Plan B Forum

Per CNN:

Diplomatic cables sent from the United Kingdom's ambassador to the United States back to London describe President Donald Trump as "inept," "insecure" and "incompetent," a UK government official confirmed Saturday to CNN.

I'm trying to think of other words HM's Ambassador could have used. So far I've come up with

Illegitimate
Ignorant
Impetuous
Infantile

I'm sure there are others.

Indolent
Insane
Idiotic
Imbecilic
Inane

immigrant offspring

incapable
indescribable
inbearable (Bugs got that one wrong)

incoherent
ineducable

Intolerant *and* Intolerable

Does it have to be alliteration of words that start with an "I"?

"inflamed
intestinal
irrigation"
ie. bowel byproduct

ibs

icky

While all of the above is funny, and god knows, true, its hardly diplomatic. And now his country pays the price, by having to accept his resignation (because God forbid the Trumpanzees acknowledge/work with anyone but toadies, sycophants, and tin despots). In any event, the lesson here, boys and girls, is a repeat: NEVER PUT IN WRITING WHAT YOU DONT WANT TO SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IN A DEPOSITION (writing to include emails, texts, cables, etc). The corollary - if the message is that important, and that confidential, pick up the damn phone and call.

And the best 'I' word...

Guinevere wrote:While all of the above is funny, and god knows, true, its hardly diplomatic. And now his country pays the price, by having to accept his resignation (because God forbid the Trumpanzees acknowledge/work with anyone but toadies, sycophants, and tin despots). In any event, the lesson here, boys and girls, is a repeat: NEVER PUT IN WRITING WHAT YOU DONT WANT TO SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IN A DEPOSITION (writing to include emails, texts, cables, etc). The corollary - if the message is that important, and that confidential, pick up the damn phone and call.

I respectfully disagree.  Couch it in the most diplomatic, gentle terms available if you must, but one should never be afraid to speak or write or print the truth.
Just because someone says up is down, black is white, or facts are "fake news" doesn't mean one must forsake one's integrity and agree with him merely to "get along".

-"BB"-

Except that’s not what I said. And a diplomat needs to be, you know, diplomatic to be effective. Great Britain has now lost the ability to have their choice for their Ambassador. That’s actually a big deal.

You said,

NEVER PUT IN WRITING WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IN A DEPOSITION

Some people might call that 'filtering' your words; I call it self-censorship.  And self-censorship, to me, displays an absence of integrity; a willingness to overlook something — or at least never say anything about it — because of a fear of how someone in power might take it and use it against you.

So the fact that the Emperor has no clothes is never pointed out, and yet another untruth gains traction.

And I'm just curious ... if the British were to stand their ground and say to Trump et al, "This is our delegate; he is the person we have selected to represent our government in dealing with your government, whether you like it or not," what would Trump and company gain by refusing to parley with him?  If anything, it would make them look even more like the spoiled little kid who didn't get to pitch or bat first or whatever, so he broke up the game by picking up his ball and going home.

-"BB"-

Bill - I think you missed Guin's corollary above:

• Guinevere wrote:The corollary - if the message is that important, and that confidential, pick up the damn phone and call.

(It occurs to me that a further corollary might be - If it's even MORE important, and/or MORE confidential, get on an airplane and deliver the message in person, face-to face.)

Well Trump could declare the Ambassador persona non grata - and I believe he has the right to do so (note that is very different from saying that he is right to do so) - which means he would have some limited time to leave the country. There really isn't any point in trying to fight it because it' s a battle UK might win, but they would assuredly lose the war especially knowing Trump's transactional approach to everything. With Brexit looming Britain will need any friends it can find anywhere. Trump will of course not hesitate to put any pressure he can when any trade details are discussed because he is all about winning and has no concept of fairness.

Econoline wrote:Bill - I think you missed Guin's corollary above:

• Guinevere wrote:The corollary - if the message is that important, and that confidential, pick up the damn phone and call.

(It occurs to me that a further corollary might be - If it's even MORE important, and/or MORE confidential, get on an airplane and deliver the message in person, face-to face.)

Yes, exactly.

Well, I respectfully disagree. Diplomats can, do and must put into writing private and confidential messages to their superiors. Phone calls are not supportable in the chain of command; "the Ambassador told X who told Y who tells me, Prime Minister that . . ." Doesn't work.

Such written communications are never public and in this case some swine in the UK did the dirty on the Ambassador. I hope they pay an awful price. What a loathe-some toady Boris is - but he got that part right.

Theresa did her part by saying "He's our guy forever" but that was a sure signal to Kim that he must fall on his sword. It won't be understood in Washington because in our country government people never resign on matters of principle. (Oh yes - Nixon's AG trouble - that was brave and right. It can happen).

Ok, how exactly does one report upon the fuckwitted shitweasel Trump, and his laughable/terrifying maladministration, "diplomatically"?