Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
Looking forward to juneism
What is Theresa Mayism?
- Thread starter J Ed
- Start date
J Ed
Follow Back Pro Expropriation
danny la rouge
More like *fanny* la rouge!
Eeesh.
*shudders*
CrabbedOne
Walking sideways snippily
Ah the Zen of mutter cycle maintence.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I would point to other bits of that speech as important. These bits are kind of empty bluster, especially as she gives herself an out:
Of more significance are the words about Iran. Troubling.
'our allies in the Gulf States'. Ah those beautiful bastions of freedom. And the characterisation of Iran as an aggressive expansionist power really needs backing up.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
In fact, she opens up by decrying the failed policies of the past, then outlines her own version of exactly the same policies.
That speech is little more than 'we mustn't invade Iraq again'.
That speech is little more than 'we mustn't invade Iraq again'.
CrabbedOne
Walking sideways snippily
The ritual of the full British kowtow.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
In the case of the US, they have previous with Iran, of course. The UK is doing as CrabbedOne says, kowtowing.
To an extent, it's a case of bugger's turn. To justify a military machine like the US's, you need enemies. And to justify the huge continued military presence in the Middle East, you need enemies in the Middle East.
not-bono-ever
meh
What purpose does it serve for Tess D'Lickspittles to back the invigorated US demonisation programme of Iran? Like Red Cuba, they have survived decades of blockading and sanctions, waking up every morning to remind the Great Satan that there are countries out there that do not roll over and assume the supine positon of a subjicated nation. I am in no way a supporter of iran- they are hardly a nordic style democracy - but in the big picture they are massively less of a cuntish setup than the US allies seem to run.
if she had any gumption, she would be able to articulate the reasoning behind her support rather than appearing to be the shitty cowardly henchman of a resurgent bully
if she had any gumption, she would be able to articulate the reasoning behind her support rather than appearing to be the shitty cowardly henchman of a resurgent bully
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Just to be backing the US, it appears. She certainly wouldn't be spouting that line if it weren't also the US line.
Plus, and I shudder at this, she and her ilk probably see themselves as some kind of wise counsel. They nudge the US in the right direction in private, but support them in public. Like the US gives a flying fuck what the UK thinks about anything.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
There is no reasoning behind the demonisation of Iran. As you say, it is a regime that has little to commend it, although it is far from the worst regime in the world, and as a society, Iran is large, young, dynamic, and changing, and a different kind of engagement with it could bring huge rewards.
But they don't want that. They don't want to help Iranians to change Iran from inside. They want Iran to be the enemy, and that requires demonisation. It requires speaking of 'Iran' as if it were a single entity, not Iranians and who and what they are, in their full diversity. It requires dehumanisation of the enemy, in short. Same old same old.
CrabbedOne
Walking sideways snippily
The British have been much more forward leaning in their vocal support of the GCC countries, and the KSA in particular, than the Americans. Obama was rather sniffy about their role in the GWOT and as a bit of a burden to the US. He talked of a emergent and hopefully moderating Iran in terms of the balance power. Trump was even more direct complaining of them freeloading on US military power. Though he's very pro-Israeli and anti-Iranian as are his team. I'd anticipate strong support for the Princes' war in Yemen from Trump but it's more because moves against Iran in Syria are complicated by his bromancing with Putin. A war with Iran is much more likely with Trump especially in his second term.
US Iranian relation hinge around Israel. Americans are increasingly besotted with the place. The US just isn't very dependant on the Gulfies anymore. In this century the oil is strategic but they don't need it themselves. It's more a component in keeping globalisation running smooth with Asians and Europeans being big consumers. The 5th Fleet's old mission in the Gulf is essentially a favour to allies and the great frenemy and US commercial partner China. The mega-arms deals are nice of course but they don't loom as large as in the far smaller British economy. The British are also a big Gulf hydro-carbon customer by a lot of gas from Qatar for instance.
Iran is a 3rd world country that itself is very bellicose and certainly a troublesome actor. It would be a handful to invade but it's just much safer to kick around rhetorically than say the Russians who have the capability to turn very nasty. When that lot started bombing the Syrian revolt into submission the wind rather went out of our sails. The British government wound its neck in and increasingly followed US cues. Now its all keyed off the rather inconsistent Trump. It's plain he'll dictate much of UK foreign policy.
The British enmity with the GCC's enemy Iran is often more driven but its of a piece with the toadying 21st century British politicians excel at. David Cameron was unctuous in his service to the KSA. His Libyan war that he dragged the reluctant Obama into was in part driven by a foolish spat Qaddafi had with the Saudi King leading to an assassination attempt on the latter. Obama saw that war as his greatest mistake. In Syria (a proxy war with Iran) the Brits often seemed to crave a full US military intervention while being nervous of more than a token involvement themselves. In Yemen the Americans supported the Saudi war but it was the FO always stridently denying any possibility of war crimes. Many Tories have also shifted to a fanatically pro-Israeli position which is now a marker of the Right thinking man. It's not all rational calculation though there's some vestige of Empire lingering in the air in No 10 that just seems to make the occupant feel the need to be bellicose.
CrabbedOne
Walking sideways snippily
"Closed, coercive and cruel societies" have a pretty good record of winning lately as well.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
By what measure do you judge Iran a 3rd world country? As for Iran being bellicose, when was the last time an Iranian army invaded anybody?
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
And lo and behold a load of new enemies have been created
ska invita
back on the other side
Just read a few pieces on Nick Timothy (hadnt heard of him before) - this one tells the most
Who is Theresa May's ‘muse’ with great influence over the PM?
working-class tory supposedly
Who is Theresa May's ‘muse’ with great influence over the PM?
working-class tory supposedly
J Ed
Follow Back Pro Expropriation
Mentioned a bit in the first post, the themes of some of Nick Timothy's writing is very similar to the sort of thing you'd hear from Trump or from Breitbart.
http://www.conservativehome.com/the...king-liberalism-of-our-governing-classes.html
Of course, as brogdale pointed out his actual politics are at odds with his rhetoric, and I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up seeing the same from Bannon.
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Why do so many people think that Trump = War ?
The man believes that he's a shrewd businessman, he believes that deals can be struck and that he's he man to strike them.
I have no idea if he's a good businessman or not, it seems the fun 'fact' that "had he done fuck-all with his father's fortune he'd be richer now" may not be true. And he has just won the presidency of the United States, (remember mocking GW for being stoopid? Stoopid!).
Fuck it all, I'm with Tim Peake, fuck off back to space.
The man believes that he's a shrewd businessman, he believes that deals can be struck and that he's he man to strike them.
I have no idea if he's a good businessman or not, it seems the fun 'fact' that "had he done fuck-all with his father's fortune he'd be richer now" may not be true. And he has just won the presidency of the United States, (remember mocking GW for being stoopid? Stoopid!).
Fuck it all, I'm with Tim Peake, fuck off back to space.
brogdale
Coming to terms with late onset Anarchism
Heard Will Davies lecture the other evening on the rise of the 'spectacular' in the (social)media output of the right....in the context of 'advanced neoliberalism' and the hegemony of the 'post-juridical, technocratic, digital elite'. Full of 'ideas' that fella.
Actually was a very interesting talk!
J Ed
Follow Back Pro Expropriation
I would be really interested to hear this. Was it recorded?
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
How about we keep you down here and send Trump and pence into space?
brogdale
Coming to terms with late onset Anarchism
I'll PM you.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
He's a cunt, I went to school with him. He was from a working class area (Tile Cross) but moved to a posh part of Sutton Coldfield when he was about 13, so the family was clearly doing alright. He was a bully hiding behind humour and an arse licking good nature with the teachers. Obsessed with Pop Will Eat Itself iirc.
Unsurprisingly a bit of a teenage racist, good spin bowler though.
DotCommunist
So many particulars. So many questions.
he's a thin skinned narcissist who's desire for vengeance and desire to be 'right' and the Big Man makes people nervous
CrabbedOne
Walking sideways snippily
In TDS Britain's May meets Erdogan to seek stronger Turkey ties
A dangerous, overbearing fanatic, intent on despotic rule, with no respect for democratic institutions and then May has to meet Erdogan.
A dangerous, overbearing fanatic, intent on despotic rule, with no respect for democratic institutions and then May has to meet Erdogan.
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