General News Thread

[leicsmac]

19 hours ago, st albans fox said:

We are now within 3 months of a GE which could be the most significant in the history of the country.  when you read what some politicians there are saying then you need to have that perspective- they’re speaking to their base and much of what they’re saying is domestic sound bites.   
 

my concern is what the administration will try and do to further isolate the country and draw the uncertain voters into a feeling of fear and that they need the status quo for their security.  Totally the opposite of what’s actually the case.  if you’re a voter and you feel the whole world hates you anyway then what’s to lose?  Would be better if it was clear that their beef is with the leaders and their supporters and not all the people or the country.  Otherwise we will just deepen the regional malaise come November, 

 

of course many do have a beef with the country but that’s impractical given its military capabilities. 

I'd agree with the general sentiment here but would add the observation that at least some of the hotheads over there, two in particular, aren't just talkers - they're in the room when "bad" things are happening.

[st albans fox]

24 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

The only thing different the Iranians have done from practically every other global player here is be either unprofessional enough or careless enough to outsource their killing jobs to amateurs. (And/or careless enough to get caught doing it.)

 

Not sure that's a massively significant difference in terms of the big picture tbh. 

I think the recruitment of young vulnerable men to carry out their killings is a big part of my issue. 

[leicsmac]

6 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

I think the recruitment of young vulnerable men to carry out their killings is a big part of my issue. 

I agree that's a big issue. I also think that the Iranians are far from the only party engaged in it (or practices that could be qualified as it) even though they're the only ones currently being talked about on the topic.

Edited Sunday at 08:18 by leicsmac

[st albans fox]

2 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

I agree that's a big issue. I also think that the Iranians are far from the only party engaged in it even though they're the only ones currently being talked about on the topic.

I thought most other countries carrying out targeted assassinations used their own highly trained people to carry them out.  Hence more likely not to get caught and highlighted. 

[leicsmac]

8 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

I thought most other countries carrying out targeted assassinations used their own highly trained people to carry them out.  Hence more likely not to get caught and highlighted. 

Or sometimes use a deniable "clean skin", with the difference being that they have, as you say, trained them much better, or simply been better at making sure they're not discovered.

 

Anyhow, while this is naturally shitty behaviour from the Iranians, state-sanctioned killing is state-sanctioned killing and IMO this isn't really egregiously more filthy than the filth that is realpolitik that most other global players get involved in. They're simply being stupid enough or don't-give-a-toss enough to not train their killers (agents or deniable recruits) the way everyone else does.

[davieG]

We Own It ·

Follow

 

Imagine UEFA's statement about FIFA's plans to sell off the World Cup, but replace all the references to FOOTBALL with WATER…

See more

 

[leicsmac]

9 minutes ago, davieG said:

We Own It ·

Follow

 

Imagine UEFA's statement about FIFA's plans to sell off the World Cup, but replace all the references to FOOTBALL with WATER…

See more

 

It's darkly funny because there are companies looking to commercalise that truly vital resource in various places in the world in exactly this way.

[The Bear]

Just now, leicsmac said:

It's darkly funny because there are companies looking to commercalise that truly vital resource in various places in the world in exactly this way.

Just you wait until we start a moon base and all the bickering over basic resources that entails. 

[leicsmac]

3 minutes ago, The Bear said:

Just you wait until we start a moon base and all the bickering over basic resources that entails. 

Oh, yes. And further out, too.

 

James Corey had it about right in his Expanse books.

Edited Sunday at 09:06 by leicsmac

[Free Falling Foxes]

2 hours ago, The Bear said:

Just you wait until we start a moon base and all the bickering over basic resources that entails. 

Take a listen to this.....

 

It is estimated that just one Shuttle bay load of Helium 3 which is found in abundance, frozen in the water in the Moons south pole, could fuel the USA for ten years!

No wonder India chose this region to land their probe and explore. 

[leicsmac]

6 minutes ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

Take a listen to this.....

 

It is estimated that just one Shuttle bay load of Helium 3 which is found in abundance, frozen in the water in the Moons south pole, could fuel the USA for ten years!

No wonder India chose this region to land their probe and explore. 

We knew a while back that the south pole of the moon likely had what we needed in terms of resources to sustain a presence there. 

 

But when exactly has abundance of a resource stopped those with power trying to limit it in order to further their own power anyway?

[Free Falling Foxes]

8 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

We knew a while back that the south pole of the moon likely had what we needed in terms of resources to sustain a presence there. 

 

But when exactly has abundance of a resource stopped those with power trying to limit it in order to further their own power anyway?

Oh I'm very aware of that, hence my India example.

India was just one of a handful of countries not to place sanctions on Putins Russia after the  invasion of Ukraine . Not only that, they continued to buy Russian oil.

Where these sort of resources are available - or become available - lack of moral behaviour and selfishness will come to the foremost.

[leicsmac]

8 minutes ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

Oh I'm very aware of that, hence my India example.

India was just one of a handful of countries not to place sanctions on Putins Russia after the  invasion of Ukraine . Not only that, they continued to buy Russian oil.

Where these sort of resources are available - or become available - lack of moral behaviour and selfishness will come to the foremost.

Absolutely no disagreement there, and such selfish behaviour is sadly not limited to one or even a few nation states.

 

Which, in the world we inhabit today, rather shows again a fundamental weakness of them. 

[leicsmac]

17 hours ago, leicsmac said:

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2v91xn1z9o

 

If it was designed as a psyop to get EU nations bickering with each other and not actually using the brains the powers that govern the universe gave them beyond a purely superficial level, then it looks like whichever entity was responsible got what they wanted.

 

Depressing. 

... is it now too tinfoil hat to suggest that this is exactly what happened, viz. both the "migration" itself and the reaction to it were rather stage-managed, and those directing it are the ones who want to bring Spain back "into line" after recent comments their leaders have made?

[The Bear]

Thankfully, space agencies generally collaborate in very peaceful and fair terms. It's only when the government's behind them start to stick their noses in that it all gets messy. 

 

I think discussions, charters and legal rights are already being peacefully discussed. Hopefully that stick once we finally get up there. 

 

Andy Weir's Artemis is a decent book on this sort of stuff. Well it's a heist/espionage move on a moon base owned by corporations any way. 

[Lionator]

Trump being funny

 

 

[bovril]

The Cambridge plagiarism prof stuff is fascinating and would make a great film

[LCFCJohn]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr59qyy4l5yo
 

It’s quite clear that Reform’s tactic (if you can call it that) to tackle illegal immigration is very reactive, i.e wait until they get here and send them back.

 

Whereas Labour are actually doing work to try and tackle the root cause, the smuggling gangs, to be more proactive in stopping the boats even getting going.

 

I just really hope the progress continues and that they ram the figures down the public’s throats to neutralise the one thing Reform think they are so clever with.

[Trav Le Bleu]

9 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr59qyy4l5yo
 

It’s quite clear that Reform’s tactic (if you can call it that) to tackle illegal immigration is very reactive, i.e wait until they get here and send them back.

 

Whereas Labour are actually doing work to try and tackle the root cause, the smuggling gangs, to be more proactive in stopping the boats even getting going.

 

I just really hope the progress continues and that they ram the figures down the public’s throats to neutralise the one thing Reform think they are so clever with.

 

Farage says the Royal Marines will deposit them back in France.

 

Because Royal Marines can enter French territorial waters without permission

 

Also, many navy experts saying it just wouldn't be practical. You need small boats and lots of them when the trend is to have a few big ships.

 

I just don't know why they (who is making the decisions at any given time) haven't created a separate entity just for this purpose. A fleet of fast rib boats that can patrol and rapidly respond to any incursions. 

 

You don't have to send them back, you just have to stop them coming any further. People traffickers will soon get the message.

[davieG]

19 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr59qyy4l5yo
 

It’s quite clear that Reform’s tactic (if you can call it that) to tackle illegal immigration is very reactive, i.e wait until they get here and send them back.

 

Whereas Labour are actually doing work to try and tackle the root cause, the smuggling gangs, to be more proactive in stopping the boats even getting going.

 

I just really hope the progress continues and that they ram the figures down the public’s throats to neutralise the one thing Reform think they are so clever with.

Why would they want to stop them they will want to invest in or tax the smugglers 

[leicsmac]

32 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr59qyy4l5yo
 

It’s quite clear that Reform’s tactic (if you can call it that) to tackle illegal immigration is very reactive, i.e wait until they get here and send them back.

 

Whereas Labour are actually doing work to try and tackle the root cause, the smuggling gangs, to be more proactive in stopping the boats even getting going.

 

I just really hope the progress continues and that they ram the figures down the public’s throats to neutralise the one thing Reform think they are so clever with.

Judging by recent debate on here, it seems like actually tackling the root causes isn't a popular thing, sadly. 

[Zear0]

20 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Judging by recent debate on here, it seems like actually tackling the root causes isn't a popular thing, sadly. 

They’re claiming political asylum not escaping the local climate.

[kenny]

51 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

 

Farage says the Royal Marines will deposit them back in France.

 

Because Royal Marines can enter French territorial waters without permission

 

Also, many navy experts saying it just wouldn't be practical. You need small boats and lots of them when the trend is to have a few big ships.

 

I just don't know why they (who is making the decisions at any given time) haven't created a separate entity just for this purpose. A fleet of fast rib boats that can patrol and rapidly respond to any incursions. 

 

You don't have to send them back, you just have to stop them coming any further. People traffickers will soon get the message.

The issue isn't the size of the boats but the impossibility of turning them round in the channel. The RN would have to accept that when turning round a flimsy boat, some many top over and sunk resulting in inevitable loss of life.

 

As they won't do this, it isn't a viable plan at all.

 

It is also awful that the RNLI are tasked with using resources to go collect them as soon as they get halfway through the channel rather than borderforce.

[st albans fox]

8 hours ago, Lionator said:

Trump being funny

 

 

Real life is a parody of itself!

that could be a Saturday night live sketch - but he actually said it - the president of the USA - the leader of the free world - ffs 

[leicsmac]

18 minutes ago, Zear0 said:

They’re claiming political asylum not escaping the local climate.

And I made it rather clear at the time that is simply one of the many causes (though becoming more and more important) of the lack of stability in those regions at the present time. Which all do need at least somewhat addressing if migration is actually going to be managed in an even vaguely humane way. 

 

Evidently I wasn't clear enough or some folks simply read what they want to read, but fair enough.