(Soon to be) Former President Donald Trump

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Originally Posted by Andy Bee

Trident is the system, i.e. the subs, the missiles and the warheads. The subs are built in Cumbria using American designs and parts, the warheads are built in Aldermaston by a company partly controlled by Lockhead Martin, the guidance system is designed and made in the US and the UK is technically dependent on the US for that. The missiles themselves are leased from the US. I'd say the UK would need the permission of the US to fire them, they'd probably be firing them in support of the US if it ever came to that anyway.

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Didn't realise the missle section was leased I knew the warhead was built independent and that we are developing our own missles although with similarities to the Americans new system.

I think it's definitely a myth that we can't control or navigate them
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/no-a...clear-weapons/

They would never get used anyway but we need the deterrent of having them, if Ukraine kept them when the west made them give them up, it would be a safer country now

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Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7

Didn't realise the missle section was leased I knew the warhead was built independent and that we are developing our own missles although with similarities to the Americans new system.

I think it's definitely a myth that we can't control or navigate them
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/no-a...clear-weapons/

They would never get used anyway but we need the deterrent of having them, if Ukraine kept them when the west made them give them up, it would be a safer country now

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Every country who ever gave up Nuclear weapons except South Africa was promptly invaded shortly after. Lesson is, better to have than not.


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The art of the deal:

https://x.com/atrupar/status/1893013201656201662

Trump's sacked the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (who is Black) and replaced him with someone less qualified - doesn't meet the requirements for the role so needed a waiver. The Chief of Naval Operations (female) is away too, as is the Air Force vice chief ( don't know what he's done to annoy them. Seems like a distinguished service man and leader. No obvious options for a DEI accusation). The Coast Guard chief (female) was ousted earlier.

The most senior military lawyers of each of the services have been removed too.

This seems...scary. Presumably they'll be replaced by loyalists, who are prepared to take illegal action that the Chiefs of Staff wouldn't the first time round.

And Zelensky's apparently been told that if they don't agree to a mineral deal, they may switch off Starlink.

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Originally Posted by s.a.m

Trump's sacked the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (who is Black) and replaced him with someone less qualified - doesn't meet the requirements for the role so needed a waiver. The Chief of Naval Operations (female) is away too, as is the Air Force vice chief ( don't know what he's done to annoy them. Seems like a distinguished service man and leader. No obvious options for a DEI accusation). The Coast Guard chief (female) was ousted earlier.

The most senior military lawyers of each of the services have been removed too.

This seems...scary. Presumably they'll be replaced by loyalists, who are prepared to take illegal action that the Chiefs of Staff wouldn't the first time round.

And Zelensky's apparently been told that if they don't agree to a mineral deal, they may switch off Starlink.

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I'm just wondering at what point the US citizens are going to wake up and realise that their newly elected dictator is piece for piece, bit for bit dismantling their system and paving the way for the end of democracy as they know it.

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Originally Posted by s.a.m

Trump's sacked the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (who is Black) and replaced him with someone less qualified - doesn't meet the requirements for the role so needed a waiver. The Chief of Naval Operations (female) is away too, as is the Air Force vice chief ( don't know what he's done to annoy them. Seems like a distinguished service man and leader. No obvious options for a DEI accusation). The Coast Guard chief (female) was ousted earlier.

The most senior military lawyers of each of the services have been removed too.

This seems...scary. Presumably they'll be replaced by loyalists, who are prepared to take illegal action that the Chiefs of Staff wouldn't the first time round.

And Zelensky's apparently been told that if they don't agree to a mineral deal, they may switch off Starlink.

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It is scary, but it’s a purge that was predicted, promised and planned and is now being delivered.

Hegseth wants senior military figures to declare an oath of loyalty to Trump and if they refuse, they’re gone. Obviously, many have great issues with this and the people prepared to declare such an oath are vastly inferior.

Some very qualified senior military personnel have been made redundant… and promptly found gainful employment in Europe.

Your Starlink comment definitely concerns me.

At what point do his Scottish business interests and old mum’s house on Lewis become intolerably flammable?

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Originally Posted by Ozyhibby

Every country who ever gave up Nuclear weapons except South Africa was promptly invaded shortly after. Lesson is, better to have than not.


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Who invaded Canada??

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Originally Posted by Moulin Yarns

Who invaded Canada??

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White Europeans mainly :wink:

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Originally Posted by Andy Bee

Trident is the system, i.e. the subs, the missiles and the warheads. The subs are built in Cumbria using American designs and parts, the warheads are built in Aldermaston by a company partly controlled by Lockhead Martin, the guidance system is designed and made in the US and the UK is technically dependent on the US for that. The missiles themselves are leased from the US. I'd say the UK would need the permission of the US to fire them, they'd probably be firing them in support of the US if it ever came to that anyway.

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Not really relevant to anything but my wife's aunty lives in Aldermaston. We have been down to visit a few times and the AWE is massive. It's one of those places where the security is visible whilst being invisible at the same time if that makes sense. It's a beautiful village and the whole thing just seems totally out of place.

There is a permanent peace camp just outside. It was Serco who were running the day to day for a long while; I always remember the banner that read 'Serco = Agents of death'. Not sure if that is still the case though.

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Originally Posted by Moulin Yarns

Who invaded Canada??

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Canada never had its own nuclear weapons. It like Germany now let the US base them there. Canada is still under the US umbrella due to NATO being a nuclear organisation.

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

I'm just wondering at what point the US citizens are going to wake up and realise that their newly elected dictator is piece for piece, bit for bit dismantling their system and paving the way for the end of democracy as they know it.

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Thing is to your MAGA supporter this is all part of “draining the swamp”. Reducing Big Government bloatedness.

It’s what they voted for. Never mind that you really do need state apparatus for government to work.

The beauty of our Civil Service is our political impartiality. We severe any government. Trump is demanding political loyalty from areas of government that really should be impartial.

J

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

I'm just wondering at what point the US citizens are going to wake up and realise that their newly elected dictator is piece for piece, bit for bit dismantling their system and paving the way for the end of democracy as they know it.

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Part of the problem as I see it, is that it’s hard to stop him without doing exactly the sort of thing he is doing, and that they object to?

He sort of has them where he wants them. He beats them when they rise about it (Hilary Clinton’s “they go low, we go high”) and he’s more than happy to roll in the dirty stuff with pigs.

Not that it's going to matter to them, but...:

Igor Sushko
‪@igorsushko.bsky.social‬
The United States appears to be in violation of the Budapest Memorandum which disarmed Ukraine of nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees.The agreement signed by the US in 1994 specifically prohibits economic coercion against Ukraine.

3. The Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain andNorthern Ireland and the United States of America reaffirm their commitment toUkraine, in accordance with the principles of the Final Act of the Conference onSecurity and Cooperation in Europe, to refrain from economic coercion designedto subordinate to their own interest the exercise by Ukraine of the rightsinherent in its sovereignty and thus to secure advantages of any kind; [from the UN memorandum]

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Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

Not really relevant to anything but my wife's aunty lives in Aldermaston. We have been down to visit a few times and the AWE is massive. It's one of those places where the security is visible whilst being invisible at the same time if that makes sense. It's a beautiful village and the whole thing just seems totally out of place.

There is a permanent peace camp just outside. It was Serco who were running the day to day for a long while; I always remember the banner that read 'Serco = Agents of death'. Not sure if that is still the case though.

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:agree: I've worked around the area PB, it's a picture postcard village, it actually reminds me of the old TV series The Prisoner. Crazy how a beautifully quaint little village can be home to the manufacturing of the deadliest, most horrific weapons known to man.

If only that bullet had been a couple of inches to the right...

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Originally Posted by Keith_M

If only that bullet had been a couple of inches to the right...

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... then we'd be getting exactly the same sort of pish only spoken by JD Vance, with a straight face.

https://scontent.fman1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...lA&oe=67C00C77https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GkZdAtqX...g&name=900x900

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Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875

https://scontent.fman1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...lA&oe=67C00C77https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GkZdAtqX...g&name=900x900

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Just shows that you can wrap anything up in a flag and people will support. Was it Samuel Johnson that said “patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”

I’ve heard that the Starlink headlines get you panicking but that it’s not the be all and end all.

It’s mainly used for stuff like the troops nearish the front line to watch Netflix. The important stuff relating to military performance can carry on should Musk choose another suicidal route for his own personal brands.

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Originally Posted by Smartie

I’ve heard that the Starlink headlines get you panicking but that it’s not the be all and end all.

It’s mainly used for stuff like the troops nearish the front line to watch Netflix. The important stuff relating to military performance can carry on should Musk choose another suicidal route for his own personal brands.

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I'd read it was essential for their drones. Ukraine can build 4 million drones per year now and it's the main reason Russia can't move the lines.

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Originally Posted by Smartie

... then we'd be getting exactly the same sort of pish only spoken by JD Vance, with a straight face.

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Would Vance have won the election? Trumps appeal is Trump.

J

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Originally Posted by Bristolhibby

Would Vance have won the election? Trumps appeal is Trump.

J

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I think he would.

Trump is just the head of the MAGA snake.

I don’t think they were voting for a black Californian woman over any white man.

The sense of grievance at Trump’s assassination would have been off the scale too, and almost impossible to counter.

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

Courtesy of David Clayton-Thomas

Someday the true story of Donald Trump’s Russian connection will be told and it will read like a spy novel worthy of Tom Clancy.

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ta that's an interesting read :agree: i've thought for some time now a whole lot of stuff will come out about Trump after his death, hopefully not too long a wait

he's intentionally put some of the most vile individuals in key positions so to take some heat of himself, i suspect there's a lot worse to come from the Blob

Musk is not saying much after encouraging Germans to vote AfD though they have doubled their vote in four years
Elon Musk (@elonmusk) / X
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GkfbO01W...png&name=small

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Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875

Musk is not saying much after encouraging Germans to vote AfD though they have doubled their vote in four years
Elon Musk (@elonmusk) / X
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GkfbO01W...png&name=small

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They were polling higher than the result is likely to be, so you could make a claim that Musk has lost them votes.

Looks like the results are going to be pretty much as I expected, there will need to be a 3 party coalition to form a government, I'd personally favour a 4 party anti nazi coalition but I don't think Merz will want to yield any power that he doesn't have to.

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

They were polling higher than the result is likely to be, so you could make a claim that Musk has lost them votes.

Looks like the results are going to be pretty much as I expected, there will need to be a 3 party coalition to form a government, I'd personally favour a 4 party anti nazi coalition but I don't think Merz will want to yield any power that he doesn't have to.

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Might be a little twist after all. BSW & FDP looking like they might fall below the 5% hurdle, if that is the case then their seats would be split amongst the other parties and would mean that CDU & SPD would have enough seats to cross the 316 threshold and give them the majority needed to form a 2 party coalition. Looks like it's going to be a long night.

Decades of propaganda from birth works

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Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg

They were polling higher than the result is likely to be, so you could make a claim that Musk has lost them votes.

Looks like the results are going to be pretty much as I expected, there will need to be a 3 party coalition to form a government, I'd personally favour a 4 party anti nazi coalition but I don't think Merz will want to yield any power that he doesn't have to.

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no idea who he is, but he gets my vote :)


Friedrich Merz tells the TV debate panel that his top priority is to "strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that we can be independent of the United States of America" on defence.
"I would've never thought I would need to say something like this on television, but after Donald Trump's statements last week it's clear: this American government doesn't care for Europe."
Merz then brings up how Elon Musk has "interfered" in the German election, calling it "drastic and shameful - similar to what we've heard from Moscow in the past".
Elon Musk enthusiastically endorsed the AfD last month.

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Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7

Decades of propaganda from birth works

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Time to (re)build the wall?

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Originally Posted by Keith_M

Time to (re)build the wall?

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I know what you're up to, you're sussed mate and I'm telling your Mrs.