He Has No Deal, He Has No Dice - Trump Thread #162

[Spandauer]

Old enough to remember whole years in which I barely thought about the American president.

Previous thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/chat/5513875-depraved-desperate-deluded-and-dangerous-trump-thread-160

eta: in my haste I think I've numbered the thread incorrectly! Oh well.

I get what you are saying, but we are talking about a maritime surveillance drone here. There is nothing earth shattering about this things unclassified performance.

Edit add. I am not talking about a crewed gulfstream. I just plucked that as an example. Stick a remote control in sort of thing.

Here are the Articles of Impeachment against Kegsbreath, introduced in the House. It's been sent to the House Judiciary Committee.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/935/text

In other news, RFK Jr is testifying before the House on the HHS budget (and other things). I watched a bit but he talks over his questioners to the point where you can't understand what's being said.

www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-health-secretary-rfk-jr-testifies-about-hhs-priorities-at-house-hearing

I see they hit another small boat last week.

Interesting impeachment, given that even if they were drug smuggling, it's not a capital offence in the US. But he has no way to prove they were smuggling because they destroyed it all and killed them.

There is nothing earth shattering about this things unclassified performance.

Aerodynamic performance yes, it's what these things carry that's the mystery.

I've certainly heard comment that what's inside some of the intelligence gathering (ISTAR types) costs multiples of the cost of the airframe...

So yes, it is a bit of a 😡to lose one.

https://bsky.app/profile/meidastouch.com/post/3mjmjjan7622w

Pete Hegseth quoted a fake Bible verse from the Tarantino movie Pulp Fiction yesterday during a Pentagon prayer service

(hope the link works as bsky is acting up)

Well here we are then. It might have been 190 mil package on a 50 mil airframe. In which case they maybe lost it all because of cost cutting on the airframe.

I am happy to concede because the package is well out of my lane.

Edit: I forgot smile.

:-)

Trump: "It has been my Honor to solve 9 Wars across the World, and this will be my 10th, so let's, GET IT DONE! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

He must be on some heavy duty gear

What an absolute arsehole. “Solving” wars you started doesn’t count, you absolute cockwomble.

What’s he done with Hezbollah? He knows - it’s really the main reason Bibi wanted him to go after Iran. That group Lebanon can’t stop and has said themselves they’re not listening to any peace talks/deals they’re not involved in.

Trying to work out which wars he stopped - I can’t recall - perhaps he has a better memory than I, so I’ll just hope that the peace President interferes in that Iran war and ends it!

Agree, he's a vile fucker. I don't think it was even in retaliation, I'm sure it was already in the planned cuts. This just gave him the perfect opportunity to blame the Pope for speaking out and making the cuts his fault.

Knowing Dump he may even have posted the pic knowing it would cause blowback that he could use to separate his followers from the Pope's influence before dumping the charity. I'm sure there will be others he cuts as well. His wars need $$$.

They all must be to cope with the orange one - as staff or visitors - it must be appalling to suffer him in person.

According to TRIH the KKK (version 2) mainly went after catholics as where the KKK was most popular there were few POC or Jewish people.

Perhaps he and Hegseth hope to bring the organisation back ?

The pushing for voter information reminds me of how the KKk used that information to intimidate people

The KKK was really a social club that got out of hand ...

The KKK was borne out of the civil war and had a Scottish influence hence Klan(clan)

Bring it back? It's never really gone away. It's like Voldemort before he 'came back'; weak and disembodied but still there, just waiting for the right moment.

www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/ku-klux-klan/

I'm trying to keep abreast of everything, but fear I may need as many heads as Hydra. The sensationalist headline made me think that Germany was going to be the first European country to break ranks and give in to Trump!

Germany prepared to send minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz

BERLIN — Germany has signaled it is ready to deploy minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz, but only as part of a potential international mission.

The issue is expected to be discussed on Friday in Paris, where German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.

According to a German government official, the federal government is "prepared to make a German contribution to ensuring freedom of navigation." That could include "mine clearance or maritime reconnaissance."

Merz reiterated his government’s position after meeting Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Berlin on Thursday. He stressed that Germany is “fundamentally ready” to help secure shipping routes, but only under strict conditions.
Those include a stable ceasefire, a mandate within a system of collective security — "preferably" from the United Nations — and formal approval by both the federal government and the Bundestag. Merz underlined that Berlin remains "far away" from such a decision.

The signal comes as a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is in effect but has yet to fully stabilize the situation in the strait, where Iran blocked traffic and the U.S. responded by blocking Iranian vessels.

U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed NATO allies to move quickly, demanding commitments "within days" following his meeting with alliance Secretary-General Mark Rutte in early April. However, allies have been leery of getting involved in any combat action in the war started by Trump without consulting them

So if talks go well, how many mine sweepers could end up in the ME and from which countries? The USA is no 37 on the list. No wonder he'd haranguing the UK and NATO.

https://www.globalfirepower.com/navy-mine-warfare-craft.php

2026 RANKINGS

Mine Warfare Fleet Strength by Country (2026)

NAVAL POWER | FLEET STRENGTH
Ranking total number of mine / countermine warfare ships by country, from highest to lowest.

Mines remain one of the greatest threats to warships and shipping vessels alike. To counter the threat, navies of the world are forced to field an effective mine warfare force for neutralizing mines/minefields. Conversely, a mine warfare force can be called upon to lay down minefields in strategic waters.

Listing includes mine-layers and mine countermeasures vessels.

Data presented on this list is through 2026.

Mine Warfare Fleets (TOP 5)
Russia
China
Poland
France
Finland
Japan
Bulgaria
Egypt
South Korea
Germany
Turkiye
Indonesia
Italy
Taiwan
Sweden
UK

In 37th place USA

They should send the bill to the USA.

Did you see that RFK has a new podcast? Every time I hear him speak, I think, what I want is to listen to him for longer 😅

I'm now thinking of Björk.

Not falling in love.

What a shame that Trump has mastered the art of not paying his bills.

I am wondering if they would argue their blockade and talks mean it hasn't been 90 days continuous bombing - only Israel has been doing that - for the US to need to vote?

I really hope EU sticks together not to get involved and we force US to clear up their own mess or China to step up once and for all. Mango is like a toddler who has never been told no or to clear up his room.

I'm guessing that's up to SCOTUS.

Mainly a lurker for over 10 years, but wanted to say, excellent posts and sense of humour. Please don't limit your posts. I'm learning stuff!😁