It’s kicking off

Russian police arrest over 1000 protesters

Alexei Navalny, has been poisoned and arrested and still had this documentary released 

His wife has been arrested as well. 

Some serious minerals on this chap 

Edited February 27, 20224 yr by Rudy

8 minutes ago, royal white said:

Europe is giving the impression that this is what they want to do. If that’s the case they may have to crack in without America (or without as much help).

At the moment the majority of us on here are guessing what country wants to do. If America do indeed suggest Ukraine have to cede some land will Europe just roll over and agree with it or will they say fuck you, this is on our doorstep we will deal with it? 

We may well be getting to the stage where we find out...

4 minutes ago, Farrelli said:

Correct. 

Isn’t that what they plan on doing? It’s just you don’t agree with how he’s policing it. 

1 minute ago, royal white said:

Isn’t that what they plan on doing? It’s just you don’t agree with how he’s policing it. 

See my post above. The way this is being handled is grossly irresponsible for world peace and security. 

2 minutes ago, royal white said:

They’ve also pretty much failed in some of their more recent larger conflicts. 

Haha.

Size isn't everything! 😁

I don't concur with the "duty" idea though.

Things changed during and post WW2, and they became the power they are today in response to the Japanese, Russia (cold war) and subsequently the middle east and terrorism. 

Out of necessity for their own protection, but also as a part of a bigger umbrella organisation. Which is great, but it should be incumbent upon all members to do their bit.

Just like a football team and squad, pulling together in the same direction.

5 minutes ago, Farrelli said:

Of course but to pull the plug overnight is a very dangerous and irresponsible act.

Indeed.

But they have now reinstated aid to Ukraine and have got Europe to cough up more.

Reckon we can all agree some of his methods leave a lot to be desired- Ukraine clearly- but maybe the threat to other NATO members in his first term was necessary for that to happen. 

 

6 minutes ago, Farrelli said:

See my post above. The way this is being handled is grossly irresponsible for world peace and security. 

So I’m guessing Europe will ignore Americas plans then if it’s such a threat to world peace? 

1 minute ago, royal white said:

So I’m guessing Europe will ignore Americas plans then if it’s such a threat to world peace? 

Of course not. America are a superpower and remain our allies. What Europe are trying to do is keep the US onside whilst supporting Ukraine as best possible. A very difficult proposition when the president is a loose cannon apparently siding with Russia.

5 minutes ago, royal white said:

So I’m guessing Europe will ignore Americas plans then if it’s such a threat to world peace? 

Things aren’t always black and white as you seem to want them to be. Calm heads are required which is thankfully what we mostly have in Europe.

4 minutes ago, Farrelli said:

Of course not. America are a superpower and remain our allies. What Europe are trying to do is keep the US onside whilst supporting Ukraine as best possible. A very difficult proposition when the president is a loose cannon apparently siding with Russia.

So we are going to stand with America whilst they continue to put a threat on world peace. Well ain’t that great! 

Edited March 17, 20251 yr by royal white

With American politics being as volatile as they are right now no one can safely predict how the yanks will react to being sidelined in any negotiations over Ukraine. 

They rightly or wrongly have been given the global lead as the voice of the west against both the communist countries and the islamists in the middle east.

Trump coming in has pulled the rug from under the feet of the rest of the west and how the world proceeds will take a while to sort out. Throw in trying to get solutions to global conflicts including Ukraine and Palestine and the whole situation becomes increasingly complicated 

3 minutes ago, royal white said:

So we are going to stand with America whilst they continue to put a threat on world peace. Well ain’t that great! 

By Jove I think he’s got it!

1 minute ago, frank_spencer said:

 

Trump coming in has pulled the rug from under the feet of the rest of the west and how the world proceeds will take a while to sort out. Throw in trying to get solutions to global conflicts including Ukraine and Palestine and the whole situation becomes increasingly complicated 

Perhaps he's just causing uproar and confusion, so the whole world is distracted, so he can quietly invade Greenland without anybody noticing....the art of the deal

32 minutes ago, gonzo said:

America have spent a century bowling about being the world's police.

As leaders of the free world they've kind of got a duty.

 

 

24 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Gdp and gdp per capita are indeed higher.

That said, the relative spend on the military is also higher by the US, and other nations should pull their weight.

I disagree about the integration though.

There is already a high degree of interoperability within NATO and that is expanding.

The US also sells more arms abroad than anyone else, including to NATO partners and beyond.

There is no reason to undertake an additional, parallel course, with undoubted duplication. 

A European army may also be subject to more political influence, as opposed to NATO, that manages to encapsulate many different cultures in one organisation. Clearly Trump has made suggestions over funding previously, but they were justified.

There are also many smaller elements of western allies selling both components and finished equipment to each other.

All useful when pushing for continued development of equipment, rather than having one source.

Which is why the old security arrangements worked so well and have done a great job for as long as it's lasted. And why deliberately jeopardising it is a daft move from the Yanks. In my opinion. 

NATO also benefits from having the US there as a 'big daddy' that can crack the whip if necessary and pull people into line. 

A European army would find that much more difficult, as you rightly point out. 

But if they've decided to move away form Europe and NATO then we will need to pick up the slack. 

We spend roughly 3 times more on the NHS as we do on defence. So we might need to collectively pick up a hell of a tax bill if that's what route we are going down.

But it needs a proper, grown up discussion without people falling back onto idealogical lines like we're all guilty of on here sometimes (I'm as bad as anybody BTW) 😁

6 minutes ago, Farrelli said:

By Jove I think he’s got it!

I got it a long time ago when I said we will always be Americas lapdog. The fact that no one seems to be annoyed with Europe for putting a threat on world peace is what’s odd. 

4 minutes ago, royal white said:

I got it a long time ago when I said we will always be Americas lapdog. The fact that no one seems to be annoyed with Europe for putting a threat on world peace is what’s odd. 

That is a truly amazing take on the situation.

3 minutes ago, Farrelli said:

That is a truly amazing take on the situation.

Is it? It’s an observation made from your posts. Feel free to tell me which is the amazing part. 

1 minute ago, royal white said:

Is it? It’s an observation made from your posts. Feel free to tell me which is the amazing part. 

Trump changing sides whilst undermining NATO allies and throwing Ukraine under a bus. The fact you didn’t mention any of that is the part I find amazing.

1 minute ago, Farrelli said:

Trump changing sides whilst undermining NATO allies and throwing Ukraine under a bus. The fact you didn’t mention any of that is the part I find amazing.

Yes we know all that. Yet Europe are siding with them. Now where’s your anger with them as I asked before? As I find that quite amazing 

3 minutes ago, royal white said:

Yes we know all that. Yet Europe are siding with them. Now where’s your anger with them as I asked before? As I find that quite amazing 

Europe do not have that kind of power and are intrinsically linked to America via NATO. US are a superpower. As I mentioned earlier, our nuclear deterrent is only useful with American support so in actual fact is not really a deterrent. Putin knows this. It is not in our interest and would be totally irresponsible to abandon the US.

1 minute ago, Farrelli said:

Europe do not have that kind of power and are intrinsically linked to America via NATO. US are a superpower. As I mentioned earlier, our nuclear deterrent is only useful with American support so in actual fact is not really a deterrent. Putin knows this. It is not in our interest and would be totally irresponsible to abandon the US.

So if America is pulling all the strings why are Europe having talks that don’t include America? Like many have said on here Europe alongside Ukraine should be able to push Russia back in no time at all. But instead they’re sussing with the big bully and doing as they say. 
 

And America have 10s of thousands of troops all over Europe, some manning the nuclear deterrents, do you honestly think America will just allow Europe to get nuked? 

3 minutes ago, royal white said:

So if America is pulling all the strings why are Europe having talks that don’t include America? Like many have said on here Europe alongside Ukraine should be able to push Russia back in no time at all. But instead they’re sussing with the big bully and doing as they say. 
 

And America have 10s of thousands of troops all over Europe, some manning the nuclear deterrents, do you honestly think America will just allow Europe to get nuked? 

I struggle with your logic. Putin wants to fragment the western allies and with Trumps help he is succeeding. There is not much more to say.

15 minutes ago, Farrelli said:

I struggle with your logic. Putin wants to fragment the western allies and with Trumps help he is succeeding. There is not much more to say.

🤦🏻 so your logic is Europe  are going to be complicit in their own downfall. You need to get onto European leaders and let them know your findings. 

1 hour ago, Farrelli said:

By Jove I think he’s got it!

😂

20 hours ago, Cheese said:

When the source is a spreader of pro-Kremlin disinformation, I think it's fair enough to ignore the content. Post the BBC and Sky articles that show the same videos with the same conclusions.

I works if you know how to use Google