Fleet of heavily armed US military planes land in England

fancythat

^Europe knows that combined we make a pretty solid block to Russia^

You dont sound convinced.

Plus what about threats to the Uk from elsewhere?

I’m not sure what you mean.

Am I convinced that the USA can no longer be relied upon? - yes

Am I convinced that Europe as a defensive block could defend itself against Russia? - yes. It wouldn’t be pretty, but what war is?

Threats to U.K. from elsewhere? You need to be more specific. Hopefully Europe has got over its forever war with each other. The EU has done a grand job of ensuring that.
Who else?

Europe is barely strong enough to defend itself[without US help] against Russia. In my opinion.
And that assumes it all acts together[cant see that happening either, at least not in the first instance].

Against the US, no chance.

fancythat

Europe is barely strong enough to defend itself[without US help] against Russia. In my opinion.
And that assumes it all acts together[cant see that happening either, at least not in the first instance].

Against the US, no chance.

I think in terms of actual numbers, USA will win hands down, however if all of Europe banded together I do believe it would be a strong and strategic alliance. It’s not just about “number of troops”, look at Ukraine.

Greenland gets to decide if it accepts a reasonable offer surely? Seems it’s not the first time buying Greenland has been a possibility. Doesn’t America have its history based on buying states?

Think of how Ukraine has been able to hold back Russia - the USA has withdrawn most of its help and yet Russia is still not finding it easy.

Europe combined would be able to do the same.

The point is that whether we would like USA help or not - we are not going to be able to rely upon it.

Europe has no choice but to build up its defences and not rely on the USA .

If they come to our aid it would be a bonus, but not seen as a given.

Cossy

fancythat

Europe is barely strong enough to defend itself[without US help] against Russia. In my opinion.
And that assumes it all acts together[cant see that happening either, at least not in the first instance].

Against the US, no chance.

I think in terms of actual numbers, USA will win hands down, however if all of Europe banded together I do believe it would be a strong and strategic alliance. It’s not just about “number of troops”, look at Ukraine.

I wasnt really going by number of troops.

I am going by technology.

The US had 7 US troops injured[apparently] in the Venezuela operation.

Though I agree that is not the same as trying to take over the whole Country.

Cossy said:

SueDonim
I couldn’t say about this alleged arrival of US aircraft but surely generally US bases are needed in the UK as part of the NATO defence system. If we expect the US to defend us, we have to play our part.
Do you think, currently, US would “defend” us?

Sorry, replying late to this. Sadly, I’m not sure they would defend us today. Historically, yes, I believe they would have come to our aid. We lived among US military in the UK during the 80’s and there seemed to be strong ties between the Brits and the Americans.

To be honest, I scarcely recognise today’s America compared to the one my son migrated to when he married his Californian wife more than twenty years ago. I don’t think his Dw’s family recognise their own country, either. It’s so sad.

If it was Iran there wouldn’t be a build up in UK, possibly exercises or Ukraine or just to discourage Russia from responding after taking over that tanker and maybe what’s to come from Trump.

Kittycat

Big planes been busy going over Norfolk, England.
We have several of their bases up here.

They rattle my roof tiles every Thursday when it's more routine flying times. Apparently during the Cold War East Anglia would have been one of the first areas to be hit because of the US presence.

SueDonim

Cossy said:

SueDonim
I couldn’t say about this alleged arrival of US aircraft but surely generally US bases are needed in the UK as part of the NATO defence system. If we expect the US to defend us, we have to play our part.
Do you think, currently, US would “defend” us?

Sorry, replying late to this. Sadly, I’m not sure they would defend us today. Historically, yes, I believe they would have come to our aid. We lived among US military in the UK during the 80’s and there seemed to be strong ties between the Brits and the Americans.

To be honest, I scarcely recognise today’s America compared to the one my son migrated to when he married his Californian wife more than twenty years ago. I don’t think his Dw’s family recognise their own country, either. It’s so sad.

The US has bases in other European countries, not just the UK.
They are NATO hubs.

There are around 10,000 US military based in UK at 13 bases as part of NATO support system, many of them communications and intelligence bases, some reserve and storage, a few full time active operations.

It seems to me that general dislike/ hatred of DT has now morphed into general dislike/ hatred of the US which is throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Oreo

It seems to me that general dislike/ hatred of DT has now morphed into general dislike/ hatred of the US which is throwing the baby out with the bath water.

It is worrying but it is because Trump and his thugs now represent the USA.

We are not seeing the normal, decent America of "mom and apple pie" any longer.

But there is an exciting and vibrant counter-culture very much alive and getting more so. Its also the US of demonstrations, art, vivid life-styles, and of course, the ordinary and loving nature of everyday life in ordinary homes the mobile home dwellers to the high rise of New York, the surfers of California, the people in Alaska living rough deliberately.

The sad thing is an attempt to impose Trumpian/Maga narrative diktats on all.

Remember this Woody Allen song, a celebration of the USA. "this land was made for you and me"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxiMrvDbq3s&list=RDwxiMrvDbq3s&start_radio=1

but also remember this bit of the song

"There was a big high wall there that tried to stop me
Sign was painted, said, "Private Property"
But on the back side, it didn't say nothing
This land was made for you and me".

and read the comments supportive of those in the USA who wish to follow what the USA was and could return to.

Don’t have too rosy a picture of the past US tho as they have always done things differently there and each State is very different to other States as well.
We need to be on the side of the US and to realise that whatever their domestic policies are like, it’s their business not ours, and further to that Trump won’t be in power there forever.

Remember this Woody Allen song, a celebration of the USA. "this land was made for you and me"

Woody Guthrie! Not the odious Woody Allen. 🙂

It was in fact a protest song, not a celebration, showing the contrast between the haves and have nots.
Woody Guthrie would probably be arrested if he wrote it now

Whoops major balls up there Allira, apologies to the memory of Woody Guthrie.

I think it was both a celebration of hope as well as a protest song, because its a claiming "for you and me" so I hold it dear from a time of confidence and looking forward.

What has gone can echo in the minds of those young now. The young people I do know are very much in an alternative scene - perhaps more evident in a big city- multicultural, artists, building ethically and climate aware lives, re cycling and cycling whenever possible, making gardens in urban wastelands, bringing their children up just as some of us did in the 70's who believe you can make the world better.

Carrying on the torch.

Listen to their voices too.

😁

I think it was written during the Depression era, highlighting inequalities in America at that time.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la meme chose.

Oreo

Trump is unlikely to attack Greenland but he may just move more and more military there instead.

And Russian tankers which are "empty" of oil may be carrying anything at all - equipment, troops, transport.

ronib

Greenland gets to decide if it accepts a reasonable offer surely? Seems it’s not the first time buying Greenland has been a possibility. Doesn’t America have its history based on buying states?

Greenland AND Denmark both need to decide, both have decided, both say “no deal”

Wyllow3

Whoops major balls up there Allira, apologies to the memory of Woody Guthrie.

I think it was both a celebration of hope as well as a protest song, because its a claiming "for you and me" so I hold it dear from a time of confidence and looking forward.

What has gone can echo in the minds of those young now. The young people I do know are very much in an alternative scene - perhaps more evident in a big city- multicultural, artists, building ethically and climate aware lives, re cycling and cycling whenever possible, making gardens in urban wastelands, bringing their children up just as some of us did in the 70's who believe you can make the world better.

Carrying on the torch.

Listen to their voices too.

Oh how I agree

Cossy

Wyllow3

Whoops major balls up there Allira, apologies to the memory of Woody Guthrie.

I think it was both a celebration of hope as well as a protest song, because its a claiming "for you and me" so I hold it dear from a time of confidence and looking forward.

What has gone can echo in the minds of those young now. The young people I do know are very much in an alternative scene - perhaps more evident in a big city- multicultural, artists, building ethically and climate aware lives, re cycling and cycling whenever possible, making gardens in urban wastelands, bringing their children up just as some of us did in the 70's who believe you can make the world better.

Carrying on the torch.

Listen to their voices too.

Oh how I agree

The ethos behind the song is very appropriate in today's America though.

Kittycat

Big planes been busy going over Norfolk, England.
We have several of their bases up here.

There often seem to be many flights above East Anglia.

^Oreo

Trump is unlikely to attack Greenland but he may just move more and more military there instead.^

Why do you think he is unlikely to "attack", whatever that can mean nowadays.