BTL the previous post, anon regales us with this quote relating to a pronouncement from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:
Donald Trump has reportedly asked the EU to levy tariffs of up to 100% on India and China, in order to increase pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
Well, the Polish situation demands some kind of response; else the next "unplanned" wave of Gerberas will be over Finland and Estonia. And I doubt NATO feels able to do much more than throw an aerial defensive screen around, say, Lviv - based firmly in Poland. Economic measures are all that Europe is really up to at the moment. The "coalition of the willing" is only looking at what it might do in the event of a ceasefire.
There is no doubt Russia is suffering economically just now (not to mention a growing shortage of gasoline and indeed water (sic) in the Donbas): and it might be made to suffer more. But it can suffer more! It's increasingly a war economy; and Russians are like that anyway (see this blog on many occasions).
Tense times. Who needs the feeble distractions of Rayner and Mandelson?
ND
5 comments:
I wonder if the demand for sanctions isn't Trump's get-out clause. He must know that more immiseration in Europe won't go down well. And what do we see in today's Graun?
"The newly appointed business secretary, Peter Kyle, is in Beijing for the UK’s first trade talks with the country in seven years in an attempt to revitalise economic relations. As part of a two day programme he held a bilateral with Li Lecheng, the minister of industry and information technology on Wednesday morning as part of a revived industrial cooperation dialogue, a Sino-British relationship format that has not sat since 2022. The ministry is responsible for industrial policy but also telecoms and the internet"
The wiki bios of Kyle and Lecheng are illuminating. One has a degree in "international development' and has made a career spending other people's dosh, one in "mechanical manufacturing process equipment and automation" and worked his way up from technician to factory then company director. Kyle will be eaten alive.
"demands some kind of response"
Well, that's what they said about the USS Maddox attack and the Gleiwitz radio station attack. I keep hearing from von der Lugen that it's possible to jam satellite signals - is is possible this happened? Most conveniently takes attention off a genuine attack in Qatar. Maybe I'm too suspicious ...
Well, "Donald Trump has reportedly asked the EU to levy tariffs of up to 100% on India and China, in order to increase pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine."
Um, OK. How exactly is that supposed to work? It looks suspiciously like the Administration has developed an obsession with tariffs as a magical silver bullet policy tool, as opposed to anything actually, y'know, coherent. Also, they might have inadvertently given the whole tariff game away.
Anyway; Deutsche Welle (and Reuters) have reported that the the Belorussians downed a number of stray drones, giving the electronic warfare environment as the reason;
https://p.dw.com/p/50GYQ, there doesn't seem to be any statement on where the drones were launched from.
Interesting omission, as Poland and Russia don't share a border. Belarus is right in the way. So the place is first in line to take a right old walloping.
Timing is curious, as the cunning little yellow devils held their V Day parade only a week ago.
"The "coalition of the willing" is only looking at what it might do in the event of a ceasefire."
Which would be based on the only public statements available. Something about swans springs to mind.
Anomalous Cowshed - thank you, that makes a lot of sense as I imagine Russia wants to keep NATO out of things. Whereas Poland?
"The heroic characteristics of the Polish race must not blind us to their errors, which over centuries have led them through measureless suffering…it is a mystery and tragedy of European history that a people capable of every heroic virtue, gifted, valiant, charming, as individuals, should repeatedly show such inveterate faults in almost every aspect of their governmental life.” - Churchill.
What is Russian for 'couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding'?
Trump has wisely ducked this one and dumped the problem firmly on Europe's desk. Trump may be an uncultured vulgarian but he has got OORUP sized up. Nuclear missiles are useless toys - except for the last 10 seconds, souped up Lancaster bombers are also useless and we don't have much in between. Anyway it keeps Europe out of Donald's hair for the forseeable while he fends off the lawyers back home and makes a few $$$.
Not buying Russian gas and oil is not really an option, I would rather see Buck House bombed and Starmer in chains than feel cold in my sitting room this winter. As would every European crusty. Trump knows this, he has got OORUP sized up and knows sanctions are useless. Any credible action would make Osborne's 'austerity' look like a multi billion jamboree.
America is no longer our policeman and the bad guys are making out like bandits. Few million hectares anyone? Note to self - test the generator tomorrow and buy more ravioli and butane.
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