Phulublub

Please remind us of ALL the occasions that NATO Article 5 has been activated. PH

I agree pretty much with all the Illinois Govrnor says here: https://www.instagram.com/bittersoutherner/reel/DGWpmF3O7P6/?hl=en

If you were to properly examine the amount European nations spend on defence equipment that they buy from the USA, you might reevaluate just how much of a "free ride" they are getting. While the USA does spend more as a %age of GDP, very, very little procurement spend is outside the USA. Similarly, Trump's touted $350B of aid to Ukraine is also totally misleading as much of that was spent buying equipment and munitions from USA Companies thus staying within the US economy and, with corporate and personal taxes, a significant sum will have flowed back into the US Treasury. Sure there is a net cost - just nowhere near £350B. Add to that, some of the European aid given to Ukraine will have been spent on buying US munitions. Mutual defence and alliance is not a zero sum game; the benefits far outweigh the costs. Just because this conflict is In Eurpe does not mean that the USA is immune from any fallout. When your friends come asking for help, blackmailing them to give you half their assets in return for that help is below sickeing. PH

Quite right. Wouldn't want anyone with big contracts in, say, space aviation having a big say in Government oversight or spending would you? PH

Could you let the UK Government know your concerns over H2S....maybe get them to look at the Bangkok-Korat line for some ideas. better yet (since the UK is not (yet) 3rd world, have them look at the Maglev trains in various countries. PH

Oh dear. It is a remittance of funds to Thailand. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. The source of those funds will determine whether it is from assessable income or not You can continue to believe that a CC transaction is a loan and therefore not assessable to any form of taxation no matter the source of funds used to clear that debt or not. PH

While using a card for ptuchases may not be " not transferred to a Thai bank via the usual banking methods." it is still a remittance of funds from abroad into Thailand. Whether the TRD can, or will, monitor such transactions is not relevant, but many have suggested that since there will be huge numbers of non-tax residents doing this, it would not be feasible or economic for them to do so for the few Thai tax residents for whom it would give rise to assessable income that would be taxed. In my case, all of my remittances are exempt by virtue of being non-assessable income or from savings held prior to 31 Dec 24....but I am maintaining clear records of all my remittances, including my foreign CC purchases, so that if ever asked I can show why I have no Thai Tax liability. PH

Christianity, maybe? Just one example (Samuel 1 15:3): Samuel commands Saul "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass" Do you need more? PH

Yeah, because that is the important part ....The linguistic gymnastics are fantastic to behold. PH

I see...so refusing to send weapons to Ukraine is a BAD thing...That being the case I am sure you will join me in looking forward to Trump sending huge quantities shortly. PH

From his own mouth:

The trouble with giving Putin what it wants is that next time he does the same (more of Ukraine? Moldova? Latvia? A bit of Poland?) does everyone look the other way....and the time after that. And for those who say "Poland, Latvia are in NATO"- do we all think it a certainty that a USA under Trump would uphold Article 5 (which, let us not forget, has been invoked exactly ONCE snce NATO was formed and for who? Yes - the rest of NATO stood with USA after 9/11) PH

No he hasn't. He said he would end the war the day he was elected... PH

Not true. Armed forces, for example, can get an immediate pension at age 40 if they joined up at 18 and served for 22 years. PH PH

They do though - those for west facing side are "No Parking Even days", those on east facing are "No Parking Odd days" PH