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Grier said:
The UK has Nukes too. I read Germany doesn't but has the ability to air drop US nukes if asked ... 🤔
France has quite an arsenal of nukes.
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Correct, Terry. The difference between French and British nukes is that only France has full control over them while the codes for the UK ones are in the White House.
Craig, I also need to be in concentration mode to recall that economically the UK is out but militarily it's not, thank God.
 
Richie said:
Degree in Economics will do me for a leader or a treasurer. Angus is also a Rhodes scholar. It should have been him that took the Libs to the last election, not that buffoon Dutton.
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Not entirely sure why ex Lib PM Turnbull said "Taylor is a very highly qualified idiot." A double entendre ?
I liked Turnbull and thought he got a raw deal from back stabbing Morrison, and then the Liberals went on to hard right leaners with Dutton and now Taylor with hard right ideologies.
"Lite One Nation" I heard jested.
I always thought Taylor to be deliberately contrary with never a good word to say. He's an angry Angus unwittingly about to send the Libs into obscurity imo with One Nation Ultra hard right leap frogging the coalition by 9% in polls now. Who knows, my crystal ball is foggy? PM Hanson?
Both my grown up daughters vote One Nation as do their lesser halves. I accept that and refuse our differing politics to come between us. I make light of it.
How about 40 months in the wilderness? 40 years?
The times are a changing.

Susan Ley did stuff up but the wannabes were waiting to strike, as they did. Hastie was too hasty?
First female Leader of the Libs ever and only lasted 9 months. I felt for her and wish her well going back to flying planes. What a sad loss, but it was on the cards from the get go, with her being "just a woman".
 
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Trump's done another back flip with Rubio sucking up to Europe as a beloved ally.

What!

Listening to comments from European leaders, it's hard to trust the US nowadays given their past actions, like wanting to annex Greenland.

One Leader commentator felt suspicious of Rubio's words sensing undertones of connivance.
Yeah! More weasel words imo.

Poor old US of DJT is being circumvented more and more.
All their once friends are avoiding the capricious US.
 
Grier said:
Taylor with hard right ideologies.
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Not bothered what side of the fence he is, the man is a qualified economist (Bachelor of Economics.), unlike Chalmers whose academic background focuses on politics and policy rather than formal economics. Perhaps Albo should be the Treasurer as he too holds a BOE.
 
Richie said:
Not bothered what side of the fence he is, the man is a qualified economist (Bachelor of Economics.), unlike Chalmers whose academic background focuses on politics and policy rather than formal economics. Perhaps Albo should be the Treasurer as he too holds a BOE.
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I'd forgotten Albo holds a BOE.
Early days with Angus so we'll see how he goes. The Coalition has a lot of catching up to do what with internal splits, the Teals and One Nation surging ahead taking seats off the Coalition too.
Both my daughters love Pauline! One wants PM Hanson!
Where did I go wrong?!🤭
Family before Politics.
My dear old Dad was a die hard Liberal voter.
 
Grier said:
Both my daughters love Pauline! One wants PM Hanson!
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No thanks. PM Joyce I can take. I'd like to say President Joyce, but apparently ON are monarchists like you. gggrrr. So if they get into power no chance of a Republic before I fall off the perch.
 
Grier said:
All their once friends are avoiding the capricious US.
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Yes. The most outspoken is Macron. But most other nations are on the same page and their voice is becoming louder.

While Russia flounders the EU are strengthening, the last thing the Kremlin wanted. I watched a video about a significant drone raid on a missile fuel plant by Ukraine and the massive repercussions this will have on both Mad Vlads war machine and the economy. See if I can find it and will post. This kinda news is never heard on mainstream media.
 
I'm a bit surprised that both of you specifically referred to politicians having a Bachelor's degree deducing that it would qualify them for a specific position. In Germany that would only indicate that someone has completed a degree course and thus has a profession but people wouldn't conclude that it qualifies them for an office.
Aren't the Aussies as pragmatic as the Brits by focusing more on on-the-job training and taking a more generalist approach to tasks and projects?
 
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One of the best Liberal PMs Malcolm Turnbull, a Rhodes scholar himself, said of Rhodes scholar Taylor that he's the most qualified fool, or words to that affect.
 
Richie said:
Not sure this is the one I watched, but subject is the same.
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...strikes deep in Russia

...and is using its own weapons. In Munich, Zelensky admitted that the Russians had identified and destroyed the most important production facility for the new Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile. Production had to be moved to a new location. Nevertheless, last week up to six Flamingos were fired at a large ammunition depot near Volgograd. Videos show explosions, and Ukraine reports that the plant was hit. The Russians claim to have shot down five Flamingos, with the sixth hitting its target.
 
looker-on said:
...strikes deep in Russia

...and is using its own weapons. In Munich, Zelensky admitted that the Russians had identified and destroyed the most important production facility for the new Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile. Production had to be moved to a new location. Nevertheless, last week up to six Flamingos were fired at a large ammunition depot near Volgograd. Videos show explosions, and Ukraine reports that the plant was hit. The Russians claim to have shot down five Flamingos, with the sixth hitting its target.
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Clever Ukraine developing its own missiles because their western allies promised long range missiles but have not delivered them to my knowledge.

Dont believe Russian reports of strike damage. Mostly Kremlin propaganda. Analysts claim UK has reclaimed 200k of occupied land in the south last few weeks. The Russkies are feeling the pinch from their floundering economy caused by waste to build its war chest. The major sufferers are its own people about whom the Kremlin doesnt give a flying F**K.
 
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Grier said:
One of the best Liberal PMs Malcolm Turnbull,
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He was Chair of the Australian Republican Movement from 1993 to 2000, and was one of the leaders of the unsuccessful "Yes" campaign in the 1999 republic referendum ... Only thing I like about Turnball.

What a joke of a referendum as Howard knew by NOT offering the people the honor of electing the President, that the REF was bound to fail. Only thing I disliked about Howard.

The Australian mastheads Associate Editor Graham Lloyd warns Turnbull risks diminishing his own influence and reputation with continued attacks on Taylor.

So I'd say Turnball is the 'qualified idiot' not Taylor.
 
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Richie said:
Dont believe Russian reports of strike damage. Mostly Kremlin propaganda.
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Agree. They don't usually do that except it's to their advantage. It's good to be suspicious. My source was this guy who I usually trust. He's frequently interviewed by major newspapers which are not known as spreading Russian propaganda.
Markus Reisner - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markus_Reisner#Professional_life

That reclaiming of land was only possible 'cos the Russians were denied further access to Starlink. They are now using 5G platforms lifted by balloons which can be operational high above the ground for days, the above-mentioned analyst says.
 
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looker-on said:
Agree. They don't usually do that except it's to their advantage. It's good to be suspicious. My source was this guy who I usually trust. He's frequently interviewed by major newspapers which are not known as spreading Russian propaganda.
Markus Reisner - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markus_Reisner#Professional_life

That reclaiming of land was only possible 'cos the Russians were denied further access to Starlink. They are now using 5G platforms lifted by balloons which can be operational high above the ground for days, the above-mentioned analyst says.
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Starlink service was restricted in parts of Ukraine and Russia primarily to prevent the system from being used for offensive combat operations, with SpaceX (Musk) aiming to keep it as a civilian network. Service limitations (geofencing) were implemented during Ukrainian offensives to avoid direct involvement in escalating the conflict, and unauthorized terminals used by Russian forces were deactivated in early 2026 to curb illegal usage.

fair enough, but 5G platforms on baloons ! That's inventive !
Necessity is the mother of invention I've heard say.
The whole unholy war has seen a shift upwards in the ways wars are fought, especially the use of all sorts of drones I'd say.

I heard today the vast majority of Russian conscripts come from Russin Rural areas and poor Africans, N Koreans, ...
Putin is bleeding Russia dry and its ally Iran has its plate full with the greatest, biggest, boldest, shiny Armada ever seen in all history, .... blah, blah, blah, ... sent to Intimidate those Puny, Pathetic Persians ... threats, warnings, deadlines,... blah, Taco, blah, blah, ...
No worries, the 'Bored of Peace' 💸😋 will fix everything.
 
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PM Carney of Canada was the Govenor of the bank of Canada and later Govenor of the bank of England.
His economic credentials and successes guiding those banks through turbulent times are highly impressive. Now Canada is facing the ire of Trump as Carney quietly worked forming new trade alliances away from the unpredictability of Trump's whimsically up and down tariffs. Apparently lavishing gifts to Trump oils the wheels of commerce with the US. Even blind Fredy can smell a rat.

Carney kept quiet holding his cards close. Making trade connections, agreements, contracts ... he found more reliable places to divert Canada's exports to countries of Europe like France, Germany, UK, Japan, .. China too I think. Anyway, it's in motion so selling to the US with its angry 😠 yoyo tariffs is just being avoided. No rancour from Carney, walk away and just don't answer the phone.
The border could even be shut? The World watches on, on how to deal with Trump.

Genius Trump didn't realise was how vital Canadian exports to the US are like Oil, Gas, Lithium, Rare Earths, Potash, Cobolt, rare Earth elements, Gallium, Niobium, Tungsten, Uranium, Aluminium, .... even Lumber. Other markets are being sought, a work in progress that Trump has just realised making him blow a fuse. What can he do? He treated Canada like dirt and it was within international law/norms that Canada could walk away from the US of Chaos, and stupidity. New shipping routes being sorted for Canada to friendly Japan.

It was a massive home goal for the US to see Canada walk, because those materials are vital to the US economy, its industry, electronics, farming, defence, .... it goes on. So the US will need to seek out its own new markets, like the Congo I think for rare earths. Of course this will further cost more for US imports, and then add on the dumb tariffs (citizen taxes).
That'll push up inflation to possibly 10%, unemployment, crime, shortages, ... not to mention the cuts to vital issues like health costs, infrastructure, defence, public servants, ...
Meanwhile Trumps is thumping out insults in all caps, especially drivel spitting insults towards the 6 high court judges out of 9 who ruled Trumps circus tariffs were illegal and stopped them.✋️ Worse still for the US, all those tariffs might have to be paid back. That'd be fun to watch but an accountant's nightmare.
 
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