Cyprus-Forum.com

[Londonrake]

When was there last talk of war between the UK and another European country, even if only hyperbole?

But it isn't "talk" in any meaningful sense. It's just one knackered old Tory has-been spouting off in front of a camera. That, inflated into vivid media animated scenarios of Spanish tanks rolling across the Rock. As realistic and likely as the Martians landing on Horsell Common.

As far as the real thing is concerned. Have you ever been to an England v Germany football match? Although, Scotland v England is of course far worse. Well, you should know!

[Tim Drayton]

Thank you for confirming that there hasn't been. So, it is an escalation and only days after Article 50 was invoked. You wait until Ireland rears its head.

[Londonrake]

Thank you for confirming that there hasn't been. So, it is an escalation and only days after Article 50 was invoked. You wait until Ireland rears its head.

Ahh, now, Ireland's a different kettle-of-fish! I did note your earlier comments and have to say (you will need to sit down here) that I disagreed with them.

However, we've drifted several light years from the demise of the £ in the OP already it seems.

[Tim Drayton]

The extent to which both Ireland and the UK being in the EU has contributed to acheiving lasting peace in Northern Island will, I fear, become apparent.

[Londonrake]

The extent to which both Ireland and the UK being in the EU has contributed to acheiving lasting peace in Northern Island will, I fear, become apparent.

I believe you' re wrong. Tusk, May and Kenny seem to be making strenuous efforts to talk up maintaining the momentum of the peace process and solving the border issue.

I appreciate it's subsequent role as a facilitator but I could find no reference in Wicki to the EU within the Good Friday negotiations and agreement. Once again, the idea that their absence would have inevitably led to a resumption of conflict isn't really borne out by the facts.

However, I see the same scene playing out in NI as Scotland. Both the SNP and Sinn Fein (backed by Eire) are using their region's pro-Remain votes as a contrived mandate to push, on the one hand for independence and the other a cross-border referendum for instituting a united Ireland (within the EU). Nothing I've seen substantiates their reasoning beyond pious exhortations though. My own view is that when it comes down to the nitty-gritty people are not as keen (even in the Catholic population) to see a breakup of the UK as some would wish.

Demographics and the ballot box point to the fact that Ireland should inevitably become united. A million Unionists though need to be convinced of the merits, rather than forced into an unhappy marriage with the South. Meantime I think the idea that it will all implode and we'll be back in the 1970s is as fanciful as Spanish tanks.

BTW. I'm not sure what you mean by "occupied counties". That sounds like a Corbyn/Mcdonnell mantra. Occupied by whom? It's been part of the UK for centuries.

Meanwhile - Sterling seems to be holding up well this morning.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/201 ... back-year/

.

[Robin Hood]

The extent to which both Ireland and the UK being in the EU has contributed to acheiving lasting peace in Northern Island will, I fear, become apparent.

I believe you' re wrong. Tusk, May and Kenny seem to be making strenuous efforts to talk up maintaining the momentum of the peace process and solving the border issue.

I appreciate it's subsequent role as a facilitator but I could find no reference in Wicki to the EU within the Good Friday negotiations and agreement. Once again, the idea that their absence would have inevitably led to a resumption of conflict isn't really borne out by the facts.

However, I see the same scene playing out in NI as Scotland. Both the SNP and Sinn Fein (backed by Eire) are using their region's pro-Remain votes as a contrived mandate to push, on the one hand for independence and the other a cross-border referendum for instituting a united Ireland (within the EU). Nothing I've seen substantiates their reasoning beyond pious exhortations though. My own view is that when it comes down to the nitty-gritty people are not as keen (even in the Catholic population) to see a breakup of the UK as some would wish.

Demographics and the ballot box point to the fact that Ireland should inevitably become united. A million Unionists though need to be convinced of the merits, rather than forced into an unhappy marriage with the South. Meantime I think the idea that it will all implode and we'll be back in the 1970s is as fanciful as Spanish tanks.

BTW. I'm not sure what you mean by "occupied counties". That sounds like a Corbyn/Mcdonnell mantra. Occupied by whom? It's been part of the UK for centuries.

Meanwhile - Sterling seems to be holding up well this morning.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/201 ... back-year/

.

I actually agree with you ..... now there's a surprise!

[Londonrake]

I actually agree with you ..... now there's a surprise!

I'm pleased about that. I thought you would also agree that somebody saying "52% of the British hate all foreigners" was ridiculous, too!!!

[Tim Drayton]

The point about Ireland, apart from the more general consideration of both Ireland and the UK being members of a union whose purpose is to promote peace, stability and fraternity within the continent, is the existence of an open border and free movement. This means people on the nationalist side in Northern Ireland are to a very great extent living in a united Ireland, while those on the loyalist side are part of the UK both effectively and in de facto terms. This was a win-win situation, and it is about to be replaced by a lose-lose situation.

[Londonrake]

The point about Ireland, apart from the more general consideration of both Ireland and the UK being members of a union whose purpose is to promote peace, stability and fraternity within the continent, is the existence of an open border and free movement. This means people on the nationalist side in Northern Ireland are to a very great extent living in a united Ireland, while those on the loyalist side are part of the UK both effectively and in de facto terms. This was a win-win situation, and it is about to be replaced by a lose-lose situation.

It's not an insoluble conundrum. A matter of glass half empty/full? There appears to be no reason, or lack of motivation, upon the part of any party involved, not to come up with a viable, acceptable solution.

[Tim Drayton]

How about this from Rupert Murdoch's rag? It is talk of war and doesn't sound like hyperbole to me.

Rear-Adml Chris Parry, a former director of operational capability at the Ministry of Defence, said: “We could cripple Spain in the medium term and I think the Americans would probably support us too.

“In terms of military capability we would vastly outnumber them and our capacity to do them harm is far greater.

“We are significantly more powerful than them, if it came to it we are probably three times more powerful than they are.”

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3235404/b ... ar-brexit/

On a lighter note, I see that the same rag has another article beginning:

Where is Gibraltar ...?

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3240916/g ... el-howard/

So Murdoch is actually having to explain to the stupid little Englander where Gibraltar is and why they should supposedly be getting hot under the collar about this tiny colonial remnant. Mind you, if Rupert Murdoch tells the little Englander to get hot under the collar, have no delusions, hot under the collar he or she will get.

I can only hope common sense prevails. Only days after the disastrous move of triggering Article 50 and already events are proving Winston Churchill right when he delivered his famous speech at the University of Zurich on September 19, 1946 calling for a United States of Europe, saying that the only alternative was further warfare.