A look at a fictional Sir Keir Starmer solution to Russia / Ukraine, and the US cavalry coming to the rescue as far as free speech in the UK
The Alaska Summit And Its Aftermath
One could say that the meeting between President Trump and President Putin, was a game of halves. In fact, it started so well, highlighted by the hand clapping by Trump on the red carpet ahead of the handshake with his Russian counterpart.
It was all smiles and camaraderie, even as the B2 bomber flew past as a show strength by the Americans. Unfortunately, that was the zenith of the power display for them in that the eventual press conference saw Trump clearly very eager to leave the stage as quickly as possible.
Analysts have pointed to the way that it was President Putin who opened the proceedings at the no questions to be asked press conference, when it is normally the host who does the honours. But with President Trump looking like someone who just been kicked in the mouth by an errant donkey, it was probably wise to let the buoyant Russian leader say his bit.
In fact, the best bit of the second act was probably the invitation, “Next time in Moscow”, which Trump was clearly not expecting. Even if he was would have been hoping that the question would not have been asked at the end of a summit which was supposed to be the equivalent of getting Brexit done in one afternoon, and rather like that it was nothing of the sort.
Of course we are in an age when there is more than just the legacy media analysing great political events. Social media such as X and TikTok make their own contribution. For instance, more than one TikToker suggested that it was not Putin who attended the summit, but one of his many body doubles.
If this was the case, rather like the Blofeld character in Diamonds Are Forever, one has to say that Putin II, did a very good job. In fact, he appeared in a rather healthier estate than his OG, with the gait and body language rather healthier than normal. Clearly he is also a great negotiator, so much so that Trump was left forlorn.
If there was one error by Putin II, then it was the somewhat over animated facial responses to questions regarding the killing of civilians, and the ending of the war. Normally, perhaps due to overly tight facelift, the original Putin remains stoney faced/Botox faced.
Nevertheless, it can be said that the event was a lap of honour for President Putin, and not so much for gung-ho Americans, or of course for Zelensky/Ukraine who hardly got a mention after going through 3 years of hell.
But at least there will be a round two in terms of how Russia Ukraine can be solved, with the attendance of president Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington tomorrow. This would be even better news if the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was not also in attendance. That said given his track record to date on negotiations would expect him to come up with a genius idea to solve the crisis. As an amalgam of recent events especially Chagos, we would see him pay Russia approximately £500 billion over the next 10 years for it to take over the whole of Ukraine, not just the Donbas region.
All of this would be funded by the UK taxpayer, because we just love paying for things to make the black hole even bigger. Ironically, if the latest developments regarding a move towards a peace settlement rather than just a ceasefire are correct, such a fictional offer from Sir Keir might not be too bad after all.
Free Speech / Hate Speech, And American Concerns
Those of a certain age, for instance, over the age of 50, might quite rightly be thinking on quite a regular basis that apart from mobile phones and laptops, the last 25 years, namely the 21st century, have not really delivered very much that they would keep. This is particularly the case that both devices spy on us on an Orwellian scale. And the government uses them to do so.
They may also consider that if they had a time machine it would be quite pleasant to be transported back to some time in the 1990s, perhaps around the time of Britpop, or going into the New Labour era. That was perhaps the last time when one could say that for Generation X or above, life had some pure sizzle.
The past quarter century has increasing encroached on the world view and culture of this middle-aged and above generation, something which was underlined by the mass arrests regarding Palestine Action. This is a prescribed organisation, in other words, one regarded as a terrorist group by the Government.
But if one looks historically at the famous terrorist organisations of the past, it has to be said that doing so has rarely turned the tide either in terms of their struggle, or their effectiveness. In fact quite the opposite in the sense that we have many examples of former terrorists (who shall remain nameless) who then were brought into the fold when their particular organisation triumphed.
This was particularly the case in terms of those groups involved in colonial / nationalist struggles. It is also the case just because you label an organisation a terrorist one, the person on the street may not necessarily view it as such. This applies just as much to the young as the old, and those who would never even think of driving at 21mph in a 20mph zone.
This would certainly not be the case if it were applied to say (fictious organisation) The Salisbury Needlepoint Preservation Group, or Palestinian action. There does seem to be a problem when the law starts to encroach on the world of middle-aged middle class Britain. This is particular at a time when even flying a Union Jack appears to be politicised.
Going back to the concept of the older generation probably being happy to go back 30 years and live in that time, one of the biggest changes since the end of the century has been a criminalisation of free speech and free thought, through writing/social media. In the good old days we had the concept, and a very British phrase of, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. It would appear that this pillar of society is well and truly gone, as is the right to offend and be offended. This is of course very handy for the legal system as it means more business in the form of more criminals, normally served up on a plate in digital form. However, is difficult to see how the current slippery slope can end up in a positive way or be reversed without gagging almost everyone in the country.
Cue the Americans. Although Vice President JD Vance may have not been able to enjoy the Cotswold pub he was hoping for, US concern regarding the destruction of free speech in this country may mean that the very folks that refused to serve him, may wish down the line they were nicer to him. The way things are going the only free speech cavalry around with teeth may be the Yanks.
