Thoughts on the Trump presidency

[The exile]

Oh yes exploring is no bad idea but I just cannot see the cash being available. If it were me I'd be working on pulling the skills and capabilities together to maintain the Trident missiles we have on hand ourselves should the need arise. That's probably a more achievable goal both practically and financially.

For me that would be a part of the “quietly manoeuvring”!

 

[najaB]

As I see it, there's a two-step process.

First step is building up the capability to service Trident missions ourselves so that we could take our allocation from the shared pool if a future US administration was to end the shared missile pool program. If sanity returns to the USA then it's not money wasted as we would be able to service their missiles on this side of the pond which can only be a good thing.

Second step is the design of a missile that is physically and electrically compatible with the Trident launch tubes, perhaps as a solo effort but more likely in collaboration with the French as outside the physical and electrical interface with the launcher there will be significant overlap in the actual motor stages, guidance, targeting and re-entry vehicles.

 

[Annetts key]

We just need to take a leaf out of the Chinese playbook: learn to copy the existing missile rocket design including the casing, fuel system, rocket motor etc.

After all, what happens if America finds out we have copied it, take us to court over copyright or other IP laws or rules?

But first, as suggested by others, working out how to carry out the maintenance would be the first priority. Especially as hopefully Trump will be out of power in about three years. And hopefully a more reasonable and stable government will have been elected.

 

[Krokodil]

And hopefully a more reasonable and stable government will have been elected.

What we have learned though is unless there are some serious changes to the constitution, we will never be able to trust the US again. Trump's first term could be written off as an aberration. The second term however proves that the Americans are never more than four years away from potentially electing a lunatic.

 

[Cowley]

What we have learned though is unless there are some serious changes to the constitution, we will never be able to trust the US again. Trump's first term could be written off as an aberration. The second term however proves that the Americans are never more than four years away from potentially electing a lunatic.

I agree. This has been an enormous wake up call unfortunately.

 

[sor]

We just need to take a leaf out of the Chinese playbook: learn to copy the existing missile rocket design including the casing, fuel system, rocket motor etc.

After all, what happens if America finds out we have copied it, take us to court over copyright or other IP laws or rules?

But first, as suggested by others, working out how to carry out the maintenance would be the first priority. Especially as hopefully Trump will be out of power in about three years. And hopefully a more reasonable and stable government will have been elected.

we don't need to. the Polaris Sales Agreement (as amended for Trident) already gives us access to the blueprints and other IP. So we'd be both ethically and legally in the clear

 

[Bayum]

Lewis Allgood interviewing MAGA commentator and Dr Halper-Hayes

I repeat. No new wars; this is a 47 year old war. It is not a new war.

 

[Krokodil]

Good grief she's utterly loopy!

 

[edwin_m]

Doesn't that make it a "forever war"?

 

[Killingworth]

Good grief she's utterly loopy!

You may think that but an awful lot of Americans think that way! Worse, they'll not easily, if ever, change their minds.

So far we've tended to focus our attention on the Gulf, oil prices and the effects it's having on poorer nations.

Internal schisms within the USA have been deepening since the Bush era. Where, when and how will they be manifest over the coming months? Good reasons to avoid the deeply troubled US for anything, possibly for many years, maybe decades!

 

[Annetts key]

Ahh, but the good news is that even a small split in the MAGA base will cause some people who voted for the GOP in the last main elections to either not bother to vote or vote for either an independent or vote for the Democrats. Remember, the spilt had already started before this recent attack on Iran by Trump.

Whatever Trump does now, the ordinary voters will continue feeling the rising cost of living and they are very likely to blame him and the GOP both in the November mid terms and blame the GOP in just under three years time as well.

As usual, everything Trump does becomes a train wreak.

And I don't see it getting any better until his wings are clipped. The question is, after the GOP lose in the house, what will happen?

Oh, and that woman, Dr Halper-Hayes, clearly doesn’t have a clue how international commodity markets such as the oil market work. It doesn’t matter how much oil the U.S. produces, the price is set by traders based around the whole world. And the price is not simply a reflection of current supply and demand, but also includes elements based on speculation and on future possible events.

 

[Gloster]

we don't need to. the Polaris Sales Agreement (as amended for Trident) already gives us access to the blueprints and other IP. So we'd be both ethically and legally in the clear

But what if Trump, or a future president, just decides to ignore the agreement and refuse us what we have a legal right to unless we do whatever he or she wants. Who do we complain to? (Next case in Lavender Hill Magistrates Court: The Crown v. The President of the United Stares.)

 

[Ediswan]

we don't need to. the Polaris Sales Agreement (as amended for Trident) already gives us access to the blueprints and other IP. So we'd be both ethically and legally in the clear

The US has renaged on a nuclear technology agreement before. The McMahon act of 1946.

 

[sor]

But what if Trump, or a future president, just decides to ignore the agreement and refuse us what we have a legal right to unless we do whatever he or she wants. Who do we complain to? (Next case in Lavender Hill Magistrates Court: The Crown v. The President of the United Stares.)

The US has renaged on a nuclear technology agreement before. The McMahon act of 1946.

We would, presumably, already have it in our possession as it is a deliverable under that contract. We don't need to ask Trump to give it to us.

I would hope the right experts have given it a once over and determined that it is sufficient for the UK to become... er.. self-sufficient if the need arises

 

[najaB]

But what if Trump, or a future president, just decides to ignore the agreement and refuse us what we have a legal right to unless we do whatever he or she wants. Who do we complain to? (Next case in Lavender Hill Magistrates Court: The Crown v. The President of the United Stares.)

The thing is, we already have the missiles in our possession and I'm pretty sure that we have the specs for the booster to sub interface since we've implemented a common missile compartment with the Americans.

 

[nw1]

After all, what happens if America finds out we have copied it, take us to court over copyright or other IP laws or rules?

Could we simply refuse to attend court?

I have to admit I don't really know how "the world" handles cases where one country takes another to court, and the defendant country simply refuses to play ball.

 

[Annetts key]

Could we simply refuse to attend court?

I have to admit I don't really know how "the world" handles cases where one country takes another to court, and the defendant country simply refuses to play ball.

Sorry, should have put a at the end of that sentence. Because legally the U.S. could do very little.

 

[dosxuk]

The thing is, we already have the missiles in our possession and I'm pretty sure that we have the specs for the booster to sub interface since we've implemented a common missile compartment with the Americans.

Are we allowed to share those specs with anyone though - such as a non-American approved manufacturer?

 

[najaB]

Are we allowed to share those specs with anyone though - such as a non-American approved manufacturer?

I'm sure we're not allowed to share them with, say, the DPRK. But the people who would likely need them in this scenario (eg. BAE Systems) are probably already signatories to the Official Secrets Act, etc.

 

[DelW]

It's hard to keep up .... all taken from the BBC's current live reporting.

Trump has now forgotten what he said yesterday, now no "help" is needed:

He says: "Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer 'need,' or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea.

"In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!"

His counter-terrorism director has resigned:

President Trump is asked about the resignation of Joe Kent, his director of national counterterrorism, who said he couldn't remain in his job because he cannot support the conflict in Iran.

"I read his statement," says Trump. "I always thought he was a nice guy but I always thought he was weak on security, very weak on security."

He continues: "I didn't know him well ... But when I read his statement I realised that it's a good thing that he's out, because he said Iran was not a threat.

So he hardly knew his own top counter-terrorism official? Who was "very weak"?

And just when it seemed he couldn't sink any lower, there's this:

Donald Trump has said he believes people with learning disabilities should not be president, as he renewed his taunts at California Governor Gavin Newsom over his dyslexia.

"With a low IQ person, you know, because Gavin Newscum has admitted that he is a, that he has learning disabilities," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. "Newscum" is Trump's nickname for the governor.

"Honestly, I'm all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president. I don't want, I think a president should not have learning disabilities, OK? And I know it's highly controversial to say such a horrible thing."

He added: "The President of the United States, Gavin Newscum, admitted that he has learning disabilities, dyslexia. Everything about him is dumb."

He's really challenging the likes of Putin as one of the vilest most despicable people on earth.

 

[Annetts key]

It's hard to keep up .... all taken from the BBC's current live reporting.

Trump has now forgotten what he said yesterday, now no "help" is needed:


His counter-terrorism director has resigned:

So he hardly knew his own top counter-terrorism official? Who was "very weak"?

And just when it seemed he couldn't sink any lower, there's this:


He's really challenging the likes of Putin as one of the vilest most despicable people on earth.

Yes, Trump, Putin and Netanyahu are all horrible people and all three of them lie when they think is suits them. which is most of the time.

Also it's a bit rich of Trump to accuse others of having a low IQ when he did not start off as being the sharpest tool in the box and is going backwards rapidly due to his dementia...

 

[Cowley]

Also it's a bit rich of Trump to accuse others of having a low IQ when he did not start off as being the sharpest tool in the box and is going backwards rapidly due to his dementia...

And clearly isn’t the most well read of people either…

 

[Annetts key]

And clearly isn’t the most well read of people either…

You are assuming he can and wants to read...

 

[Cowley]

You are assuming he can and wants to read...

Yes. You can often see that there’s some crushing personal insecurities behind some of his most venomous insults.

 

[RichJF]

It's hard to keep up .... all taken from the BBC's current live reporting.

Trump has now forgotten what he said yesterday, now no "help" is needed:


His counter-terrorism director has resigned:

So he hardly knew his own top counter-terrorism official? Who was "very weak"?

And just when it seemed he couldn't sink any lower, there's this:


He's really challenging the likes of Putin as one of the vilest most despicable people on earth.

We should also advocate that men who are rumoured to be incontinent & need medical attention should not be allowed to be president.

 

[Krokodil]

Trump has now forgotten what he said yesterday

Jon Stewart has organised a panel of different Trumps to clear up any misunderstandings:

You are assuming he can and wants to read...

We only know that he can read because he once had a tantrum when his autocue packed in.

 

[Harpo]

We should also advocate that men who are rumoured to be incontinent & need medical attention should not be allowed to be president.

Rumoured? He’s proven conclusively that he’s verbally incontinent.

 

[martin butler]

I think we, the west now needs to dissolve NATO to reform it with our friends, who share our values, that means no Hungry, no US, no Slovenia, but with others such as Australia and Canada,

The US, now is not our friend, and i would argue should be viewed as an adversary, any info we share ends up on Putin's desk via the trump administration anyway,

Can the US be saved from itself? I don't think it can, it needs at least a whole generation, to experience what project 2025 is really about before sanity, if it ever does return, and in the meanwhile, Europe, and the rest of the world has to stand up for what is right, the rule of law,

 

[nw1]

I think we, the west now needs to dissolve NATO to reform it with our friends, who share our values, that means no Hungry, no US, no Slovenia, but with others such as Australia and Canada,

The US, now is not our friend, and i would argue should be viewed as an adversary, any info we share ends up on Putin's desk via the trump administration anyway,

Can the US be saved from itself? I don't think it can, it needs at least a whole generation, to experience what project 2025 is really about before sanity, if it ever does return, and in the meanwhile, Europe, and the rest of the world has to stand up for what is right, the rule of law,

I think the elections going the right way this November and in 2028 could still save the US from itself. There is a lot of dislike of Trump and his regime in the US and I can see quite significant pushback.

That said, they should be considered as vulnerable to further hard-right takeover so yes, I think there is a good case for the rest of the West going it alone.

 

[Killingworth]

I think the elections going the right way this November and in 2028 could still save the US from itself. There is a lot of dislike of Trump and his regime in the US and I can see quite significant pushback.

That said, they should be considered as vulnerable to further hard-right takeover so yes, I think there is a good case for the rest of the West going it alone.

Except the US does have a point insofar as they are providing a veey large proportion of the military hardware and manpower. We may detest Trump and all he spouts but our inability to keep our few warships at sea is beyond an embarrassment.