But Friedrich Merz cautions such a move could not replace the US’s existing protective shield over Europe
  • aaron@infosec.pub
    27·
    5 hours ago

    Edit - these posts will get downvoted. If only you could downvote reality away, eh?

    They did everything they could to weaken the UK. To punish the UK for deciding to leave the EU.

    No quarter given.

    But the reason people voted to leave the EU was the importation of cheap Eastern European labour that was used to undermine pay and conditions for British workers of every origin. Saying brexit was the result of ‘Russian interference’ is as reductionist as saying ‘Hilary’s emails’ was why people voted Trump in first time around.

    The BBC and others framed the debate as EU ‘liberalism’ v xenophobia. (But political liberalism is the soft-and-fuzzy glove of socially liberal policy hiding the hard-and-ruthless fist of economic liberalism/neo-liberalism/Reaganism-Thatcherism) v. something xenophobic.

    The reality on the ground was far more complex. Like in the US, the stories of poor people harmed by political liberalism were ignored. They still are being, hence Trump 2, and the rise of Reform in the UK. As long as they are ignored the Reform party will continue a rise to power and you will see a UK split from EU countries further anyway. Here I am just describing the most extreme possible version of that.

    It might not sound like it but I would rather the UK have closer ties to Europe, including freedom of movement. But that is a different story to wanting closer ties with the monolithic, corporatist EU who harmed UK workers. You can’t have freedom of movement without adequate protection of worker’s pay and conditions. The EU did the opposite, harming workers for the benefit of corporations.

    But ok, I am very happy to agree to disagree on all of the above.

    If it was reasonable for the EU to treat the UK badly over brexit, then it is more than reasonable for the UK to give no quarter back now that Germany are asking for the protection of our nuclear weapons.

    Now, to some degree the UK is going to remain aligned with the US. Our military and intelligence capabilities seem to be very much intertwined. The alternative for the EU is a UK completely aligned with the US, Russia, and a friend of China. The EU winding back the harm they have intentionally caused the UK is a small price to pay to avoid this. I don’t believe any rational politician would disagree.

    Perhaps they should have been reasonable when the UK decided to leave the EU.

    • hessenjunge@discuss.tchncs.de
      4·
      4 hours ago

      Curiously, this “reality” of yours doesn’t mention any of the metric ton of lies told by Farage, Johnson, etc. For example, that bus claiming millions of pounds would go to the NHS after Brexit. You correctly state People are hurt by conservative policies, however Brits keep voting for them. You could have voted for Corbyn - you chose not to. Instead of keeping to ask for a special deal, after special deal after special deal as Britain did before, and during Brexit, just negotiate like normal people.

      what’s the alternative to nuke sharing? Germany builds its own arsenal and you have no stake or say in it whatsoever. Does that sound more appealing to you?

      • aaron@infosec.pub
        12·
        12 minutes ago

        I am not the slightest bit interested in the majority of your post, it is irrelevant. However I will say that I sense you might assume political affiliations I do not have.

        what’s the alternative to nuke sharing? Germany builds its own arsenal and you have no stake or say in it whatsoever. Does that sound more appealing to you?

        If Germany are allowed under international law to build nuclear weapons then it is their choice whether they do so or not. I don’t mind either way.

        Edit - and you downvote this too.

        There is a complete lack of unreality here. You mistreat the UK when it chose to leave the EU. You continually conflate Europe with the EU. You talk about building a European army, comprised of EU countries, then you expect the UK to weaken our relationship with the US and give you our nuclear weapons. For nothing.

        When the silliness of it is pointed out to you you downvote. I guess this is where lemmy is at.

        Here is a life lesson for you: if you don’t deal with reality, expect reality to deal with you.