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A Political Thread pt. 2

Having armies, the political will, and the will of allies like Germany and France is the issue if the **** hits the fan.

How many people would be willing to fight in a world war is a good question. Going by recent polls it's not particularly high. I think it's one of those that until we are in that situation we don't know.
 
Having armies, the political will, and the will of allies like Germany and France is the issue if the **** hits the fan.

How many people would be willing to fight in a world war is a good question. Going by recent polls it's not particularly high. I think it's one of those that until we are in that situation we don't know.
Depends who's leading me into battle? Hard no if the answer is Rory Stewart but if it's AWJ then just give me a pitchfork and point in the direction of the enemy (preferably England as I don't have to travel)
 
Depends who's leading me into battle? Hard no if the answer is Rory Stewart but if it's AWJ then just give me a pitchfork and point in the direction of the enemy (preferably England as I don't have to travel)
If it's James Blunt, you get the chance to follow him into battle, and bayonet him in the kidneys in the confusion of battle
 
Having armies, the political will, and the will of allies like Germany and France is the issue if the **** hits the fan.

How many people would be willing to fight in a world war is a good question. Going by recent polls it's not particularly high. I think it's one of those that until we are in that situation we don't know.

This is the key issue, none of the EU countries will be willing to take the lead, the EU as an organisation certainly wont, itll be impossible to mobilise, which leaves the UK out in the cold, knowing full well they risk doing so without the EU or US's backing.

Thisnis probably the 2nd serious test of the EUs leadership, maybe 3rd after covid and Trumps attitude of 'spend yournown money, fix your own problems im not your daddy anymore'.

I think the UK has its hands tied, i have no doubt we follow both US or EU lead, and fully contribute.

I still think Russias actions have some reasoning, as do mobilisation on their own borders and waters in positiining, and i still dislike Zelensky calling for global war, but it seems we are reaching an impass where the threat of reprocussions at the very least has to be there.

I also feel for Poland, knowing a lot of Polish middle aged men, they are concerned about family at home, they have learned the lessons of the past, and they are preparing their border, bit ultimately unable to really stop any advancement without EU backing, which again feels lile it might not come even if Russians rolled across the border and started to take Krakow!
 
If he gets his guitar out and starts "Your Beautiful" He's getting it both barrells have no fear.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a James Blunt fan but the very few times I’ve seen him in an interview (which is probably no more than 3 times) he actually seems alright. Posh boy obviously (one of those posh military types) but I got the impression he knows his music is **** and seems like an alright bloke. I’d rather be with him in the trenches than Rory Gollum Stewart.

His guitar can **** right off though.
 
JTFC!
NB: Poland is a NATO member, with the 3rd largest military in NATO, the largest in Europe. Approximately half again as large as Ukraine's was when Russia started their 3-day operation with no cassus beli whatsoever, and a lot better prepared than Ukraine was.

Russia on other hand can't take Ukraine, and has spent basically all of it's old stock and is militarily deteriorating by the week.

But yeah, sure, they'd A] just role over for Russia and B] stand alone with no backup whatsoever, even if they triggered article 5.


Not even AI know WTF you're talking about with Zelensky calling for a global War. And we all know better than to ask for an explanation from a fevered imagination.
 
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Don't get me wrong, I'm not a James Blunt fan but the very few times I've seen him in an interview (which is probably no more than 3 times) he actually seems alright. Posh boy obviously (one of those posh military types) but I got the impression he knows his music is **** and seems like an alright bloke. I'd rather be with him in the trenches than Rory Gollum Stewart.

His guitar can **** right off though.
Genuinely like his song "the girl that get was" though, very moving.
 
If it's James Blunt, you get the chance to follow him into battle, and bayonet him in the kidneys in the confusion of battle
He winds me up no end. I obviously despise his music and so I want to hate him as a person as well.

But he's such a nice, funny BARSTEWARD that it's impossible. And yeah as WE says, completely self aware and self deprecating about the fact all his stuff appeals mainly to post meripausal women
 
He winds me up no end. I obviously despise his music and so I want to hate him as a person as well.

But he's such a nice, funny BARSTEWARD that it's impossible. And yeah as WE says, completely self aware and self deprecating about the fact all his stuff appeals mainly to post meripausal women
Meripausal ?! 😂
 
Sounds very easy to say on a forum knowing full well I won't be involved but I think the EU simply needs to send troops directly into Ukraine and fight Russia now. Russia are just going to keep escalating until they face a serious pushback.

Putin won't use nukes, that bluff is obvious. Even if he wanted to, I'm sure plenty of others in power whose egos won't have been so bruised will have no desire to see the country destroyed over his ego.

We have to push back and make a real statement.
War will spread beyond Ukraine if EU states openly fight in it. They and their voters don't like footing Ukraine's war bill but they'll like getting shot at and blown up even less.

Putin may not go Threads but he is a 73-year-old man who because of how he's chosen to govern for the last 26 years doesn't have quiet retirement as an option now heading the war he'll be remembered for. There's options below Oppenheimer.
 
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And closer in

Not to mention shutting down the odd airport, or comm.s to planes carrying EU officials etc

Russia are 100% testing the boundaries of what they can get away with in Europe - probably to distract us and keep stuff at home, rather than sending it to Ukraine.

Surely the solution to the boat is to wait for a dark stormy night and then have a sub stick a torpedo in it.


If it goes bang in a big explosion with no witnesses - how would they prove it wasn't a(nother) maintenance related disaster?
 
Also relatively completely boring and unlikely to change anything.

Indeed - useless tinkering.


This should give anyone pause.

Interest rates on debt was 1.2% of GDP in 2021/2022. It was 4.4% of GDP in 2022/2023.

Obviously linked to the pandemic - but clearly that is alarming. Its ~3% of GDP - or 9% of tax earnings out the door.

Its completely reckless to not pay that off - and on the verge of unsustainability if another emergency happened.


Some very hard decisions are needed. But no party seems willing to make them.
 

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