Suez Watch

[Default0ptions]

Latest, USA ATTACKS "Iran linked" targets in Iraq and in Syria.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-68144478

Probably because they don’t want to escalate. Hmm. - 3 dead Americans. How many dead in the response so far?

How is that not escalation?

Proportionate?

I think both Syria and Iraq have repeatedly asked the US to leave and stop illegally occupying their countries too - let alone undertake military operations on their sovereign territory

Sitting ducks for long term low cost asymmetrical strikes until they do go

Maybe they can manage it with more decorum than the Afghanistan rout

[Mark]

I'm sure that every defence contractor in the world is busy working on bigger/better drones....., and/or drone defence systems...
They must be licking their lips at all those new contracts.....

Death from above: Ukraine's new suicide drones are the start of a 'terrifying' arms race British military chiefs fear could create the next 'weapon of mass destruction'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ction.html

Who would voluntarily sign up for the armed forces these days ?
With these drones, future conflicts would seem to be a 'numbers game', which is not good news for the West....
Having expensive kit like tanks, artillery, even aircraft carriers will no longer be decisive...

[BritDownUnder]

I hear National Service is coming back.
Well a soon to be retiring general is talking about it.

[Mark]

I hear National Service is coming back.
Well a soon to be retiring general is talking about it.

All those kids playing on their PS5s might have a use after all...

[mr brightside]

All those kids playing on their PS5s might have a use after all...

Ender's Game.

[Default0ptions]

All those kids playing on their PS5s might have a use after all...

Ender's Game.

Orson Scott Card!

[adam2]

Evening tv news reports state that a tea shortage is probable due to attacks on shipping via the Red Sea.
Tea is ight in weight and could presumably be shipped by air at modest extra cost.

[northernmonkey]

Bugger!

I make tea wine a lot and am about to start up this year's brewing in a few weeks

[Mark]

Evening tv news reports state that a tea shortage is probable due to attacks on shipping via the Red Sea.
Tea is ight in weight and could presumably be shipped by air at modest extra cost.

Tetley monitoring its tea supplies on daily basis
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68284391

One photo of a sign...., from one Sainsburys branch...., saying there might be supply issues with boxes of tea visible in the background...

Andrew Opie, Director of Food & Sustainability at the BRC, said: "The impact on consumers will be minimal as retailers are not expecting significant challenges."

So....., looks like a classic 'storm in a teacup' to me...
But running stories like this might well create a shortage, similar to the rush on toilet rolls...
Even if it does, it's not exactly the end of the world if we have to drink the odd coffee/juice/water instead for a few weeks ?

There are bigger things to worry about.

[mr brightside]

Tetley monitoring its tea supplies on daily basis

Who the hell would give a damn if we ran out of Tetley?

[adam2]

Tetley monitoring its tea supplies on daily basis

Who the hell would give a damn if we ran out of Tetley?

Not me as I dislike tea, but it is very popular and any shortage therefore a matter of public concern. Any significant tea shortage would likely result in panic buying, firstly of tea and then of other goods.
Petrol panic due any day now ! probably not toilet rolls as many people still have extra supplies purchased in the last panic.

[mr brightside]

Tetley monitoring its tea supplies on daily basis

Who the hell would give a damn if we ran out of Tetley?

Not me as I dislike tea, but it is very popular and any shortage therefore a matter of public concern. Any significant tea shortage would likely result in panic buying, firstly of tea and then of other goods.
Petrol panic due any day now ! probably not toilet rolls as many people still have extra supplies purchased in the last panic.

Running out of Tetley tea should not be a public concern, more a merciful blessing, and a good opportunity to switch to Taylor's or Thompson's (formerly Punjana).

[BritDownUnder]

For no other reason than reducing the trade deficit I would encourage less tea consumption. Same for a lot of the imports than come through the Suez Canal. One benefit of tea was that it rendered the drinkers, especially in tropical climes, less prone to illnesses caught from water-borne bacteria as the boiling of the water had the effect of killing a lot of these bacteria.

[mr brightside]

For no other reason than reducing the trade deficit I would encourage less tea consumption. Same for a lot of the imports than come through the Suez Canal. One benefit of tea was that it rendered the drinkers, especially in tropical climes, less prone to illnesses caught from water-borne bacteria as the boiling of the water had the effect of killing a lot of these bacteria.

It was the same with ale and gin i think, it was safer than water due to cholera. The diet of a navvie contained 8 pints of ale a day; personally i salute them.

[Mark]

It was the same with ale and gin i think, it was safer than water due to cholera. The diet of a navvie contained 8 pints of ale a day; personally i salute them.

and foundry workers, and glass blowers and...
the 'ale' was a lot weaker then, so drinking it was primarily to replace lost fluids...