Trump says our troops were not on the frontline in Afghanistan

I think it was Trump who arranged the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden was stuck with dealing with it.

I've read the posts and first I would like to congratulate the OP on a very British headline. It's factual, calm and open.

Starmer What Starmer has said so far is okay, but I hope he will make a very strong statement in Parliament next Wednesday.

King Charles I'm not sure if he should go to America or not. If he does he could focus on this being a visit to the American people, many of whom are worried by what has been said. Americans are and have been our allies. I'm not sure if they have ever been our friends. This was offensive, inaccurate, diplomatically insulting, and personally insulting to our armed services, but it was made by one man, who will be replaced, not by a whole country.

Mental Health I'm no a doctor or a psychiatrist but this is what I see in Trump:

Distorted ownership and consequence awareness
Inflated agency and entitlement
Boundary erosion

This describes some symptoms of the mania side of bipolar. Anyone unable to control such symptoms might well find themselves in a place of safety. Safety for themselves and for others.

America won WW2
By the time the US joined in late 1941:

Britain had been fighting Nazi Germany alone (in the West) for over a year

The USSR was already absorbing and inflicting catastrophic losses on the Wehrmacht

China had been fighting Japan since 1937

Much of Europe was already occupied and resisting. If those countries hadn’t been fighting; if Britain had capitulated, if the USSR hadn’t resisted, if China hadn’t tied down Japan, there is no scenario in which the US “wins WWII” on its own.

American involvement shortened the war, reduced some Allied losses, and shaped the postwar world enormously. But that’s not the same as “winning it alone.”

Um, wasn't it Joe Biden who sent troops to Afghanistan, and pulled them out too soon, leaving chaos in their wake?

Not a mistake. Mr Trump is addressing his voters in the US. He wants them to believe the US is best. Everyone else can ignore such fables.

As far as I've read, Trump must be one of he most hated men in the world. Does anybody have friends or relatives in the USA and can explain how he was voted in . More importantly, how he is still in the post as appears to go out of his way to upset people

A good response from Prince Harry.

He said also thst he was moved to start the Invictus Games when he flew back from Afghanistan with the coffin of a Danish soldier and many severely injured fellow service personnel.

GB News attempted to extract a comment from the White House and this is the gist of the reply they received:
President Trump was right in what he said, and America's contributions to NATO dwarf those of other countries.

There was more but I couldn't scribble it down properly.
Little chance of apology. One of the never apologise, never explain brigade I fear.

I gather Prince Harry has waded in as well.

Not being facetious, but is it time to sue Trump for telling lies on TV about our Military?

For once I agree with Starmer and his opinion of Trump. He is a convicted felon and shouldn't be President, his erratic tantrums and war mongering shows he is unhinged and yet the public keep him in office. He really is a disgusting man.

Ben Parkinson is stunned by Trump's comments and his mother is beyond angry, unsurprisingly.

"Come and look at us, the life that Ben leads - 19-and-a-half years on, still fighting for his care, still fighting for him to have a decent life, recovering from a recent operation," she said.

🤬

Royal Wootton Bassett will never forget.

Dignity, respect and compassion may be old-fashioned values but the local residents of the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett are proud to uphold them by saluting the men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice for their country

Wootton Bassett will be the first town in more than a century to be granted ‘Royal’ status in recognition of the way it honours fallen troops. In March, Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs that the Queen had agreed to the tribute ‘as an enduring symbol of the nation’s gratitude to the people of that town’.

Every time a coffin passes through, butchers, bakers, housewives and old soldiers stand shoulder to shoulder as the cortege slowly passes. As the death toll in Afghanistan rises, sadly, it has become an all too familiar sight

www.gov.uk/government/news/the-town-that-honours-the-fallen
6th May 2011

Developments don't seem to get through to everyone immediately, Doodledog.

Well done to Emily Thornberry who led the way and Keir Starmer. It's about time our PM stood up to the odious orange one.

It is still the legally elected government of the US, diplomats still have to engage with it and be diplomatic, and heads of state weigh their words - but there is some plain speaking going on here and all round the world at the moment, which it is to be hoped are getting through to those who pull the strings in Washington as well as the man in the White House.

Elegran

specki4eyes

When is Keir Starmer going to grow some backbone and stand up to the disgusting preposterous comments and claims of the insane monster from the White House. He is the Prime Minister of a country who sent its precious youth to support US military in Afghanistan then they watched them come back in coffins or disfiguired and injured. Starmer is not representing our country with any semblance of honesty.
And as for the King Charles going to visit Trump ...he should be ASHAMED to even consider it a possibility! If he does go, don't ask him ever to place a wreath at the Cenotaph again!

He said "Starmer calls Trump's remarks about Nato troops in Afghanistan 'insulting and frankly appalling'" and you can watch him saying it here - time.com/7357377/starmer-denounces-trump-appalling-nato-afghanistan-remarks/
and the BBC has a live article at www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cdxjjwjvkkzt

There are more media articles about it too.

It's ironic that posts on a thread about pejorative comments from Trump are so inaccurate when it comes to having a dig at Starmer, isn't it?

specki4eyes

When is Keir Starmer going to grow some backbone and stand up to the disgusting preposterous comments and claims of the insane monster from the White House. He is the Prime Minister of a country who sent its precious youth to support US military in Afghanistan then they watched them come back in coffins or disfiguired and injured. Starmer is not representing our country with any semblance of honesty.
And as for the King Charles going to visit Trump ...he should be ASHAMED to even consider it a possibility! If he does go, don't ask him ever to place a wreath at the Cenotaph again!

He said "Starmer calls Trump's remarks about Nato troops in Afghanistan 'insulting and frankly appalling'" and you can watch him saying it here - time.com/7357377/starmer-denounces-trump-appalling-nato-afghanistan-remarks/
and the BBC has a live article at www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cdxjjwjvkkzt

There are more media articles about it too.

^I’m glad that Starmer eventually made a decent retort
and I was very impressed with Emily Thornberry^

Me too and Emily Thornberry has shot right up in my estimation!

Mamie

I have just listened to a UK/US special The Rest Is Politics episode on YouTube. Scaramucci was saying, do not be downhearted, I do not believe Trump cannot carry on like this for long. He will have more insight than most.

Oh must listen to that as soon as - later this evening🤞

I’ve just watched the emergency Rest is Politics thing too. As the American guy said, trump won’t apologise!

I mentioned on another thread that I also have an ex Royal Marine son who was in the front line in Afghanistan. He suffered no physical wounds but saw some dreadful things. He showed me a photo once of he and some of his unit under cover on the front line - bullets whizzing over their heads constantly. Most of the guys in the photo are dead. As soon as he got back home he handed in his notice.

I’m glad that Starmer eventually made a decent retort and I was very impressed with Emily Thornberry.

Sorry should be can not cannot!

Allira

Sorry, I'm not a medical expert so I wasn't using it as a medical term, but he does seem to find reality a problem.
I was using the word delusional to mean that he has false ideas and beliefs which have no basis in fact.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is frequently mentioned.

I have just listened to a UK/US special The Rest Is Politics episode on YouTube. Scaramucci was saying, do not be downhearted, I do not believe Trump cannot carry on like this for long. He will have more insight than most.

Sorry, I'm not a medical expert so I wasn't using it as a medical term, but he does seem to find reality a problem.
I was using the word delusional to mean that he has false ideas and beliefs which have no basis in fact.

* he is delusional. It’s frightening that someone who has obviously lost touch with reality is in such a powerful position *
Is he clinically delusional? I’m not contradicting Allira’s strong post, I’m seriously a bit frightened. We can’t ignore this man’s lies, distortions, his awful bully boy ‘get a deal ‘ at any price approach. The long history of alliance between Europe, UK, USA has given the world more positives than negatives.

I’m as disgusted as others by his shameful lies about NATO, Afghanistan, European military our military, who sacrificed their lives when America asked for help. Many live with life changing physical or mental injuries.

I’m relieved Keir Starmer has spoken clearly on this

Why should King Charles excuse himself by saying he's unwell? The truth would carry more weight.