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Condoning Trump won't be helpful in the UK

SystemSystem Posts: 12,358
edited March 4 in General
Condoning Trump won't be helpful in the UK.

Condoning Trump won't be helpful in the UK



I suspect this will help the Tories and their campaign to portray Nigel Farage to two time general election loser Jeremy Corbyn, Corbyn's ratings went into the toilet after his response to the Salisbury poisonings.

Link to the Guardian article

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/03/tories-compare-nigel-farage-to-jeremy-corbyn-over-ukraine-war

Read the full story here

«1345678

Comments

  • nico67nico67 Posts: 4,821
    I don’t get this warning as I use the vf address and prefer that format .
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 22,100
    R is for Reform
    R is for Russia
  • Richard_TyndallRichard_Tyndall Posts: 33,147
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    test

    ...match special
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,816
    Test failed AFAICS.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,188
    In case you cannot see the thread header it says

    Condoning Trump won't be helpful in the UK



    I suspect this will help the Tories and their campaign to portray Nigel Farage to two time general election loser Jeremy Corbyn, Corbyn's ratings went into the toilet after his response to the Salisbury poisonings.

    Link to the Guardian article

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/03/tories-compare-nigel-farage-to-jeremy-corbyn-over-ukraine-war
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,098
    nico67 said:

    I don’t get this warning as I use the vf address and prefer that format .

    Phew, that's a relief, I was worried for you ;-)
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,830
    Polish Cold War hero Walesa writes to Trump expressing 'horror' at Zelenskiy spat

    https://www.reuters.com/world/polish-cold-war-hero-walesa-writes-trump-expressing-horror-zelenskiy-spat-2025-03-03/
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,188
    I've also informed Robert, because he's a slacker, he's still in bed I am guessing.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,397
    nico67 said:

    I don’t get this warning as I use the vf address and prefer that format .

    I use both depending on whether I'm following the thread or just popping in to see what people are saying.

    If the former than I use vf otherwise it's the main site.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,098
    Jonathan said:

    R is for Reform
    R is for Russia

    Also FPT on the subject of Hitler not having had a sense of humour, I am reminded that Farage also doesn't get comedy at all, allegedly.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,741
    I have been getting a warning that PB was unsafe because my link is not private. Has some certificate expired?

  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,298
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    I've also informed Robert, because he's a slacker, he's still in bed I am guessing.

    Reminds me of when I had a contact in Vancouver, for work. She was lovely and kind and helpful. And the time zone difference meant I almost never got a reply the same day.
  • BatteryCorrectHorseBatteryCorrectHorse Posts: 4,663
    I find the idea defence and foreign policy adjacent politics can’t impact UK elections puzzling.

    As John McDonnell astutely identified, Labour lost the 2019 election as soon as Corbyn blamed Russia for Salisbury.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,188
    DavidL said:

    I have been getting a warning that PB was unsafe because my link is not private. Has some certificate expired?

    Yes.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,736
    edited March 4
    Taz said:

    Richard_Tyndall said:

    bondegezou said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Everything that's taking place in the USA is a reminder of what happens when around 50% of the voting public lose confidence in orthodox government as we've understood it since about 1945. I hope it doesn't happen in other western countries, but it could if the same mistakes are made.

    They didn’t lose confidence. Their confidence was undermined by propaganda and lies.
    Sorry but that is just stupid. Look at the way the Middle Class has collapsed in the US since the 1970s. Or the red wall in the UK. Yes there were lies about the cause but all they did was hide the fact that the people in power simply didn't care about huge swathes of the electorate and thought that they were stupid enough to keep voting for them no matter what shit they piled on them. Give them no alternative and it didn't matter that things were getting steadily worse.

    Successive governments in many Western countries created the conditions for people like Trump to thrive because they put their ideology ahead of the good of the people they were elected to serve. If it hadn't been Trump it would have been someone else equally bad because Governments, Corporations and the whole system was designed as a great big Fuck You to working people.
    Absolutely?

    This is something investor Jeremy Grantham expands on in the Merry Talks Money podcast this week.

    Really since about 1975 when the benefits of growth stopped being shared equally but went more and more towards those at the top.

    FPT: Income inequality in the UK is only just a little better than in US. But that's not the whole story, because overall income inequality has been stable for decades.

    It's wealth where there has been such a dramatic change. The top 10% are about £300,000 better off than they were 10 years ago, while there has been no change for the bottom 10%. Almost all of that is from differences in passive income rather than changes in earnings.
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 38,249
    I’m relieved to learn that Susan Collins is “concerned” about Trump’s behaviour.

    Congressional Republicans are now pod people.
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,741
    I think that I am with the majority on this. What happened in the Oval office was disgusting. This, however, is a demonstration of what is required to replace American aid: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/ckg84kpw5jwo

    In simple terms every other country than the US would need to double their support for Ukraine because the US provides just under 50% of it. Starmer has pretty much done that for the UK, at least in the short term. Other things are more challenging. The US has provided 4.5m artillery shells. The whole of Europe has struggled to provide 1m although they are promising 2m this year.

    These are decisions we do not have a lot of time to make. US support is "paused" now. The Ukrainians will have some stocks but that decision is going to hurt very soon.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,429
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    In case you cannot see the thread header it says

    Condoning Trump won't be helpful in the UK



    I suspect this will help the Tories and their campaign to portray Nigel Farage to two time general election loser Jeremy Corbyn, Corbyn's ratings went into the toilet after his response to the Salisbury poisonings.

    Link to the Guardian article

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/03/tories-compare-nigel-farage-to-jeremy-corbyn-over-ukraine-war

    As we’ve seen from US opinion on Ukraine, this is a two edged sword. Associate Reform with support for Putin in people’s minds and you get two potential effects: 1. it puts off people from voting Reform because they are pro-Russian; 2. it makes people who support Reform turn pro-Russian, because that’s the position of their leadership.

    So overall, the strength of support for Ukraine against Putin is weakened nationally.

    We’ll see more of that in the US. Where Trump leads his followers follow. Watch as opinion on Canada turns hostile. Or opinion on the impact of tariffs, or views of the value of federal agencies.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,868
    Morris_Dancer said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    I've also informed Robert, because he's a slacker, he's still in bed I am guessing.

    Reminds me of when I had a contact in Vancouver, for work. She was lovely and kind and helpful. And the time zone difference meant I almost never got a reply the same day.
    I spent quite a while on projects that involved both Japanese and US customers. I'd get into work early (I'm a morning person...) and tackle issues on the phone with Japan. Then, in the afternoon and evening, I'd be dealing with the Yanks.

    It meant for very long days.

    I much preferred dealing with the Japanese than Americans.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,098
    Morris_Dancer said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    I've also informed Robert, because he's a slacker, he's still in bed I am guessing.

    Reminds me of when I had a contact in Vancouver, for work. She was lovely and kind and helpful. And the time zone difference meant I almost never got a reply the same day.
    An acquaintance who worked for Somerset Planning department told me that post-covid one of their planning officers was based in Alberta, Canada, which must have speeded up planning applications no end.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,098
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Sean_F said:

    I’m relieved to learn that Susan Collins is “concerned” about Trump’s behaviour.

    Congressional Republicans are now pod people.

    I am sorely tempted to change the PB rule so Trump, Vance, Musk, and the GOP enablers/traitors can be called the c word that normally gets you banned.
    No need. We all know what they are.
  • RattersRatters Posts: 1,243
    This is the time for Europe to stand up and be counted.

    Trump has played his 'withdraw military aid' card. He can only play it once. It may be the most precarious point in the war for Ukraine since February 2022, but they prevailed then against even greater odds. They can prevail with European only support now if it's strong and quick enough.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,461
    DavidL said:

    I have been getting a warning that PB was unsafe because my link is not private. Has some certificate expired?

    The site certificate expired yesterday.

    This is used to secure the connection between the site and the user - https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/what-is-an-ssl-certificate/ is not a bad explanation.

    5 minutes work to fix.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,641
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    I've also informed Robert, because he's a slacker, he's still in bed I am guessing.

    rcs is not enough of a slacker. In particular, he is not lazy enough to have automated certificate renewal using ACME which can work with the Sectigo certificates that he has installed.
    https://www.sectigo.com/enterprise-solutions/certificate-manager/integrations-acme

    He's not even lazy enough to have a calendar reminder that certificates are about to expire (or to have set up a daily test to check the expiry date).
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 54,741
    Malmesbury said:

    DavidL said:

    I have been getting a warning that PB was unsafe because my link is not private. Has some certificate expired?

    The site certificate expired yesterday.

    This is used to secure the connection between the site and the user - https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/what-is-an-ssl-certificate/ is not a bad explanation.

    5 minutes work to fix.
    You mean my computer is not going to be taken over remotely and turned into a Russian bot pumping out pro Putin/Trump nonsense non stop whilst my credit cards are maxed out? Oh well, just have to get on with a normal day then.
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,186
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    In case you cannot see the thread header it says

    Condoning Trump won't be helpful in the UK



    I suspect this will help the Tories and their campaign to portray Nigel Farage to two time general election loser Jeremy Corbyn, Corbyn's ratings went into the toilet after his response to the Salisbury poisonings.

    Link to the Guardian article

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/03/tories-compare-nigel-farage-to-jeremy-corbyn-over-ukraine-war

    Interesting! Has Luke revealed the voting intention yet?
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,960
    I think I can remember a few wars that the UK was involved in over the last 30 or 40 years, usually at the behest of the US. I think I’m beginning to loath Vance more than Trump, who is at least a known quantity of excrement.

    https://x.com/antoguerrera/status/1896827304946581995?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
  • Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 30,186
    Ratters said:

    This is the time for Europe to stand up and be counted.

    Trump has played his 'withdraw military aid' card. He can only play it once. It may be the most precarious point in the war for Ukraine since February 2022, but they prevailed then against even greater odds. They can prevail with European only support now if it's strong and quick enough.

    He can't only play it once - it's been 'paused'.

    Not for the first time I do wonder if all this has been cooked up with Zelensky to soften the Ukranians up for the deal.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,429
    Have we seen JD Vance’s latest charming intervention?

    He also plays down British & French peacekeeping troops as “20k troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.

    https://x.com/antoguerrera/status/1896827304946581995?s=46
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 4,821
    Luckyguy1983 said:

    Ratters said:

    This is the time for Europe to stand up and be counted.

    Trump has played his 'withdraw military aid' card. He can only play it once. It may be the most precarious point in the war for Ukraine since February 2022, but they prevailed then against even greater odds. They can prevail with European only support now if it's strong and quick enough.

    He can't only play it once - it's been 'paused'.

    Not for the first time I do wonder if all this has been cooked up with Zelensky to soften the Ukranians up for the deal.
    I doubt it . The better explanation is Trump is a fxcking traitorous cxnt !
  • bondegezoubondegezou Posts: 13,054
    Luckyguy1983 said:

    Ratters said:

    This is the time for Europe to stand up and be counted.

    Trump has played his 'withdraw military aid' card. He can only play it once. It may be the most precarious point in the war for Ukraine since February 2022, but they prevailed then against even greater odds. They can prevail with European only support now if it's strong and quick enough.

    He can't only play it once - it's been 'paused'.

    Not for the first time I do wonder if all this has been cooked up with Zelensky to soften the Ukranians up for the deal.
    Cooked up with Zelenskyy? Every day, it’s a new conspiracy theory with you.
  • TazTaz Posts: 16,903
    Tim Montgomerie is right here.

    No amount of work on the global stage will save Starmer from the consequences of domestic non delivery.

    Starmer has done well this year and shown real leadership over Ukraine. But people’s bills are going up and the standard of living is falling. People feel that.

    https://x.com/montie/status/1896602292926967978?s=61
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,429
    Luckyguy1983 said:

    Ratters said:

    This is the time for Europe to stand up and be counted.

    Trump has played his 'withdraw military aid' card. He can only play it once. It may be the most precarious point in the war for Ukraine since February 2022, but they prevailed then against even greater odds. They can prevail with European only support now if it's strong and quick enough.

    He can't only play it once - it's been 'paused'.

    Not for the first time I do wonder if all this has been cooked up with Zelensky to soften the Ukranians up for the deal.
    Here comes our house contrarian to ensure there’s no slide into turgid consensus.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,461
    DavidL said:

    Malmesbury said:

    DavidL said:

    I have been getting a warning that PB was unsafe because my link is not private. Has some certificate expired?

    The site certificate expired yesterday.

    This is used to secure the connection between the site and the user - https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/what-is-an-ssl-certificate/ is not a bad explanation.

    5 minutes work to fix.
    You mean my computer is not going to be taken over remotely and turned into a Russian bot pumping out pro Putin/Trump nonsense non stop whilst my credit cards are maxed out? Oh well, just have to get on with a normal day then.
    No, since I work for the people who run the Illuminati, I’ll do all that for you. Or rather, get one of the Zeta Reticulans to tell the Lizard Men to prioritise you.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,628
    nico67 said:

    I don’t get this warning as I use the vf address and prefer that format .

    If it's any help, I can tell you that the messages started at almost exactly midnight last night.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,195
    The BBC is still reporting yesterday's news as though Starmer's 'we don't have to choose between Europe and the US' is a realistic option.

    While I have some sympathy with the idea, he needs to face facts. For the next couple of years at the very least, equidistance is going to be a stance beyond even the most rubber limbed.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 25,707
    Good morning everyone.
    IanB2 said:

    Polish Cold War hero Walesa writes to Trump expressing 'horror' at Zelenskiy spat

    https://www.reuters.com/world/polish-cold-war-hero-walesa-writes-trump-expressing-horror-zelenskiy-spat-2025-03-03/

    Lordy, Lech Walesa is only 81. And he was involved in protest in 1968.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,429
    Taz said:

    Tim Montgomerie is right here.

    No amount of work on the global stage will save Starmer from the consequences of domestic non delivery.

    Starmer has done well this year and shown real leadership over Ukraine. But people’s bills are going up and the standard of living is falling. People feel that.

    https://x.com/montie/status/1896602292926967978?s=61

    Of course he’s right. The same will be true of the USA. But hopefully it does at least mean the beneficiaries of Labour underperforming wouldn’t be Reform.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,641
    Gallowgate said:

    It has been a left wing talking point my entire adult life that "trickle down" economics has failed.

    Quite probably. Who is advocating it now?
  • TazTaz Posts: 16,903
    TimS said:

    Luckyguy1983 said:

    Ratters said:

    This is the time for Europe to stand up and be counted.

    Trump has played his 'withdraw military aid' card. He can only play it once. It may be the most precarious point in the war for Ukraine since February 2022, but they prevailed then against even greater odds. They can prevail with European only support now if it's strong and quick enough.

    He can't only play it once - it's been 'paused'.

    Not for the first time I do wonder if all this has been cooked up with Zelensky to soften the Ukranians up for the deal.
    Here comes our house contrarian to ensure there’s no slide into turgid consensus.
    Which is no bad thing. Rather that than an army of tedious, middle class, centrist Dads all agreeing with each other and competing as to who can be most pure on whatever subject they are debating.

    People like Luckyguy, Topping and Dura are an antidote to dreary middle class consensus.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,429
    MattW said:

    Good morning everyone.

    IanB2 said:

    Polish Cold War hero Walesa writes to Trump expressing 'horror' at Zelenskiy spat

    https://www.reuters.com/world/polish-cold-war-hero-walesa-writes-trump-expressing-horror-zelenskiy-spat-2025-03-03/

    Lordy, Lech Walesa is only 81. And he was involved in protest in 1968.
    I’m sure in Vance world he’s just some annoying union boss who should have stopped moaning and got on with manning the Gdańsk docks.
  • nico67nico67 Posts: 4,821
    Angela Rayner drowning on Radio 4.

  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,195
    edited March 4
    TimS said:

    Have we seen JD Vance’s latest charming intervention?

    He also plays down British & French peacekeeping troops as “20k troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.

    https://x.com/antoguerrera/status/1896827304946581995?s=46

    He's clearly very committed to his respect agenda.


    The knob.
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,641
    Taz said:

    Tim Montgomerie is right here.

    No amount of work on the global stage will save Starmer from the consequences of domestic non delivery.

    Starmer has done well this year and shown real leadership over Ukraine. But people’s bills are going up and the standard of living is falling. People feel that.

    https://x.com/montie/status/1896602292926967978?s=61

    He has posted this a month early. In April a lot of bills are due to rise. Until then, things were looking slightly more encouraging on the economic front.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,960
    Anyway, at least Starmer is laser focussed on the issue according to Ange, so that’s good.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,098
    Taz said:

    TimS said:

    Luckyguy1983 said:

    Ratters said:

    This is the time for Europe to stand up and be counted.

    Trump has played his 'withdraw military aid' card. He can only play it once. It may be the most precarious point in the war for Ukraine since February 2022, but they prevailed then against even greater odds. They can prevail with European only support now if it's strong and quick enough.

    He can't only play it once - it's been 'paused'.

    Not for the first time I do wonder if all this has been cooked up with Zelensky to soften the Ukranians up for the deal.
    Here comes our house contrarian to ensure there’s no slide into turgid consensus.
    Which is no bad thing. Rather that than an army of tedious, middle class, centrist Dads all agreeing with each other and competing as to who can be most pure on whatever subject they are debating.

    People like Luckyguy, Topping and Dura are an antidote to dreary middle class consensus.
    I agree with that. It still means LuckyGuy is a bit of a deleted though.

    (Deluded individual is the term I was searching for.)
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,897
    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    Gallowgate said:

    It has been a left wing talking point my entire adult life that "trickle down" economics has failed.

    Quite probably. Who is advocating it now?
    Almost everyone on here? The constant shouts for tax cuts on the rich and tax cuts for companies. That's trickle down economics. Maybe it does work, for the rich, but it doesn't seem to work for the former middle and working classes, either here or in America. I don't know what the answer is and I am not pretending to. However, it isn't exactly coherent to argue that domestic economic policies have failed and then argue for more of the same.
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,098
    Theuniondivvie said:

    Anyway, at least Starmer is laser focussed on the issue according to Ange, so that’s good.

    There is a very small part of me that wonders how this is going in the alternative universe where Boris is still PM.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,830
    edited March 4
    Listening to our Angela trying to avoid giving Emma Barnett any opinion of worth on the US/Ukraine crisis is priceless #R4

    She's on to be interviewed about the workers' rights bill, and Starmer has very clearly told her for god's sake not to say anything about foreign affairs!
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 23,768
    TimS said:

    Have we seen JD Vance’s latest charming intervention?

    He also plays down British & French peacekeeping troops as “20k troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.

    https://x.com/antoguerrera/status/1896827304946581995?s=46

    God, do I really have to list the wars that the UK and/or France fought since 2000?
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,868
    Sean_F said:

    Theuniondivvie said:

    I think I can remember a few wars that the UK was involved in over the last 30 or 40 years, usually at the behest of the US. I think I’m beginning to loath Vance more than Trump, who is at least a known quantity of excrement.

    https://x.com/antoguerrera/status/1896827304946581995?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    Trump is stupid and malevolent. Vance is intelligent and malevolent.

    His “Christianity” is a sham, as with so so many of his ilk.
    It is not a sham. Like so many vocal Christians, he thinks he speaks for God; that his vision of Christianity and religion is *the* vision.

    Or, like Trump and Musk, he believes he *is* God...
  • BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 35,098
    edited March 4
    Gallowgate said:

    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    Gallowgate said:

    It has been a left wing talking point my entire adult life that "trickle down" economics has failed.

    Quite probably. Who is advocating it now?
    Almost everyone on here? The constant shouts for tax cuts on the rich and tax cuts for companies. That's trickle down economics. Maybe it does work, for the rich, but it doesn't seem to work for the former middle and working classes, either here or in America. I don't know what the answer is and I am not pretending to. However, it isn't exactly coherent to argue that domestic economic policies have failed and then argue for more of the same.
    I don't see anyone beyond a couple of diehard dinosaurs advocating that on here.
  • PJHPJH Posts: 756
    I have been away and heard the exchanges between Trump, Vance and Zelensky as they were broadcast on Radio 4 and I could hardly believe my ears. I've never been so annoyed by something a politician has said, not even Mrs Thatcher in full hectoring mode back in the day.

    Now this morning I hear the news on arms and it's clear the USA has switched sides. They need to be told to fuck right off and when they've done that, to do it some more. We need to disentangle ourselves from the USA as quickly as possible, regardless of the cost to ourselves. The next decade is going to be painful whatever happens, let's get on and deal with it.

    I sure hope our security services and force have stopped sharing sensitive information. Personally I think we should withdraw from NATO immediately. It's dead anyway.

    Rant over. That's got it off my chest on the commute!
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,641
    Gallowgate said:

    DecrepiterJohnL said:

    Gallowgate said:

    It has been a left wing talking point my entire adult life that "trickle down" economics has failed.

    Quite probably. Who is advocating it now?
    Almost everyone on here? The constant shouts for tax cuts on the rich and tax cuts for companies. That's trickle down economics. Maybe it does work, for the rich, but it doesn't seem to work for the former middle and working classes, either here or in America. I don't know what the answer is and I am not pretending to. However, it isn't exactly coherent to argue that domestic economic policies have failed and then argue for more of the same.
    OK. I'd missed that.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,736
    Starmer is going to end up looking like a Chamberlain if he isn't careful.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,868
    I know some (many?) disagree, and I've said this before, but I do wonder if a significant part of us all feeling poorer is that we have so much more stuff to spend money on than was the case in previous decades.

    From phones to the Internet; from computers/tablets to your Netflix and/or Sky subscription.

    Is a major part of the problem rampant consumerism?
  • RattersRatters Posts: 1,243
    TimS said:

    Have we seen JD Vance’s latest charming intervention?

    He also plays down British & French peacekeeping troops as “20k troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.

    https://x.com/antoguerrera/status/1896827304946581995?s=46

    It shows how little the US administration knows about country sizes.

    The UK and France combined have about the same population size as Russia (allowing for recent declines) and have a combined economy 3.5x the size.

    And we've been involved in plenty of wars between us...
  • eekeek Posts: 29,397
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    DavidL said:

    I have been getting a warning that PB was unsafe because my link is not private. Has some certificate expired?

    Yes.
    I will advice RCS to just move to letsencrypt - if you set it up correctly it automatically renews the certficates so you don't need to worry about it.
  • BattlebusBattlebus Posts: 547
    edited March 4
    Sean_F said:

    Theuniondivvie said:

    I think I can remember a few wars that the UK was involved in over the last 30 or 40 years, usually at the behest of the US. I think I’m beginning to loath Vance more than Trump, who is at least a known quantity of excrement.

    https://x.com/antoguerrera/status/1896827304946581995?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    Trump is stupid and malevolent. Vance is intelligent and malevolent.

    His “Christianity” is a sham, as with so so many of his ilk.
    Here's an example. He was chosen instead of Rep Meyer who had backed the idea that Biden had won the 2020 election.
    Gibbs is a far-right conspiracy theorist;[9] he has a history of making false, inflammatory, and conspiratorial remarks on his Twitter feed,[4][5] including numerous tweets promoting fringe concepts and figures.[10] On four occasions, he spread the false conspiracy theory that John Podesta, the chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, took part in a "Satanic ritual," a claim propagated by far-right bloggers.[4][11] In October 2016, Gibbs defended an alt-right figure who had frequently posted anti-Semitic comments and had been banned from Twitter.[4][11]

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gibbs_(government_official)

    In every organisation, the rot starts at the top - but given the history if Russian oligarchs, oligarchs need chaos to be able to seize wealth. (See Israel)
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,897
    JosiasJessop said:

    I know some (many?) disagree, and I've said this before, but I do wonder if a significant part of us all feeling poorer is that we have so much more stuff to spend money on than was the case in previous decades.

    From phones to the Internet; from computers/tablets to your Netflix and/or Sky subscription.

    Is a major part of the problem rampant consumerism?

    I think so. I have been trying my best in recent months to rein it all in. Deleting Facebook and Instagram and not watching commercial TV with adverts helps. So does working from home...
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,461
    JosiasJessop said:

    Taz said:

    TimS said:

    Luckyguy1983 said:

    Ratters said:

    This is the time for Europe to stand up and be counted.

    Trump has played his 'withdraw military aid' card. He can only play it once. It may be the most precarious point in the war for Ukraine since February 2022, but they prevailed then against even greater odds. They can prevail with European only support now if it's strong and quick enough.

    He can't only play it once - it's been 'paused'.

    Not for the first time I do wonder if all this has been cooked up with Zelensky to soften the Ukranians up for the deal.
    Here comes our house contrarian to ensure there’s no slide into turgid consensus.
    Which is no bad thing. Rather that than an army of tedious, middle class, centrist Dads all agreeing with each other and competing as to who can be most pure on whatever subject they are debating.

    People like Luckyguy, Topping and Dura are an antidote to dreary middle class consensus.
    It's a shame that so many of the 'centrist dads' and the 'dreary middle class consensus' has been right so often, isn't it? ;)

    I mean, compared to the alternative of conspiracy theories and blaming everyone else for mistakes...
    But, you could back Trump/Farage, and be “edgy”.

    Support smashing laws. Worship the “propaganda of the deed”.

    You could be expressing yourself by invading Fiume.

    ¡Viva la muerte!
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,658
    viewcode said:

    TimS said:

    Have we seen JD Vance’s latest charming intervention?

    He also plays down British & French peacekeeping troops as “20k troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.

    https://x.com/antoguerrera/status/1896827304946581995?s=46

    God, do I really have to list the wars that the UK and/or France fought since 2000?
    We were literally in Iraq fighting America's war at the same time Vance was in the marines iirc.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,429
    edited March 4
    JosiasJessop said:

    Taz said:

    TimS said:

    Luckyguy1983 said:

    Ratters said:

    This is the time for Europe to stand up and be counted.

    Trump has played his 'withdraw military aid' card. He can only play it once. It may be the most precarious point in the war for Ukraine since February 2022, but they prevailed then against even greater odds. They can prevail with European only support now if it's strong and quick enough.

    He can't only play it once - it's been 'paused'.

    Not for the first time I do wonder if all this has been cooked up with Zelensky to soften the Ukranians up for the deal.
    Here comes our house contrarian to ensure there’s no slide into turgid consensus.
    Which is no bad thing. Rather that than an army of tedious, middle class, centrist Dads all agreeing with each other and competing as to who can be most pure on whatever subject they are debating.

    People like Luckyguy, Topping and Dura are an antidote to dreary middle class consensus.
    It's a shame that so many of the 'centrist dads' and the 'dreary middle class consensus' has been right so often, isn't it? ;)

    I mean, compared to the alternative of conspiracy theories and blaming everyone else for mistakes...
    The reward system in online debate is such that you get disproportionate engagement if you are edgy and contrarian. It’s been the case since the dawn of the internet.

    Perversely it inhibits actual nuanced debate because the “normies” spend all their time arguing with the zany ideas of the edgelords and don’t have the bandwidth to disagree on the details amongst themselves.

    Honourable attempt by Taz to rumble up a bit of outrage with the highly original “middle class centrist dads” and “dreary consensus” schtick. JD Vance style.
  • PJHPJH Posts: 756
    edited March 4
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Sean_F said:

    I’m relieved to learn that Susan Collins is “concerned” about Trump’s behaviour.

    Congressional Republicans are now pod people.

    I am sorely tempted to change the PB rule so Trump, Vance, Musk, and the GOP enablers/traitors can be called the c word that normally gets you banned.
    No need - that would be disrespectful to all other c***s.

    (Edited to remove triplicate. I put vanilla weirdness down to the train wifi)
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,461
    a
    Gallowgate said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    I know some (many?) disagree, and I've said this before, but I do wonder if a significant part of us all feeling poorer is that we have so much more stuff to spend money on than was the case in previous decades.

    From phones to the Internet; from computers/tablets to your Netflix and/or Sky subscription.

    Is a major part of the problem rampant consumerism?

    I think so. I have been trying my best in recent months to rein it all in. Deleting Facebook and Instagram and not watching commercial TV with adverts helps. So does working from home...
    It’s about expectations and previous experience.

    Just going to the pub has gone, for many people, from a casual of-the-moment decision to an expensive event.

    Cheap eating out has also vanished for many.

    Housing takes a staggering proportion of income.

    And so on

    So, for many people, their everyday experience is that they can do less with what they have, than they used to.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,195
    .
    algarkirk said:

    IanB2 said:

    Listening to our Angela trying to avoid giving Emma Barnett any opinion of worth on the US/Ukraine crisis is priceless #R4

    She's on to be interviewed about the workers' rights bill, and Starmer has very clearly told her for god's sake not to say anything about foreign affairs!

    TBF to Rayner, she did well, she did her job and conceded nothing; we are in the middle of a real crisis in which moving parts are moving. I think most people have completely supported the attempt by UK and France to give the USA every opening to stay onside, when there is nothing we can exert by way of power, hardball or economics to twist the USA arm.

    This entails not attacking Trump and his government in public on western alliance issues until the chance has gone and the time is right. We know what our government thinks and wants to do in respect of Plan A. Plan B is rather tough going, as I think we are about to find out. If there is to be a Plan B, I hope the committee sorting it is not live on R4.
    I don't disagree.
    But it also seems that time is very close indeed.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,672
    TimS said:

    Taz said:

    Tim Montgomerie is right here.

    No amount of work on the global stage will save Starmer from the consequences of domestic non delivery.

    Starmer has done well this year and shown real leadership over Ukraine. But people’s bills are going up and the standard of living is falling. People feel that.

    https://x.com/montie/status/1896602292926967978?s=61

    Of course he’s right. The same will be true of the USA. But hopefully it does at least mean the beneficiaries of Labour underperforming wouldn’t be Reform.
    Yes, I think that's a good observation, the Ukraine crisis won't save Labour but it will hurt Reform a lot and it creates a window for the Tories once everything has calmed down a bit and the focus is back on domestic policies.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,672
    rottenborough said:

    viewcode said:

    TimS said:

    Have we seen JD Vance’s latest charming intervention?

    He also plays down British & French peacekeeping troops as “20k troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.

    https://x.com/antoguerrera/status/1896827304946581995?s=46

    God, do I really have to list the wars that the UK and/or France fought since 2000?
    We were literally in Iraq fighting America's war at the same time Vance was in the marines iirc.
    It's absolutely ridiculous, though I guess the next time the US looks for allies to invade Iran we're off the hook.
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 22,100
    MaxPB said:

    TimS said:

    Taz said:

    Tim Montgomerie is right here.

    No amount of work on the global stage will save Starmer from the consequences of domestic non delivery.

    Starmer has done well this year and shown real leadership over Ukraine. But people’s bills are going up and the standard of living is falling. People feel that.

    https://x.com/montie/status/1896602292926967978?s=61

    Of course he’s right. The same will be true of the USA. But hopefully it does at least mean the beneficiaries of Labour underperforming wouldn’t be Reform.
    Yes, I think that's a good observation, the Ukraine crisis won't save Labour but it will hurt Reform a lot and it creates a window for the Tories once everything has calmed down a bit and the focus is back on domestic policies.
    I would have thought now was the time for Tories to push Reform beyond the Pale.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,960
    PJH said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Sean_F said:

    I’m relieved to learn that Susan Collins is “concerned” about Trump’s behaviour.

    Congressional Republicans are now pod people.

    I am sorely tempted to change the PB rule so Trump, Vance, Musk, and the GOP enablers/traitors can be called the c word that normally gets you banned.
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Sean_F said:

    I’m relieved to learn that Susan Collins is “concerned” about Trump’s behaviour.

    Congressional Republicans are now pod people.

    I am sorely tempted to change the PB rule so Trump, Vance, Musk, and the GOP enablers/traitors can be called the c word that normally gets you banned.
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Sean_F said:

    I’m relieved to learn that Susan Collins is “concerned” about Trump’s behaviour.

    Congressional Republicans are now pod people.

    I am sorely tempted to change the PB rule so Trump, Vance, Musk, and the GOP enablers/traitors can be called the c word that normally gets you banned.
    No need - that would be disrespectful to all other c***s.
    As previously recounted, in Glasweganese c*** is a somewhat neutral term eg ‘he’s a good c***’. Prick is the explicit term for debased humanity. Trump, Vance and Musk are certainly pricks.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,736
    Malmesbury said:

    a

    Gallowgate said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    I know some (many?) disagree, and I've said this before, but I do wonder if a significant part of us all feeling poorer is that we have so much more stuff to spend money on than was the case in previous decades.

    From phones to the Internet; from computers/tablets to your Netflix and/or Sky subscription.

    Is a major part of the problem rampant consumerism?

    I think so. I have been trying my best in recent months to rein it all in. Deleting Facebook and Instagram and not watching commercial TV with adverts helps. So does working from home...
    It’s about expectations and previous experience.

    Just going to the pub has gone, for many people, from a casual of-the-moment decision to an expensive event.

    Cheap eating out has also vanished for many.

    Housing takes a staggering proportion of income.

    And so on

    So, for many people, their everyday experience is that they can do less with what they have, than they used to.
    Housing costs as a proportion of income are at their lowest since about the early 1980s, and have fallen sharply since about 2012. Even for the lowest income households, housing costs have been broadly flat since 1990.

    The reason you get the impression that they have gone up is that there has been a significant increase in inequality across housing tenure, with homeowners now much better off than those renting. But even then, rents have been roughly flat since 1990, so there is a geographical element too.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,397
    Malmesbury said:

    a

    Gallowgate said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    I know some (many?) disagree, and I've said this before, but I do wonder if a significant part of us all feeling poorer is that we have so much more stuff to spend money on than was the case in previous decades.

    From phones to the Internet; from computers/tablets to your Netflix and/or Sky subscription.

    Is a major part of the problem rampant consumerism?

    I think so. I have been trying my best in recent months to rein it all in. Deleting Facebook and Instagram and not watching commercial TV with adverts helps. So does working from home...
    It’s about expectations and previous experience.

    Just going to the pub has gone, for many people, from a casual of-the-moment decision to an expensive event.

    Cheap eating out has also vanished for many.

    Housing takes a staggering proportion of income.

    And so on

    So, for many people, their everyday experience is that they can do less with what they have, than they used to.
    A lot of that is a London and the South problem. We can afford to go to the pub at any point because even twin A's mortgage is only £640 a month.
  • MaxPBMaxPB Posts: 39,672
    Jonathan said:

    MaxPB said:

    TimS said:

    Taz said:

    Tim Montgomerie is right here.

    No amount of work on the global stage will save Starmer from the consequences of domestic non delivery.

    Starmer has done well this year and shown real leadership over Ukraine. But people’s bills are going up and the standard of living is falling. People feel that.

    https://x.com/montie/status/1896602292926967978?s=61

    Of course he’s right. The same will be true of the USA. But hopefully it does at least mean the beneficiaries of Labour underperforming wouldn’t be Reform.
    Yes, I think that's a good observation, the Ukraine crisis won't save Labour but it will hurt Reform a lot and it creates a window for the Tories once everything has calmed down a bit and the focus is back on domestic policies.
    I would have thought now was the time for Tories to push Reform beyond the Pale.
    Maybe but no one's listening to Kemi or any Tory right now. So it's difficult to push any agenda and just give Reform enough rope.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,325
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Sean_F said:

    I’m relieved to learn that Susan Collins is “concerned” about Trump’s behaviour.

    Congressional Republicans are now pod people.

    I am sorely tempted to change the PB rule so Trump, Vance, Musk, and the GOP enablers/traitors can be called the c word that normally gets you banned.
    Responding to ugliness with ugliness achieves nothing
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,736
    eek said:

    Malmesbury said:

    a

    Gallowgate said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    I know some (many?) disagree, and I've said this before, but I do wonder if a significant part of us all feeling poorer is that we have so much more stuff to spend money on than was the case in previous decades.

    From phones to the Internet; from computers/tablets to your Netflix and/or Sky subscription.

    Is a major part of the problem rampant consumerism?

    I think so. I have been trying my best in recent months to rein it all in. Deleting Facebook and Instagram and not watching commercial TV with adverts helps. So does working from home...
    It’s about expectations and previous experience.

    Just going to the pub has gone, for many people, from a casual of-the-moment decision to an expensive event.

    Cheap eating out has also vanished for many.

    Housing takes a staggering proportion of income.

    And so on

    So, for many people, their everyday experience is that they can do less with what they have, than they used to.
    A lot of that is a London and the South problem. We can afford to go to the pub at any point because even twin A's mortgage is only £640 a month.
    The problem is journalists take inner city issues and apply them to the whole country. On the whole, housing costs are not particularly bad either on historical or international comparison.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,195
    One mildly amusing effect of Trump's Canada tariffs including oil imports, is that it's possible gas (petrol) prices will go up in the US while they drop for the rest of the world, thanks to the recession he's probably triggered.
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 3,283
    JosiasJessop said:

    I know some (many?) disagree, and I've said this before, but I do wonder if a significant part of us all feeling poorer is that we have so much more stuff to spend money on than was the case in previous decades.

    From phones to the Internet; from computers/tablets to your Netflix and/or Sky subscription.

    Is a major part of the problem rampant consumerism?

    A lot of that stuff is effectively essential these days.

    Good morning, everybody.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 14,153
    edited March 4
    MaxPB said:

    TimS said:

    Taz said:

    Tim Montgomerie is right here.

    No amount of work on the global stage will save Starmer from the consequences of domestic non delivery.

    Starmer has done well this year and shown real leadership over Ukraine. But people’s bills are going up and the standard of living is falling. People feel that.

    https://x.com/montie/status/1896602292926967978?s=61

    Of course he’s right. The same will be true of the USA. But hopefully it does at least mean the beneficiaries of Labour underperforming wouldn’t be Reform.
    Yes, I think that's a good observation, the Ukraine crisis won't save Labour but it will hurt Reform a lot and it creates a window for the Tories once everything has calmed down a bit and the focus is back on domestic policies.
    Yeah, but the tories have got fucking Kemi. A politician singularly lacking in the deftness, energy or opportunism to take advantage of any Labour woes. Waiting for Reform to fall apart, while agreeing with them, is her only and likely not successful strategy.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 13,654
    Nigelb said:

    The BBC is still reporting yesterday's news as though Starmer's 'we don't have to choose between Europe and the US' is a realistic option.

    While I have some sympathy with the idea, he needs to face facts. For the next couple of years at the very least, equidistance is going to be a stance beyond even the most rubber limbed.

    The BBC has a tough job at times like this. What Starmer has said is a fact; that he has other private thoughts (I hope he does) is an opinion. The BBC does evaluation but doesn't do overt editorialising. To be fair to the BBC its evaluations have been realistic without trying to be incendiary. It is also a public broadcaster, so has a particular job in times of crisis to be factually reliable.

    Most of the media have entirely abandoned the distinction between facts and opinions. The BBC is clinging on to the idea, it's not easy.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 6,975
    nico67 said:

    Angela Rayner drowning on Radio 4.

    If only...
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,897
    eek said:

    Malmesbury said:

    a

    Gallowgate said:

    JosiasJessop said:

    I know some (many?) disagree, and I've said this before, but I do wonder if a significant part of us all feeling poorer is that we have so much more stuff to spend money on than was the case in previous decades.

    From phones to the Internet; from computers/tablets to your Netflix and/or Sky subscription.

    Is a major part of the problem rampant consumerism?

    I think so. I have been trying my best in recent months to rein it all in. Deleting Facebook and Instagram and not watching commercial TV with adverts helps. So does working from home...
    It’s about expectations and previous experience.

    Just going to the pub has gone, for many people, from a casual of-the-moment decision to an expensive event.

    Cheap eating out has also vanished for many.

    Housing takes a staggering proportion of income.

    And so on

    So, for many people, their everyday experience is that they can do less with what they have, than they used to.
    A lot of that is a London and the South problem. We can afford to go to the pub at any point because even twin A's mortgage is only £640 a month.
    My mortgage is £1,000 a month and it is not exactly an expensive house for Newcastle...
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 9,325
    TimS said:

    Have we seen JD Vance’s latest charming intervention?

    He also plays down British & French peacekeeping troops as “20k troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.

    https://x.com/antoguerrera/status/1896827304946581995?s=46

    When did the Americans last win a war?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,830
    algarkirk said:

    IanB2 said:

    Listening to our Angela trying to avoid giving Emma Barnett any opinion of worth on the US/Ukraine crisis is priceless #R4

    She's on to be interviewed about the workers' rights bill, and Starmer has very clearly told her for god's sake not to say anything about foreign affairs!

    TBF to Rayner, she did well, she did her job and conceded nothing; we are in the middle of a real crisis in which moving parts are moving. I think most people have completely supported the attempt by UK and France to give the USA every opening to stay onside, when there is nothing we can exert by way of power, hardball or economics to twist the USA arm.

    This entails not attacking Trump and his government in public on western alliance issues until the chance hs gone and the time is right. We know what our government thinks and wants to do in respect of Plan A. Plan B is rather tough going, as I think we are about to find out. If there is to be a Plan B, I hope the committee sorting it is not live on R4.
    For sure. It's just so obviously not in her nature, and Barnett knew that very well, which is why it was such an entertaining listen
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 13,654
    Nigelb said:

    .

    algarkirk said:

    IanB2 said:

    Listening to our Angela trying to avoid giving Emma Barnett any opinion of worth on the US/Ukraine crisis is priceless #R4

    She's on to be interviewed about the workers' rights bill, and Starmer has very clearly told her for god's sake not to say anything about foreign affairs!

    TBF to Rayner, she did well, she did her job and conceded nothing; we are in the middle of a real crisis in which moving parts are moving. I think most people have completely supported the attempt by UK and France to give the USA every opening to stay onside, when there is nothing we can exert by way of power, hardball or economics to twist the USA arm.

    This entails not attacking Trump and his government in public on western alliance issues until the chance has gone and the time is right. We know what our government thinks and wants to do in respect of Plan A. Plan B is rather tough going, as I think we are about to find out. If there is to be a Plan B, I hope the committee sorting it is not live on R4.
    I don't disagree.
    But it also seems that time is very close indeed.
    Yes. It looks close. But government, unlike the rest of us, can't shift 80 years of alliances on their axis by the same process as a pub conversation. We can change and change back in the course of days and weeks. Government policy can't do that. Which means that going from USA being greatest friend to dangerous maverick (sadly I think that is so) is a thing you don't announce in a hesitant process.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,658
    Joey Politano 🏳️‍🌈
    @JosephPolitano
    ·
    5h
    I still can't believe they didn't exempt Canadian oil. They literally built a "higher gas prices" button and pushed it. They acknowledged it was a bad idea to put tariffs on it but decided to do 10% instead of 0.

    https://x.com/JosephPolitano/status/1896771460515131639
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,960
    Good update on where it’s at in Russia blogger land, quite a spectrum of views. ‘Being smashed by the steel dick of reality’ is vivid, obviously still a future for Russian literature.

    https://x.com/chriso_wiki/status/1896844575773495513?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,658

    ‪Sathnam Sanghera‬ ‪@sathnam.bsky.social‬
    ·
    1h
    😂😂😂
    UK asset manager Abrdn renames itself Aberdeen -
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 29,816
    What if Doug Ford cuts off all energy transfers "with a smile on his face?"
    Would that be casus belli for Trump?
    And when's the Reichstag fire?
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,868
    Theuniondivvie said:

    Good update on where it’s at in Russia blogger land, quite a spectrum of views. ‘Being smashed by the steel dick of reality’ is vivid, obviously still a future for Russian literature.

    https://x.com/chriso_wiki/status/1896844575773495513?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q

    From that:
    "4/ 'Moses' looks forward to what Russia can do without the US in the picture: "The most objective thing is that without US support, Russia is capable of sweeping away Europe. Historical events await us.""

    For those Russophiles who think Putin winning in Ukraine in any way means 'peace'...
  • MattWMattW Posts: 25,707
    DavidL said:

    I think that I am with the majority on this. What happened in the Oval office was disgusting. This, however, is a demonstration of what is required to replace American aid: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/ckg84kpw5jwo

    In simple terms every other country than the US would need to double their support for Ukraine because the US provides just under 50% of it. Starmer has pretty much done that for the UK, at least in the short term. Other things are more challenging. The US has provided 4.5m artillery shells. The whole of Europe has struggled to provide 1m although they are promising 2m this year.

    These are decisions we do not have a lot of time to make. US support is "paused" now. The Ukrainians will have some stocks but that decision is going to hurt very soon.

    It's very Trump to stop existing commitments in their tracks, regardless of law or custom - as he has done with all of the Musk interventions.

    I think the relevant number is the Estonian one of 0.25% of GDP in military aid, especially to Ukraine's domestic defence industries. It's all about political will. I'm interested in whether Germany will get something through before their new Parliament convenes in some weeks.

    Perun's video from last Sunday was very good on this whole area, if I can recommend that again, which overlaps these themes and strategic autonomy in Europe:

    Could Europe Defend Itself Without the US? - The US Split, Rearmament & Defence Independence
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7giYIisLuaA
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