Took my wife out to lunch today for her birthday with the family. Unfortunately, there was a moment my 3 year old son bolted off down the restaurant, whilst she was in the loo with my daughter, and I had to run after him to rescue him, but not before he'd climbed onto the bench on the table next to a couple eating. Never had this before but they were very rude about it, "Do you mind? We're trying to eat here." and then commented on my inability to keep my child under control. I must admit I was fuming for most of the rest of the meal, until my wife calmed me down.
Yes, they were triple-lockers. Charming.
Sorry to hear that happened CR, it goes back to what we were discussing about having families a few days ago when OnlyLivingBoy made the point that in the UK there's a sense that children should be seen and not heard. I do find that Mediterranean countries are much better for families and so much friendlier to kids than any Northern European countries.
There's just this pervasive attitude that parents should keep their kids under control 100% of the time and any failure to do so makes for bad parenting which is completely unacceptable.
We've had that same experience where our 3 year old went and sat next to some randoms because we were fussing over the baby she made a run for it but the couple were really nice and just entertained her for a few seconds while I went and grabbed her. It just depends on the people but I do find there's a lot of miserable people out there and that's something that's for them to deal with rather than for us to be upset about.
Just think about how sad their lives must be to scold a child or parents for something so minor? Absolutely zero joy at all.
I had a strong impression we'd become a lot more positive about children in the UK in these types of situations around about the late 1990s compared to how we used to be, but it sounds like it might have gone into reverse somewhat.
“Let's start with the most important. What does Ukraine want? Peace? Yes. At any cost? No. We want the war to end, - but not Ukraine. Are we tired? Very much so. Does this mean we're ready to surrender? Anyone who thinks that is deeply mistaken. They clearly still don't understand who Ukrainians are after all these years. A people enduring 1,407 days of full-scale war. Just consider those numbers. That's longer than Nazi occupation of many cities in World War II. 1,407 days of undefeated Ukraine, spending nights in shelters, fighting daily, often without electricity or sleep, many days at the frontlines. But always without panic, chaos, or division - united for peace. Do we want the war to end? Absolutely. Why hasn't this happened yet? The answer lies with our neighbor. Can Russia end the war? Yes. Do they want to? No.” - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his New Year’s address https://x.com/KaterynaLis/status/2006486773720035416
BREAKING: Trump administration officials are aware of reports of explosions and aircraft over Venezuela's capital Caracas early this morning, sources tell @CBSNews. No official comment yet.
You have to go through Congress for anything resembling this type of war. Round up Massie and Paul types and have him removed. The people in this administration are on actual drugs and have insatiable bloodlust and bespoke mental illnesses. He has to go, and everybody with him.
Colombia's president, @petrogustavo: "Right now they are bombing Caracas. Alert to the whole world, they have attacked Venezuela. They are bombing with missiles. The OAS and the UN must meet immediately."
BREAKING: Trump administration officials are aware of reports of explosions and aircraft over Venezuela's capital Caracas early this morning, sources tell @CBSNews. No official comment yet.
Government by Randy Newman lyric.
IT WAS IRONY, GUYS - NOT A FUCKING MANIFESTO!!
No one likes us, I don't know why We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try And all around, even our old friends put us down Let's drop the big one and see what happens
We give them money, but are they grateful? No, they're spiteful and they're hateful They don't respect us, so let's surprise them We'll drop the big one and pulverize them
Asia's crowded, Europe's too old Africa is far too hot and Canada's too cold And South America stole our name Let's drop the big one, there'll be no one left to blame us
We'll save Australia Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo We'll build an all-American amusement park there They got surfing too
Boom goes London, boom Paris More room for you and more room for me And every city the whole world 'round Will just be another American town Oh, how peaceful it'll be We'll set everybody free You wear a Japanese kimono, babe There'll be Italian shoes for me They all hate us anyhow So let's drop the big one now Let's drop the big one now
Colombia's president, @petrogustavo: "Right now they are bombing Caracas. Alert to the whole world, they have attacked Venezuela. They are bombing with missiles. The OAS and the UN must meet immediately."
And you wonder why Trump won't condemn Putin for invading Ukraine....
🚨BREAKING via @CBSNews : President Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela including military facilities, U.S. officials said, as the administration early Saturday ratcheted up its campaign against the regime of President Nicolás Maduro.
just thinking about every american media outlet that said something along the lines of "legal experts say there is likely no legal basis for bombing venezuelan boats" and not HEY THIS IS FUCKING ILLEGAL AND AGGRESSIVE
Trump is doing a three day Special Military Operation in Venezuela, all going to plan?
Maduro is a nasty piece of work. A crook, a failure, a drug pusher, a fat Fascist and a politician the world would be much better off without. Even worse than Chavez, who was no angel despite the adoration some rather foolish lefties on the west heaped on him.
But invading other countries to take out criminal scum of leaders is never a good idea, even if done for altruistic reasons (which this certainly would not be given Trump is just as corrupt as Maduro). It only ever leads to chaos, more fighting and lasting ill-feeling.
Moreover, attacking Venezuela will only (a) upset China and (b) embolden them over Taiwan. The first is a bit of an ‘oh dear, how sad, never mind’ given compared to Xi even Trump and Maduro are honest and decent human beings. The second would be a major disaster all around.
Unfortunately just getting rid of an utter scumbag like Maduro by force would be just as likely to make things worse rather than better.
just thinking about every american media outlet that said something along the lines of "legal experts say there is likely no legal basis for bombing venezuelan boats" and not HEY THIS IS FUCKING ILLEGAL AND AGGRESSIVE
Are you suggesting Donald Trump, a man of such integrity that he falsified election returns, incited a mob to hang his deputy, repeatedly sexually assaulted young women, defrauded his banks, forged his accountancy returns, lied to Congress and cheats himself at golf - may actually be doing something illegal?
@JenniferJJacobs Scoop: Trump gave the U.S. military the green light to conduct land strikes in Venezuela days ago, U.S. officials told @CBSNews . U.S. was ready on Christmas day but airstrikes in Nigeria against ISIS targets took precedence, sources said. The days following Christmas opened more potential strike windows but the operation was postponed partly due to weather. U.S. military wanted weather conditions that were advantageous to mission success.
Trump is doing a three day Special Military Operation in Venezuela, all going to plan?
Maduro is a nasty piece of work. A crook, a failure, a drug pusher, a fat Fascist and a politician the world would be much better off without. Even worse than Chavez, who was no angel despite the adoration some rather foolish lefties on the west heaped on him.
But invading other countries to take out criminal scum of leaders is never a good idea, even if done for altruistic reasons (which this certainly would not be given Trump is just as corrupt as Maduro). It only ever leads to chaos, more fighting and lasting ill-feeling.
Moreover, attacking Venezuela will only (a) upset China and (b) embolden them over Taiwan. The first is a bit of an ‘oh dear, how sad, never mind’ given compared to Xi even Trump and Maduro are honest and decent human beings. The second would be a major disaster all around.
Unfortunately just getting rid of an utter scumbag like Maduro by force would be just as likely to make things worse rather than better.
If it's successful in removing Maduro, it may also embolden Trump to take similar action elsewhere...
I'm a bit confused about Iran. Even Al Jazeera doesn't really have much detail. 7 dead and 44 arrested. That doesn't sound like an imminent regime change. Are the complaints that it is bigger than that and therefore should be reported? Or that that in itself should be given more prominence? Or is someone in possession of more significant information which is being silenced? Or what?
It's extremely hard to make sense of such reports as there are. There are clearly widespread protests, but how much more can you glean from stuff like this ?
It would be a very good thing for the wonderful people of Iran to be rid of the Mullahs and perhaps see the restoration of the Shah, so that they can have greater religious freedom and democracy.
However, these breathless stories about the ferment on the streets of Tehran happen fairly often. Since well before the Arab Spring.
It would be great to see the fall of the Mullahs, but I wouldn't romantacize the Shah. He ran a pretty brutal dictatorship, backed by a nasty internal police that cracked down on anything that looked like dissent. The Iranian Revolution happened as much because people hated the Shah's rule as they wanted an Islamic state.
Trump is doing a three day Special Military Operation in Venezuela, all going to plan?
Maduro is a nasty piece of work. A crook, a failure, a drug pusher, a fat Fascist and a politician the world would be much better off without. Even worse than Chavez, who was no angel despite the adoration some rather foolish lefties on the west heaped on him.
But invading other countries to take out criminal scum of leaders is never a good idea, even if done for altruistic reasons (which this certainly would not be given Trump is just as corrupt as Maduro). It only ever leads to chaos, more fighting and lasting ill-feeling.
Moreover, attacking Venezuela will only (a) upset China and (b) embolden them over Taiwan. The first is a bit of an ‘oh dear, how sad, never mind’ given compared to Xi even Trump and Maduro are honest and decent human beings. The second would be a major disaster all around.
Unfortunately just getting rid of an utter scumbag like Maduro by force would be just as likely to make things worse rather than better.
If it's successful in removing Maduro, it may also embolden Trump to take similar action elsewhere...
Trump is doing a three day Special Military Operation in Venezuela, all going to plan?
Maduro is a nasty piece of work. A crook, a failure, a drug pusher, a fat Fascist and a politician the world would be much better off without. Even worse than Chavez, who was no angel despite the adoration some rather foolish lefties on the west heaped on him.
But invading other countries to take out criminal scum of leaders is never a good idea, even if done for altruistic reasons (which this certainly would not be given Trump is just as corrupt as Maduro). It only ever leads to chaos, more fighting and lasting ill-feeling.
Moreover, attacking Venezuela will only (a) upset China and (b) embolden them over Taiwan. The first is a bit of an ‘oh dear, how sad, never mind’ given compared to Xi even Trump and Maduro are honest and decent human beings. The second would be a major disaster all around.
Unfortunately just getting rid of an utter scumbag like Maduro by force would be just as likely to make things worse rather than better.
If it's successful in removing Maduro, it may also embolden Trump to take similar action elsewhere...
You mean Greenland?
'O Canada we stand on guard for thee' may take on more than poetic significance.
With Trump, given a choice between dumb and dumber, always choose dumber.
He probably assumes China won't get too exercised about America in its sphere, if he is willing to allow China (and Russia) a free hand in their spheres (as defined in his rather low powered brain).
In this he is almost certainly wrong given however much Xi desires Taiwan it doesn't have cheap oil in it.
Ladbrokes 4/1 on Trump being impeached in 2026 is possibly looking quite good now.
It requires the Republicans to agree to it.
I'll file that under 'not happening.' Too many will look at the fate of Marjorie Taylor Greene and behave like cowards.
Remember, if Mitch McConnell had held his nerve and voted to convict Trump in 2021, the rest of the Republican Senate caucus would have followed and Trump would not be President now.
One of the more alarming features of Trump's rule is just how far and how easily he has captured the various institutions who should be controlling him. It's the crucial difference between him and Nixon (well, that and the fact Nixon was out for power to put it to his own ends, not always moral but usually based on his assessment of America's needs, while Trump is out for his own gratification and personal greed with no actual agenda).
Ladbrokes 4/1 on Trump being impeached in 2026 is possibly looking quite good now.
Getting 2/3rd of the Senate to convict Trump would require
- a swing to the Democrats that is to impossible - the Democrats to find a spine - the Republicans to find a spine
Probably all together, at the same time.
The first one doesn't apply until 2027, remember.
Well, actually, looking at the map and remembering the number of Republican states that indulge in fairly blatant vote rigging it doesn't apply until hell freezes over.
@JenniferJJacobs Scoop: Trump gave the U.S. military the green light to conduct land strikes in Venezuela days ago, U.S. officials told @CBSNews . U.S. was ready on Christmas day but airstrikes in Nigeria against ISIS targets took precedence, sources said. The days following Christmas opened more potential strike windows but the operation was postponed partly due to weather. U.S. military wanted weather conditions that were advantageous to mission success.
@JenniferJJacobs Scoop: Trump gave the U.S. military the green light to conduct land strikes in Venezuela days ago, U.S. officials told @CBSNews . U.S. was ready on Christmas day but airstrikes in Nigeria against ISIS targets took precedence, sources said. The days following Christmas opened more potential strike windows but the operation was postponed partly due to weather. U.S. military wanted weather conditions that were advantageous to mission success.
President 'No more wars' Trump.
This is clearly one of those Special Military Operations, not a war.
Ladbrokes 4/1 on Trump being impeached in 2026 is possibly looking quite good now.
Getting 2/3rd of the Senate to convict Trump would require
- a swing to the Democrats that is to impossible - the Democrats to find a spine - the Republicans to find a spine
Probably all together, at the same time.
Impeachment doesn't require conviction. It requires essentially all of the Democrat and a handful of Republican representatives to vote for the process. I think it depends on how the operation turns out. If it's over quickly and the Americans get out intact, Trump will be fine IMO. If it goes wrong Trump will find no-one on his side supported him on this adventure.
Should add that quite a few of the House Republicans are staring at defeat in the mid-terms. Trump won't have the same hold over them that he once did.
@JenniferJJacobs Scoop: Trump gave the U.S. military the green light to conduct land strikes in Venezuela days ago, U.S. officials told @CBSNews . U.S. was ready on Christmas day but airstrikes in Nigeria against ISIS targets took precedence, sources said. The days following Christmas opened more potential strike windows but the operation was postponed partly due to weather. U.S. military wanted weather conditions that were advantageous to mission success.
President 'No more wars' Trump.
So far I make it:
Yemen Nigeria Iran Venezuela
Plus threats to Gaza Canada Greenland Ukraine
And that's just the first twelve months of his second term.
He doesn't seem to have done anything in Sudan so far - or have I missed something? (There's a conflict nobody's willing to comment on at all.)
Exactly what military threat did Venezuela pose to the USA ?
I expect the spineless GOP to do fxck all and find a way to justify this action .
It's about "narco terrorism" ie same as the drug boats. The idea is that people in the Venezuelan state and army are behind the drug cartels.
I'm sure they are. I'm also sure there are people in the US state and army behind the drug cartels. Trillions of global profit that need control with violence tends to have that impact.
@JenniferJJacobs Scoop: Trump gave the U.S. military the green light to conduct land strikes in Venezuela days ago, U.S. officials told @CBSNews . U.S. was ready on Christmas day but airstrikes in Nigeria against ISIS targets took precedence, sources said. The days following Christmas opened more potential strike windows but the operation was postponed partly due to weather. U.S. military wanted weather conditions that were advantageous to mission success.
President 'No more wars' Trump.
So far I make it:
Yemen Nigeria Iran Venezuela
Plus threats to Gaza Canada Greenland Ukraine
And that's just the first twelve months of his second term.
He doesn't seem to have done anything in Sudan so far - or have I missed something? (There's a conflict nobody's willing to comment on at all.)
You missed Panama from the list. Although he seems to have forgotten about that one.
Ladbrokes 4/1 on Trump being impeached in 2026 is possibly looking quite good now.
Getting 2/3rd of the Senate to convict Trump would require
- a swing to the Democrats that is to impossible - the Democrats to find a spine - the Republicans to find a spine
Probably all together, at the same time.
Impeachment doesn't require conviction. It requires essentially all of the Democrat and a handful of Republican representatives to vote for the process. I think it depends on how the operation turns out. If it's over quickly and the Americans get out intact, Trump will be fine IMO. If it goes wrong Trump will find no-one on his side supported him on this adventure.
Should add that quite a few of the House Republicans are staring at defeat in the mid-terms. Trump won't have the same hold over them that he once did.
So far, impeachment has been tried on Trump, multiple times.
And not worked.
It won’t be tried again unless there is a real possibility of conviction.
@JenniferJJacobs Scoop: Trump gave the U.S. military the green light to conduct land strikes in Venezuela days ago, U.S. officials told @CBSNews . U.S. was ready on Christmas day but airstrikes in Nigeria against ISIS targets took precedence, sources said. The days following Christmas opened more potential strike windows but the operation was postponed partly due to weather. U.S. military wanted weather conditions that were advantageous to mission success.
President 'No more wars' Trump.
So far I make it:
Yemen Nigeria Iran Venezuela
Plus threats to Gaza Canada Greenland Ukraine
And that's just the first twelve months of his second term.
He doesn't seem to have done anything in Sudan so far - or have I missed something? (There's a conflict nobody's willing to comment on at all.)
You missed Panama from the list. Although he seems to have forgotten about that one.
So he and I both fail a cognitive test?
That's worrying both because he's the most powerful man in the world and I don't want to feel as though I'm as addled as he is.
Ladbrokes 4/1 on Trump being impeached in 2026 is possibly looking quite good now.
The recent bet365 odds of 4/1 for him winning this year's Nobel Peace Prize maybe rather less so ...
Well he’s somewhat unlikely to be getting the peace prize now.
To be fair, that opportunity probably departed when the USAF bombed Iran on behalf of Israel.
It doesn’t matter how many peace agreements between various nations get signed on your watch, starting wars is viewed somewhat negatively by the Nobel committee!
Ladbrokes 4/1 on Trump being impeached in 2026 is possibly looking quite good now.
The recent bet365 odds of 4/1 for him winning this year's Nobel Peace Prize maybe rather less so ...
Well he’s somewhat unlikely to be getting the peace prize now.
To be fair, that opportunity probably departed when the USAF bombed Iran on behalf of Israel.
It doesn’t matter how many peace agreements between various nations get signed on your watch, starting wars is viewed somewhat negatively by the Nobel committee!
Ladbrokes 4/1 on Trump being impeached in 2026 is possibly looking quite good now.
The recent bet365 odds of 4/1 for him winning this year's Nobel Peace Prize maybe rather less so ...
Well he’s somewhat unlikely to be getting the peace prize now.
To be fair, that opportunity probably departed when the USAF bombed Iran on behalf of Israel.
It doesn’t matter how many peace agreements between various nations get signed on your watch, starting wars is viewed somewhat negatively by the Nobel committee!
The Republican senators must be so proud of conforming the appointment of Hegseth.
Ditto most of the rest of Trump's administration.
There must be a chance that impeaching Hegseth would get the required vote.
You underestimate the support amongst the Republicans for finishing once and for all the “War On Drugs”, which despite running since Reagan’s days has resulted in record amounts of drugs ending up in the US, killing over a hundred thousand Americans in 2024 alone.
Trump is doing a three day Special Military Operation in Venezuela, all going to plan?
Maduro is a nasty piece of work. A crook, a failure, a drug pusher, a fat Fascist and a politician the world would be much better off without. Even worse than Chavez, who was no angel despite the adoration some rather foolish lefties on the west heaped on him.
But invading other countries to take out criminal scum of leaders is never a good idea, even if done for altruistic reasons (which this certainly would not be given Trump is just as corrupt as Maduro). It only ever leads to chaos, more fighting and lasting ill-feeling.
Moreover, attacking Venezuela will only (a) upset China and (b) embolden them over Taiwan. The first is a bit of an ‘oh dear, how sad, never mind’ given compared to Xi even Trump and Maduro are honest and decent human beings. The second would be a major disaster all around.
Unfortunately just getting rid of an utter scumbag like Maduro by force would be just as likely to make things worse rather than better.
If it's successful in removing Maduro, it may also embolden Trump to take similar action elsewhere...
Greenland and Canada next, then the carve up of Arctic mineral wealth between America, Russia and China.
Exactly what military threat did Venezuela pose to the USA ?
I expect the spineless GOP to do fxck all and find a way to justify this action .
Good question, OI'L go and investigate it for you.
Apparently Trump has accused MAduro of 'emptying his prisons and insane asylums and forcing the inmates to migrate to the US.'
I'm getting strong vibes of Sir Mortimer Chris...
Never in his wildest dreams could Maduro have expected the asylum inmates would migrate into top jobs in Washington....
I was listening to a discussion of the internal politics of the GOP recently and it was argued that attacking Venezuela was one of the few things that the whole GOP could agree on. The MAGA isolationists are in favour because it's seen as part of controlling the border from drug and people trafficking. The neocons are in favour because of the oil. The Monroe doctrine traditionalists are in favour because they see Maduro as an important link, with Cuba, of the anti-American forces in the Western hemisphere.
So there's something for everyone with an attack on Venezuela.
Ladbrokes 4/1 on Trump being impeached in 2026 is possibly looking quite good now.
The recent bet365 odds of 4/1 for him winning this year's Nobel Peace Prize maybe rather less so ...
Well he’s somewhat unlikely to be getting the peace prize now To be fair, that opportunity probably departed when the USAF bombed Iran on behalf of Israel.
It doesn’t matter how many peace agreements between various nations get signed on your watch, starting wars is viewed somewhat negatively by the Nobel committee!
For a man who supposedly abhorred the US getting involved in overseas conflict he seems to be rather keen on them and ruling more and more by diktat without oversight of congress and the senate.
Another ill ventured conflict. Dubya and Obama must be looking on enviously.
Exactly what military threat did Venezuela pose to the USA ?
I expect the spineless GOP to do fxck all and find a way to justify this action .
Good question, OI'L go and investigate it for you.
Apparently Trump has accused MAduro of 'emptying his prisons and insane asylums and forcing the inmates to migrate to the US.'
I'm getting strong vibes of Sir Mortimer Chris...
Never in his wildest dreams could Maduro have expected the asylum inmates would migrate into top jobs in Washington....
I was listening to a discussion of the internal politics of the GOP recently and it was argued that attacking Venezuela was one of the few things that the whole GOP could agree on. The MAGA isolationists are in favour because it's seen as part of controlling the border from drug and people trafficking. The neocons are in favour because of the oil. The Monroe doctrine traditionalists are in favour because they see Maduro as an important link, with Cuba, of the anti-American forces in the Western hemisphere.
So there's something for everyone with an attack on Venezuela.
Including regime change, another favourite of presidents of the USA.
Trump is doing a three day Special Military Operation in Venezuela, all going to plan?
Maduro is a nasty piece of work. A crook, a failure, a drug pusher, a fat Fascist and a politician the world would be much better off without. Even worse than Chavez, who was no angel despite the adoration some rather foolish lefties on the west heaped on him.
But invading other countries to take out criminal scum of leaders is never a good idea, even if done for altruistic reasons (which this certainly would not be given Trump is just as corrupt as Maduro). It only ever leads to chaos, more fighting and lasting ill-feeling.
Moreover, attacking Venezuela will only (a) upset China and (b) embolden them over Taiwan. The first is a bit of an ‘oh dear, how sad, never mind’ given compared to Xi even Trump and Maduro are honest and decent human beings. The second would be a major disaster all around.
Unfortunately just getting rid of an utter scumbag like Maduro by force would be just as likely to make things worse rather than better.
Don't mistake Trump's animosity towards China with giving a damn about Taiwan, especially once he has forced the transfer of its chip-making know-how to America and Intel.
Exactly what military threat did Venezuela pose to the USA ?
I expect the spineless GOP to do fxck all and find a way to justify this action .
Good question, OI'L go and investigate it for you.
Apparently Trump has accused MAduro of 'emptying his prisons and insane asylums and forcing the inmates to migrate to the US.'
I'm getting strong vibes of Sir Mortimer Chris...
Never in his wildest dreams could Maduro have expected the asylum inmates would migrate into top jobs in Washington....
I was listening to a discussion of the internal politics of the GOP recently and it was argued that attacking Venezuela was one of the few things that the whole GOP could agree on. The MAGA isolationists are in favour because it's seen as part of controlling the border from drug and people trafficking. The neocons are in favour because of the oil. The Monroe doctrine traditionalists are in favour because they see Maduro as an important link, with Cuba, of the anti-American forces in the Western hemisphere.
So there's something for everyone with an attack on Venezuela.
And for Trump, there's a useful distraction from Epstein.
Has Vance leaked his views through an unsecured chat on Signal yet? That would be useful to know more about.
The Republican senators must be so proud of conforming the appointment of Hegseth.
Ditto most of the rest of Trump's administration.
There must be a chance that impeaching Hegseth would get the required vote.
You underestimate the support amongst the Republicans for finishing once and for all the “War On Drugs”, which despite running since Reagan’s days has resulted in record amounts of drugs ending up in the US, killing over a hundred thousand Americans in 2024 alone.
And this isn’t going to finish once and for all the War on Drugs.
Has mad man Maduro tried to stage a false flag attack in Caracas? Reports of explosions in Venezuelan capital this evening.
Tempted to put this on r/agedlikemilk
That’s fair. I didn’t expect the Americans to go there on the same day a Chinese delegation was in town.
Apparently the Chinese envoy and Maduro agreed on Defence cooperation. Putin-style this would have been seen as a provocation and a cassus belli for an attack.
Ladbrokes 4/1 on Trump being impeached in 2026 is possibly looking quite good now.
The recent bet365 odds of 4/1 for him winning this year's Nobel Peace Prize maybe rather less so ...
Well he’s somewhat unlikely to be getting the peace prize now.
To be fair, that opportunity probably departed when the USAF bombed Iran on behalf of Israel.
It doesn’t matter how many peace agreements between various nations get signed on your watch, starting wars is viewed somewhat negatively by the Nobel committee!
Maybe Trump saw a TikTok about Kissinger - and thought that if one approach to the Peace Prize doesn’t work…
Anyone who’s got a stockpile of Venezuelan flags is about to make a few bob selling them to the perma outraged Gaza lot.
Depends what happens - if this is just a one off series of strikes, probably not but if it is a prelude to an actual invasion with ground troops moving into Caracas, there will be plenty of anger over here from the usual suspects and others.
It would be analogous to the Russian invasion of Ukraine - an act of illegal aggression against another sovereign country. It would be right to criticise such an action.
Do you think invading other countries is a good idea?
Ladbrokes 4/1 on Trump being impeached in 2026 is possibly looking quite good now.
The recent bet365 odds of 4/1 for him winning this year's Nobel Peace Prize maybe rather less so ...
Well he’s somewhat unlikely to be getting the peace prize now.
To be fair, that opportunity probably departed when the USAF bombed Iran on behalf of Israel.
It doesn’t matter how many peace agreements between various nations get signed on your watch, starting wars is viewed somewhat negatively by the Nobel committee!
In unrelated news, Trump this week became the first non-Israeli awarded the Israel prize, to put alongside his Fifa peace prize.
Anyone who’s got a stockpile of Venezuelan flags is about to make a few bob selling them to the perma outraged Gaza lot.
Depends what happens - if this is just a one off series of strikes, probably not but if it is a prelude to an actual invasion with ground troops moving into Caracas, there will be plenty of anger over here from the usual suspects and others.
It would be analogous to the Russian invasion of Ukraine - an act of illegal aggression against another sovereign country. It would be right to criticise such an action.
Do you think invading other countries is a good idea?
Comments
https://x.com/KaterynaLis/status/2006486773720035416
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wisdY2kD_cY
Mr fucking peace prize is apparently invading Venezuela. No, I do not want to discuss it.
BREAKING: Trump administration officials are aware of reports of explosions and aircraft over Venezuela's capital Caracas early this morning, sources tell @CBSNews. No official comment yet.
A well argued and illustrated piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdXVX-qfvz4
You have to go through Congress for anything resembling this type of war. Round up Massie and Paul types and have him removed. The people in this administration are on actual drugs and have insatiable bloodlust and bespoke mental illnesses. He has to go, and everybody with him.
Colombia's president, @petrogustavo: "Right now they are bombing Caracas. Alert to the whole world, they have attacked Venezuela. They are bombing with missiles. The OAS and the UN must meet immediately."
IT WAS IRONY, GUYS - NOT A FUCKING MANIFESTO!!
No one likes us, I don't know why
We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try
And all around, even our old friends put us down
Let's drop the big one and see what happens
We give them money, but are they grateful?
No, they're spiteful and they're hateful
They don't respect us, so let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them
Asia's crowded, Europe's too old
Africa is far too hot and Canada's too cold
And South America stole our name
Let's drop the big one, there'll be no one left to blame us
We'll save Australia
Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo
We'll build an all-American amusement park there
They got surfing too
Boom goes London, boom Paris
More room for you and more room for me
And every city the whole world 'round
Will just be another American town
Oh, how peaceful it'll be
We'll set everybody free
You wear a Japanese kimono, babe
There'll be Italian shoes for me
They all hate us anyhow
So let's drop the big one now
Let's drop the big one now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAuxKe1vyls
@CBSNews
: President Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela including military facilities, U.S. officials said, as the administration early Saturday ratcheted up its campaign against the regime of President Nicolás Maduro.
just thinking about every american media outlet that said something along the lines of "legal experts say there is likely no legal basis for bombing venezuelan boats" and not HEY THIS IS FUCKING ILLEGAL AND AGGRESSIVE
But invading other countries to take out criminal scum of leaders is never a good idea, even if done for altruistic reasons (which this certainly would not be given Trump is just as corrupt as Maduro). It only ever leads to chaos, more fighting and lasting ill-feeling.
Moreover, attacking Venezuela will only (a) upset China and (b) embolden them over Taiwan. The first is a bit of an ‘oh dear, how sad, never mind’ given compared to Xi even Trump and Maduro are honest and decent human beings. The second would be a major disaster all around.
Unfortunately just getting rid of an utter scumbag like Maduro by force would be just as likely to make things worse rather than better.
It’s a dark night when you look at the news and are forced to admit that you no longer believe in the power of the FIFA peace prize
Say it ain’t so…
Hold tight everyone!
https://x.com/visegrad24/status/2007346372539015213
https://x.com/sentdefender/status/2007337456769826973
Realises it isn’t.
Slowly steps away.
Scoop: Trump gave the U.S. military the green light to conduct land strikes in Venezuela days ago, U.S. officials told
@CBSNews
. U.S. was ready on Christmas day but airstrikes in Nigeria against ISIS targets took precedence, sources said. The days following Christmas opened more potential strike windows but the operation was postponed partly due to weather. U.S. military wanted weather conditions that were advantageous to mission success.
https://x.com/ragipsoylu/status/2007345823118700606?s=61&t=LYVEHh2mqFy1oUJAdCfe-Q
He probably assumes China won't get too exercised about America in its sphere, if he is willing to allow China (and Russia) a free hand in their spheres (as defined in his rather low powered brain).
In this he is almost certainly wrong given however much Xi desires Taiwan it doesn't have cheap oil in it.
I'll file that under 'not happening.' Too many will look at the fate of Marjorie Taylor Greene and behave like cowards.
Remember, if Mitch McConnell had held his nerve and voted to convict Trump in 2021, the rest of the Republican Senate caucus would have followed and Trump would not be President now.
One of the more alarming features of Trump's rule is just how far and how easily he has captured the various institutions who should be controlling him. It's the crucial difference between him and Nixon (well, that and the fact Nixon was out for power to put it to his own ends, not always moral but usually based on his assessment of America's needs, while Trump is out for his own gratification and personal greed with no actual agenda).
- a swing to the Democrats that is to impossible
- the Democrats to find a spine
- the Republicans to find a spine
Probably all together, at the same time.
Well, actually, looking at the map and remembering the number of Republican states that indulge in fairly blatant vote rigging it doesn't apply until hell freezes over.
I expect the spineless GOP to do fxck all and find a way to justify this action .
Should add that quite a few of the House Republicans are staring at defeat in the mid-terms. Trump won't have the same hold over them that he once did.
Yemen
Nigeria
Iran
Venezuela
Plus threats to
Gaza
Canada
Greenland
Ukraine
And that's just the first twelve months of his second term.
He doesn't seem to have done anything in Sudan so far - or have I missed something? (There's a conflict nobody's willing to comment on at all.)
I'm getting strong vibes of Sir Mortimer Chris...
But there are ways and ways of dealing with that, and if Trump really is planning an invasion he's chosen the wrong one.
I've also just started Series 1 of Red Eye (wasn't aware of it when it came out) - so far so good.
And the final two series of Seaside Hotel are now available on Ch 4, so I've got those lined up too.
https://x.com/nstrike1231/status/2007361875118301481
That escalates things somewhat if confirmed.
And not worked.
It won’t be tried again unless there is a real possibility of conviction.
And there is none.
That's worrying both because he's the most powerful man in the world and I don't want to feel as though I'm as addled as he is.
When told to.
To be fair, that opportunity probably departed when the USAF bombed Iran on behalf of Israel.
It doesn’t matter how many peace agreements between various nations get signed on your watch, starting wars is viewed somewhat negatively by the Nobel committee!
Ditto most of the rest of Trump's administration.
There must be a chance that impeaching Hegseth would get the required vote.
So there's something for everyone with an attack on Venezuela.
Another ill ventured conflict. Dubya and Obama must be looking on enviously.
That's Caracas!
Has Vance leaked his views through an unsecured chat on Signal yet? That would be useful to know more about.
'Look, Mr President, when I said you needed to do something about the excess use of drugs, I meant your constant overdosing on aspirin.'
They have no interest in actually stopping the war, only in presenting UK, US, and Israel, as the bad guys.
Just spotting a commercial opportunity for the commercially astute. All for a good bit of entrepreneurialism. Admirable really.
It would be analogous to the Russian invasion of Ukraine - an act of illegal aggression against another sovereign country. It would be right to criticise such an action.
Do you think invading other countries is a good idea?
Only 3rd January and Trump has gone 'Caracus' in Venezuela
Trump is a walking, talking, acting, total liability to the World as we knew it and frankly there seems nothing anyone can do to control him
Horrible start to year with tragic fire in Switzerland, drownings in the seas around our coasts, Iran on the brink, and now this
One thing we can predict is everything is unpredictable