Comments by "peabase" (@peabase) on "EU-UK mistrust on Brexit 'threatens anti-terror cooperation'" video.

  1. +Tom Hulme It's not so much punishment by the EU as a self-inflicted wound by Britain. Besides, co-operation works both ways. Both sides stand to lose.
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  2. +Tom Hulme I said self-inflicted, as in slitting your own wrists rather than have someone else do the honours. I'm sure Anglo-EU co-operation will continue, but just not at the same level as before. I suppose Brits will be invited to sit in on select meetings, but understandably, you won't have a say in shaping EU security policy. No pay, no say.
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  3. +Tom Hulce No, that's not what I'm saying. Try to reread my comments.
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  4. +Tom Hulme It's like you won't be invited to all family parties after you divorce your wife, that's why. The Yanks don't invite you to all their security meets either, do they?
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  5. +Tom Hulme It's a grave accusation that innocent Britons would be sacrificed out of political rancour. No, I think that in anticipation of Brexit ending in tears, you want to believe everyone's ganging up on you, so you can blame anyone but yourselves. The EU has gotten over the UK leaving. Let's be honest, there's a measure of relief in seeing a malcontent leave on his own accord. BTW, punctuation isn't overrated.
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  6. +Tom Hulme What basis do you have for your assertion that UK intelligence is more valuable to the EU than vice versa? Till you provide credible sources, it's just self-congratulatory babble.
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  7. +Tom Hulme Well, none of them, not EUROPOL, MI5, MI6 nor GCHQ, have powers of arrest. Come on, surely you can copy-paste the link to the Guardian article.
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  8. +Tom Hulme I wonder if you read (or understood) the article. It laments the poor state of intelligence co-operation in the EU (the UK seems to be part of the problem), but lauds the agencies of the bigger members, including those of the UK, as very capable. Where the UK does stand out is as a conduit to some non-EU agencies. By definition, conduits add little or no value. The article even hints at Germany taking over that role in the post-Brexit EU. If so, the logical conclusion is that the UK's importance in the global intelligence community is waning, as the UK will no longer be a source for EU intelligence. Ergo, you didn't prove your point about the UK being extraordinarily important in intelligence matters.
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  9. +Tom Hulme Germany taking over from the Britain as an intelligence conduit, I wrote. I also wrote that passing information from one agency to another adds little value. All it says is that Brits are trusted to carry messages.
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  10. +Tom Hulme So you agree that the British intelligence community owes its (supposed) prominence to being glorified messenger boys? It seems the Germans only need to forge some ties to cut out the middleman. You're becoming surplus to requirements.
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  11. +Tome Hulme Don't go juvenile on me with the smileys. Your proof, your article, suggested that the UK is indeed a valuable source of intelligence, just like a tap is a valuable source of water. Sadly, a tap doesn't create water. Also, a bit plumbing and tadah, you have yourself another tap. Speaking of trust issues, have you forgotten how Kim Philby & Co. emasculated British intelligence? Unlike James Bond, Philby and his spies were real. And Germany fares better than the UK in the corruption perception index, so by rights the UK should step aside.
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  12. +Tom Hulme you're* Provide credible sources then. You tried highlighting EUROPOL's lack powers of arrest (equally applicable to MI6, that) and referenced a Guardian article that didn't back your claim. Thanks for likening British intelligence to a leaky tap. You're doing sterling work for me.
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  13. +Tom Hulme I'll ignore the ad hominem, which just speaks of despair, but in demanding that I disprove your claim you're making a so-called argument from ignorance. You can't prove your point so you demand that I disprove it. And you think I'm embarrassing myself.
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  14. +Stuart Rogers "13 possible UK terrorist attacks", eh? After Brexit has been implemented, thwarting possible UK terrorist attacks is your responsibility and yours alone.
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