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Old 08-12-2016, 13:44
NilSatisOptimum
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Thank God they didn't make him PM.
He is self serving and astute, he was brought into Government to leash him, looking rather untrainable.
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Old 08-12-2016, 13:50
NilSatisOptimum
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Well, who needs Cabinet Collective Responsibility anyway?

This is extremely embarrassing for the Conservative Government in dealing with Saudi Arabia, however, again highlights our shame in dealing with this inhumane state.
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Old 08-12-2016, 13:52
glasshalffull
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Pffft...he'll be out there kowtowing with a bunch of arms manufacturers next week...that's assuming Liam Fox hasn't booked the last seat on the plane for his pal Adam Werrity
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Old 08-12-2016, 14:03
packerbully
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Absolutely not. He is completely correct of course. Sometimes the truth hurts.
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Old 08-12-2016, 14:05
Dotheboyshall
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Thank God they didn't make him PM.
Boris and trump, what a combination
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Old 08-12-2016, 15:32
PyRoMaNiAc
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Has he opposed sales of arms to Saudia Arabia or does he see them as an export opportunity?
Was just going to mention that! Theresa May out there being all pally with them too!!
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Old 08-12-2016, 16:28
NilSatisOptimum
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Pffft...he'll be out there kowtowing with a bunch of arms manufacturers next week...that's assuming Liam Fox hasn't booked the last seat on the plane for his pal Adam Werrity

Still it brings the Saudi issue to forefront of the British electorate again, regardless of the Boris visit.
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Old 08-12-2016, 16:49
i4u
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A slap in the face for Boris or a knee in the groin?

Thersea May slaps down Boris Johnson after he accuses Saudis of ‘proxy wars’

Downing Street said the Foreign Secretary’s remarks were his own and did not reflect government policy towards Saudi Arabia, one of Britain’s most important and sensitive allies in the Middle East.

“The Foreign Secretary will be in Saudi Arabia on Sunday and has the opportunity to set out the way the UK sees its relationship with Saudi Arabia,” she said.
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Old 08-12-2016, 16:51
Dotheboyshall
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You don't think they would then?
I suspect they would, however Boris is justifying arms sales to Saudi on those grounds
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Old 08-12-2016, 16:52
thenetworkbabe
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https://www.theguardian.com/politics...vernments-view

Pretty silly. Of course Saudi Arabia, as a contender for leading Sunni state, takes a major role in te Sunni-Shia war. Just as Iran is even more behind Shia's combatants everywhere. Iran though has anti-western and anti-Israel ambitions that Saudi Arabia hasn't. Its got the missiles, nuclear programmes and continually exercises its ability to attack the west. And its the power fighting for minority rule in Syria , its responsible for both the Hizbollah threat to israel , and the Iraqi governments's policy on the Sunni that restarted that war, and its behind the Houthi rebellion in Yemen causing the trouble there. . The Saudis are entitled to defend themselves, and take the side of Sunnis being attacked by Shia.

Boris seems to be as unsuitable as he was likely to be as Foreign Secretary. May seems bound to give him a top job - so he can sell the brexit deal to leave voters - but he may be in the wrong job. She could have made Boris minister for brexit, let Davis be chief negotiator, and let Fox go on a world tour for 2 years - to keep him out of the way.

She might have even done a Heath and made Cameron Foreign Secretary, avoided the bull in a china shop, and avoided having sacked Cameron ministers biting her continually.
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Old 08-12-2016, 16:53
i4u
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Anyone seen the gaffer tape?

When do Boris Johnson's 'gaffes' become a liability for the PM?

It is not so much what Boris Johnson said about the Middle East that raises questions, it is Downing Street's reaction to it.

When a Foreign Secretary cannot be relied upon to get things right about one of the country's closest strategic allies, he becomes a liability to a Prime Minister - and the media starts to wonder if his future is in doubt.
Slow boat to China for Boris?
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Old 08-12-2016, 17:55
Mr Oleo Strut
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Johnson! You are sacked! Security - take away this man's security passes, stripsearch him and escort him off the premises immediately!
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Old 08-12-2016, 18:06
Gordon g
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Of course though he is right. What the Saudi's are doing in Yemen is absolutely criminal.

Still he is foreign secretary, his job is to maintain relations so we can sell them weapons to blow up hospitals in Yemen.
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Old 08-12-2016, 18:22
RichmondBlue
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https://www.theguardian.com/politics...vernments-view

Pretty silly. Of course Saudi Arabia, as a contender for leading Sunni state, takes a major role in te Sunni-Shia war. Just as Iran is even more behind Shia's combatants everywhere. Iran though has anti-western and anti-Israel ambitions that Saudi Arabia hasn't. Its got the missiles, nuclear programmes and continually exercises its ability to attack the west. And its the power fighting for minority rule in Syria , its responsible for both the Hizbollah threat to israel , and the Iraqi governments's policy on the Sunni that restarted that war, and its behind the Houthi rebellion in Yemen causing the trouble there. . The Saudis are entitled to defend themselves, and take the side of Sunnis being attacked by Shia.

Boris seems to be as unsuitable as he was likely to be as Foreign Secretary. May seems bound to give him a top job - so he can sell the brexit deal to leave voters - but he may be in the wrong job. She could have made Boris minister for brexit, let Davis be chief negotiator, and let Fox go on a world tour for 2 years - to keep him out of the way.

She might have even done a Heath and made Cameron Foreign Secretary, avoided the bull in a china shop, and avoided having sacked Cameron ministers biting her continually.
Saudi Arabia have effectively been exporting their extreme brand of Islam around the world for years. The existence and rise of ISIS can be traced back to SA, but the monster finally grew out of their control.
It might be terrible timing by Boris Johnson, but I doubt anyone could successfully argue that what he said is anything else but absolutely true.
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Old 08-12-2016, 18:28
grauniad
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I always thought that BJ as FS was May's master stroke. Give him some responsibility and he will quickly self implode.
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Old 08-12-2016, 18:49
Dotheboyshall
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Saudi Arabia have effectively been exporting their extreme brand of Islam around the world for years. The existence and rise of ISIS can be traced back to SA, but the monster finally grew out of their control.
It might be terrible timing by Boris Johnson, but I doubt anyone could successfully argue that what he said is anything else but absolutely true.
Would he have said it if he was PM?
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Old 08-12-2016, 19:22
RichmondBlue
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Would he have said it if he was PM?
Probably not. We have to sup with the devil sometimes. I remember Robin Cook stating that he would add an "ethical dimension" to our foreign policy. It was well meaning, but would never have worked.
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Old 08-12-2016, 21:30
mRebel
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Politician tells the truth shocker.

I can see how this would freak Labour out.
Considering it's only a few days ago that Boris was defending British arms sale to Saudi Arabia it is surprising that he now condemns them for fighting a proxy war with the weapons we've sold to them!
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Old 08-12-2016, 22:24
Parker45
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Shot down yet again by Mrs May. How long can this clown continue to be Foreign Secretary?
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Old 08-12-2016, 23:08
Aurora13
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Shot down yet again by Mrs May. How long can this clown continue to be Foreign Secretary?
She needs him to sell Brexit deal to Tory Party faithful who love Boris. He speaks their language!
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Old 11-12-2016, 10:03
Dotheboyshall
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Given that Boris has spent his life creating lie after lie with people loving him for it I find it ironic that he could lose his job for telling the truth.
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Old 11-12-2016, 11:28
Penny Crayon
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Given that Boris has spent his life creating lie after lie with people loving him for it I find it ironic that he could lose his job for telling the truth.
How true.

I guess that's politics for you.
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Old 11-12-2016, 18:23
Jellied Eel
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.. and its behind the Houthi rebellion in Yemen causing the trouble there. . The Saudis are entitled to defend themselves, and take the side of Sunnis being attacked by Shia.
Uhuh.. But they don't seem to be doing a very good job of 'defending' themselves in Yemen-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn_v9GJlTsg

Box full of S.Korean grenades, explosives, lots of ammunition and cases of unused rocket launchers.. All left for the Houthis. There's quite a few vids on YT showing the same sort of abandoned kit.. But I guess the Saudis can always buy more. Shame they can't control where it ends up after they've abandoned it and fled though.
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Old 11-12-2016, 21:49
Dotheboyshall
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Rumours say that IDS is in the running to replace Boris.

Going from the ridiculous to the callous.
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