Confused Middle Aged DadMar 16
Emeritus Prof Christopher May

Drawing a parallel between the defence of Ukraine & the attacks on Iran, the Tangerine Tyrant has warned members of NATO that a failure to join the war on Iran will mark a 'very bad future' for the alliance.

However, despite the US (repeated) attempts to make pre-emptive self-defence a international legal norm, its difficult to see what *legal* basis might be for extensive NATO involvement, not that Trump cares about that;

Its just the usual bullying blackmail.

#Iran #NATO #politics
h/t FT

Mar 16 at 6:14amWeb
Show threadConfused Middle Aged DadMar 16
@ChrisMayLA6 pre-emptive self-defence sounds like a terrible concept that could be used to justify all manner of bad ideas and vendettas.
NATOs website talks about a political framework before military. That has not been used this time, as all the structures were dismantled first some years ago, but not by Iran. And doesn't it make sense to try and assemble your coalition first?
Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher MayMar 16

@confusedMiddleAgedDad

Well, the US has been trying to establish the pre-emptive self-defence norm for some time, but for it to become a norm in international law, it needs to be widely supported & it hasn't been - indeed many states have been lear that the attempt is misplaced.

As regards assembling your coalition first, it all depends on whether you regard intentional legitimacy as vital to your political aims; its pretty clear the the Tangerine Tyrant doesn't.

Show threadBaron VonskinnbackMar 16
@ChrisMayLA6 to be fair he accused NATO of never helping before even though they did, he diminished the sacrifice of hundreds of foreign troops, he mocks the death of military personnel calling them losers, he forces punitive tariffs on to his allies and threatens to invade their territory, why the fuck would we go anywhere near this orange shit show, fuck this guy...
Show threadSteve WoodsMar 16

@ChrisMayLA6 A Mafia tribute act is squatting in the Oval Office.

#Iran #NATO #MakeAmericaGrateAgain

Show threadPeet TetterooMar 16

@ChrisMayLA6

Exactly. bullying without context - for fraud convicted real estate psychopath ..