Positioning, at least, sends a message and starts to mark out red lines. European leaders, and those heading up states they consider democracies, need to understand that they are now dealing with an authoritarian US president and government. This realisation is starting to hit home in the US: reportedly, only 7% of Americans polled would support annexation of Greenland. Venezuela has revealed some cracks amongst right-wing, MAGA support. The only real hope is that Trump overplays his hand, or is increasingly seen to do so, and Americans start to push back on things he either said he wouldn't do or is not delivering on at home. But that needs to happen sooner rather than later and on a lot of fronts.
As always well argued and clearly presenting the issues.
WHY is our PM so spineless? Clearly abducting the Venezuelian President is a violation of International Law. It does not require USA justification to know that.
No wonder Trump and Putin get along so well, they both believe that you take what you want. Then dare anyone to challenge them. The only difference is that Putin stopped well short of abducting Ukrainians leader!
I read yesterday, that many believe Venezuela won't deal with or support Israel, so days after Netanyahu's US visit, trump attacked Venezuela... that would put our zionist PM on the wrong side... again. 😈
Russian special forces tried and failed to kill Zelensky at the outset of the war in February 2022. The difference is more likely due to the fact that Maduro's abduction, rather than his assassination, allows the US to carry on the pretext that this has something to do with law enforcement and he can be seen to be brought to justice.
Agreed. It's a pretext. Trump wants to cut off China's influence and take Venezuela's crude oil reserves. He's actually been very clear about that. He's not removed Maduro on the basis of unfair elections (something he knows a lot about, apparently) but on an unproven and unlikely charge of 'narco-terrorism', which itself is based on lies and fantasy wrought by the US administration, MAGA commentators and right-wing media.
I am deeply ashamed of our government. As a child I was taught not to give in to bullies, as it only encouraged them to get worse. Decades later that advice still stands. We have to stop pretending that Trump plays by the rules. The sooner Keir Starmer puts an end to the pretence that the US and the UK are close (and equal) allies, the better. Geographically we are part of Europe, common sense, economic sense, and defence sense all dictate that we should get as close to the EU as possible. We can't continue to play at being a tiny island that somehow holds a position of strength by sitting between two giants.
Keir Starmer, as far as I'm concerned isn't a Sir and should never have been given that title, is weak. What Trump is doing is appalling. Trump just wants control and as far as he's concerned he's in control.
Hang on a minute, wasn't Trump charged, isn't he a criminal. Enough said.
With Starmer in charge the UK is in a dodgy position.
As ever clear and to the point Mark. When are Europe's leaders going to put their money where their mouths are. Should I say our the people’s money!. Starmer is obviously being told what to do by Trump and the pro Isreal lobby crooks, and Putin has now got carte Blanche to drive westward if he feels the urge to, knowing only Denmark has any balls but not the means to do anything. Between Trump, Satanyahu , Putin and Ping in China the whole world is being carved up by a global crime syndicate.
Looking at the threats/risks/assertions etc etc why are we not focusing on the citizens of USA themselves. Trump-for all his bragging, lies, opportunism etc If Trump can interfere in any country he wants, surely we have a right to do the same to him? He is unpopular in the USA itself and is now attacking his own citizens. We need to further de-stabilise the USA and Trump's hegemony
Not so much a white flag from Starmer, more of a brown nose, I'd say. How feeble and embarrassing can Starmer be? Wherever Trump is involved he just withers into red-faced inaction, hiding behind obfuscating, mealy-mouthed words. No wonder Trump thinks he can get away with blue murder in Greenland - he's already done that in Venezuela.
Liked, restacked & shared to Bluesky (as always). Starmer is proving that he is no Thatcher. Although I disagreed with Margaret Thatcher concerning many issues, she defended British interests stoutly and when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands - a British territory with more sheep than residents, she stood her ground and responded immediately and appropriately. No doubt Starmer would have wanted to think about it and we today would be referring to them as Las Islas Malvinas.
The MP for Bedford is excellent and always responds to my many emails & petitions, but whilst he remains loyal to Labour (who have not always treated him properly), I may have to vote differently in the next election - unless Starmer is replaced...
There has been plenty of time to anticipate and organise a planned response to Trump’s continuing tyranny. If all reasonable diplomacy has failed it’s time for the ROW to unite and declare its hand
Positioning, at least, sends a message and starts to mark out red lines. European leaders, and those heading up states they consider democracies, need to understand that they are now dealing with an authoritarian US president and government. This realisation is starting to hit home in the US: reportedly, only 7% of Americans polled would support annexation of Greenland. Venezuela has revealed some cracks amongst right-wing, MAGA support. The only real hope is that Trump overplays his hand, or is increasingly seen to do so, and Americans start to push back on things he either said he wouldn't do or is not delivering on at home. But that needs to happen sooner rather than later and on a lot of fronts.
As always well argued and clearly presenting the issues.
WHY is our PM so spineless? Clearly abducting the Venezuelian President is a violation of International Law. It does not require USA justification to know that.
No wonder Trump and Putin get along so well, they both believe that you take what you want. Then dare anyone to challenge them. The only difference is that Putin stopped well short of abducting Ukrainians leader!
Our self confessed Zionist, Spineless Prime Minister obviously has ulterior motives, maybe a future job after screwing up the country?
I read yesterday, that many believe Venezuela won't deal with or support Israel, so days after Netanyahu's US visit, trump attacked Venezuela... that would put our zionist PM on the wrong side... again. 😈
Russian special forces tried and failed to kill Zelensky at the outset of the war in February 2022. The difference is more likely due to the fact that Maduro's abduction, rather than his assassination, allows the US to carry on the pretext that this has something to do with law enforcement and he can be seen to be brought to justice.
sorry law enforcement - how? What gives USA any jurisdiction?
Agreed. It's a pretext. Trump wants to cut off China's influence and take Venezuela's crude oil reserves. He's actually been very clear about that. He's not removed Maduro on the basis of unfair elections (something he knows a lot about, apparently) but on an unproven and unlikely charge of 'narco-terrorism', which itself is based on lies and fantasy wrought by the US administration, MAGA commentators and right-wing media.
but WHY does an otherwise 'sane' America let him carry on?
The more apposite question is what are sane Americans going to be prepared to do stop him, and when?
I am deeply ashamed of our government. As a child I was taught not to give in to bullies, as it only encouraged them to get worse. Decades later that advice still stands. We have to stop pretending that Trump plays by the rules. The sooner Keir Starmer puts an end to the pretence that the US and the UK are close (and equal) allies, the better. Geographically we are part of Europe, common sense, economic sense, and defence sense all dictate that we should get as close to the EU as possible. We can't continue to play at being a tiny island that somehow holds a position of strength by sitting between two giants.
Keir Starmer, as far as I'm concerned isn't a Sir and should never have been given that title, is weak. What Trump is doing is appalling. Trump just wants control and as far as he's concerned he's in control.
Hang on a minute, wasn't Trump charged, isn't he a criminal. Enough said.
With Starmer in charge the UK is in a dodgy position.
Your artical mirrored my feeling on the situation, but to read it in black and white is truely upsetting!
Well done Clive Lewis.
As ever clear and to the point Mark. When are Europe's leaders going to put their money where their mouths are. Should I say our the people’s money!. Starmer is obviously being told what to do by Trump and the pro Isreal lobby crooks, and Putin has now got carte Blanche to drive westward if he feels the urge to, knowing only Denmark has any balls but not the means to do anything. Between Trump, Satanyahu , Putin and Ping in China the whole world is being carved up by a global crime syndicate.
Looking at the threats/risks/assertions etc etc why are we not focusing on the citizens of USA themselves. Trump-for all his bragging, lies, opportunism etc If Trump can interfere in any country he wants, surely we have a right to do the same to him? He is unpopular in the USA itself and is now attacking his own citizens. We need to further de-stabilise the USA and Trump's hegemony
Not so much a white flag from Starmer, more of a brown nose, I'd say. How feeble and embarrassing can Starmer be? Wherever Trump is involved he just withers into red-faced inaction, hiding behind obfuscating, mealy-mouthed words. No wonder Trump thinks he can get away with blue murder in Greenland - he's already done that in Venezuela.
"effectively our country has been rendered up as a Trump colony."
A chilling statement that brings 'Airstrip One' to mind.
Liked, restacked & shared to Bluesky (as always). Starmer is proving that he is no Thatcher. Although I disagreed with Margaret Thatcher concerning many issues, she defended British interests stoutly and when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands - a British territory with more sheep than residents, she stood her ground and responded immediately and appropriately. No doubt Starmer would have wanted to think about it and we today would be referring to them as Las Islas Malvinas.
The MP for Bedford is excellent and always responds to my many emails & petitions, but whilst he remains loyal to Labour (who have not always treated him properly), I may have to vote differently in the next election - unless Starmer is replaced...
There has been plenty of time to anticipate and organise a planned response to Trump’s continuing tyranny. If all reasonable diplomacy has failed it’s time for the ROW to unite and declare its hand
TRAMP
Ramp's up world tension.
Rubbishes democracy.
Right (his right) is Might