Election Year or Fear!

[Ram Pant]

It seems that the orange one isn't happy with the UK stance on this. Good. He's now said, on consecutive days, to 2 different UK news outlets, that things have cooled in the special relationship. It isn't what it was. Starmer appears to have done quite well, IMO.

[ramAnag]

It seems that the orange one isn't happy with the UK stance on this. Good. He's now said, on consecutive days, to 2 different UK news outlets, that things have cooled in the special relationship. It isn't what it was. Starmer appears to have done quite well, IMO.

‘2 different UK news outlets’ who just happen to be Starmer’s leading critics, The Sun and The Daily Telegraph. Entirely coincidental of course.

[Geoff Parkstone]

‘2 different UK news outlets’ who just happen to be Starmer’s leading critics, The Sun and The Daily Telegraph. Entirely coincidental of course.

I think on balance I am happy to see Starmer not following the warmnonger Blair's strategy in joining in with the offensive actions against Iran, but that doesnt seem to have stopped Iranian counter strikes on British installations in Cyprus. Now it seems he's agreed to allowing US to use our airbases in their actions, in common with many other European countries, notably Greece.

iIs a delicate balance to try to achieve, especially in view of our non EU status and the relatively new trade deals with US and Starmer is doing OK in my view in this respect, trying to walk the tightrope - but for how long I dont know. Seems the Chinese are lining up behind Iran (no surprise there as its all about Chinese aceess to Iranian oil) and this escalation will heap more pressure on NATO.

Am struggling to see a good ending here as IMO its not about Iranian regime change per se, its about the bigger battle for economic dominance between US and China and cutting off Chinese access to energy by destabilising their biggest supplier, having just taken tighter control over their second biggest supplier in Venezuela. Can see maybe the Chinese moving in on Taiwan whilst the other two major powers focus on their own battles, but they for sure cannot sit back and watch their oil suppliers get consumed in this way.

Much as I think regime change in Iran is a laudable objective, I really dont think its the main point here, and Starmer is right to stand back from this for now - something I have to say through gritted teeth :-)

[swaledale]

I think on balance I am happy to see Starmer not following the warmnonger Blair's strategy in joining in with the offensive actions against Iran, but that doesnt seem to have stopped Iranian counter strikes on British installations in Cyprus. Now it seems he's agreed to allowing US to use our airbases in their actions, in common with many other European countries, notably Greece.

iIs a delicate balance to try to achieve, especially in view of our non EU status and the relatively new trade deals with US and Starmer is doing OK in my view in this respect, trying to walk the tightrope - but for how long I dont know. Seems the Chinese are lining up behind Iran (no surprise there as its all about Chinese aceess to Iranian oil) and this escalation will heap more pressure on NATO.

Am struggling to see a good ending here as IMO its not about Iranian regime change per se, its about the bigger battle for economic dominance between US and China and cutting off Chinese access to energy by destabilising their biggest supplier, having just taken tighter control over their second biggest supplier in Venezuela. Can see maybe the Chinese moving in on Taiwan whilst the other two major powers focus on their own battles, but they for sure cannot sit back and watch their oil suppliers get consumed in this way.

Much as I think regime change in Iran is a laudable objective, I really dont think its the main point here, and Starmer is right to stand back from this for now - something I have to say through gritted teeth :-)

Its difficult to establish what the aim is, but undoubtedly the "hawks" who are now in Trump's administration have long wanted to attack Iran, plus the view that Trump listens to the last person who speaks to him, then yes there is a possibility that its a wider strategy against China, but equally possible that Trump is rather fond of being an imperialistic super power throwing its weight around and removing leaders he doesn't like.

The problem is as you have suggested, is that China will see this behaviour and use it as an excuse to attack Taiwan, becuase the US, though often on rather shaky ground re invading other countries and attemptng regime change, generally hasn't gone about it without a reasonable excuse.

There is unfortunately a dangerous precedent being set here and with an increasingly unhinged and impetuous Trump no knowing quite where it will all end.