The impossible has happened - Trump has made me a Keir Starmer supporter!

[mumofoneAloneandwell]

'This is not the age of churchill'

Thank God. Fucking orange twat.

I’m not sure shooting down missiles or drones before they hit their targets constitutes an attack.

Exactly.

And Trump has spent his entire presidency denigrating and belittling the UK including our contribution to America’s War in Afghanistan. And then wanted to put in punitive tariffs.

And your response is to ignore all that and let this “ally” access our bases for their war?

Have some respect girl. This love affair is completely one sided.

@Notonthestairs Except that they have said that they will allow the US to use our bases to 'attack Iranian missile sites' which puts us into murky water. I don't think Keir has any choice, but he is just doing what America wants him to do.

To be fair the reason the UK refused to send troops to Vietnam was because the British military was already stretched too thin on the Malayan Emergency, the Dhofar Emergency and the Aden Emergency, rather than some great moral stance.

I fully understand people's lack of trust in anything Trump says and given the history of "weapons of mass destruction rationale" in the Iraq war the scepticism over whether Iran was or was not pursuing a nuclear weapons programme.

Would it make any difference if the International Atomic Energy Agency's (part of the UN) position is that they are unable to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful.

You're obsessed with Trump, aren't you?

If he did nothing, he would be gone in 2029 but the regime in Iran would still be there, probably with better weapons and maybe nuclear ones.

Better to endure some, hopefully, short term pain to ensure such a scenario doesn't ever occur and maybe Iran can return to what it was like pre 1979, the world would be a better place and millions of oppressed women there can taste the freedom that you enjoy but clearly do not appreciate.

Well America is still angry so if that was the motivation we could have not let them use the bases at all for the same reaction.
I think if the timeline goes: UK doesn't let America use bases and stays out of it; Iran/Hezbollah attack UK base; UK let's America use bases for limited defensive attacks Im ok with that. There's a difference between joining in with a "preemptive attack” and a limited response after an attack has happened that just facilitates attacking the missile launching sites and no more.

The overarching reason was that Labours left wing (Tony Benn etc) would have destroyed Wilson. Who did a very canny job of holding the party together.

Also Wilson had the benefit of a lot of the political classes despising the US for failing to support us over Suez.

It's highly likely that Trumps remarks last month have created a sympathetic bedrock of anti-US sentiment again.

Maybe there should be an indicative vote of support for the PM in the commons ?

I admire Starmer’s stance the that of the Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez

to see world leader fawning over Trump this past year has been sickening. I understand that at times this has to be done but they stood collectively together with his ridiculous plans for Greenland and its very disappointing they are not doing so again

If Iran has any strategic sense, they will be careful not to provoke countries that have declined to attack. That would very much depend on what regime Trump has created.

Is Trump capable of thinking?

They very much didn't. They are not the ones who started the hostilities (that would be Trump) but they do seem to have decided that everyone's going to get some response. Hence Dubai being hit.
It isn't strategically sensible no as you could argue dóing so gives other countries a reason/excuse to get more involved than they are now. I still don't think we should though. But it is like being caught between 2 crazy people not just one

This. I've said right from the start that since they got in it feels more like we've got a grown up in charge than a toddler or someone trying to just rile everyone up with hate and division.

My impression is that Trump and Netanhayu did not predict Iran would attack the Gulf.

You're obsessed with Trump, aren't you?
Lol, sorry but this kind of daft response to a post just makes me think of Regina George.

I have very little time for the Spanish PM when Spain has been defence freeloading off NATO for decades with a frankly piss taking 1.2% of GDP on defence.

Presumably given that Spain does not wish to support the US military action, it won't mind if the US now gives its diplomatic support to Morocco's territorial claim to Ceuta.

Our future son-in-law has recently become an armed forces reservist. He might not serve immediately, as he is still in uni, but we are very scared as to what his future might look like. We have so much more respect for Starmer at the moment, for NOT sending our boys and girls into a total catastrophe created purely by the egotistical tangerine.

As I say, that is a comment on the quality of leadership left.

.

I felt very sorry & offended by Trump’s remarks yesterday, particularly the “not Churchill” comment. I’m not a Labour voter, but I believe the PM is doing a good job under extremely hard circumstances in managing the unpredictable relationship with a man (FantaPants Manbaby) who is often belligerent, unstable, and openly offensive. That can't be easy or pleasant.

I really hope Sir Keir does not engage with the nasty jibes made. "Not Churchill" - no, because Churchill was a man who acted with integrity & courage in the face of tyranny, evil & a genuine threat to all, not someone who incites fear, division & violence for vague, self‑serving reasons with no justification for our involvement. Sometimes the greatest strength lies in dignified silence.

As tempting as it can be to respond in kind, doing so rarely serves us. Starmer doesn't always get it right - but I think he is handling this particular situation well. I hope he isn’t provoked into responding to such bullying outbursts.

Well if Spain is so fixed on international law and handling back occupied territories, then I'm sure they won't have a problem if the US backs Morocco's claim to Ceuta or throws it's support behind the Catalan self determination movement.

That's fine but given your son's possible future how do feel about HMGs apparent delay on providing adequate force protection for Akrotiri?

It's fine to praise Starmer for not getting involved in US ops but many people are ducking the issue that HM Forces were exposed regardless..

I also have to agree with an earlier poster (? @Alexandra2001 )that some of that lack of protection is the result of inaction by several governments, not just this one.

You know something ?

If you are dealing with lions, then worrying about mice isn't your best way of staying alive.

I know it seems a bit of an odd question to ask.

But has anyone joined the UK armed forces who wants to fight ?

I really am struggling to wonder who joins an army if they aren't prepared to fight - almost always in situations they may not agree with.