Trump restarts Nuclear Arms race

Written By: - Date published: 7:55 am, February 8th, 2019 - 58 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, China, climate change, disaster, Donald Trump, Environment, Europe, International, Politics, Russia, sustainability, us politics, war, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

Mike Williams, who still is an astute judge of political events, used to get a bit of stick because he would say “I agree with Matthew” after Matthew Hooton offered up his opinions on Radio New Zealand’s political commentary slot.

To those naysayers about Mike all I can say is remember back to election night 2005 when I and quite a few others praised his astute handling of a campaign that led to Labour’s best third term election result since 1943.

And Matthew?  He is a skilled practitioner of the dark arts of politics, with a pure world view along the lines of capitalism good, collectivism bad.  But occasionally I agree with him 100 %.  Like what he said in this tweet:

https://twitter.com/MatthewHootonNZ/status/1091761447661641728

I can remember the time really well.  Back in the 1980s the arms race and the threat of nuclear war were dominant subjects of conversation and thought.  Think global warming but the end of days was a button press away when one or the other leader succumbed to bad data or stupidity and went all armageddon on us.

Life back then was dominated by the thought that a nuclear catastrophe may only be weeks away.

The concept that applied was called MAD, mutually assured destruction.  Both super powers had amassed sufficiently large arsenals that if unleashed would have destroyed the world many times over.  As David Lange said, all the super powers had done was refine an existing capacity to make the rubble bounce and bounce and bounce.

Thankfully one element of the madness, the prohibitive cost, meant that the arms race finished without the killing of billions of innocent humans.  The USSR imploded under the financial strain and Michael Gorbachov signed a deal with Ronald Reagan known as the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces treaty. 

The treaty eliminated eliminated all land-based ballistic and cruise missiles and launchers with ranges of 500-5,500 km. The treaty did not cover air- or sea-launched missiles.

It was a big concession by the Soviet Union.  They had to give up their land based missiles which were pointed in the main at Europe.  On the other hand the US did not have to give up their US land based missiles as they were predominately long range, and as a lot  of their arsenal was air and sea launched they were not really affected.

The treaty was a dream for the US of A.  Only a mad man or an imbecile would think of changing it.

Fast forward to 2019.  Donald Trump has decided that the Russians are in breach of the treaty, which is likely, but that the Americans should therefore withdraw from it.

This is crazy.  You treat a breach of the treaty by tearing it up?

Gorbachov and former US Secretary of State George Shultz think the same.  From the Hill:

Following Trump’s announcement, those who helped negotiate it have been defending its continued utility. Gorbachev and Reagan’s Secretary of State George Shultz both penned op-eds for The New York Times on Friday arguing for the preservation of the treaty.

“A new arms race has been announced,” the 87-year-old former Soviet leader warned.

“Now is not the time to build larger arsenals of nuclear weapons,” Shultz, 97, wrote in his op-ed. “Now is the time to rid the world of this threat. Leaving the treaty would be a huge step backward. We should fix it, not kill it.”

It may not help that China is not a signatory to the treaty. But China’s nuclear arsenal is rather modest and it has signed up to the Nuclear non proliferation treaty.

I am normally happy to accept that the stuff up theory applies rather than the conspiracy theory.  But this one seems really clear.

Trump has kicked off a new arms race. And Putin is grinning from ear to ear. Trump is doing his bestie a big favour.

I’m glad I am not living in Europe. I am not so glad that I am living on a planet with a couple of mad men holding so much power.

58 comments on “Trump restarts Nuclear Arms race ”

  1. One Two 1

    Sponsored by ‘war incorporated’…

    It’s ‘just business’…And its nothing new…

  2. Andre 2

    It’s not the arms race nor the MAD nor the rubble bouncing and bouncing and bouncing aspect that’s scary about tearing up the INF. All of those can be done with long-range ICBMs.

    What’s really scary about reintroducing intermediate range nukes is it revives the idea of tactical use of nukes in a “limited nuclear war”. The delusion that maybe nukes can somehow be used just a little bit to achieve a specific tactical goal without immediately provoking cycles of escalating retaliation inevitably finishing up with the rubble bouncing and bouncing and bouncing.

    • Yep they push the envelope until the envelope is bigger. And then within the envelope unthinkable things can be thought such as the oxymoronic and suicidal/homicidal thought that limited nuclear weapon use is doable.

      • Andre 2.1.1

        I s’pose the plausible next steps are restarting programs like the neutron bomb, and withdrawing from treaties prohibiting chemical and biological warfare.

        • marty mars 2.1.1.1

          Yes no need any more for them to use proxies to test their hideous chemical and biological weapons. Now they can just stop pretending.

    • McFlock 2.2

      Wasn’t the other issue with the shorter range missiles that it reduces decision time from the first alert down to a few minutes or less?

      I.e. from launch to impact it’s not time enough to actually assess your inputs – which could be a flock of geese or the rising moon. So it increases the risk of hair-trigger responses to a false alarm, whoops apocalypse.

      • Andre 2.2.1

        Yeah, that.

        There’s also that nukes can be made small enough they can go on the same missile as conventional weapons. Tomahawks were nuclear capable until their particular warhead was (allegedly) retired. So even with perfect info about what missiles have been launched at you, you might still not know if they’re carrying nukes or not.

      • mickysavage 2.2.2

        That is another really good reason not to have nukes, of any sort. Along with all the other reasons …

  3. mauī 3

    I wonder if liberals will take any responsibility for this development? After all they’ve literally been wetting themselves by stoking old cold war fires and pushing 2 years of continual Trump and Russia propaganda news stories.

    • Anne 3.1

      The Cold War never really died maui. There may be a piece of paper with Gorbachev and Reagan’s signatures on them, but the Cold War mentality lived on.

      I blame the stupid people in both countries who voted these “mad men” into power in the first place. But the madder of the two has to be Trump, so any nuclear fall-out from this move will be initiated by him.

      • McFlock 3.1.1

        The trouble is, the MAD doctrine requires leaders in all countries to be rational and competent.

        Putin is a fuck, but he’s definitely a rational and competent actor.

        The orange wonder who is going back to the brink… well, both aspects are in doubt.

        • Poission 3.1.1.1

          One of the most important groups (with access to high table) is the Pugwash conferences.

          the arguments are laid out

          https://pugwash.org/2018/12/14/moscow-meetings-on-avoiding-nuclear-destabilization/

          • francesca 3.1.1.1.1

            Thanks for that
            Reassuring to know these talks are happening, and there’s some rational thought on the subject

        • Anne 3.1.1.2

          Putin is a fuck, but he’s definitely a rational and competent actor.

          Precisely. What a turn of events that we have to rely on Putin if we want to avoid Armageddon.

          In the mean time the Saviour of the Free World under the Orange f***wit hurtles ever closer to destroying the free world.

          • WILD KATIPO 3.1.1.2.1

            No , the reality is that once upon a time the old left looked to Russia and the workers ‘revolution’ for its inspiration. My how things have changed.

            The woke left don’t give a shit about workers,… more about fringe issues . Philosophical, primary school level things such as being nice to each other because hes gay or shes lesbian. But don’t give two fucks about a family who struggles on subsistence wages. Like family’s living in cars. Yet holding down two jobs but still cant afford a flat.

            WHY?

            Because tackling and challenging their capitalist nemesis is put in the ‘too hard basket’ .

            And WHY is that?

            Because they have an idealistic worldview whereby all people are equal and all people should live on the same level. Subsistence. So long as its not them and theirs. Ever wondered why so many woke lefties are in favor of free trade deals? Where all and sundry work for the same slave labor rates? And the select few live like oligarchs?

            So long as its not them.

            The Orange f***wit …

            How very amusing.

            Look, at the risk of seeming blunt. Lets get real here.The George Soros mass media machine hates him. You suck it all up. Your prejudiced. Your also a sucker for global governance. Admit it. Thats what you want. In effect , a dictator. Where the world is at one united under one leader and states mean nothing and the globe consists of all the ‘happy people’.

            So Trump and Putin make deals. So what.

            You think that didn’t happen with Rome and every other nation/tribe they conquered? Its as old as the hills.

            But as soon as someone [ like Trump ] comes along and upsets those global aspirations,… hes the bad guy. Same with Putin. Get a grip.

            Now I’m not saying these guys aren’t full of double dealing and deal making. And I’m not saying they haven’t cut deals. But at least unlike the Clinton Foundation they haven’t run on an election ticket while using their trust to channel cash from Qatar, Brunei, and Saudi Arabia to purchase arms and redistribute them to ISIS.

            And slaughter children – or those gays and lesbians that the woke left are so fond of.

            And with all this talk and hand wringing about short and long range nuclear capacity and the treaty’s thereof,… so many are far more concerned about sniping and points scoring than looking at reality. Because it serves their purpose to do so.

            They care less about people dying in nuclear war than their ever changing leftist ideology’s.

            Remember when the world media heralded Trump as the guy who would lead us to the brink of nuclear war?- then Trump sent a missile at a pre warned , soon to be demolished military air base in Syria when entertaining the PM of China?…. and then called Kim Jongs bluff and then befriended him??? – opening up trade and tourist dollars to that nation because Jong knew China was being pressured and the cashflow was gonna be choked?

            Kim Jong was no fool, and played the actor on the world stage. For an end goal. If he was to preserve his fiefdom,… he needed foreign capital to prevent civil war and dethronement . And in the end,? – he got it.

            Soooo,.. did Trump send us to global nuclear exchanges with the far east ?

            No.

            And has Trump caused us to edge closer to world war three in dealing with Russia and having economic deals with them?- not as far as I can see. In fact,- would you rather we have Ronald Reagan back and the good old days of perhaps a Khrushchev in power???

            Think about it.

            And perhaps read a little less and believe even less of the George Soros mass media.

            FFS.

            • Anne 3.1.1.2.1.1

              My comment didn’t warrant that tirade Wild Katipo!

              YOU TOOK IT THE WRONG WAY.

              It was irony mate. IRONY.

              As for the Orange F***kwit… he is a retarded nutcase who cannot be trusted in any shape or form.

              Open your eyes FFS.

              • Nah,…irony? tirade?

                Just heading of the pseudo left wokist’s.

                Not necessarily against yourself.

                Personally?- don’t give a shit about political allegiances . More so concerned with ideologies and the genocide it engenders. And media manipulation. Heart goes out to the millions of young men who lost their lives in WW1 following peer pressure and media manipulations.

                Media manipulators = W A N K E R S.

                Globalists = W A N K E R S.

                History and science deniers = W A N K E R S.

                Dont think your any of them but to tirade against Trump without taking in the rest of historical precedents is kinda short sighted.

                • North

                  Do get excited with your silly new ‘woke’ word WK.

                  Tell you what…..we are in such a precarious state of danger with caveman NY real estate rules, viz. intellectual and moral anarchy…..ruling the world……that I fear one day there’ll be cause to look at the WKs, the Francescas, the Mauis, the Colonial Vipers, the Siobhans, the rest of those ‘impeccable’ (authoritarian) Lefties (unwitting default Trump Anarchy supporters)……and say……”What the fuck now, clever ones ?”

                  Give me all the haughty, supercilious, bitchy abuse you want. It’s a real question and it’ll be only happenchance if its asking is avoided.

                  FFS ! No wonder people whose lives I’m engaged with on a daily basis professionally and personally in the poor, poor, poor North of this country think you’re a bunch of fucking wahanui. It used to be “but Hillary”…..now it’s “but liberals”.

                  Thank Christ for Nancy Pelosi in my book. I don’t give a fuck if she’s a rich San Francisco liberal. At least she’s fucking sane !

                  • Fuck off.

                    When a ‘new’ word reaches you liberal cunts that strikes at the heart of your privileged positions [ whats your salary ,asshole based on human need?] you get all defensive.

                    You disgusting worm eatin’ hypocrite.

                    Your only in it for the cash and the ‘good vibe’ power trip and notions of superiority feelings you get from it. You patronizing hypocrite.

                    ——————————————————

                    FFS ! No wonder people whose lives I’m engaged with on a daily basis professionally and personally in the poor, poor, poor North of this country think you’re a bunch of fucking wahanui. It used to be “but Hillary”…..now it’s “but liberals”

                    ———————————————————

                    You supercilious cunt.

                    Who pays your salary , arsehole?

                    Hows the state of the callouses on your hands, shit for brains?

                    Got a few?

                    Gained em from your single bed antics , I’ll bet.

                    Fuck off pseudo leftie.

                    Reach out for another govt grant ya leech.

        • Ike 3.1.1.3

          Very offensive term for the most statesman-like leader on the world stage today.
          Sadly you are completely conditioned by the mockingbird media propaganda we are subjected to daily.
          Try this instead.
          https://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-russian-response-to-washingtons.html

          • McFlock 3.1.1.3.1

            Even after skimming that article, I’m not sure whether you’re a fool objecting to “orange wonder” or a putinesca objecting to me calling him a “fuck”.

            To clarify, I believe Putin is a liar, a thief, and a murderer – all on a massive scale. But he is indeed a rational actor largely unhindered by domestic opposition. A bit like Xi. Except China is actually on the cusp of being a superpower, while Russia is a dwindling regional power reduced to invading areas that were deep inside its home territory only fifty years ago.

            • Ike 3.1.1.3.1.1

              I certainly don’t regard Trump as a statesman. Putin on the other hand has retrieved his country from the total collapse it had undergone under Yeltsin (With Clinton’s help) He has recovered much of the countries wealth from the oligarchs who fleeced Russia at that time except for those who chose to keep their wealth in the UK. Unsurprisingly this is where much of the anti -Russian propaganda emanates from as the UK banks want that money to stay in the UK.
              Give me one example of Putin lying and don’t bring up the skripals or litvinenko or some other bullshit promoted by the BBC (Who are proven liars regarding MH7)
              Putin has done massive work reducing corruption in Russia. Just the other day he sacked 7 generals.
              Invading Crimea and South Ossetia? The populations of these areas are largely ethnically Russian. In Crimea they voted by huge majority to join Russia. In South Ossetia he protected the people from the Georgian idiot, Sakhasvili , with a minimum of bloodshed.
              Putin has the support of Russians to a degree that Western Politicians can only dream about.
              What you believe is a long way from reality. You are a mushroom. Kept in the dark and fed bullshit

    • Sabine 3.2

      which liberals are you talking about maui? Whom would you want to take responsibility what is Trumps? Seriously asking here?

      Who is wetting themselves by stoking old cold war fires?

      Who is pushing 2 years of continual Trump and Russia propaganda news stories?

      in the meantime

      https://www.rawstory.com/2019/02/ex-fox-news-reporter-confirms-will-appointed-take-us-state-dept-war-propaganda/

      file this under something ‘liberals’ ;should be taking responsablity for?

      but again, whom are you accusing of a. being a liberal, b. getting wet with cold war fires and c. pushing propaganda stories?

      Please elaborate.

      thanks.

      And at what stage, will you – Maui, consider that Trump might not be the saviour made out to be and state so without putting the blame on ‘some people’.
      Btw, is that ‘some people’ like Trump claiming that ‘some federal employees called him during the shut down to tell him to continue’ even tho the white house telephone centre was shut down. Or is that like ‘some people’ told trump that they found prayer rugs in the desert by the mexican / us border? Or is that like ‘some people’ told trump that they don’ t mind tarrifs so as long as he ‘wins’ .

      Who are the ‘some people’.

      • francesca 3.2.1

        “Some People”?
        A few clues

        https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/09/liberals-donald-trump-syria-missile-strikes

        https://theintercept.com/2019/01/11/as-democratic-elites-reunite-with-neocons-the-partys-voters-are-becoming-far-more-militaristic-and-pro-war-than-republicans/

        And this is what I suspect Maui is talking about

        “Point 1 for all Russophobes, but especially the “progressive” variety: There are costs attached to this swoon into perfect gullibility. It leaves the door open to worsening what is already a dangerous level of global tension, and chief among those served are the Pentagon, its NATO subsidiary, military contractors, and Capitol Hill warmongers who act in behalf of these three. Ask yourself, liberal: Is this where I line up? Suddenly you are willing to take the CIA’s word for anything at all? You accept what the Times publishes as true—and the complete truth, nothing left out—because it is in the Times? Given the historical record in both cases, this is very odd. So is the fact that capital “D” Democrats are now leading the Russophobic charge. That used to be the work of rightist reactionaries. One feels like Rip van Winkle, awakening to find the world a different place.”
        Full article from The Nation

        https://www.thenation.com/article/the-perils-of-russophobia/

      • mauī 3.2.2

        Who is wetting themselves by stoking old cold war fires?

        Have you not followed any US mainstream media or this blog for the last two years? Its near impossible to miss.

        Who is pushing 2 years of continual Trump and Russia propaganda news stories?

        Again, have you not followed any US media or this blog for the last two years?

        • Sabine 3.2.2.1

          you are the one that goes on and on about ‘the liberals’.

          name them. full stop say so and so , and this one and that one.

          stop with the ‘liberals’ bullshit as a cheap cop-out to never have to state whom who are actually disagreeing.

          cause you see if i disagree with someone on something, i am able to name that person. I don’t go on and on about ‘the liberal’.

  4. francesca 4

    Why would Putin be grinning ear to ear?
    Another arms race is the last thing Russia wants or can afford

    • Andre 4.1

      Because it keeps his subjects fearful and supporting him as the strongman standing up to the outside ‘other’.

      • francesca 4.1.1

        And when Putin goes you think Russians will start seeing the US as the trustworthy smiling special friend?
        Russians don’t need Putin to recognise that the US has never been their friend
        Yeltsin cured them of that

        • Andre 4.1.1.1

          No. Nor should they.

          But hopefully it will be someone more inclined to try to promote Russia’s interests and improve the lives of its people by finding and pushing areas of overlapping interests, and try to resolve competing interests by open negotiation and compromise. Rather than continuing to follow the strongman’s playbook of open hostility and provoking confrontation, along with sneakily undermining opponents from the shadows.

          I have the same hopes for the next occupant of the Oval Office, after America’s Prolapsed Rectum has been successfully excised.

  5. Adrian Thornton 5

    If you want to see what an American MSM war machine looks like in full flight in real time, just google up ‘Morning Joe Tulsi Gabbard’.

    The (so called) liberal media in the US is pro war that is now just a fact.

    Tulsi Gabbard Interview Turns Ugly as MSNBC Hosts Assail Her Anti-War Positions
    https://www.mintpressnews.com/msnbc-hosts-assail-tulsi-gabbard-over-her-anti-war-positions/254722/

    No push back from the Pelosi or the DNC to Trump pulling out of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty either…of course.

    Bernie 2020.

    • greywarshark 5.1

      War is good for business. As long as it can be kept away from the U S of A (Useless Simpletons of Armageddon).

      In FY 2017, the Congressional Budget Office reported spending of $590 billion for defense, about 15% of the federal budget. For the FY 2019 President Donald Trump proposed an increase to the military to $686.1 billion. Militaray budget of the United States – Wikipedia

      Military Spending in the United States. In fiscal year 2015, military spending is projected to account for 54 percent of all federal discretionary spending, a total of $598.5 billion.Wikipedia

      The five biggest exporters in 2010–2014 were the United States, Russia, China, Germany and France, and the five biggest importers were India, Saudi Arabia, China, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. Many industrialized countries have a domestic arms-industry to supply their own military forces. Arms industry Wikipedia

      Economy of the United States
      The United States is the world’s second-largest manufacturer, with a 2013 industrial output of US$2.4 trillion. Its manufacturing output is greater than of Germany, France, India, and Brazil combined.[272] Its main industries include petroleum, steel, automobiles, construction machinery, aerospace, agricultural machinery, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, and mining.

      The U.S. leads the world in airplane manufacturing,[273] which represents a large portion of U.S. industrial output. American companies such as Boeing, Cessna (see: Textron), Lockheed Martin (see: Skunk Works), and General Dynamics produce a majority of the world’s civilian and military aircraft in factories across the United States.

      The manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy has experienced substantial job losses over the past several years.[274][275] In January 2004, the number of such jobs stood at 14.3 million, down by 3.0 million jobs, or 17.5 percent, since July 2000 and about 5.2 million since the historical peak in 1979. Employment in manufacturing was its lowest since July 1950.[276] The number of steel workers fell from 500,000 in 1980 to 224,000 in 2000.[277]
      Statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau showed that, in 2008, the number of business ‘deaths’ began overtaking the number of business ‘births’ and that the trend continued at least through 2012.[278]

      The U.S. produces approximately 18% of the world’s manufacturing output, a share that has declined as other nations developed competitive manufacturing industries

      • rata 5.1.1

        You need to be more positive.
        All this negativity is vexing for the soul.
        I by comparison am a half glass full man.
        But if you want to always be a sad sack so be it.
        Just read my comments and be inspired.

  6. francesca 6

    It’ll be the corporate US weapons manufacturers who will be smiling from ear to ear
    Lots of money coming their way from the taxpayer.
    Russian arms manufacture is still state owned , and while a fraction of the US in terms of spending, is arguably more efficient

    • One Two 6.1

      Still, commentators can’t see what is in front of their face…

      POTUS regardless of who it is will not and cannot reign in the war machine…and the financiers…

      Pointing fingers at the front faces in the media, is delusional…

      But…but…but…gun control…

  7. mary_a 7

    “The treaty was a dream for the US of A. Only a mad man or an imbecile would think of changing it.”

    Enough said ….

    • Ike 7.1

      It was actually a benefit to Europe as it gave protection from short range missiles. Russia also benefited in the same way. The US warlords couldn’t give shit about the European or Russian people. Now they can make a first strike against Russia with only 10 minutes warning. Probably their main concern however is the South China sea where they were disadvantaged re China who were never signatories to the INF.
      In my opinion the US should fuck off to their own degenerating country instead of pretending to protect the free world while they are actually the most monstrous threat to the world today. Trump was voted in on “bring the troops home”. He has been railroaded into military adventures by the military industrial complex just like his hypercritical predecessors.

  8. vto 8

    Trump has the mark of the devil – 666

    He is the one that the fundies have been looking out for the last decades…

    666

  9. rata 9

    Don Trump is just doing his job.
    Overall a top bloke I am sure you will all agree.
    Great smile too.

  10. Siobhan 10

    If I had a vote I’d support Judith Collins who I’ve met on several occasions and who I believe is the best Corrections Minister we’ve had in a long time.” Mike Williams.

    An astute judge of politics and wonderful progressive well positioned to present a Left view of the world.

    How can anyone who admires Reagan and Thatcher still support this menace to the peace and prosperity of the world?“..tweet by Matthew Hooton, agreed and quoted by mickeysavage.

    New Zealand’s Left Leaning Pragmatists of The Broad Church seem to have the wobbles (Probably from trying to stand still on one foot for too long), and are over balancing and falling to the Right..

  11. Brutus Iscariot 11

    It’s what you pricks wanted. “Hard on Russia”…

  12. mosa 12

    If we are now drawing closer to nuclear annihilation that should sort out our fears of global warming.
    The fall out will take care of that.

  13. tc 13

    Making America great……Sort of. His backers will be delirious at this.

    The good old boys n gals and war Inc need something as a distraction from Mueller’s work.

    The Corp media will duly oblige.

  14. Yawn….

    Trump wears a tie that clashes with his suit….!

    Trump slurps his coffee during news interview… !

    Trump makes friends with North Korean dictator ending a 60 year old ‘hostile’ armistice… !

    Trump slurps his coffee a second time during a news interview… !

    Thunder Underground – YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-7jc2NfU0o

    • Politics.

      ———————————————–

      Your Thoughts Are Compromising
      Self-Centered, Patronizing
      Your Image Supersedes Your Soul

      You Find Me Mystifying
      Subhuman, So Annoying
      You Can’t Have Me Under Control

      You Think You Live Forever
      You Don’t Find That Profound
      You Won’t Think You’re So Clever
      When You Hear Thunder Underground
      All Right Now

      Your Morbid Fear Of Losing
      Destroys The Lives You’re Using
      You Only Have One Point Of View
      The Stigma Of Delusion
      Confirms Your Self Illusion
      And After All This Could Be You

      You Think You Live Forever
      You Don’t Find That Profound
      You Won’t Think You’re So Clever
      When You Hear Thunder Underground
      Here We Go Now

      Could It Be That I Have Found My Mind
      Or Have I Gone Insane?
      Roller Coaster Of The Madness
      And There’s Only Me To Blame
      The Ever Faithful Hand Of Doom
      Will Take The Pain Away
      I’ll Never Know The Answer To It All
      ‘Til My Dying Day

      Your Bullshit Culture Licking
      Can’t Stop The Deathwatch Ticking
      You’re Only Mortal After All
      Your Appetite For Power
      Subvert Your Every Hour
      But Every Time The Mighty Fall

      You Think You Live Forever
      You Don’t Find That Profound
      You Won’t Think You’re So Clever
      When You Hear Thunder Underground
      Here We Go Now

  15. And it aint gonna be Donald Trump that brings about your end, and it aint gonna be ‘anthropogenic climate change’ either. That little multi million dollar scam belongs with the Bilderbergers society with its carbon tax bullshit anyways.

    You’ve got earth changes coming whether you like it or not. And you can have a thousand Donald Trumps and that aint gonna be the end of it as well. But ONE thing The Donald has done is relocate the USA Embassy to Jerusalem. Now that IS significant.

    Why?

    Because it gives recognition of Jerusalem as the officially recognized capital of Israel. And Trump wouldn’t have done that if there wasn’t an impetus. And that impetus is the archaeological findings that the Temple is in the city of David, not further up where the old Roman fort of Antonio was( where the current Dome of the Rock is now situated).

    Soon , when recognized, there will be a peace treaty that permits both the Islamic and the Jewish worlds to live in relative harmony. Fine you say. That is, until that peace treaty is broken midway through because of a minor fracas with certain fundamentalist Muslim radicals in several states aimed towards Israel. Forget ‘religious issues’ – this will be about economics and power plays, particularly oil. Financed by western bankers. Yet also with Russia taking the side of the BRIC nations ,- more particularly the Muslim nations it backs as a bulwark against the west for regional hegemony. And Russia has a huge reliance on keeping those oil lines headed towards itself- not the west. So Russia is not interested in ‘religious ‘ issue but sheer pragmatism.

    There aint never gonna be a nuclear war between any one particular group of antagonists ,- but there WILL BE a global conflagration. World war three, we are talking. And Trump will be long gone from power. And NATO , China and Russia will all be involved whether you like it or not.

    You have less to fear from anthropogenic ‘climate change’ than you have to fear from this when that day comes. And no amount of hand wringing about climate change or anti proliferation treaty’s is gonna save you then.

    Atomic Bomb Explosion – YouTube
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-22tna7KHzI

  16. WeTheBleeple 17

    Be afraid. Like when you were a little child. Fear the nukes. Get in line.

    Fuck off.

    • Ha- yeah well you’d better be.’

      Because neither Trump nor foul weather is gonna bring about your demise and you’d better start believing it.

  17. WeTheBleeple 18

    Another idiotic christian jizzing over armageddon. How original.

  18. SHG 19

    If you want a reminder of the world before this treaty there’s always the BBC docudrama “Threads”. I won’t link it here though, because then you might watch it, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

  19. Glenn 20

    Watched “Threads”. Easy to google and find. Probably the most horrific and worrying movie I have seen in a long time.

  20. Michael 21

    Russia has been violating the INF treaty for years while China, which is not a party to it, has been steadily building up its MRBM arsenal. But that’s OK, of course, because those nations are “communist”, while the US is run by wicked capitalists.

    • Rangimare 21.1

      How has Russia been violating the INF Treaty for years?

      • Ike 21.1.1

        Michael won’t answer because Russia hasn’t been violating the INF treaty. They invited the USA to come and inspect the alleged offending missile and they declined. The USA on the other hand has been violating the treaty by placing their anti-missile batteries close to Russia. (Under the guise of the Iranian threat) These are dual purpose and can be used to launch intermediate range nuclear missiles

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  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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