spridgets
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [Spridgets] Iran, NATO and Europe - obviously no LBC

To: Ron Soave <soavero@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] Iran, NATO and Europe - obviously no LBC
From: Weslake1330 via Spridgets <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:07:48 +0000
Arc-authentication-results: i=1; mx.google.com; arc=none d=gmail.com; s=20230601; t=1774015666; x=1774620466; darn=autox.team.net; h=cc:to:subject:message-id:date:from:in-reply-to:references :mime-version:from:to:cc:subject:date:message-id:reply-to; bh=I237kbBjy2DAkWlyvWwQy8RI2izjrKCIIGuXrX/Np6A=; b=U97uIwhk40WhW3y3cuiDKh0gecHsr23ZZHUwGw70axTn7DVz7NjrmmpKEYfZ/61223 ZGQVOnFk+t7Rt+FnTmg472626s5/DVfrP9SG9MaVFbpcaNrZm2e79wGdoaMy66EewMwE UHK0YwWM7UxnjRUWkiEXBrqr6f8e9DBB7tCmb0jf7tPpJ5gkHvypGy7QfeESo9WzOkpj yOuC6KxRMdk5zBFBg4SLOtThTMWH59T7Kk59lzF7wkuER0mQt/+hJS/do1IYFR2qCrUM 4WX+Y4l3jtTdCbO0cMA8DYss1mnu1/CVcthHZr3+fgy8DYr6tZHWZS6xXLPQxMr1puQZ DIlQ== d=1e100.net; s=20251104; t=1774015666; x=1774620466; h=cc:to:subject:message-id:date:from:in-reply-to:references :mime-version:x-gm-gg:x-gm-message-state:from:to:cc:subject:date :message-id:reply-to; bh=I237kbBjy2DAkWlyvWwQy8RI2izjrKCIIGuXrX/Np6A=; b=GvwZIl5CtUHPJVgltg3FmBkwJCwkAMo99RXrDnHWPEyxmr/uPELqabFD6MWz+FW8DN edpAK2qcs7exZESb44jV8lY2bps9hUmsS9AbNZp3Sf4NR57/EOTOiEEmpm2/fdAux/XK imgdaXTMtZeW0XnzVq6wqA/hL6Yf/8/sefW1hCtLl/wPaSNJa41djINXl3TSvsljh05t 1Vtsd+xEJIrXXRU4ZeCsJUmj9nnvDv1R+i0KhEvj0USXViVbEM2ferEYTURmHlnn4roQ fVAqLivixhgyrkBpgXKfVxlPCXzk+AYlmGVAiCWM5DqULR6elE3V7J4eYpu49nJREBu4 denw== AJvYcCUKdZr99TJo/TBWAviTbBa5HvVzF1ZIO7XWKcsPS4Qmhv/XT1IdMzlI+OnMP0z7oyRwbhv/C9OBwGE=@autox.team.net lyf8CJrTok6i0c0TaJkOXWzF/VO4iQ51WODnMu3W0PVMsqsGWi+Zqgip3dVnVdHCiT2LuQS199i qDDNBr3v1kdaawPdpe/a2h2Fmt6Yg0c4= HzUAoGuESt4ZhM68dF5o+hnd/Ewo1dB/h96HhMKSY++AH6zbTllvgiMNZkN20UZ/J+2iYzFCIJj JV1eYvdyoep7/Dk4PlkmrBmesAKMo1sIPS5DGfqG/eO840VAM4M3favGyT+c3G4b1M/i5t1U5DO ZN1fru/jHAx5Y5XFsZEEL/xZtM3boZuV/1eNx4ialbYlYX4NHXrTXGSIBpQ9O7o+SovGWnkCRGi llx4JuUrbWY5lgMmNHaN3Hy3h5mJ6ms/oIOny5cd2Q== 00721157ae682-79a909612camr31802157b3.0.1774015665826; Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:07:45 -0700 (PDT)
Arc-message-signature: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=google.com; s=arc-20240605; h=cc:to:subject:message-id:date:from:in-reply-to:references bh=I237kbBjy2DAkWlyvWwQy8RI2izjrKCIIGuXrX/Np6A=; fh=8BuZSlVMZSIo+thocAMctUPhcDUKoafq5C0CDm2ppSQ=; b=gGqQiE01zezL5CDb4/UQ/sqC04MVodoF1G0eOoOHMxKya23HgwbMflDsvpe90FVatY DqvxJxh+qxrqXZI2isVeusr6cVmo2IKsaDVkZtpSZMRDk62h8Zz7CidIErh6UuJhkB1N rMrFrwKQHRGRhC1UOg76C/fO7FZx46YIUgwTVPvzW59/xxTFXJH2zAQ+DSnR4JsWor8/ zxg+Bi/KLk3gaN74Rfc4jpwLzCBWFrJSqGnPAvA6hUYr84pEmiXRSNC62Fwy06bMtcZG OCUN6l3ePIvjjPL/2LzgF+IF8J/FbLhZ0BwydVYzQPSFWXKGCTlfD+evBh8fP9L2nWpb NSdA==; darn=autox.team.net
Arc-seal: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; t=1774015666; cv=none; d=google.com; s=arc-20240605; b=M05aQn8lRVOpKa/C0/50GiJdqRm9Gcfpj69W0j3J+MPkjumyFR9RQJSuNLNZ1DgNEN rHdTQcoxYo1TOxulhcekni/iIMW1w63mRG7wmfvA0csUi/xFxNk3Xp+NZW5jcqThnGtS uA7bRUjrdFVs635N+Sl63+ANOvASsHbP34/dVQgjAHtfgjnLQPHDZlI+kTlXviieYsmX q6xk/rG89ntYeloT4LkahaRK0NvR0S8mLloJpXEk7eCNpREiEpN91pEhb0JG9mMA9D7c 1TiAMg1V6YHHiwNbFoKajsR+0dROZkLgi6JSuU+2LYDyDdCsTQwKnwKF+p1FuipJ9xEF Otdw==
Cc: Spridgets <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: spridgets@autox.team.net
References: <75794EC5-F15B-43D3-B4AD-F1ECAC5D10C8@mac.com> <9B067E65-04B8-43E3-A542-2C671465459F@yahoo.com>
--===============7164008151609276123==

--000000000000966def064d75351b
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Chrome but my Sprite doesn't have one to save weight.  I guess if there was
a really nice transfer or sticker I could use I might be tempted to have
one.

On Fri, 20 Mar 2026 at 13:32, Ron Soave <soavero@yahoo.com> wrote:

> What color should the Sprite emblem be on the rear boot?
>
> Ron Soave
>
> On Mar 20, 2026, at 8:44=E2=80=AFAM, Larry Macy via Spridgets <
> spridgets@autox.team.net> wrote:
>
> =EF=BB=BFDaniel,
>
> Well stated and thought from the British POV. I agree with your points,
> but would like to insert one clarification. It is not America that is
> insulting and bitching at NATO countries.
>
> I have been around for nearly 7 decades and this is the absolute worst
> relationship between our NATO allies and the US I have ever seen in those
> decades. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran an=
d Ukraine is the
> bottom of the barrel in my opinion.
>
> This is my opinion, and so far, in the US, I am still allowed to have one=
.
>
> Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is simply the o=
pinion of
> an Englishman and an American.
>
> Larry
>
> On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330 via Spridgets <
> spridgets@autox.team.net> wrote:
>
> Hi List,
>
> I wanted to post some thoughts on Iran, NATO and Europe that simply aren'=
t
> being reported on national news, as far as I can tell, whose reporters se=
em
> to have no idea of analysis or wider impacts.
>
> The news isn't saying much about how much help Iran has had and continues
> to have from Russia and China, the latter especially.  I believe that Ira=
n
> is an evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and abetted) over
> decades by Russia and China.  I have heard that Chinese technicians aidin=
g
> Iran firing missiles have been killed.  So if America decides to attack
> Iran that's ok by me in a broad sense.  Iran with nuclear weapons would b=
e
> a disaster for the world.
>
> NATO is about defence and its membership agreement makes that clear.  NAT=
O
> is not a force multiplier to call upon when a member's aggression needs
> some backup.  Yes, the USA puts more money into NATO than any other count=
ry
> and arguably it has had the most back.  Europe provided the buffer for th=
e
> USA against the USSR and I guess that was a price the USA decided was wor=
th
> paying.  Well times change and the USSR not longer exists but former
> members are a threat.  The flipside to the coin that isn't discussed is n=
ot
> whether all the NATO countries need to spend more (and a couple do) but
> could America spend less?
>
> America has stated that China rather that Russia are the real threats and
> attacking Iran weakens China considerably though news commentators aren't
> saying so.  America seems to continue to be well disposed to Mr Putin and
> Russia and seem to ignore the large part of aid Russia has given to Iran.
> Well I guess it might be in America's interest to say little and not stat=
e
> what is close to being obvious.
>
> What makes no sense and is baseless criticism is to insult NATO and
> European countries (who get very little oil and gas from Iran) for not
> answering a call to aid from America.  It is India, China and other easte=
rn
> countries who are not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and Europea=
n
> countries.  It's also worth considering what countries are in NATO.  Well
> Canada is in NATO and so is Denmark (who count Greenland as part of its
> territory) and they have good grounds for not rushing to the assistance o=
f
> the USA.  What about the European countries in NATO?  Well they are still
> very focused on supporting Ukraine and the Arctic where there is still
> Russian aggression and threat - something that America thinks they ought =
to
> be doing.
>
> It is never good sense to insult your friends and allies, or falsely
> accuse them.  And while you might publicly state they aren't helping and
> are free loaders, the truth and reality is quite different.  However, spe=
nd
> enough time and energy publicly criticising them and there is a real risk
> you'll discover how much they DID do when they decide to do a lot less or
> nothing for you in the future.  Google RAF Croughton and see not only how
> important that is to America but the controversy caused by a fatal road
> accident that made everything connected to that site unpopular.
>
> Regards
>
> Daniel S
> ------------------------
>
> spridgets@autox.team.net
>
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation: $12.75
>
> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets
> http://autox.team.net/archive
>
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/lmacy@mac.com
>
>
> =E2=80=94
>
> Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.
> lmacy@mac.com
>
>
> =E2=80=9CRemember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet,=E2=
=80=9D he
> said. =E2=80=9CTry to make sense of what you see and about what makes the
> universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is
> always something you can do, and succeed at. It matters that you don=E2=
=80=99t just
> give up.=E2=80=9D
> ~Stephen Hawking
>
>
> ------------------------
>
> spridgets@autox.team.net
>
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation: $12.75
>
> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets
> http://autox.team.net/archive
>
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/soavero@yahoo.com
>
>

--000000000000966def064d75351b
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<div dir=3D"ltr">Chrome but my Sprite doesn&#39;t have one to save weight.=
=C2=A0 I guess if there was a really nice transfer or sticker I could use I=
 might be tempted to have one.</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quo=
te_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, 20 Mar 2026 at =
13:32, Ron Soave &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:soavero@yahoo.com";>soavero@yahoo.com=
</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:=
0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">=
<div dir=3D"auto">What color should the Sprite emblem be on the rear boot?<=
div><br id=3D"m_-9150558312448340395lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div d=
ir=3D"ltr">Ron Soave</div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br><blockquote type=3D"cite">On=
 Mar 20, 2026, at 8:44=E2=80=AFAM, Larry Macy via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"=
mailto:spridgets@autox.team.net"; target=3D"_blank">spridgets@autox.team.net=
</a>&gt; wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div di=
r=3D"ltr">=EF=BB=BFDaniel,<div><br></div><div>Well stated and thought from =
the British POV. I agree with your points, but would like to insert one cla=
rification. It is not America that is insulting and bitching at NATO countr=
ies.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>I have been around for nearly 7 decades=
 and this is the absolute worst relationship between our NATO allies and th=
e US I have ever seen in those decades. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfrien=
d=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran and Ukraine is the bottom of the barrel in my op=
inion.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>This is my opinion, and so far, in th=
e US, I am still allowed to have one.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Spridg=
eteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is simply the opinion o=
f an Englishman and an American. =C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Larry<br i=
d=3D"m_-9150558312448340395lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div><br><blockqu=
ote type=3D"cite"><div>On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330 via=
 Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:spridgets@autox.team.net"; target=3D"_blank=
">spridgets@autox.team.net</a>&gt; wrote:</div><br><div><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi=
 List,<div><br></div><div>I wanted to post some thoughts on=C2=A0Iran, NATO=
 and Europe that simply aren&#39;t being reported on national news, as far =
as I can tell, whose reporters seem to have no idea of analysis or wider im=
pacts.</div><div><br></div><div>The news isn&#39;t saying much about how mu=
ch help Iran has had and continues to have from Russia and China, the latte=
r especially.=C2=A0 I believe that Iran is an evil regime supported (Englis=
h phrase: aided and abetted) over decades by Russia and China.=C2=A0 I have=
 heard that Chinese technicians aiding Iran firing missiles have been kille=
d.=C2=A0 So if America decides to attack Iran that&#39;s ok by me in a broa=
d sense.=C2=A0 Iran with nuclear weapons would be a disaster for the world.=
</div><div><br></div><div>NATO is about defence and its membership agreemen=
t makes that clear.=C2=A0 NATO is not a force multiplier to call upon when =
a member&#39;s aggression needs some backup.=C2=A0 Yes, the USA puts more m=
oney into NATO than any other country and arguably it has had the most back=
.=C2=A0 Europe provided the buffer for the USA against the USSR and I guess=
 that was a price the USA decided was worth paying.=C2=A0 Well times change=
 and the USSR not longer exists but former members are a threat.=C2=A0 The =
flipside to the coin that isn&#39;t discussed is not whether all the NATO c=
ountries need to spend more (and a couple do) but could America spend less?=
</div><div><br></div><div>America has stated that China rather that Russia =
are the real threats and attacking Iran weakens China considerably though n=
ews commentators aren&#39;t saying so.=C2=A0 America seems to continue to b=
e well disposed to Mr Putin and Russia and seem to ignore the large part of=
 aid Russia has given to Iran.=C2=A0 Well I guess it might be in America&#3=
9;s interest to say little and not state what is close to being obvious.</d=
iv><div><br></div><div>What makes no sense and is baseless criticism is to =
insult NATO and European countries (who get very little oil and gas from Ir=
an) for not answering a call to aid from America.=C2=A0 It is India, China =
and other eastern countries who are not going their oil from the Gulf, not =
NATO and European countries.=C2=A0 It&#39;s also worth considering what cou=
ntries are in NATO.=C2=A0 Well Canada is in NATO and so is Denmark (who cou=
nt Greenland as part of its territory) and they have good grounds for not r=
ushing to the assistance of the USA.=C2=A0 What about the European countrie=
s in NATO?=C2=A0 Well they are still very focused on supporting Ukraine and=
 the Arctic where there is still Russian aggression and threat - something =
that America thinks they ought to be doing.</div><div><br></div><div>It is =
never good sense to insult your friends and allies, or falsely accuse them.=
=C2=A0 And while you might publicly state they aren&#39;t helping and are f=
ree loaders, the truth and reality is quite different.=C2=A0 However, spend=
 enough time and energy publicly criticising them and there is a real risk =
you&#39;ll discover how much they DID do when they decide to do a lot less =
or nothing for you in the future.=C2=A0 Google RAF Croughton and see not on=
ly how important that is to America but the controversy caused by a fatal r=
oad accident that made everything connected to that site unpopular.</div><d=
iv><br></div><div>Regards</div><div><br></div><div>Daniel S</div></div>
------------------------<br><br><a href=3D"mailto:spridgets@autox.team.net"=
 target=3D"_blank">spridgets@autox.team.net</a><br><br>Donate: <a href=3D"h=
ttp://www.team.net/donate.html" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donat=
e.html</a><br>Suggested annual donation: $12.75<br><br>Archive: <a href=3D"=
http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets"; target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.=
net/pipermail/spridgets</a> =C2=A0<a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive"=
 target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br><br>Unsubscribe/Man=
age: <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/lmacy@mac.c=
om" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/lmacy=
@mac.com</a><br></div></blockquote></div><br><div>
<div style=3D"color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;font-st=
yle:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:normal;letter-spacing:norma=
l;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;w=
ord-spacing:0px;text-decoration:none">=E2=80=94<br><br>Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.=
<br><a href=3D"mailto:lmacy@mac.com"; target=3D"_blank">lmacy@mac.com</a><br=
><br><br>=E2=80=9CRemember to look up at the stars=C2=A0and not down at you=
r feet,=E2=80=9D he said.=C2=A0=E2=80=9CTry to make sense of what you see=
=C2=A0and about what makes the universe=C2=A0exist. Be curious. And however=
=C2=A0difficult life may seem, there is always=C2=A0something you can do, a=
nd succeed=C2=A0at. It matters that you don=E2=80=99t just give=C2=A0up.=E2=
=80=9D=C2=A0<br>~Stephen Hawking<br><br></div>
</div>
<br></div><span>------------------------</span><br><span></span><br><span><=
a href=3D"mailto:spridgets@autox.team.net"; target=3D"_blank">spridgets@auto=
x.team.net</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>Donate: <a href=3D"http://w=
ww.team.net/donate.html" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html<=
/a></span><br><span>Suggested annual donation: $12.75</span><br><span></spa=
n><br><span>Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets"; ta=
rget=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</a> =C2=A0<a href=
=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive"; target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/=
archive</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>Unsubscribe/Manage: <a href=3D=
"http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/soavero@yahoo.com"; target=
=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/soavero@yahoo.c=
om</a></span><br></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></div>

--000000000000966def064d75351b--

--===============7164008151609276123==
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Disposition: inline

------------------------

spridgets@autox.team.net


Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets  http://autox.team.net/archive


--===============7164008151609276123==--

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>