Off Topic WW3 How Close?

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So the USA have pulled satellite images from Ukraine, as a consequence they were unable to identify the attacks were coming. A direct result has been the death of civilians overnight. Evil just evil.

Just because this is not enough Trump has now threatened military intervention in Iran, he was written to Iran saying negotiate with me as it is better than me attacking you!

Trump is a Mafia boss with access to nuclear weapons.
He also wants parts of Canada including all the great lakes
https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/c...k-guerrilla-fight-lasting-decades-expert-says
 
Long watch but bang on the money

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Britain and France have always been bastions within NATO. Britain, never having been occupied in WW1 or WW2 perhaps learned that we could survive long enough for America to step up. France learned that you might not have enough time for that aid to arrive. We focused on weapon commonality to provide a greater sum than that of individual parts. France, particularly after Suez when the US browbeat both countries, focused on it's ability as a sole actor.

In the light of Trump's actions I can see that both countries were right and both wrong.

We should have focussed on a European commonality of weapon systems rather than build American or going it alone.

None of this would have mattered had America not gone all chimp on us, but now we can see the weaknesses inherent to both pathways.

The good news is that we can fix this. The bad news is that doing so whilst also supporting Ukraine to fight off Putin is going to be more difficult and more expensive than it otherwise would have been - we certainly have to consider confiscation of the Russian funds that we've currently only frozen.

We can't do this whilst also helping Americans to fix American Democracy. Trump might cozy up with Putin, but he hates China so we don't have to worry about them forming a super alliance, plus Putin and Trump are both old, with no natural successor, so we can hope for a partial US reversal at the mid-term elections and a collapse of Trumpism at the next presidential election.

This French politician's speech shows us the way forward. Brexit was our Trumpist moment in that those who voted for it were never really singing from exactly the same hymn sheet and, arguably, were expecting different outcomes that in any case got trampled upon by party politics. With Orban, Ficu and possibly Romanian leadership leaning toward Putin I think that the EU need to work out how to make progress without being held hostage about crucial security issues, so I don't currently advocate Britain rejoining the EU, but it should be possible for us to reassess our trade needs in light of Trump's and work out a better way of cooperating with the EU, the wider European bloc and with Canada and Mexico.

I've put all this down more in hope than in expectation. I feel so shaken by events of the last few months that this seems like the only way that I can see any glimmer of light at the end this long, dark tunnel.
 
Before shooting his mouth off, the POTUS should get his own house in order.

I believe that it was about two years, or so, that USofA manged to pursuade Australia to ditch an agreement to buy Nuclear Subs from France, and buy from them instead.
The French were more than a little upset.
Now we hear that The US are falling behind in building enough of these Subs to keep there own replacement programme going.
Trumps nominee for the Pentagon that will have to face that problem,wants the Australian agreement ripped up.
Then there are the ongoing problems with the Air Force.
They are rather short of experienced pilots it seems.
Even the ones they have get insufficient flying time in due to a shortage of aircraft.
All of this has led to a shortage of instructors and not enough experienced, combat ready, pilots.

While it is quite possible that the two articles I read, may not represent every Military Expert's opinion, at the very least it is a warning that all may not be well with the Services in The US of A.

Trump's big stick might look a bit less frightening if it is held together with sellotape!
 
My brother used to live in Canada, and his kids still do, so I get news from over there. Retailers there have already just cleared their shelves of American products, particularly alcohol. The yanks are soon going to realise that trade wars hit both sides hard, and that they've really not thought this through
 
My brother used to live in Canada, and his kids still do, so I get news from over there. Retailers there have already just cleared their shelves of American products, particularly alcohol. The yanks are soon going to realise that trade wars hit both sides hard, and that they've really not thought this through

You're saying Trump has opened his mouth before thinking things through …

… that’ll come as a shock to many.
 
My brother used to live in Canada, and his kids still do, so I get news from over there. Retailers there have already just cleared their shelves of American products, particularly alcohol. The yanks are soon going to realise that trade wars hit both sides hard, and that they've really not thought this through

Going to Canada on Wednesday for the first time, can’t wait. Looks a brilliant country and one I’d defo consider emigrating to in the future to escape here. Wary of my language here so I’ll say they’re like Americas non “special” cousin.

Fair play for them standing up to the US, no idea how this’ll all play out but the US economy dwarves most for growth over the last decade hence the catastrophic red across the stock market last few weeks. Current situation is bad for all. They have the biggest share of the pie in the west and it’s growing much faster than everyone else so they’ll use bully boy tactics which could force more into trade deals with china which would be more concerning.
 
Going to Canada on Wednesday for the first time, can’t wait. Looks a brilliant country and one I’d defo consider emigrating to in the future to escape here. Wary of my language here so I’ll say they’re like Americas non “special” cousin.

Fair play for them standing up to the US, no idea how this’ll all play out but the US economy dwarves most for growth over the last decade hence the catastrophic red across the stock market last few weeks. Current situation is bad for all. They have the biggest share of the pie in the west and it’s growing much faster than everyone else so they’ll use bully boy tactics which could force more into trade deals with china which would be more concerning.
The 'saving grace' is that Republicans tend to tank the economy when they're in. The Trump admin plan to cut medicaid and social security for many (mostly impacting red states) while giving tax breaks to the 1% is wildly unpopular. Typical populist incoherence. It's gonna be sticky in the early part, but a slump domestically will clip their wings internationally IMO.

Always amazes me that modern republicans (and over our side Tories and Reform) are credited as fiscally responsible, when their fundamental beliefs are almost always terrible for the wider economy. Over the past few decades, these types of governments have been drastically wrong on economic issues. In the states, the last three Democratic presidents have successfully reduced the deficit while GOP ones have expanded it. And yet the court of public opinion would have it the other way round.
 
The 'saving grace' is that Republicans tend to tank the economy when they're in. The Trump admin plan to cut medicaid and social security for many (mostly impacting red states) while giving tax breaks to the 1% is wildly unpopular. Typical populist incoherence. It's gonna be sticky in the early part, but a slump domestically will clip their wings internationally IMO.

Always amazes me that modern republicans (and over our side Tories and Reform) are credited as fiscally responsible, when their fundamental beliefs are almost always terrible for the wider economy. Over the past few decades, these types of governments have been drastically wrong on economic issues. In the states, the last three Democratic presidents have successfully reduced the deficit while GOP ones have expanded it. And yet the court of public opinion would have it the other way round.

Not quite so simple as Left v Right, in my view.

Each of these definitions also has it's internal pressure groups, some of which can verge to being extreme.
As long as the moderates from either party are in the majority and can hold the balance we are LIKELY to have a steady, more or less, sensible government.
Give power to the extremists, be it Rabid Right or Loony Left,then expect pain.
 
Not quite so simple as Left v Right, in my view.

Each of these definitions also has it's internal pressure groups, some of which can verge to being extreme.
As long as the moderates from either party are in the majority and can hold the balance we are LIKELY to have a steady, more or less, sensible government.
Give power to the extremists, be it Rabid Right or Loony Left,then expect pain.
Whilst I’d tend to agree, it’s the rw parties that have more totally been taken over by the lunatic fringes. The One Nation Tory no longer exists.
 
Going to Canada on Wednesday for the first time, can’t wait. Looks a brilliant country and one I’d defo consider emigrating to in the future to escape here. Wary of my language here so I’ll say they’re like Americas non “special” cousin.

Fair play for them standing up to the US, no idea how this’ll all play out but the US economy dwarves most for growth over the last decade hence the catastrophic red across the stock market last few weeks. Current situation is bad for all. They have the biggest share of the pie in the west and it’s growing much faster than everyone else so they’ll use bully boy tactics which could force more into trade deals with china which would be more concerning.
Canada is an amazing place to visit. Myself and the good lady did a near three week tour there for our 50th. Started in Montreal and ended up in Vancouver. You'll love it especially if you can see the Canadian rockies