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[I think more or less the exact opposite]

#1

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by mongers - Today at 04:51:49 PM

I think more or less the exact opposite

I think the Starmer experiment has tested to destruction that theory of "anti-populist" politics that what matters is just comptenece and process and institutions even if you don't really have a clear idea of what "the work" is.

Which is my slight concern with Labour. It's difficult for the potential leadership challengers (especially those in cabinet) to set out what they'd do differently. But I slightly worry that not many of them have actually got a clear idea of what it is they'd want to change from Starmer's premiership beyond being better communicators - which is really important in a leader, but not sufficient.

I think Burnham is possibly an exception because of his experience as metro-Mayor in Manchester. But I am slightly concerned that still, despite 14 years in opposition, a lot of people in Labour still don't really have a clear idea of what they want to do with power beyond tinkering and making sure the correct forms are filled in triplicate.

With the whole Mandelson debacle I sort of think it feels like a lot of Labour people haven't really come to terms with what New Labour meant - far less what the financial crisis, Corbyn, the Brexit vote, the 2019 election "mean".

The opposite, as in you won't endless intrigue and party politics to immerse yourself in?

#2

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 04:43:32 PM

I think more or less the exact opposite

I think the Starmer experiment has tested to destruction that theory of "anti-populist" politics that what matters is just comptenece and process and institutions even if you don't really have a clear idea of what "the work" is.

Which is my slight concern with Labour. It's difficult for the potential leadership challengers (especially those in cabinet) to set out what they'd do differently. But I slightly worry that not many of them have actually got a clear idea of what it is they'd want to change from Starmer's premiership beyond being better communicators - which is really important in a leader, but not sufficient.

I think Burnham is possibly an exception because of his experience as metro-Mayor in Manchester. But I am slightly concerned that still, despite 14 years in opposition, a lot of people in Labour still don't really have a clear idea of what they want to do with power beyond tinkering and making sure the correct forms are filled in triplicate.

With the whole Mandelson debacle I sort of think it feels like a lot of Labour people haven't really come to terms with what New Labour meant - far less what the financial crisis, Corbyn, the Brexit vote, the 2019 election "mean".

#3

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by mongers - Today at 04:18:49 PM

FYI Sky News did an interesting wargame podcast ("The Wargame") with lots of former ministers like Ben Wallace from Defence, Jack Straw who was Foreign Secretary during Iraq, Amber Rudd who was Home Secretary plus former civil servants, military etc. Obviously a little hysterical (and very much pro-rearmament) but interesting. And as much about how we ended up here as a "wargame".

So really a crisis management game?

#4

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Sheilbh - Today at 04:16:36 PM

FYI Sky News did an interesting wargame podcast ("The Wargame") with lots of former ministers like Ben Wallace from Defence, Jack Straw who was Foreign Secretary during Iraq, Amber Rudd who was Home Secretary plus former civil servants, military etc. Obviously a little hysterical (and very much pro-rearmament) but interesting. And as much about how we ended up here as a "wargame".

#5

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Tonitrus - Today at 04:06:29 PM

I may be too cynical, but with it involving a media parter, and given the scenario preconditions...it feels like it was biased towards generating the exact kind of media response/headlines that it is currently doing.

#6

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Tonitrus - Today at 03:59:52 PM

Since they were part of it...here is Die Welt's article:

https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article6984a7189d88d6e920be111f/ernstfall-podcast-wargame-exposes-gaps-in-germanys-response-to-a-hypothetical-russian-attack-on-lithuania.html

If you German, it seems there is also an accompanying podcast series.

#7

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Tonitrus - Today at 03:52:46 PM

Which exercise was this?  Run by whom? The linked description says that "Europe played out a scenario..." which is suspiciously vague terminology.  "Europe" does not play out scenarios.

Found a better article...

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/europe/russia-incursion-lithuania-nato-wargame-ukraine-b2915111.html

The wargame exercise was carried out in December jointly by German newspaper Die Welt and the German Wargaming Centre of the Helmut Schmidt University of the German Armed Forces.

#8

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Legbiter - Today at 03:21:21 PM

I did a little more digging...what that X post listed were the preconditions for the scenario that the actors had to work under.

So, they're fairly pessimistic (though not unrealistic) preconditions, and I'd be more curious on the details that follow out of the actual wargaming.

Bit more context here. The guy who played the russian side chimes in as well.

https://x.com/shashj/status/2019329780102148152

The scenario was a bit more complex and nuanced than that. Remote mining only happened after hostilities had already begun. I was also trying to achievr military objectives with the minimum force available and I did my best to keep assembly areas hidden. And it was also not a huge force. I did ask a few times during the game when the NATO counter-attack was supposed to happen.

#9

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by grumbler - Today at 03:03:32 PM

Which exercise was this?  Run by whom? The linked description says that "Europe played out a scenario..." which is suspiciously vague terminology.  "Europe" does not play out scenarios.

#10

Off the Record / Re: The EU thread

Last post by Tonitrus - Today at 02:55:47 PM

I did a little more digging...what that X post listed were the preconditions for the scenario that the actors had to work under.

So, they're fairly pessimistic (though not unrealistic) preconditions, and I'd be more curious on the details that follow out of the actual wargaming.