Forum Topic

Has Boris  got any balls?

Now that Navalny has been sent to a labour camp for nearly 3 years on trumped up charges, does anyone believe that Boris will act to freeze the assets of the pro-Putin oligarchs in the Uk? Or will he live up to the mini-Trump label many have endowed him with?

John Connelly ● 2093d31 Comments

I fear the latter. Unless he is so keen to ingratiate himself with Biden that he thinks it might help.  Especially if Biden 'suggests' he does it.  Boris doesn't really like confrontation so he will be caught between the devil and the deep blue.

Claire Moran ● 2093d

It’s hard to imagine Johnson trying to take the high moral ground, but not so hard to imagine Putin just laughing at him.

Vivienne Cox ● 2093d

The dependence of the Conservative party on donations from oligarchs puts Johnson in a difficult position. Chances are he will chime in with international condemnation but behind the scenes for not taking any meaningful action. He will have the support of the Germans because of their pipeline deal with Putin but if Biden feels this is a chance to bring Putin down he will take it and take note of who stood beside him.

Paul Corcoran ● 2093d

Just round the corner from the “balls”...This is such a “crap” way of starting a thread on a very serious subject.

Stuart Kerr ● 2093d

Well said Stuart. Easy way to make a cheap shot at the PM. Next thing you know Connelly will be suggesting we should invade Burma to restore the democratic government there. He should look up the meaning of "realpolitik".

Richard Greenhough ● 2093d

Thanks Richard,I'd gladly contribute to a world/foreign affairs thread on a theme of the world's 3 worst bastards – Putin, the smarmy git running China and the genocide bastard of Myanmar..But not on a thread like this.  Started in ugliness by the same gentleman of a poster who, with kindness in his heart, drove Georgina to blasphemy..

Stuart Kerr ● 2093d

Veering off-topic somewhat, while we refer to Osterreich as Austria, Deutschland as Germany, Magyarorszag as Hungary and Bharat as India, we seem to be more muddled as to whether to use Burma or Myanmar when referring to that unfortunate country. Curious.

Richard Greenhough ● 2093d

Yeah, I agree..I think it's probably to do with the 'music' of our language.  Or maybe childhood memories.  Perhaps both.Like the word Burma, the word Ceylon is music to my ears.  Whereas Myanmar is a lot stodgy..But that's the way the want it.  Their choice.  So Myanmar and Sri Lanka it is..PS:- Love Sri Lanka.  Beautiful people and gorgeous island.  Been three times.  Always wanted to visit Myanmar - but never will unless it changes hugely.

Stuart Kerr ● 2093d

I went to watch the cricket in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago and loved it especially Galle and Kandy and they have the most friendly and welcoming people and I hope to return as soon as possible

Paul Fisher ● 2093d

Like my city of birth, now Kolkata.  Still pronounced the same way as before, unlike Bombay or Madras.None are exactly music to my ears, haven't visited India aka Bharat since the 1960s, although have fond memories.

James Roy ● 2093d

Egypt is Misr, and I prefer calling that nearby peninsular ‘Arabia’ as I’m not too fond of the Saudi regime.

Vivienne Cox ● 2093d

I actually went to India for a long weekend and spent 2 nights in Bombay (Mumbai) and two nights in Calcutta (Kolkata) also for the cricketThe two cities were chalk and cheese

Paul Fisher ● 2093d

"But that's the way they want it." But surely the same goes for the European countries I mentioned ? I am slightly surprised the EU has not outlawed the use of Germany and Allemagne in favour of Deutschland. And if the old names for Burma and Ceylon are regarded as colonial hangovers, then why is India still in use ? I nearly managed to visit Burma in the 1980s, but even then travel routes and visas were problematic. I understand they are lovely people and a beautiful country, but sadly their military seem to think they have the right to run it as a dictatorship, making it a place to avoid.

Richard Greenhough ● 2093d

I have met a few citizens of Saudi Arabia who object to being called Saudis and prefer to be called Arabis.

Richard Greenhough ● 2093d

The nearest I got to Burma was a flight in perfect visibility from Calcutta to Bangkok which flew down the lovely coast, and almost directly over Rangoon/Yangon.Of course from 25,000 ft you can't see the warts.

James Roy ● 2093d

Add Kim Jong-un to your list of shame and I'm with you all they way.As for the op, don't you think the PM has enough on his plate right now and anyway, what real difference would it make? Putin treats most of the rest of the world with barely hidden contempt no matter what it thinks and says.

Keith Iddon ● 2093d

I went into Myanmar one whilst visiting Thailand. Difficult to really assess the place on that, it was a very poor looking market town we went to,had one of the worst meals of my life but life looked hard and uncompromising for the locals,but that's coming from a cossetted farang,I suppose.Dirt poor guiltless people subjugated by religion, state and military.

Keith Iddon ● 2093d

Based on your posts here,Stuart, I would have expected a more informed view on Myanmar - but by not visiting (though not great timing at the moment) you're not upsetting the Generals, but you are depriving an industry of continued economic development.  And although I know I shouldn't advertise here - I'm about to - with all the talk of mask-less visitors to Sainsbury's - do take a look at our hand woven silk masks from Myanmar....trying to re-build an industry here under....I'd have to say - rather challenging circumstances...www.pochisilk.com

Catherine Smith ● 2093d

As you say, Keith - difficult to judge on that - so don't.  I don't know how old you are - maybe you are talking about 30 years ago.  But it is not the place you describe.

Catherine Smith ● 2093d

It was about 18 years ago and far from judging as you so curtly put it,I was describing what I saw and experienced,while up on the hill overlooking the town there was a huge gilt covered temple...Like everywhere else,there are rich and poor towns and cities and ditto people.You seem to know more about the place, why don't you get down off your high horse and tell us about your experiences.

Keith Iddon ● 2093d

Hi Keith - there was no high horse - with context your post would have been ...just a normal post!  Some of my experiences are here:  www.facebook.com/pochisilk - trying to keep a business going through a coup... on top of Covid.  For sure over-sensitive about negative comments about Myanmar the country - rather than just commentary on current events - so my apologies for that.

Catherine Smith ● 2093d

My farther was a chindit, he didn't have a good word to say about the place, but then malaria and jungle warfare will colour your view I suppose.

Craig David Mcdowell ● 2093d

Very gracious of you,Catherine. I suppose it's too easy for a casual visitor like myself to compare and contrast what appears before his eyes to what he is used to and in doing so, make assumptions.I do feel that anywhere,like Thailand for instance,that wants to escape the wretchedness of the third world and to become a liberal and functioning democracy, needs to rid itself of the shackles of oppression by the state, army,monarchy and religion to truly go through the gates of freedom.Historically we had our struggles to put all of those things in their place, and probably still have some work to do.Any country where you can openly buy justice has plenty of work to do.Whether all that applies to Myanmar I do not know.

Keith Iddon ● 2093d

PS.The very best of luck with your business venture there, Catherine.It must be very difficult in these awful times.

Keith Iddon ● 2093d

Just back from doing a hard 7000 steps – the price I pay for enjoying myself too much and putting on a stone in the months before Xmas.Like I said – I'm getting fussy this year about which threads I choose to visit and whose posts I read (see the twin Capt Tom threads).  Like I explained at the start, I meant to stay off this one - so it's a shame it's developed so well into areas I know a bit about like Paul and his cricket.  Anyway – after this I'm off.Catherine's post circles the tourist issue.  Is it ethical to visit Burma?Some say yes, others say no.  For me, I'm too old to visit this land, in the way I would have liked when I was young.  Going off-track and meeting the people and eating their food and seeing their country.  Particularly the Buddhists.  Until recent events, I suspect that sort of holiday could be done ethically.Since exploring Spain and Andalucia inside out and from top to bottom, my bible has always been the “Rough Guide” series.  I trust their writers.  I like the way they know the best places to go that are not always on the tourist map.  I trust their ethics.The Rough Guide remains unenthusiastic about Europeans visiting Burma and staying in the top hotels and visiting the usual cities.  This is where the junta holds sway.  Where the economic links are tied tight to the military.  Far away from other areas of the island where people are oppressed, slave labour is common and genocides have happened.That's very brief but Burma's not yet for me.Although Catherine's silk masks look great (I visited the site).  Recommended.

Stuart Kerr ● 2093d

"Far away from other areas of the island where people are oppressed, slave labour is common and genocides have happened."which island is that?

James Roy ● 2092d

Stuart must have been influenced by Kipling's confused geography of Burma!

Robert Fish ● 2092d

RF > "Stuart must have been influenced by Kipling's confused geography of Burma!"The circle is complete: Johnson, Kipling & Burma in the same thread."The temple-bells they say... Come you back, you British soldier"

John Whitworth ● 2092d

As a professional 7000 steps athlete, trapped in a global pandemic and being asked questions about faraway places I've never visited - I put all senior mistakes down to my harsh training schedule.Whilst I'm on - Galle Cricket ground is knockout pretty.  So was the old Kandy ground, before they built the bigger one...

Stuart Kerr ● 2092d

Yes, I was invited to Galle Face Hotel.Met an heiress there to a French Brandy empire...long time ago so don't know which one.She got away.Damn

James Roy ● 2091d

Ah memories.  The Galle Face in Columbo is one of the world's great great hotels.  Had dinner there on the terrace before it was done up - and again a few years later after it had been refurbished.  Just fab-u-lous.  You should've nailed her feet to the ground...

Stuart Kerr ● 2091d