Comments by "Andy Monaghan" (@229andymon) on "FRANCE 24 English" channel.

  1. Just what Syria needs. More religious fundamentalism.
    54
  2. This was a not a "deliberate withdrawal", it was an encirclement and significant defeat of a substantial amount of UKR forces. They fought bravely and as well as could be expected in the circumstances, but the truth is they were beaten by a better equipped, better supported and better trained force. There's no shame in it for UKR, but let's try to limit the propaganda, eh?
    39
  3. The last clip I watched on this channel prompted me to criticise them for heavy and crude pro-UKR bias (because it was). Frankly I'm extremely surprised to see this completely different viewpoint expressed. So, on the basis I criticised them for getting it wrong - congratulations France 24 for getting it right.
    31
  4. So Mr Hines. The SNP state loudly, repeatedly and categorically they want Scottish independence, but when people vote for them they don’t actually want independence. To think they do is “slight of hand”. Typical Brit unionist BS..!
    30
  5. Military intervention would be a disaster. You don't have to be a military expert to know that.
    29
  6. Yeah…! Let’s end our trading relationship with our nearest neighbours and replace it with one with our furthest. Makes perfect sense.
    24
  7. If the US continues to bomb the Taliban, they need to realise they’re bombing the next rulers of the country. Rulers that, however much they may despise them, they will need to deal with. Using their airforce at this stage is also militarily a complete waste of time and lives. The US should concentrate on getting their people out safely and preparing for talks with Afghanistan’s new rulers, however difficult they may find that. It’s game over for the US and NATO in Afghanistan, the dogs in the street know that.
    23
  8. “The West will fight to the last Ukrainian” - Prof J Mearscheimer.
    21
  9. It's one thing to start a fight, another to win it.
    14
  10. This account is about as objective as an RT one would be. We don't need views, we need news..!
    11
  11. You’re OK though with your united UK meaning a divided Ireland?
    10
  12. The crocodile tears of the west flow like a river for the oppressed Uighurs. For the even more oppressed Kurds - "Who...?"
    9
  13. I'd say those that stayed are demonstrating a belief that staying is overall a better choice than leaving. Doesn't sound like people worried about Russians to me. Plus - what makes you think those that left aren't doing so because they're believing the Ukrainians about it being physically unsafe to stay. Isn't it perfectly possible some/most? may be planning to return once it's safe? I suggest you examine your own bias.
    8
  14. According to Western media, Russia can't even take the Donbas, but we're being asked to accept that they can walk thru the rest of Ukraine and NATO member Poland too? Make your mind up.
    8
  15. So US is from now a security firm. If you can afford muscle, it’s for sale. If not…. Sorry.
    8
  16.  @296jacqi  Why, when Russia is coming to them?
    5
  17. Mainstream media should reflect that for many people, in many cases, *they* are misinformation. Take the Ukraine war coverage for example. Whatever you may believe about that conflict, it’s a simple fact that most Western media outlets don’t even pretend to be balanced. By all means have an editorial line, but at the same time provide us with news, not views.
    5
  18.  @BigDaddyCane777  Oh, I dunno, maybe coz I’m not a highly paid journalist with an international news agency tasked with providing *news*…. Are you happy being fed an obvious line - you wouldn’t maybe like to know what’s really going on, without the crude bias?
    4
  19.  @45641560456405640563  Its a quote, not a cliché. And a highly relevant one. Care to comment on the quote, or just go for the man instead of the ball?
    4
  20. Where is her evidence Russia intends to reconstruct the USSR? Why is this assumption not challenged?
    4
  21. Or Scotland. Which is sad (but typical) given he is a political editor of a British media outlet. Just like the BBC.
    4
  22. Do you want news, or views?
    3
  23.  @hamzasyed  Hi. I agree with you, but if the US is having to settle for option 2 (if you can’t control them, then wreck them) that’s a high stakes game where the outcome can only be guessed. Iran was the only international “winner” in Iraq (nobody actually won) but what does that mean? They now influence a piece of disorganised chaos in Iraq, I don’t think that’s going to trouble the US much, frankly. Insane as this sounds, Iraq right now could be described as US foreign policy achieving some of its ends.
    3
  24. Russia are using “meat grinder” tactics in Pokrovsk. But Ukraine aren’t using them in Kursk. Definitely not. Objectivity, as welcome as it’s rare.
    3
  25. As they prove over and over again. One wonders therefore why they keep expecting to….
    3
  26. The times, they are a’changin…
    3
  27. Ignoring the constitutional question means siding with the status quo. It makes you a unionist. There is no middle ground regarding whether Ireland should be united or divided.
    3
  28. Perhaps if the English didn’t go into every World Cup expecting to win it they wouldn’t routinely be so disappointed when they don’t. The “home” of the cup isn’t England, the reality is it went there once, back in the 60s, before most people were born..!
    2
  29.  @TuanHoang-iq7ic  To decide which are bad and which good you need news, if all you listen to are views then your decisions are made for you. I want to make my own mind up.
    2
  30.  @greyfells2829  The only “east” thing about me, buddy, is my (typically Scottish) love of Indian curry. What about focusing on the question instead?
    2
  31.  @wally8338  You make great points. I’m not even talking about what action could or should be taken, I’m only talking about hypocrisy. I’d never even heard of Uighurs until fairly recently, but I do know of many peoples across the world suffering the same, if not worse, oppression. The Kurds are surely among the worst (and longest) affected. But the only oppression we appear to care about is that which somehow serves us to cry about. Tell me I’m cynical if you like, but when it comes to Uighurs, I’m thinking - this is all about the fact the Chinese are now asserting themselves on the world stage.
    2
  32. Copetas is a rabble rouser, he creates much heat, but little light. If he’s so angry about the activities of offshore tax havens, why not attack the people that facilitate them? Such as the UK, which runs 2 he mentions. Perhaps he should stick to relying on “Batman” for his political ideas.
    2
  33. How Russia is handling the most severe sanctions regime in history should be used in future as evidence of how difficult imposing such regimes can be. Indeed, from the opposite point of view, it could be viewed as a “case study” in how to combat sanctions. It’s not going to succeed and in fact could easily backfire badly on the West.
    2
  34. In the land of the free you get to do that. Freedom..!
    2
  35. Yup, noted that. Western media having problems dealing with reporting this given what these forces represent.
    2
  36. USA might do well to reflect on what European “strategic autonomy” would mean in practice. If we Europeans are to be responsible for Europe, that’s fair enough, but if we’re autonomous, then if USA starts messing with China, they shouldn’t be surprised if we say - “Over to you, buddy…”
    2
  37. So, ISIS 2 emerges. And it’s up to the Russians to sort it out? It isn’t anyone else’s problem?
    1
  38. I don't know much about how people obtain medical care in US. I realise travel is difficult for poorer people, but otherwise would it be a major issue for women to just travel to a state that permits it? Could they just do that, or would that perhaps be considered, weird as it sounds, "inter state commerce"..?
    1
  39. @ I’m completely opposed to them.
    1
  40.  @hamzasyed  May I suggest that the chaotic, weak and fragmented shambles that is present day Iraq could be exactly what the US wanted? What chance was there of a US-friendly, western-style liberal democracy emerging after Saddam? Probably none. What, in that case, would be the US’s next best choice? Worst case for the US is any strong, united, independent Middle East state.
    1
  41.  @umerrashid4940  A bit unfair to collectivise “the West”. There are many western countries opposed to US interventionism, even if they may not shout about it. Are you not perhaps being as guilty of “occidentalism” as Edward Said described “orientalism”?
    1
  42. Your analysis of the outcome of the Korean War I would seriously question. The North Koreans invaded the South and a combined N Korean/Chinese force was repulsed. Korea remained divided along the same lines as before after a similar push north by S Korean and western forces was pushed back. 2 generations later S Korea is a successful, wealthy, strong and firm US ally, having adopted western-style liberal democracy. Whatever you think of the North, it hasn’t fared so well. So - while not perhaps the outcome the US would have liked (a successful occupation of the North) a “humiliating defeat” it most certainly was not.
    1
  43.  @cyberfunk3793  Not “lost”, not yet at least. They have been frozen while the legality of whether they could be confiscated (lost) or not is decided. If they are confiscated, the Russians have what they claim is roughly the same amount of western assets in Russian institutions they say they will confiscate in return. Whatever you think of the Russians, I don’t believe them stupid enough not to have seen this coming.
    1
  44. Can we imagine what kind of situation we'd have if there is military intervention, and it is "successful"? What kind of Niger, or wider Sahel region, would be left after that?
    1
  45. Does that apply to Scotland too..?
    1
  46.  @maxsch8454  To vote for it, you need to be able to vote for it. Westminster is currently preventing that.
    1
  47.  @maxsch8454  Who says we only get one chance and can’t change our minds? Who decided that and why do we have to obey it? Who is the “self” in self determination? Not us Scots, apparently.
    1
  48.  @maxsch8454  100% correct. On the contrary, should the English people decide to become independent, there isn’t anything could stop them. The “United Kingdom” is only united because Westminster is preventing Scotland leaving. A model of democracy and fairness, eh?
    1
  49.  @maxsch8454  But no one could stop the English changing their minds in the same circumstances though? Do you accept that, however unlikely such a circumstance is?
    1
  50.  @maxsch8454  So, given you agree, which you really couldn’t do otherwise since it’s the simple truth, then you must agree the only people that have the right to self determination in the UK are the English. The rest of us don’t. Proving, beyond doubt, the UK union is neither equal, fair, or even voluntary. A state of affairs any leader of the Soviet Union would agree with.
    1