Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
Take a look at your last sentence.
Don’t miss the OBVIOUS take out - Trump calling on his hated Macron, his hated China, and even more hated Starmer for help with this, is a screeching u-turn of sorts.
So? Trump is unpredictable.
Hence his Chagos U-Turn, and every other one.
Does it tell us anything new? No.
This is different.
From “we don’t need you. The US is the greatest military in the world, under the greatest presidency it’s ever had. We don’t need any carpet bagger joining late, it’s already in the bag.”
to
“Can we have a hand, please.”
is different.
I don't think they really need a hand though. It was many years ago that the UK Navy was overtaken by the US Coastguard in terms of tonnes of vessels at sea. What good are our few leaky tubs going to do? Clearly the US is more than capable of doing this alone, and indeed looks better doing so than asking for help.
Lucky - I suggest don’t believe and certainly don’t join in with the PB herd with the glib hype that the UK Navy is as decrepit and useless as the Starmer government is making it look. We have some amazing state of the art boats, amazing engineers, sailors, and more great boats launch in coming years. Have a look online, our Navy looks amazing.
He’s sitting in a rooftop bar among the beautiful people, first in line to be hit by the Iranians, with free glasses of wine turning up every few minutes…
He’s sitting in a rooftop bar among the beautiful people, first in line to be hit by the Iranians, with free glasses of wine turning up every few minutes…
Because why the fuck not?
I salute your testicular fortitude. You an example to us all
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
Take a look at your last sentence.
Don’t miss the OBVIOUS take out - Trump calling on his hated Macron, his hated China, and even more hated Starmer for help with this, is a screeching u-turn of sorts.
So? Trump is unpredictable.
Hence his Chagos U-Turn, and every other one.
Does it tell us anything new? No.
This is different.
From “we don’t need you. The US is the greatest military in the world, under the greatest presidency it’s ever had. We don’t need any carpet bagger joining late, it’s already in the bag.”
to
“Can we have a hand, please.”
is different.
Our repsonse should not change. YOu made the mess so you clear it up. No help from us. I would hope France would be the same.
The fact that Trump put China first in the list suggests that his call for help is not what it seems. When it's over and he is triumphant, he will be able to claim that those countries owe him for securing their energy supplies.
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
Take a look at your last sentence.
Don’t miss the OBVIOUS take out - Trump calling on his hated Macron, his hated China, and even more hated Starmer for help with this, is a screeching u-turn of sorts.
So? Trump is unpredictable.
Hence his Chagos U-Turn, and every other one.
Does it tell us anything new? No.
This is different.
From “we don’t need you. The US is the greatest military in the world, under the greatest presidency it’s ever had. We don’t need any carpet bagger joining late, it’s already in the bag.”
to
“Can we have a hand, please.”
is different.
I don't think they really need a hand though. It was many years ago that the UK Navy was overtaken by the US Coastguard in terms of tonnes of vessels at sea. What good are our few leaky tubs going to do? Clearly the US is more than capable of doing this alone, and indeed looks better doing so than asking for help.
Lucky - I suggest don’t believe and certainly don’t join in with the PB herd with the glib hype that the UK Navy is as decrepit and useless as the Starmer government is making it look. We have some amazing state of the art boats, amazing engineers, sailors, and more great boats launch in coming years. Have a look online, our Navy looks amazing.
All the more reason to save it for a potential future war on European soil and not to help bail out Trump's war of choice in Iran.
He can open up the Strait whenever he wants by stopping bombing. It's not our fight.
He’s sitting in a rooftop bar among the beautiful people, first in line to be hit by the Iranians, with free glasses of wine turning up every few minutes…
He’s sitting in a rooftop bar among the beautiful people, first in line to be hit by the Iranians, with free glasses of wine turning up every few minutes…
Because why the fuck not?
I salute your testicular fortitude. You an example to us all
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
Take a look at your last sentence.
Don’t miss the OBVIOUS take out - Trump calling on his hated Macron, his hated China, and even more hated Starmer for help with this, is a screeching u-turn of sorts.
So? Trump is unpredictable.
Hence his Chagos U-Turn, and every other one.
Does it tell us anything new? No.
This is different.
From “we don’t need you. The US is the greatest military in the world, under the greatest presidency it’s ever had. We don’t need any carpet bagger joining late, it’s already in the bag.”
to
“Can we have a hand, please.”
is different.
When did you start expecting even minimal consistency from Trump ?
To be fair our own PM has flipped the odd flop....
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
Take a look at your last sentence.
Don’t miss the OBVIOUS take out - Trump calling on his hated Macron, his hated China, and even more hated Starmer for help with this, is a screeching u-turn of sorts.
So? Trump is unpredictable.
Hence his Chagos U-Turn, and every other one.
Does it tell us anything new? No.
This is different.
From “we don’t need you. The US is the greatest military in the world, under the greatest presidency it’s ever had. We don’t need any carpet bagger joining late, it’s already in the bag.”
to
“Can we have a hand, please.”
is different.
Our repsonse should not change. YOu made the mess so you clear it up. No help from us. I would hope France would be the same.
The fact that Trump put China first in the list suggests that his call for help is not what it seems. When it's over and he is triumphant, he will be able to claim that those countries owe him for securing their energy supplies.
He can claim that the Pope's no longer Catholic for all the good it'll do him with that kind of nonsense.
In other words, Washington now faces three difficult paths: end the conflict under conditions that may allow Iran to claim a strategic victory; continue the current campaign and risk prolonged instability and rising global energy prices; or expand the war and trigger a major regional escalation.
Time is not neutral in this equation. Each passing day hardens Tehran’s perception that it can withstand the pressure and emerge from the crisis with the upper hand.
(part of a longer tweet on where the US now stands strategically)
What remains astonishing is that this was blindingly obvious in advance to anyone who spent a couple of minutes thinking about how this was likely to develop. Just brainless.
So, where do we go from here? I think Hormuz will be impassable without Iranian permission for months unless the US invades and secures the opposite bank. This will bring US forces within range for a lot more of Iran's arsenal. Casualties will be 20 or more to 1 given US air and missile power but my guess is that Iran can much more easily absorb 100k-500k casualties than Trump can endure 5-25k. This is a country that sustained up to 1m casualties in their war with Saddam.
Trying to capture and then hold a country of more than 90m would take far more troops than the US has. They can destroy a lot of the country, they can impose Gaza style carnage but it is really not obvious how they actually win. There may come a point when Trump wants to talk about Epstein instead.
Again, this is why I genuinely fear it could gio nuclear. That may be the only way for Trump to convincingly defeat the Tehran regime, which clearly - and rightly - sees this war as existential for the Mullahs and the IRGC
How might it work? Perhaps two or three smaller "tactical" nukes on military sites, at first, with the clear implication that Trump is willing to flatten Tehran if needs be
They would surrender. But the world would be hurled into hideous turmoil....
I would imagine there are a few things just short of nuclear that could be done.
Like what? No way America is gonna do a ground invasion. They'd quite possibly lose, for a start
Japan 1945 shows you can defeat a totally hostile, entirely committed, fight-to-the-death enemy, and you can do it from the air. If you use nukes
It wasn't just the nukes, though. (Although they were the final coup de grace.)
It was also the submarine blockade of Japan, that meant that people were starving to death. And it was the fact that the bulk of Japan's army was stuck in China.
Don't forget too, that peace was only agreed -even after the nukes- when the US agreed that Hirohito could continue as Emperor. Without that concession, the war might have dragged on even longer.
To get an idea of the fun that 1946 was going to be- the rice harvest in Japan had failed. So the plan of the Japanese military was to literally remove all supplies from the civilians. And turn the civilians into an impromptu suicide army. Armed with bamboo spears.
So between starving to death and charging at the invaders with a slight upgrade on sharp fruit....
A little known fact is that immediately after the surrender, the Americas started pouring food supplies into Japan. Even so, winter 1945 was a tough time for the civilians.
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
Take a look at your last sentence.
Don’t miss the OBVIOUS take out - Trump calling on his hated Macron, his hated China, and even more hated Starmer for help with this, is a screeching u-turn of sorts.
So? Trump is unpredictable.
Hence his Chagos U-Turn, and every other one.
Does it tell us anything new? No.
Which Chagos “u-turn” are you referring to? The UK has everything it needs from the US to proceed. The Conservative front bench claimed they used international law to block it, but that’s in the past now as well. rather than press ahead, Labour have been keeping it till other side of May’s voting and so out being issue in coming local election campaign. The Chagos deal sails through the Commons 19:21gmt on May 19th 2026. nothing in recent weeks suggests otherwise.
Nor did Labour negotiate and draft this Chagos deal in just 8 weeks from coming into power. Nor did the Conservative Government have any choice but negotiating and drafting virtually all of it, with India and US instructing the handover over to Mauritius, based on the lease plan and terms Mauritius themselves originally brought with India to the US in 2019.
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
Take a look at your last sentence.
Don’t miss the OBVIOUS take out - Trump calling on his hated Macron, his hated China, and even more hated Starmer for help with this, is a screeching u-turn of sorts.
So? Trump is unpredictable.
Hence his Chagos U-Turn, and every other one.
Does it tell us anything new? No.
Which Chagos “u-turn” are you referring to? The UK has everything it needs from the US to proceed. The Conservative front bench claimed they used international law to block it, but that’s in the past now as well. rather than press ahead, Labour have been keeping it till other side of May’s voting and so out being issue in coming local election campaign. The Chagos deal sails through the Commons 19:21gmt on May 19th 2026. nothing in recent weeks suggests otherwise.
Nor did Labour negotiate and draft this Chagos deal in just 8 weeks from coming into power. Nor did the Conservative Government have any choice but negotiating and drafting virtually all of it, with India and US instructing the handover over to Mauritius, based on the lease plan and terms Mauritius themselves originally brought with India to the US in 2019.
Trump has U-turned on Chagos multiple times. He’s up to about 2-3000 degrees of rotation on the subject.
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
Take a look at your last sentence.
Don’t miss the OBVIOUS take out - Trump calling on his hated Macron, his hated China, and even more hated Starmer for help with this, is a screeching u-turn of sorts.
So? Trump is unpredictable.
Hence his Chagos U-Turn, and every other one.
Does it tell us anything new? No.
This is different.
From “we don’t need you. The US is the greatest military in the world, under the greatest presidency it’s ever had. We don’t need any carpet bagger joining late, it’s already in the bag.”
to
“Can we have a hand, please.”
is different.
Our repsonse should not change. YOu made the mess so you clear it up. No help from us. I would hope France would be the same.
The fact that Trump put China first in the list suggests that his call for help is not what it seems. When it's over and he is triumphant, he will be able to claim that those countries owe him for securing their energy supplies.
That is absolutely closest post to the truth Willy. For a blog with political in title, PBers so often slow at understanding politics and what is really going on.
The number of PBers posting “we just say no to Trump on this as well” so dumb. We can’t. The politics at play here - identical to what Kemi played last PMQs “there is much pain involved for our electorate here, what are YOU in power actually doing about it?”
Sure, UK did not support or agree with Trump choosing to poke the nest without pressing need to - it’s been all about Bibi re-election. But now UK voters are not only getting stung, households and businesses in UK face wipe out. There is only one course of action available to the UK government to avoiding getting the blame for the economic catastrophe on UK households, businesses, devastation to our whole economy and the crisis on our ability to borrow money to pay the UK governments bills.
If you have been reading Big G and my own posts to PB, Trumps request this afternoon comes as no shock at all. Indeed, the UK defence secretary on Thursday hinted at not just discussions with US about joining them in the gulf to safeguard movement of oil, he presented it as decision already taken.
Things will move quickly on this in the coming hours.
In other words, Washington now faces three difficult paths: end the conflict under conditions that may allow Iran to claim a strategic victory; continue the current campaign and risk prolonged instability and rising global energy prices; or expand the war and trigger a major regional escalation.
Time is not neutral in this equation. Each passing day hardens Tehran’s perception that it can withstand the pressure and emerge from the crisis with the upper hand.
(part of a longer tweet on where the US now stands strategically)
What remains astonishing is that this was blindingly obvious in advance to anyone who spent a couple of minutes thinking about how this was likely to develop. Just brainless.
So, where do we go from here? I think Hormuz will be impassable without Iranian permission for months unless the US invades and secures the opposite bank. This will bring US forces within range for a lot more of Iran's arsenal. Casualties will be 20 or more to 1 given US air and missile power but my guess is that Iran can much more easily absorb 100k-500k casualties than Trump can endure 5-25k. This is a country that sustained up to 1m casualties in their war with Saddam.
Trying to capture and then hold a country of more than 90m would take far more troops than the US has. They can destroy a lot of the country, they can impose Gaza style carnage but it is really not obvious how they actually win. There may come a point when Trump wants to talk about Epstein instead.
Again, this is why I genuinely fear it could gio nuclear. That may be the only way for Trump to convincingly defeat the Tehran regime, which clearly - and rightly - sees this war as existential for the Mullahs and the IRGC
How might it work? Perhaps two or three smaller "tactical" nukes on military sites, at first, with the clear implication that Trump is willing to flatten Tehran if needs be
They would surrender. But the world would be hurled into hideous turmoil....
I would imagine there are a few things just short of nuclear that could be done.
Like what? No way America is gonna do a ground invasion. They'd quite possibly lose, for a start
Japan 1945 shows you can defeat a totally hostile, entirely committed, fight-to-the-death enemy, and you can do it from the air. If you use nukes
It wasn't just the nukes, though. (Although they were the final coup de grace.)
It was also the submarine blockade of Japan, that meant that people were starving to death. And it was the fact that the bulk of Japan's army was stuck in China.
Don't forget too, that peace was only agreed -even after the nukes- when the US agreed that Hirohito could continue as Emperor. Without that concession, the war might have dragged on even longer.
To get an idea of the fun that 1946 was going to be- the rice harvest in Japan had failed. So the plan of the Japanese military was to literally remove all supplies from the civilians. And turn the civilians into an impromptu suicide army. Armed with bamboo spears.
So between starving to death and charging at the invaders with a slight upgrade on sharp fruit....
A little known fact is that immediately after the surrender, the Americas started pouring food supplies into Japan. Even so, winter 1945 was a tough time for the civilians.
We focus on the 250k killed by the atomic bombs on Nagaski and Hiroshima but, had the war not ended then, you could have counted Japanese fatalities into 1946 into the millions.
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
It looks like blame shifting, which might be a good sign if so. Who lost Iran? Our allies stabbed us in the back.
If you don't want your allies to stab you in the back it might be an idea to consult them before you do something really stupid, to be less rude, less arrogant, less Trumpian to sum it all up.
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
It looks like blame shifting, which might be a good sign if so. Who lost Iran? Our allies stabbed us in the back.
It was Starmer.
I was watching Tucker the other night, and although initially he was against the war in Iran he has pivoted quite wildly towards the position of, particularly Starmer's treason, although he isn't happy with Meloni and Sanchez either.
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
It looks like blame shifting, which might be a good sign if so. Who lost Iran? Our allies stabbed us in the back.
It was Starmer.
I was watching Tucker the other night, and although initially he was against the war in Iran he has pivoted quite wildly towards the position of, particularly Starmer's treason, although he isn't happy with Meloni and Sanchez either.
There’s been loads of tweets recently about Tuckers Luck. Lovely stuff.
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
It looks like blame shifting, which might be a good sign if so. Who lost Iran? Our allies stabbed us in the back.
It was Starmer.
I was watching Tucker the other night, and although initially he was against the war in Iran he has pivoted quite wildly towards the position of, particularly Starmer's treason, although he isn't happy with Meloni and Sanchez either.
Hang on, didn’t @Woger tell us that Fucker Carlson was talking lots of sense?
Maybe European Nations should agree to the request to send ships to the Middle East, after the US restores sanctions on Russia and supplies sufficient munitions to Ukraine to allow them to win that war...
Trump wants several countries including the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz .
So having started this disastrous war he’s now expecting others to help clear up the mess .
It looks like blame shifting, which might be a good sign if so. Who lost Iran? Our allies stabbed us in the back.
If you don't want your allies to stab you in the back it might be an idea to consult them before you do something really stupid, to be less rude, less arrogant, less Trumpian to sum it all up.
More accurately, if you want your allies to behave like allies, don’t stab them, repeatedly. In the back, front and sides. While loling about it on Twatter.
Found value tricky to come by. Ended up splitting a stake with one third on Stroll, boosted 2.8, to beat Alonso. On pace, ridiculous. With the car retiring partway through the race, eminently possible (happened in Australia). The two-thirds is on under 17.5 classified finishers at 1.83. Not certain, but very credible.
Which comedian used to end presentations with the phrase "interesting and informative"? I think it's either Partridge, Harry Enfield or Clarkson, but the AIs are useless.
Research shows me that England have never won the wooden spoon in the 6 Nations. And the last time they won it in the 5 Nations was 1987
As bad as we are, I think Wales need to beat Italy by around 50 points and us lose to France by a similar amount for us to end up with the wooden spoon.
I'm not ruling it out, but it seems a bit of a stretch.
Research shows me that England have never won the wooden spoon in the 6 Nations. And the last time they won it in the 5 Nations was 1987
As bad as we are, I think Wales need to beat Italy by around 50 points and us lose to France by a similar amount for us to end up with the wooden spoon.
I'm not ruling it out, but it seems a bit of a stretch.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
Research shows me that England have never won the wooden spoon in the 6 Nations. And the last time they won it in the 5 Nations was 1987
As bad as we are, I think Wales need to beat Italy by around 50 points and us lose to France by a similar amount for us to end up with the wooden spoon.
I'm not ruling it out, but it seems a bit of a stretch.
Wales giving it a go….
Wales for an hour are as good as 3 of the other 6 nations sides, they just need depth.
Less injuries and another 12 months with more decent u 21s coming thru they'll be back in contention, as long as England don't knock any more
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
11/11 President Trump's message was unmistakable: "Should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider" sparing the oil infrastructure. Iran's 3-4% of global supply is dispensable. The 20% [of global oil] flowing through Hormuz is not. That's the calculus behind every strike on Kharg.
11/11 President Trump's message was unmistakable: "Should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider" sparing the oil infrastructure. Iran's 3-4% of global supply is dispensable. The 20% [of global oil] flowing through Hormuz is not. That's the calculus behind every strike on Kharg.
11/11 President Trump's message was unmistakable: "Should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider" sparing the oil infrastructure. Iran's 3-4% of global supply is dispensable. The 20% [of global oil] flowing through Hormuz is not. That's the calculus behind every strike on Kharg.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
I recall the story of Winston Churchill's first cocktail - he was observing the revolution in Cuba against the Spanish (1898). The Spanish column he was with got ambushed. So they ended up in the ditch at the side of the road. The Spanish officer he was with produced a small silver flask and made a drink. So Churchill had his first cocktail in a muddy ditch while the bullets snapped past, overhead.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
Some fools argue over whether the glass is half empty or half full.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
Some fools argue over whether the glass is half empty or half full.
11/11 President Trump's message was unmistakable: "Should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider" sparing the oil infrastructure. Iran's 3-4% of global supply is dispensable. The 20% [of global oil] flowing through Hormuz is not. That's the calculus behind every strike on Kharg.
The threat of destroying Iran's oil export capability is a severe one but actually carrying it out will see Hormuz closed forever and a permanent goodbye to the 20% along with the Gulf economies.. The Iranians are perfectly aware of this.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
I did. I will now commit pedantic hari-kiri. But it will require the correct sword...
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
Some fools argue over whether the glass is half empty or half full.
I say both are wrong.
The sensible *question* is "Whose round is it?"
It’s a free bar!
Come to Dubai for the all-inclusive deals!
Which answers the question of who pays. But someone needs to order.
So. Let me get this 6N correct. France scoring four tries draw with England and win the title with three wins ahead of Ireland with four?
Yes, it's bonkers
There was a good Telegraph article about it. And there's an easy remedy:
"In France and Super Rugby, the earning of bonus points is slightly different: a team must score three tries more than the opposition, rather than just simply scoring four times. That system is comprehensively superior to the incumbent; incidentally, the Prem, Champions Cup, and upcoming Nations Championship should be adopting it, too."
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
I recall the story of Winston Churchill's first cocktail - he was observing the revolution in Cuba against the Spanish (1898). The Spanish column he was with got ambushed. So they ended up in the ditch at the side of the road. The Spanish officer he was with produced a small silver flask and made a drink. So Churchill had his first cocktail in a muddy ditch while the bullets snapped past, overhead.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
I did. I will now commit pedantic hari-kiri. But it will require the correct sword...
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
Some fools argue over whether the glass is half empty or half full.
I say both are wrong.
The sensible *question* is "Whose round is it?"
It’s a free bar!
Come to Dubai for the all-inclusive deals!
Which answers the question of who pays. But someone needs to order.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
I recall the story of Winston Churchill's first cocktail - he was observing the revolution in Cuba against the Spanish (1898). The Spanish column he was with got ambushed. So they ended up in the ditch at the side of the road. The Spanish officer he was with produced a small silver flask and made a drink. So Churchill had his first cocktail in a muddy ditch while the bullets snapped past, overhead.
Ah hem, 1895.
My apologies. I have my 20th wedding anniversary do to go to - after that I will conquer Cuba to make up for the above mistake.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
Some fools argue over whether the glass is half empty or half full.
Unfortunately, in this context "might" means "Well we might turn up, I dunno. Will next Wednesday do? It's just that we have a bit of a deficit on the ship front..."
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
Some fools argue over whether the glass is half empty or half full.
I say both are wrong.
The sensible *question* is "Whose round is it?"
It’s a free bar!
Come to Dubai for the all-inclusive deals!
Which answers the question of who pays. But someone needs to order.
Also the minor issue of getting there and back...
The Wright Brothers solved that problem more than a century ago. ✈️
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
Some fools argue over whether the glass is half empty or half full.
I say both are wrong.
The sensible *question* is "Whose round is it?"
It’s a free bar!
Come to Dubai for the all-inclusive deals!
"Head back to base for debriefing and cocktails!"
Just realised the entire RAF will turn up in Dubai, shortly. No way they will pass on cheap 5 star hotels and free cocktails.
So. Let me get this 6N correct. France scoring four tries draw with England and win the title with three wins ahead of Ireland with four?
Yes, it's bonkers
There was a good Telegraph article about it. And there's an easy remedy:
"In France and Super Rugby, the earning of bonus points is slightly different: a team must score three tries more than the opposition, rather than just simply scoring four times. That system is comprehensively superior to the incumbent; incidentally, the Prem, Champions Cup, and upcoming Nations Championship should be adopting it, too."
An easier remedy would be two points for a win and one for a draw.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
Some fools argue over whether the glass is half empty or half full.
I say both are wrong.
The sensible *question* is "Whose round is it?"
It’s a free bar!
Come to Dubai for the all-inclusive deals!
"Head back to base for debriefing and cocktails!"
Just realised the entire RAF will turn up in Dubai, shortly. No way they will pass on cheap 5 star hotels and free cocktails.
The old joke told to me by a retired RAF Squadron Leader.
All three services have an affinity with the stars
The Army sleep under the stars The Navy navigate by the stars And the RAF use stars to decide which hotel to stay in.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
I did. I will now commit pedantic hari-kiri. But it will require the correct sword...
Sward. A romantic setting is required. Just ask Lupe Vélez.
11/11 President Trump's message was unmistakable: "Should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider" sparing the oil infrastructure. Iran's 3-4% of global supply is dispensable. The 20% [of global oil] flowing through Hormuz is not. That's the calculus behind every strike on Kharg.
11/11 President Trump's message was unmistakable: "Should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider" sparing the oil infrastructure. Iran's 3-4% of global supply is dispensable. The 20% [of global oil] flowing through Hormuz is not. That's the calculus behind every strike on Kharg.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
Some fools argue over whether the glass is half empty or half full.
I say both are wrong.
The sensible *question* is "Whose round is it?"
It’s a free bar!
Come to Dubai for the all-inclusive deals!
"Head back to base for debriefing and cocktails!"
Just realised the entire RAF will turn up in Dubai, shortly. No way they will pass on cheap 5 star hotels and free cocktails.
The old joke told to me by a retired RAF Squadron Leader.
All three services have an affinity with the stars
The Army sleep under the stars The Navy navigate by the stars And the RAF use stars to decide which hotel to stay in.
So. Let me get this 6N correct. France scoring four tries draw with England and win the title with three wins ahead of Ireland with four?
Yes, it's bonkers
There was a good Telegraph article about it. And there's an easy remedy:
"In France and Super Rugby, the earning of bonus points is slightly different: a team must score three tries more than the opposition, rather than just simply scoring four times. That system is comprehensively superior to the incumbent; incidentally, the Prem, Champions Cup, and upcoming Nations Championship should be adopting it, too."
An easier remedy would be two points for a win and one for a draw.
BREAKING: France is sending 10 warships to the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump called on countries to join the US Navy in attempting to reopen the key passage.
The UK has declined to deploy an aircraft carrier.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
I did. I will now commit pedantic hari-kiri. But it will require the correct sword...
Leon believes the world will end in nuclear Armageddon. All that will be left in the aftermath will be cockroaches and the PD grammar police.
BREAKING: France is sending 10 warships to the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump called on countries to join the US Navy in attempting to reopen the key passage.
The UK has declined to deploy an aircraft carrier.
Maybe we could send Boaty McBoatface at least for the LOLs.
BREAKING: France is sending 10 warships to the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump called on countries to join the US Navy in attempting to reopen the key passage.
The UK has declined to deploy an aircraft carrier.
BREAKING: France is sending 10 warships to the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump called on countries to join the US Navy in attempting to reopen the key passage.
The UK has declined to deploy an aircraft carrier.
BREAKING: France is sending 10 warships to the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump called on countries to join the US Navy in attempting to reopen the key passage.
The UK has declined to deploy an aircraft carrier.
We did send Mandelson, however
As he is free to travel again, maybe we could make him UK Ambassador to Iran and see if he can help?
BREAKING: France is sending 10 warships to the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump called on countries to join the US Navy in attempting to reopen the key passage.
The UK has declined to deploy an aircraft carrier.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
Some fools argue over whether the glass is half empty or half full.
I say both are wrong.
The sensible *question* is "Whose round is it?"
It’s a free bar!
Come to Dubai for the all-inclusive deals!
"Head back to base for debriefing and cocktails!"
Just realised the entire RAF will turn up in Dubai, shortly. No way they will pass on cheap 5 star hotels and free cocktails.
The old joke told to me by a retired RAF Squadron Leader.
All three services have an affinity with the stars
The Army sleep under the stars The Navy navigate by the stars And the RAF use stars to decide which hotel to stay in.
They throw in Drummer Hodge, to rest Uncoffined—just as found: His landmark is a kopje-crest That breaks the veldt around; And foreign constellations west Each night above his mound.
Young Hodge the Drummer never knew— Fresh from his Wessex home— The meaning of the broad Karoo, The Bush, the dusty loam, And why uprose to nightly view Strange stars amid the gloam.
Yet portion of that unknown plain Will Hodge for ever be; His homely Northern breast and brain Grow up a Southern tree, And strange-eyed constellations reign His stars eternally.
11/11 President Trump's message was unmistakable: "Should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider" sparing the oil infrastructure. Iran's 3-4% of global supply is dispensable. The 20% [of global oil] flowing through Hormuz is not. That's the calculus behind every strike on Kharg.
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
Whilst you have gone up in my estimation for staying in the sandpit and not running back home at taxpayer expense and complaining (so well done you), I can't help thinking that "at a time of war" usually involves more blood and rubble and less cocktails...
😎
Did you mean *fewer* cocktails?
🍸
I did. I will now commit pedantic hari-kiri. But it will require the correct sword...
Leon believes the world will end in nuclear Armageddon. All that will be left in the aftermath will be cockroaches and the PD grammar police.
BREAKING: France is sending 10 warships to the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump called on countries to join the US Navy in attempting to reopen the key passage.
The UK has declined to deploy an aircraft carrier.
Maybe we could send Boaty McBoatface at least for the LOLs.
Send Bibby Stockholm
Put the Israeli Cabinet and remaining Ayotollahs, Trump and his cabal on it and Putin
Wales should forfeit the game for dropping a goal. For that crime they should be replaced by Georgia in the 2027 Six Nations. I really really hate drop goals.
Historically Wales used to run the tries rather than drop goals. Phil Bennett, Jiffy or Gareth Edwards wouldn't be dropping goals. Cease and desist!
Comments
He can open up the Strait whenever he wants by stopping bombing. It's not our fight.
So between starving to death and charging at the invaders with a slight upgrade on sharp fruit....
A little known fact is that immediately after the surrender, the Americas started pouring food supplies into Japan. Even so, winter 1945 was a tough time for the civilians.
I doubt I'd have agreed with him on anything whatsoever but a friend recently died from brain cancer and it is an awful way to go.
RIP.
Nor did Labour negotiate and draft this Chagos deal in just 8 weeks from coming into power. Nor did the Conservative Government have any choice but negotiating and drafting virtually all of it, with India and US instructing the handover over to Mauritius, based on the lease plan and terms Mauritius themselves originally brought with India to the US in 2019.
Trust me
https://youtu.be/AiCF1QdyxhM?si=krI8MTuKculjMbl8
https://bsky.app/profile/cwebbonline.com/post/3mgzdvlxq2c2a
The number of PBers posting “we just say no to Trump on this as well” so dumb. We can’t. The politics at play here - identical to what Kemi played last PMQs “there is much pain involved for our electorate here, what are YOU in power actually doing about it?”
Sure, UK did not support or agree with Trump choosing to poke the nest without pressing need to - it’s been all about Bibi re-election. But now UK voters are not only getting stung, households and businesses in UK face wipe out. There is only one course of action available to the UK government to avoiding getting the blame for the economic catastrophe on UK households, businesses, devastation to our whole economy and the crisis on our ability to borrow money to pay the UK governments bills.
If you have been reading Big G and my own posts to PB, Trumps request this afternoon comes as no shock at all. Indeed, the UK defence secretary on Thursday hinted at not just discussions with US about joining them in the gulf to safeguard movement of oil, he presented it as decision already taken.
Things will move quickly on this in the coming hours.
I was watching Tucker the other night, and although initially he was against the war in Iran he has pivoted quite wildly towards the position of, particularly Starmer's treason, although he isn't happy with Meloni and Sanchez either.
One of them is that Netanyahu is dead. I’ve no idea if it has a shred of truth
He’s a human being.
Very sad for him and his family and friends.
Betting PostF1: https://morrisf1.blogspot.com/2026/03/china-2026-pre-race.html
Found value tricky to come by. Ended up splitting a stake with one third on Stroll, boosted 2.8, to beat Alonso. On pace, ridiculous. With the car retiring partway through the race, eminently possible (happened in Australia). The two-thirds is on under 17.5 classified finishers at 1.83. Not certain, but very credible.
I'm not ruling it out, but it seems a bit of a stretch.
Saturday night, rooftop bar, totally packed and we woun’t have got a table if we weren’t guests in house.
Time Out best rooftop bar last year.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cBLZeyuaoYRBYLGr9?g_st=ic
So much NOOM, the love of having a party at a time of war.
He made an inexplicable error, paid for it. We'll never know if that was an early sign if the terrible illness that copped hm.
https://x.com/citrinowicz/status/2032841719096520813
😎
Well, there's a surprise.
Less injuries and another 12 months with more decent u 21s coming thru they'll be back in contention, as long as England don't knock any more
🍸
Its as likely as the Tories losing Mid Beds and Tamworth on the same day
France scoring four tries draw with England and win the title with three wins ahead of Ireland with four?
Miad Maleki
@miadmaleki
11/11 President Trump's message was unmistakable: "Should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider" sparing the oil infrastructure. Iran's 3-4% of global supply is dispensable. The 20% [of global oil] flowing through Hormuz is not. That's the calculus behind every strike on Kharg.
https://x.com/miadmaleki/status/2032609394593014242
The Party.
Be at The Party.
I say both are wrong.
The sensible *question* is "Whose round is it?"
Come to Dubai for the all-inclusive deals!
There was a good Telegraph article about it. And there's an easy remedy:
"In France and Super Rugby, the earning of bonus points is slightly different: a team must score three tries more than the opposition, rather than just simply scoring four times. That system is comprehensively superior to the incumbent; incidentally, the Prem, Champions Cup, and upcoming Nations Championship should be adopting it, too."
All three services have an affinity with the stars
The Army sleep under the stars
The Navy navigate by the stars
And the RAF use stars to decide which hotel to stay in.
Why Trump assumes that destroying Iran's infrastructure will magically reopen the strait is an exercise for the reader.
@_GlobeObserver
🚨 BREAKING: Trump calls on U.S. media to stop reporting on damage and losses caused by Iran, saying it harms the United States.
https://bylinetimes.com/2026/03/12/gb-news-under-fire-after-airing-white-genocide-conspiracy-theory-from-former-boris-johnson-aide/
GBNews really needs a spanking from OfCom.
(Fingers crossed not, eh?)
The Kobeissi Letter
@KobeissiLetter
BREAKING: France is sending 10 warships to the Strait of Hormuz after President Trump called on countries to join the US Navy in attempting to reopen the key passage.
The UK has declined to deploy an aircraft carrier.
They throw in Drummer Hodge, to rest
Uncoffined—just as found:
His landmark is a kopje-crest
That breaks the veldt around;
And foreign constellations west
Each night above his mound.
Young Hodge the Drummer never knew—
Fresh from his Wessex home—
The meaning of the broad Karoo,
The Bush, the dusty loam,
And why uprose to nightly view
Strange stars amid the gloam.
Yet portion of that unknown plain
Will Hodge for ever be;
His homely Northern breast and brain
Grow up a Southern tree,
And strange-eyed constellations reign
His stars eternally.
I'm starting to think Trump is not the master tactician we thought he was...
Put the Israeli Cabinet and remaining Ayotollahs, Trump and his cabal on it and Putin
Set it aflost
Bomb the fuck out of it
World peace
Historically Wales used to run the tries rather than drop goals. Phil Bennett, Jiffy or Gareth Edwards wouldn't be dropping goals. Cease and desist!
Nico Krancjer, Crouchy, Hermann Hreiðarsson, get your boots on.