In spite of the well known preoccupations of the SNP's wholly unsuitable defence/foreign affairs team at Westminster, I wouldn't have faulted the Scottish Government's response to the Ukraine crisis until today. However, I see that Nicola Sturgeon has given an interview in which she says that, although she understands the case against a no-fly zone, "all of these things must be considered". That, astoundingly, means she's more hawkish on NATO military intervention than Boris Johnson and the Tory government.
Let's be clear about what a no-fly zone would actually mean. It would mean direct war between NATO and Russia. If Russia attempted to fly over Ukraine, NATO would attempt to shoot the Russian planes down. I know some will argue that's not genuine war, but was the Battle of Britain not genuine war simply because it was confined to the air? Russia has the world's largest nuclear arsenal, and NATO is a nuclear weapons alliance - something the SNP have long objected to, because they understood the appalling risks of nuclear states coming into direct conflict with each other. Now, it appears, the SNP leadership are not merely willing to countenance those risks, but are actively prodding the UK government and others to throw caution to the wind. What is happening to the party we thought we knew?
This, to put it mildly, is not a game. The future of human civilisation is at stake. We could literally all be dead within weeks if a strategic miscalculation is made. You don't provide humanitarian relief to the people of Ukraine by turning their country into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Nicola Sturgeon may not hold any direct power to make these decisions, but she does possess a measure of 'soft power', and people with that kind of power contribute to a climate of ideas that can prepare the ground for a change in policy. I would urge any SNP members reading this to contact their parliamentary representatives and try to re-instill some common sense into the Scottish Government's pronouncements before it's too late.
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FitzyFan asked yesterday if I could provide more analysis of last week's Savanta ComRes poll on independence. I'm afraid I can't, because there's still no sign of the data tables. I don't even know what the fieldwork dates were, and that's the most crucial point of all - were they before or after the invasion started?
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Unfortunately the SNP stopped listening in 2014.
ReplyDeleteI have an idea for a pilot project. Unfortunately it involves WGD's Hamish100.
ReplyDeleteBut, really, is there anyone more suited for a no' fly zone?
Mostly virtue signalling is a cheap rhetorical game, in this case careless virtue signalling might get us all killed.
ReplyDeleteI was very twitchy yesterday about the BBC blasting a story on their website about Scots going to fight in Ukraine. Could they shut up please?
We are skating on thin ice. The British government blithely opines that sending weapons to Ukraine is not a deflation of war on Russia and that sanctions are not a declaration of war on Russia. But it’s not their opinion of what constitutes an act of war that matters here. While they deploy their smug arguments we may all be blown to smithereens in the meantime.
Poland has the right idea about the planes, we should of stated a euro centric defence body years ago, glad to see Germany has woken up from the post war era. Poland know how critical it is, there actions should be a meter fro everyone else.
ReplyDelete"should of".
DeleteAs in "I of a slight cold. I hope I don't of covid."
Breaking News - Unionists admit there is plenty of oil left in Scotland's waters. ( Even that horrible Britnat Kirsty Wark)
ReplyDeleteBritnats are popping up everywhere saying we need to extract more oil from Scotlands waters by opening up lots of new fields and maximising production from existing fields. All in order to stick it up Putin. They seem to have forgotten the Britnat party line that there is no oil left which morphed last Nov in Glasgow into what little oil is left cannot be extracted due to global warming.
The only conclusion that can be drawn from this is that the Britnats are lying bastards and they have been lying about Scotlands oil for more than 50 years. If we don't get rid of Sturgeon and her gang they will be lying and stealing Scotland's oil for another 50 years.
Addendum: the Britnats do not say SCOTLAND'S waters they say UK waters but they are still lying bastards. With Johnston's government they don't even try to hide that they are lying bastards.
DeleteThe only thing I am surprised about is that Sturgeon didn't say " but we must ensure trans people can take part in the no fly zone over Ukraine, on an equal basis, or it should not proceed. Unisex toilets must be available at all airports."
ReplyDeletePerhaps Sturgeon could send Skier over to inspect the toilets as that seems to be something he claims to be knowledgeable about.
Stop it my ribs are broken man. Broken from laughing if any humour can be found in this situation at all.
DeleteWhat a great idea! An international man of mystery like Irish/Scottish/French Skier with his in depth knowledge of unisex toilets to join Ukraine's International Legion and teach them the ways of Nicola's 'progressive Scotland'. Of course, he has already told us of his powers of persuasion in converting immigrants to the Indy cause, perhaps he could persuade those pesky Ruskies of it for Ukraine - a nobel peace prize would sit well among his plethora of qualifications.
Delete
DeleteWith all his visits to unisex toilets in the south of Scotland I think Skier must be a member of the Drag Queen's Own Scottish Borderers😂😂😂
A new WGD numpty appears on the scene.
ReplyDeleteJess Mitchell proclaims: " Am so tired of the nay sayers who attack the FM at every opportunity without realising how hard she's worked to build support outwith the UK which we will need......."
Any evidence for this support? Who has Sturgeon got supporting Scottish independence? Has Macron come out in support of Scottish independence? Has Biden come out in support? Please tell us Jess.
Personally, I am very tired of reading delusional pish from WGD numpties who are being led by the nose by Mr Kavanagh.
Jess I suspect all the support Sturgeon has been trying to achieve is purely for herself. It's the first time I have heard Sturgeon taking some selfies as working hard for Scottish independence but thats the level the WGD numpties operate at.