Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
We are very fortunate that right now the only conventional threat we face is Russia and that they have exhausted themselves fighting Ukraine. It gives us time to build the kind of force that is necessary to protect Europe. The position was very different during the Cold War when we were totally dependent upon the US umbrella.
What we need to do is ensure that our kit is not dependent upon US supply or software, that we can protect our telecommunications, power lines and supplies of necessary imports and that we have freedom of action and choice. I see it more as a psychological issue than a fiscal one. We are more likely to be investing in Chip manufacture than military kit. Its time for us to think for ourselves again now that the "adults" have clearly gone doolally and can no longer be trusted.
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
I feel like it’s you who is the pathetic one. Either we have a nation we are willing to defend or we don’t. The rest is fiddling while Rome burns.
Maybe time to bet on Rubio as the next President/Republican nominee.
Only if all this doesn't go tits up in a few months time.
Edit: added:
Andrew Neil @afneil The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no. Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery. He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.
Handing the country over to the opposition would be the surest way to ensure it goes tits up because of the temptation for retribution against members of the former regime. It's much safer to work with figures from the existing government. Haven't we learnt the lesson that forced 'democratisation' doesn't work?
Its possible that Trump has Machado on his hit list for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize instead of himself.
She didn't win the much more coveted FIFIA Peace Prize though did she?
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
Trump throws Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado under the bus, saying she’s “a very nice lady” but doesn’t have the support or respect in Venezuela to lead the country. https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.” https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
New UK statement on Venezuela. In line with European allies, it welcomes the end of the Maduro regime while very gently expressing doubts about legality
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“The UK has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela. We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate President and we shed no tears about the end of his regime.
“I reiterated my support for international law this morning. The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”
Maybe time to bet on Rubio as the next President/Republican nominee.
Only if all this doesn't go tits up in a few months time.
Edit: added:
Andrew Neil @afneil The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no. Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery. He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.
I don't know how seriously we should take the statements about Trump running Venezuela. Supposedly his Gaza peace plan was going to involve him heading up a Board of Peace that would run Gaza and that is going precisely nowhere.
Trump says a lot of stuff that sounds good to him in the moment and it's anyone's guess as to what is consequential or not. I would therefore suggest that it would be a big waste of time for most European leaders to engage with this. Most of the time it would be a wild goose chase after Trump's latest flight of fancy.
Concentrate on the task at hand. Win the war against Russia (and sort out the economy and other issues).
Trump throws Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado under the bus, saying she’s “a very nice lady” but doesn’t have the support or respect in Venezuela to lead the country. https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.” https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
“Run properly” means ensuring Trump’s friends get all the profits.
I wonder what is the cost/benefit* analysis on this ?
*Cost to the US/benefit to the Trump crime family
He's obsessed with oil. WTI is only ≈ $57.
The world is awash with the stuff while it actually moves at pace to solar and batteries.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
He is fixated on “cheap oil = popularity”
Make oil too cheap and the American frackers will be looking at their business plans. Vote Trump, go green.
Despite claims that “fracking” would be uneconomic below oil price “x”, the industry has proved to be rather resilient.
In addition Venezuelan oil requires quite of effort (in the main) to extract. Increasing production there will be insanely expensive. And produce oil that most refineries won’t want.
Maybe time to bet on Rubio as the next President/Republican nominee.
Only if all this doesn't go tits up in a few months time.
Edit: added:
Andrew Neil @afneil The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no. Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery. He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.
I don't know how seriously we should take the statements about Trump running Venezuela. Supposedly his Gaza peace plan was going to involve him heading up a Board of Peace that would run Gaza and that is going precisely nowhere.
Trump says a lot of stuff that sounds good to him in the moment and it's anyone's guess as to what is consequential or not. I would therefore suggest that it would be a big waste of time for most European leaders to engage with this. Most of the time it would be a wild goose chase after Trump's latest flight of fancy.
Concentrate on the task at hand. Win the war against Russia (and sort out the economy and other issues).
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
We are very fortunate that right now the only conventional threat we face is Russia and that they have exhausted themselves fighting Ukraine. It gives us time to build the kind of force that is necessary to protect Europe. The position was very different during the Cold War when we were totally dependent upon the US umbrella.
What we need to do is ensure that our kit is not dependent upon US supply or software, that we can protect our telecommunications, power lines and supplies of necessary imports and that we have freedom of action and choice. I see it more as a psychological issue than a fiscal one. We are more likely to be investing in Chip manufacture than military kit. Its time for us to think for ourselves again now that the "adults" have clearly gone doolally and can no longer be trusted.
There's zero sign that anyone in government is listening and the only European countries who seem to get it are pretty much bordering Russia. The idea that this can be done at minimal cost makes me wonder just who's gone doolally here. I see Starmer's just about caved already and is back at Trump's rump with his tongue!😂
Maybe time to bet on Rubio as the next President/Republican nominee.
Only if all this doesn't go tits up in a few months time.
Edit: added:
Andrew Neil @afneil The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no. Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery. He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.
I don't know how seriously we should take the statements about Trump running Venezuela. Supposedly his Gaza peace plan was going to involve him heading up a Board of Peace that would run Gaza and that is going precisely nowhere.
Trump says a lot of stuff that sounds good to him in the moment and it's anyone's guess as to what is consequential or not. I would therefore suggest that it would be a big waste of time for most European leaders to engage with this. Most of the time it would be a wild goose chase after Trump's latest flight of fancy.
Concentrate on the task at hand. Win the war against Russia (and sort out the economy and other issues).
Trump doesn't know what the fuck he's doing!
Yes he does. He's discovered that, as President, it doesn't matter how much of a mess he makes, he can still make money off it, and no one can touch him.
I wonder what is the cost/benefit* analysis on this ?
*Cost to the US/benefit to the Trump crime family
He's obsessed with oil. WTI is only ≈ $57.
The world is awash with the stuff while it actually moves at pace to solar and batteries.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
He is fixated on “cheap oil = popularity”
Make oil too cheap and the American frackers will be looking at their business plans. Vote Trump, go green.
Despite claims that “fracking” would be uneconomic below oil price “x”, the industry has proved to be rather resilient.
In addition Venezuelan oil requires quite of effort (in the main) to extract. Increasing production there will be insanely expensive. And produce oil that most refineries won’t want.
If it were sold cheaply enough to e.g. India it would help undermine Putin.
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
Armchair warmongers? Putin started the war!
The Realist position is that Ukraine should have accepted being defeated by Russia at the start. Day 3 of the SMO.
Zelensky could have been a celebrity on the fringe meetings at the edge of international summits (not allowed in the main meetings) - lauded by opinion writers in the New Statesman for his defiant, ineffectual opposition.
Much hand wringing about Putin doing to Ukraine what he did to Chechnya, interspersed with negotiations for more gas via Nord Stream 2.
Moulton: "When we had briefings on Venezuela, we asked, 'Are you going to invade the country?' We were told no. 'Do you plan to put troops on the ground in Venezuela?' We were told no. 'Do you intend regime change in Venezuela?' We were told no. So in a sense, we have been briefed, we have just been completely lied to." https://x.com/atrupar/status/2007512606215414232
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
I don’t think we are willing to pay the price, no
Enough politicians and voters have worked out that 90+% of any extra money given to the MoD will be wasted to zero effect.
You seem to be a useful guy in a fight though. Perhaps fisticuffs, perhaps engineering, I think you'd be better than average. So the MoD does do some spending that is worthwhile.
I knew how to smack a c-nt and corner balance a car before the MoD ever got their mits on me. I did learn a lot though but any extra money will go to decade spanning giga projects that produce nothing in particular very quickly (Ajax, GCAP, FSS, etc.) rather the personal development of gentleman thugs.
If we did suffer an episode of national brain damage and decided to increase the defence budget, I guaran-fucking-tee they would firehouse money into increasing the scope and complexity of existing projects rather than stockpiling ammo.
Maybe time to bet on Rubio as the next President/Republican nominee.
Only if all this doesn't go tits up in a few months time.
Edit: added:
Andrew Neil @afneil The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no. Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery. He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.
I don't know how seriously we should take the statements about Trump running Venezuela. Supposedly his Gaza peace plan was going to involve him heading up a Board of Peace that would run Gaza and that is going precisely nowhere.
Trump says a lot of stuff that sounds good to him in the moment and it's anyone's guess as to what is consequential or not. I would therefore suggest that it would be a big waste of time for most European leaders to engage with this. Most of the time it would be a wild goose chase after Trump's latest flight of fancy.
Concentrate on the task at hand. Win the war against Russia (and sort out the economy and other issues).
Trump doesn't know what the fuck he's doing!
Yes he does. He's discovered that, as President, it doesn't matter how much of a mess he makes, he can still make money off it, and no one can touch him.
Maybe time to bet on Rubio as the next President/Republican nominee.
Only if all this doesn't go tits up in a few months time.
Edit: added:
Andrew Neil @afneil The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no. Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery. He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.
I don't know how seriously we should take the statements about Trump running Venezuela. Supposedly his Gaza peace plan was going to involve him heading up a Board of Peace that would run Gaza and that is going precisely nowhere.
Trump says a lot of stuff that sounds good to him in the moment and it's anyone's guess as to what is consequential or not. I would therefore suggest that it would be a big waste of time for most European leaders to engage with this. Most of the time it would be a wild goose chase after Trump's latest flight of fancy.
Concentrate on the task at hand. Win the war against Russia (and sort out the economy and other issues).
Trump doesn't know what the fuck he's doing!
Yes he does. He's discovered that, as President, it doesn't matter how much of a mess he makes, he can still make money off it, and no one can touch him.
Maybe time to bet on Rubio as the next President/Republican nominee.
Only if all this doesn't go tits up in a few months time.
Edit: added:
Andrew Neil @afneil The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no. Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery. He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.
I don't know how seriously we should take the statements about Trump running Venezuela. Supposedly his Gaza peace plan was going to involve him heading up a Board of Peace that would run Gaza and that is going precisely nowhere.
Trump says a lot of stuff that sounds good to him in the moment and it's anyone's guess as to what is consequential or not. I would therefore suggest that it would be a big waste of time for most European leaders to engage with this. Most of the time it would be a wild goose chase after Trump's latest flight of fancy.
Concentrate on the task at hand. Win the war against Russia (and sort out the economy and other issues).
Trump doesn't know what the fuck he's doing!
Yes he does. He's discovered that, as President, it doesn't matter how much of a mess he makes, he can still make money off it, and no one can touch him.
Maybe time to bet on Rubio as the next President/Republican nominee.
Only if all this doesn't go tits up in a few months time.
Edit: added:
Andrew Neil @afneil The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no. Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery. He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.
I don't know how seriously we should take the statements about Trump running Venezuela. Supposedly his Gaza peace plan was going to involve him heading up a Board of Peace that would run Gaza and that is going precisely nowhere.
Trump says a lot of stuff that sounds good to him in the moment and it's anyone's guess as to what is consequential or not. I would therefore suggest that it would be a big waste of time for most European leaders to engage with this. Most of the time it would be a wild goose chase after Trump's latest flight of fancy.
Concentrate on the task at hand. Win the war against Russia (and sort out the economy and other issues).
Trump doesn't know what the fuck he's doing!
Yes he does. He's discovered that, as President, it doesn't matter how much of a mess he makes, he can still make money off it, and no one can touch him.
Maybe time to bet on Rubio as the next President/Republican nominee.
Only if all this doesn't go tits up in a few months time.
Edit: added:
Andrew Neil @afneil The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no. Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery. He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.
I don't know how seriously we should take the statements about Trump running Venezuela. Supposedly his Gaza peace plan was going to involve him heading up a Board of Peace that would run Gaza and that is going precisely nowhere.
Trump says a lot of stuff that sounds good to him in the moment and it's anyone's guess as to what is consequential or not. I would therefore suggest that it would be a big waste of time for most European leaders to engage with this. Most of the time it would be a wild goose chase after Trump's latest flight of fancy.
Concentrate on the task at hand. Win the war against Russia (and sort out the economy and other issues).
Trump doesn't know what the fuck he's doing!
Yes he does. He's discovered that, as President, it doesn't matter how much of a mess he makes, he can still make money off it, and no one can touch him.
Starmer is in a tough spot after expending lots of energy buttering up Trump. He can't win any which way he turns. On strategy for dealing with Trump, I don't envy Starmer and I don't really criticise him because its a nightmare.
Macron not getting himself dragged down into upholding international law leading to the question about if it was broken.
The Venezuelan people are today rid of Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship and can only rejoice. By seizing power and trampling on fundamental freedoms, Nicolás Maduro gravely undermined the dignity of his own people. The upcoming transition must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people. We wish that President Edmundo González Urrutia, elected in 2024, can swiftly ensure this transition.
I am currently exchanging with our partners in the region. France is fully mobilized and vigilant, including to ensure the safety of its nationals during these uncertain times.
Of course they did. I can understand delaying coming to that public conclusion until he's heard the official excuse for their action from the administration, but beyond that, it would be craven to pretend otherwise.
Lets hope Trump doesn't get the wrong end of the stick about a reports of Little Nuke in London and it if carries on it for another 15 minutes could be all over.
Maybe time to bet on Rubio as the next President/Republican nominee.
Only if all this doesn't go tits up in a few months time.
Edit: added:
Andrew Neil @afneil The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no. Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery. He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.
I don't know how seriously we should take the statements about Trump running Venezuela. Supposedly his Gaza peace plan was going to involve him heading up a Board of Peace that would run Gaza and that is going precisely nowhere.
Trump says a lot of stuff that sounds good to him in the moment and it's anyone's guess as to what is consequential or not. I would therefore suggest that it would be a big waste of time for most European leaders to engage with this. Most of the time it would be a wild goose chase after Trump's latest flight of fancy.
Concentrate on the task at hand. Win the war against Russia (and sort out the economy and other issues).
Trump doesn't know what the fuck he's doing!
Yes he does. He's discovered that, as President, it doesn't matter how much of a mess he makes, he can still make money off it, and no one can touch him.
It is craven, but unfortunately that cravenness is on the national interest.
SKS can't say the US actions are fine, because they totes aren't.
But the UK government can't afford to piss off the tangerine toddler by telling the truth out loud.
I understand the argument and I do not doubt for a second that Starmer's real views are a long way from the public face he thinks he need to put forward. I simply do not agree with it. Whether it is Canada, Greenland, tariffs or this invasion we do ourselves no favours by pretending this is acceptable and we simply lay the ground for the next outrage.
Has the Trump administration done a deal with her, and this is just political cosplay ?
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez signaled a willingness to negotiate with the United States: "We are willing to have respectful relations. It's the only thing we will accept for a type of relationship after having attacked [Venezuela]". -AP https://x.com/osint1117/status/2007541961054650545
Or are they just straight up occupying the country ?
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
I don’t think we are willing to pay the price, no
Enough politicians and voters have worked out that 90+% of any extra money given to the MoD will be wasted to zero effect.
You seem to be a useful guy in a fight though. Perhaps fisticuffs, perhaps engineering, I think you'd be better than average. So the MoD does do some spending that is worthwhile.
I knew how to smack a c-nt and corner balance a car before the MoD ever got their mits on me. I did learn a lot though but any extra money will go to decade spanning giga projects that produce nothing in particular very quickly (Ajax, GCAP, FSS, etc.) rather the personal development of gentleman thugs.
If we did suffer an episode of national brain damage and decided to increase the defence budget, I guaran-fucking-tee they would firehouse money into increasing the scope and complexity of existing projects rather than stockpiling ammo.
I'm reading an account of the bombing in WW2. We, the British, managed to produce more bombs than our aircraft could deliver, and the Germans produced more aircraft than than they had bombs for. I learn no lessons from this, but I do find it interesting.
You surely wouldn’t want Starmer to answer a question on morality, before the Supreme Court (to whom he outsourced his beliefs) rules?
Well, yes I would, actually. The longer we go on pretending that the way Trump behaves is somehow ok the more damage he will do.
But, for the PM to insource his moral compass… an enquiry would be needed first. Then a white paper. Then initial legislation could be presented. Then secondary legislation. Then the legal challenges.
Starmer is a useless Prime Minister, but I really don't see a problem with him not committing to Trump's (mis?) adventure.
Don't forget Laura Kuennsberg is a political foe and hostile to Starmer.
Even if she weren't, she is someone who sees politics as a game and a spectator sport. Who is up, who is down? Who can be skewered to give clips for the Sunday evening bulletins?
There are times when "Is there anything else you wish to tell us, Prime Minister?/No" is the sensible way to go, even though it makes for a terrible bit of rolling news. Right now, this is one of those times.
You surely wouldn’t want Starmer to answer a question on morality, before the Supreme Court (to whom he outsourced his beliefs) rules?
Well, yes I would, actually. The longer we go on pretending that the way Trump behaves is somehow ok the more damage he will do.
But, for the PM to insource his moral compass… an enquiry would be needed first. Then a white paper. Then initial legislation could be presented. Then secondary legislation. Then the legal challenges.
15 years, 300 million?
I assume you mean 300 million a year? Barely worth troubling the corridors of even a minor chambers otherwise.
It is craven, but unfortunately that cravenness is on the national interest.
SKS can't say the US actions are fine, because they totes aren't.
But the UK government can't afford to piss off the tangerine toddler by telling the truth out loud.
I understand the argument and I do not doubt for a second that Starmer's real views are a long way from the public face he thinks he need to put forward. I simply do not agree with it. Whether it is Canada, Greenland, tariffs or this invasion we do ourselves no favours by pretending this is acceptable and we simply lay the ground for the next outrage.
It's the price a nation pays for being weak. And the UK has spent decades voting to make itself weaker by prioritising consumption now over investment.
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
I don’t think we are willing to pay the price, no
Enough politicians and voters have worked out that 90+% of any extra money given to the MoD will be wasted to zero effect.
You seem to be a useful guy in a fight though. Perhaps fisticuffs, perhaps engineering, I think you'd be better than average. So the MoD does do some spending that is worthwhile.
I knew how to smack a c-nt and corner balance a car before the MoD ever got their mits on me. I did learn a lot though but any extra money will go to decade spanning giga projects that produce nothing in particular very quickly (Ajax, GCAP, FSS, etc.) rather the personal development of gentleman thugs.
If we did suffer an episode of national brain damage and decided to increase the defence budget, I guaran-fucking-tee they would firehouse money into increasing the scope and complexity of existing projects rather than stockpiling ammo.
I'm reading an account of the bombing in WW2. We, the British, managed to produce more bombs than our aircraft could deliver, and the Germans produced more aircraft than than they had bombs for. I learn no lessons from this, but I do find it interesting.
Early in the war, Bomber Command ran out on a few occasions. They over compensated, slightly, later on.
New UK statement on Venezuela. In line with European allies, it welcomes the end of the Maduro regime while very gently expressing doubts about legality
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“The UK has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela. We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate President and we shed no tears about the end of his regime.
“I reiterated my support for international law this morning. The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”
Earlier on when I was out GB News were cross that we were coordinating with our allies.
Essentially, "Europe is made up of sovereign countries and we should all have our own opinions (Ug!)".
New UK statement on Venezuela. In line with European allies, it welcomes the end of the Maduro regime while very gently expressing doubts about legality
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“The UK has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela. We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate President and we shed no tears about the end of his regime.
“I reiterated my support for international law this morning. The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”
Earlier on when I was out GB News were cross that we were coordinating with our allies.
Essentially, "Europe is made up of sovereign countries and we should all have our own opinions (Ug!)".
An emerging dynamic is that European liberals are finding more agreement with Le Pen on this question than with the likes of Macron, Merz and Starmer.
Well Venezuela has certainly taken away any focus that was being shown to Iran.
Reports of major government violence today.
This is Ilam Province. It is a bloodbath. Security forces are shooting, arresting, and disappearing people in the streets. Children are being taken. Families are being terrorized. Entire towns are under siege. And the world barely whispers. https://x.com/__Injaneb96/status/2007530046190449132
I used to do a lot of photography (mostly on the cheap) and I would have been embarrassed to use that as a set. I've seen rural am-dram theatre with higher production values.
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
Trump throws Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado under the bus, saying she’s “a very nice lady” but doesn’t have the support or respect in Venezuela to lead the country. https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.” https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
Trump could’ve sat back and gone, ‘Look at this great military operation. We’ve got Maduro. Venezuela can sort itself out.’ Big political win.
Instead, presumably through literal senility, he has made all sorts of claims that are unrelated to the facts on the ground. His idea that he now controls Venezuela is either going to prove nonsense, or he’s going to have to commit US military forces to make it true in a manner that will piss off many voters.
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
Maybe time to bet on Rubio as the next President/Republican nominee.
Only if all this doesn't go tits up in a few months time.
Edit: added:
Andrew Neil @afneil The Abduction of Maduro and his wife was brilliantly executed by the US military. It should have paved the way to handing over the country to the Opposition who won the election in 2024 but Maduro nullified. But no. Trump says he and his sidekicks will run Venezuela for the foreseeable future. How that will happen when the US is nowhere in Venezuela at the moment is a mystery. He hasn’t even talked to legitimate and popular opposition leaders. A brilliant military extraction is being turned into a future fraught with danger, with potential disaster written all over it.
I don't know how seriously we should take the statements about Trump running Venezuela. Supposedly his Gaza peace plan was going to involve him heading up a Board of Peace that would run Gaza and that is going precisely nowhere.
Trump says a lot of stuff that sounds good to him in the moment and it's anyone's guess as to what is consequential or not. I would therefore suggest that it would be a big waste of time for most European leaders to engage with this. Most of the time it would be a wild goose chase after Trump's latest flight of fancy.
Concentrate on the task at hand. Win the war against Russia (and sort out the economy and other issues).
Trump doesn't know what the fuck he's doing!
Yes he does. He's discovered that, as President, it doesn't matter how much of a mess he makes, he can still make money off it, and no one can touch him.
Like Biden
No.
Of course he did.
Pantomime season is over. Just saying.
Pantomime season is not over.
Things are happening in Barnet, for the benefit of Taz, and Wallles.
I used to do a lot of photography (mostly on the cheap) and I would have been embarrassed to use that as a set. I've seen rural am-dram theatre with higher production values.
IIRC, under Reagan, some senior politicians visited the National Military Command Centre. I think it was not long after War Games came out.
They were so shocked that it didn’t have lots of shiny big screen, computers etc. that they gave them a huge budget increase to fix that.
It is craven, but unfortunately that cravenness is on the national interest.
SKS can't say the US actions are fine, because they totes aren't.
But the UK government can't afford to piss off the tangerine toddler by telling the truth out loud.
He can't keep ducking such questions. Does Starmer really intend to bite his tongue if Trump attacks Greenland or Canada?
Yes he can, he's a KC specialising in civil cases before becoming DPP. Ducking questions or providing answers of such labyrinthine ambiguity nobody can understand them is how he makes his living.
Trump throws Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado under the bus, saying she’s “a very nice lady” but doesn’t have the support or respect in Venezuela to lead the country. https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.” https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
Trump could’ve sat back and gone, ‘Look at this great military operation. We’ve got Maduro. Venezuela can sort itself out.’ Big political win.
Instead, presumably through literal senility, he has made all sorts of claims that are unrelated to the facts on the ground. His idea that he now controls Venezuela is either going to prove nonsense, or he’s going to have to commit US military forces to make it true in a manner that will piss off many voters.
One wild option.
1. Venezuela to borrow against whatever assets exist. 2. Pay "compensation never paid for nationalisation of US oil companies" assets in Venezuela. 3. Commission goes via crypto to plenipotentiary Trump.
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
It means cuts in the NHS and welfare budgets.
That's where the big money is.
As long as by “welfare”, you mean pensions.
Pensions is the biggest part of it.
The average British voter couldn't care loss about what happens to Venezuala.
Now they might be willing to sacrifice a bit of spending to fund extra defence against Putin but only if all other NATO nations are willing to do the same and certainly not if it means big cuts to their pensions and the NHS and Labour backbenchers vetoed even the welfare reforms Reeves proposed. Indeed Labour actually scrapped the 2 child benefit cap despite the fact it was one welfare spend most voters were not opposed to not having
Lets hope Trump doesn't get the wrong end of the stick about a reports of Little Nuke in London and it if carries on it for another 15 minutes could be all over.
147 check out to take the title and a million quid.
Trump throws Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado under the bus, saying she’s “a very nice lady” but doesn’t have the support or respect in Venezuela to lead the country. https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.” https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
Trump could’ve sat back and gone, ‘Look at this great military operation. We’ve got Maduro. Venezuela can sort itself out.’ Big political win.
Instead, presumably through literal senility, he has made all sorts of claims that are unrelated to the facts on the ground. His idea that he now controls Venezuela is either going to prove nonsense, or he’s going to have to commit US military forces to make it true in a manner that will piss off many voters.
One wild option.
1. Venezuela to borrow against whatever assets exist. 2. Pay "compensation never paid for nationalisation of US oil companies" assets in Venezuela. 3. Commission goes via crypto to plenipotentiary Trump.
Trump throws Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado under the bus, saying she’s “a very nice lady” but doesn’t have the support or respect in Venezuela to lead the country. https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.” https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
Trump could’ve sat back and gone, ‘Look at this great military operation. We’ve got Maduro. Venezuela can sort itself out.’ Big political win.
Instead, presumably through literal senility, he has made all sorts of claims that are unrelated to the facts on the ground. His idea that he now controls Venezuela is either going to prove nonsense, or he’s going to have to commit US military forces to make it true in a manner that will piss off many voters.
One wild option.
1. Venezuela to borrow against whatever assets exist. 2. Pay "compensation never paid for nationalisation of US oil companies" assets in Venezuela. 3. Commission goes via crypto to plenipotentiary Trump.
The Venezuelan regime currently keep all the money for themselves. Why give any of it to Trump?
Trump throws Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado under the bus, saying she’s “a very nice lady” but doesn’t have the support or respect in Venezuela to lead the country. https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.” https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
Trump could’ve sat back and gone, ‘Look at this great military operation. We’ve got Maduro. Venezuela can sort itself out.’ Big political win.
Instead, presumably through literal senility, he has made all sorts of claims that are unrelated to the facts on the ground. His idea that he now controls Venezuela is either going to prove nonsense, or he’s going to have to commit US military forces to make it true in a manner that will piss off many voters.
One wild option.
1. Venezuela to borrow against whatever assets exist. 2. Pay "compensation never paid for nationalisation of US oil companies" assets in Venezuela. 3. Commission goes via crypto to plenipotentiary Trump.
The Venezuelan regime currently keep all the money for themselves. Why give any of it to Trump?
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
Are we willing to pay the price of being fully autonomous from the US?
We're not even willing to increase defence spending just a little bit as it is.
And yet the site is chocabloc with armchair warmongers convinced that people will sacrifice current (not that good) living standards for just this. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad and pathetic. NATO is in disarray and the EU significantly worse!
It means cuts in the NHS and welfare budgets.
That's where the big money is.
As long as by “welfare”, you mean pensions.
Pensions is the biggest part of it.
The average British voter couldn't care loss about what happens to Venezuala.
Now they might be willing to sacrifice a bit of spending to fund extra defence against Putin but only if all other NATO nations are willing to do the same and certainly not if it means big cuts to their pensions and the NHS and Labour backbenchers vetoed even the welfare reforms Reeves proposed. Indeed Labour actually scrapped the 2 child benefit cap despite the fact it was one welfare spend most voters were not opposed to not having
You should know by now HY that there is NO SUCH THING.
Trump throws Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado under the bus, saying she’s “a very nice lady” but doesn’t have the support or respect in Venezuela to lead the country. https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.” https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
Trump could’ve sat back and gone, ‘Look at this great military operation. We’ve got Maduro. Venezuela can sort itself out.’ Big political win.
Instead, presumably through literal senility, he has made all sorts of claims that are unrelated to the facts on the ground. His idea that he now controls Venezuela is either going to prove nonsense, or he’s going to have to commit US military forces to make it true in a manner that will piss off many voters.
I don't really understand it, and it looks like a huge mess in the making (assuming the Trump circus doesn't just move on and forget about running Venezuela in a couple of days), but on the plus side, if the US is embroiled in a quagmire in Venezuela they'll be too busy to take Greenland. So there's that.
It is craven, but unfortunately that cravenness is on the national interest.
SKS can't say the US actions are fine, because they totes aren't.
But the UK government can't afford to piss off the tangerine toddler by telling the truth out loud.
He can't keep ducking such questions. Does Starmer really intend to bite his tongue if Trump attacks Greenland or Canada?
Has Trump attacked Greenland or Canada?
@williamglenn who first criticised Starmer for sitting on the fence as "weak, weak, weak" will be the first to condemn Starmer as a Maduro shill if Starmer were to criticise (as Davey has demanded) Trump for driving a coach and horses through international diplomatic etiquettes.
Piss Trump off and Starmer could be next. We already have a little helper ready to take on the mantle of Governor General.
Trump throws Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado under the bus, saying she’s “a very nice lady” but doesn’t have the support or respect in Venezuela to lead the country. https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.” https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
Trump could’ve sat back and gone, ‘Look at this great military operation. We’ve got Maduro. Venezuela can sort itself out.’ Big political win.
Instead, presumably through literal senility, he has made all sorts of claims that are unrelated to the facts on the ground. His idea that he now controls Venezuela is either going to prove nonsense, or he’s going to have to commit US military forces to make it true in a manner that will piss off many voters.
One wild option.
1. Venezuela to borrow against whatever assets exist. 2. Pay "compensation never paid for nationalisation of US oil companies" assets in Venezuela. 3. Commission goes via crypto to plenipotentiary Trump.
The Venezuelan regime currently keep all the money for themselves. Why give any of it to Trump?
Same reason that shopkeepers donate to Community Organisations in Northern Ireland.
Much cheaper than having your house burnt down. With you in it.
Trump throws Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado under the bus, saying she’s “a very nice lady” but doesn’t have the support or respect in Venezuela to lead the country. https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.” https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
Trump could’ve sat back and gone, ‘Look at this great military operation. We’ve got Maduro. Venezuela can sort itself out.’ Big political win.
Instead, presumably through literal senility, he has made all sorts of claims that are unrelated to the facts on the ground. His idea that he now controls Venezuela is either going to prove nonsense, or he’s going to have to commit US military forces to make it true in a manner that will piss off many voters.
One wild option.
1. Venezuela to borrow against whatever assets exist. 2. Pay "compensation never paid for nationalisation of US oil companies" assets in Venezuela. 3. Commission goes via crypto to plenipotentiary Trump.
The Venezuelan regime currently keep all the money for themselves. Why give any of it to Trump?
Protection money.
I don’t know if there’s been any polling yet, but I presume the US a public are probably reasonably happy (within their usual partisan split) with Maduro’s capture. The op went well; no US casualties. If US forces go back and try to do something more substantial, there’s going to be diplomatic pushback, you start risking US casualties, you lose public support.
Putin’s SMO in Ukraine went badly wrong, but Russia was already a dictatorship and he was able to tighten the screws further. If Trump’s goes wrong… the US is still mostly a democracy and remember TACO.
So, I ask, is there the stomach to actually wage a meaningful campaign against Venezuela? If there isn’t, then maybe Venezuela doesn’t have much motive to pay protection money.
Or maybe Venezuela work out that they just need to pay off Trump personally and it won’t cost that much, so they do it?
Trump throws Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado under the bus, saying she’s “a very nice lady” but doesn’t have the support or respect in Venezuela to lead the country. https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.” https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
Trump could’ve sat back and gone, ‘Look at this great military operation. We’ve got Maduro. Venezuela can sort itself out.’ Big political win.
Instead, presumably through literal senility, he has made all sorts of claims that are unrelated to the facts on the ground. His idea that he now controls Venezuela is either going to prove nonsense, or he’s going to have to commit US military forces to make it true in a manner that will piss off many voters.
I don't really understand it, and it looks like a huge mess in the making (assuming the Trump circus doesn't just move on and forget about running Venezuela in a couple of days), but on the plus side, if the US is embroiled in a quagmire in Venezuela they'll be too busy to take Greenland. So there's that.
We can go back to the theory that Trump just wants to dominate the headlines every day. So, nothing much changes in Venezuela, Trump ignores everything he said, Fox News ignores everything he said, and Trump moved on to some other way of distracting from the cost of living and Epstein…?
Comments
https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/2007522500549455984
What we need to do is ensure that our kit is not dependent upon US supply or software, that we can protect our telecommunications, power lines and supplies of necessary imports and that we have freedom of action and choice. I see it more as a psychological issue than a fiscal one. We are more likely to be investing in Chip manufacture than military kit. Its time for us to think for ourselves again now that the "adults" have clearly gone doolally and can no longer be trusted.
That's where the big money is.
https://x.com/MeidasTouch/status/2007506064124850655
Sounds like a coherent plan.
“We’re going to be running it with a group,” Trump says when asked who is in charge of Venezuela and how the U.S. is going to run it. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground…We don’t mind saying it. We’re going to make sure that country is run properly.”
https://x.com/kaitlancollins/status/2007501761389703615
New UK statement on Venezuela. In line with European allies, it welcomes the end of the Maduro regime while very gently expressing doubts about legality
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“The UK has long supported a transition of power in Venezuela. We regarded Maduro as an illegitimate President and we shed no tears about the end of his regime.
“I reiterated my support for international law this morning. The UK government will discuss the evolving situation with US counterparts in the days ahead as we seek a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate government that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people.”
In addition Venezuelan oil requires quite of effort (in the main) to extract. Increasing production there will be insanely expensive. And produce oil that most refineries won’t want.
Mission accomplished.
He's discovered that, as President, it doesn't matter how much of a mess he makes, he can still make money off it, and no one can touch him.
Zelensky could have been a celebrity on the fringe meetings at the edge of international summits (not allowed in the main meetings) - lauded by opinion writers in the New Statesman for his defiant, ineffectual opposition.
Much hand wringing about Putin doing to Ukraine what he did to Chechnya, interspersed with negotiations for more gas via Nord Stream 2.
https://x.com/atrupar/status/2007512606215414232
I'm shocked, I tell you.
If we did suffer an episode of national brain damage and decided to increase the defence budget, I guaran-fucking-tee they would firehouse money into increasing the scope and complexity of existing projects rather than stockpiling ammo.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr57mdp0p6do
I hope you're all getting out of the house this weekend. Cold and clear and still (at least here).
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/03/former-labour-mp-and-defence-minister-sir-patrick-duffy-dies-aged-105
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/10/ex-mp-patrick-duffy-103-publishes-memoirs
"Starmer won't be drawn on whether US strikes on Venezuela broke international law"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4qgvwxp08o
These are not serious people
Macron not getting himself dragged down into upholding international law leading to the question about if it was broken.
The Venezuelan people are today rid of Nicolás Maduro’s dictatorship and can only rejoice. By seizing power and trampling on fundamental freedoms, Nicolás Maduro gravely undermined the dignity of his own people. The upcoming transition must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people. We wish that President Edmundo González Urrutia, elected in 2024, can swiftly ensure this transition.
I am currently exchanging with our partners in the region. France is fully mobilized and vigilant, including to ensure the safety of its nationals during these uncertain times.
https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/2007525386977194040?s=20
I can understand delaying coming to that public conclusion until he's heard the official excuse for their action from the administration, but beyond that, it would be craven to pretend otherwise.
SKS can't say the US actions are fine, because they totes aren't.
But the UK government can't afford to piss off the tangerine toddler by telling the truth out loud.
Don't forget Laura Kuennsberg is a political foe and hostile to Starmer.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez signaled a willingness to negotiate with the United States: "We are willing to have respectful relations. It's the only thing we will accept for a type of relationship after having attacked [Venezuela]". -AP
https://x.com/osint1117/status/2007541961054650545
Or are they just straight up occupying the country ?
15 years, 300 million?
There are times when "Is there anything else you wish to tell us, Prime Minister?/No" is the sensible way to go, even though it makes for a terrible bit of rolling news. Right now, this is one of those times.
"The Nazis first invaded Poland on September 1, 1939... and used false pretexts to justify the attack on Poland."
Reports of major government violence today.
Essentially, "Europe is made up of sovereign countries and we should all have our own opinions (Ug!)".
We'd need Venezuela to be carved up with Russia for your analogy to work.
Handy!
That would barely cover a tithe of @TSE’s shoe bill!
It is a bloodbath.
Security forces are shooting, arresting, and disappearing people in the streets.
Children are being taken. Families are being terrorized. Entire towns are under siege. And the world barely whispers.
https://x.com/__Injaneb96/status/2007530046190449132
Also reports on Twitter of some cities losing control to protesters.
I d been following this guy since Covid. Interesting thread and does feel like some momentum now
https://x.com/aliostad/status/2007505080527057076?s=61
Instead, presumably through literal senility, he has made all sorts of claims that are unrelated to the facts on the ground. His idea that he now controls Venezuela is either going to prove nonsense, or he’s going to have to commit US military forces to make it true in a manner that will piss off many voters.
Things are happening in Barnet, for the benefit of Taz, and Wallles.
I thought pb had started doing ads.
[second thoughts and a quick glance in TSE's direction] No offence!
They were so shocked that it didn’t have lots of shiny big screen, computers etc. that they gave them a huge budget increase to fix that.
https://x.com/edwardjdavey/status/2007552510974918747
This cop out isn’t good enough.
Standing up for international law means condemning leaders when they break it, whether that’s Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump.
Rubio on Cuba: It is run by incompetent, senile men
https://x.com/Acyn/status/2007505462074454073
1. Venezuela to borrow against whatever assets exist.
2. Pay "compensation never paid for nationalisation of US oil companies" assets in Venezuela.
3. Commission goes via crypto to plenipotentiary Trump.
Now they might be willing to sacrifice a bit of spending to fund extra defence against Putin but only if all other NATO nations are willing to do the same and certainly not if it means big cuts to their pensions and the NHS and Labour backbenchers vetoed even the welfare reforms Reeves proposed. Indeed Labour actually scrapped the 2 child benefit cap despite the fact it was one welfare spend most voters were not opposed to not having
What a player.
It wasn’t a contest more a procession.
It’s sad we move on from this to the tedious Premier League, a glorified exhibition.
@williamglenn who first criticised Starmer for sitting on the fence as "weak, weak, weak" will be the first to condemn Starmer as a Maduro shill if Starmer were to criticise (as Davey has demanded) Trump for driving a coach and horses through international diplomatic etiquettes.
Piss Trump off and Starmer could be next. We already have a little helper ready to take on the mantle of Governor General.
Much cheaper than having your house burnt down. With you in it.
Putin’s SMO in Ukraine went badly wrong, but Russia was already a dictatorship and he was able to tighten the screws further. If Trump’s goes wrong… the US is still mostly a democracy and remember TACO.
So, I ask, is there the stomach to actually wage a meaningful campaign against Venezuela? If there isn’t, then maybe Venezuela doesn’t have much motive to pay protection money.
Or maybe Venezuela work out that they just need to pay off Trump personally and it won’t cost that much, so they do it?
That's posturing about international law.
To stand up for something you have to take action and be willing to sacrifice something to do so.
So what is Ed Davey willing to sacrifice to stand up for international law.