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Grier said:
Trump is no longer the leader of the free world siding with Despots like Putin and wanting to extort billions from Ukraine. Stuff paying back even a penny as it was a gift from Biden. That'll send Trump into another shouting rage!

I'd like to see the US expelled from NATO, and Ukraine allowed to join.
Global leaders have again given support to Ukraine for Russia's illegal invasion.
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Thinking the unthinkable, Terry. Such a move would have enormous implications worldwide as completely new alliances would have to be formed. Right now it's still Trump who can decide that Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO. This seems to be in conformity with a clause in the NATO agreement saying that a country in war may not be admitted to the club.
The question is why Trump doesn't go all in and withdraws from NATO completely rather than having to be expelled. That would actually be the next logical step considering that it's him now who says that NATO is brain dead and only exists on paper. If he did, it would mean that Ramstein Air Base, that giant logistics hub , would no longer be accessible to him. There's hardly any substitute for it in the European region. It would also mean that Trump would have to pick up his twenty nukes bunkered in Germany thus removing a crucial part of the continent's strategic defence system. Moreover, the UK would have to hand back the codes for her nukes which would strip Europe virtually naked since there'd be no deterrents except the French arsenal which is a drop in the ocean. It would be an invitation to Putin to go ahead. If Trump and his entourage want that, they should carry on.
 
Thomas, fair enough about the rules of NATO. Four years?
"Partnership of the Willing" sounds corny, and like a Yanky catchcry.

Could Europe and willing partners, hold back Putin's hordes in the Ukraine without the US? Some say yes, others no. Under than a different flag?
Some catchy acronym? POTW?

I've heard three reports about Biden's gift of support to Ukraine's defence from different sources with variations from 48% to 25%. Bean counters rubbery figures.😲
Trump embellishes the non-debt of course now only doubling the size of the US "gift" to support a sovereign democracy, under a moral Biden Presidency.
A Top shelf Scam In an attempt to extort hundreds of billions from Ukraine for nothing substantial in return, with no defence guarantees, and just asking for security got Trump and Vance shouting their way into infamy in a grotesque display of thugish uncivillity. The world saw it all. 😳 Ambushed! 🙁😯

My Austrailia is right behind Ukraine's defence against a Despotic Putin, Trump's friend. Our PM Albo even hinted at Austrailian boots and planes. Opposition leader Dutton agreed mainly but not sure about direct military involvement.

Democracy ❤️.

A Dreadful System of Governance but better than all the rest.
 
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As for the Chi-anese flotsam sneaking up the vast west coast of my WA, I hope they tune into our radio n media about the hi-tech scanning search for the lost MH17 plane. I heard they can scan to 5km deep and I'd love them to spot a Chinese sub. 😅

Regardless, if they get to Perth waters I'd hope to see our Surfies paddle out to greet them on their boards laden with rotten tomatoes. 🍅

Still, our Politicians skate well on thin ice regarding global politics.
 
Grier said:
Could Europe and willing partners, hold back Putin's hordes in the Ukraine without the US? Some say yes, others no. Under than a different flag?
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There's not a single expert who'd say we can, at least not now. I was alarmed when I heard the wording "Germany must be rearmed" [sic] since it confirms the view expressed by our highest-ranking general some time ago that our armed forces would be strapped for cash and equipment. Secret service info has it that Russia might be likely to move farther towards the West in 2028/9 which is why von der Leyen announced an 800 bn Euro packet today for rearmament alone. She said we had no satellites and would be dependent on US info and capabilities for recon and unit command.
If Trump keeps freezing support of Ukraine, the country will be doomed in six months.
 
looker-on said:
If Trump keeps freezing support of Ukraine, the country will be doomed in six months.
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You believe that Thomas. Not read my post about a proposal to unfreeze Russian overseas assets for Ukraine. They are mostly European, U.S. and British government bonds held in a European securities depository. The European Union estimates that some 210 billion euros ($220.58 billion) of the frozen money is held in the bloc, mainly in Euroclear, a Brussels-based securities depository. But evidently there are certain legal problems to overcome first. And there is Hungary which has blocked Ukraine aid in the past and is doing same again, a proposed €20b military aid package which further complicates European efforts to support Kyiv. So the 'killjoy' to immediate additional aid for Ukraine is not an enemy but a so called EU member. 😡
 
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This is a bombshell.
Russia could agree to using $300 billion of sovereign assets frozen in Europe for the reconstruction of Ukraine as part of a possible peace deal, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter. But Moscow will insist part of the money is spent on the one-fifth of the country that Russian forces control and provided that the controlled territories stay within Russia.

Cant see Zelensky agreeing to that last point. Those territories were blatantly stolen, specially Crimea.
Has anyone heard about this war reparation proposal by Russia before today, as apparently the idea was first mooted back on Feb 21. Why wasnt this mentioned at the debacle of a meeting in the White House last week as evidently US was a party to it?
 
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Richie said:
Not read my post about a proposal to unfreeze Russian overseas assets for Ukraine.
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Yes, I did read your post and also read about that elsewhere. Unfreezing those assets should be done as soon as possible but that won't help Ukraine on the battle field in the short term. Ukraine needs weapons and ammunition right now or military defeat would be inevitable. That's why Trump's ceasing military aid is a major blow because Europe can't fill the gap at short notice. Despite all the efforts so far, the European armaments industry has to be kick-started again and it will take some time that Ukraine doesn't have to step up production. The US just need to roll the equipment out of their warehouses.
I do admire the Brits for their leadership within the Group of Five and I'm grateful for Albanese' support.
 
Now poor hard working Zelenskyy has gone back to Trump cap in hand stroking his ego as is the custom.
The deal looks on again despite its contrived vagueness.
"DO YOU WANT TO START WORLD WAR THREE?!"
I bet Trump will back Putin's wish to keep the conquered Ukrainian regions.
I had to turn my radio off today not wanting to listen to Trump's self-agrandising long, long monologue.
 
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Grier said:
Now poor hard working Zelenskyy has gone back to Trump cap in hand stroking his ego as is the custom.
The deal looks on again despite its contrived vagueness.
"DO YOU WANT TO START WORLD WAR THREE?!"
I bet Trump will back Putin's wish to keep the conquered Ukrainian regions.
I had to turn my radio off today not wanting to listen to Trump's self-agrandising long, long monologue.
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Trump is just an arrogant narcissistic flog who cares about nobody and if anyone is going to start World War III it will be him.
 
While all EU leaders backed bolstering European defense, the Hungarian prime minister has opted out of the statements on the bloc's ongoing support to Kyiv.

Kick Hungary out of both the EU and NATO while it has Orban as its leader. Another wannabe tyrant
 
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President Donald Trump said Thursday that his administration would not consider stock market reaction when hammering out the details of its tariff policy.

When asked whether the decision to pause tariffs on many products from Canada and Mexico for one month was due to the stock market, Trump said the decision had “nothing to do with the market. I’m not even looking at the market, because long term the United States will be very strong with what is happening here.”
 
Grier said:
President Donald Trump said Thursday that his administration would not consider stock market reaction when hammering out the details of its tariff policy.

When asked whether the decision to pause tariffs on many products from Canada and Mexico for one month was due to the stock market, Trump said the decision had “nothing to do with the market. I’m not even looking at the market, because long term the United States will be very strong with what is happening here.”
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Tell that to the people who went through the great depression for a decade after the 1929 stock market crash. The flog is not as smart as he thinks he is.

th.jpeg
 
Like a careful old bloke nuturing a life time's Super contributions, my nest egg, it's value is plummeting due to global Sock market's getting the jitters about trump's on and off tariffs. He's a Wild card creating havoc half a world away to OAP's like me. ☹️
 
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Grier said:
Like a careful old bloke nuturing a life time's Super contributions, my nest egg, it's value is plummeting due to global Sock market's getting the jitters about trump's on and off tariffs. He's a Wild card creating havoc half a world away to OAP's like me. ☹️
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True. Our main index DAX has been fluctuating like crazy caused by his statements to a large extent. I took advantage of that roller-coaster ride by selling stock that was high. A buy-and-hold strategy would not be advisable in my case.
 
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