Well done, the Koreans, imo.

[redgunamo]

#TheGreatAwakening

[Burney]

#TheGreatAwakening

I really am struggling to see how the Trump haters are reconciling this with their conviction that he's a terrible President and bound to get us all wiped out in a nuclear conflict.

His foreign policy actions have led to a thaw in Korean relations unprecedented in 70 years and the effective neutralisation of a rogue nuclear state.

That in itself is more than every US President since Reagan combined has achieved in foreign policy.

[Rich]

#TheGreatAwakening

What is the north's motive here, do you suppose? It seems a remarkable turnaround from the rhetoric we've become accustomed to.

Do you think China has made it clear to the North that their loyalty is not limitless?

[Ash]

#TheGreatAwakening

Where we go one we go all.

[Tony C]

Has Trump done enough for his Noble Peace Prize?

Or will he have to calm down the Russians and Assad too?

Poor guy can’t do everything on his own imo

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

Has Trump done enough for his Noble Peace Prize?

Or will he have to calm down the Russians and Assad too?

Poor guy can’t do everything on his own imo

. . . . . .

[Burney]

What is the north's motive here, do you suppose? It seems a remarkable turnaround from the rhetoric we've become accustomed to.

Do you think China has made it clear to the North that their loyalty is not limitless?

Trump has made clear to China that it can either protect NK or effectively enter into a trade war with the US it cannot afford and which would stop its economic development in its tracks. In effect, he made China an offer it couldn't refuse.

With China's non-intervention assured, it would also appear (see redgunamo passim) that the US military has neutralised NK's nuclear capability. Without China's support or nukes, NK has no leverage and is forced to the table.

[redgunamo]

What is the north's motive here, do you suppose? It seems a remarkable turnaround from the rhetoric we've become accustomed to.

Do you think China has made it clear to the North that their loyalty is not limitless?

#MAGA, innit. And trade. We're fishing for China using the Norks as bait. Same with Russia/Iran.

We are cheating hard, of course, but the feeling is, as they've been cheating on us for decades, it's all fair enough.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

I really am struggling to see how the Trump haters are reconciling this with their conviction that he's a terrible President and bound to get us all wiped out in a nuclear conflict.

His foreign policy actions have led to a thaw in Korean relations unprecedented in 70 years and the effective neutralisation of a rogue nuclear state.

That in itself is more than every US President since Reagan combined has achieved in foreign policy.

I think a lot of the wide spread pessimism is partly because there’s an unwillingness to acknowledge Trump’s tactics have worked. Granted they’ve been down this road before which in turn creates pessimism but it looks to be different this time.

[Burney]

I think a lot of the wide spread pessimism is partly because there’s an unwillingness to acknowledge Trump’s tactics have worked. Granted they’ve been down this road before which in turn creates pessimism but it looks to be different this time.

I think there's also a failure to grasp that, although Trump is no-one's idea of a diplomat or genius, it is still possible for his administration to achieve foreign policy coups. Because when you are the biggest economy and most powerful military on earth, you don't actually have to be a genius to get results. You just have to be prepared to use the leverage those two statuses give you. Most US Presidents have been afraid to do this when it comes to the Chinese.

[redgunamo]

I think there's also a failure to grasp that, although Trump is no-one's idea of a diplomat or genius, it is still possible for his administration to achieve foreign policy coups. Because when you are the biggest economy and most powerful military on earth, you don't actually have to be a genius to get results. You just have to be prepared to use the leverage those two statuses give you. Most US Presidents have been afraid to do this when it comes to the Chinese.

Trump's genius is to not be a genius, do you mean? :-(

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

the US military has neutralised NK's nuclear capability.

So the yanks managed to sneak into North Korea. Sneak past NK security at their big nuclear testing mountain thing. Explode a couple of enormous bombs (carried presumably in their rucksacks) to collapse the mountain and sneak out again. They'll have used the old 'becoming invisible' juice I've seen in Bond films then.

I mean, I enjoy Red's posts as much as the next man but you do realise he isn't actually a member, ex or otherwise, of some clandestine military unit with super-natural powers? He's an old tosser that served in the British Army in Germany, set up home there when he was discharged (honourably) and did alright for himself. Very good with dogs I reckon.

[Burney]

Trump's genius is to not be a genius, do you mean? :-(

Essentially, yes. The tendency of really clever people is to overcomplicate things, empathise too much and try and think 20 moves ahead. They lose sight of their goals. They will try to untie the Gordian knot, when what it really needs is simply a swift sword stroke.

Trump's approach is to look at what the US wants, look at what cards it has to play and play them.

As Nelson said: "Never mind manoeuvres. Go straight at 'em."

[Burney]

So the yanks managed to sneak into North Korea. Sneak past NK security at their big nuclear testing mountain thing. Explode a couple of enormous bombs (carried presumably in their rucksacks) to collapse the mountain and sneak out again. They'll have used the old 'becoming invisible' juice I've seen in Bond films then.

I mean, I enjoy Red's posts as much as the next man but you do realise he isn't actually a member, ex or otherwise, of some clandestine military unit with super-natural powers? He's an old tosser that served in the British Army in Germany, set up home there when he was discharged (honourably) and did alright for himself. Very good with dogs I reckon.

Well NK's nuclear facilities have undergone some sort of catastrophic event that has rendered them beyond use. That's on the record. I guess the rest comes down to whether you believe that's just happy accident.

Of course, this catastrophe occurred in September 2017. At the same time, the USS Jimmy Carter returned to port flying the Jolly Roger indicating a successful covert operation. Again, it depends on your willingness to believe in coincidence, I guess.

https://nypost.com/2017/09/14/secret-us-submarine-returns-to-port-flying-skull-and-crossbones/

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

Well NK's nuclear facilities have undergone some sort of catastrophic event that has rendered them beyond use. That's on the record. I guess the rest comes down to whether you believe that's just happy accident.

Of course, this catastrophe occurred in September 2017. At the same time, the USS Jimmy Carter returned to port flying the Jolly Roger indicating a successful covert operation. Again, it depends on your willingness to believe in coincidence, I guess.

https://nypost.com/2017/09/14/secret-us-submarine-returns-to-port-flying-skull-and-crossbones/

I think it far more likely the NK's managed to fúck it up for themselves. Even if they had any credible geological expertise in that country that might have sounded alarms about the facility's instability, it is unlikely that the fat little **** would listen.

Would have told them the mountain would stand fast bound by revolutionary socialist fervour and the will of the people - before having them shot of course.

[Burney]

I think it far more likely the NK's managed to fúck it up for themselves. Even if they had any credible geological expertise in that country that might have sounded alarms about the facility's instability, it is unlikely that the fat little **** would listen.

Would have told them the mountain would stand fast bound by revolutionary socialist fervour and the will of the people - before having them shot of course.

Maybe. I just get a bit suspicious when an event like this occurs that just so happens to suit US foreign policy requirements perfectly.

[redgunamo]

Maybe. I just get a bit suspicious when an event like this occurs that just so happens to suit US foreign policy requirements perfectly.

I suppose young Kim just happened to be photographed on the Chinese border the other day, smiling and with the symbolic chain that separates his country from his neighbour to the north lying broken on the ground ..symbolically, apparently resolving centuries of dispute :rubchin:

https://24.p3k.hu/app/uploads/2017/12/a_000_v039r_gettyimageshungary_eza-800x482.jpg

[Ash]

I suppose young Kim just happened to be photographed on the Chinese border the other day, smiling and with the symbolic chain that separates his country from his neighbour to the north lying broken on the ground ..symbolically, apparently resolving centuries of dispute :rubchin:

https://24.p3k.hu/app/uploads/2017/12/a_000_v039r_gettyimageshungary_eza-800x482.jpg

Not much of a border for the supposedly most closed and secretive country in the world. Maybe The Donald can sell 'em a wall while he's over there.

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

Not much of a border for the supposedly most closed and secretive country in the world. Maybe The Donald can sell 'em a wall while he's over there.

That'll be where the GI's snuck in to sabotage the mountain. Pointless having a chain if you gonna let it flop down like that.

[redgunamo]

Not much of a border for the supposedly most closed and secretive country in the world. Maybe The Donald can sell 'em a wall while he's over there.

They're the Eastern Irish, A. Crazy and drunk.

[Herbert Augustus Chapman]

They're the Eastern Irish, A. Crazy and drunk.

The Chinee or the Korean? At the risk of kicking off a Twitter storm, I have to admit they all look the same to me.

[redgunamo]

The Chinee or the Korean? At the risk of kicking off a Twitter storm, I have to admit they all look the same to me.

Yes, #MeToo. Traditionally though, we mean those of Korea.

[redgunamo]

I think it far more likely the NK's managed to fúck it up for themselves. Even if they had any credible geological expertise in that country that might have sounded alarms about the facility's instability, it is unlikely that the fat little **** would listen.

Would have told them the mountain would stand fast bound by revolutionary socialist fervour and the will of the people - before having them shot of course.


Of course, H, all this is just guesswork on my part, trying to join some dots.

[Burney]

Of course, H, all this is just guesswork on my part, trying to join some dots.

He's also brought ABBA back together, r. Is there nothing The Donald can't do?

[Pokster]

He's also brought ABBA back together, r. Is there nothing The Donald can't do?

sort out our defence?

[Burney]

sort out our defence?

I'd love The Donald as our next manager. :cloud9:

[Ash]

Of course, H, all this is just guesswork on my part, trying to join some dots.

Well, if we were to entertain the eccentric theory in some quarters that NK is secretly run by the Clowns In America, all you have to do is appoint a friendly chief, such as Pompeo in this case, and Mike's your Man from Uncle.

Was never strongly persuaded by that particularly theory, I have to say.

[SWv2]

Well, if we were to entertain the eccentric theory in some quarters that NK is secretly run by the Clowns In America, all you have to do is appoint a friendly chief, such as Pompeo in this case, and Mike's your Man from Uncle.

Was never strongly persuaded by that particularly theory, I have to say.

I say Ash old boy.

:wave:

[redgunamo]

sort out our defence?

Replace it with ABBA? :shrug:

[Ash]

I say Ash old boy.

:wave:

:wave:

Excited at the prospect of change?

At Arsenal. Not Korea.

Or both, but I imagine you are slightly less interested in Korea.

[redgunamo]

Well, if we were to entertain the eccentric theory in some quarters that NK is secretly run by the Clowns In America, all you have to do is appoint a friendly chief, such as Pompeo in this case, and Mike's your Man from Uncle.

Was never strongly persuaded by that particularly theory, I have to say.

Brennan, maybe. Pompeo is a good man, a cavalry officer.

[SWv2]

:wave:

Excited at the prospect of change?

At Arsenal. Not Korea.

Or both, but I imagine you are slightly less interested in Korea.

Very. Most exciting thing to happen at the football club in over a decade. Embrace the change A.

No comment on Korea. Remember we are being watched.

:watson: