Donald I, emperor of the world.

[Psamathe]

This is the main reason. The actual percentages are just fluff.
And Starmer is falling for it with the planes for starters.

When I heard about those planes, weapons and US control my first thought was a sort of indirect bribe. Sort of "look, UK money going to US for stuff US will get to control". Not heard much to make me think different.

Ian

 

[Psamathe]

Will Starmer suggest a 5%* increase in income tax to pay for it? That money has to come from somewhere.

Another case of Starmer proposing unfunded spending. When other parties do it Starmer/Reeves/Labour really lay into them for "unfunded spending" but when Labour do it we're supposed to consider it responsible. Hypocrisy.

Ian

 

[Pblakeney]

Another case of Starmer proposing unfunded spending. When other parties do it Starmer/Reeves/Labour really lay into them for "unfunded spending" but when Labour do it we're supposed to consider it responsible. Hypocrisy.

Ian

As I said, string him along without actually doing it.
Although being the lapdogs that we are I won't be surprised.

 

[briantrumpet]

Anyone going to the US soon? Best delete your NCAP account sharpish...

 

[Psamathe]

When Mr. Brian applies for a visa how are the US authorities going to know briantrumpet is the same individual was on the application in front of them (unless you tell them).

But to be safe maybe register a new Xitter and Facebook account and make a few posts along the lines "so glad President Trump is pushing ... a real help for us in the UK. Thank you Mr President" and tell them about those accounts. Remember to delete bookmarks, cookies and browsing history to everything CycleChat before turning up at US immigration.

Ian

 

[briantrumpet]

When Mr. Brian applies for a visa how are the US authorities going to know briantrumpet is the same individual was on the application in front of them (unless you tell them).

But to be safe maybe register a new Xitter and Facebook account and make a few posts along the lines "so glad President Trump is pushing ... a real help for us in the UK. Thank you Mr President" and tell them about those accounts.

Ian

I shall quite happily go to my grave at the appointed hour without ever having gone to America and with my assessment of Trump intact.

 

[Pblakeney]

Anyone going to the US soon? Best delete your NCAP account sharpish...

View attachment 8813

I considered myself as persona non grata a couple of months ago.
Actually cancelled travel plans. No regrets.

 

[Ian H]

Why would we want to just ‘play along’? One of the very few things, possibly the only one, Trump is right on is the need for other NATO nations to stop relying on the US for defence. The economies of European nations far exceed that of Russia but they still struggle to give Ukraine the military support they need to reverse the gains Russia has made and respond to the constant missile and drone attacks on cities including Kyiv without full support from the US.
Either we need to spend on defence or we don’t, but if we do we cannot rely any more on the US as we have done.

The main constraint on supplying Ukraine with weaponry is the perceived risk of goading Russia into going nuclear. That and the fact that some East European countries are lukewarm about the idea.

 

[Psamathe]

I shall quite happily go to my grave at the appointed hour without ever having gone to America and with my assessment of Trump intact.

My caution is from passing through US. Last time to South America they transfer in US they forced me through immigration then straight over to emigration and I was being walked through and they were holding my departure plane as I was late.

Ian

 

[Ian H]

Zelensky has learned to take a gentle approach, and he is the greatest leader in a generation (IMHO).

The war saved him. His popularity was low beforehand because he hadn't done anything about the corruption he'd been elected to stop. There's still rampant corruption there.

 

[Pblakeney]

The war saved him. His popularity was low beforehand because he hadn't done anything about the corruption he'd been elected to stop. There's still rampant corruption there.

Churchill wasn’t the best either but he was the right man for the job during WWII.

 

[icowden]

Anyone going to the US soon? Best delete your NCAP account sharpish...

Apparently that only applies to Student Academic Visas, Student Vocational Visas and people in cultural exchange programmes.

Obviously you will be safest from inspection if you are suitably white of skin.

 

[CXRAndy]

Spain didn't want to increase defence Nato spending from 2% currently. Trump told them either pay for defence or pay with tariffs in trade