Forum Topic

Trump has the hump

Oh dear! The Orange One doesn't like not getting his own way, so has thrown a strop with our Prime Minister over being told he couldn't just assume we'd let him use some U.K. bases for his bombing campaign in Iran. Iraq still looms large in memory, and Starmer has a difficult line to tread with one of the most unpredictable and unstable U.S. Presidents ever, but if he's p*ssed of the Donald - it can't all be bad. We need to put ourselves first this time, after all where were the U.S. when we could have done with some support in the Falklands, not to mention the invasion in Belize they didn't even mention, special relationship? In our dreams.

Vanessa Smith ● 21h31 Comments

I don’t understand why we have such an incompetent  Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary.

Steve Taylor ● 1h

I still do not understand why we would be willing to give away  a country over 11,000 miles away from one which is legally ours and- wait for it -pay that country a grand total of £134 billion to lease back a military base we are unwilling to give away.Answers on a post card please or email.

Denis I. Fox ● 1h

So Trump has allegedly sunk the entire Iranian Navy. Well done to him.

Steve Taylor ● 1h

Half baked more like.

Keith Iddon ● 2h

It was an oven ready deal, so what could possibly go wrong?

Andrew Jones ● 2h

Whoever proposed the agreement, Starmer was all for going ahead with it.

Richard Greenhough ● 2h

>Starmer's plans to hand over the British Indian Ocean TerritoryStarmer's plans?"On 3 November 2022, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, James Cleverly, stated that the United Kingdom and Mauritius had committed to negotiating an agreement based on international law to resolve outstanding issues, including those concerning the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago."

Paul James ● 2h

"e wonderful" ? Are you suggesting that Kemi is an AI ?

Richard Greenhough ● 2h

Well done to Trump for rebuking the UK’s weak and wet PM. Now we can look forward to the e wonderful Mrs Badenoch castigating him, yet again, in PMQs.

Steve Taylor ● 3h

Chagos that is David.

Janice Evans ● 5h

I think it's a huge mistake David.

Janice Evans ● 5h

I believe it worthwhile reminding a few people of the enemy Trump and Netanyahu faced during the many months of planning which went into their countries air attacks over last weekend.Ali Khamenei's evil regime has encouraged, armed, trained and financed Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas, Islamic Jihad (Palestine), plus other terrorist groups.Furthermore this Dictator ordered the execution of 30,000 of his own people, over a 37 year reign, for objecting to his evil objectives.It is all very well beefing off about imperfect Trump and Netanyahu; just bear in mind the real Elephant in the Room- who now lies dead beneath the rubble.

Denis I. Fox ● 17h

Do you think Trump has the hump also because Netanyahu pulled him into the war?  They both have elections this year and they knew that as soon as Israel hit Iran that Iran would retaliate and American bases would be targeted.  Four weeks and this will be over - will it?

Philippa Bond ● 17h

Trump called on the people to overthrow their Govt in January but then didn't give any help.  Everybody and his aunt may have guns in America but they as I understand it they don't in Iran.  Just the controlling forces do.

Philippa Bond ● 17h

I agree.A military base for our security should be kept there and both the main parties are to blame if we let it go.

Keith Iddon ● 17h

Good points,David.And I agree about the bullies,and there are a lot about on the international scene.I suppose it might come down to the terribly sad choice of which bully you think you can tolerate living under.

Keith Iddon ● 18h

I think there is an argument we/the US need a military base for our security. Beyond that I don’t get why we are any more diminished if we don’t ‘own’ a few islands in the Indian ocean.

David Turner ● 18h

The attack on Iran is clearly illegal under international law hence the initial reluctance from the government. Iran was already weak and of no real threat to either Israel or the US both of whom are militarily superior. Apart from unnecessary death and destruction this attack has already caused increased uncertainty to economies and extra costs to business. Long term who knows what will happen but surely recent past experience has taught us that the consequences may lead to a worse situation than we have now. As for Diego Garcia this government signed off on the negotiations of the previous government to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius but keep the military base at DG (on a 99 year lease). This agreement was praised by the Biden administration and initially the Trump administration with Trump only later changing his mind. The impetus for the negotiations came because of a ruling by the international court of justice that Britain must hand over the islands to Mauritius. Of course Britain could ignore international law in respect of both these issues as some other countries might. But it undermines our own critique of other law breakers and encourages others to ignore the law. We seem to be returning to a world where the big bullies do whatever they like and smaller, weaker nations suck it up or suffer. It will be a poorer, more miserable world for us all.

David Turner ● 18h

I agree with all of that,Richard.We are diminished enough without ceding any territory willingly for no good reason,especially half baked virtue signalling.The people of Chagos don't appear to want it either.

Keith Iddon ● 18h

Part of Chagos I should say.

Janice Evans ● 18h

Agree with Richard on Chagos, but on Iran I'm trusting Starmer at the moment, we have more to consider with thousands of Brits stranded thereand we shouldn't rush into anything.

Janice Evans ● 18h

The Septic's were late turning up for World Wars one and two so maybe this was Starmer's way of pay back.

Brian Green ● 19h

I hope we we don't get into the 'boots on the ground' scenario(US,UK and whoever else)and there isn't another Afghanistan,going on for 20years or more.In my opinion,regime change from outside the nation does not work.If the people want to overthrow their governors,thay must do it by themselves and from within.That's how all successful revolutions have panned out.Too much help from without is just interference that is counter productive.

Keith Iddon ● 19h

Thank-you Robert. it is worth bearing in mind the comment from several of Trump's acolytes who said of what is happening in Ukraine "it's not our war". No Mate, and this shitstorm isn't ours either!

Vanessa Smith ● 19h

When the USA and Israel decided it was opportune to liquidate Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and destroy his fortified headquarters, and plan for the consequent reprisals it was good enough for me.Surprise the enemy and to hell with International laws and human rights lawyers.When our wet PM refused America the go-ahead to use RAF Fairford to take off and land a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber to Diego Garcia two pilots had to fly a 37 hour non stop journey.Little wonder the Don has the hump.Our special relationship with America lies in tatters, at least for some time.And Calamity Lammy can forget about selling off the Chagos Archipelo (for a mere £34 billion). The Don won't allow that  nonsence.

Denis I. Fox ● 20h

Of course Vanessa is obsessed with Trump. Every right-thinking person would naturally be horrified by what this capricious, malevolent monster does. By joining the Israelis in yet another of their imperialist adventures he has caused chaos throughout the Middle East, and is likely to be responsible for many more deaths in Iran, Lebanon and the Gulf states. Starmer was quite right to refuse him the use of British bases for this completely illegal adventure. The fact that you are more concerned about criticising Starmer (who, to be fair, is placed in an invidious position by the bombing of Iran) than disturbed by the many deaths caused by the bombing does you little credit. Questions for you: i) if it's ok for Trump and Netanyahu to bomb Iran to bits for "preventive reasons", how can the West complain about Putin's assault on Ukraine; and ii) why is Trump prepared to commit US forces and huge amounts of armaments to the destruction of Iran and yet so reluctant to help Ukraine? Putin is gaining by playing for time, whilst Trump is so unhelpful. Is Trump overawed by Putin, or does Putin have some compromat on him?

Robert Fish ● 20h

Much as I hate to admit it, I am inclined to agree with Starmer that you don't achieve regime change from 30,000 feet. It is an old truism that you should not attack a revolution. But then, we're not dealing with Franklin Roosevelt here. However, I very much disagree with Starmer's plans to hand over the British Indian Ocean Territory, islands that we have owned for over two hundred years, due to some misguided idea of anti-colonialism.

Richard Greenhough ● 20h

I'm in 2 minds about the way it's being done. But don't forget that if we had not caught the Austrian spy for the IRGC, we could have had a bad outcome on our own doorstep at a building down the road at chiswick buisness park.

Julian Pavey ● 20h

I am not sure using the Falklands war is the best way to support your point,Vanessa.The US gave us pleny of behind the scenes support via use of satellites,refueling facilities, sidewinder missiles and the possibility of using their ships if needed.I don't know if I support what's going on at the minute,but the reactions I have seen on the news from citizens of Iran have been quite an eye opener.

Keith Iddon ● 20h

'I disagree'.There's a surprise!

Vanessa Smith ● 20h

I disagreeWe should have let him use our bases. And Iran still launched a drone to RAF Akrotiri before starmer eventualy said yes. Trump is an idiot, but you're just obsessed with him. Starmer will soon be doing more U-turns because the reality is he has no blooming clue about anything, and his left-hand advisers have no blooming clue either.

Julian Pavey ● 20h