Beware the Ides of March - Trump Thread #156

[Spandauer]

Do you think The Friend of Epstein is au fait with Roman history?

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5488504-name-a-better-trio-than-onion-garlic-ginger-trump-thread-155

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Unfortunately unlikely to have a massive impact, Russia makes pretty much all its drones domestically now.

According to the highly knowledgeable @MissConductUS on the Ukraine thread, Russia has been manufacturing drones based on Iranian designs for over a year now, and has even made improvements to them.

So action in the ME probably won't affect Russia's drone production, unfortunately.

Re the China state media article I posted above.

It has been my view for a long time now that Trump is like manna from heaven for authoritarian states. He gives their state media new headlines near every day. " See how bad capitalist imperialist democracy is for people, but your Party loves you". That sort of thing.

Trump gives people nothing to aspire to. Nothing to fight for. He offers no freedom of any sort to anyone, just adherence to his " I am King" ideology.

Trump fawns over authoritarian dictators, he revels in their military parades, he jails people that seek asylum, shoots protestors in his own country in the face.

He offers nothing to anyone, but service and kowtowing to him.

He is an absolute disaster to the ideals of democracy that so many have fought, died, and suffered for. He has given authoritarians all the evidence they need, to tell the people under them, via state media , our system is better than theirs.

How far the USA has fallen at his hands. And the knob is dragging the world down with him.

That's my editorial in response to the state media I posted above.

Snap, @Igotjelly !

@RedTagAlan Any UK Govt no matter the political persuasion have always jumped to attention when America comes calling.

Special relationship..my Arse!!

I am sure it's OK to share

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/us/politics/trump-iran-war-interview.html?unlocked_article_code=1.QFA.jY5R.INg2U4-5_js0&smid=bs-share

Trump Says War Could Last Weeks and Offers Contradictory Visions of New Regime

In a brief interview, he said the country’s hardened military should simply surrender their weapons to the Iranian public.

I think the silence from China and Russia has been deafening. I do think attacking the gulf has been a massive fuckup by Iran, Russia and China will never side with them against the gulf Arab states. Iran is very much in its death spiral, unfortunately making as much damage as it can in the process.

Thread

1. US & Isreal begin strikes with no clear legal basis - UK stays out of it.

1. Initial strikes fail to bring swift end and Iran strikes back.

1. Those retaliatory strikes start to target civilians (including UK ones) and UK military/bases.

4. Attacked Nations invoke their inherent right to collective self defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

1. UK grants the US permission to use 2 UK bases to conduct strikes on Iranian missile sites & storage being used to make these attacks, on this basis.

1. UK decides (for now) not to join these preventative strikes, but continues to provide active defence over & around its bases & host Nations. A dramatic change in situation. Has it frustrated the US - yes, but those 2 airfields are going to save them a lot of time.

Some are unhappy that we’ve gone too far, some are annoyed we didn’t go far or fast enough. I would say that’s a pretty good indicator of being in the ballpark.

We can wait until afterwards to judge the US & Israeli actions and consequences.

Thread by Greg Bagwell Pres of UK Air &Space power

China seems very much to prefer the Napoleon strategy.

Starmers full statement was very interesting. Re KS actions in a DJT initiated fast moving situation - imo, less than perfect but by golly I'm glad he is our PM not Badenoch or Farage (ego driven followers if Trump) or Polanski (inexperienced). I think Ed Davey is often well worth listening to. If we go any further into this then a 'war cabinet' might be helpful ? (not sure how precisely that differs to cobra meetings sorry, so ignore if ignorant comment!)

You would hope that behind the person, there are collective centuries of experience and advice on tap.

It's amazing how many callow leaders actually do incredibly well as they listen to advice. Almost as many as the experienced leaders who knows so much they can ignore all advice and land up in the shit.

Correct. The Russians struck a deal with the Iranians for the design and manufacturing information and assistance in setting up a factory dedicated to drone production. The Shahed 238 uses a jet engine instead of an IC engine, which makes it much faster and allows it to fly at higher altitudes, out of range of most anti-aircraft fire, until it's ready to dive on a target.

https://www.csis.org/analysis/drone-saturation-russias-shahed-campaign

Starting in September 2024, Russia significantly ramped up its use of Shahed drones, increasing from approximately 200 launches per week to more than 1,000 per week by March 2025 as part of a sustained pressure campaign. Initially designed in Iran, Shahed drones are now manufactured by Russia using engines from various sources, including China. The Russian company Alabuga has contracted with Iran for Shahed drone deliveries. Recent reports indicate that Russia significantly increased its manufacturing capability, particularly at the IEMZ Kupol facility, and has developed an advanced version of the Shahed drone: the Shahed-238 Loitering Munition. These versions likely include a mix of software-defined radios and other guidance systems that make them more difficult to jam. Russia has also started to explore methods for increasing the “punishment” value of each Shahed strike, including adding tungsten balls and lacing components with toxic agents to maximize civilian harm.

@SerendipityJaneI know I would listen to ALL military & civil service experts (unlike MAGA) I guess the buck still stops with the PM though, although Blair tried to wriggle out of his disastrous WMD mistake - can't believe he is on the 'Board of Peace' (maybe I can!)

I do think it odd though, that Starmer, once the UKs top lawyer, and knighted for it, has to tell people to wait for the legal advisors report on the legality of the UK taking part in the way they are.

I would have thought he knows this stuff inside out, and at least name the laws he is acting under.

But that isn't his job now.

The old saying about why have a a dog and then bark yourself springs to mind.

Telegraph reports Trump "very disappointed" in Starmer for not allowing use of Diego Garcia.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/03/02/exclusive-trump-very-disappointed-in-starmer-over-iran/

This should play well with people opposed to the latest action and Trump, yet probably won't

Greece now after further drones on Akrotiri sending 2 frigates to the area.

Paging "Dragonfire"

Greeks v Persians AGAIN

"A great empire will fall"

Ruh roh

They are the dumpster fire on the hill.

In fairness I don't think this started with Trump. As soon as America (and other countries to be fair) started using "spreading democratic values" as a pretext for war, they automatically degraded those values. Since inherently good things (freedom, democracy) shouldn't need to be forced on people at gunpoint.

It was all predicted by Eisenhower.

Indeed. His chance for peace speech is incredible, He was totally spot on about the Military Industrial Complex. I think that is the speech anyway. The cross of iron ?

MAGA would call him a commie these days though. In fact, I think they call Saint Reagan a commie too these days.

I blame video games myself. Pong has a lot to answer for.

I just posted this on the 'I'm no fan of Trump, but...' thread. It's a very informative listen with region experts and former military. A couple days old, but still very timely.

Sorry @RedTagAlan, suspect you won't be able to access.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ayatollah-khamenei-killed-in-u-s-israel-strikes/id1367201919?i=1000752256840