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Starmer claimed he was notified of the negotiations. So is he bullshitting or is he being led a merry dance? I suspect he is just a gullible pawn willing to sook up to the big boys.
It now seems 100% definite that Trumps claim of talks was a complete spoof, just to try and get oil prices down for a bit. No doubt for both political and personal financial (market manipulation) reasons
I assumed it was to hide his latest taco moment with the 48 hrs to comply threat from the weekend that expired yesterday
in a move that was more predictable than Iran bllocking Hormuz
Trump is gearing up throw hegseth under the bus...
TBH Hegsth like the others were always going under the bus,it’s just when.
Fair point... 🤣
A good article by Ian Dunt on Don 'Corleone' Trump
https://iandunt.substack.com/p/guest-post-trump-thinks-hes-don-corleone
Unlikely to be successful with all the security around Trump and his clan unless an future president degrades his protection like Trump tried with Biden and Obama IIRC.
In a country with as many guns and nutters as they have its surprising how few publicised attempts there are, perhaps they are all on his "side". It would probably be a bad outcome though - he would become a martyr for MAGA and reinforce the divisions.
IMHO the photo of him surrounded by Secret Service with his fist raised, bloodied, in front of the flag won him the election.
I think you’re right.
I did my dissertation on photomontage and the manipulation of photographic images for propaganda purposes (yes, I’ve always been that rock’n’roll) and I’ve worked in comms for years, including art directing loads of photoshoots.
IMHO that is the most staged image I’ve ever seen in my life. Absolutely set up, 100%. Images as perfect as that don't just happen. Ever! Not a chance!
Hats off for whoever did set it up though. It's an absolute masterpiece!
and his ear is suspiciously free of scaring
Are we straying into serious conspiracy theories now...?
I've always been sceptical of conspiracy theories but more and more I'm convinced that there is something in them, if only because they often now seem less mad than reality. Remember that one about the world being run by a global network of peadophiles? That was rubbish twenty years ago...
Are we straying into serious conspiracy theories now...?
I don't normally entertain them, but when it comes to Trumps (famously known as a complete coward) supposed 'assassination' and all the triumphant, iconic, heroic, fist-pummping, FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! imagery it resulted in? Well...
"IMHO that is the most staged image I’ve ever seen in my life. Absolutely set up, 100%. Images as perfect as that don't just happen. Ever! Not a chance!"
100% with you on this. As someone with more than a passing professional interest in this stuff the giveaway for me is the secret service guy on the right looking straight at the camera - "you getting this?"
Was it an expert shooter who purposefully just grazed his ear or was there not a shooter at all? Did the Trump team kill the bystanders themselves to add credibility or was that staged also? I have so many questions.
I have so many questions.
Yup. It's just conspiracy bullshit, isn't it. That photographer would have picked the best of a series of burst shots. And they would have been one of many there capable of taking it/them. If one of them hadn't managed to take a good shot... that would have me asking far more questions...
I've always been sceptical of conspiracy theories but more and more I'm convinced that there is something in them, if only because they often now seem less mad than reality. Remember that one about the world being run by a global network of peadophiles? That was rubbish twenty years ago...
It's still rubbish now.
There is usually a tiny grain of truth in most successful conspiracy theories but that doesn't stop the rest being bobbins.
In that case, it is true (and always has been) that rich and successful men use their wealth and power to sleep with young attractive women and some of them don't care too much about consent ("age of" or otherwise). But that's a world away from the Qanon rubbish.
I don't wish to diminish the suffering of the victims, but I've yet to hear anything from the Epstein case that is surprising. Upsetting, yes. But not surprising. It's like hearing that not everyone engaging in prostitution or in the porn industry is doing it entirely willingly.
Anyway, back on topic.
His primary concern is NATO, that's his job.
If concern for NATO requires supporting Trump and Netanyahu launching an illegal war on Iran, and throwing Ukraine under the bus to appease Putin, then that’s a little problematic, no?
If that’s what’s happening, it’s very problematic. But NATO suddenly being without the USA brings its own problems. We might just be delaying a post USA defence world (in Europe)… but it needs delaying.
We might just be delaying a post USA defence world (in Europe)… but it needs delaying.
Indeed. Like many people my gut instinct is to tell Trump to get stuffed. We don't need him. We can defend ourselves or make alliances with other people. We had an empire don't you know 😀 But it doesn't take long to realise that is pure fantasy.
I was listening to the Briefing Room podcast on the state of our military and somebody made the point that our armed forces are just about sufficient to take and hold a small market town on a good day and even then we'd probably need US intelligence. Falling out with our US protectors would leave us very exposed for quite a long while.
Falling out with our US protectors would leave us very exposed for quite a long while.
Is that the one and same US protector doing such sterling work defending the interests of it's gulf state allies?
I don't know how much more evidence is needed to conclude that they can't be relied on.
I don't know how much more evidence is needed to conclude that they can't be relied on.
How much are you willing to spend on defence?
Is that the one and same US protector doing such sterling work defending the interests of it's gulf state allies?
Well quite. How’s that grovelling workin’ out for ya?
For anyone who wants to know what the Iranian Embassy think of Trump's stupid idea (no, not his other 17 stupid ideas of the day, his latest one about how he will jointly control the Hormuz Strait along with Iran), this is worth a read:
From Operation Epic Fury to Operation Epic Fail in 3 weeks. I'm just hoping that this is reflected in the Midterm Elections.
I’ve just watched his latest press conference and you can tell that he’s literally making it up as he goes along. All this negotiations talk only exists in his head. It’s all total bollocks!
Now that the sanctions have been lifted on Iranian oil, so they can export again, while nobody else in the region can, they’re laughing.
Why negotiate? They’re calling the shots here, not Trump
How much are you willing to spend on defence?
How much can we screw out of fat **** multi millionaires/billionairs/corporations that offshore their tax?
Had a chat with my sister today.
It's fair to say she's at the far right of the political spectrum so it was interesting to hear her comments on Trump.
In the past she's described him as "funny" as she was politically aligned with him. Now, since the war with Iran has started it appears that she's had a Road to Damascus moment. "Funny" has been replaced by words like "mad" and "dangerous".
82nd Airborne division has been mentioned in Channel 4 news just now. 🤔
I supposed Trump is thinking of using the 82nd to start the ball rolling to encourage uprising from fractions against the Iranian regime. i.e. create a bit more chaos and to divide the country up a bit. Should be interesting to see what will happen.
But Iran is no Iraq where they could steam roll over on the flat ground and with Iran's 90 million population, Trump will need to deploy all their 10 aircraft carrier (Iraq war) groups to make any impact. If true, I suspect the 82nd will just have be the first to bear the brunt of the retaliation from Iran, and Trump will be dragged deeper into the war (as Israel has planned). Very difficult for Trump to get out of this war now and Israel will be celebrating with US full involvement in the region for a long time.
Saudi would be better to stay out by not getting involve even with the protection from their bodyguard Pa-kis-tan. However, someone (puppet master) will gaslight all of them to see them burn as that's the plan.
Oh ya ... as usual someone is earning a lot from this war.
Saudi would be better to stay out
According to the NYT
"Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been pushing President Trump to continue the war against Iran, arguing that the U.S.-Israeli military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East, according to people briefed by American officials on the conversations.
In a series of conversations over the last week, Prince Mohammed has conveyed to Mr. Trump that he must press toward the destruction of Iran’s hard-line government, the people familiar with the conversations said."
Publicly Saudi have been saying the opposite and calling for peace
For anyone who wants to know what the Iranian Embassy think of Trump's stupid idea (no, not his other 17 stupid ideas of the day, his latest one about how he will jointly control the Hormuz Strait along with Iran), this is worth a read:
From Operation Epic Fury to Operation Epic Fail in 3 weeks. I'm just hoping that this is reflected in the Midterm Elections.
🤣 well played
Publicly Saudi have been saying the opposite and calling for peace
I suppose the intention is simply to confuse since there is a war near them.
Oh ya ... as usual someone is earning a lot from this war.
Coffezilla is on the case regarding the gambling markets
The opening to Newsnight tonight it like a gut-punch! And well done to the BBC for reminding us all what this is really all about… a distraction from the Epstein files
They opened with 6 of the victims telling their stories. Trump is up to his neck in his mates crimes, so much so that he’ll start a war to try and make everyone look the other way.
If you’ve not watched it, you need to. The full interviews with the victims are broadcast tomorrow night
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002t3x7/newsnight-will-all-the-epstein-files-ever-be-released
TBH the way things are going we might see the Epstein files being released to distract us from the war in Iran.
Has Trump offered security escorts through the straight yet as part of a joint operation with Iran? (I'm not sure if that's a joke or not)
Iran has refused to negotiate with Donald Trump’s top envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, accusing them of “backstabbing”…
More accessible version here https://www.thedailybeast.com/iran-gives-trump-a-negotiation-ultimatum-on-jd-vance-sidelining-steve-witkoff-and-jared-kushner/
Has Trump offered security escorts through the straight yet as part of a joint operation with Iran? (I'm not sure if that's a joke or not)
I mean it is inconceivable there isn't a solid plan? Otherwise the oil price wouldn't have dropped when he said it...
The Iranian military response to the negotiations puts a slightly different spin on it:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn8dldl0jx9t?post=asset%3Aa12b3275-6008-4e16-af4f-506634b9c2ec#post
Iran has refused to negotiate with Donald Trump’s top envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, accusing them of “backstabbing”…
I don't think either side in this conflict has the first clue about the other
Has Trump offered security escorts through the straight yet as part of a joint operation with Iran? (I'm not sure if that's a joke or not)
It has been a curious sequence of events - it basically seems to have played out as
Journalists to Hegseth and Trump "You don't appear to have made any plans to secure the Straight"
Hegseth and Trump to Journalists "of course we have - we've had a plan all along - just you wait and see what our plan is. You'll be amazed"
Hegseth and Trump turning to pretty much every other government "What are you going to do to secure the Straight? And why haven't you done it already?"
I love that Iran are saying "Trump is negotiating with himself" because we can all picture the senile old c*** doing exactly that
Its fairly obvious hes just saying anything he can to try & lower the oil price, whilst his goons use knowledge of this to make billions on the markets
also
Ebrahim Zolfagharihas, spokesperson for Iran's military command Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, says in a video message to “the self-proclaimed global superpower" - “do not call your defeat an agreement".
Iran has refused to negotiate with Donald Trump’s top envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, accusing them of “backstabbing”…
I don't think either side in this conflict has the first clue about the other
Well the 'backstabbing' accusation seems to be fair but it would seem it the US they stabbed in the back. Iran would be doing the US a favour by cutting Witkoff and Kushner out of the conversation. We have to keep reminding ourselves how little actual responsibility or authority these two guys have. Kushner is an 'informal advisor' and 'trusted trouble shooter' but neither an elected official or a civil servant. Witkoff is a 'special envoy' but operates outside of / separately to the US's foreign embassies and ambassadors.
They both basically side step the whole US diplomatic and intelligence apparatus and whisper directly in Trump's ear - but they are only telling Trump what they choose to and not what they know.