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Original poster

To think we cannot ‘stand up to the USA’

33 replies

Playingvideogames · 03/01/2026 18:29

Because we’ve defunded our military to such an extent over the last 30 years that they’re all that stands between us and Russia/China?

And to feel that everyone cheers on spending cuts to ‘bombs’ in favour of welfare/health but fail to realise these are the consequences?

OP posts:
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Dgll · 03/01/2026 20:43

The UK is pretty irrelevant in South America. I don't think Venezuela is counting on us coming to their aid any more than we would count on them for anything much.

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 03/01/2026 20:33

To be fair, I don’t think we need to stand up to USA.

Trump has removed a dictator. Seemingly Venezuelans are happy about his removal.

The real test is yet to come.

I’m holding judgement until we have an idea of how it is managed going forward.

Elseaknows · 03/01/2026 20:26

safetyfreak · 03/01/2026 20:15

The Venezuelan people are celebrating in the streets, their president was a dictator.

We need to stay out of this, we don't have the money to fight a powerhouse like America.

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All the Venuzuelan people are dancing in the street are they? Try panic buying and confused because they have no idea wtf is gonna happen in their country next because they had an awful leader that refused to step down after losing majority of his power in an election and now they have been illegally taken over by another country.
If Putin did this he'd be deeply condemed by western society but because it's Trump I guess it's not breaking international law and all will be forgiven because America is the saviour of the world...

wodehousefan · 03/01/2026 20:17

I'm actually a big fan of America and don't see the need to stand up to them. But if that was the goal, buying most of your energy from them is moronic.

Original poster
Playingvideogames · 03/01/2026 20:16

PortSalutPlease · 03/01/2026 19:58

We must though - everyone must. We know how this playbook goes. First Venezuela, and then who next? Greenland and Canada, most probably. And then? Hitler didn’t stop at just Poland. Putin has no plans to stop with just Ukraine. If we don’t stand up to the US it’s a matter of time.

Trump isn’t Hitler. Not all power hungry men share the same ideology. Trump doesn’t want National Socialism, I don’t believe he’s a white supremacist and he doesn’t seem interested in expanding territory. He could take Mexico tomorrow if he wanted. He doesn’t seem interested in creating territory, just creating stakes in the natural wealth of other countries.

OP posts:
safetyfreak · 03/01/2026 20:15

PortSalutPlease · 03/01/2026 19:58

We must though - everyone must. We know how this playbook goes. First Venezuela, and then who next? Greenland and Canada, most probably. And then? Hitler didn’t stop at just Poland. Putin has no plans to stop with just Ukraine. If we don’t stand up to the US it’s a matter of time.

The Venezuelan people are celebrating in the streets, their president was a dictator.

We need to stay out of this, we don't have the money to fight a powerhouse like America.

DeepBlueDeer · 03/01/2026 20:15

We'll vote Reform and be the US's little lapdog.

I'm actually not sure what else we can do. People are deluded to think that Europe has anything like the resources to fight a war with the US.

DuffCooper · 03/01/2026 20:15

YANBU To think we cannot ‘stand the USA’

wodehousefan · 03/01/2026 20:12

By far the most effective way we could stand up to the USA is by drilling our own oil, harvesting our own natural gas reserves, building new nuclear power plants and stopping the import of wood for Drax from the US. Instead, we are making ourselves completely reliant upon them to keep the lights on.

PortSalutPlease · 03/01/2026 19:58

We must though - everyone must. We know how this playbook goes. First Venezuela, and then who next? Greenland and Canada, most probably. And then? Hitler didn’t stop at just Poland. Putin has no plans to stop with just Ukraine. If we don’t stand up to the US it’s a matter of time.

JHound · 03/01/2026 19:53

Ohthatsabitshit · 03/01/2026 19:52

I’m pretty sure we could.

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I mean you could but it would be idiotic.

Ohthatsabitshit · 03/01/2026 19:53

Dollymylove · 03/01/2026 19:39

America is our biggest ally. Why do we need stand up to them?
Talking of expanding the military, who in their right mind would fight for a government that holds its citizens in such contempt?
Not many, imho

Is your position that we should support the USA whatever they do?

Ohthatsabitshit · 03/01/2026 19:52

JHound · 03/01/2026 18:58

You cannot compare Germany in 1939 to the USA in 2025.

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I’m pretty sure we could.

joeninetey · 03/01/2026 19:49

If push really came to shove we still have our little big boy friends.

JHound · 03/01/2026 19:42

Dollymylove · 03/01/2026 19:39

America is our biggest ally. Why do we need stand up to them?
Talking of expanding the military, who in their right mind would fight for a government that holds its citizens in such contempt?
Not many, imho

They really aren’t our ally. Come on now.

JHound · 03/01/2026 19:42

Playingvideogames · 03/01/2026 19:22

What do you suggest?

I didn’t mean ‘stand up to him by fighting him’. I meant our utter reliance on their military means we can’t afford to get into a spat with them.

Edited
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It’s nothing to do with military spending. Our economic dependence on the USA is the issue.

Dollymylove · 03/01/2026 19:39

America is our biggest ally. Why do we need stand up to them?
Talking of expanding the military, who in their right mind would fight for a government that holds its citizens in such contempt?
Not many, imho

Original poster
Playingvideogames · 03/01/2026 19:22

itsthetea · 03/01/2026 19:19

What do you mean by stand up to?

there is more to standing up to a bully that fighting and war. Indeed that’s sinking to his level not standing up for right

this is a long game not something quickly fixed

What do you suggest?

I didn’t mean ‘stand up to him by fighting him’. I meant our utter reliance on their military means we can’t afford to get into a spat with them.

OP posts:
EleanorReally · 03/01/2026 19:19

hmm, watching the news on Venezuela did concern me and even more so when i was in the garden seeing all the lights in the sky, just aeroplanes but even still, my mind went a bit crazy.
we can only beat america via diplomatic means

itsthetea · 03/01/2026 19:19

What do you mean by stand up to?

there is more to standing up to a bully that fighting and war. Indeed that’s sinking to his level not standing up for right

this is a long game not something quickly fixed

Original poster
Playingvideogames · 03/01/2026 19:18

EleanorReally · 03/01/2026 19:17

why is anyone even talking about Standing up to America?

Check out the Venezuela threads. Shame they won’t bring their ideas to this one!

OP posts:
EleanorReally · 03/01/2026 19:17

why is anyone even talking about Standing up to America?

Original poster
Playingvideogames · 03/01/2026 19:15

Would really like just one poster to say how we can stand up to them?

OP posts:
CleverButScatty · 03/01/2026 19:04

Honestly the brexiteers and reform sheep have been played like fools by Farage who in turn is being controlled by sinister, global, 'behind the scene powers'.

The UK isolated from the EU and completely divided within ourselves.

Because of some daft sense of the UK being more important and powerful than it is.

JHound · 03/01/2026 18:58

Ohthatsabitshit · 03/01/2026 18:40

Well I expect it was quite scary to “stand up” to Germany in WW2 but we did.

You cannot compare Germany in 1939 to the USA in 2025.

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