellent deal for for Gibraltar to deal with the huge problems Brexit created for us.
Quite hilarious to see those who pushed Brexit now moaning about the consequences of it . This was the only way to deal with the situation and the system is similar to what happens for the Eurostar .
The regime FM spokesman admits he "can't confirm" whether Khamenei is alive.
2 hours ago, they insisted Khamenei was alive and about to hold a speech within minutes. Very interesting.
It looks like he’s toast . You’d think they would have had him out there doing a broadcast by now if he wasn’t .
He absolutely would have filmed a broadcast by now if he wasn’t somehow indisposed. If he’s not dead he must be injured or they’re very paranoid about giving his location away.
If he had survived, this is the second time in a short period that Israel/US had struck a senior level meeting like this.
When you add in the pager/walkie talkie thing in Lebanon…
Working with veterans who come in various forms of fu*ked up, seems a world away from the comments here.
War is a necessary evil but it should be with regret for the loss of lives and the damage it leaves behind. Saying that those who choose to serve are ‘commendable somewhat falls short of the sacrifices they make. And their families too that have to live with these damaged souls.
Respect those that have been there. Challenge those that want to send them there to ensure the necessary evil is necessary.
A cognitive dissonance kicks in when people discuss war. When there's a single gruesome murder reported we feel the weight of it. An innocent life, which is all any person has, their one and only life, brutally ended. All hopes and dreams gone forever, loved ones left in pieces. We really feel that and are moved and horrified.
What war means, the main thing it means, is that exact same fate happening to huge numbers of individual victims. I think if you allow yourself to appreciate this reality, without filtering it through some different 'military' lens, ie that although war might not legally be mass murder in essence it absolutely is, you'll find yourself unable under any circumstances to cheer for it.
Spain first western nation to outright reject the US and Israeli strikes.
'Spain openly rejected the strikes. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said, "We reject the unilateral military action by the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order." https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/2027707726738923754?s=20
China, Pakistan and Turkey also opposed to the strikes and Russia has sharply criticised the US led action but Zelensky welcomes the action saying Iran has supported Putin. Canada and Australia in favour. The UK joining France and Germany in the middle calling for a meeting of the UN SC while also saying Iran should not get a nuclear bomb. Norway has said the strikes breach international law, Lebanon that it does not want its country dragged into these operations. Saudi and the Gulf States have condemned Iranian strikes on their territory seeking US bases to hit
Spain is invading Gibraltar having been invited there by Lammy and Starmer.
What is it about Labour governments and hating British sovereignty over Gibraltar?
The Chief Minister thinks otherwise.
Actually @nigelmp, this was a proposal agreed by Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, Liz Truss, James Cleverly and David Cameron as Foreign Secretaries. These parts had been negotiated and agreed BEFORE David Lammy and Keir Starmer had been elected. This is an excellent deal for for Gibraltar to deal with the huge problems Brexit created for us.
Quite hilarious to see those who pushed Brexit now moaning about the consequences of it . This was the only way to deal with the situation and the system is similar to what happens for the Eurostar .
Indeed, just imagine how bad it would have been if we didn't hold all the cards.
Passed a pro Iranian monarchy protest in London today (or at least pro heir to the shah), hadn't expected that.
We have a lot of Persian friends here in LA, none of whom have any love the Terhran government or the Mullahs.
They desparately hope for the overthrow of the regime, and its replacement (ideally) with a liberal democracy of sorts. All of them have friends and family back in Iran.
But they are also scared. Scared that American and Israeli bombing is going to kill their friends and loves ones. And scared that the inevitable destruction of infrastructure and power and water and food distribution will lead even greater suffering. They also fear that the most likely replacement will be Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander who is willing to say the right things to Trump, while continuing to inflict suffering on the Iranian people.
Most of them would love it if the Shah's son took over and led a transitional government. None of them believe it is likely to happen without boots on the ground, because the people with the guns have no interest in democracy or human rights.
I’m just waiting for the advocates of asylum for the mullahs and sidekicks.
Everyone seems to want the regime gone but no one wants to do the dirty work except the US and Israel. Starmer is absolutely pathetic hiding behind mythical "international law" that Iran certainly gives zero fucks about.
Putting that on a pedestal above everything else is all Starmer seems to genuinely believe in.
Starmer will have the support of the vast majority of the British public in NOT joining the US and certainly not Israel in an illegal war
If Badenoch and Farage want an emergency debate to explain why they do, they are welcome to do so.
They will incur the wrath of the vast majority of us and be damned for a generation.
Come on if you're hard enough
Starmer has the backbone, those who want war are gutless keyboard warriors or zionists who support state sponsored mass murder.
NDP leader in Canada comes out against the strikes
'@DonDavies Trump’s attack on Iran violates UN rules Canada has agreed to uphold. It contradicts numerous values PM Carney claimed he supported in Davos. Endorsing illegality, violence, & destruction over dialogue and peaceful resolution is not what Canadians were promised, or support.' https://x.com/DonDavies/status/2027788536272036281?s=20
I see we're back to swearing at other posters again.
Desist.
Quite. A real “hard man” is like this -
Vercotti: Doug (takes a drink) Well, I was terrified. Everyone was terrified of Doug. I’ve seen grown men pull their own heads off rather than see Doug. Even Dinsdale was frightened of Doug.
2nd Interviewer: What did he do?
Vercotti: He used… sarcasm. He knew all the tricks, dramatic irony, metaphor, bathos, puns, parody, litotes and… satire. He was vicious.
Presenter: By a combination of violence and sarcasm, the Piranha brothers by February 1966 controlled London and the Southeast of England.
NDP leader in Canada comes out against the strikes
'@DonDavies Trump’s attack on Iran violates UN rules Canada has agreed to uphold. It contradicts numerous values PM Carney claimed he supported in Davos. Endorsing illegality, violence, & destruction over dialogue and peaceful resolution is not what Canadians were promised, or support.' https://x.com/DonDavies/status/2027788536272036281?s=20
Carney addressed that the rules based order is hypocritical and partial in his speech, indeed citing the utility of that approach. His support for the rules is not moral but practical.
"We knew the story of the international rules-based order was partially false that the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient, that trade rules were enforced asymmetrically. And we knew that international law applied with varying rigour depending on the identity of the accused or the victim. This fiction was useful, and American hegemony, in particular, helped provide public goods, open sea lanes, a stable financial system, collective security and support for frameworks for resolving disputes."
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Who is the 'we' you are talking about? You don't sound fine with it, Eddie Izzard doesn't seem happy either, and nor am I. Who is this 'we' that is OK with it? I have never met them.
I think it's this new PB stricture - debuted today - that if you don't loudly and unequivocally support doing "whatever it takes" to unseat a wicked tyrant, regardless of consequences or chances of success, you are an enthusiastic fan of said wicked tyrant and all their wicked tyranny.
Your alternative solutions are warmly welcomed for stopping tyrannical regimes from murdering their own people
A committee perhaps? Or a strongly worded tweet? Maybe a benefit concert with lots of flags? Dunno The floor is yours.
Sounds good. If only we could pop back 20 odd years and replace the Iraq war with a benefit concert with lots of flags.
Pol Pot killed 1.7 million Cambodians, died under house arrest, well done there. Stalin killed many millions, died in his bed... And the reason we let them get away with it is they killed their own people. And we're sort of fine with that.
Who is the 'we' you are talking about? You don't sound fine with it, Eddie Izzard doesn't seem happy either, and nor am I. Who is this 'we' that is OK with it? I have never met them.
I think it's this new PB stricture - debuted today - that if you don't loudly and unequivocally support doing "whatever it takes" to unseat a wicked tyrant, regardless of consequences or chances of success, you are an enthusiastic fan of said wicked tyrant and all their wicked tyranny.
That's a significant part of the Iranian populace written off, then.
I suspect this is not an isolated position:
An Iranian man left this comment on my YouTube channel. This is without a doubt the single best explanation of the reality facing Iranian people today👇
"As an Iranian, I can tell you the situation is no longer just political—it's existential. We are trapped between two collapsing structures: one internal, one external. On one hand, we face a deeply dysfunctional government, led by the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Republic’s unelected institutions.
Decades of economic mismanagement, suppression of dissent, and brutal ideological control have alienated multiple generations. No one believes in reform anymore—because every attempt has either been co-opted or crushed. But here's the paradox: We are also terrified of regime collapse—because we've watched the aftermath of Western intervention in countries like Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan. Each was promised freedom; each descended into chaos, civil war, or foreign occupation.
So no, we don't trust the U.S. or Israel. Not because we support our regime—but because we know how imperial powers treat ‘liberated’ nations in the Middle East.
Freedom, in their language, often means vacuum, fire, and permanent instability. Right now, many Iranians live with three truths at once: The Islamic Republic is morally and politically bankrupt. The alternatives offered by foreign actors are not liberation—they’re collapse.
A bad government is survivable. No government is not. We are not silent because we agree. We are cautious because we’ve learned—too well—what happens when superpowers decide to "help." In a sentence: Iran is a nation held hostage by its own regime, but haunted by the fate of its neighbors. We are stuck in a house we hate, surrounded by fires we fear more." https://x.com/thecyrusjanssen/status/2027758825101791405
Everyone seems to want the regime gone but no one wants to do the dirty work except the US and Israel. Starmer is absolutely pathetic hiding behind mythical "international law" that Iran certainly gives zero fucks about.
Putting that on a pedestal above everything else is all Starmer seems to genuinely believe in.
Starmer will have the support of the vast majority of the British public in NOT joining the US and certainly not Israel in an illegal war
If Badenoch and Farage want an emergency debate to explain why they do, they are welcome to do so.
They will incur the wrath of the vast majority of us and be damned for a generation.
Come on if you're hard enough
Starmer has the backbone, those who want war are gutless keyboard warriors or zionists who support state sponsored mass murder.
We are - in effect - joining in, by shooting down Iranian missiles.
Interesting article about likely outcomes for Iran, which I think is consensus for American FP experts.
This will be airstrikes only. The US has made no preparations for ground invasion and it goes against Trump's principles such as they are.
Four scenarios:
1. Democracy - no means of directing this. Not going to happen. 2. Alternative America friendly autocrat, most plausibly the Shah. You can't impose a ruler unless you send an army to take them there. Not going to happen. 3. Failed state 4. Embedding of current regime
Lynch reckons Israel would prefer failed state and Trump the stability option, ie Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/more ayatollahs, as he did in Venezuela.
The Germans have been ordered to stock up on sausages and cheese. This is called the Wurst Käse scenario.
The sausage part of that joke is truly offal.
Cumberland along! These sterotypes you can't let Lincolnshire. At breakfast tomorrow you'll be planning Merguez or Calabrian holiday. Take your pork and beef elsewhere!
I see we're back to swearing at other posters again.
Desist.
Quite. A real “hard man” is like this -
Vercotti: Doug (takes a drink) Well, I was terrified. Everyone was terrified of Doug. I’ve seen grown men pull their own heads off rather than see Doug. Even Dinsdale was frightened of Doug.
2nd Interviewer: What did he do?
Vercotti: He used… sarcasm. He knew all the tricks, dramatic irony, metaphor, bathos, puns, parody, litotes and… satire. He was vicious.
Presenter: By a combination of violence and sarcasm, the Piranha brothers by February 1966 controlled London and the Southeast of England.
To immediately withdraw any technical or trade supplies to Israel relevant to military hardware.
To ban Israeli aircraft from landing on any RAF airfield globally.
We cannot condone this unlawful act of aggression to a Country we supply Arms to.
On the case of Us who are a NATO member, to request as a founding Member of NATO an immediate General Meeting of all Members to formulate a NATO response to unlawful American aggression.
The Germans have been ordered to stock up on sausages and cheese. This is called the Wurst Käse scenario.
The sausage part of that joke is truly offal.
Cumberland along! These sterotypes you can't let Lincolnshire. At breakfast tomorrow you'll be planning Merguez or Calabrian holiday. Take your pork and beef elsewhere!
Are you telling me that after making a sausage joke I should get my coat?
To immediately withdraw any technical or trade supplies to Israel relevant to military hardware.
To ban Israeli aircraft from landing on any RAF airfield globally.
We cannot condone this unlawful act of aggression to a Country we supply Arms to.
On the case of Us who are a NATO member, to request as a founding Member of NATO an immediate General Meeting of all Members to formulate a NATO response to unlawful American aggression.
The Germans have been ordered to stock up on sausages and cheese. This is called the Wurst Käse scenario.
The sausage part of that joke is truly offal.
Cumberland along! These sterotypes you can't let Lincolnshire. At breakfast tomorrow you'll be planning Merguez or Calabrian holiday. Take your pork and beef elsewhere!
Are you telling me that after making a sausage joke I should get my coat?
I think we'll leave that meaty argument to youtube.
Interesting article about likely outcomes for Iran, which I think is consensus for American FP experts.
This will be airstrikes only. The US has made no preparations for ground invasion and it goes against Trump's principles such as they are.
Four scenarios:
1. Democracy - no means of directing this. Not going to happen. 2. Alternative America friendly autocrat, most plausibly the Shah. You can't impose a ruler unless you send an army to take them there. Not going to happen. 3. Failed state 4. Embedding of current regime
Lynch reckons Israel would prefer failed state and Trump the stability option, ie Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/more ayatollahs, as he did in Venezuela.
Comments
And, if you don't like them, he has others.
They just accept it and get on with it.
What is it about Labour governments and hating British sovereignty over Gibraltar?
https://x.com/pritipatel/status/2027706367960649910
They hate British sovereignty.
Anyway, great news.
A committee perhaps? Or a strongly worded tweet? Maybe a benefit concert with lots of flags? Dunno
The floor is yours.
Bibi is justifying the attack in the same way Blair justified Iraq.
Add in Egypt's refusal to open the border it's not clear the civilian casualties are remarkable for a warzone.
President Trump is putting Americans at risk abroad because he is unpopular at home.'
https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/2027776698004213830?s=20
'The President has launched our nation and our great military into a war of choice, risking American lives and resources, ignoring American law, and endangering our allies and partners. It does nothing to help with the urgent problems here at home that Americans face every day. This nation learned the hard way that an unnecessary war, with no plan for what comes next, can lead to years of chaos and put America in still greater danger.'
https://x.com/PeteButtigieg/status/2027777322699440142?s=20
The Independent Advisor on Ministerial Standards has cleared me of breaching the ministerial code.
But with regret, remaining in office has become a distraction, so I have resigned from government.
I will continue serving the people I’m proud to represent in Makerfield and pushing for the radical change our politics and country needs.
War is a necessary evil but it should be with regret for the loss of lives and the damage it leaves behind. Saying that those who choose to serve are ‘commendable somewhat falls short of the sacrifices they make. And their families too that have to live with these damaged souls.
Respect those that have been there. Challenge those that want to send them there to ensure the necessary evil is necessary.
I was just returning the "we" word in the spirit of the original post.
The regime FM spokesman admits he "can't confirm" whether Khamenei is alive.
2 hours ago, they insisted Khamenei was alive and about to hold a speech within minutes. Very interesting.
Good riddance
The McSweeney Zionist cabal weakened further.
They desparately hope for the overthrow of the regime, and its replacement (ideally) with a liberal democracy of sorts. All of them have friends and family back in Iran.
But they are also scared. Scared that American and Israeli bombing is going to kill their friends and loves ones. And scared that the inevitable destruction of infrastructure and power and water and food distribution will lead even greater suffering. They also fear that the most likely replacement will be Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander who is willing to say the right things to Trump, while continuing to inflict suffering on the Iranian people.
Most of them would love it if the Shah's son took over and led a transitional government. None of them believe it is likely to happen without boots on the ground, because the people with the guns have no interest in democracy or human rights.
Actually @nigelmp, this was a proposal agreed by Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, Liz Truss, James Cleverly and David Cameron as Foreign Secretaries. These parts had been negotiated and agreed BEFORE David Lammy and Keir Starmer had been elected. This is an excellent deal for for Gibraltar to deal with the huge problems Brexit created for us.
https://x.com/FabianPicardo/status/2027050293922246877
Desist.
When you add in the pager/walkie talkie thing in Lebanon…
Iranian Shahed-136 drones now hitting the 5th Fleet base in Bahrain.
What war means, the main thing it means, is that exact same fate happening to huge numbers of individual victims. I think if you allow yourself to appreciate this reality, without filtering it through some different 'military' lens, ie that although war might not legally be mass murder in essence it absolutely is, you'll find yourself unable under any circumstances to cheer for it.
If Badenoch and Farage want an emergency debate to explain why they do, they are welcome to do so.
They will incur the wrath of the vast majority of us and be damned for a generation.
Come on if you're hard enough
Starmer has the backbone, those who want war are gutless keyboard warriors or zionists who support state sponsored mass murder.
#ChernenkoForPresident
The Germans have been ordered to stock up on sausages and cheese. This is called the Wurst Käse scenario.
What a coincidence - Brezhnev has died, but his body lives on.
'@DonDavies
Trump’s attack on Iran violates UN rules Canada has agreed to uphold. It contradicts numerous values PM Carney claimed he supported in Davos. Endorsing illegality, violence, & destruction over dialogue and peaceful resolution is not what Canadians were promised, or support.'
https://x.com/DonDavies/status/2027788536272036281?s=20
Streets are saying Khamenei and Son are both dead.
I hope he’s well and enjoying life. Certainly wish him no ill.
He did seem to pounce on my every post so when he did it I posted more 👍
Vercotti: Doug (takes a drink) Well, I was terrified. Everyone was terrified of Doug. I’ve seen grown men pull their own heads off rather than see Doug. Even Dinsdale was frightened of Doug.
2nd Interviewer: What did he do?
Vercotti: He used… sarcasm. He knew all the tricks, dramatic irony, metaphor, bathos, puns, parody, litotes and… satire. He was vicious.
Presenter: By a combination of violence and sarcasm, the Piranha brothers by February 1966 controlled London and the Southeast of England.
"We knew the story of the international rules-based order was partially false that the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient, that trade rules were enforced asymmetrically. And we knew that international law applied with varying rigour depending on the identity of the accused or the victim. This fiction was useful, and American hegemony, in particular, helped provide public goods, open sea lanes, a stable financial system, collective security and support for frameworks for resolving disputes."
England Lions cricket match due to be played on Sunday in Abu Dhabi has been cancelled due to the attacks.
I suspect this is not an isolated position:
An Iranian man left this comment on my YouTube channel. This is without a doubt the single best explanation of the reality facing Iranian people today👇
"As an Iranian, I can tell you the situation is no longer just political—it's existential. We are trapped between two collapsing structures: one internal, one external. On one hand, we face a deeply dysfunctional government, led by the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Republic’s unelected institutions.
Decades of economic mismanagement, suppression of dissent, and brutal ideological control have alienated multiple generations. No one believes in reform anymore—because every attempt has either been co-opted or crushed. But here's the paradox: We are also terrified of regime collapse—because we've watched the aftermath of Western intervention in countries like Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan. Each was promised freedom; each descended into chaos, civil war, or foreign occupation.
So no, we don't trust the U.S. or Israel. Not because we support our regime—but because we know how imperial powers treat ‘liberated’ nations in the Middle East.
Freedom, in their language, often means vacuum, fire, and permanent instability. Right now, many Iranians live with three truths at once: The Islamic Republic is morally and politically bankrupt. The alternatives offered by foreign actors are not liberation—they’re collapse.
A bad government is survivable. No government is not. We are not silent because we agree. We are cautious because we’ve learned—too well—what happens when superpowers decide to "help." In a sentence: Iran is a nation held hostage by its own regime, but haunted by the fate of its neighbors. We are stuck in a house we hate, surrounded by fires we fear more."
https://x.com/thecyrusjanssen/status/2027758825101791405
https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/who-will-succeed-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-become-irans-next-supreme-leader-heres-the-list-of-top-contenders-amid-iran-israel-conflict-173025/
https://x.com/Maks_NAFO_FELLA/status/2027491719986532381
This will be airstrikes only. The US has made no preparations for ground invasion and it goes against Trump's principles such as they are.
Four scenarios:
1. Democracy - no means of directing this. Not going to happen.
2. Alternative America friendly autocrat, most plausibly the Shah. You can't impose a ruler unless you send an army to take them there. Not going to happen.
3. Failed state
4. Embedding of current regime
Lynch reckons Israel would prefer failed state and Trump the stability option, ie Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/more ayatollahs, as he did in Venezuela.
https://abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/what-if-it-works/
To immediately withdraw any technical or trade supplies to Israel relevant to military hardware.
To ban Israeli aircraft from landing on any RAF airfield globally.
We cannot condone this unlawful act of aggression to a Country we supply Arms to.
On the case of Us who are a NATO member, to request as a founding Member of NATO an immediate General Meeting of all Members to formulate a NATO response to unlawful American aggression.
We cannot support illegal acts.