General News Thread

[leicsmac]

4 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

Understandable and expected reaction to be honest, as to some degree this type of rhetoric or statecraft should not be allowed to stand, especially amongst the more traditional seasoned nations of Europe. To react is to legitimise the claims, to negotiate in the open is choosing to play at the away ground.

 

It has been this way for decades and to now pivot into the bombastic politics Trump craves is to gift him the floor, to ask him for terms.

 

I remain convinced Europe's strength is in unity, and rational rhetoric, as this is the only option that does not shift this game beyond our control.

 

You could be right, but I guess only time is going to tell. 

 

7 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

 

Unsure on the bolder section, it feels quite possible there will be a reaction to ths presidency, not return to previous norms perhaps but stepping away from the precipice of constant conflict, rhetorical or militarily in favour of a more domestically slanted period.

 

All that and I never mentioned Chamberlain once. Ah f...

 

 

If that happens (and it might), that will only be because the support base currently calling the shots will have been politically neutralised, rather than by any change of mind or heart on their part. Like I said, they cannot be reasoned with.

[Dahnsouff]

6 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

If that happens (and it might), that will only be because the support base currently calling the shots will have been politically neutralised, rather than by any change of mind or heart on their part. Like I said, they cannot be reasoned with.

I agree with this, the Republicans have unleashed a force that is harnessed to them rather than being of their making. Adopting such discontent as a base requires a strong personality to steer  this discontent, and whilst Trump is here and functional, it probably can persist (The whole 'Look what they did to us" at a National level is distastefully impressive, lets be honest) although I see no obvious delegate waiting anywhere close.

Edited 18 January by Dahnsouff

[leicsmac]

1 minute ago, Dahnsouff said:

I agree with this, the Republicans have unleashed a force that is harnessed to them rather than being of their making. Adopting such discontent as a base requires a strong personality to steer and steer  this discontent. Whilst Trump is here and functional, it probably can persist (The whole 'Look what they did to us" at a National level is distastefully impressive, lets be honest) although I see no obvious delegate waiting anywhere close.

It's entirely possible that should Trump be removed from power, the whole thing will fall like Barad-Dur in the final act of Return of the King.

 

Here's hoping so and if that's the case, it happens before any more real, lasting damage to the future is caused.

[Dahnsouff]

53 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

It's entirely possible that should Trump be removed from power, the whole thing will fall like Barad-Dur in the final act of Return of the King.

 

Here's hoping so and if that's the case, it happens before any more real, lasting damage to the future is caused.

Fancy some recalibration has occurred that will persist at least for the mid term, as any future will have one eye on such a large block, but this also may a jolt that the US had to experience at some point.

[martyn]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

It will be interesting to see what both Tice and Speaker Johnson say live on camera about all this today. 

Farage was supposed to be on, not Tice, but was "under the weather" this morning. 

[leicsmac]

3 minutes ago, martyn said:

Farage was supposed to be on, not Tice, but was "under the weather" this morning. 

Interesting. 

 

He could easily have said the same things as Tice did with not much blowback, I think. Not sure of the angle there, if there is one. 

[Innovindil]

16 hours ago, bovril said:

I don't really understand if Trump ultimately wants Europe to put troops in and defend Greenland or not? 

"National security" appears to be the excuse, not the reason. He wants the land mass and the resources it holds. Same way they bullied Ukraine into giving up resources. 

[Trav Le Bleu]

57 minutes ago, martyn said:

Farage was supposed to be on, not Tice, but was "under the weather" this morning. 

Cancel culture.

[Sampson]

1 hour ago, martyn said:

Farage was supposed to be on, not Tice, but was "under the weather" this morning. 

What a snowflake, pulling a sicky because he doesn’t want to answer questions about his “dear, dear friend” Trump when he is threatening to invade our allies and our continent.

[Lionator]

Meanwhile Canada seem to be making some astute geopolitical choices. Ultimately in this era, sensible and realistic western countries should overlook the human rights issues in China to develop a stable partnership with them as a reliable partner. 
 

 

[CornwallFox]

5 hours ago, Dahnsouff said:

As much as i agree, I am not convinced escalation achieves a great deal. Yes we may open the US's eyes to the comparative economic power of Europe but I doubt they are closed, more ignored as most of this has little to do with Europe beyond it being the backdrop.

 

Europe is very much an anti-Trump America in as much that we are willingly operating within our guidelines, within our self imposed limits and generally operate on longer term for the collective good of the block.

 

Any aggressive responses just fuel the grievances he imagines or at last projects to the American people or more specifically his  people. Collective messaging and unity in response is Europe's kryptonite to Trump, and it is best delivered in a quiet, measured, non-provocative manner, as it gives him little room for outrage, which he requires.

 

As much as it would be great to call him for what he is publically, it is self harm.

What I'm suggesting would certainly involve short term harm for us as trump would probably be inclined to rachet things up and escalate tariffs etc. I do wonder whether that's needed though. Playing nicely with him and trying to stay as neutral as possible let's him get away with it. If he was genuinely about to leave America friendless in the world the republicans would shit themselves imo.

[Dahnsouff]

1 minute ago, CornwallFox said:

What I'm suggesting would certainly involve short term harm for us as trump would probably be inclined to rachet things up and escalate tariffs etc. I do wonder whether that's needed though. Playing nicely with him and trying to stay as neutral as possible let's him get away with it. If he was genuinely about to leave America friendless in the world the republicans would shit themselves imo.

But a lack of response, silence, is not being complicit, it refusing to deal with his rhetoric. Europe needs to do what it is doing, putting out consistent, unified messaging. Agree that Republicans wild baulk at being left friendless and the economic cost of being so.

[worthosoriginals]

5 hours ago, leicsmac said:

This is reasonable and has been the playbook so far from most of the European and Anglosphere nations. 

 

It has gotten us to this stage, so has it really been effective in terms of neutralising the threat represented?

 

The current US administration, and those that follow them like a cult, are going to do what they want no matter what diplomatic response is given to them. If they need outrage or grievance to justify their action, they simply make it up, lie about it, and then proceed. They cannot or will not be reasoned with. 

 

If that isn't obvious now, I'm not sure when it will be. 

 

A different approach is surely needed.

Mac, when you put the word cult in that post, was it a typo?

[leicsmac]

1 hour ago, worthosoriginals said:

Mac, when you put the word cult in that post, was it a typo?

Oh, right, yes, it should have been "colt". 

[CornwallFox]

[Super_horns]

Sad news.

 

High speed rail crash in Spain leaving up to 21 dead so far.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cedw6ylpynyo

 

A u-turn on a u-turn?

 

Had to scrap a bill they were thinking of amending after protests.

 

https://www.itv.com/news/2026-01-18/hillsborough-amendment-pulled-after-concerns-government-was-watering-down-bill

Edited 18 January by Super_horns

[Sly]

I don’t ever see a situation where Trump tries to take Greenland by force. I think it would cause carnage across the states. That’s just with the uproar of people opposing it. You’d almost start a civil war within the United States I think.

 

That’s before you’ve even got to the point of them being turfed out of every base in Europe and places like RAF Lakenheath becoming a PoW camp. 
 

If he isn’t careful, he could cripple them financially though, as these latest round of threat could be the straw that breaks the camels back so to speak, if he does impose further taxes on NATO Countries. If trade into the US is reduced.

 

Can you imagine a world where it happens though? 
 

Amazon Web Service caused a major issue last year when it went down. That’s based in the US, that happens again ……. But on a more permanent basis, the world would roll back 20 years. 
 

US Technology becomes limited, no apple pay etc, 

 

Microsoft stops providing updates, so over time it bricks itself. 
 

It would be chaos! 

 

 

 

[Sampson]

14 minutes ago, Sly said:

I don’t ever see a situation where Trump tries to take Greenland by force. I think it would cause carnage across the states. That’s just with the uproar of people opposing it. You’d almost start a civil war within the United States I think.

 

That’s before you’ve even got to the point of them being turfed out of every base in Europe and places like RAF Lakenheath becoming a PoW camp. 
 

If he isn’t careful, he could cripple them financially though, as these latest round of threat could be the straw that breaks the camels back so to speak, if he does impose further taxes on NATO Countries. If trade into the US is reduced.

 

Can you imagine a world where it happens though? 
 

Amazon Web Service caused a major issue last year when it went down. That’s based in the US, that happens again ……. But on a more permanent basis, the world would roll back 20 years. 
 

US Technology becomes limited, no apple pay etc, 

 

Microsoft stops providing updates, so over time it bricks itself. 
 

It would be chaos! 

 

 

 

Honestly reverting back to the pre-internet age wouldn’t be such a bad thing imo. Used to be a technophile but think the internet has done more harm than good to people’s brains and society at this point

[Sly]

Just now, Sampson said:

Honestly reverting back to the pre-internet age wouldn’t be such a bad thing imo. Used to be a technophile but think the internet has done more harm than good to people’s brains and society at this point

It is a double edged sword. 
 

Technology has never advanced at such a rate, as the world is now so close. However with the use of artificial intelligence and social media,  it’s also become an absolute cesspit in places. 

[Sly]

7 hours ago, Super_horns said:

Sad news.

 

High speed rail crash in Spain leaving up to 21 dead so far.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cedw6ylpynyo

 

A u-turn on a u-turn?

 

Had to scrap a bill they were thinking of amending after protests.

 

https://www.itv.com/news/2026-01-18/hillsborough-amendment-pulled-after-concerns-government-was-watering-down-bill

The Spanish train crash looks awful. A derailment that has gone onto the oncoming track.

[leicsmac]

11 minutes ago, Sampson said:

Honestly reverting back to the pre-internet age wouldn’t be such a bad thing imo. Used to be a technophile but think the internet has done more harm than good to people’s brains and society at this point

 

8 minutes ago, Sly said:

It is a double edged sword. 
 

Technology has never advanced at such a rate, as the world is now so close. However with the use of artificial intelligence and social media,  it’s also become an absolute cesspit in places. 

I think the tech advances are necessary to guarantee our future, but at the same time they do massively multiply all the human flaws, which has a lot of connected negative effects. 

 

Definite dilemma.

[Lionator]

goodness me 

[leicsmac]

1 hour ago, Lionator said:

goodness me 

Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if this was satire and not 100% genuine?

 

But it is, and enough Americans voted for it. Twice, the second after a coup attempt and two impeachment hearings.

[Lionator]

29 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if this was satire and not 100% genuine?

 

But it is, and enough Americans voted for it. Twice, the second after a coup attempt and two impeachment hearings.

He’s a very unwell man. Thankfully he seems to respect China and Russia, or else I’d actually be terrified we won’t make it through these next 3 years. I cannot see him not having a severe medical event at some point soon. 

[ramboacdc]

4 minutes ago, Lionator said:

He’s a very unwell man. Thankfully he seems to respect China and Russia, or else I’d actually be terrified we won’t make it through these next 3 years. I cannot see him not having a severe medical event at some point soon. 

Russian agents usually are very respectful to Russia. 

He's asked Putin to be on the Gaza peace council. Just when you thought Blair being on it was the peak of irony....