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  • Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    Yorkcity said:

    Does anyone ever watch RT ? I have watched The Keiser Report and Cross Talk occasionally.

    I hadn't; I have now

    https://www.rt.com/on-air/rt-uk-air/
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,594
    HHemmelig said:

    Borrowing a phrase from Mr Freggles upthread "oh give over".

    Hague was the worst Tory leader for centuries, treated as a complete joke figure by the electorate. Even IDS wasn't as bad as Hague in my view. It might have been different had he become leader say 10 years later.

    I did not say Hague was a great leader, I said he had charisma and was a great orator.

    Unfortunately for him he was facing the very charismatic Tony Blair leading Labour and took over after the worst Tory defeat in over a century
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 79,096

    So do Gavin Williamson speeches. I find your view that he's charismatic utterly baffling; he's one of the dullest senior politicians I've ever heard.
    He asks Russia to "come back to us", then in the next breath tells them to go away. So what does he actually want them to do ?. His statement was self contradictory in about the space of two seconds.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,594

    Which American divisions/brigades/regiments are stationed in Germany at the moment?

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Army_installations_in_Germany
  • YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382

    I have on the odd occassion but not high up on my list
    No same here, usually BBC or Sky, never bother with newsnight any more.
  • Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453
    @patrick_kidd: They tell me that Gavin Williamson is known in the MoD for his poker face. Not because he plays cards but because he got whacked in the fireplace showroom by an old flame.
  • felixfelix Posts: 15,180
    HYUFD said:

    I prefer Boris to Williamson but as I said finding charisma in the Cabinet is from a very limited field
    Your approach is too formulaic to stand muster. A good leader needs to combine a series of positive characteristics. Williamson lacks any.
  • HHemmeligHHemmelig Posts: 617
    HYUFD said:

    I did not say Hague was a great leader, I said he had charisma and was a great orator.

    Unfortunately for him he was facing the very charismatic Tony Blair leading Labour and took over after the worst Tory defeat in over a century
    Oratory isn't charisma though is it. Hague had all the charisma of a rotting fish. I was in a room of Tory activists when Maggie Thatcher walked into it and everyone suddenly stood up, starstruck. I was in a room of Tory activists when William Hague walked into it and they stayed sitting, kept talking to each other and ignored him.
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,454
    Yes, Russian money.

    I've changed my view on this.

    I think in the short term, it would strengthen Putin if the extent of Russian money in Mayfair were exposed, because most will be the oligarchs'.

    But going forward it would be better to bring it into the light.
  • HYUFD said:

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Army_installations_in_Germany
    That's not what I asked for.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,594
    felix said:

    Your approach is too formulaic to stand muster. A good leader needs to combine a series of positive characteristics. Williamson lacks any.
    Which is why I said I prefer Boris first but Williamson put of the rest of the Cabinet has more drive than most of them
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,594
    edited March 2018
    HHemmelig said:

    Oratory isn't charisma though is it. Hague had all the charisma of a rotting fish. I was in a room of Tory activists when Maggie Thatcher walked into it and everyone suddenly stood up, starstruck. I was in a room of Tory activists when William Hague walked into it and they stayed sitting, kept talking to each other and ignored him.
    Well you should have been in a room when IDS came into it then! Hague speeches at Tory conferences were standing room only, IDS speeches saw half the audience asleep if not cringing with embarrassment at the stage managed ovations.

    Of course Hague did not have the charisma of Thatcher who was the most charismatic Tory leader since Churchill but he certainly had more charisma than his predecessor and successor, Major and IDS
  • Ishmael_ZIshmael_Z Posts: 8,981
    Scott_P said:

    @patrick_kidd: They tell me that Gavin Williamson is known in the MoD for his poker face. Not because he plays cards but because he got whacked in the fireplace showroom by an old flame.

    ”whacked in the fireplace showroom” joins ”take her up the National Liberal Club” in the PB lexicon of euphemisms.
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,454

    That's not what I asked for.
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/US_Army_Europe_Structure_2016.png

    Or do you mean right at this second?
  • HHemmeligHHemmelig Posts: 617

    That's not what I asked for.
    Mr HYUFD rarely answers the question asked of him. I can't decide if it's because he's a bit thick or wants to become a Tory MP (or perhaps both).

    Downthread I asked him if he had been forced to watch Threads at school in the 80s like most of us were at the time....he answered "yes I was alive in the 1980s".
  • philiphphiliph Posts: 4,705
    Pulpstar said:

    He asks Russia to "come back to us", then in the next breath tells them to go away. So what does he actually want them to do ?. His statement was self contradictory in about the space of two seconds.
    All things to all men. He should be a politician if he can face two ways at once. oh.....
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,594
    HHemmelig said:

    Mr HYUFD rarely answers the question asked of him. I can't decide if it's because he's a bit thick or wants to become a Tory MP (or perhaps both).

    Downthread I asked him if he had been forced to watch Threads at school in the 80s like most of us were at the time....he answered "yes I was alive in the 1980s".
    Or rather 'Mr HYUFD rarely answers questions in the way I want him to...'
  • Just to clarify.

    I was not in Salisbury today when someone shouted.

    'We love you Theresa'
  • YorkcityYorkcity Posts: 4,382

    Having attended a Gavin Williamson speech and Q&A I have to say not only has Gavin Williamson had a charisma bypass operation alongside a humour and emotional intelligence bypass.
    Just watched the clip of Gavin Williamson and Russia , reminded me of Pyke in Dads Army.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    Floater said:

    How quickly do you think it would take major reinforcements to arrive?

    Honestly - The Baltics are toast if Russia makes a serious move.
    7 days from memory
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,440
    edited March 2018

    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/US_Army_Europe_Structure_2016.png

    Or do you mean right at this second?
    Thank you, that's what I was after.

    Am looking at that on my phone, but looking at it in terms of tanks, there's one full Armoured Cavalry Regiment, 1 Squadron* from another Cavalry Regiment, that's not a lot of tanks.

    So it's not like during the cold war when 3 or 4 Armoured Divisions and a few Mechanised Infantry Divisions were stationed in Germany as part of VII Corp.

    I guess there's no plans for another REFORGER?

    *Why are Cavalry formations called squadrons and not battalions, has always bugged me.
  • philiphphiliph Posts: 4,705

    Thank you, that's what I was after.

    Am looking at that on my phone, but looking at it in terms of tanks, there's one full Armoured Cavalry Regiment, 1 Squadron* from another Cavalry Regiment, that's not a lot of tanks.

    So it's not like during the cold war when 3 or 4 Armoured Divisions and a few Mechanised Infantry Divisions were stationed in Germany as part of VII Corp.

    I guess there's no plans for another REFORGER?

    *Why are Cavalry formations called squadrons and not battalions, has always bugged me.
    They prefer to be known as Squadies not Batties?
  • Yorkcity said:

    Just watched the clip of Gavin Williamson and Russia , reminded me of Pyke in Dads Army.
    Another thing Philip Hammond got right.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822

    They really hate Gavin Williamson:

    Indeed so. There is not a snowflake's chance in hell of him being chosen by MPs as one of the two finalists in any leadership contest (and even if he were, he'd still have no chance).
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,594
    So May should say 'Gavin Williamson was wrong, Russia should come here loudly?'
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 59,082
    It's not clear why Williamson got made Defence Sec over the eminently better qualified Morduant.
  • rcs1000 said:

    It's not clear why Williamson got made Defence Sec over the eminently better qualified Morduant.

    Because Gavin Williamson's a sycophant and Mrs May likes a sycophant.

    Plus guess who it was who had to suggest names to be Defence Secretary to Mrs May?

    Gavin Williamson.
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,454

    Indeed so. There is not a snowflake's chance in hell of him being chosen by MPs as one of the two finalists in any leadership contest (and even if he were, he'd still have no chance).
    Not sure about the "unified" part. "Dignified" perhaps.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,245

    Just to clarify.

    I was not in Salisbury today when someone shouted.

    'We love you Theresa'

    My God, there's two of you then? ;)
  • But the House Intelligence Committee said there was no interference.

    https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/974295621573206018
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,454

    Because Gavin Williamson's a sycophant and Mrs May likes a sycophant.

    Plus guess who it was who had to suggest names to be Defence Secretary to Mrs May?

    Gavin Williamson.
    Maybe she thought it would be a good place for the guy to get a grip, which is ultimately what he does
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,236

    Thank you, that's what I was after.

    Am looking at that on my phone, but looking at it in terms of tanks, there's one full Armoured Cavalry Regiment, 1 Squadron* from another Cavalry Regiment, that's not a lot of tanks.

    So it's not like during the cold war when 3 or 4 Armoured Divisions and a few Mechanised Infantry Divisions were stationed in Germany as part of VII Corp.

    I guess there's no plans for another REFORGER?

    *Why are Cavalry formations called squadrons and not battalions, has always bugged me.
    The more relevant question is not what forces the US has in Germany but whether you think Trump would toss them into the grinder to save Estonia.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,245
    HYUFD said:

    IDS speeches saw half the audience asleep if not cringing with embarrassment at the stage managed ovations.

    They were a bit, er, Soviet.....

  • Maybe she thought it would be a good place for the guy to get a grip, which is ultimately what he does
    There's a few people more qualified for that role.

    Rory Stewart, Tom Tugendhat, and Johnny Mercer to name but three.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,245
    First blood to GCHQ, hacking the cargo door controls.....
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 54,525

    There's a few people more qualified for that role.

    Rory Stewart, Tom Tugendhat, and Johnny Mercer to name but three.

    He even makes Liam Fox look statesmanlike.
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,454

    There's a few people more qualified for that role.

    Rory Stewart, Tom Tugendhat, and Johnny Mercer to name but three.
    Sorry, I meant, "which is what he needs to do", i.e. as a step to his professional development, because I agree, there are better candidates

  • philiphphiliph Posts: 4,705

    First blood to GCHQ, hacking the cargo door controls.....
    What will Vlad do without his weeks pocket money?
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,245

    He even makes Liam Fox look statesmanlike.
    You don't come back from that!
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,959
    rcs1000 said:

    It's not clear why Williamson got made Defence Sec over the eminently better qualified Morduant.

    It is not clear to me why he was appointed ahead of the eminently better qualified Noddy who showed superb tactical awareness in his fights with the goblins and even had a suit named after him.
  • ElliotElliot Posts: 1,516
    DavidL said:

    It is not clear to me why he was appointed ahead of the eminently better qualified Noddy who showed superb tactical awareness in his fights with the goblins and even had a suit named after him.
    Does a have a link to this Williamson speech?
  • Carolus_RexCarolus_Rex Posts: 1,414

    There's a few people more qualified for that role.

    Rory Stewart, Tom Tugendhat, and Johnny Mercer to name but three.
    For some reason I read the first name as "Rod Stewart" but I was still inclined to agree he was better qualified.
  • ElliotElliot Posts: 1,516

    There's a few people more qualified for that role.

    Rory Stewart, Tom Tugendhat, and Johnny Mercer to name but three.
    Also three potentially very strong leadership candidates. The current second tier would be miles better than Boris, Mogg or Hunt.
  • ElliotElliot Posts: 1,516

    But the House Intelligence Committee said there was no interference.

    https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/974295621573206018

    The congressional Republicans will go down with Trump. The Tories are lucky UKIP siphoned off the nutters.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,623

    But the House Intelligence Committee said there was no interference.

    https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/974295621573206018

    Why the picture of a bouncer outside a Middlesbrough nightclub?
  • tpfkartpfkar Posts: 1,569

    I agree. My preference would be two new unitaries and a new city region centred around Milton Keynes encompassing West Northamptonshire, Bedford and central Beds, and Northern Bucks. However the Ministry this week also announced it was minded to approve a single Buckshireshire unitary authority so that would make the MK city region more difficult.
    I think that makes sense as a region - it's not far from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership area. But it's far too big as a single authority, I'd expect pitch fights between the towns and urban/rural areas.

    The report is utterly damning, but actually puts most of the blame on the officers, the councillors get off relatively lightly. I suspect that heads will have to roll in both NCC and in LGSS as a result. We're involved with the LGSS partnership and I wasn't expecting the language to be as strident here as it was; this will clearly need a full review.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 56,022
    They were lucky the door was crap, many planes have ended up as smoking holes in the ground after the load shifted and made them unflyable.

    The less said about the flight manifest “9 tons of concrete containing precious metals”, and the disparity with what was actually the cargo, the better. But that’s Russia for you.
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 8,615

    Indeed so. There is not a snowflake's chance in hell of him being chosen by MPs as one of the two finalists in any leadership contest (and even if he were, he'd still have no chance).
    Hard to know how many are represented by these anonymous briefings though.
    And we can be fairly sure he is angling for the job.
    I’m keeping him green for now.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 54,245

    Why the picture of a bouncer outside a Middlesbrough nightclub?
    Not just bouncers. That is standard issue kit to survive around Haverton Hill....
  • For some reason I read the first name as "Rod Stewart" but I was still inclined to agree he was better qualified.
    Well if he was Defence Secretary and he was implementing spending cuts, he'd tell them

    'The First Cut Is The Deepest'
  • tysontyson Posts: 6,121

    Just to clarify.

    I was not in Salisbury today when someone shouted.

    'We love you Theresa'

    Well done Big_G.......a bit of self deprecation goes a long way in life...
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,959

    Well if he was Defence Secretary and he was implementing spending cuts, he'd tell them

    'The First Cut Is The Deepest'
    Maggie May showing traces of the Iron Lady?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 56,022

    Just to clarify.

    I was not in Salisbury today when someone shouted.

    'We love you Theresa'

    I’m still 3,500 miles from home too. Maybe there’s more of us around that we thought!
    (Was probably someone I know from the Salisbury Con Club, not that I’ve been there for a few years).
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,395
    F1: just a coincidence the president of the FIA was previously Ferrari's team principal ;)
    https://twitter.com/autosport/status/974265129100595201

    [Being serious, a similar thing has happened with a chap going to Renault].
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 56,022

    F1: just a coincidence the president of the FIA was previously Ferrari's team principal ;)
    ttps://twitter.com/autosport/status/974265129100595201

    [Being serious, a similar thing has happened with a chap going to Renault].

    Thats shitty from Ferrari. After the FIA technical guy left for Renault, the teams all agreed that someone moving from the FIA to a team should observe 12 months’ leave - as the FIA guys know a lot about all the cars on the grid. Yet six months later the red team sign an FIA guy on three months’ notice.

    BTW these two were both potential successors to Charlie Whiting, the F1 Race Director, who’s 65. Big hole in the FIA succession planning now, they’ll need to get a budget to stop their good people being poached by the teams.
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