Never in my lifetime did I think I would live to see the day when the US aligned with Russia at the expense of an alliance it created itself that has protected US interests for 80 years.
Fantastic (though dreadful) piece. "Without definitive retaliation, the playground bully will continue to demand the world’s lunch money, and it has to stop." I am an American and I support this. Something needs to be done and quickly!
As an American, it pains me to have to agree with your proposal, but we are at a breaking point and the world needs to stand up to our man child bullying president. The EU and NATO might find that, if recent history is correct, when challenged, Trump backs down. Give him the ultimatum of supporting Ukraine and NATO or face the consequences. Stop trying to appease, it only makes him more dangerous.
Yes, yes, yes, yes! Thank you for saying the quiet part out loud. For months I have watched Trump abuse the NATO member countries and those countries have done nothing about it aside from attempting to placate him. Just to start with, the UK should NEVER have invited him to England and the UK government should NEVER have made King Charles and his family celebrate the monster with a royal welcome, dinner, etc. As long as he is treated with pomp and circumstance by other countries, he will continue on the path to destroy them. For God's sake, when are the European governments going to wake up?
I totally agree with the article. I would like to know why have the NATO & EU countries been so weak? What hold does the Trump Administration have over them? I agree that countries should dump US bonds, but just enough to shock the US economy, not to destroy it.
I think this was all encompassing … history must be preserved . We can not rewrite our past transgressions… lest we repeat them again. It’s all overwhelming… watching the moral decay fester from within …
As a European (not UK) I read your article and wholeheartedly agree and share your anger . I have been angry for a long time but it is to no avail when you are dependent on a college of leaders agreeing a strategy and not just one enlightened politician.
European countries have sought to placate Trump because of the need to buy time to build up defence weaponry and collaborative logistics that exclude the US (totally dominant over 70 years of making sure that is the case as the price of its leadership). It is happening - but it takes a lot of time to greatly expand a military-industrial complex! There is no excuse. There are explanations but those do not stop wars.
Europe is impregnated with the poison of Russia’s online and direct malign influence to a far greater extent than the US, to which must now be added the active participation of its Quisling states like Hungary and Slovakia and neo-fascist political parties in Germany and France (and that revolting l’agent of chaos and Trumpian disciple Farage in England) - all of whom actively oppose help to Ukraine. Current governments are all deeply unpopular because of the post pandemic economic consequences and they do not have the privilege of a reserve currency to override the budgetary consequences of uncontrolled debt. They are all on the tightrope of their respect for their democracy and the irony is that if the right wing parties come to power using that very democratic process they will eliminate the tightrope- as is Orban in Hungary right now.
We must stop pandering now. We are a wealthy economy of more than 450 million, and we are industrially as powerful as any other such block. The only difficulty is to engineer a unified approach where each country faces different problems. There is no longer any reason to pretend America will have our backs. It’s over and there may still be time to step up
Thank you for your excellent contribution to the conversation. You will get no pushback from me on any of your observations. I absolutely understand that decisions by committee always presents a problem, but unless urgent action is taken, I fear that Trump will continue the abuse for which Europe’s toleration of his lunacy bears no fruit.
It’s time, it will be difficult no question, but we can’t sit around expecting him to have a road to Damascus moment, it ‘ain’t going to happen. - Martin
You are right “it ain’t going to happen“. Macron is deeply unpopular despite his initiatives, Merz is untested despite strong start and is not showing up to his promise so far, and Starmer is loathe to test Anglo-American ties that are still apron strings.
Martin will the EU finally release the frozen Russian Funds for Ukraine? On the ICC there is reporting that a family member from Columbia who was murdered in the US boat attack has filed a case with the ICC . Maybe there will be others. Thank you.
It’s a huge point of contention in Europe right now and Belgium is standing in the way of it happening. It’s hard to predict which way it will go Frances. All the main member states are pressing for it because in my view it does need to happen and yesterday!
On the ICC Trump is clearly fearful the ICC may hold him accountable which would make it impossible for him to travel to a number of countries. What you have to remember is that once he’s out of office he knows nobody will come to his aid.
Sorry. I couldn’t get beyond the first page and a half of your article. It wasn’t the writing style, it was the content. I’m feeling rather nauseous right now.
I absolutely understand Virma, it’s a difficult read for sure and I’m very aware that my experience varnished approach to delivering my thought can prove challenging. Thank you for sharing your feelings, I know how difficult these times are.
This unfolding chaos has its foundation in the postwar US/UK Intelligence war with Russia and the carving up of the dying British Empire’s oil industries. The Cold War was waged equally through trade and finance as through komptomat and dirty tricks. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 this vast global network of money and power pivoted into private hands. A group of mutually supportive global privateers worked together to create what is now known as the Epstein network. It is, in effect, working as a shadow global criminal government. Trump/MAGA hijacking of DC power means that this criminal cartel is no longer able to hide in plain sight.
There are so many global VIP bipartisan/cross party politicians, academics, CEOs, hedgefunds, banks and military Intelligence embedded within this network, knowingly or not. It is difficult to fathom the extent of its global influence. Most of these individuals are first and foremost financially compromised. If you wish to know where Thiel and Musk got the idea of Paypal from just think of this network and think, As Above:So below.
The sexualised violence and child trafficking kompromat section that Ghislaine Maxwell headed up is heinous but the constant puritannical publicity, at this moment in history, is a conscious Murdochian mass mediated firefighting technique designed to distract from their ongoing global financial crimes.
If the EU wish to fight back against these criminal Empire builders, as you have suggested, hitting them in the financial Bond ghoulies would be an effective first line of counter attack.
Thanks for your excellent contribution to the conversation. I’m always heartened by the level of understanding demonstrated by those who engage here. We clearly have a great joint understanding of where we are. - Martin
Thank you. This is a brilliant synopsis of the current position. We have all felt increasing unease as our government folds and kowtows to the US administration. History has so many warnings that are not being heeded as the aggressors relish our appeasement and procrastination. It’s time for coordinated alliances across the globe to unite, move out of neutrality and make a stand
Europe and the UK need to decide which pain is acceptable. Humiliation and compromise of their economies from surrendering to Putin/Trump and the continuation of Putin’s war, or a bit of economic pain while reorienting their economies toward the coalition of the willing. Time to stop waffling and choose. For me the stark choice is to reinforce Ukraine with materiel and man power as well as selling off US Bonds, and kick the ugly shitholes of America out of international fora - or give up. Giving up isn’t possible. So give the pedophile President and his republicunt enablers the middle finger. 🖕 follow Canada’s lead. The USA can rot with Putin. Yes, some pain is inevitable when acting with integrity. But it is likely to be less than the pain from betraying Ukraine and the millennia of travel toward liberal democracy.
You are SO right - it has to stop. And if Americans have to feel some pain to end this horrid regime and their plans to collude with Putin to divide the world between them for their own material gain, then so it must be. Americans who have their eyes open to what's happening understand what's at risk. Europe needs to act as if their countrymen's lives depending on it, because ultimately, they do. I pray that free European nations will do all they're able to prevent what happened in America from happening to them. The American people allowed themselves to be conned by a 34-time convicted felon whose only care is for himself. I hope Europe does not.
Martin, you are absolutely speaking my mind, and I admit it took me quite a while to find sleep last night after reading your text. Thank you for your thoughts and considerations. I always look forward to finding them among the mails in the inbox.
Brilliant piece of writing but horrifying at the same time.To think the once mighty USA has elected this pathetic excuse for a president who is hellbent on destroying America is beyond monsterous.You need to find a way to rid youselves of this horror and his sycopants before you completely crash and burn becoming a footnote to history.
Fantastic (though dreadful) piece. "Without definitive retaliation, the playground bully will continue to demand the world’s lunch money, and it has to stop." I am an American and I support this. Something needs to be done and quickly!
Appreciate your continued support my friend. It means a lot to me - Martin
Chilling observations. Thank you.
As an American, it pains me to have to agree with your proposal, but we are at a breaking point and the world needs to stand up to our man child bullying president. The EU and NATO might find that, if recent history is correct, when challenged, Trump backs down. Give him the ultimatum of supporting Ukraine and NATO or face the consequences. Stop trying to appease, it only makes him more dangerous.
I fear it’s the only way to move forward
I could not agree more with this piece. Time to stand up against this corrupt, mendacious, orange grifter and show some backbone.
Yes, yes, yes, yes! Thank you for saying the quiet part out loud. For months I have watched Trump abuse the NATO member countries and those countries have done nothing about it aside from attempting to placate him. Just to start with, the UK should NEVER have invited him to England and the UK government should NEVER have made King Charles and his family celebrate the monster with a royal welcome, dinner, etc. As long as he is treated with pomp and circumstance by other countries, he will continue on the path to destroy them. For God's sake, when are the European governments going to wake up?
We are on the same page Elizabeth, you won’t get pushback from me on anything you said - Martin
I too am on the same page. Let's hope they & others wake up soon! Fuck Donald & his cronies! Eat the rich!
No, don't eat them! That would leave you with serious health problems…
I totally agree with the article. I would like to know why have the NATO & EU countries been so weak? What hold does the Trump Administration have over them? I agree that countries should dump US bonds, but just enough to shock the US economy, not to destroy it.
I think they need time to build up military strength and capacity.
I think this was all encompassing … history must be preserved . We can not rewrite our past transgressions… lest we repeat them again. It’s all overwhelming… watching the moral decay fester from within …
As a European (not UK) I read your article and wholeheartedly agree and share your anger . I have been angry for a long time but it is to no avail when you are dependent on a college of leaders agreeing a strategy and not just one enlightened politician.
European countries have sought to placate Trump because of the need to buy time to build up defence weaponry and collaborative logistics that exclude the US (totally dominant over 70 years of making sure that is the case as the price of its leadership). It is happening - but it takes a lot of time to greatly expand a military-industrial complex! There is no excuse. There are explanations but those do not stop wars.
Europe is impregnated with the poison of Russia’s online and direct malign influence to a far greater extent than the US, to which must now be added the active participation of its Quisling states like Hungary and Slovakia and neo-fascist political parties in Germany and France (and that revolting l’agent of chaos and Trumpian disciple Farage in England) - all of whom actively oppose help to Ukraine. Current governments are all deeply unpopular because of the post pandemic economic consequences and they do not have the privilege of a reserve currency to override the budgetary consequences of uncontrolled debt. They are all on the tightrope of their respect for their democracy and the irony is that if the right wing parties come to power using that very democratic process they will eliminate the tightrope- as is Orban in Hungary right now.
We must stop pandering now. We are a wealthy economy of more than 450 million, and we are industrially as powerful as any other such block. The only difficulty is to engineer a unified approach where each country faces different problems. There is no longer any reason to pretend America will have our backs. It’s over and there may still be time to step up
Thank you for your excellent contribution to the conversation. You will get no pushback from me on any of your observations. I absolutely understand that decisions by committee always presents a problem, but unless urgent action is taken, I fear that Trump will continue the abuse for which Europe’s toleration of his lunacy bears no fruit.
It’s time, it will be difficult no question, but we can’t sit around expecting him to have a road to Damascus moment, it ‘ain’t going to happen. - Martin
You are right “it ain’t going to happen“. Macron is deeply unpopular despite his initiatives, Merz is untested despite strong start and is not showing up to his promise so far, and Starmer is loathe to test Anglo-American ties that are still apron strings.
Martin will the EU finally release the frozen Russian Funds for Ukraine? On the ICC there is reporting that a family member from Columbia who was murdered in the US boat attack has filed a case with the ICC . Maybe there will be others. Thank you.
It’s a huge point of contention in Europe right now and Belgium is standing in the way of it happening. It’s hard to predict which way it will go Frances. All the main member states are pressing for it because in my view it does need to happen and yesterday!
On the ICC Trump is clearly fearful the ICC may hold him accountable which would make it impossible for him to travel to a number of countries. What you have to remember is that once he’s out of office he knows nobody will come to his aid.
Sorry. I couldn’t get beyond the first page and a half of your article. It wasn’t the writing style, it was the content. I’m feeling rather nauseous right now.
I absolutely understand Virma, it’s a difficult read for sure and I’m very aware that my experience varnished approach to delivering my thought can prove challenging. Thank you for sharing your feelings, I know how difficult these times are.
This unfolding chaos has its foundation in the postwar US/UK Intelligence war with Russia and the carving up of the dying British Empire’s oil industries. The Cold War was waged equally through trade and finance as through komptomat and dirty tricks. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 this vast global network of money and power pivoted into private hands. A group of mutually supportive global privateers worked together to create what is now known as the Epstein network. It is, in effect, working as a shadow global criminal government. Trump/MAGA hijacking of DC power means that this criminal cartel is no longer able to hide in plain sight.
There are so many global VIP bipartisan/cross party politicians, academics, CEOs, hedgefunds, banks and military Intelligence embedded within this network, knowingly or not. It is difficult to fathom the extent of its global influence. Most of these individuals are first and foremost financially compromised. If you wish to know where Thiel and Musk got the idea of Paypal from just think of this network and think, As Above:So below.
The sexualised violence and child trafficking kompromat section that Ghislaine Maxwell headed up is heinous but the constant puritannical publicity, at this moment in history, is a conscious Murdochian mass mediated firefighting technique designed to distract from their ongoing global financial crimes.
If the EU wish to fight back against these criminal Empire builders, as you have suggested, hitting them in the financial Bond ghoulies would be an effective first line of counter attack.
Thanks for your excellent contribution to the conversation. I’m always heartened by the level of understanding demonstrated by those who engage here. We clearly have a great joint understanding of where we are. - Martin
Thank you. This is a brilliant synopsis of the current position. We have all felt increasing unease as our government folds and kowtows to the US administration. History has so many warnings that are not being heeded as the aggressors relish our appeasement and procrastination. It’s time for coordinated alliances across the globe to unite, move out of neutrality and make a stand
I’m afraid the status quo can’t be maintained.
Europe and the UK need to decide which pain is acceptable. Humiliation and compromise of their economies from surrendering to Putin/Trump and the continuation of Putin’s war, or a bit of economic pain while reorienting their economies toward the coalition of the willing. Time to stop waffling and choose. For me the stark choice is to reinforce Ukraine with materiel and man power as well as selling off US Bonds, and kick the ugly shitholes of America out of international fora - or give up. Giving up isn’t possible. So give the pedophile President and his republicunt enablers the middle finger. 🖕 follow Canada’s lead. The USA can rot with Putin. Yes, some pain is inevitable when acting with integrity. But it is likely to be less than the pain from betraying Ukraine and the millennia of travel toward liberal democracy.
I concur
You are SO right - it has to stop. And if Americans have to feel some pain to end this horrid regime and their plans to collude with Putin to divide the world between them for their own material gain, then so it must be. Americans who have their eyes open to what's happening understand what's at risk. Europe needs to act as if their countrymen's lives depending on it, because ultimately, they do. I pray that free European nations will do all they're able to prevent what happened in America from happening to them. The American people allowed themselves to be conned by a 34-time convicted felon whose only care is for himself. I hope Europe does not.
Martin, you are absolutely speaking my mind, and I admit it took me quite a while to find sleep last night after reading your text. Thank you for your thoughts and considerations. I always look forward to finding them among the mails in the inbox.
Brilliant piece of writing but horrifying at the same time.To think the once mighty USA has elected this pathetic excuse for a president who is hellbent on destroying America is beyond monsterous.You need to find a way to rid youselves of this horror and his sycopants before you completely crash and burn becoming a footnote to history.