Got my crystal ball out - it's becoming clear , Tab Clear.

5 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

what ever this means ????

I meant to say (thanks Gemini !) this;

To rewrite this more clearly and accurately, we have to move away from the hyper-cynical tone and address the historical mechanisms of the British Empire with more nuance.

Here is a more balanced and readable summary:

---

The Mechanics of the British Empire

The British Empire, at its height, exerted control over vast territories with a surprisingly small number of British administrators. However, this was only possible because they relied heavily on existing local hierarchies, indigenous military forces, and a massive naval presence rather than just 4,000 civil servants.

Key Historical Realities:

• Administration: While the number of British officials was small, the Empire relied on thousands of local intermediaries, clerks, and soldiers to function. It was a collaborative—and often coerced—effort between British leadership and local elites.

• Economic Strategy: After the loss of the American colonies, the British shifted their focus toward trade-based imperialism in Asia and Africa. The wealth generated by this system was significant, but it was built on extractive trade policies, often enforced by military power.

• "Divide and Rule": This was a documented colonial tactic. By exploiting existing religious, ethnic, or political divisions within a region, the British could prevent colonial subjects from forming a unified front against them.

• The Opium Trade: Britain’s involvement in the opium trade with China is a historical fact. The British government fought two wars against the Qing Dynasty to maintain the right to import opium, prioritizing commercial interests over the catastrophic social costs to the Chinese population.

• Geopolitical Intelligence: The British were sophisticated in their use of intelligence and cultural study to navigate foreign lands. This included gathering information on Islamic societies and other major cultural blocs to better manage, influence, or destabilize local governance in their favor.

---

Summary

Rather than being the result of a singular, monolithic strategy, the British Empire was a complex, evolving system of trade, military supremacy, and political manipulation. It was highly successful in generating wealth for Britain, but that success was consistently achieved through the exploitation of colonial populations and the aggressive use of force when diplomacy failed.

---

3 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

I did NOT mention 2014!

I was posting about the warmonger Trump!

Of course you are, replete with multiple exclamation points. But I DID mention 2014 and how the legality of wars dropped from the conscience of all parties involved when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea.

Rant all you want about Trump if it makes you feel better, but stop beating your gums about the legality of wars. It's the new world order and nobody who really counts, cares any more. They talk like they do, but it's just talk.

3 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

I meant to say (thanks Gemini !) this;

To rewrite this more clearly and accurately, we have to move away from the hyper-cynical tone and address the historical mechanisms of the British Empire with more nuance.

Here is a more balanced and readable summary:

---

The Mechanics of the British Empire

The British Empire, at its height, exerted control over vast territories with a surprisingly small number of British administrators. However, this was only possible because they relied heavily on existing local hierarchies, indigenous military forces, and a massive naval presence rather than just 4,000 civil servants.

Key Historical Realities:

• Administration: While the number of British officials was small, the Empire relied on thousands of local intermediaries, clerks, and soldiers to function. It was a collaborative—and often coerced—effort between British leadership and local elites.

• Economic Strategy: After the loss of the American colonies, the British shifted their focus toward trade-based imperialism in Asia and Africa. The wealth generated by this system was significant, but it was built on extractive trade policies, often enforced by military power.

• "Divide and Rule": This was a documented colonial tactic. By exploiting existing religious, ethnic, or political divisions within a region, the British could prevent colonial subjects from forming a unified front against them.

• The Opium Trade: Britain’s involvement in the opium trade with China is a historical fact. The British government fought two wars against the Qing Dynasty to maintain the right to import opium, prioritizing commercial interests over the catastrophic social costs to the Chinese population.

• Geopolitical Intelligence: The British were sophisticated in their use of intelligence and cultural study to navigate foreign lands. This included gathering information on Islamic societies and other major cultural blocs to better manage, influence, or destabilize local governance in their favor.

---

Summary

Rather than being the result of a singular, monolithic strategy, the British Empire was a complex, evolving system of trade, military supremacy, and political manipulation. It was highly successful in generating wealth for Britain, but that success was consistently achieved through the exploitation of colonial populations and the aggressive use of force when diplomacy failed.

---

Or I prefer the poetry of Claude;

"Empire" - Philip Larkin Style Poem

They like to say we ran it, but that's rot— Four thousand civil servants, mostly Scots, Administered the theft.

Perfidious? What A polite way to describe the bleeding clots

Who found, once rid of those damned Colonials (The troublesome New World rabble, good riddance), That profits multiplied.

The memorials Don't mention this: divide and rule. The differenceBetween collaboration and conquest?

None. Just make the local princes rich as Croesus, Watch them sell their people by the ton.

Mohammedan friends—oh yes, they helped us fleece us

Our moral betters. Opium down Chinese throats At gunpoint. "Free trade," they called it.

Christ. The Raj, the loot, the ledgers, the banknotes— All built on making sure the conquered priced

Their dignity below our profit margin.

And now we sit in semis, wondering why The world won't let us forget. The bargain Was simple: help us rob them, or you die.

Don't talk to me of what we gave them—trains, The rule of law, the English tongue.

What price Did they pay? Ask the bones beneath the plains, The starved Bengalis. Empire wasn't nice.

It was four thousand Scotsmen with a ledger And backing from whoever'd sell their own.

Perfidious? Too kind. We were the dredger, Scooping wealth from marrow, blood, and bone.

They'll tell you it was glorious. Don't believe them. It was accountancy with bayonets. And tea.

3 hours ago, Yagoda said:

What missiles LOL

As somebody posted earlier, "Have you been watching the video? Do you read the publicly accessible reports? Do you understand how accurate they are?"

How about the hit on Fujairah, the hit on the US Embassy in Baghdad, the hit in Saudi Arabia where five US Air Force KC-135 refuelling planes were damaged, just sitting on the ground? You know, the Iranian missile and drone attacks that haven't stopped since day one.

18 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

As somebody posted earlier, "Have you been watching the video? Do you read the publicly accessible reports? Do you understand how accurate they are?"

How about the hit on Fujairah, the hit on the US Embassy in Baghdad, the hit in Saudi Arabia where five US Air Force KC-135 refuelling planes were damaged, just sitting on the ground? You know, the Iranian missile and drone attacks that haven't stopped since day one.

3 hits on nothing vs 10,000 on everything. No Navy, no air force, no air defense.

I guess if killing a few Jewish grannies with cluster bombs, tryng to kill some children and having your sock puppets scream on social media is "winning" then sucks to be them.

1 hour ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

And charging us royally for the privilege

Business is business.

1 hour ago, BarraMarra said:

There still sending missiles into Israel, Dubai, Bahraine so there not depleted are they Yagoda.

How many? How many hits we have? Maybe the Gulf States should just pound them too.

Dream on.

19 hours ago, NanLaew said:

What's to "understand" about "modern airpower"? Please enlighten us.

PS: try not to deflect.

Modern AirPower is much more effective than during WW2. Check out the YouTube WWII US Bombers. It’s amazing they hit anything with the lack of accuracy in WW2.

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

How many? How many hits we have? Maybe the Gulf States should just pound them too.

Dream on.

There still coming only takes 1 to kill you.

2 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

There still coming only takes 1 to kill you.

Ill take my chances

3 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Ill take my chances

Better put your tin hat on then Yagoda cos there gonna keep coming.

9 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

Better put your tin hat on then Yagoda cos there gonna keep coming.

Pinpricks. The bottom line is that they dont have a military or money. Great job

18 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Tell us how our "asses" are being kicked.

I am telling you anything but you should ask the dead and wounded soldiers, or the ones hurt on the oil tankers attacks, or the US embassies attacks, quite sure they have an answer for you

On 3/14/2026 at 4:06 AM, Yagoda said:

Have you been watching the video? Do you read the publicly accessible reports? Do you understand how accurate they are?

the reports are so accurate that the moron in charge has threaten the freedom of the press by removing their licenses if they don't report what he wants, as he keeps saying it's my way or no way and that's called "accurate reporting"

"Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up," Carr said on social media, in part. "The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not."

FCC chair threatens broadcast licenses as Trump criticizes Iran war coverage

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/fcc-chair-threatens-networks-licenses-192707312.html

Trump's ego is so big that everybody in his inner circle is afraid to say anything or correct him when he makes stupid comments/gaffes, he may not understand that some of his people don't like or respect him he governs by fear, so many times when he uses incorrect words, they shut up and let him make a fool of himself, but it does shows his level of education/intelligence, does anybody knows if he did finished primary school, just asking for a friend

In the last week, Trump, 79, has used the word “excursion” dozens of times to describe his unauthorized war in Iran. He often makes a waving hand motion to describe what he apparently means.

The word “excursion” usually refers to a quick, leisurely vacation, but the president has applied that to describe his deadly war.

that they believe Trump has confused the term “military incursion,” which is defined as invasion or attack, especially a sudden or brief one, with a “military excursion.”

Some officials in the White House said that they are afraid to correct the president on his gaffe, and others said a correction wouldn’t even matter.

“I’m not telling him,” one administration official told Zeteo, implying that correcting Trump would be “a fool’s errand,” and that “doing so would likely get them yelled at.”

Trump Insiders Spill Why Nobody Will Correct His Chaotic Gaffes

https://au.yahoo.com/news/trump-insiders-spill-why-nobody-164737816.html

if the USA is winning as Trump and some of his cronies here at AN keep claiming, so why is Trump asking fr help opening the strait of Hormuz, something doesn't sound right

Donald Trump urged other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, after Iran threatened escalation across the Middle East to retaliate for Washington's bombing of its main Gulf island energy hub.

Tehran's ability to stop shipping through the strait, a major channel for oil and gas shipping, could ‌give it enormous leverage over the U.S. and its allies.

Trump calls for allied warships after Iran threat to retaliate for US attack

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-threatens-strike-irans-kharg-033005654.html

14 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

if the USA is winning as Trump and some of his cronies here at AN keep claiming, so why is Trump asking fr help opening the strait of Hormuz, something doesn't sound right

Donald Trump urged other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, after Iran threatened escalation across the Middle East to retaliate for Washington's bombing of its main Gulf island energy hub.

Tehran's ability to stop shipping through the strait, a major channel for oil and gas shipping, could ‌give it enormous leverage over the U.S. and its allies.

Trump calls for allied warships after Iran threat to retaliate for US attack

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-threatens-strike-irans-kharg-033005654.html

Painfully aware of, if this was Obamas war, we would happily sent our forces, but for Trump, no

And the main reason why, this was not a war he cooperated with any other allies about, he just started a F war without a warning.

Afterall it comes down to diplomacy, and not wright or wrong, since we have been used in wrong wars before, and will most likely in the future, but not this time.

Trump told Starmer to FO when he said he had won it - nothing left to bomb and now he wants our ship (singular!).

Mr President and your puppettmaster made this cake now you can force it into your fetid little gob and if you win it it you will be truly King of the Jews and you can go there and be wafted on the choir of angels to heaven and make sure your ears are well protected. In my lifteime I probably hated Nixon the worse - but now he seems like a Statesman of the highest ordure. You sir are a criminal purilent,obsese, corpulent mass of narcisistic badly fake tanned spoilt child needs probably with a nappy on to handle the fall out of a body rejecting itself.

Go and troll Maduro in prison and admire your panda like tan in the mirror.

ps. Starmer has said he is sending drones - he might if you are lucky include some Lego and crayons for you on and where is Netanhayu ?

Are we in some weird dream brought on my eating too much cheese ? Tell me it's not real and I hope countries start to pull out of the World Cup now - not least the danger it might face for supporters and their teams.

2 hours ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

Are we in some weird dream brought on my eating too much cheese ? Tell me it's not real and I hope countries start to pull out of the World Cup now - not least the danger it might face for supporters and their teams.

Iran pulled out of the World Cup last week.

7 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Iran pulled out of the World Cup last week.

Good - message expanded so it's not a one word reply so it's not a low value post. Something I would never do.

18 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Iran pulled out of the World Cup last week.

They actually didn't. The Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said that (in his opinion) there were no circumstances in which they could take part, but that doesn't constitute an official withdrawal.

Did Iran withdraw from the World Cup?

No. Although Donyamali's words sounded definitive, Iran has not yet officially informed FIFA that it is withdrawing from the World Cup.

Until that is made official, Iran is still in the tournament.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/did-iran-withdraw-world-cup-150753137.html

If I was a muslamic chipping in a cool billion for a place I would be seriously wanting my money back now. Trump you air thief give it them back or face the consequneces. This is your last warning.

1 hour ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

They actually didn't. The Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said that (in his opinion) there were no circumstances in which they could take part, but that doesn't constitute an official withdrawal.

Did Iran withdraw from the World Cup?

No. Although Donyamali's words sounded definitive, Iran has not yet officially informed FIFA that it is withdrawing from the World Cup.

Until that is made official, Iran is still in the tournament.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/did-iran-withdraw-world-cup-150753137.html

Iran will defeat USA in the final, and Trump will HAVE to meet them because he has already agreed with Infantino to hosting the winners at the White House or else he'll take back the FIFA 'peace medal'.

20 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Iran will defeat USA in the final, and Trump will HAVE to meet them because he has already agreed with Infantino to hosting the winners at the White House or else he'll take back the FIFA 'peace medal'.

We will never be in a final because we suck at soccer. Im for England

Looks like Iran is still looking for a way to take part.

Iran’s football federation has said it is in discussions with Fifa about moving the team’s World Cup matches to Mexico from the United States owing to concerns about the safety of their players.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/17/iran-negotiating-fifa-move-world-cup-games-to-mexico-us

On 3/14/2026 at 4:05 PM, Roadsternut said:

Across America, you still see POW-MIA flags flying everywhere, because there are still Americans who think 80 year old downed pilots are still being held in some Vietnamese hellhole, and Chuck Norris/Rambo will rescue them.

Not Chuck Norris. RIP man