International Relations

From Deutsche Welle:

Interesting interview with a retired US general Ben Hodges although quite a lot of fence sitting.

Invasion of Greenland would be 'stupidest own goal' for US - summary - thisessentially looks like a land grab and more Monroe doctrine under the pretext of Russia/Chinese involvement.

Current European (cf. NATO) assessment mission to Greenland is underway.  I'm not reading Canada is participating. I would have thought their involvement would be essential given they have huge experience in the conditions and are neighbours.

Other reports from mainstream media suggest US Congress will be against any kind of forced takeover.   Possibly of even impeachment.   According to polls mentioned in news footage, very few US people support this idea of invasion.

Also France24 video interview with chair of Danish parliament defence committee.

This also from a Canadian TV channel CTV (normally Toronto area, about Canada's involvement):

As Danish and Greenlandic leaders urge the United States to end its threats to annex the territory, France and Germany plan to send troops to the territory at the request of Denmark. Canada also has troops in Greenland, but the Ministry of Defence says Canadian Forces members are participating in a previously planned training exercise that takes place every year in Greenland, not because of the ongoing threats.

I found the Inuit aspect interesting as the Inuit are spread across the region as a whole.

From the BBC:

Blair and Rubio among names on Gaza 'Board of Peace'

It's got to be the worst line up in the world for a "peace board".   

Tony Blair, come on, he has kudos for Northern Ireland but he's got no public brownie points for Iraq. 

And Steve Witless?  Really?! Even Trump? No legitimacy at all.  Looks like another land grab.  For those two, every problem looks like a real estate deal.   Painful.

The US is warning its citizens to be careful and not travel to the middle east as rising tensions may cause problems.

They neglected to mention that they are the ones threatening yet another war.

They have sent a carrier strike group so they can kill more more more quickly.

The upshot is, those nasty evil Iranians might shoot back when the US starts yet another war.

'Violent disorder' at Iran's London embassy leaves four police officers in hospital - with at least 14 arrested

Iran's supreme leader has blamed Donald Trump for the "casualties and damages" caused by protests in Iran. Rights group say more than 3,000 were killed during the unrest, which has now subsided.

Trump threatens new tariffs on countries opposed to Greenland takeover

'Violent disorder' at Iran's London embassy leaves four police officers in hospital - with at least 14 arrested - @SimCityAT

That shows the opposition are using violent thugs.

Trump threatens new tariffs on countries opposed to Greenland takeover - @SimCityAT

On the subject of violent thugs

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/17/nx-s1-56 … -venezuela

A major leak about US aircraft carrier.

It would seem the USS Gerald R. Ford is right in the shit and has been left unable to deploy chemical weapons.

I gather the UK's Privy council has been asked for advice as, when duty calls, American seamen need to shoot. The US navy is trying to get to the bottom of the matter, but they were hoping it would never come out.

A US admiral spoke on the record. Looking a little flushed and, most unusually for a man in his posiotion, he admitted his seamen had nothing to go on.

He said further details would be released at his convenience, but he had to go now.

Breaking.

It is being reported the story got out of the cracks in the system and a full investigation into the leak is under way, but sources close to the matter were reported as admitting they were caught short.

...I'm not reading Canada is participating. I would have thought their involvement would be essential given they have huge experience in the conditions and are neighbours...

This also from a Canadian TV channel CTV (normally Toronto area, about Canada's involvement):

As Danish and Greenlandic leaders urge the United States to end its threats to annex the territory, France and Germany plan to send troops to the territory at the request of Denmark. Canada also has troops in Greenland, but the Ministry of Defence says Canadian Forces members are participating in a previously planned training exercise that takes place every year in Greenland, not because of the ongoing threats.

I found the Inuit aspect interesting as the Inuit are spread across the region as a whole. - @fluffy2560

We're on top of it, have no doubt.

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/17/nx-s1-56 … -venezuelaA major leak about US aircraft carrier. It would seem the USS Gerald R. Ford is right in the shit and has been left unable to deploy chemical weapons.I gather the UK's Privy council has been asked for advice as, when duty calls, American seamen need to shoot. The US navy is trying to get to the bottom of the matter, but they were hoping it would never come out. A US admiral spoke on the record. Looking a little flushed and, most unusually for a man in his posiotion, he admitted his seamen had nothing to go on.He said further details would be released at his convenience, but he had to go now. - @Fred

That's not the first time toilet plumbing has endangered US military personnel's well-being.

Camp Century - Wikipedia pages on the Greenland nuclear camp, noting (from official reports):

"The sewage sump was 150 feet (46 m) from the nearest building and initially, was not vented. As a result, the odor of sewage became almost unbearable in the nearest quarters after the first year of operation. Subsequent venting of the sump reduced the odor, but did not eliminate the fundamental condition. In 1962, core samples were taken in the areas near the sump and found that liquid wastes had permeated up to 170 feet (52 meters) horizontally. Thus, this accelerated trench deformation and odor from the sump affected nearby trenches containing sleeping quarters."

Having rebuilt my own house, venting soil pipes is blinking obvious.  That's why vent pipes are above the roof line, to blow away the noxious gases and offensive smells.  It happens here that there's not enough venting in older houses.

There's no notes about plumbing in the WH as it was essentially rebuilt around 1950 by Truman.  I suppose they increased the capacity at some point.  I could be crass and say it was to deal with the amount of crap coming out of DJT and cronies.

The USA has a history of causing substantial environmental damage.  I cite Runit Island in the Marshall Islands chain.  This place is a massive nuclear disaster.  I've been to the Marshall Islands several times and the legacy is still strongly felt there.

....We're on top of it, have no doubt. - @Aidan in HCMC

No-one has (apparently) asked the Greenlanders if they'd like to federate with Canada.  I think everyone non-US would find it the best thing in a bad job.  Perhaps they could be Nunavut East and the existing one becomes Nunavut West?

A while back, I did have a look at the languages and Greenlandic has dialects which are somewhat mutually intelligible with Inuit languages in the north of Canada.    Research is sketchy though and I have not heard a qualitative assessment.

BTW, the UK could do a land swap Pitcairn Island for Greenland.   That would give Trump a base off the coast of South America.

Breaking - latest on Trump and Greenland.

He's put another nail in NATO with a close to an immediate 10% with tariffs on NATO countries supporting Greenland.

Trump announces plan to hit UK, Denmark and other European countries with extra tariffs over Greenland

It looks like it's the end of the world's defence organisation as we have known it for many years.   

Unless Trump gets hit by lightning or SCOTUS throws it all out.

Breaking - latest on Trump and Greenland.
He's put another nail in NATO with a close to an immediate 10% with tariffs on NATO countries supporting Greenland. - @fluffy2560

I think I love Donny.

Biden started the fall of the US when he stole Russia's money,  but Trump is making the whole world reject the most evil nation in known history.

The US has always attacked countries nobody especially cared about, or were just TV wars that only killed broun people in far away countries so the US could easily hide their mass murders.

This time it's at home and white people under threat.

Trump did a great job of making the world feel free to openly say what the US really is, but he's surpassed his own stupidity many fold this time around.

I call for Trump being allowed to run again, or preferably take a non-elected third term as dictator. That will really ruin the most vile rogue nation in world history.

Bankrupt and destitute, the US will stew in its own stupidity, and the world can live in peace for a change.

Trump should be made king and absolute ruler without delay.

Lovely news

https://international.sindonews.com/rea … 1768687291

The threat of tariffs is unacceptable and has no place in this context. Europe will respond in a united and coordinated manner if it is confirmed. We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld," he (Macron) added.

You can rely on the French to call a spade a spade, but even the UK's wimp, US lapdog, PM has spoken out against America.  You know things are changing when even a weakling like Starmer feels he can opens his mouth.

Skelly and Kiesecker determined that animals can detect and avoid sick creatures that might infect them, but humans have a nasty habit of ignoring their feelings in favour of cash. Once the money is off the table, the sick US can be rejected.

Donny;

I listened to him speaking about it on a news report and for the first time ever, I swear I detected a fear and uncertainty in his voice.  I might even say he was hysterical and hyperbolic.

It was very surprising. I think he realised he's screwed this one up big time. People are prepared to resist and it looks bad for him. He's got no support and did it without consulting anyone with more brain cells.

I think this is going to come to nothing. Big fizzle especially if SCOTUS rules against tariffs.

The real enemy is not us in Europe, it's Russia who is already on our doorstep.  Trump should be arming Ukraine to the teeth.

All this shows that Trump is thick as shit, he doesn't understand how tariffs work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkGgVUA1MZg

Lovely news
https://international.sindonews.com/rea … 1768687291

The threat of tariffs is unacceptable and has no place in this context. Europe will respond in a united and coordinated manner if it is confirmed. We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld," he (Macron) added.

You can rely on the French to call a spade a spade, but even the UK's wimp, US lapdog, PM has spoken out against America. You know things are changing when even a weakling like Starmer feels he can opens his mouth.
Skelly and Kiesecker determined that animals can detect and avoid sick creatures that might infect them, but humans have a nasty habit of ignoring their feelings in favour of cash. Once the money is off the table, the sick US can be rejected. - @Fred

  Quite frankly, I have no idea why you are on this thread, as no one reads your crap or rubbish, you are wasting your time and showing what a complete idiot you are.

Quite frankly, I have no idea why you are on this thread, as no one reads your crap or rubbish, you are wasting your time and showing what a complete idiot you are.
- @SimCityAT

Insults are the domain of 5 year old children in a playground

Quite frankly, I have no idea why you are on this thread, as no one reads your crap or rubbish, you are wasting your time and showing what a complete idiot you are.
- @SimCityAT
Insults are the domain of 5 year old children in a playground
- @Fred

And what do you do 70% time here? Make insults, so it's fine for you to make them, but no one else? I feel sorry for you, I really do.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerow … n-america/

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned airlines to exercise caution for the next 60 days when flying over parts of Mexico, Central America and South America, citing the risk of “military activities” as well as satellite-positioning and navigation interference.

Apart from the obvious possibility of more US killings, readers might well remember how evil Russia was when the US claimed without evidence that country disrupted GPS systems

And what do you do 70% time here? Make insults, so it's fine for you to make them, but no one else? I feel sorry for you, I really do. - @SimCityAT

I think you have to provide evidence for your assertion.

Of course you can't as your only way to make a point is to lie and hope others believe you.

I look forward to apologising when you come up with evidence.

@Fred

As I predicted, countries are moving away from trade with the US in favour of China.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/ … we-wish-it

Just as Carney was heading to Beijing, the US president, Donald Trump, was telling reporters the US doesn’t need Canadian products. The comment highlights the pressure that Carney is under to diversify his country’s exports away from the US. Canada sends about 70% of its exports to the US.

That will leave the Canadian public with cheaper and better EVs than the US can come even close to managing, and open Canada up to the sort of amazing Chinese tech that we see in Indonesia.

Countries that have blindly followed US idiocy over the last few years have really missed out - their people are going to have some very pleasent surprises in the shops by next Christmas.

With the exception of a few items made in Japan and Korea, pretty much every bit of electronic kit Ihave is Chinese. It's cheap, reliable, and works extremely well.

An example might be a portable monitor I use with my phone and tablet. The ultra-thin and very cheap 10 inch touchsreen version I bought to replace the non-touch version is now about 5 years old and it's still perfect. The first 10 inch is still used with my Chinese pocket Windows 11 PC I use for work is now about 6 years old, and it's still perfect. The amazing thing is, the upgraded model cost almost the same as the old version. You get updates and upgrades without paying much more.

Canadians are going to love it when that sort of stuff ends up in their shops.

Other countries will follow Canada's lead in ditching the US in favour of trade with a non-threatening, non-warlike country like China.

@Fred
- @SimCityAT

See, more insults, but no valid argument.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 … g-for-gold

It is being reported that at least some central banks are ditching US Dollars in favour of gold.

The massive national US debt is almost ignored by the US government as demand for the Dollar keeps them afload. If the Dollar loses much more of its position in world trade (It's already fallen a lot), the USends up unable to servive its debts, thus goes bust.

Trump's rather silly policies are pushing that possibility closer and closer.

And what do you do 70% time here? Make insults, so it's fine for you to make them, but no one else? I feel sorry for you, I really do.  - @SimCityAT
I think you have to provide evidence for your assertion.
Of course you can't as your only way to make a point is to lie and hope others believe you.
I look forward to apologising when you come up with evidence. - @Fred

You insult me regularly. Evidence is your post was removed when I asked the moderators to intervene.

We all know what you are like and we discuss your postings privately between us.  That's why we ignore 99% of it.  If you said something significant, then maybe you'd get a response. Ranting and insulting people gets you nowhere. I suppose you could get a call centre job with Ryanair. Being nice goes a lot further.

We don't know why you do this stuff? What's the payoff? 

We don't know why you do this stuff? What's the payoff? - @fluffy2560

You lie and post what is basically anti-Chinese propaganda, as well as anything anti-Hungary and anti-Russia.

You post the propaganda without the essential context.

I simply correct you.

You commonly mention that history should be ignored in favour of today's events, but that has to be because history explains why you are wrong all the time.

You insist things like the US pushing for the Shah's son isn't happening, but I have posted US government sites that say they are.

I have no idea why you ignore the truth in favour of your political ideas, but you do.

@Fred

Posting news from mainstream news channels isn't lying, nor is it anti-Chinese propaganda. It is a fact, we know you don't like anything against the Chinese or Russia. Thats not our problem, but yours, which you desperately need to seek help to deal with your issues then.

We don't know why you do this stuff? What's the payoff?  - @fluffy2560You lie and post what is basically anti-Chinese propaganda, as well as anything anti-Hungary and anti-Russia.You post the propaganda without the essential context.I simply correct you.You commonly mention that history should be ignored in favour of today's events, but that has to be because history explains why you are wrong all the time.You insist things like the US pushing for the Shah's son isn't happening, but I have posted US government sites that say they are.I have no idea why you ignore the truth in favour of your political ideas, but you do. - @Fred

I'm not anti-Chinese, definitely not anti-Hungarian and not anti-Russia or now anti-Iran.

I am anti-communism cum dictatorshop - i.e. anti-Xi,  anti-Orban, anti-Putin and anti-Ayatollahs.

I'm very invested in Hungary.  So much so, we're taking sides.  I'm not Hungarian but my family is. It matters.

I feel I'm talking to an accountant.  One thing I know about them is they often look to the past but what one often needs is a management accountant who can look forward and model scenarios.  Ask an accountant what to do to improve a position, most of the time, they haven't got a scooby.  It's just not in their mindset.  They keep repeating the same stuff like a broken record. They need to think bigger, more imaginatively, think scenarios and outcomes.  I usually tell people to diverge their thinking, then converge on an answer.  It's a common technique.   You get the picture.  But this seems to be missing in your inputs here.

We think your links are mainly biased reporting from non-professional "journalists" looking for a wannabe TikTok or influencer angle.  That's why we don't look at them.

Post something analytical about Trump, namely why now with the tariffs?  I wonder if there will be a mass walk out at Davos (WEF)?   And if this is Trumpist BS, when will he cave?  What's the end game for him?  It could never be solved by the time his term ends.  And is this now the US and we're not going back?

So once again, benefit of the doubt Fred, let's hear something interesting for predictions.

We think your links are mainly biased reporting from non-professional "journalists" looking for a wannabe TikTok or influencer angle. That's why we don't look at them.

- @fluffy2560

Please quote such links from my posts.

I think you might have more than a little trouble as the vast majority are from mainstream media, show any given country's viewpoint,  or are government channels- The latter including the US government supporting the potential new Shah of Iran that you claim they don't do.

My apologies if official US government sites disagree with what you say the US government isn't doing.