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From Trump's letter to the Danish PM:
[ source ]
It was the Norwegian PM, but yes its completely batshit. It just highlights that there is a simpering man-child in charge of the world's most powerful military. Someone with the emotional intelligence of a toddler.
I actually don't think any of this will come to anything, its too stupid even for the current US. Something else will distract Trump in a week or two and all this will go away.
Looking for something else, I just tripped over "Manifest Destiny."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_destiny
AI summary: "Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century American belief that the United States was divinely ordained to expand its territory... spreading democracy, Protestantism, and American ideals."
That's what's happening here, isn't it.
I actually don't think any of this will come to anything, its too stupid even for the current US. Something else will distract Trump in a week or two and all this will go away.
Hmm... don't forget Trump was pushing this line on Greenland during his first term, but hadn't worked at the same pace to make the courts, military and legislature more obedient to his will. This isn't the latest "whim" of his, and this time he has a team prepared to do seemingly anything to back him over the constitution.
Agreed. If 'we' collectively care for Greenland, Denmark's sovereignty claim* and maybe more importantly the precedence between NATO allies it sets - this is not just going away when the manchild sees the next shiny new thing.
* the slightly inconvenient truth about Denmark's relationship with Greenland is that the Dane's don't actually have the most awesome of legacies. Reading around spiralsagen..., it's not too pretty.
Heard a good analogy
"its like walking into a pub with a shotgun, putting a tenner on the bar, aiming the gun and then demanding a pint and a packet of crisps"
"its like walking into a pub with a shotgun, putting a tenner on the bar, aiming the gun and then demanding a pint and a packet of crisps"
Nah,
It more like the local gangland boss swaggering into a bar with a holstered gun very obviously on display and telling the landlord he is going to 'buy' his pub. When the landlord objects and tells him it's not for sale the gangland boss turns to all the other drinkers and says if you don't look the other way I'm coming after your businesses too.
Heard a good analogy
"its like walking into a pub with a shotgun, putting a tenner on the bar, aiming the gun and then demanding a pint and a packet of crisps"
I'm actually struggling to see what parts of that situation have any relation to what's happening?
Trump can already have all the miltary bases and mining concessions he wants.
Trump can already have all the miltary bases and mining concessions he wants.
Not sure about the concessions thing, but in your analogy, what he wants is not actually crisps. He wants to change the name of the pub to The Tiny Arms.
That text to the Norwegian PM is frankly insane.
'Because you didn't give me a shiny gong, I'm going to endanger the entire world's security '..
Not sure about the concessions thing, but in your analogy, what he wants is not actually crisps. He wants to change the name of the pub to The Tiny Arms.
😂
Danes are on record for the mining - just ask. The point is to mock the pretext.
Danes are on record for the mining - just ask
This is an interview with the Greenlandic mineral resources minister who states the Greenland position on the subject of mining.
https://www.youtube.com/live/h9RL66Rnn38?si=JmFgz2Qqh4fWMjfk
I guess Trump considers Greenland the perfect country to expand and build on his golf courses, being “green” and all that.
That vid up there ^ with Tillie was a brutal dissection of who Trump is, she utterly humiliated his entire existence 😆 I’ve never before heard such truth spoken by any politician with regard to trump
That vid up there ^ with Tillie was a brutal dissection of who Trump is, she utterly humiliated his entire existence 😆 I’ve never before heard such truth spoken by any politician with regard to trump
Very refreshing to hear someone articulate and educated, and more importantly a citizen... the trump narrative seems to be pushing the fact that it's thier way or the highway... and like the lady said... no same person is going to trade their healthcare, social security, education etc, for what 100k/ that won't last ten mins in the USA if you have a chronic health condition for example.
Diabetics die in the USA on a semi regular basis because they can't afford insulin or have to use less effective alternatives FFS, run of the mill medications that civilized countries take for granted.
And that's assuming they would actually ever get paid... remember this is Trump... he's not known for being honest, or paying his bills.
That vid up there ^ with Tillie was a brutal dissection of who Trump is, she utterly humiliated his entire existence
I’ve never before heard such truth spoken by any politician with regard to trump
If missed that until you posted about it. Very impressive counter arguments to anything Trump has mentioned in his mad ramblings .
Two really informative videos featuring people from Greenland there, thanks for both of them.
Agree, those video links provide some really useful insight. Thanks 👍
Regulars on the Ukraine thread will have seen me post links to strategic analysis videos by Anders Puck Nielsen. He's a Danish military and geopolitical analyst. He has a knack I think, of cutting through the noise and getting to the essential aspects of an issue and bringing some clarity. He's been quiet on the Greenland issue until now, for reasons he explains in the opening seconds of the video but has decided to speak. Spoiler, he thinks Trump is doomed to fail in his desire to acquire Greenland. I hope he's right. He also gives a view towards the end as to how Europeans should respond. Keir Starmer could do with taking note.
The northern lights certainly know how to put on a show, as seen over Greenland
[img] 
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Oh, I hope those northern lights don't upset Trump, he's just heard that Greenland has nukes.
"What's the big place in Greenland, Hegseth?"
"Nuuk, boss"
Spoiler, he thinks Trump is doomed to fail in his desire to acquire Greenland.
I think one point that he makes bears repeating - I spent some years in DK, and I love Danes as a whole, but they are chuffing stubborn when they want to be, especially when a principle is involved, and if they decide they're keeping Greenland it'll be no easy matter to pry their fingers loose.
and if they decide they're keeping Greenland it'll be no easy matter to pry their fingers loose.
its not that simple though is it. Trump thinks he can bully the Denmark and have europe fall in behind him to pry their cold fingers loose.
I agree with Anders. Europe need to escalate to deescalate because a bully just keeps coming back for more and more. Europe is on a loser with Trumps USA anyway .. its a case of how they want to look getting there.
Yep, looking at his Trump's brain dumb/russian roulette SM post today about the Chagos island, it's impossible to placate a man that I'm convinced is likely 'mad'.
No expression or view he posts can be reliably assumed to last more than a few hours. Initially I thought Starmer's approach was as a good one, it was worth a go anyway but it's now evident that you can't bargain with a man that has long lost his grasp on reality.
We either hang on every SM post he says and tie ourselves to his madness or we just ignore his ramblings as not worthy of a reply and form new alliances and reignite old ones.
Europe has some powerful levers it could use if the orange toddler doesn't back off. Not least a coordinated, aggressive dumping of US debt to really hurt their economy. Cancel all F-35 and other major military purchases. After that? Shut Rammstein, Lakenheath and all the others, shut some embassies, stop 5 eyes intelligence sharing. Even maybe cosy up to China for some trade deals just to see him explode with rage and have a coronary so we can enjoy that champagne that's patiently waiting in all our fridges.
I'm not entirely serious about all these measures yet, but we are not without options. We do need to start showing some backbone instead of bending over for the fat orange **** every time.
Even maybe cosy up to China for some trade deals just to see him explode with rage and have a coronary so we can enjoy that champagne that's patiently waiting in all our fridges.
Thats exactly what Canada has just done. They've just made a deal with China to drop tariffs on Chinese-made EVs. This is going to have a massive impact on the US auto industry
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm24k6kk1rko
Not sure if Russian misinformation about intelligence sharing but it looks like there are already significant leaks to Russia from the US related to Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Ooh...
A series of text exchanges between Donald Trump and European leaders about ownership of Greenland have sensationally been released.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz7ynwzn8pqo
I haven't listened to all that "Danes" arguments yet, but looking at the section headings, he doesn't seem to mention the US's stated aim of regime change in Europe, and that his demands of owning Greenland disrupts Europe and creates fissures for the US backed far right parties on the rise in Europe to take advantage of.
Not that I think that is Trumps plan, but rather the "handlers" and project 2025 people, the financers' of the far right can point him at the shiny object and take advantage of the chaos that follows. Trump can't be controlled, but he can be played.
Not sure if Russian misinformation about intelligence sharing but it looks like there are already significant leaks to Russia from the US related to Russian invasion of Ukraine.
I think we need to be honest about the biggest source of misinformation being the US, Russia may be in the same game, but it is the US's game.
That's exactly what Canada has just done.
Carney is a smart operator. Canada is currently mulling over a large order for US F-35s or going with the Swedish Grippen. SAAB has offered to sell them 72 Grippens and build a facility in Canada to make them. This will create 1000s of high tech jobs and rejuvenate Canada's aerospace industry. SAAB will also allow Canada to sell the Grippen to other countries. The Grippen is cheaper, easier to maintain, and has less downtime than the F35. It can also operate from shorter runways and is arguably better suited for operations in Canada's far north. It would also give them complete autonomy over their operation as SAAB will allow them full access to all the operating software or to use their own. Something which the US absolutely would not do with the F-35. The Americans are apoplectic about this possibility using excuses like "interoperability". The reality is they don't want to lose the business, or political control or to cause a ripple around the world as other potential buyers rethink F-35 purchases. The decision hasn't been made yet. The US are putting a lot of pressure on Canada not to buy the Grippen. I really hope the Canadians give them the finger and buy Swedish.
Carney is a smart operator.
He is indeed, whereas Trump is a moron who's inexplicably convinced himself he's a smart operator. Canada's decision to drop tariffs on Chinese EV's is just the start of it, I'd imagine. And thats going to hit Detroit hard. I'm sure, along with the F-35's, there are inumerable other things that the idiot in the White house hadn't thought about, which will also have a huge detremental economic impact in MAGAland.
I think the greatest ever act or international idiocy is now, in this insane new world, being truly exposed for the lunacy that it was....
Brexit
The Americans are apoplectic about this possibility using excuses like "interoperability".
Have they considered not voting white supremacists into government and skipping threats of annexing anyone roughly in the same hemisphere?
Davis will be interesting on so many levels.
Carney stating the obvious which is obviously not as obvious as it should be to some.
Bessent... Got to admire the hypocrisy on show here, telling the EU but to retaliate. Given the EU have just suspended the US trade deal, meaning that tariffs kick in on US goods come the 7th February, I'm not sure anyone's really in the mood to listen to him at the moment.
Trump to speak at White House press briefing
The White House has confirmed that President Trump will be joining today's regular press briefing.
It's set to take place at 13:00 local time (18:00 GMT).
What do we reckon, deflection via Chagos deal? Military being prepped to invade Greenland and Guernsey?
Could be an epic brain dump given how much of Europe is p*ssed, not to mention Canada and other sane. countries.
I really hope the Canadians give them the finger and buy Swedish.
In the Canadian AF test fly offs, the F35 hit operational targets at 97% vs the Grippen E at 22%. The F35 is orders of magnitude a much much better airplane, and that's just how it is. I can understand why they'd want to consider the options from a political standpoint, but from an operational perspective, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot.
No use having the best plane if the US cuts you off at the spare parts and they don't work at all
Oh sure, I'm not saying buying F35 would be the best idea, I'm just saying it's a way better airplane.
In the Canadian AF test fly offs, the F35 hit operational targets at 97% vs the Grippen E at 22%. The F35 is orders of magnitude a much much better airplane, and that's just how it is. I can understand why they'd want to consider the options from a political standpoint, but from an operational perspective, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot.
I've no doubt your are completely correct in a plane Vs plane way but I'm wondering if politics isn't rightly wedded to longer term strategy now? Trump will be gone soon enough one way or another but there's every chance that America, as we used to know it, has gone and is never to turn. Imagine Vance etc at the helm in the future. Better an inferior plane that you can at least have royal control over Vs a better one that a capricious US politician can just nobble via software etc at will?
It's hard to feel good about our dependency upon F35's and Trident at the moment. I think it's part of the reason Starmer is dancing upon the head of a needle with Trump.
It's hard to feel good about our dependency upon F35's and Trident at the moment
OK, how 'bout this; about 15% of every F35 is made in the UK, bits of the wings are made in Italy and (perhaps unbelievably) Denmark. Sweden and Spain make parts of the rear fuselage. Fokker in the Netherlands make other bits of it It's the 'Lockheed' F35 only in respect of the fact it's finally assembled there. Many countries realised many years ago, that the lead in time for these sorts of 5th Gen airplanes are crazy long, and if you collaborate, it cuts down the time and cost. The US can no more control the servicing and parts catalogue than we can - or indeed the Danes.
The US can no more control the servicing and parts catalogue than we can - or indeed the Danes.
The F35 could be fully onshored by the USA simply by breaking existing agreements, given enough time. No other country can continue using the F35 long term without the USA.
hard to feel good about our dependency upon F35's and Trident at the moment. I think it's part of the reason Starmer is dancing upon the head of a needle with Trump.
We are about to have to transform our defense capabilities at a speed not seen in our lifetimes. The British public are not prepared for the cost of this, but they need to be. It can’t be hidden in cuts to aid and freezing tax thresholds… it requires both an obvious increase in taxes and a large increase in the gap between spending and tax take for many decades. It’s going to be tough, and that toughness will need to be seen to be spread fairly. We don’t currently have the politicans for this task, do we.
Not sure if it was genuine, but I saw a report of a press conference in Beijing where the Chinese were apparently telling Trump to stop blaming them for his "need" to own Greenland.
That happened.
But the list of countries he’s “blaming” gets longer every time he posts something on Truth.
It’s not just China, or the Danes, or Norway.
It’s also our fault because of the Chagos Islands, apparently. We’re trying to slowly be less imperial, so he needs to be more imperialist.