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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    A potted history of the G7

    The Group of Seven is an idea that came out of the 1973 OPEC oil shock. The global economic order of the post-war world was breaking down and a flurry of turnover of leaders in Europe and the United States was creating turmoil and uncertainty.


    It was originally a finance ministers' meeting of what were supposed to be the major industrialised countries, even if adding Japan seemed to a bit of an afterthought. It only grew into a group of seven with the addition of Canada, largely on the basis it was thought it would be good to include someone else who spoke English.


    Summiteering has grown over the decades and without doubt has proved useful from time to time in building personal relationships and for its symbolism at crucial points in history — such as in the US/USSR relationship.


    It also proved its worth during the GFC in helping deal with global problems in the international financial system.
    And this points to the problems with this year's summit.

    Scott Morrison will join Donald Trump at the G7 this year — and it'''s sure to be a circus - ABC News
    Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago ...


  2. #2
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    A circus awaits in September

    A potted history of the G7-11447046-4x3-xlarge-jpg

    Last year, Australia, Spain, and India were invited to attend the G7 meeting in France.
    It was dominated by Trump trying to bully the rest of the attendees into re-admitting Russia — thrown out over the downing of MH17 — and by his erratic statements about a trade war with China.


    Lest there be any doubt that the band has struck up "Entry of the Gladiators", Trump has been quite clear that this G7 meeting is directed not at international cooperation but against China, and that he is still pushing for Russia to attend.


    Australia's desperation to be included in the international conversation has too often made us an alibi for respectability rather than an ally.


    The sorts of arguments given to attend this next meeting have included the usual "you can't say no", and that it gives the Australian PM an opportunity to press Australia's case in a deteriorating trade war between China and the US. (Presumably attending the meeting won't have any ramifications for our relationship with China).


    Putting these arguments aside, the fact the world is facing a health and economic existential crisis would normally be enough reason all by itself to attend.


    But what real prospect is there of such issues getting a serious airing?

  3. #3
    Thailand Expat jabir's Avatar
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    I think Russia should be invited to attend.

    Putin is a crunt, he nicked Crimea, shoots planes out of the sky at will, poisons and otherwise assassinates whoever pisses him off, bugs world leaders, has nobody knows how many trillions in loot stashed away, is biding his time and planning to invade Europe when the time is right, then the world, and that’s for starters, so you can add other real or imagined or manufactured crimes to this list.

    But whatever of the world’s problems G7 or G8 or Gn resolves or fails to resolve, having Russia on board must be better than keeping it in exile. Diplomacy is about collaboration between even sworn enemies toward a common goal, and quite aside from an ongoing trade war Trump has made it clear this meeting will address China and it’s role in triggering an existential health and economic crisis.

    After what the world has gone through, and keep in mind it is far from over, imo the worst case scenario would see no significant status shift between pre-virus and post-virus if the intl community fails to stand together and collectively censure and severely punish China.

    Talk is the easy bit. Then at some point we reach the How, which is quite another matter since the CPC is not your run of the mill rogue and the Chinese people and economy have far higher pain thresholds that any western nation or group. The serious bit is in the detail, how to hurt China without threatening your own fragile economies, or put CPC feet to the fire without risking that it strikes back by raising the ante. My guess, lots of huff and puff with a public slap on the wrist.

    But Russia is hurt just like everyone else, and as the next meeting will address China’s role in the virus and possible group actions, Russia should be there.

  4. #4
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Russia should have to satisfy pre-conditions before it joins and, since it would probably decline an invite even without pre-conditions, that idea is a non-starter.

  5. #5
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Oh and do the damn thing online, ffs.

  6. #6
    Thailand Expat
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    is biding his time and planning to invade Europe when the time is right, then the world, and that’s for starters
    And why, pray tell, would you invade your overwhelmingly largest export destination, and biggest foreign investor?

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    And why, pray tell, would you invade your overwhelmingly largest export destination, and biggest foreign investor?
    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post

    I thinks it's absurd as well, but people like Putin don't think rationally when they have ultimate power - see Ukraine

    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    Russia should have to satisfy pre-conditions before it joins and, since it would probably decline an invite even without pre-conditions, that idea is a non-starter.
    Wot 'e sed ^

  8. #8
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    Russia should have to satisfy pre-conditions
    Ah, your suggesting a two tier entry qualification. Will Russia sit in another room or just in the corner?

    Quote Originally Posted by jabir View Post
    having Russia on board must be better than keeping it in exile
    Exciled from which group?

    Quote Originally Posted by jabir View Post
    Trump has made it clear this meeting will address China and it’s role in triggering an existential health and economic crisis.
    I presume all the attendees will bring along their country's expert analysis and select from each a phrase or two to publish.

    Quote Originally Posted by jabir View Post
    After what the world has gone through
    A recurring transfer from the citizens of the western blocks citizens to the 0.1% billionaires.

    Quote Originally Posted by jabir View Post
    My guess, lots of huff and puff with a public slap on the wrist.
    Quote Originally Posted by jabir View Post
    the next meeting will address China’s role in the virus and possible group actions
    One wonders if the UN requested WHO investigation will be complete and published prior to or after the G7 meeting.
    A tray full of GOLD is not worth a moment in time.

  9. #9
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    Oh dear . . . here we go again.

    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    Ah, your suggesting a two tier entry qualification.
    No-one is talking about membership, just attendance - once

    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    Exciled from which group?
    You're really THAT thick? Which thread are you posting in?

    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    I presume
    No. Don't.

    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    A recurring
    . . . the only recurring issue is your deflection/obfuscation/idiocy

    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    One wonders
    No. Not 'one'. You

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jabir View Post
    I think Russia should be invited to attend.
    Not until it is mature enough to admit the mistake it made in shooting down a commercial airliner and pays compensation - at the very least.

    Getting the fuck out of Ukraine would help as well.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    And why, pray tell, would you invade your overwhelmingly largest export destination, and biggest foreign investor?
    Because you've already embezzled billions, you don't need the money and you are a power-hungry zealot.

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    A recurring transfer from the citizens of the western blocks citizens to the 0.1% billionaires.
    In Russia it's more like the 0.001% and Putin is the chairman.

    Of course HooHoo thinks the sun shines out of Putin's arse.

  13. #13
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    There will be no invasions.

    Just continued destabilisation using thousands of useful idiots like ohno and klondick.

    Maybe the occasional poisoning just to make use of some of his old team.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat David48atTD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    Oh and do the damn thing online, ffs.
    Agreed but ...

    If tele-conferanced, no photo opportunities for Trump just before an Election.

    Trump being the leader of the Free World and all that

  15. #15
    กงเกวียนกำเกวียน HuangLao's Avatar
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    The Evil 7....

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat jabir's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by sabang View Post
    And why, pray tell, would you invade your overwhelmingly largest export destination, and biggest foreign investor?
    Aw sabang, read it all, make it up as you go along, present your worst possible case against Russia and or Putin whether real or imagined, and it still makes sense to send an invite instead of a fcuk you.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat jabir's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    Not until it is mature enough to admit the mistake it made in shooting down a commercial airliner and pays compensation - at the very least.

    Getting the fuck out of Ukraine would help as well.
    Of course it won't admit to shooting down that plane, and won't need to because nobody will make that demand, just like many other misdemeanours by it and other govs that go politely unmentioned in diplomatic brothels. QED: since it happened how close have we come to an admission, has anyone gone beyond rhetoric to meaningfully demand one, and why should they suddenly become righteous in wanting to put their concerns on record? Not for the first time, when politicians know they have no practical solution to a problem they pretend it doesn't exist. Otoh who knows, maybe Russia has already made that diplomatic concession and possibly even a quiet payment to put the matter to sleep.

    But Ukraine is de facto Russia now, and won't be going independent anytime soon, though it need to be formalised which will happen over time by virtue of no effective intl community action. While everyone runs around demanding their version of what is right, my guess is Putin will follow the China-steals-Tibet-from-under-our-nose model, move populations around, offer concessions for Russians to move into Ukraine, natives to move away, and intermarriage, blurring the issues until there is no recognisable Ukraine for long haired t-shirt wearing protesters to reclaim. With this game plan he has a good start since Ukraine already had a significant Russian population.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    I thinks it's absurd as well, but people like Putin don't think rationally when they have ultimate power - see Ukraine
    See what? Just curious...

    After 6 years of huge "support" of Western powers, the country is on verge of bankruptcy, with many millions of its population slaving abroad, and many millions emigrating (mainly to Russia), govt leading war against their own population, stolen billions exported abroad (please no names here), isn't it enough to see?

    And what has been left now from the "support"? And what is the future of Ukraine?

  19. #19
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Klondyke View Post
    And what is the future of Ukraine?
    Well I guess as a minimum they'll be hoping to stay off the bottom of one table.

    In 2019, Ukraine ranked 126th out of 180 countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index - making it the second most corrupt country in Europe after Russia.

  20. #20
    . Neverna's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jabir View Post
    Ukraine is de facto Russia now, and won't be going independent anytime soon
    I must have missed something in the news.

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Klondyke View Post
    the country is on verge of bankruptcy, with many millions of its population slaving abroad, and many millions emigrating
    Enough about Russia, though. G7, remember? The meet they're not part of nor invited to.

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat jabir's Avatar
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    ^17

    Well that's a coincidence, it seems a US Congressman has introduced a bill to recognise Tibet as an independent country.

    They're unbeatable at making noise, and I hope it passes, not for Tibet's sake because that's a fantasy to feed sjw, career protesters and other crazies, but to demonstrate that you do not need to be particularly bright to enter Congress, or close enough to touch reality.

    Long game with no rules vs short game buried under a catalogue of rules + rigorous scrutiny. Will be interesting to watch.

    US delivers major blow to China, moves to recognize Tibet's independence - IBTimes India

  23. #23
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    Love the headline though:

    "US delivers major blow to China"

    It's nothing but will get China to, yet again, blow its stack. Fun for all, I guess.

  24. #24
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    "US delivers major blow to China"
    Just after you'd finally calmed klondick down, jabir now has to kick that off with ohno.


  25. #25
    Thailand Expat jabir's Avatar
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    Doesn't hurt to warm hoho's cockles, probably a nice bloke under there.
    Last edited by jabir; 07-06-2020 at 11:20 AM.

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