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Sir! Keir! Starmer!

 dazh
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And as for ‘military superiority’, we’ve seen time and again how the mighty USA gets its arse kicked by far less well-equipped fighters, wherever it decides to create a conflict

I think if the US really wanted to 'win' a war it could do so quite easily against any state which doesn't have a nuclear deterrent. The problem is less about capability and more about willingness. As I said on the Navalny thread, the US and other western states like to throw their weight around and interfere in the affairs of foreign states but rarely have the determination to see it through because their own populations have little appetite for war. The result is countries like Ukraine (and Syria, Iraq etc) being used as proxies with all the death and suffering being borne by those countries rather than western populations.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 1:12 pm
 rone
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Invest in energy seems up there to me.

Like properly- not these shell companies.

Rolls-Royce have some nuclear fabrication facilities don't they?


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 1:12 pm
 rone
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Always remember exports are a true cost to your resources. This gets lost when talking about imports / exports / markets.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 1:15 pm
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I think if the US really wanted to ‘win’ a war it could do so quite easily against any state which doesn’t have a nuclear deterrent. The problem is less about capability and more about willingness.

I heard that nonsense over the Vietnam War. The United States definitely wanted to win the Vietnam War, and they definitely wanted to win the Afghan War, the fact that they couldn't use their nuclear weapons has nothing to do with a lack of "willingness" to win those wars.

If you can't use nuclear weapons it's as good as not having them. And even if you took nuclear weapons out of the US military budget it would still be far greater than any other countries in the world.

I'll stick to my original point - the fact that they can't even win a war against a desperately poor third world country suggests that they are not getting value for money out of their military spending.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 1:46 pm
 dazh
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I heard that nonsense over the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam war was so long ago it's hardly relevant to today's geopolitical situation. Anyway, I've no real interest in military willy waving discussion (I can go to the Ukraine thread for that), the original point was that the US can afford to spend money because it is the last real superpower. My point was that you don't have to be a superpower to do the same, all you need is power over your currency and the economic base to productively spend the money, which the UK easily has.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 2:02 pm
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It was exactly the same excuse.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 2:04 pm
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"Israel has gone ‘beyond self-defence’ in Gaza, says Labour’s Streeting"

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/19/israel-has-gone-beyond-self-defence-in-gaza-says-labour-shadow-minister

"But we’re not going to be pushed around by protesters"

Sure he isn't!

Wes Streeting is a massive supporter of Israel, and it is precisely because of the relentless campaigns by protesters that he and Starmer now feel unable to any longer totally support the far-right genocidal Israeli government.

Israel is no more brutal now, nor committing any more war crimes, than it was 3 months ago. But continuing support for Netanyahu and his fascist allies is hurting the Labour brand, as Streeting himself admits:


Streeting told Times Radio that Labour had “taken a lot of criticism within the Muslim community certainly, but also more broadly” over its position.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 3:48 pm
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My point was that you don’t have to be a superpower to do the same, all you need is power over your currency and the economic base to productively spend the money, which the UK easily has

Ah bollocks to it then. Let's invade the US.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 3:55 pm
kelvin and kelvin reacted
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Israel is no more brutal now, nor committing any more war crimes, than it was 3 months ago.

Maybe him and Starmer were waiting for the 30,000 deaths before claiming enough is enough.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 4:06 pm
somafunk, kelvin, somafunk and 1 people reacted
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So, are the Labour front bench slowly moving to a “yes, you can defend yourselves… but this isn’t defence…” position on Israel?

One thing’s for sure, they will remain “supporters of Israel” in terms of a two state solution, with Israel still existing as a state.

I’ve been trying not to comment on what’s happening in the region beyond my October position of “Israel shouldn’t go after Hamas, because they cannot do so without huge loss of civilian life”, as I really don’t see why it’s all down to the Labour leader, and why it’s all in this thread.

Here’s what I posted elsewhere a while back, and is still pertinent:

1AF55FEC-C918-4629-81C3-035C03EBB160


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 4:38 pm
BenjiM, AD, Del and 5 people reacted
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as I really don’t see why it’s all down to the Labour leader, and why it’s all in this thread.

It is clearly not all down to the Labour leader, in fact any outcome will have nothing to do with him (yet) but as future PM it is worth commenting on in a thread about him.
Would have been the right thing to do to have been supportive of an immediate ceasefire just after October 7th as it is only words for him, but the right words.

And yes, we expect more of Labour over the complete ****er tories, why shouldn't we.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 4:45 pm
 rone
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Would have been the right thing to do to have been supportive of an immediate ceasefire just after October 7th as it is only words for him, but the right words.

And yes, we expect more of Labour over the complete **** tories, why shouldn’t we.

Agreed on this.  It appears Starmer gets away with too much of this kind of stuff with excuses piling up in support of a right-leaning position on many things.

Stand on the correct side of the moral fence FFS.

I absolutely don't get the point of Starmer if he can't offer an alternative, if not clearer more moral viewpoint than the Tories.  That's the point of an opposition to oppose the shitty ideals of the Conservatives. Do some opposing.

And why do Labour supporters do terrible verbal gymnastics to support him? Why is it so hard to criticise him?


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 5:31 pm
 rone
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Here’s what I posted elsewhere a while back, and is still pertinent

Labour have themselves to blame for not pushing back a long time ago.

Any reason at all they couldn't have started proper green investment years ago. No. Same goes for much in your list.

So come the excuses because it's now even harder work to be a progressive. Not that I think Starmer is even bothered about any of these things.

Always hold Labour to a higher standard. Tories are just ****s.

Change the narrative - the millions of good arguments to go with.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 5:41 pm
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Any reason at all they couldn’t have started proper green investment years ago.

Well, mainly because they keep losing General Elections.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 5:44 pm
AD, Del, Del and 1 people reacted
 rone
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Well, because they keep losing General Elections.

(Why didn't they do it under Blair?)

You have to put it out there so people can sodding vote for it!


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 5:46 pm
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the fact that they can’t even win a war against a desperately poor third world country suggests that they are not getting value for money out of their military spending

1. US military spending is as much to do with its internal politics as it is to do with external show of force, so for any given state, the Industrial-military complex is probably pretty good value for money. You'd be hard pushed to find one that didn't have multiple military bases, (providing local employment) or major weapons producing or some such other military linked employers.

2. No one can fight a guerrilla war in the way that modern western country's citizens demand that their military forces behave or keep public opinion onside, and hope to win it (including Vietnam). Even Britain in the poxy eighties managed to win a straight-up Military vs Military fight, and the US would be as well.  If you want to see how war needs to be conducted against guerrilla forces to win, but with no regard to public opinion, look at the experience of Syria, Iraq or Israel, where they couldn't give two shits about what will be written in the broadsheets.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 6:00 pm
relapsed_mandalorian, stumpyjon, kelvin and 3 people reacted
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The US spends close to a trillion dollars in the military budget which last time I checked was the same as the next 10 countries combined. (Although I wonder where that stands now with Russia who as a currency issuer too has managed stack up there recently.)

How much does a squaddie cost them vs the Chinese equivalent?


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 6:03 pm
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US military spending is as much to do with its internal politics as it is to do with external show of force, so for any given state, the Industrial-military complex is probably pretty good value for money. You’d be hard pushed to find one that didn’t have multiple military bases, (providing local employment) or major weapons producing or some such other military linked employers.

And yet they are losing even that. As a consequence of flexing their muscles in various parts of the world it has resulted in the US being less influential than previously. Pretty much all their military adventures have failed in their aims and have given even more influence to their opponents.

And all that US huge "industrial-military" complex which is currently so capable of arming Israel and giving it maximum diplomatic support, as it slaughters an indigenous people, is winning the US even less influence.

As the US loses its global moral authority much of the world, especially the Global South, is turning to China and Russia for trade, arms, etc. And countries such as South Africa to take a moral stand in international affairs.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 6:36 pm
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You can’t be a super power unless you have goldie lookin’ trainers!

And your missus is a nutter.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 8:22 pm
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this could equally go in the Sunak thread

but it's good news for starmer, recent storms don't seem to be hurting his numbers

https://twitter.com/DeltapollUK/status/1759643741155987772?t=TXcMuLwDFvJbQzWjQ7q5og&s=19


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 9:51 pm
kelvin and kelvin reacted
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the fact that they can’t even win a war against a desperately poor third world country suggests that they are not getting value for money out of their military spending.

Conflating military capability with political will & strategy is beneath you.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 10:01 pm
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is beneath you.

Thank you for your patronising comment but I will stick to my original comment that the US had the political will to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan but lacked the capability to do so - despite their military might and huge wealth.

Same as Vietnam.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 10:10 pm
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Thank you for your patronising comment but I will stick to my original comment that the US had the political will to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan but lacked the capability to do so – despite their military might and huge wealth.

Same as Vietnam.

Then it's not beneath you, but simply ignorant of you. But you know that.


 
Posted : 19/02/2024 10:15 pm
kelvin and kelvin reacted
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but I will stick to my original comment that the US had the political will to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan but lacked the capability to do so – despite their military might and huge wealth.

Of course that's what US politicians want, and they're as ignorant as you are about how to achieve it. If you want to see how to defeat guerrilla forces, it looks Like Syria and Gaza, it looks like Mosul. But that sort of warfare is not anything that western citizens would stand for.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 8:17 am
benos, MoreCashThanDash, binners and 7 people reacted
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But that sort of warfare is not anything that western citizens would stand for.

I don't know what you appear to think that you are arguing against - thanks for making my point!

So to sum up....despite all that money and military might the United States cannot win a war against a poor third world country.

And no, having nuclear weapons did not help the US to win the war in Afghanistan.

Being a 'military-industrial complex' will not guarantee that US power and influence won't wane.

Getting back to the original point - the term 'superpower' is an arbitrary term which simply means great power, not infallibility.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 9:46 am
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Of course that’s what US politicians want, and they’re as ignorant as you are about how to achieve it. If you want to see how to defeat guerrilla forces, it looks Like Syria and Gaza, it looks like Mosul. But that sort of warfare is not anything that western citizens would stand for.

Remind us how well those conflicts are going? ISIS/ISIL/Daesh still exist, and Hamas will only be strengthened globally by the genocide Israel is unleashing on innocent Palestinians. So those are terrible examples of 'how to defeat guerrilla forces', as that objective has completely failed.

the original point was that the US can afford to spend money because it is the last real superpower

It thinks it is. But that's not how the world works anymore; the USA can't afford to do much about the Gaza genocide, same as it can't really do much more than sabre-rattle about Taiwan. Because those who really hold power, the giant global corporations etc, will not allow anything that interrupts the flow of money. China knows it can't do much about Taiwan yet, because it has far too much money invested in industries there. The West realised that it couldn't take control of the Middle East as planned back in the late 80s/early 90s, so instead went with plan b, which was to ensure the continuation of conflict in order to perpetuate military spending and the sale of arms. Money still flows. Flashy sophisticated weapon systems look great at arms fairs, but in reality most sit about idle for their entire lifespan, which doesn't matter as long as someone made money from their sales. Actual fighting of wars is a hell of a lot more complex than simply having the biggest stick.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 11:10 am
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Because those who really hold power, the giant global corporations etc


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 11:16 am
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Getting back to the original point 

I thought that was Kier! Starmer!


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 11:17 am
scotroutes, gecko76, kelvin and 3 people reacted
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So, Dakuan; how do YOU think the world works then?


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 11:26 am
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I thought that was Kier! Starmer!

Starmer is clearly marketing himself as a friend to global corporate interests, so obviously will not do anything to scare the horses. In that sense, he is a canny politician who realises he needs to play the game. He just lacks any real courage or conviction to see beyond that though, which is why he will most probably be an abject failure as a PM. Our society needs someone with the balls to call out the emperor's nakedness, not some cowardly, snivelling lickspittle. He's a stuffed shirt, puffed up with empty promises and lies.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 11:31 am
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I don’t know what you appear to think that you are arguing against – thanks for making my point!

That it has nothing to do with a military's capability. The US military is more than capable of levelling a country and killing huge swathes of the citizens in it, they could (and did) do that 80 years ago. Their failures in current conflicts is wholly down to political ignorance.

So to sum up….despite all that money and military might the United States cannot win a war against a poor third world country

In many ways it doesn't need to, despite the outcome in places like Iraq or Afghanistan, if the US parks an aircraft carrier off the coast of any country today, I'll bet your money that they'll sit up, take notice and choose their words carefully. In that respect alone, the US military still gives US politicians reach that few others can match, I'll bet they think it gives pretty good value for money


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 11:40 am
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China knows it can’t do much about Taiwan yet, because it has far too much money invested in industries there.

And its looked at the experience of Russia in Ukraine, and Iraq and Afghanistan, looked carefully at the state of its own military (and found it to be corrupt and toothless) and concluded that sabre-rattling is in fact all it can do.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 11:45 am
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I have no idea. I'm not convinced it's even possible to understand a system as chaotic as one made of a few billion humans. There's no reason to think it's a conspiracy of shady coporations though 😂

(as it happens the south park clip i linked to was also taking the piss out of myself as I was very much a 'college hippy know it all' back in the day)


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 11:55 am
scotroutes, stumpyjon, kelvin and 5 people reacted
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In many ways it doesn’t need to, despite the outcome in places like Iraq or Afghanistan, if the US parks an aircraft carrier off the coast of any country today, I’ll bet your money that they’ll sit up, take notice and choose their words carefully.

Really? The Houthis don't seem to be taking much notice.

And its looked at the experience of Russia in Ukraine, and Iraq and Afghanistan, looked carefully at the state of its own military (and found it to be corrupt and toothless) and concluded that sabre-rattling is in fact all it can do.

It's all any of these so-called 'superpowers' can do. The US, with all its military might, had to stand back and watch as Russia invaded Ukraine. The fact is, it stands to profit far more from that conflict continuing for as long as possible. China knows this without having to engage in much in recent years. And it knows the US is just as 'toothless' as itself. The US just shouts a lot louder, that's all.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 11:57 am
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I have no idea. I’m not convinced it’s even possible to understand a system as chaotic as one made of a few billion humans. There’s no reason to think it’s a conspiracy of shady coporations though

It's hardly a 'conspiracy'; Powerful economic entities have far more influence over global politics than any 'democracy' or otherwise. They act according to what is of optimum benefit to their profits. It's pretty much how the world has always been run, really, from the Pharos, the Aztecs, the Mughals, the Vatican, to the Oligarchs and beyond.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 12:08 pm
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Because those who really hold power, the giant global corporations etc, will not allow anything that interrupts the flow of money. 

conspiracy: a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 12:21 pm
 rone
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Well if we don't try and make the arguments they always will hold the power and concentrate the wealth.

But Centrists seem to thrive on making arguments to support the broken status-quo rather than what we on the left might call push back or pragmatism.

Make better arguments for the distribution of stuff. It's not as if there isn't a body of work saying it's better for everyone. (See something like the Spirit level and ignore loopy right+wing criticisms of it.)

We are much further down the hole that when Labour last came to power, so it's critical that the package that should be put forward will need a lot of solid logic. It's all there though for the taking.

The 'nuts' on the right are arguing any old rubbish these days. They've ran out of steam and ideas, and just attack anything at all coming from the left.

Lay the narrative out!

Your water company has jacked the price this year - for what reason?  There is absolutely not one reason for it to be in private hands. Pragmatism, competence and ideology have all gone out of the window. All three can be taken out with solid logic.

Start there! Tories aren't scared of offering up tax cuts (like I said during the Truss month - they would just come back to the table to a Government with better resolve.) So Labour shouldn't be scared of offering lower water bills via state ownership of something that is a natural poorly performing monopoly.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 12:27 pm
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"Labour calls for immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza for first time"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68346129

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said Labour had shifted because the situation in Gaza had "evolved".

It is a shame that Lammy did not explain how the situation had, according to him, "evolved", it would be interesting to know.

Perhaps 12,000 dead children, another 32,800 injured children, and at least 25,000 children who have lost one or both parent, is enough for Lammy?

Or maybe the IDF terrorists have reached the magic figure of 85% of the population being "displaced"?

I suspect that the only thing which has made Starmer actually change his mind is that the US President is now also calling for a ceasefire. Lammy even talks of "mirroring" US government approved language.

Labour foreign policy, identical to Tory foreign policy......both made in the US Whitehouse.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 4:07 pm
somafunk and somafunk reacted
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I heard him on R4 at lunchtime, he’s copying a trick from Sunak of repeating the same thing over and over again to every question. Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire…….Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire…….Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire.

Only 3 months too late.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 4:15 pm
rone and rone reacted
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Yup, 29,000 dead Palestinians too late.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 4:35 pm
somafunk, rone, rone and 1 people reacted
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Bookies now have galloway to win Rochdale by-election; FFS, you couldn't make it.

Should have been a Labour shoo-in.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 5:44 pm
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That’s not a surprise given the official Labour stance for the previous 4 months, they deserve it.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 5:47 pm
rone, MoreCashThanDash, rone and 1 people reacted
 rone
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What's with disclaimers in front of headline words these days?

Technical recession

Sustainable Ceasefire

Immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

A ceasefire is a ceasefire until its not.

A recession is a recession by its own explicit definition.

Modern media training especially for the likes of Streeting (who burps tightrope political ambiguity)  is replacing any semblance of logic - designed to be evasive.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 7:41 pm
ernielynch, somafunk, ernielynch and 1 people reacted
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I suspect that the only thing which has made Starmer actually change his mind is that the US President is now also calling for a ceasefire. Lammy even talks of “mirroring” US government approved language.

Labour foreign policy, identical to Tory foreign policy……both made in the US Whitehouse.

Cowardly bastards. Morally bankrupt cowardly bastards.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 7:49 pm
rone, Sandwich, rone and 1 people reacted
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conspiracy: a secret plan by a group to do something unlawfulor harmful.

It's hardly a secret that capitalist entities work for their own interests. Ergo, not a 'conspiracy'. Simply fact.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 7:55 pm
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That’s not a surprise given the official Labour stance for the previous 4 months, they deserve it.

Starmer won't lose any sleep if Galloway wins, he'll just shrug his shoulders and dismiss it as inconsequential because Labour didn't have a candidate.

What would give Starmer a bloody nose would be if Azhar Ali was elected - the candidate which he rejected receiving the approval of the voters of Rochdale.

Galloway's ego will become insufferable if he wins.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 7:55 pm
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Galloway’s ego is insufferable - FTFY


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 7:57 pm
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Really? The Houthis don’t seem to be taking much notice.

The intention is a commonly misunderstood, "These strikes are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to conduct their reckless and destabilizing attacks against U.S. and international vessels lawfully transiting the Red Sea." https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3665867/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-coalition-strikes-in-ho/

An example of taking a strong military force and restricting the rules of engagement; why would the Houthis take notice?

Stopping the attacks isn't mentioned.


 
Posted : 20/02/2024 8:57 pm
 rone
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I've been watching the debates all day since Hoyle did a runner, its an absolute farce at the moment on the BBC parliament channel


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 7:37 pm
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Oh right

https://twitter.com/nicholaswatt/status/1760357509175402752?t=WirHf4DQgdBWvj8xST3WpQ&s=19

according to hoyle it was in response to a labour MPs office being broken into today by Palestinian suppoerters


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 7:51 pm
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Oh right

https://twitter.com/nicholaswatt/status/1760357509175402752?t=WirHf4DQgdBWvj8xST3WpQ&s=19

according to hoyle it was in response to a labour MPs office being broken into today by Palestinian suppoerters


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 7:54 pm
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I've been having tea. Can anyone update me on the latest Westminster shitshow?


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 7:55 pm
 rone
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Lol it's all pretty hard work to be honest!

Rolling news causes chaos.

I will follow it tonight on a million you tube channels and see what happens.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 8:01 pm
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Can anyone update me on the latest Westminster shitshow?

None* of them are worth their salaries.

*can't think of any that actually are. Apologies if any are.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 8:02 pm
 rone
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For sure.

again , Hoyle has said it didn't happen

are you saying hes lying?

The SNP set a trap for Labour

it backfired


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 8:18 pm
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Doesn't matter @kimbers, it'll still be Keir Starmers fault, and those centrists (sorry, centre right) voters 😂

Said it many times, it's all politics now, using Gaza as a way of trying to garner support at the next election, all for a pointless vote that will be stiffly ignored by Israel, like they've been ignoring everyone.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 8:22 pm
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Said it many times, it’s all politics now, using Gaza as a way of trying to garner support at the next election, all for a pointless vote that will be stiffly ignored by Israel, like they’ve been ignoring everyone.

i cant disagree with that


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 9:06 pm
stumpyjon, salad_dodger, kelvin and 3 people reacted
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The SNP set a trap for Labour

FFS hundreds of innocent civilians are needless dying every day and you talk about a SNP "trap?!?

Far from the SNP exploiting the misery caused by a murderous regime it is you with your talk of "a trap" who is using the situation to score cheap political points.

Can't you put politics to one side for a moment? The millions of homeless men, women, and children, those who are having their limbs amputated without anaesthetic, and those who dying from gunfire and missiles don't need this shite.

It is a total insult to the SNP and their voters to question their motivation in calling for an immediate ceasefire, as you try to defend the genocide supporting leader of the Labour Party.

Both Keir Starmer and Joe Biden faced with overwhelming public opposition are now calling for an immediate ceasefire, they know that they have no choice.

But neither, despite being forced to call for an immediate ceasefire, are prepared to vote in favour of one - not at the United Nations and not in the House of Commons. Their number one priority remains the same - to defend IDF terrorists.

It is them who are playing politics.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 9:44 pm
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It is a total insult to the SNP and their voters to question their motivation in calling for an immediate ceasefire

Do you really believe that causing discomfort for Labour played no part at all in the SNP's decision making on this matter?


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 9:51 pm
felltop, Poopscoop, imnotverygood and 15 people reacted
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I couldn't give a **** if it played any part at all. The only thing that matters is putting maximum pressure on the UK government, the US, and of course Israel, to stop the carnage.

I have no doubt whatsoever that the SNP's primary motive is to put pressure to end the slaughter, which is a sentiment shared by millions.

If this exposes the Labour Leader's hypocrisy, and he is embarrassed by his totally indefensible support for Israel, then he has only himself to blame - not the SNP. He should just support the SNP's motion if he really cares.

Anyone who exposes the hypocrisy and the meaningless mealy mouth words of those who claim to care is doing everyone a favour imo.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 10:10 pm
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ernielynch
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I couldn’t give a **** if it played any part at all

Oh right. So when you said:

It is a total insult to the SNP and their voters to question their motivation in calling for an immediate ceasefire

You were just posturing.

He should just support the SNP’s motion if he really cares.

So if you don’t agree with every word then you don’t care.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 10:13 pm
Poopscoop, salad_dodger, kelvin and 5 people reacted
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I believe that the SNP is motivated by a compassion and concern for the men, women, and children, of Gaza. Why wouldn't they be? It is something which clearly a majority of people feel.

If the SNP want to cause "discomfort", as you call it, to the Labour leader for not supporting a ceasefire, then I couldn't care less. In fact I welcome it - he should be extremely uncomfortable about supporting Israel.

He doesn't have to - he choses to.

I fail to see how this amounts to "posturing", as you bizarrely claim.

So if you don’t agree with every word then you don’t care.

You don't care when you claim that you care about an immediate ceasefire but only if Israel agrees to it, which seems to be basically Starmer's position.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 10:28 pm
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If they want to cause “discomfort”, as you call it, to the Labour leader for not supporting a ceasefire, then I couldn’t care less

Yet you felt strongly enough to describe it as a total insult. Make your mind up.

You don’t care when you claim that you care about an immediate ceasefire but only if Israel agrees to it, which seems to be basically Starmer’s position.

You said he should support the SNP's motion, or he doesn't care.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 10:34 pm
felltop, stumpyjon, kimbers and 9 people reacted
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The SNP set a trap for Labour

If that is your takeaway from this farce then you have a deep misunderstanding of what an opposition day motion is and what it stands for, this farce falls firmly at the door of Lindsay Hoyle for allowing the Labour motion first reading.

To further emphasise the point, this is nothing at all to do with the SNP


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 10:36 pm
ernielynch, scotroutes, rone and 3 people reacted
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The SNP's leader had family trapped in Gaza, it seams perfectly reasonable to me that he is probably more concerned with the humanitarian disaster than "setting traps" for SKS.

"It is a trap for labour" is becoming a regular excuse for SKS's lack of principles.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 10:37 pm
ernielynch, scotroutes, somafunk and 5 people reacted
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Yet you felt strongly enough to describe it as a total insult. Make your mind up.

I have made my mind up. I consider it an insult to claim that the SNP are not motivated by humanity and compassion, no doubt like their voters which it is their duty to represent.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 10:44 pm
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Oh come on Ernie, whilst I'm sure there are genuine concerns for the innocents of Gaza (and given Hamza Yusuf family commections its clear there is) theres also a large political element to this as Labour are the SNPs biggest threat in Scotland.

Its also a major stretch to claim the SNP is representing the views of many of its voters, people that vote for them due to their nationalist agenda. I would guess theres a fair few SNP voters who dont know where Gaza is and many more who have a hazy knowledge at best of whats going on and why. I reckon if you ask the average SNP voter Gaza wouldnt be near the top of current concerns they'd like the SNP to tackle.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 11:05 pm
felltop, Poopscoop, kimbers and 3 people reacted
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I have made my mind up.

Yes, that's obvious from your comments.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 11:07 pm
felltop, Poopscoop, stumpyjon and 7 people reacted
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As an average snp voter I’d like to reply to the idiot above that a Gaza ceasefire is a concern that I’d like raised at every opportunity


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 11:18 pm
towpathman, scotroutes, towpathman and 1 people reacted
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Fine, thats your democratic right, lobby your MP, but your compassion for the suffering of people in Gaza doesnt make my statement wrong or me an idiot so please try to be civil, this is a mountain biking forum and has next to no real world impact and certainly doesnt make a jot of difference to the people dying in the middle east.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 11:30 pm
kimbers, salad_dodger, salad_dodger and 1 people reacted
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Yes, that’s obvious from your comments.

Have we descended to the level of school yard retorts? Jaysus.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 11:31 pm
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Have we descended to the level of school yard retorts? Jaysus.

If you say so. Simultaneously, it's an insult and you DGAF, and there is no inconsistency.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 11:34 pm
kimbers, salad_dodger, salad_dodger and 1 people reacted
Posts: 15692
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doesnt make my statement wrong or me an idiot so please try to be civil.

You have just accused "a fair few" SNP voters of not knowing where Gaza is and "many more" of a hazy knowledge, at best, of what's going on and why.

I have no doubt that the overwhelming majority of people who vote SNP know exactly where Gaza is, and exactly what is going on and why.

Why wouldn't they - because they are idiots?

Edit: Btw stumpy this isn't the first you have claimed to be a victim of insults after throwing a few insults yourself. It seems to be a recurring pattern.


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 11:40 pm
scotroutes, somafunk, scotroutes and 1 people reacted
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I didnt call anyone an idiot, if thats how you want to label Scottish voters thats up to you. If you think the majority of Scottish voters have the same level of knowledge of the complex and appalling situation in Gaza as people in this thread or that its high on their priority list of things for the SNP to tackle I'm pretty sure yoi're wrong. Whilst its a big issue amongst politically motivated people I really don't think people struggling to cope with the cost of living or inability to access NHS services or get suitable housing would be particularly happy for the SNP to use one of its precious parlimentary days to focus the HoC on the plight of people thoisands of miles away they have little in common with however noble a cause it is.

But you've made it quite clear responding to others that your mind is made up.

Edit: in response to your edit, I think the only one throwing insults around here is somafunk but if thats his response its up to the mods to decide of its appropriate or not. Maybe try focusing on the debate rather than carrying a personal grudge because some doesnt see the world exactly as you do?


 
Posted : 21/02/2024 11:50 pm
salad_dodger, kelvin, salad_dodger and 1 people reacted
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Posted : 22/02/2024 12:04 am
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I couldn’t give a **** if it played any part at all. The only thing that matters is putting maximum pressure on the UK government, the US, and of course Israel, to stop the carnage.

surely you will he pleased then as the SNP motion passed as well as the Labour amendment calling for "a immediate humanitarian ceasefire”


 
Posted : 22/02/2024 12:04 am
Poopscoop and Poopscoop reacted
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surely you will he pleased then as the SNP motion passed

Unless I am missing something it didnt. The SNP one wasnt voted on due to the Labour one being voted on.

Personally I would have thought if labour were going to pressure Hoyle they should do so about Sunaks habit of believing PMQs is his opportunity to ask questions rather than answer them.
Still its good to see Starmer has adopted the tory approach of accusing others of playing politics.


 
Posted : 22/02/2024 12:21 am
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Unless I am missing something it didnt. The SNP one wasnt voted on due to the Labour one being voted on.

technically it went through unopposed, but was amended by the labour call, also unopposed

the arcane proceedings of parliament don't seem to make much sense

all of this Westminster navel-gazing, will obviously change nothing on the ground in Gaza


 
Posted : 22/02/2024 12:44 am
salad_dodger, kelvin, salad_dodger and 1 people reacted
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