A Political Thread

[General Melchett]

Anyone keeping an eye on the situation in Venezuela?

USA, UK and Europe all threatening to view the opposition party as the government of the country if the socialist, elected leader (supported by Russia, China, Cuba) does not hold elections in the next week.

USA calling the humanitarian crisis the reason for their pressure on the current government, even though it is the economic sanctions put on the country by the USA which has caused inflation to rise so much and 2 million people to flee. Not to mention the fact the Venezuela is extremely rich in oil and the current government wouldn't fall in line with the USA concerning trade deals (I believe) .

Reminds me of Iraq, Libya and Syria if I'm honest.

Thank goodness that no countries are threatening to view the UK's opposition party as the Government in light of the chaos going on there.

It'll be a matter of time before the US concocts some stories/evidence about the Venezuelan Government developing WOMD or committing some other political crimes. I highly doubt Russia and China would get more involved apart from a few declarations in the media given the proximity of Venezuela to the US - in the same way as the US doesn't want to get involved in Ukraine.

 

[General Melchett]

What a shambles. May is refusing to respect the vote tonight which asked for No deal to be taken off the table. I really hope the EU stand firm and refuse to open up the withdrawal agreement and change the backstop. May and her cronies had their chance and over 20 months to negotiate it and they made a pig's ear of it.

The public are being denied the opportunity of having another say on Brexit and yet the Tories think it's fine to re-open and change the withdrawal agreement that was previously finalised and signed off. Hypocrisy of the highest order.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Anyone keeping an eye on the situation in Venezuela?

USA, UK and Europe all threatening to view the opposition party as the government of the country if the socialist, elected leader (supported by Russia, China, Cuba) does not hold elections in the next week.

USA calling the humanitarian crisis the reason for their pressure on the current government, even though it is the economic sanctions put on the country by the USA which has caused inflation to rise so much and 2 million people to flee. Not to mention the fact the Venezuela is extremely rich in oil and the current government wouldn't fall in line with the USA concerning trade deals (I believe) .

Reminds me of Iraq, Libya and Syria if I'm honest.

It is amazing how selective certain governments are in supporting insurrection in some states and supporting dictators in others. Surprising to see states that usually have their heads screwed on like Germany and Canada engaging in this. I can only assume Venezuela seized assets from these countries.

Maduro is hopeless, far worse than his predecessor Chavez (who was lucky with oil prices). Venezuela is a tragedy, but are we proposing support for a civil war?

Despite that, I'm interventionist, so I hope sustained pressure is brought to bare. Hypocritical or not from some states, trying to instigate change peacefully is better than turning a blind eye to a former democracy as it goes down the tubes.

I don't know if Venezuela is backed by Russia or China, but I assume one of them will veto any meaningful international response.

 

[Gavin]

It is amazing how selective certain governments are in supporting insurrection in some states and supporting dictators in others. Surprising to see states that usually have their heads screwed on like Germany and Canada engaging in this. I can only assume Venezuela seized assets from these countries.

Maduro is hopeless, far worse than his predecessor Chavez (who was lucky with oil prices). Venezuela is a tragedy, but are we proposing support for a civil war?

Despite that, I'm interventionist, so I hope sustained pressure is brought to bare. Hypocritical or not from some states, trying to instigate change peacefully is better than turning a blind eye to a former democracy as it goes down the tubes.

I don't know if Venezuela is backed by Russia or China, but I assume one of them will veto any meaningful international response.

Photo of John Bolton with a memo which says '5000 troops to Columbia' so it appears if the USA don't get a change in government in Venezuela, their be some sort of military action.

Venezuela is supported by China, Russia and Cuba (not sure on Iran) so it feels like Syria to me again.

From my understanding inflation rose in Venezuela because of sanctions put on the oil companies which are the economic drive of the country .

Yes there are issues regarding democracy and human rights, but that happens in many countries. Why don't the USA put pressure on Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Guatemala, and Honduras.

 

[Amiga500]

Hypocrisy of the highest order.

Yet they wonder why people are disillusioned with politicians and politics?


Down with democracy - up with Meritocracy.

 

[Amiga500]

Yes there are issues regarding democracy and human rights, but that happens in many countries. Why don't the USA put pressure on Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Guatemala, and Honduras.

+1

 

[General Melchett]

Yet they wonder why people are disillusioned with politicians and politics?


Down with democracy - up with Meritocracy.

I would love it if the EU came out and stated that if the British people aren't allowed to change their minds then neither should their Government. The EU will look weak if they change agree to change the backstop now after stating multiple times that the agreement can't be re-opened. All they need to say that the Government had their chance, agreed to it and it's not the EU's fault if the Tories are split over it. This is the consequence of May micro managing Brexit from No.10 and not consulting Parliament until it's too late.

 

[Amiga500]

I would love it if the EU came out and stated that if the British people aren't allowed to change their minds then neither should their Government.

That would be hilarious.

They probably could say something along the lines of: "well since you've changed your minds, maybe the people have too. Go ask them do they want to (i)leave with the current deal, (ii)leave with a renegotiated deal or (iii) stay and if you get option (ii) come back to us.

 

[General Melchett]

That would be hilarious.

They probably could say something along the lines of: "well since you've changed your minds, maybe the people have too. Go ask them do they want to (i)leave with the current deal, (ii)leave with a renegotiated deal or (iii) stay and if you get option (ii) come back to us.

Even if Brexit goes ahead via a changed withdrawal agreement or a no deal scenario, re-joining the EU via another referendum will be back on the table at future General Elections. As soon as Labour get rid of Corbyn and replace him with a half decent progressive pro-Europe centre left candidate then the numbers for re-joining the EU will be more favourable as more young people are able to vote and more small minded nationalistic oldies pop their clogs.

I imagine that many voters will have a lot of resentment towards the Tories for the way in which they've handled everything and will let their feelings known at future General Elections. This issue isn't going away anytime soon. Labour party members need to get their act together and wake up and smell just how bad Corbyn is.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Trump tells US intelligence chiefs to "Go back to school"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-47061509

I have never known such a combination of extreme idiocy combined with such an inflated ego and childlike temperament. Someone punch this tosser please. Staggering that he still has supporters. Who's the bigger idiot, the idiot or the idiots who follow the idiot?

 

[Amiga500]

Trump tells US intelligence chiefs to "Go back to school"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-47061509

I have never known such a combination of extreme idiocy combined with such an inflated ego and childlike temperament. Someone punch this tosser please. Staggering that he still has supporters. Who's the bigger idiot, the idiot or the idiots who follow the idiot?

 

[Bada-Bing!]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47071874

Thank God for that.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Can anyone explain to me why Liam Neeson said what he said?

Like what was the context exactly, because it's backfired on him massively and predictably.

 

[ncurd]

As far as I can tell it just came out of the blue....I think he was trying to make it clear these were bad thoughts but he failed massively.

 

[General Melchett]

Can anyone explain to me why Liam Neeson said what he said?

Like what was the context exactly, because it's backfired on him massively and predictably.

He allegedly said that such was his anger at a friend being raped by a black man that he felt like going out and killing any black man in some kind of twisted retribution attempt.

It's a spectacular own goal. I don't know if he was trying to demonstrate that he was showing remorse after making the comments but with things going viral in the way that they do it'll be hard for him to shake off the racist tag after this.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Can anyone explain to me why Liam Neeson said what he said?

Like what was the context exactly, because it's backfired on him massively and predictably.

I heard on 5 Live radio it was Interview with a journalist to promote his new film i.e. to explain the revenge aspect of the film. He told the journalist after telling his "story" (see Oggmonster's explantion) to be careful how they use it, presumably knowing it wouldn't cast him in a good light. WTF - how did he think the journalist interviewing him was going to use what he told them???

 

[big ginger 8]

Can anyone explain to me why Liam Neeson said what he said?

Like what was the context exactly, because it's backfired on him massively and predictably.

He was trying to make a point about revenge and how violence begets violence, which given where he's from and the current political climate make a lot of sense. Unfortunately it's also the age of twitter and outrage.

The full story is that some he knew was raped (he didn't say if it was friend, family member or partner in the bit of the interview I heard) and she wouldn't tell him anything about the rapist except that they were black so he spent about a week and a half waiting outside pubs (with a cosh) hoping a black person would give him an excuse to hit them. No one did and he stopped after that short time period.

I'm not on twitter so pretty cut of from the **** that goes on there but even I've heard people getting outraged about it and having heard the actual clip I doubt they've read more than a headline.

What he did was bad but it was over 40 years ago and he clearly realised it was wrong. Focusing on what he did and not the wider conversation is pretty bad is the wrong way to react I think.

 

[ncurd]

Good job on not heeding your own advice and listening to the clip, because he wasn't looking to hit but kill and was carrying a weapon to do so.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-47130628/outrage-at-liam-neeson-rape-revenge-comments

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

No idea why he specified the colour of the man, it doesn't affect the point (if there is one) that he's trying to make.

Bizarre error in judgement.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Could've easily said he was just out looking for the guy to kill him
But no, he had to go and say that.
Ridiculous