A defensive war , forced upon nations by an aggressive foe, for whom no realistic conciliation was possible. The World needs to work through unity not conflict. We are still far from that ideal.

No more than the attack on Iran is international "law enforcement".

2/The Nazi certainties of some dyed in right-wing movements are destructive at every level. Yet so many are turning to it.

1/It's another one of these right wing eye-of-God fallacies. We don't have the insight to decide what genes shall live & what shall die. A gene we eliminate could be the salvation of mankind. Or the death of it. (cont)

An authoritarian Gov wants illiterate masses, b/c they are even easier to lie to.

This is insanity. Are they trying to recreate the Iranian military theocrasy in US? Jesus would never have condoned starting Armageddon & if you believe in the second coming, would not be coming on those terms.

That's the power of trump's distraction....

Yes. They are scary old coots.

Not sure I can agree with that. But they set the precedent, with Bush in the 90's' & they have never been brought to account for that.

They might be holding back. But most bases had enough warning to prepare. The real damage is being done in the oil strangulation & its subsequent oil shock.

All linked. America has never really emerged from the violence of the Revolution, Civil War & the wild west. Prosperity & power has only made it entitled, not less violent. The shootings, ICE ,Trump & Iran, Venezuela, all linked, all manifestations of the deep core violence that pervades America.

& Trump, far from being the arbiter of peace, wants to emulate the warmongers. Clearly, not hampered by his bone-spurs.

Good question. Fear & positioning I expect.

Yes, I agree with that. Starmer is a better stateman than those worthies. But while he is walking the line of Chamberlain, not Churchill. If it is not the age of Churchill, with Trump it is the age of Atilla the Hun. & we have no Aetius.

3/But there are green shoots. Hopefully the shock will not undermine the more positive green shoots emerging in the economy. If we can get better, more charismatic leadership I think we will see a turnaround in attitudes.

2/We have a Government which is so similar to the Tories that many fear that nothing will change. & UK lives in fear induced by Putin & the turmoil in the US. Otherwise we would not even be considering the racist, democracy threatening, hate filled policies of Reform. (cont)

1/Yes. Published views on Bluesky should be open for reasonable discussion & debate. & I agree, an awful lot of people are miserable. But the UK is not in as bad a shape as it is often portrayed. UK has had a failure of expectation of hope. (cont)

Well, I expect him to defend any breach , but it would have demonstrated Starmer's sincerity: the failure to have any agreements as to penalties in breach just reinforces the view that Starmer is just giving in & is actual indifferent to what Trump does from those bases.

I have already told you what I advocate. Please read it.

Well, you could take that view. You could say Starmer has paved the road to hell with his intentions, good or otherwise. But Farage will barrel through it in a Russian tank, blasting everyone out of the way & inviting Lucifer to be king of Albion. White Albion.

I feel for you. You have to be unusually tough to not feel desparation in these troubled times.

Yes, that is a plus. & he was desperately trying not to. Trump is so unfaithful an alley , you cannot, ultimately, do otherwise.

But might be derailed by the oil shock a la Biden in 2020.

2/UK would be wrecked 6 ways to hell. At the moment , we just have to suffer the theme of a centre right Government with authoritarian leanings, rather than total Nazi's.

1/Harsh. But I think he should be written from the directory of Prime Ministers. Wrong man for the times. But Farage under Reform would be worse. He would have thrown himself into war with Iran for Trump & turned the entire economy to drive out people of colour, citizens or not. (cont)

2/ There should have been a written agreement spelling out consequences of breach. That the bases would be immediately withdrawn & Trump submit to a damages claim for breach. High hopes of getting any money, but it would have show Starmer's bone fides. Starmer just giving into him by the back door.

1/Have you even followed Trump? Does he give a pigs anus for what permissions he is granted? He does what his mad brain impulses. Yes it's a supposition, but with very real probability. I have already said what should be done. (cont)

Geoffrey Archer, it is reputed , badly needed proofing. In his writing & in his life. Trump's confefe. It's the message that is important.

2/He won't want to miss a valuable opportunity to take out the leadership, even if it puts him at odds with the UK.

1/B/c he isn't a sane person, & his focus is limited to the moment. He is perfectly capable of launching a strike from RAF Gloucester that was always intended to take out Iranian leaders or was morphed into that mid-flight. (cont)