You don't need to look over the water to Mr Waters (pun intended). Just have a look at our own homegrown leftie idiots, Mick Wallace and Claire Daly.
And remember their words when election time rolls around.
They must rearm ASAP != they can rearm ASAP
Europe has transitioned to more of a services based economy in the last few decades, with most industry offshoring production to India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia etc. The process of bringing enough manufacturing back is not easy or quick. Even though arms manufacturing is still done close to home, the lack of a wider manufacturing economy means there is less expertise and supply chains to tap into locally to help boost production quickly.
Production will continue at current rates or slightly above, but the process of re-industrialisation will be a painful decade or more. The few industrial giants Europe do have are very reliant on China and Korea for key parts - let's hope the US' predictions of war with China by 2025 dont come true, and that the recent documents on mobilisation of Chinese citizenry are nothing more than bluster designed to scare - a China at war with Taiwan would wreak havoc on western supply chains for manufacturing.
If Europe were serious about rearming the time to act was over a decade ago, the 2nd best time would be now - but there is nothing in the works to decrease the reliance on Chinese parts
Surprised it took so long, but then again there's only a handful of them in Ukraine and possibly kept far back from the Frontline.
It might be a terrible thing to say, but considering Russia was in talks with Hitler regarding splitting Europe up between them during WW2, just imagine if this had indeed happened.
At first thought one might say this would have been a terrible thing to happen BUT considering the US were at that time developing the atomic bomb, it may not be too far fetched an idea that instead of the US using those atomic weapons on Japan, perhaps, if faced with a bigger foe ie Russia in the east, that they could have decided to use those weapons on them instead.
It may have resulted in the destruction of Moscow, St. Petersburg and maybe other major cities, and maybe enabled the western allies march into russia and have a huge influence in there.
If this had happened, the map of Europe and indeed its military and economic dynamics would be so different to how they operate today.
It would be so interesting to see how Europe would look and operate today if this had happened.
Looks like Russia's 155th Naval Infantry Brigade on the Vuhledar front is having a terrible time
30 Plus losses in one area either Destroyed/Damaged or Abandoned
Not keen on banning stuff but indeed it was directly part of the Russian war effort
Poland to close its border with Belarus from midnight. Until further notice.
in the interests of “state security”.
With the stark contrast to the gains Wagner are making around Bakhmut it's no wonder why the Russian MOD is now going to cutoff the supplier of Wagner recruits from the Russian prison system
Trying to find out more information about this vote that happened in the EU parliment on Feb 4th, unfortunately the MEP watch website and the EU Parl websites are only updated as far as Feb 3rd :(
The resolution is C9-0092 and supposedly relates to EU voting to approve Aircraft and long range missiles for Ukraine.
The originator of this image seems to be the twitter account of Dutch MEP Thijs Reuten.
I can't find the actual text of exactly what was being voted on, I didn't think the EU controlled any military assets directly, is it just permission for member states to send theirs I wonder?
Anyway it passed by a very slim margin.
Standing ovation and a lot of emotion at the European Parliament
I heard him on Joe Rogan, he says he wrote to putin as If of course he would read his letter… delusional
Putin's Russia is a cuddly bear compared to Communist Russia. It is incomparibly more open and free.
That's not a plus for Putin but how truly awful Communism was, from Day one. It wasn't just Stalin.
Like Putin many on the left hark back to the power of the Soviet Union, see it as a bulwark against the Democratic West.
It's completely natural for people on the left to support Russia, and why so many do.
We should reach out to "The Genius".
The first step might be to suggest that, scalewise, if Ukraine is bad then Putin must be badder (sic).
The next step might be to encourage "The Genius" to realise that Putin most certainly could have avoided all this by doing nothing.
Does "The Genius" not realise that Putin really is a psychopath.
Right-thinking governments have finally decided that enough is enough, there is no way on Earth that Putin can win, it is obvious.
The West tried to train Putin that they would see him, and raise him, at every turn, but he is way too stupid to realise that.
Slava Ukraini and it's amazing people, who are NOTHING like the russians (sic).
I don't think the European Parliament sat on February 4th - it was a Saturday. Apart from that photo on a couple of sites, there's no mention of a Resolution C9-0092/2023 anywhere.
Looks no immediate transfer of jets to Ukraine via the UK .
Yeah the source on this was Visegrad 24 and it appears to be they have misunderstood something
@Ten of Swords I think the resolution was actually B9-0092/2023 (not C9, even though that's in the photo of the vote screen). The vote was held on the 2nd of February. Here's the result, which matches the numbers and amendment number in the photo: Am 7, 279 for, 233 against, 74 abstain.
The vote was about preparation for an EU/Ukraine summit - not about weapons, missiles or fighter jets: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-9-2023-0092_EN.html
Amendment 7 introduced some text (point 10) that included the sentences:
underlines that these measures should be prepared in time for the EU-Ukraine Summit and be matched with the determined and coordinated delivery of heavy weaponry by the Member States, in particular Leopard 2 tanks, accompanied by the rapid training of Ukrainian military personnel in their use; urges EU Member States to lift national barriers to the export of heavy weaponry to Ukraine, in particular regarding Leopard 2 tanks;
There's nothing binding on anyone in that. It's basically just a note being passed around with supportive language.
What ever about the dynamics of it Timmy ( and I'm sure that you are right) the will and intent has to be there. Since covid struck China and it basically shut down, and when the container ship got stuck in the Suez canal, that really triggered an awareness of just how dependent on China the world is, and I'm pretty sure that it also triggered thoughts on how to lessen that dependence. Also I'd be surprised to learn that the US would be total dependent on China for anything that would affect US national security.
Have the hairdressers been sent to the front lines too?
I'm not following you. You said ALL Russians should be banned from leaving Russia. How exactly do you propose to do that?
Predictable but still disappointing news, the BBC saying there's a lot of uncertainty in UK government about this step.
Manufacturing in Europe is undergoing a steady decline at the moment and much of that is out to Asia and increasingly America as well.
The heavier the industry the steeper the decline.
Most European countries, especially the West ones are not learning long term lessons from this war.
How do you know that they are not learning long term lessons? Plans to move manufacturing take a bit of time to compile, then action takes longer. Planning regulations, infrastructure, and a host of other things have to be in place.
Mercenary Igor Mangushev, 36, famed for taking to the stage during one of his propagandist talks whilst waving the skull of a Ukrainian last year has been killed.....Justice
Russia is a disgusting country, it should be isolated from the Russia is a disgusting country, it should be isolated from the whole civilised world.whole civilised world.
@Gregor Samsa thanks, that makes much more sense
Still not a great showing on that vote from Irish MEPs
7 yes, 2 no, 1 abstain, 3 no show
https://mepwatch.eu/9/vote.html?v=152416&country=ie
He was executed by Russians, it seems that they are removing independent fighters who may be less than loyal to Putin. Good news for Ukraine, because this particular guy was doing a lot to fight Ukrainian drones.
...
Without checking the link my money is on arch-loons Daly, Wallace and Ming against or abstaining
I'm sure Eric Prince would take any Wagner monster and pay them $1000 a day. He then charges the Pentagon $2000 a day for the monster and pockets the difference. Of course the Pentagon just passes on this cost to the US taxpayer. My Monaghan acquaintance probably wouldn't work for Wagner. Not because Aegis and Blackwater are any cleaner or more professional or less criminal but because they pay more.
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