'Murica

[4D]

The whole US just 'talking' to Russia thing is embarrassing.
The war needs to be stopped, yes, but not on one sides terms.

[Peter Venkman]

The whole US just 'talking' to Russia thing is embarrassing.
The war needs to be stopped, yes, but not on one sides terms.

This.

[horlock07]

The whole US just 'talking' to Russia thing is embarrassing.
The war needs to be stopped, yes, but not on one sides terms.

The reporting of the meeting to date had less of the air of two side trying to halt a conflict and more of the air of the victors meeting to agree how to share the spoils....

I suspect we will see China moving into Taiwan at some stage in the next 3 years as well as Trump has basically given anyone a free pass to do what the fuck they like.

[Ardiles]

It's notable that Farage has gone quiet this week.  I'd be lying low if I was him as well.  Trump is actively working to advance Russian interests and this does not play well to most on the UK political right wing.

Fair play to Starmer for attempting to bridge the US-Europe gap, but I'm sceptical that he'll make it work.  The UK will likely begin to pivot back towards Europe and also Australia/Canada/NZ soon.  I struggle to see an alternative.  The 'special relationship' isn't even a relationship any more.

[Audrey]

Get the feeling Trump/Putin are collaborating on a carve up of Europe. USA want Ukraine’s rare earth materials, Russia effectively wants the old USSR back under its control/influence.

We’ll all be at war within 10 years. Glad I’m old.

[donkey]

It is astounding that the way to make America great again is to copy one of the most shameful moments of British history.  Munich should be a warning not a guide.

For shame.

[donkey]

Considering everything, feels like we got away with a lot in his first term on the foreign policy side. Now we're getting the nightmare scenario.

The President of the US is effectively (if not literally) a KGB asset. Tom Clancy would get a good book out of it at least.

Sinclair Lewis already wrote it in 1935.  It Can't Happen Here.

[4D]

"Make billionaires richer again"
Always about money.

[Batch]

Get the feeling Trump/Putin are collaborating on a carve up of Europe. USA want Ukraine’s rare earth materials, Russia effectively wants the old USSR back under its control/influence.

We’ll all be at war within 10 years. Glad I’m old.

Thing is it sounds melodramatic, and it probably is, but world wars start somehow.

The USA already trying to bend over backwards to shy away from doing the right thing, to doing the popular with his moron support thing.

Isolation didn't really work for the world during WW2.

It's all pretty staggering for those of us that lived through parts of the cold war.

[horlock07]

It is astounding that the way to make America great again is to copy one of the most shameful moments of British history.  Munich should be a warning not a guide.

For shame.

I think that's actually a little unfair on Chamberlain, as misguided and naive as he was, he was at least acting in good faith and in what he (horrifically wrongly as it turned out) believed was the course to peace. Albeit admittedly basically closing the Czech's out of any decision over their future was very Trump/Ukrainey.

[Nemo]

Sinclair Lewis already wrote it in 1935.  It Can't Happen Here.

I've read it, it's a good book. Although in my memory, about a homegrown fascist rather than the agent of a foreign government.

[horlock07]

I've read it, it's a good book. Although in my memory, about a homegrown fascist rather than the agent of a foreign government.

What about a South African born one???

[donkey]

I think that's actually a little unfair on Chamberlain, as misguided and naive as he was, he was at least acting in good faith and in what he (horrifically wrongly as it turned out) believed was the course to peace. Albeit admittedly basically closing the Czech's out of any decision over their future was very Trump/Ukrainey.

Whilst I do have a little sympathy for Chamberlain, the man who replaced him wasn't happy with it.

The parallels between the 1930s and now are huge, not just invasion and appeasement, but the rise of nationalism and the far right across Europe.  I fear we have learned too little.

[donkey]

I've read it, it's a good book. Although in my memory, about a homegrown fascist rather than the agent of a foreign government.

Could argue Trump is hometown, too of course.

[Ardiles]

Whilst I do have a little sympathy for Chamberlain, the man who replaced him wasn't happy with it.

The parallels between the 1930s and now are huge, not just invasion and appeasement, but the rise of nationalism and the far right across Europe.  I fear we have learned too little.

The lessons were learned at the time.  Establishment of NATO and (here) the welfare state are proof of that.  But memory fades over time.  There's been a noticeable rise recently in the proportion of the voting public who are comfortable appeasing figures like Putin - and I think it's no coincidence that this has happened at the same time as the passing of the last generation to remember WWII.  We're probably going to have to suffer a decade or so of fascism every 100 years as an unpleasant wake up call.  Before, hopefully, learning the lesson and rebuilding again.

Christ...I hope it's only a decade this time.