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Not that I'm in favour of oppressive regimes, or people's bills going up here, but it would be satisfying if the Americans and Israeli's fail to break the Iranians.

The Iranians have been preparing for this for years.

Seems that way, if the footage of their missiles getting through is anything to go by. (Hard to tell which of it is AI though. I hate technology sometimes.)

Forget the exact figures but the Iranian missiles are costing in the thousands to replace whereas the Israel/US defense ones are millions each.

Wouldn't surprise me, but the yanks have money to burn and the finances probably won't make much difference.

James Talarico has won the Dem primary in Texas and could be on his way to flipping a senate seat. Betting markets so far are putting his odds at 40%, but that could change. This could be major if he pulls it off and wins a statewide race. I read before that TX is on schedule to turn blue in 2028, so this will put that theory to the test.

Not that I'm in favour of oppressive regimes, or people's bills going up here, but it would be satisfying if the Americans and Israeli's fail to break the Iranians.

The Iranians have been preparing for this for years.

Seems that way, if the footage of their missiles getting through is anything to go by. (Hard to tell which of it is AI though. I hate technology sometimes.)

Though the Kremlin never misses a chance to not forget an item from the past in order to discredit a regime which is counter to its present day interests,  what applied in 2015 in Syria does not apply now to the instituted ideology and policy of the provisional government of Syria which just happens to not only be in direct opposition to the pan Islamic ideology of Al Qaeda but also the Kremlin. Not only was the vicious regime of the tyrant Assad overthrown in Syria but also the prisons were opened up and tens of thousands of the tortured and incarcerated were released and  Russian military presence, a fundamental 'underpinner' of that horrific regime, was expelled from the land.

What was the middle bit?

"Please join me in thanking every American service member who bravely is standing in harm's way. They really are incredible. And I just want to thank you. We have a lot of them right here. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you everybody. We have a lot of great service members here with us too in this beautiful building, isn't it beautiful? We're adding on to the building a little bit. We're improving the building. See that nice drape when that comes down, right now, you see a very, very deep hole, but in about a year and a half from now, you're going to see a very, very beautiful building. And there's your entrance to it right there. In fact, it looks so nice. I don't think I'll even -- I think I'll save money on the doors because it can't get more beautiful than that. I picked those drapes in my first term. I always like gold. But I think we can save a lot of money. I just saved -- I just saved curtains. But, uh, and it will be -- it'll be spectacular, be the most beautiful ballroom. I believe it's because I built many a ballroom. I believe it's going to be the most beautiful ballroom anywhere in the world. And when you hear all that hammering out there, you know why the First Lady is not thrilled exactly. She said will the pile drivers ever stop? You know they go from six in the morning till 1130 in the evening. Can you imagine? Hear? You know what, to me that's a beautiful sound, she doesn't like it. I love it. You know what to me other than here because we're donating it not a penny to the taxpayer. It'll be under budget, ahead of schedule. It'll be $400 million or less. Most people say $400 million or more. No, it'll be less. But, uh, when I hear that sound, that beautiful sound behind me, it means money so I like it, but my wife isn't thrilled. She said this is getting crazy. I said, don't worry about it. We'll be all finished up in a few months.

But now for the reason that we're gathered this morning to recognize the unsurpassed courage of three really incredible American heroes, one living and two no longer with us."

I'd say pigs will fly before this could happen, but good historical perspective as always by Cormac Moore.

Cormac Moore: Is it time for Ireland's football teams to join together?

irishnews.com Feb 27, 2026

NEXT month both Irish soccer teams will bid to make the FIFA World Cup later this year in North America.

If the talks that took place between the Irish Football Association (IFA) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) during the height of the Troubles in the 1970s had succeeded, there would be one united international team from the island bidding to do so.

Those talks took place in earnest from 1973 to 1980.

The attempts to bring about an all-Ireland team in many ways were a player-led initiative, with prominent names such as George Best, Derek Dougan and John Giles all calling for one team on the island.

An all-Ireland team, organised by Dougan and Giles, took to the field in the guise of a Shamrock Rovers XI who played against the world champions Brazil in a thrilling encounter at Lansdowne Road in July 1973, with the Brazilians winning by four goals to three.

Although not supported by the IFA or FAI, the match did prompt the FAI to contact its northern counterpart to discuss the possibility of re-unifying.

Soccer in Ireland had been governed by the IFA in Belfast on an all-Ireland basis from 1880 to 1921.

In 1921 the Leinster Football Association seceded from the IFA, with the FAI established later that year.

The IFA unanimously agreed to meet the FAI and talks that had not taken place since 1932 between both associations begun again.

The intervening period had seen the relationship wane considerably, with both associations claiming the right to call on players from the whole island to play for their different "Ireland" teams.

It led to bizarre scenarios. In one instance, Johnny Carey played for an IFA-selected "Ireland" team against England at Windsor Park in Belfast on February 28 1946.

Two days later he played for an FAI-selected "Ireland" team, also against England, in Dalymount Park in Dublin.

FIFA put a stop to this practice in 1950 by prohibiting associations from selecting players not born in their jurisdiction.

By the early 1970s, and despite the escalation of violence in Northern Ireland that led to Derry City abandoning the (northern) Irish Football League in 1972, there was a desire within the FAI and IFA to co-operate more closely.

As well as discussing the prospect of reunion, both associations embraced all-Ireland competitions such as the Blaxnit and Texaco tournaments and supported joint efforts in education and coaching for schools and referees.

Although the talks ultimately failed, there was a genuine desire for an all-Ireland solution by both associations, particularly the FAI.

There would not have been as many conferences between the IFA and the FAI if there was no desire. At least nine were held between 1973 and 1980, seven from 1978 to 1980.

George Best
George Best was among players who favoured an all-island football team

Factors that brought an end to the talks included money – the financial dilemma the halving of revenue from international fixtures would cause – and the ongoing violence in Northern Ireland.

A vicious riot at a European Cup tie between Linfield and Dundalk at the latter's ground, Oriel Park, in 1979, highlighted the closeness of football to the northern conflict.

It was conceded that a football solution could not be found until such time as a political solution to Northern Ireland was achieved.

Others believed the administrators from both associations were fearful that union would see a halving of administration roles.

Success also proved an obstacle to an all-Ireland team.

The Northern Ireland soccer team won the British Home Championship in 1980 and 1984, the last year the oldest international football competition was held. The IFA still retains the trophy.

Under Billy Bingham, the international side also qualified for the World Cups of 1982 and 1986, causing one of the biggest upsets in the 1982 competition by defeating the host nation, Spain.

The results Northern Ireland was experiencing led Harry Cavan, IFA president and FIFA vice-president, to comment that "with results like we have had over the last two years, who needs a united Irish soccer side?"

Many saw Cavan as an obstacle to football unity, although he claimed in 1979 that "two teams in a small country like this is nonsensical".

In 1988, the Republic of Ireland made its introduction at international tournaments at the European Championship in West Germany.

In qualifying for the World Cups in 1990 and 1994, the southern team had overtaken its northern rival on the field. It also lessened the appetite from the FAI for unity.

The Irish fans have developed a reputation for enjoying themselves at major tournaments since Jack Charlton's men reached those first Euro finals in 1988.
Irish fans at the European Championships in 1988
Louis Kilcoyne, the FAI president, commenting in 1995 on the prospect of re-union, stated: "If it ain't broken, don't fix it."

Fortunes for both teams have dwindled since. Despite both Irish teams qualifying for the European Championships in 2016 – Northern Ireland's first appearance at an international tournament in 30 years – the current sides are a pale reflection on teams past.

Both will have to win two difficult ties by the end of March to qualify for the World Cup this year.

Even if one or both Irish teams do qualify, realistically it will become more challenging to do so in in the future.

The lack of success might see a renewal of talks to consider an all-Ireland team.

A 2015 University of Ulster study, Social Exclusion and Sport in Northern Ireland, contended that a majority of people in Northern Ireland (54%) supported an all-Ireland football team, including 39% from the Protestant community.

This may prompt the IFA and FAI to re-engage and bring about one football team on this small island yet again.

Interesting. I wonder if a joint team would lead to the reunification of the associations, all back under the IFA umbrella. If it remained based in Belfast, would everyone be okay with that?

There'll be a grand stretch in the evenings soon, hopefully it'll get easier for people.

If it does turn out to be a breach of the Official Secrets act, what sort of jail term would we be talking?

A couple of hours' community service, at worst.

Not sure. I think he is being hung out to dry here.

If Andrew gets lifted for state secrets, surely Mandleson has to be too?

Charlie stripped him of his titles and banished him to the small palace in the corner. Seems like he knew this was coming. The big question now becomes, did Charles stump up £2 million for Andrew's hush money to Virginia Giuffre? If yes, the PM might have to pay a visit to the palace and demand the King's abdication.

British Republicans are salivating now.

Tomorrow's news headlines...."I've sacked the Supreme Court and I have just appointed a beautiful new Supreme Court".

Wouldn't be surprised to see him tweeting that. It'll have all the same legal force as the one saying "I hereby claim the state of Michigan" on election night in 2020.

Walk of life
Money for nothing

For third place it's a toss-up between:
Why worry
Industrial disease

The Brothers in Arms album was a masterpiece.

Not to take the thread too far off topic but there's a great little short one here comparing May and Truss with some hillarious impressions:

Saw a good one the other day, a short YouTube piece about Theresa May. (I always find former UK Prime Ministers interesting to listen to, they've seen how it all works, and now that they're no longer in the job they're not constrained in what they can say.)

Anyway, she remarked how you used to go into a pub there would be "old Joe" sitting at the end of the bar having too much to drink, and muttering all sorts of nonsense, conspiracy theories, maybe a dose of racism or xenophobia, and things that are just generally not true. Well in those days everybody just ignored "old Joe" and got on with their business. He didn't have a whole lot of influence because there weren't many people like him, they were spread thin across society and were never well enough organised to get together.

Nowadays, old Joe can go online and connect with similar characters like himself. Now he starts to feel like he's part of a community. Now he can talk to people like himself, and one or two of their number will have enough skills to arrange a physical meet-up. Throw in the algorithm, and it starts serving up content that appeals to him, further reinforcing his ideas no matter how outlandish they are.

The rise of the internet has had a lot of unintended consequences. America is the extreme example of this.

I've heard this analogy before and it's absolutely spot on. The consequence is that the cohort of people who historically would have been mildly susceptible to it but didn't really care have now become so radicalised and set in these beliefs. Alot of "semi old joes" have now become full blown old joes because of what they consume on their phone for hours every day.

Do you have a link to the interview?

Yes, here you go.

 The social media bit begins at 20:53, but it's well worth watching the whole thing.

It wasn't exactly a fringe theory he was pushing. The taigs-as-troublemakers trope was already a well established foundation of Ulster unionism.

Saw a good one the other day, a short YouTube piece about Theresa May. (I always find former UK Prime Ministers interesting to listen to, they've seen how it all works, and now that they're no longer in the job they're not constrained in what they can say.)

Anyway, she remarked how you used to go into a pub there would be "old Joe" sitting at the end of the bar having too much to drink, and muttering all sorts of nonsense, conspiracy theories, maybe a dose of racism or xenophobia, and things that are just generally not true. Well in those days everybody just ignored "old Joe" and got on with their business. He didn't have a whole lot of influence because there weren't many people like him, they were spread thin across society and were never well enough organised to get together.

Nowadays, old Joe can go online and connect with similar characters like himself. Now he starts to feel like he's part of a community. Now he can talk to people like himself, and one or two of their number will have enough skills to arrange a physical meet-up. Throw in the algorithm, and it starts serving up content that appeals to him, further reinforcing his ideas no matter how outlandish they are.

The rise of the internet has had a lot of unintended consequences. America is the extreme example of this.

Trying to pick up just one clothes hanger from a bunch of clothes hangers. Bastardos!

That's near as bad as trying to just pull one tissue out of the box without half a dozen hitch-hikers coming along for the ride.