American Politics

[sbgawa]

I saw someone from either Greenland or Danish politics note that the similar claims of a Chinese threat in the region were odd given the last Chinese warship observed near Greenland was in 1950. There is little point paying the slightest attention to what Trump says, as it's a diahorria of utter ********. But every word gets reported hysterically because it generates clicks. Now, when he imposes tariffs for not handing over Greenland, which I think he's done - you'd lose track of all the BS - then you have to react.

I'm baffled by some of the appeasment-themed nonsense I've heard from politicians recently. China matched his tariffs up to about 120% and then announced that they were bored now as US goods were totally uncompetitive in their market at those rates anyway, and he folded like a wet towel. Tell him to **** off and stop showing snivelling weakness.

Unlike China who dont depend on Trump our entire Economic well being and ability to defend ourselves (at a European level rather than just Ireland) depends on the USA.
Hence the appeasement talk.
Without American inteligence and American weopans (paid for largely by Europeans now) Ukraine are done and the Baltics are next.

I would still tell him to F off but the politicians are doing what politicians do and trying to keep people safe and the show sort of on the road.
Im probably glad it isnt my call tbh.
A full American withdrawl and Russia free to do whatever they want is a worrying thought

[Mr A]

Saw this on twitter:

"Five stories from just the last 24 hours:

1. Minnesota police chief says ICE has been unconstitutionally stopping & pulling guns on his own off-duty officers who are brown/black.

2. The Social Security Administration referred two DOGE employees for Hatch Act violations after discovering contacts with a political group seeking SSA data to overturn election results.

3. Canada struck a historic trade deal with China, declaring them more "predictable" than the U.S., then its PM warned of a rupture with the U.S. and the "end of the rules-based international order."

4. Trump quietly pardoned a slew of more white collar criminals, almost all of whom were convicted of fraud.

5. NYTimes released an editorial documenting how Trump has made $1.4 billion (with a "b") dollars off the presidency in his first year in office -- just on the publicly documented trades and transactions.

That's legitimately 24 hours of news, and it's just scratching the surface."

You could add any number of things on top of that since I saw it a few hours ago. Trump is all over the place and is getting worse and worse.

ICE seem intent on igniting as much resistance as possible, probably to justify sending troops in. The big question somes when that happens somewhere- will they serve the president or the constitution.

Dangerous times.

[Dermobohs]

Unlike China who dont depend on Trump our entire Economic well being and ability to defend ourselves (at a European level rather than just Ireland) depends on the USA.
Hence the appeasement talk.
Without American inteligence and American weopans (paid for largely by Europeans now) Ukraine are done and the Baltics are next.

I would still tell him to F off but the politicians are doing what politicians do and trying to keep people safe and the show sort of on the road.
Im probably glad it isnt my call tbh.
A full American withdrawl and Russia free to do whatever they want is a worrying thought

This lunatic is every bit as dangerous as Putin, we would be far worse off with US “defence”, they are done as a democratic nation.

[SkStu]

I thought Canadian PM Mark Carney's speech was outstanding. A very well put excerpt below:

For decades, countries like Canada prospered under what we called the rules-based international order. We joined its institutions, we praised its principles, we benefited from its predictability. And because of that, we could pursue values-based foreign policies under its protection.

We knew the story of the international rules-based order was partially false, that the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient, that trade rules were enforced asymmetrically, and we knew that international law applied with varied rigour, depending on the identity of the accused or the victim.

This fiction was useful, and American hegemony in particular helped provide public goods, open sea lanes, a stable financial system, collective security and support for frameworks for resolving disputes.

So we placed the sign in the window. We participated in the rituals, and we largely avoided calling out the gaps between rhetoric and reality.

This bargain no longer works.

[Nesta99]

The recent deaths in Minnesota are awful and so many levels. But I am getting a certain enjoyment seeing Republican politicians and 'law enforcement' talk about not carrying guns, (with permit), if you are carrying you are asking for it type stuff. Its really tearing up a lot of the pro gun people that this is being said after a legally held holstered gun is the reason for a shooting. Talk about not knowing your base. Would have been better to throw the culprits under the bus (as they should) and not echo points often made by anti 2nd ammendment - carry a gun risk getting shot. Everything about that Bovino loon shouts Neo N, and his cosplay becoming a reality....

I ee they are haping up to attack Iran again and Nuclear program stuff, though that was sorted in the summer when the bombing set back the Iranian program 20 years? Why dont the boost ratings at home with it being another decapitation with regime change considering the protests. Itd have credibility and could be boxed to bolster ailing MAGA ratings.

[dahamsta]

I'll say it again: America has been on the cusp of civil war since before Trump 1, never more so than now. And they'll drag the rest of the planet into it, with Putin's assistance.

I'd say buy gold, but that isn't an option any more. Hoard cash and spread your assets about folks. It probably won't help a whole lot, but it might a little.

[Kingdom]

It's an awful thing to say, but the world of geopolitics is getting remarkably interesting again. We could all die as a result, but sure isn't the uncertainty half the excitement?

Reading last weekend that the Chinese military purge was due to a touch of paranoia but mainly because Xi's right hand man (their daddies were BFFFF's during the revolution and knew each other since childhood) couldn't guarantee the Chinese military wouldn't be in a position to successfully invade and Annex Taiwan by 2030.

Plus everyone is expecting the Ukraine situation to dramatically be resolved: "We're nearly there, the final stumbling block is territory!". That's about as big a stumbling block as there ever will be in any geopolitical conflict resolution. And if Zelensky does capitulate, there'll be civil war in Ukraine - I'm certain of that - or more likely, the Donbas will be reminiscent of Chechnya after the fall of the CCCP.

[SkStu]

It's an awful thing to say, but the world of geopolitics is getting remarkably interesting again. We could all die as a result, but sure isn't the uncertainty half the excitement?

sure its the not knowing that'd kill ye.

[Neish]

With the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei by the USA/Israel attacks on Iran stability in the middle east is getting scary.

Don't get my wrong Iran and the world is better off without rulers like Khamenei but you have to wonder what comes next, taking out Dictators in that region of the world hasn't improved life much for the regular people of the area in recent history

[Nesta99]

Instability in Iraq, Syria, Libya, (Yemen) now probably Iran, possible Lebanon a target in the future when UNIFIL ends. Many factions willing to fight for control and the vacuum gets filled by IS who, while dangerous, are not united enough to pose a long term threat to the existence of nations ie Israel. People are talking about there being no planning but tbh I think it may suit to have these countries that were non aligned with the US to collapse with little care about the people. If an attack is perpetrated by say an IS type group on Israel or the US well it suits the Netanyahus of the world as it allows them justify their actions, they can circle the wagons. If there was a choice to turn a blind eye to a intelligence on a potential attack on US assets a la Al Qaeda, and real distraction from the Epstein stuff, what would current administration pick? Maybe Im giving too much credit, but multiple administrations over decades have toyed with these issues to not consider there is a method to the madness. For as long as civil war occurs after the leadership is eliminated then they can be supressed from the relative safety of the air.

[Razors left peg]

Trump has already said that if we are at war he can cancel the midterm elections. This is 100% the game plan here, distract from the Epstein files for now and then hope there is enough chaos where he can create constitution questions surrounding the elections. He needs massive instability to hold onto power

[SkStu]

I just can’t handle all this peace.

[pineapple stu]

Trump has already said that if we are at war he can cancel the midterm elections.

Missed that. Bit ironic given he openly criticised Zelenskyy for effectively the same thing

[Nesta99]

Also news on the probable length of this war is being drip fed with 4 weeks first, now its September and January has also been said though not sourced. Fits with motive mentioned. Insiders are also reporting that this was Bibi on a solo run that the US had to follow to save face. Now in what way face could be lost is unclear or how the tail would be wagging the dog if the US was following the leader. Theres lost of tough to watch stuff from Trump eras but the US marine being ejected for protesting the war at a senate hearing and having his elbow dislocated or broken has to be worst and Ive built a pretty thick skin to the squeamish kind of stuff!

[John83]

Insiders? Marco Rubio said it outright in a press conference. Then he turned around the next day and accused a reporter of misquoting him, asking "Were you in the room yesterday?" As it happens, it was the same reporter he'd been responding to the previous day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAdJUCPu5jI There's no attempt to be consistent or embarassment to being caught out from that administration. They just move on to the next lie and expect you to drop it. They're just bull****ters and con artists.

[Nesta99]

Rubio let the cat out of the bag, there was a whole lot of back stepping then but more detail and specifics were leaked and it was Bibi calling the shots - this is happening, be embarrassed by not being in on it or get on board and at minimum take some of the credit. It was also leaked that they were prepping for a protracted campaign but now Don is doing what Don does and expresses wishful thinking as fact eg Iran beaten, objectives met buuuttt Israel have no intention of stopping by letting a new supreme leader be installed (Ayatollah Junior) as Trump wants so it will rumble on past the standard 4 weeks stated by the WH. The tale really is wagging the dog and Netanyahu is dictating terms. Incredible really especially when you see how Putin is also playing the other puppet master. Footage no being released of the missile hitting the school and it being American as they used the tomahawks. Its really falling apart for the Trump Admin and if inflation jumps as a result of this action then its really hard to see a way back for the midterms. JD is awol, Hegseth sounds like he quoting old jingoistic films thinking he is being profound and even MAGA are going wtf. It actually feels like the beginning of the end of this faction of MAGA. Another will crop up but it wont be for this bunch, MTG could be a real threat to all in a couple of years, but hopefully Europe has its own defence systems up to scratch by then including proper European GPS and Starlink type systems. Interesting that Ukraine are now in the in crowd for moneybags middle east for their drone interceptor tech - hilarious name those drones due to their phallic shape!!

[John83]

Galileo is the European GPS system. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galile...te_navigation)