The panic flight of the US Air Force from Fairford has ended an awkward partnership begun when we were bankrupt and alone in 1940.
asserted
we → end → 1940
We and America just don't need each other in that way any more.
asserted
We → need → way
Mr Trump's USA – America First and America Alone – is happy to go its own way in its aggressive adventures.
asserted
USA → go → adventures
When Donald Trump opened his assault on Iran, the world was full of supposedly 'Right-wing' commentators, urging him on and denouncing the evils of the Islamic Republic.
asserted
world → open → Republic
How silly they all look now.
asserted
they → look → ?
The usual propaganda was deployed.
asserted
propaganda → deploy → ?
Iran was a brutal tyranny and we were spreading freedom and democracy.
asserted
we → spread → freedom
We didn't succeed in this of course, as anyone at all well-informed could have told Mr Trump.
uncertain
anyone → succeed → Trump
And the fact that the 'West' is allied with more than one such despotism, and does not care, was avoided or ignored.
asserted
West → ally → despotism
Quite honestly how anyone can be in alliance with Saudi Arabia and Turkey (as we are) and think he is serving the causes of democracy, law and freedom, I do not know.
asserted
I → think → democracy
Sir Keir Starmer, then our Premier, was excoriated by those militant voices for being cautious about allowing the USAF base in Fairford to be used in this war.
asserted
base → excoriate → war
Alas, he quickly gave in and pretended that the giant bombers based there were engaged in 'defensive' operations as they unloaded high explosive on Iranian targets.
asserted
they → give → targets
This fell into the class of things of which it can be said 'if you can believe that, you can believe anything'.
asserted
you → fall → anything
The US military has removed all of its B-1 bombers from the Gloucestershire air base at the centre of a suspected terror plot last month
So now where are we?
asserted
we → remove → plot
Iran is not defeated.
asserted
Iran → defeat → ?
It has hit America hard in its Gulf bases, destroying crucial, highly costly and irreplaceable US military equipment and facilities.
asserted
It → hit → equipment
It has survived questionable murders of its own leadership.
asserted
It → survive → leadership
I do not think so.
asserted
I → think → ?
Among the dead were wholly innocent relatives of the assassinated leaders.
asserted
relatives → assassinate → leaders
Let us call things by their proper names – for we would surely do so if Iran did the same to our side.
asserted
Iran → let → side
Every so often, President Trump stirs himself into a new rage and threatens to wipe Iran from the map.
asserted
Trump → stir → map
So far, he has not done so but I do not think any of us can be quite sure that he will not try.
asserted
he → do → us
No more terrifying figure has ever held the presidency of the USA.
asserted
figure → hold → USA
But this season of folly has finally ripped up the fiction that was the 'special relationship' between us and the USA.
asserted
that → rip → us
Anyone who still believes in this great gloopy tripe sandwich only needs to remember Mr Trump's recent crass call for a united Ireland.
asserted
who → believe → Ireland
Americans would turn and rend us if we did the same sort of thing to them – say, supporting Mexican demands for the return of the lands Uncle Sam violently seized from them in 1848.
asserted
Sam → turn → 1848
And Donald Trump's USA no longer needs to carry what is left of our armed forces in its baggage, to pretend that it has allies.
asserted
it → need → allies
But we can be an important and influential nation again, once we struggle free of the obsolete American alliance.
asserted
we → struggle → alliance
The sudden disappearance of US bombers from Fairford shows that they never really needed it to bomb Iran.
asserted
they → show → Iran
Modern in-flight refuelling made it unnecessary years ago.
asserted
it → make → flight
Their desire to implicate us in the increasingly disastrous Iran war was the only reason for using Fairford this time.
asserted
desire → implicate → Fairford
Now they don't even want to do that any more.
asserted
they → want → that
Breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to the approaching day when we finally declare independence from the USA.
asserted
we → breathe → USA
Look out for posters for The Michael Portillo Show where you live.
asserted
you → look → Show
I cannot show one to you but you will enjoy the sight of the sometime Secretary of State for Defence looking like a game show host, wearing a fluorescent suit and a smile of pure cheese.
asserted
Secretary → show → cheese
Has he now run out of railways to visit?
asserted
he → run → railways
Apparently he plans to share the story of
his father's flight from the Spanish Civil War.
asserted
he → plan → War
His promoters promise 'funny and insightful' observations about his old boss Margaret Thatcher and his reflections on the decay of political power.
asserted
promoters → promise → power
They say: 'He'll tell us about his break into TV – including the time he became a single mum…
asserted
he → say → time
Well, how are the mighty diverted.
asserted
mighty → divert → ?
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
