| Rockstar |
04-12-24 07:30 AM |
Dear lawdy baby jeebus you people need help.
Frankly, as an American IÂ’m much more concerned with April 1st and Iran and their proxies striking here in retaliation. Germany should be concerned too. 3 suspected Islamist terrorists have been arrested in Germany after planning to massacre people attending church masses in the area of DĂĽsseldorf
Global Britain is becoming a stooge of the US
Like I said when a whole nation is on the fast track of becoming irrelevant on the global stage not much else do to but just do what your told and post whataboutisms and what ifs.
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The scenes as American and British troops withdrew from Afghanistan were heartbreaking. People desperate to leave the country they love, offering up their children for transportation to a more peaceful country, being crushed to death for a chance at freedom.
Those horrific scenes were also visual confirmation of Britain’s waning influence in the world, despite hoping to become “Global Britain” in the wake of Brexit. Tom Tugendhat, a Conservative member of parliament and chair of the foreign affairs select committee, described the departure from Afghanistan as “the biggest foreign policy disaster since Suez”.
The 1956 Suez crisis – which ended with the US pressuring the British and French to end their invasion of Egypt – was a turning point in British foreign policy. It held up a mirror to the British political establishment, showing the public very clearly how Britain’s overseas influence had declined.
The Leave campaign pitched post-EU Britain as an outward-looking world leader, fighting for the ideals the UK holds dear. But when push came to shove in Afghanistan, here were the British, again following the USÂ’s lead.
In his first official private meeting with US president Joe Biden since Biden took office, Boris Johnson was keen to leverage the “special relationship” to build Britain’s international status and cement its position as the ally of choice for the US. But a closer look at the status of this relationship suggests the UK has, instead of taking a step towards becoming “Global Britain”, traded its leading role in the EU for a subordinate one in the shadow of the US.
The “special relationship’” is built on military cooperation and the sharing of intelligence and the complementary elements of the US and UK intelligence services allow valuable information to travel in both directions. Any problems or issues within the relationship, such as the repercussions of the tragic death of Harry Dunn after being hit by a vehicle driven by the wife of a US intelligence officer, are quickly compartmentalised and largely forgotten about to maintain the working practices of the two partners.
By 2016, with the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House, many observers of British foreign policy recognised that the heady days of the Thatcher-Reagan or Blair-Bush partnerships were gone. In the short term, BritainÂ’s priorities were the Brexit negotiations and to build a relationship with Trump, beginning with a state visit to the UK. While the relationship between Theresa May and Trump may not have been perfect (nor the relationship between Johnson and Trump) it did at least keep the train on the tracks as far as the relationship was concerned.
The election of Biden, the Obama-era vice president and a Democrat, promised someone perhaps more level-headed than Trump. Still, there were concerns over Biden’s – an Irish-American Catholic’s – views on Northern Ireland and the Brexit negotiations, compounded by some objectionable comments Johnson made about Obama when Biden was vice president.
Moving forward
So far, we have seen very little of that “specialness” between Biden and Johnson, but tensions and complaints over Afghanistan were eased with two recent initiatives.
The first was AUKUS, the deal between the US, UK and Australia to provide nuclear submarines for use in the Pacific region.
Beyond its immediate financial benefits for the UK, this deal builds a stronger relationship with Australia, where Britain is very keen to sign a trade deal, and it demonstrates some closeness between the UK and the US. Being able to “get one over” on the French is, for some, just an added benefit.
The second was the easing of travel restrictions between the US and the UK (and large parts of the EU). This was something the UK and EU had been working on and the success was counted, in both London and Brussels, as a sign of improving relations with Washington.
However, the UK government would be foolish to believe their own hype. The “special relationship” is far more special in London than it is in Washington and the election of Biden will not change that. While a post-Brexit Britain needs the US more than ever, the US needs the UK considerably less, and benefits come with costs.
After his meeting with Biden, Johnson claimed he hadnÂ’t been asked about Northern Ireland and the issue of Brexit. The White House transcripts disagreed, demonstrating that the US are unafraid to demand action and the UK can do very little to frustrate them. While Johnson may be able to ignore BidenÂ’s demands in private, he will be far less able if they ever become loudly public.
The US has always been able to shout “jump” and the UK ask “how high?” but the public humiliation which goes with that does not fit well with the post-Brexit rhetoric of a strong, “global” Britain. Voters may well hold the Johnson government responsible for any perceived decline they see in the UK’s global influence.
As happened in Suez, the UK has been reminded that it is an – but not the only – important country internationally. It isn’t in the big leagues, and therefore it will need to ensure it remains allied to a much bigger player if it wants to see its influence bear fruit.
That could have been the EU perhaps, or even the UN security council or Nato. But as Britain has done before, it has looked to the US – an example, perhaps, of what French foreign minister Clement Beaune described as Britain’s “accepted vassalisation”.
Britain in the 1950s was wedded to the US, acting as a partner rather than leading the charge. Now, while the UK continues to support the US, the influence it has seems negligible. While it may bring comfort to the UK to feel it is a partner to a superpower, being its stooge or subordinate is an unpleasant place to be, no matter how much you tell yourself it values your opinion.
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I know itÂ’s hard to put the tabloid news down, but try. This might give you all a clue.
C SPAN
WordForWord
https://mailchi.mp/c-span/8x54njb61g-6360102
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Good Thursday evening. In this edition: Japanese PM Kishida makes case for American leadership on the world stage; and FBI Director Wray warns of rising threats, urges FISA reauthorization.
American Leadership
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged Americans to overcome their "self-doubt" as he called for the U.S. to retain its "indispensable" role on the world stage.
"You believed that freedom is the oxygen of humanity," he said in an address to a joint meeting of Congress. "The world needs the United States to continue playing this pivotal role in the affairs of nations. And yet, as we meet here today, I detect an undercurrent of self-doubt among some Americans about what your role in the world should be."
"This self-doubt is arising at a time when our world is at history's turning point. The post–Cold War era is already behind us, and we are now at an inflection point that will define the next stage of human history." The prime minister said values long championed by the U.S. are being challenged on multiple fronts and drew a direct connection between Russia's war in Ukraine and China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. "China's current external stance and military actions present an unprecedented and the greatest strategic challenge, not only to the peace and security of Japan, but to the peace and stability of the international community at large," he said.
"As I often say, Ukraine of today may be East Asia of tomorrow."
His remarks were not so subtly directed at the contingent of House Republicans who have subscribed to the more isolationist "America First" foreign policy view and oppose sending additional military assistance to Ukraine. "I want to address those Americans who feel the loneliness and exhaustion of being the country that has upheld the international order almost single-handedly," the PM said.
"I am here to say that Japan is already standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States. You are not alone. We are with you."
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he intends to put an Ukraine aid bill on the floor, but what that might look like and when he would do so remains unclear. A majority of lawmakers in both parties support Ukraine aid, but a sizeable chunk of the Republican conference as well as former President Trump is opposed.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has also strongly suggested she would trigger a vote to oust the speaker if he allows the Senate-passed Ukraine bill to come to the floor. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) today suggested that Democrats might provide the votes necessary to save the speaker's job if he allows a vote on the Senate bill.
"I believe that there are a reasonable number of Democrats who would not want to see the speaker fall as a result of doing the right thing," he said.
National Security & FISA
FBI Director Christopher Wray warned lawmakers about rising threats to Americans as he pressed Congress to fully fund his agency and provide the necessary tools to protect the homeland.
"As I look back over my career in law enforcement, I would be hard-pressed to think of a time where so many threats to our public safety and national security were so elevated all at once. But that is the case as I sit here today," he said during a House hearing on his agency's FY 2025 budget request.
Director Wray said the FBI's most pressing concern is an attack inspired by the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, but that he was growing increasingly worried about an attack in the U.S. like the one carried out last month in Moscow by an affiliate of the Islamic State.
The FBI director also said it was critical for Congress to quickly reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a controversial spy power that allows the government to conduct targeted surveillance on foreign nationals outside the U.S. without needing to obtain a warrant.
"Let me be clear: Failure to reauthorize 702 or gutting it with some new kind of warrant requirement would be dangerous and put Americans' lives at risk," he said.
The House on Wednesday failed to advance a reauthorization bill after 19 Republicans rebuffed their party leadership by sinking a rule vote that would have allowed the measure to come to the floor. Members of both parties have raised concerns about the incidental collection of Americans' data through 702, but infighting has stymied multiple efforts to reauthorize the program, which expires April 19.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) plans to try again tomorrow on a bill that would reauthorize the program for two years instead of the five years that was rejected Wednesday.
The Rules Committee meets tonight on the bill, and lawmakers are set to hold a vote on the rule tomorrow at 8:30am ET.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who supports FISA reauthorization, told reporters that Democrats would not help the speaker approve a rule for the bill, a responsibility that falls on the majority party.
See the House FBI hearing and watch the House session tomorrow morning.
In other newsÂ…
Republican senators have been denying routine unanimous consent requests, such as on motions to adjourn, in protest of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) plans to quickly dismiss the impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Forty-three Republicans sent a letter today to Sen. Schumer demanding he hold a full impeachment trial. The House is expected to transmit the articles on Tuesday.
A group of Maryland lawmakers unveiled a bill that would allow the federal government to cover the full cost of the recovery and rebuilding efforts for Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed last month after a cargo ship rammed into one of its support beams. "As we continue to mourn the loss of life and this icon of our skyline, we can simultaneously begin work to heal the wounds created by this disaster. A new bridge can be a symbol of hope and resilience," Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), the lead sponsor, said in a statement. It remains unclear how much it will cost.
For your radar...
The House returns early Friday morning to try again on the FISA reauthorization bill. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN at 8am ET.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and former President Trump are expected to hold a joint press conference on "election integrity" at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. The details of the event have not been finalized, but you'll be able to watch it online.
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Buckle up!
Channel 14 in Israel is reporting that an “Advanced Missile Ship” with the U.S. Navy, likely an Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile Destroyer, has arrived off the Coast of Israel to assist with the Interception of Missiles and Drones launched by Iranian and/or Iranian-Backed Proxy Groups against Israel.
Also, Qatar and Kuwait have informed the US that they cannot use their bases on their territories against Iran. This move basically reduces US capabilities significantly in the region
Scoop: Iran warns U.S. to stay out of fight with Israel or face attack on troops
https://www.axios.com/2024/04/12/ira...troops-warning
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Iran sent a message to the Biden administration through several Arab countries earlier this week: if the U.S. gets involved in the fighting between Israel and Iran, U.S. forces in the region will be attacked, three U.S. officials told Axios.
Why it matters: The U.S. and Israel are preparing for Iran to retaliate against Israel for an airstrike that killed a top Iranian general in Damascus last week.
The Iranian supreme leader has threatened "punishment" for Israel but through private channels Iran has signaled it would be limited.
Israel and the U.S. think an Iranian attack would include the launch of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and attack drones from Iran to Israeli territory.
U.S. officials say the Biden administration asked Israel to notify the U.S. and for the U.S. to have a say before decisions are made about any retaliation by Israel.
Behind the scenes: Three U.S. officials said that in recent days the Iranians told several Arab governments they see the U.S. as responsible for the Israeli attack that killed the Iranian general in Damascus, regardless of U.S. efforts to distance itself from the strike.
The Iranian message was that if the U.S. gets involved after an Iranian attack on Israel, U.S. bases in the region will be attacked.
"The Iranian message was we will attack the forces that attack us, so don't f--k with us and we won't f--k with you," one U.S. official said.
Between the lines: President Biden and other U.S. officials have said publicly the U.S. would help Israel defend itself against Iranian attacks.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant in a call on Thursday that Israel "could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened," the Pentagon said.
Gallant told Austin "a direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran."
A U.S. official told Axios it wasn't clear from the message received via several Arab countries whether the Iranians were threatening to attack U.S. forces if they help Israel intercept Iranian missiles or only if they participate in an Israeli retaliation.
The general assessment of the U.S. intelligence community is the Iranians could attack U.S. forces only if the U.S. joins Israel in a counteroffensive, according to the U.S. official.
Yes, but: Iran is sending a different message through other communication channels, including calls between the foreign ministers of the UK, Australia and Germany and their Iranian counterpart on Thursday.
Two U.S. officials said the Iranian message in these calls was more nuanced and signaled the Iranians are aimed at a limited response that will not lead to a regional escalation.
Another U.S. official said the U.S. is communicating directly with Iran through the formal Swiss channel of communication and Iran did not communicate threats through this channel.
U.S. officials have been in touch with regional partners to discuss efforts to message to Iran to not escalate the situation, a U.S. official said.
They've also been in touch with Israel to ensure they are able to defend themselves and at the same time prevent tensions from escalating, the official added.
What to watch: U.S. CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla is in Israel to coordinate the U.S.-Israeli defensive effort ahead of any possible Iranian strike, U.S. and Israeli officials said.
The officials stressed the Biden administration asked Israel in recent days to notify and consult the U.S. in advance of any Israeli retaliation against Iran.
The Biden administration felt Israel didn't consult and didn't give it an appropriate notice before its strike in Damascus that killed the Iranian general, even though such a strike could have had implications for U.S. forces in the region.
The Washington Post reported Austin complained to Gallant in a call on April 3 about the lack of sufficient notice from the Israeli side.
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