egg

I suspect, like most reform advocates I've encountered, he doesn't realise their stance re the NHS, or pretty much anything. Laughable that be cites their manifesto but can't actually say what he sees in it that's a positive.

Polish

Macron has said that enforced regime change would bring "chaos". I fear he's correct. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx23e4jz2g0t?post=asset%3Ae4c6cb5c-923f-4ddf-8c03-dcd9fa1f6157#post

As good as that sounds, it's right to remember that Khomeini replaced the Shah because the Iranians didn't like the level of Western influence, leading to the revolution. Assuming he goes, the west must respect the wishes of the Iranian people, and not impose what they want. There aren't many examples of western imposed regime change in the middle east/Asia working out well.

Israel are clear that they want regime change. It's the how.

Wtf do the US / Israel have planned? Emptying Tehran to "end" things seems pretty ominous. I'm guessing it's extreme pressure, but.

I'm not the one saying it's stupid to vote Tory or Labour. You're advocating a change to Reform. What do believe they'll actually do/change?

It's daft to vote for a political party to "give them a try" or whatever actual words you used, and without proper thought to what change would look like. You vote for a party who's manifesto, and people, can deliver something positive. What positive change are you expecting from reform?

If they're targeting leaders and scientists etc in their homes then there'll be civilian deaths as collateral. I don't think there's any dispute that it's happened in Gaza where buildings have been taken out to get to the odd Hamas bloke.

It's an extension of photos of your dinner. Ego driven nonsense.

You couldn't make it up.

Yep. And factor in the break in career for someone serving just one term, or a shortened term. I don't know why anyone with a chance of a bright career would become an MP unless they were determined to make a career of it, and had something they could easily go back to as per the various barristers. To be a career politician you either have to be genuinely aligned to a party, or you'd have to mould yourself to a party who you thought would give you longevity. I think that explains why we see many lib Dems in other clothes, for example.

Interesting piece on CNN about the Israeli intelligence and efforts to take down Iranian defences from within. Their intelligence and military is as good as anyone's. https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/13/middleeast/israel-attack-iran-mossad-analysis-latam-intl

Wow. Just wow.

We are paying the price for the sell off of council houses. Thatchers government did not replenish the stock, and seeking to blame subsequent governments for failing to rectify the damage caused, is overly generous to that government for the initial policy. Fast forward all these years, and we have rampant house and rental prices flowing from a lack of affordable and social housing. We wouldn't be in such a mess of it wasn't for that policy. Gas. It's madness that we see our gas go into private hands then rely on shipping or piping it in at commercial prices. That situation should never have come about. We plainly need steel for industry and more importantly, security. That we've had to steal a plant back from Chinese ownership says it all. Then coal. We need it to operate the steelworks. We don't have enough, so again are a hostage to fortune. That's all ignoring that we need to be energy self sufficient, and coal plays a part on that. Losing those industries to private ownership has left us horribly exposed. We're an island nation, and cannot rely on external sources for vitals in times of strife. Water we kind of agree on, but again you blame others for not being able (or willing, granted) to row back from another stupid Thatcher concept. Simply, the privatisation should never have happened. I don't care if those basic and essential services were loss making. They're vital. S.28 and ANC of course aren't relevant today, ditto poll tax, but they were awful policies that were indicative of the woman.

We could debate the bad parts of each regime all day and probably disagree at the end! However, their domestic policy, as bad as it is, is exactly that. This discussion is mostly about Israel and it's policies in Gaza, and now it's foreign policies into the wider region. If there's a suggestion that the west should seek to impose regime change on other countries and states just because we don't like it, we absolutely shouldn't.

There aren't many white Islamists mate. You know what you meant. It's what you always mean.

And that belief (stated as a fact, which it isn't) is at the centre of the populist belief on here. Which military has shown themselves to be more aggressive towards civilians and other nations? There's a clear winner.

No, but the Islamists you mention probably are Muslim. Ditto teh Iranians. Feck me.

Poor swerve. Please answer: Are you comfortable with a nuclear armed Israel having a clear path to a weakened Iran? Do you think that the chances of Israel using a nuke against Iran would be reduced or increased by Iran having a nuclear deterrent? I know that you can't accept Israel as an aggressor, but they are

Ah ok, so the white people can have them, but not the brown Muslims. Gotcha. And yes, if Iran were nuked up, then absolutely, Israel ought to have a nuclear deterrent but they've got nukes anyway so it's a pointless question.

Are you comfortable with a nuclear armed Israel having a clear path to a weakened Iran? Do you think that the chances of Israel using a nuke against Iran would be reduced or increased by Iran having a nuclear deterrent? I know that you can't accept Israel as an aggressor, but they are.

I'm not sure you've thought through why nuclear armed states have become nuclear armed. Since WW2, it's been for a direct threat and then deterrence purposes. India and Pakistan is much more stable with the them both having equality of arms. Sure, you'd like them to live in eternal peace nuclear free, but one is nuked so understandable that the other is and serious war between them is about as likely as war between the US and Russia, and that's for one reason only.

I think you interpret what you read and hear, whether here or elsewhere, to suit your narrative. The depth and extent of thus issue is lost on you.

However you cut it, as a (western) person, it's obvious that Israel would be a better place to live. However, their government is barbaric, and I don't much like the Iranian domestic policies either. Re governments, we still, imo, come back to much of these issues being solved if the Israelis stop their Zionist approach, and facilitate a 2 state solution, but that ship has well and truly sailed.