Trump's spell broken. Alienated so many former US allies. His foolishness writ large for all to see. Unable to sustain consistent policy positions from one 24-hour period to the next. Nepotism, cronyism and corruption rife in his règime. What former strategic hegemons are like when unravelling.
Starmer distancing UK from US-Israel offensive in Iran increasingly vindicated. Badenoch will rue her terrible mis-reading of geopolitical realities. As for Farage, he just trots along, however wild the stakes, even though Trump can't be bothered to spend the time of day with him any more.
A characteristic feature of fascist ideology is revelling in state violence. Reflecting on some of the statements of Trump and Hegseth in recent days, bear in mind that association.
Trump's recklessness creates yet more global economic instability, layered on top of his moveable feast on tariffs. What governing by mere whim looks like. How populists behave given public office; unleashing chaos. Deriding diplomacy, evidence and science, too, for good measure.
The Trump Administration has no idea what it is doing in this Middle East conflict, or why it is doing it, other than showing off an arsenal of weapons. Foolishly co-opted into doing Netanyahu's bidding. A Secretary of State 'for War' demonstrating all the sophistication of a street thug.
Concentration of power in one person invariably ends in strategic calamity; Putin in Ukraine, Trump in Middle East - an historical pattern repeating itself endlessly over the centuries. The US desperately needs to re-establish checks and balances on which its constitution is supposed to be based.
This is what grown-up thinking sounds like.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
So many contradictory explanations on reasons for US offensive against Iran from those involved in the Trump Administration. Utterly incoherent, despite magnitude of all the ensuing consequences, not just for the region, but globally.
And when you have a Fox News commentator as Secretary of State for War (not Defence)!
Trump was always going to overreach at some point and badly miscalculate, because he thinks his gut instincts are a better guide than informed evaluation. This is what happens when bar room bravado becomes a substitute for serious foreign policy.
It is clearly contrary to international law. Which is why Starmer has had the good sense not to allow British bases to be used for the US-Israeli offensive. But if you expect me to whitewash the current Iranian règime - then, yes, you are going to be disappointed!
Carney has unambiguously weighed in behind Trump on this matter!
He is reflecting the complexity around a règime that has systematically murdered its own citizens and helped arm Putin's terrorist state.
How wise of Starmer to avoid doing a Blair in the Middle East - something that has cast a shadow over everything else that Blair achieved ever since.
That's not what I was implying at all re: international law. Pointing out that taking at face value anything Trump says is foolish.
Trump talks about an 'imminent threat' from Iran, having claimed following a previous strike on the country that its nuclear installations had been 'obliterated'.
The US electorate are seeing everything from Trump that he promised would finally be brought to an end by his Presidency!
The 'Great Kemi Revival' that, somehow, never caught on!
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Does anyone really want to live in a neo-fascist Britain where we all have to yield to every authoritarian whim of Farage: Trump- or even Putin-style? Do people really understand what they're voting for when they cast their ballot for Reform!
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
And who is behind this little cabal?
Thoughts with Ukraine today, 24 February, as they remember the brutal invasion from a Putin terrorist state four years ago - and we acknowledge their on-going suffering instigated by a callous autocrat.
Good. We might even converge in the middle!
Interesting how we admire many commentators in common, yet have very different views on this matter. Ah, well. Guess I must be old enough to know better!
Absolutely. Because I haven't got time for such patent polemical nonsense.
My word; you do have a lot of time on your hands!
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Don't expect to have to block people for nonsense on this sedate platform. But there we go!
So vague, wouldn't know where to start.
Follow Tory regicide - an encouraging precedent!
A description that's unrecognisable when set against the facts, including his support for a Palestinian state.
