International Relations

"I DON'T RULE IT OUT." | President Trump declined to rule out using military force to take Greenland when pressed in a Sunday interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press.”

https://www.wfla.com/news/national/trum … d-by-force

It would be a step in the right direction though, baby steps. - @SimCityAT

Agreed!   It won't help me  but might help my UK grandkids (if I eventually have any).

"I DON'T RULE IT OUT." | President Trump declined to rule out using military force to take Greenland when pressed in a Sunday interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press.”
https://www.wfla.com/news/national/trum … d-by-force - @SimCityAT

Another nonsensical note from the Blob-in-Chief.   Maybe a fever dream. There isn't a significant Chinese presence in Greenland anyway. It's just BS.

US has had the option to build bases in Greenland since the 1950s.  If they want to protect it so much, then build them then!   

It's not xenophobia to remove the Russians. They aren't our friends. - @fluffy2560

How do you know this? Perhaps you've been to the sites and interviewed a bunch of Russians who aren't in Russia and you have no idea about their political bent, if they have any political opinions at all.

No, you are having a go at them because they are from a given country, not because of what they have done.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictio … xenophobia

extreme dislike or fear of foreigners, their customs, their religions, etc.

Yep, that's you - A xenophobe unless you don't believe the Cambridge English dictionary defines the word properly.

It's exactly that disgusting thinking that allows hate to thrive.

You really must reconsider the way you think and try to remove hate and fear from your mind.

The UK's cost of living crisis and that daft country's inability to run their especially stupid aircraft carriers won't be helped by giving, or is that selling, billions in weapons to Ukraine.
The UK public is being conned on an epic scale.
Let me see, a comfortable population, or giving billions away.
Tell me, how easy is it to find a dentist in the UK?
Oh, you can't, but you can give away a lorry load of cash to Ukraine. - @Fred

They should have made the aircraft carriers nuclear powered.   It was a big mistake not to do that.  The UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy should be building at least one more each. 

The NHS dentist thing is a problem but I get my teeth fixed here and it's generally cheaper.  The centre of cheap dentistry (and plastic surgery) is moving East. It's probably somewhere in the middle of Turkey now.   I see all the adverts in the airline magazines.

It's not xenophobia to remove the Russians. They aren't our friends.  - @fluffy2560How do you know this? Perhaps you've been to the sites and interviewed a bunch of Russians who aren't in Russia and you have no idea about their political bent, if they have any political opinions at all.No, you are having a go at them because they are from a given country, not because of what they have done.https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictio … xenophobiaextreme dislike or fear of foreigners, their customs, their religions, etc.Yep, that's you - A xenophobe unless you don't believe the Cambridge English dictionary defines the word properly.It's exactly that disgusting thinking that allows hate to thrive.You really must reconsider the way you think and try to remove hate and fear from your mind. - @Fred

Yup, another diversion.  More diversions than a Hungarian road building project.

I'm married to a foreigner Fred.  And my kids are foreigners.  And I live in a foreign country.    And I'm a foreigner to them.   But it all works.   Same as you where you are.

Brexit sought to split us all up and "other" us. I actually still think  that we're all Europeans  and we should stick together and enjoy our differences, not despise them.  I am incredibly disappointed by 52% of my countrymen to vote to leave the EU.  It's brought nothing but trouble, division and shame upon the British.

Anyway, it's not xenophobia, it's strategic.  No-one wants fifth columnists inside their country.   I am sure there are nice Russians.  They can of course all leave Russia and with proper vetting maybe they could stay but some of them are going to be spies - willing and otherwise.

I think back to the Manhattan project....riddled with Russian spies.

I've worked with Russians and most of them are OK.  It's their government that sucks.  Unfortunately we have to plan for the worst and hope for the best. But we've covered that.

Hungarian authorities have asked the European Parliament to lift the immunity of MEP Péter Magyar, a key political opponent of Viktor Orbán, Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced on Monday evening.

Hungarian authorities have asked the European Parliament to lift the immunity of MEP Péter Magyar, a key political opponent of Viktor Orbán, Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced on Monday evening. - @SimCityAT

Interesting development.  That's to try and eliminate him from the elections as he's now leading in the polls.  I cannot see the EU going for it as it'd be endorsing fascism and the one chance we have to see Orban consigned to the dustbin of history. 

Hungarian authorities have asked the European Parliament to lift the immunity of MEP Péter Magyar, a key political opponent of Viktor Orbán, Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced on Monday evening. - @SimCityAT
Interesting development. That's to try and eliminate him from the elections as he's now leading in the polls. I cannot see the EU going for it as it'd be endorsing fascism and the one chance we have to see Orban consigned to the dustbin of history. - @fluffy2560

That's what dictators do, try and silence any opponent. Surprised Viktor hasn't tried to arrest him and put him in prison.

That's what dictators do, try and silence any opponent. Surprised Viktor hasn't tried to arrest him and put him in prison. - @SimCityAT

It's the 3rd time but the EU isn't going to cave when there's obvious politics at play.

Mrs F and I were discussing what comes afterwards.  The rumour here was that Orban's chums have all their wealth in Dubai.  Presumably they'd be stopped from leaving the country.   

It happened before. They tried to run away.  Orban's daughter and family went to Spain just before the election.  Just in case.

It's not xenophobia to remove the Russians. They aren't our friends. - @fluffy2560How do you know this? Perhaps you've been to the sites and interviewed a bunch of Russians who aren't in Russia and you have no idea about their political bent, if they have any political opinions at all.No, you are having a go at them because they are from a given country, not because of what they have done.https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictio … xenophobiaextreme dislike or fear of foreigners, their customs, their religions, etc.Yep, that's you - A xenophobe unless you don't believe the Cambridge English dictionary defines the word properly.It's exactly that disgusting thinking that allows hate to thrive.You really must reconsider the way you think and try to remove hate and fear from your mind. - @Fred
Yup, another diversion. More diversions than a Hungarian road building project.

I'm married to a foreigner Fred. And my - @fluffy2560

A xenophobe can direct hate to some countries rather than all.

In your case, the ones newspapers tell you are evil.

It's not xenophobia to remove the Russians. They aren't our friends. - @fluffy2560How do you know this? Perhaps you've been to the sites and interviewed a bunch of Russians who aren't in Russia and you have no idea about their political bent, if they have any political opinions at all.No, you are having a go at them because they are from a given country, not because of what they have done.https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictio … xenophobiaextreme dislike or fear of foreigners, their customs, their religions, etc.Yep, that's you - A xenophobe unless you don't believe the Cambridge English dictionary defines the word properly.It's exactly that disgusting thinking that allows hate to thrive.You really must reconsider the way you think and try to remove hate and fear from your mind. - @Fred
Yup, another diversion. More diversions than a Hungarian road building project.

I'm married to a foreigner Fred. And my  - @fluffy2560
A xenophobe can direct hate to some countries rather than all.
In your case, the ones newspapers tell you are evil. - @Fred

- @SimCityAT

Your well reasoned and amply evidenced posts require you to visit

https://www.mensa.org/

Warning.

The above may contain dangerous levels of sarcasm

A xenophobe can direct hate to some countries rather than all.
In your case, the ones newspapers tell you are evil. - @Fred

Personal insults are not useful in these discussions.  And it's not clear if the response was coherent.

As of this morning, we're seeing India and Pakistan exchanging fire over events in Kashmir.

What I want to know is if the US is going to try and do some diplomacy on it? 

Is this where Trump gets his Nobel prize?

@fluffy2560

Trump has already started....

@fluffy2560
Trump has already started.... - @SimCityAT

I'm not up to date right now.    It's been messed up in Kashmir since 1947.  Maybe by 2000h Trump will have solved it.   😉

I did listen to Trump and Carney and yup, everything Trump looks at seems to be a real estate transaction.   He actually said it.   That's only how he can do his internal (mind) analysis.

A xenophobe can direct hate to some countries rather than all.
In your case, the ones newspapers tell you are evil. - @Fred
Personal insults are not useful in these discussions. - @fluffy2560

But you explicitly say you don't want Russians.

That's the very definition of xenophobia.

If you dislike being labeled as such, don't be one.

which include the US and Russia. Both should be invited to leave as neither are our friends.
- @fluffy2560

Oxford says:

xen·o·pho·bi·a

/ˌzenəˈfōbēə,ˌzēnəˈfōbēə/

noun

dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.

There you are - you are a xenophobe.

You may not like it, and it may not fit  what you think you believe, but you are showing exactly that.

which include the US and Russia. Both should be invited to leave as neither are our friends.  - @fluffy2560 Oxford says:xen·o·pho·bi·a/ˌzenəˈfōbēə,ˌzēnəˈfōbēə/noundislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.There you are - you are a xenophobe.You may not like it, and it may not fit what you think you believe, but you are showing exactly that. - @Fred

No Fred, I'm not a xenophobe.   Please stop grasping at straws to troll me.   

Let us know some opinions on the Kashmir story or your solution for Ukraine. 

I'm thinking of a frozen conflict like Cyprus or even Kosovo or the Koreas as policed by the UN (rather than the US).

I've been in Cyprus working and it's chalk and cheese between the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) and Greek Cyprus.  They were always forced to collaborate mainly because of shared utilities.   However,  the islamisation of TRNC is likely to cause a large amount of dissent.   TRNC certainly weren't up for extremism.   

No Fred, I'm not a xenophobe. Please stop grasping at straws to troll me.
Let us know some opinions on the Kashmir story. - @fluffy2560

But you stated a dislike if Russians and Americans based purely on their nationality.

That, deny it or not, is xenophobia.

You have to admit your failings or you are no better than a druggie or alcoholic that says they can stop tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes.

No Fred, I'm not a xenophobe. Please stop grasping at straws to troll me.
Let us know some opinions on the Kashmir story.  - @fluffy2560
But you stated a dislike if Russians and Americans based purely on their nationality.
That, deny it or not, is xenophobia.
You have to admit your failings or you are no better than a druggie or alcoholic that says they can stop tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes. - @Fred

No, it's not xenophobia to exclude fifth columnists.

BTW, I don't drink and I don't take drugs.  I'm also an atheist cum agonstic. 

No, it's not xenophobia to exclude fifth columnists.
- @fluffy2560

Evidence?

However, attempts to change your story are a bit weak at this stage.

No, it's not xenophobia to exclude fifth columnists.  - @fluffy2560 Evidence?However, attempts to change your story are a bit weak at this stage. - @Fred

I did post a link to Klaus Fuchs, the atom spy in the Manhattan project. 

And not to mention the other home grown ones like Kim Philby and even Anthony Blunt.

Plus the infamous Rosenbergs.   They executed them and that seemed a bit much considering the age of their children. 

It's an era of technical interest both as atomic history and geopolitics.   I do find it all fascinating so contrary to your previous postings, I do read a lot about stuff and I have a good objective grasp of the details of what goes on.

BTW, there's a play and podcast discussion about George Takei's family (Sulu in Star Trek) whose parents were interred in the USA as ethnic Japanese Americans during WW2.   It's a really interesting description of those times.  The US considered them all potential fifth columnists. It was unsurprising but certainly had a lot of human rights violations we wouldn't stand for nowadays.  It's also US constitutionally topical because of birthright citizenship challenges by Trump. 

Anyway, generally it's not about me, it's about analysis of current affairs.

No, it's not xenophobia to exclude fifth columnists. - @fluffy2560 Evidence?However, attempts to change your story are a bit weak at this stage. - @Fred
I did post a link to Klaus Fuchs, the atom spy in the Manhattan project.
And not to mention the other home grown ones like Kim Philby and even Anthony Blunt.
- @fluffy2560

So one German spy means all Russians are spying.

The other two were English, so you must be a spy as well.

Xenophobia is a bit crap, but these pathetic attempts to justify your hate are just sad.

So one German spy means all Russians are spying.
The other two were English, so you must be a spy as well.
Xenophobia is a bit crap, but these pathetic attempts to justify your hate are just sad. - @Fred

Let's try to be less the broken record Fred.

The Rosenbergs were executed for their role as American 5th columnists.

For the UK, Philby and Blunt didn't get punished as such but did damage, particularly Philby who escaped to Moscow. Blunt died in disgrace. I remember it all clearly.

I haven't even mentioned Gordon Lonsdale or the Cohens who were unlikely based in Ruislip. Middle class England/London if ever there was a place.

Unfortunately, for those from Russia,  we don't know which ones here already  are 5th columnists.   The only way is to exclude those likely to be.   Unless they apply for asylum and possibly then we'd know more with more developed vetting and them speaking out.   

As for the USA,  we still won't know entirely because the Cohens were American as were the Rosenbergs.  But they spied for Russia, not the USA.  Still, they were 5th columnists in the wider alliance.  Lonsdale was a Russian so not really a 5th columnist, just a spy.

To finish off, if was the security services, I'd be upping my game on any Russians or Americans turning up in the EU or the UK. Definitely it's not xenophobia. It's security. 

If Trump f***ed off and we returned to sanity,  then maybe we could turn it down a bit on the USA but anyone associated with the current regime undermining our decades old alliances has to be suspect. 

Anyway,  I'm sticking to my guns on this one. Let's move on.

So one German spy means all Russians are spying.
The other two were English, so you must be a spy as well.
Xenophobia is a bit crap, but these pathetic attempts to justify your hate are just sad. - @Fred
Let's try to be less the broken record Fred.
The Rosenbergs were executed for their role as American 5th columnists. - @fluffy2560

So Russians working for the EU are spies and should be thrown out because a German was a spy 60 years ago, as were two British men , and an American couple. None of your excuses having the slightest thing to do with innocent civilians you level extremely serious charges at with absolutely no evidence save their nationality.

What a load of old rubbish.

You are in need of a little help in order to solve your hate issues.

So Russians working for the EU are spies and should be thrown out because a German was a spy 60 years ago, as were two British men , and an American couple. None of your excuses having the slightest thing to do with innocent civilians you level extremely serious charges at with absolutely no evidence save their nationality.What a load of old rubbish.You are in need of a little help in order to solve your hate issues. - @Fred

Yes, blah-blah.  I feel like an organ grinder winding up a mechanical monkey.

The Russians working at ITER are not working for the EU.  You need to look at it more diligently.  It's international cooperation.  I am presently wondering if the US will pull out of it as they have their own programmes.

Meanwhile, nothing that happens now has not gone before.  I don't see anything wrong with learning from past events.  It's also known as experience.  One can be rational about it. 

But like I said, let's move on.

Let's forget about Iraq because it's ancient history right now.
- @fluffy2560

Meanwhile, nothing that happens now has not gone before. I don't see anything wrong with learning from past events. It's also known as experience. One can be rational about it. . - @fluffy2560

Let me get this right.

We can forget history that shows us governments lie so we can invade countries and kill by the thousand, but we have to learn from history.

We do have to learn, and history tells us governments lie in order to create hate and mistrust against people and countries.

Your hate for the Chinese is well documented on this site, now you demand Russians and Americans be expelled by reason of nationality rather than their actions.

What next? Perhaps you could start on blacks and gays.

I find hate of that nature to be abhorrent at best but there's something even worse when it's just parroting hate pushed by idiotic politicians and their pet news outlets.

Frankly, your hate spewing is disgusting.

Frankly, your hate spewing is disgusting. - @Fred

Frankly, your hate spewing is disgusting. - @Fred
- @SimCityAT

MENSA stuff again.

I'm supprised you support bigotry and stupidity, but you do seem to be doing so.

Here's an article today which is interesting:

Denmark summons US ambassador over Greenland spying report

WSJ is a respected newspaper so I doubt they would say things which were untrue. Reported US administration reaction is rather odd - they rolled out the known Russian proxy for this one.   And besides the denial bluster,  they are effectively saying it's true.

Frankly, your hate spewing is disgusting. - @Fred
- @SimCityAT
MENSA stuff again.
I'm supprised you support bigotry and stupidity, but you do seem to be doing so. - @Fred

I'm not the one that openly supports war criminals.

Frankly, your hate spewing is disgusting. - @Fred - @SimCityAT MENSA stuff again.I'm supprised you support bigotry and stupidity, but you do seem to be doing so. - @FredI'm not the one that openly supports war criminals. - @SimCityAT

Let me get this right. You are telling me the Russians and Americans who are working on the project mentioned are all war criminals.

That must mean the EU is complicit as they are hiring such people.

It's that or you are assigning collective blame onto all Russians, and all Americans. That, if you think about it, makes you guilty of the UK's war crimes in Iraq.

You should be arrested immediately.

which include the US and Russia. Both should be invited to leave as neither are our friends.

As usual, the UK forced itself out because of Brexit. It should be looking to get back in. - @fluffy2560

I have an idea. We could overturn the popular vote that allowed the UK to escape from the EU mess.

There goes Fluffy democracy in action - It's bad if he says so, even if it was voted for by the people in a referendum.

Back to the Russians and Americans who have been accused of nothing, but are guilty of being Russian or American, thus should be punished.

There are tens of thousands of UK residents and UK citizens who were either born in Russia, or born in the UK to one or both ethnically Russia parents.

I know there are loads of Chinese in the same boat, and likely a good number of Americans.

You could revoke their citizenship and kick them out, or the UK could set up internment camps for foreigners that aren't our friends. After all, they are, according to Simon, spies.

There's no evidence, but who needs that when you know they are?

Why stop at kicking them out when you could make them wear little flags and stick and them behind barbed wire?

Smash up their businesses, make them walk in the road rather than on the pavement, then find a final solution to the Russian, Chinese, and American problem.

The problem with hate is there's always one more thing you can blame your target group for, and one more thing you can do to them.

We saw Fluffy's lies about the Chinese - Hate driven rather than fact driven.

Now we see attacks on two other groups for no reason other than the nationality those people hold.

It's far more than pathetic crap - it's dangerous pathetic crap.

We've just had the national consultation votes here for Ukraine to join the EU.

It was a simple Yes or No vote this time without the BS.

Obviously the Fluffy Family members eligible to vote, voted YES for Ukraine to join the EU. 

Not least because it's been taken as a vote against Orban/Fidesz (party) and for Magyar/Tisza (party).   Not because of Tisza policies but simply because it's not Orban.

We're wondering if the majority are going to say YES, how Orban is going to try spin it the other way. 

Mrs F took a vague poll of workmates and people were undecided.   

We're wondering if the majority are going to say YES, how Orban is going to try spin it the other way. - @fluffy2560

https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/04/20/ … struction/

Don't worry, the democratic EU will simply remove that member's right to vote.

Democracy at work - if it gets voted out, remove their votes.

Not really a shock as the puppet government in Ukraine stays in power by removing the voting rights of pretty much everyone that would vote against them..

We're wondering if the majority are going to say YES, how Orban is going to try spin it the other way.  - @fluffy2560https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/04/20/ … struction/Don't worry, the democratic EU will simply remove that member's right to vote.Democracy at work - if it gets voted out, remove their votes.Not really a shock as the puppet government in Ukraine stays in power by removing the voting rights of pretty much everyone that would vote against them.. - @Fred

It's not about what is going on in Ukraine, it's about what is going on in the "national consultation" Hungary.  Orban has a predictable agenda here.

There's an interesting aspect developing in the Romanian election.  The 1.2 million Hungarian majority in Transylvania will not vote for the nationalist candidate who is considered anti-Hungarian, only the moderate candidate.  It's a rejection of nationalism/populism. That's very interesting as a lot of them are strong Orban supporters who if no-one noticed, is an extremist.    This is one of the ways OV obtains support in elections - he buses in the ethnic Hungarians from neighbour countries to vote.  That's after he gave them blanket citizenship.     

Also, there's an article at The Economist about how Trump 2.0 is using Orban's playbook.

p.s. Fred, I am actually thinking you are possibly not a real person and if you're actually an AI responder.   I'll have to think of some (Turing) tests to hide in my posts to see if you if an AI respond predictably. 

It's not about what is going on in Ukraine, it's about what is going on in the "national consultation" Hungary. Orban has a predictable agenda here. - @fluffy2560

But the EU is going to break its own rules in order to fix the vote. It's a very good job for the UK that they dumped that corrupt organisation

It's not about what is going on in Ukraine, it's about what is going on in the "national consultation" Hungary. Orban has a predictable agenda here. - @fluffy2560
But the EU is going to break its own rules in order to fix the vote. It's a very good job for the UK that they dumped that corrupt organisation - @Fred

The "national consultation" is a Hungary only action.   

Orban does this often uses this mechanism and then ignores the results.   He never has enough votes to act upon any of these faux referendums.

And, it's got nothing to do with the EU.