Ed Israel/US Attacks Iran /Yet Another Country/Iran

[The Great Zaganza]

Began is past tense. Begins is present tense. See the difference? Using present tense implies the investigation was triggered by his resignation. If there's any causal link, it's the other way around.

And you have no problem with keeping the head of counterterrorism employed while they are under FBI investigation?

One would assume that for National Security, they would be fired or asked to leave the second it becomes clear that the FBI is going to open an investigation - if there was any merit in the investigation besides extortion.

 

[angrysoba]

Afghanistan was part of your NATO obligation, you have to suck that one up if you want to be part of it.

Strange to put it that way. It was only because all NATO members agreed to invoke article 5 in order to stand with the United States. And even then it is always a choice regarding how much each country will contribute. It sounds as though you have no gratitude for the contributions.

As for the other two, sure, you can have an independent security policy if you want... if you are strong enough to pursue it on your own.

You aren't.

By the same token you can hardly expect the UK to be strong enough to clean up the mess that Trump has helped to create.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

Trump's supporters are so gullible that they satisfied with the promise of a watch they will never see.

We've seen the Trump Watches, cheap off the shelf movements in tacky, ugly casings being hawked for many times what they're worth.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Did they think that was the only threat they faced? Or did the figure that the US would handle anything else for them?

It suited the US to be rhe dominant partner in NATO.
The vast majority of countries don't have anything more than defensive forces
Why should European countries be any different?

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You're incoherent. First the criticism is that he doesn't follow the law. But when I point out that he does, that's somehow a fault.

This really is just Orange Man Bad.

Insufficient. "Orange Round Fat Fruit" is clearer.

You're welcome.

 

[Andy_Ross]

Face it.
Donald did a ◊◊◊◊ in the bed and wants someone else to change the sheets.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I noticed his lips were parting, so I assumed he was lying about something. Sound goes down automatically when he appears on the telly.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

Face it.
Donald did a ◊◊◊◊ in the bed and wants someone else to change the sheets climb in under the covers with him.

FTFY

 

[angrysoba]

FTFY

 

[jimbob]

Face it.
Donald did a ◊◊◊◊ in the bed and wants someone else to change the sheets.

Present continuous tense, with @P.J. Denyer 's correction

 

[EHocking]

“In defeat, malice. In victory, revenge”

Ever since the last election, Judas Priest has been running through my head.

Here comes the revolution
Time for retribution
…
(You better watch out for the revolution)
(Bring it down, bring it down)

 

[Ziggurat]

Strange to put it that way. It was only because all NATO members agreed to invoke article 5 in order to stand with the United States.

That's how article 5 works. Are you suggesting that NATO could have survived a refusal to invoke article 5 when a member was attacked?

And even then it is always a choice regarding how much each country will contribute. It sounds as though you have no gratitude for the contributions.

Not at all. But that was still part of the bargain you made by joining NATO. Do you regret being part of NATO?

By the same token you can hardly expect the UK to be strong enough to clean up the mess that Trump has helped to create.

I don't expect anything from the UK. It is a dying country that has lost faith in its own existence.

I would like the UK to be strong enough to defend its interests, to have a navy capable of at least protecting its own ships. Perhaps one day in the future it will be.

 

[Ziggurat]

It suited the US to be rhe dominant partner in NATO.

And we still would be, even if Europe was spending 5% GDP on defense. It suits neither the US nor Europe for Europe to be as weak as it is.

The vast majority of countries don't have anything more than defensive forces
Why should European countries be any different?

Because Europe is richer than most countries.

Decline is a choice. Europe didn't need to make that choice, but it did.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

There’s no maybe about it. And it’s not just the UK.

Europe is weak. That weakness was a deliberate choice. Trump’s call puts a spotlight on that shameful weakness. They can lecture us all they want to, but they can’t defend themselves and their interests.

Do you think your saying so will shame them into attacking Iran?

 

[Andy_Ross]

And we still would be, even if Europe was spending 5% GDP on defense. It suits neither the US nor Europe for Europe to be as weak as it is.

Because Europe is richer than most countries.

Decline is a choice. Europe didn't need to make that choice, but it did.

I wonder if certain events in the last century when European nations built large military forces has anything to do with it?

If you build large militaries for offensive purposes, sooner ir later an unhinged politician will come along that wants to use them on someone.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Israel is not in NATO.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

Joe Kent, ex-Trump counterterrorism chief who resigned over Iran war, under FBI investigation for alleged leaks

The FBI is investigating Joe Kent — who resigned this week over the war with Iran — in connection with alleged leaks of classified information, sources tell CBS News.

www.cbsnews.com

fbi begins investigation into joe kent, the counter terrorism official who recently resigned over the iranian war-like excursion

Of course they do. Seems like a core function of what they're for now. The Bureau of Character Assassination.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

US Homeland Security News
@defense_civil25
Commentary account
Every member of NATO refused the call to help the United States to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. All of Them!!

<NATO looks at phone, which hasn't rung> Which call?

 

[Nessie]

And we still would be, even if Europe was spending 5% GDP on defense. It suits neither the US nor Europe for Europe to be as weak as it is.

Because Europe is richer than most countries.

Decline is a choice. Europe didn't need to make that choice, but it did.

Russia's recent invasion of Europe only got a short distance into Ukraine and it cannot open up any further fronts and say invade Finland, as it would be destroyed. The USA, China and India are not going to invade Europe. Many European countries have traditions of military neutrality and they all stopped invading other countries and empire building some time ago. Two European countries are nuclear powers. That means, as it stands, Europe is under no serious conventional military threat and can easily defend itself.

It is vulnerable, to terrorism, but so is pretty much everywhere. That does not make Europe weak.

 

[angrysoba]

That's how article 5 works. Are you suggesting that NATO could have survived a refusal to invoke article 5 when a member was attacked?

By non-state actors? Sure. After all, article 5 wasn't invoked when US-backed terrorists were blowing up British soldiers in Northern Ireland.

Not at all. But that was still part of the bargain you made by joining NATO. Do you regret being part of NATO?

Not until recently when Trump showed the UK how little he cared for their contributions with tariffs and insults.

I don't expect anything from the UK. It is a dying country that has lost faith in its own existence.

Reports of her death are exaggerated.

I would like the UK to be strong enough to defend its interests, to have a navy capable of at least protecting its own ships. Perhaps one day in the future it will be.

Sure, but in the meantime volunteering for Operation Cannon Fodder does not sound like as inviting as you may think it does.