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

From: Larry Macy via Spridgets <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:32:05 -0400

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Daniel,

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.=20

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 and Ukraine is the bottom of the barrel in my opinion.=20

This is my opinion, and so far, in the US, I am still allowed to have =
one.=20

Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is simply the =
opinion of an Englishman and an American. =20

Larry

> On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330 via Spridgets =
<[email-masked]> wrote:
>=20
> Hi List,
>=20
> 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 seem to have no idea of analysis or wider impacts.
>=20
> 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 Iran is an evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and =
abetted) over decades by Russia and China.  I have heard that Chinese =
technicians aiding 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 be a disaster for the world.
>=20
> NATO is about defence and its membership agreement makes that clear.  =
NATO 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 country and arguably it has had the most back.  Europe provided =
the buffer for the USA against the USSR and I guess that was a price the =
USA decided was worth 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 not whether all the NATO countries need to spend more =
(and a couple do) but could America spend less?
>=20
> 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 state what is close to being obvious.
>=20
> 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 =
eastern countries who are not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO =
and European 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 of 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.
>=20
> 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, =
spend 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.
>=20
> Regards
>=20
> Daniel S
> ------------------------
>=20
> [email-masked]
>=20
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation: $12.75
>=20
> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets  =
http://autox.team.net/archive
>=20
> Unsubscribe/Manage: =
http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]

=E2=80=94

Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.
[email-masked]

=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=20
~Stephen Hawking

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<html aria-label=3D"message body"><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" =
content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8"></head><body =
style=3D"overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
line-break: after-white-space;">Daniel,<div><br></div><div>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.&nbsp;</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 the US I have ever seen in =
those decades. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NATO, =
Iran and Ukraine is the bottom of the barrel in my =
opinion.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>This is my opinion, and so far, =
in the US, I am still allowed to have =
one.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t =
make this a mess. It is simply the opinion of an Englishman and an =
American. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Larry<br =
id=3D"lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div><br><blockquote =
type=3D"cite"><div>On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330 via =
Spridgets &lt;[email-masked]&gt; wrote:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><div><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi =
List,<div><br></div><div>I wanted to post some thoughts on&nbsp;Iran, =
NATO and Europe that simply aren't being reported on national news, as =
far as I can tell, whose reporters seem to have no idea of analysis or =
wider impacts.</div><div><br></div><div>The news isn't saying much about =
how much help Iran has had and continues to have from Russia and China, =
the latter especially.&nbsp; I believe that Iran is an evil regime =
supported (English phrase: aided and abetted) over decades by Russia and =
China.&nbsp; I have heard that Chinese technicians aiding Iran firing =
missiles have been killed.&nbsp; So if America decides to attack Iran =
that's ok by me in a broad sense.&nbsp; Iran with nuclear weapons would =
be a disaster for the world.</div><div><br></div><div>NATO is about =
defence and its membership agreement makes that clear.&nbsp; NATO is not =
a force multiplier to call upon when a member's aggression needs some =
backup.&nbsp; Yes, the USA puts more money into NATO than any other =
country and arguably it has had the most back.&nbsp; Europe provided the =
buffer for the USA against the USSR and I guess that was a price the USA =
decided was worth paying.&nbsp; Well times change and the USSR not =
longer exists but former members are a threat.&nbsp; The flipside to the =
coin that isn't discussed is not whether all the NATO countries 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 news commentators aren't saying so.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Well I =
guess it might be in America's interest to say little and not state what =
is close to being obvious.</div><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 Iran) for not answering a call to aid =
from America.&nbsp; It is India, China and other eastern countries who =
are not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and European =
countries.&nbsp; It's also worth considering what countries are in =
NATO.&nbsp; 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 of the USA.&nbsp; What about the European =
countries in NATO?&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; And while you might =
publicly state they aren't helping and are free loaders, the truth and =
reality is quite different.&nbsp; However, spend 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.&nbsp; 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.</div><div><br></div><div>Regards</div><div><br></div><div>Danie=
l S</div></div>
------------------------<br><br>[email-masked]<br><br>Donate: =
$12.75<br><br>Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets =
&nbsp;http://autox.team.net/archive<br><br>Unsubscribe/Manage: =
http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]<br></div></b=
lockquote></div><br><div>
<div style=3D"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); =
font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; =
font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; =
orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: =
none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; =
text-decoration: none;">=E2=80=94<br><br>Larry B. Macy, =
Ph.D.<br>[email-masked]<br><br><br>=E2=80=9CRemember to look up at the =
stars&nbsp;and not down at your feet,=E2=80=9D he said.&nbsp;=E2=80=9CTry =
to make sense of what you see&nbsp;and about what makes the =
universe&nbsp;exist. Be curious. And however&nbsp;difficult life may =
seem, there is always&nbsp;something you can do, and succeed&nbsp;at. It =
matters that you don=E2=80=99t just give&nbsp;up.=E2=80=9D&nbsp;<br>~Steph=
en Hawking<br><br></div>
</div>
<br></div></body></html>=

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

[email-masked]

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

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---

From: Philip Nase via Spridgets <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:13:54 -0400

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=F0=9F=91=8D=F0=9F=8F=BC
Phil Nase

> On Mar 20, 2026, at 8:35=E2=80=AFAM, Larry Macy via Spridgets <spridgets@a=
utox.team.net> wrote:
>=20
> =EF=BB=BFDaniel,
>=20
> Well stated and thought from the British POV. I agree with your points, bu=
t would like to insert one clarification. It is not America that is insultin=
g and bitching at NATO countries.=20
>=20
> I have been around for nearly 7 decades and this is the absolute worst rel=
ationship between our NATO allies and the US I have ever seen in those decad=
es. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran and Ukrain=
e is the bottom of the barrel in my opinion.=20
>=20
> This is my opinion, and so far, in the US, I am still allowed to have one.=
=20
>=20
> Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is simply the op=
inion of an Englishman and an American. =20
>=20
> Larry
>=20
>> On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330 via Spridgets <spridgets=
@autox.team.net> wrote:
>>=20
>> Hi List,
>>=20
>> 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 see=
m to have no idea of analysis or wider impacts.
>>=20
>> 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 Iran i=
s an evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and abetted) over decades b=
y Russia and China.  I have heard that Chinese technicians aiding Iran firin=
g 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 be a disaster for t=
he world.
>>=20
>> 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 so=
me backup.  Yes, the USA puts more money into NATO than any other country an=
d arguably it has had the most back.  Europe provided the buffer for the USA=
 against the USSR and I guess that was a price the USA decided was worth pay=
ing.  Well times change and the USSR not longer exists but former members ar=
e a threat.  The flipside to the coin that isn't discussed is not whether al=
l the NATO countries need to spend more (and a couple do) but could America s=
pend less?
>>=20
>> America has stated that China rather that Russia are the real threats and=
 attacking Iran weakens China considerably though news commentators aren't s=
aying so.  America seems to continue to be well disposed to Mr Putin and Rus=
sia 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 state what i=
s close to being obvious.
>>=20
>> What makes no sense and is baseless criticism is to insult NATO and Europ=
ean 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 eastern countries w=
ho are not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and European countries.  I=
t's also worth considering what countries are in NATO.  Well Canada is in NA=
TO and so is Denmark (who count Greenland as part of its territory) and they=
 have good grounds for not rushing to the assistance of the USA.  What about=
 the European countries in NATO?  Well they are still very focused on suppor=
ting Ukraine and the Arctic where there is still Russian aggression and thre=
at - something that America thinks they ought to be doing.
>>=20
>> It is never good sense to insult your friends and allies, or falsely accu=
se them.  And while you might publicly state they aren't helping and are fre=
e loaders, the truth and reality is quite different.  However, spend enough t=
ime and energy publicly criticising them and there is a real risk you'll dis=
cover how much they DID do when they decide to do a lot less or nothing for y=
ou in the future.  Google RAF Croughton and see not only how important that i=
s to America but the controversy caused by a fatal road accident that made e=
verything connected to that site unpopular.
>> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets  http://autox.team.net/a=
rchive
>>=20
>> Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/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 i=
s always something you can do, and succeed at. It matters that you don=E2=80=
=99t just give up.=E2=80=9D=20
> Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets  http://autox.team.net/ar=
chive
>=20
> Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/pnase@=
me.com

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Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<html class=3D"apple-mail-supports-explicit-dark-mode"><head><meta http-equi=
v=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8"></head><body dir=3D=
"auto"><span style=3D"font-size:-webkit-xxx-large">=F0=9F=91=8D=F0=9F=8F=BC<=
/span><br id=3D"lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir=3D"ltr">Phil Nase<=
/div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br><blockquote type=3D"cite">On Mar 20, 2026, at 8:35=
=E2=80=AFAM, Larry Macy via Spridgets &lt;[email-masked]&gt; wrote=
:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div dir=3D"ltr">=EF=BB=
=BF<meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8">=
Daniel,<div><br></div><div>Well stated and thought from the British POV. I a=
gree with your points, but would like to insert one clarification. It is not=
 America that is insulting and bitching at NATO countries.&nbsp;</div><div><=
br></div><div>I have been around for nearly 7 decades and this is the absolu=
te 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, Ira=
n and Ukraine is the bottom of the barrel in my opinion.&nbsp;</div><div><br=
></div><div>This is my opinion, and so far, in the US, I am still allowed to=
 have one.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t=
 t make this a mess. It is simply the opinion of an Englishman and an Americ=
an. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Larry<br id=3D"lineBreakAtBeginningOfMes=
sage"><div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div>On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=
=AFAM, Weslake1330 via Spridgets &lt;[email-masked]&gt; wrote:</di=
v><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><div><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi List,<div=
><br></div><div>I wanted to post some thoughts on&nbsp;Iran, NATO and Europe=
 that simply aren't being reported on national news, as far as I can tell, w=
hose reporters seem to have no idea of analysis or wider impacts.</div><div>=
<br></div><div>The news isn't saying much about how much help Iran has had a=
nd continues to have from Russia and China, the latter especially.&nbsp; I b=
elieve that Iran is an evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and abet=
ted) over decades by Russia and China.&nbsp; I have heard that Chinese techn=
icians aiding Iran firing missiles have been killed.&nbsp; So if America dec=
ides to attack Iran that's ok by me in a broad sense.&nbsp; Iran with nuclea=
r weapons would be a disaster for the world.</div><div><br></div><div>NATO i=
s about defence and its membership agreement makes that clear.&nbsp; NATO is=
 not a force multiplier to call upon when a member's aggression needs some b=
ackup.&nbsp; Yes, the USA puts more money into NATO than any other country a=
nd arguably it has had the most back.&nbsp; Europe provided the buffer for t=
he USA against the USSR and I guess that was a price the USA decided was wor=
th paying.&nbsp; Well times change and the USSR not longer exists but former=
 members are a threat.&nbsp; The flipside to the coin that isn't discussed i=
s not whether all the NATO countries need to spend more (and a couple do) bu=
t 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 Ch=
ina considerably though news commentators aren't saying so.&nbsp; America se=
ems to continue to be well disposed to Mr Putin and Russia and seem to ignor=
e the large part of aid Russia has given to Iran.&nbsp; Well I guess it migh=
t be in America's interest to say little and not state what is close to bein=
g obvious.</div><div><br></div><div>What makes no sense and is baseless crit=
icism is to insult NATO and European countries (who get very little oil and g=
as from Iran) for not answering a call to aid from America.&nbsp; It is Indi=
a, China and other eastern countries who are not going their oil from the Gu=
lf, not NATO and European countries.&nbsp; It's also worth considering what c=
ountries are in NATO.&nbsp; Well Canada is in NATO and so is Denmark (who co=
unt Greenland as part of its territory) and they have good grounds for not r=
ushing to the assistance of the USA.&nbsp; What about the European countries=
 in NATO?&nbsp; Well they are still very focused on supporting Ukraine and t=
he Arctic where there is still Russian aggression and threat - something tha=
t America thinks they ought to be doing.</div><div><br></div><div>It is neve=
r good sense to insult your friends and allies, or falsely accuse them.&nbsp=
; And while you might publicly state they aren't helping and are free loader=
s, the truth and reality is quite different.&nbsp; However, spend enough tim=
e and energy publicly criticising them and there is a real risk you'll disco=
ver how much they DID do when they decide to do a lot less or nothing for yo=
u in the future.&nbsp; Google RAF Croughton and see not only how important t=
hat is to America but the controversy caused by a fatal road accident that m=
ade everything connected to that site unpopular.</div><div><br></div><div>Re=
gards</div><div><br></div><div>Daniel S</div></div>
------------------------<br><br>[email-masked]<br><br>Donate: http=
://www.team.net/donate.html<br>Suggested annual donation: $12.75<br><br>Arch=
ive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets &nbsp;http://autox.team.net/arc=
hive<br><br>Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridg=
ets/[email-masked]<br></div></blockquote></div><br><div>
<div style=3D"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: H=
elvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; fo=
nt-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start;=
 text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; w=
ord-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width:=
 0px; text-decoration: none;">=E2=80=94<br><br>Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.<br>lmacy=
@mac.com<br><br><br>=E2=80=9CRemember to look up at the stars&nbsp;and not d=
own at your feet,=E2=80=9D he said.&nbsp;=E2=80=9CTry to make sense of what y=
ou see&nbsp;and about what makes the universe&nbsp;exist. Be curious. And ho=
wever&nbsp;difficult life may seem, there is always&nbsp;something you can d=
o, and succeed&nbsp;at. It matters that you don=E2=80=99t just give&nbsp;up.=
=E2=80=9D&nbsp;<br>~Stephen Hawking<br><br></div>
</div>
<br></div><span>------------------------</span><br><span></span><br><span>sp=
[email-masked]</span><br><span></span><br><span>Donate: http://www.t=
eam.net/donate.html</span><br><span>Suggested annual donation: $12.75</span>=
<br><span></span><br><span>Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets &=
nbsp;http://autox.team.net/archive</span><br><span></span><br><span>Unsubscr=
ibe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</sp=
an><br></div></blockquote></body></html>=

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

[email-masked]

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From: Ron Soave via Spridgets <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:32:05 -0400

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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@a=
=20
rchive
@mac.com
chive
>=20
> Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/soaver=
[email-masked]

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Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<html class=3D"apple-mail-supports-explicit-dark-mode"><head><meta http-equi=
v=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8"></head><body dir=3D=
"auto">What color should the Sprite emblem be on the rear boot?<div><br id=3D=
"lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir=3D"ltr">Ron Soave</div><div dir=3D=
"ltr"><br><blockquote type=3D"cite">On Mar 20, 2026, at 8:44=E2=80=AFAM, Lar=
ry Macy via Spridgets &lt;[email-masked]&gt; wrote:<br><br></block=
quote></div><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div dir=3D"ltr">=EF=BB=BF<meta http-e=
quiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8">Daniel,<div><br=
></div><div>Well stated and thought from the British POV. I agree with your p=
oints, but would like to insert one clarification. It is not America that is=
 insulting and bitching at NATO countries.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I h=
ave been around for nearly 7 decades and this is the absolute worst relation=
ship between our NATO allies and the US I have ever seen in those decades. T=
reating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran and Ukraine is t=
he bottom of the barrel in my opinion.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>This i=
s my opinion, and so far, in the US, I am still allowed to have one.&nbsp;</=
div><div><br></div><div>Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mes=
s. It is simply the opinion of an Englishman and an American. &nbsp;</div><d=
iv><br></div><div>Larry<br id=3D"lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div><br><bl=
ockquote type=3D"cite"><div>On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330=
 via Spridgets &lt;[email-masked]&gt; wrote:</div><br class=3D"App=
le-interchange-newline"><div><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi List,<div><br></div><div>I w=
anted to post some thoughts on&nbsp;Iran, NATO and Europe that simply aren't=
 being reported on national news, as far as I can tell, whose reporters seem=
 to have no idea of analysis or wider impacts.</div><div><br></div><div>The n=
ews isn't saying much about how much help Iran has had and continues to have=
 from Russia and China, the latter especially.&nbsp; I believe that Iran is a=
n evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and abetted) over decades by R=
ussia and China.&nbsp; I have heard that Chinese technicians aiding Iran fir=
ing missiles have been killed.&nbsp; So if America decides to attack Iran th=
at's ok by me in a broad sense.&nbsp; Iran with nuclear weapons would be a d=
isaster for the world.</div><div><br></div><div>NATO is about defence and it=
s membership agreement makes that clear.&nbsp; NATO is not a force multiplie=
r to call upon when a member's aggression needs some backup.&nbsp; Yes, the U=
SA puts more money into NATO than any other country and arguably it has had t=
he most back.&nbsp; Europe provided the buffer for the USA against the USSR a=
nd I guess that was a price the USA decided was worth paying.&nbsp; Well tim=
es change and the USSR not longer exists but former members are a threat.&nb=
sp; The flipside to the coin that isn't discussed is not whether all the NAT=
O countries need to spend more (and a couple do) but could America spend les=
s?</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't saying so.&nbsp; America seems to continue to be wel=
l disposed to Mr Putin and Russia and seem to ignore the large part of aid R=
ussia has given to Iran.&nbsp; Well I guess it might be in America's interes=
t to say little and not state what is close to being obvious.</div><div><br>=
</div><div>What makes no sense and is baseless criticism is to insult NATO a=
nd European countries (who get very little oil and gas from Iran) for not an=
swering a call to aid from America.&nbsp; It is India, China and other easte=
rn countries who are not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and Europea=
n countries.&nbsp; It's also worth considering what countries are in NATO.&n=
bsp; Well Canada is in NATO and so is Denmark (who count Greenland as part o=
f its territory) and they have good grounds for not rushing to the assistanc=
e of the USA.&nbsp; What about the European countries in NATO?&nbsp; Well th=
ey are still very focused on supporting Ukraine and the Arctic where there i=
s still Russian aggression and threat - something that America thinks they o=
ught to be doing.</div><div><br></div><div>It is never good sense to insult y=
our friends and allies, or falsely accuse them.&nbsp; And while you might pu=
blicly state they aren't helping and are free loaders, the truth and reality=
 is quite different.&nbsp; However, spend enough time and energy publicly cr=
iticising 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.&nbsp; G=
oogle RAF Croughton and see not only how important that is to America but th=
e controversy caused by a fatal road accident that made everything connected=
 to that site unpopular.</div><div><br></div><div>Regards</div><div><br></di=
v><div>Daniel S</div></div>
------------------------<br><br>[email-masked]<br><br>Donate: http=
://www.team.net/donate.html<br>Suggested annual donation: $12.75<br><br>Arch=
ive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets &nbsp;http://autox.team.net/arc=
hive<br><br>Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridg=
ets/[email-masked]<br></div></blockquote></div><br><div>
<div style=3D"caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: H=
elvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; fo=
nt-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start;=
 text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; w=
ord-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width:=
 0px; text-decoration: none;">=E2=80=94<br><br>Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.<br>lmacy=
@mac.com<br><br><br>=E2=80=9CRemember to look up at the stars&nbsp;and not d=
own at your feet,=E2=80=9D he said.&nbsp;=E2=80=9CTry to make sense of what y=
ou see&nbsp;and about what makes the universe&nbsp;exist. Be curious. And ho=
wever&nbsp;difficult life may seem, there is always&nbsp;something you can d=
o, and succeed&nbsp;at. It matters that you don=E2=80=99t just give&nbsp;up.=
=E2=80=9D&nbsp;<br>~Stephen Hawking<br><br></div>
</div>
<br></div><span>------------------------</span><br><span></span><br><span>sp=
[email-masked]</span><br><span></span><br><span>Donate: http://www.t=
eam.net/donate.html</span><br><span>Suggested annual donation: $12.75</span>=
<br><span></span><br><span>Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets &=
nbsp;http://autox.team.net/archive</span><br><span></span><br><span>Unsubscr=
ibe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]=
m</span><br></div></blockquote></div></body></html>=

--Apple-Mail-D36C2F2C-DB60-4B15-95A1-E2BB72643799--

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

[email-masked]

--===============8946751308276130687==--

---

From: Weslake1330 via Spridgets <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:07:48 +0000

--===============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 <[email-masked]> wrote:

> On Mar 20, 2026, at 8:44=E2=80=AFAM, Larry Macy via Spridgets <
> [email-masked]> 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 <
> [email-masked]> wrote:
>
> Hi List,
>
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.
>
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
> ------------------------
>
> [email-masked]
>
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> =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
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]
>
>

--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:[email-masked]">[email-masked]=
</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:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]=
</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:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank=
">[email-masked]</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:[email-masked]"=
 target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</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/[email-masked]=
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:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</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:[email-masked]" 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/[email-masked]" target=
=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]=
om</a></span><br></div></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></div>

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

[email-masked]

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

---

From: David Woerpel via Spridgets <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:57:09 -0500

--===============1838926985050086726==

--000000000000e78731064d75e652
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Amen to all both of you wrote. Especially Larry's closing plea.
I'm just beginning my 8th decade(79) and a student of history.  Our close
friends in Australia have the same fears and opinions as UK and Europe.
Different perspectives help us see the total picture.
1st day of Spring!!  Approaching 60*F here in Cheeseland so may drop the
tank on the Bugeye to replace the sending unit seal. Hardest part is
emptying the boot.
Regards,

DaveW

'59:{)
'59 MGA 1500
'Pay It Forward"

d Ukraine is the
.
pinion of
t
em
n
g
e
O
ry
e
th
ot
e
rn
n
f
to
nd
=80=9D he
=80=99t just
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]
>

--000000000000e78731064d75e652
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<div dir=3D"auto">Amen to all both of you wrote. Especially Larry&#39;s clo=
sing plea.<div dir=3D"auto">I&#39;m just beginning my 8th decade(79) and a =
student of history.=C2=A0 Our close friends in Australia have the same fear=
s and opinions as UK and Europe.=C2=A0 Different perspectives help us see t=
he total picture.=C2=A0</div><div dir=3D"auto">1st day of Spring!!=C2=A0 Ap=
proaching 60*F here in Cheeseland so may drop the tank on the Bugeye to rep=
lace the sending unit seal. Hardest part is emptying the boot.</div><div di=
r=3D"auto">Regards,</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">Dave=
W</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">&#39;59:{)</div><div d=
ir=3D"auto">&#39;59 MGA 1500</div><div dir=3D"auto">&#39;Pay It Forward&quo=
t;</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir=
=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 7:38=E2=80=AFAM Larry M=
acy via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]">spridgets=
@autox.team.net</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" s=
tyle=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div=
 style=3D"line-break:after-white-space">Daniel,<div><br></div><div>Well sta=
ted and thought from the British POV. I agree with your points, but would l=
ike to insert one clarification. It is not America that is insulting and bi=
tching at NATO countries.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>I have been around=
 for nearly 7 decades and this is the absolute worst relationship between o=
ur NATO allies and the US I have ever seen in those decades. Treating Russi=
a as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran and Ukraine is the bottom o=
f the barrel in my opinion.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>This is my opini=
on, and so far, in the US, I am still allowed to have one.=C2=A0</div><div>=
<br></div><div>Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is=
 simply the opinion of an Englishman and an American. =C2=A0</div><div><br>=
</div><div>Larry<br id=3D"m_4724275360255771751lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessag=
e"><div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div>On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=
=AFAM, Weslake1330 via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]=
.net" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email-masked]</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 see=
m to have no idea of analysis or wider impacts.</div><div><br></div><div>Th=
e news isn&#39;t saying much about how much help Iran has had and continues=
 to have from Russia and China, the latter especially.=C2=A0 I believe that=
 Iran is an evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and abetted) over =
decades by Russia and China.=C2=A0 I have heard that Chinese technicians ai=
ding Iran firing missiles have been killed.=C2=A0 So if America decides to =
attack Iran that&#39;s ok by me in a broad sense.=C2=A0 Iran with nuclear w=
eapons would be a disaster for the world.</div><div><br></div><div>NATO is =
about defence and its membership agreement makes that clear.=C2=A0 NATO is =
not a force multiplier to call upon when a member&#39;s aggression needs so=
me backup.=C2=A0 Yes, the USA puts more money into NATO than any other coun=
try 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 bu=
t former members are a threat.=C2=A0 The flipside to the coin that isn&#39;=
t discussed is not whether all the NATO countries 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 news commentators aren&#39;t saying=
 so.=C2=A0 America seems to continue to be well disposed to Mr Putin and Ru=
ssia and seem to ignore the large part of aid Russia has given to Iran.=C2=
=A0 Well I guess it might be in America&#39;s interest to say little and no=
t state what is close to being obvious.</div><div><br></div><div>What makes=
 no sense and is baseless criticism is to insult NATO and European countrie=
s (who get very little oil and gas from Iran) for not answering a call to a=
id from America.=C2=A0 It is India, China and other eastern countries who a=
re not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and European countries.=C2=
=A0 It&#39;s also worth considering what countries are in NATO.=C2=A0 Well =
Canada is in NATO and so is Denmark (who count Greenland as part of its ter=
ritory) and they have good grounds for not rushing to the assistance of the=
 USA.=C2=A0 What about the European countries in NATO?=C2=A0 Well they are =
still very focused on supporting Ukraine and the Arctic where there is stil=
l 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 publ=
icly state they aren&#39;t helping and are free loaders, the truth and real=
ity is quite different.=C2=A0 However, spend enough time and energy publicl=
y criticising them and there is a real risk you&#39;ll discover how much th=
ey DID do when they decide to do a lot less or nothing for you in the futur=
e.=C2=A0 Google RAF Croughton and see not only how important that is to Ame=
rica but the controversy caused by a fatal road accident that made everythi=
ng connected to that site unpopular.</div><div><br></div><div>Regards</div>=
<div><br></div><div>Daniel S</div></div>
------------------------<br><br><a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]"=
 target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email-masked]</a><br><br>D=
onate: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/donate.html" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D=
"noreferrer">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>Suggested annual donati=
on: $12.75<br><br>Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridge=
ts" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spri=
dgets</a> =C2=A0<a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" target=3D"_blank"=
 rel=3D"noreferrer">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br><br>Unsubscribe/Ma=
nage: <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/lmacy@mac.=
com" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">http://autox.team.net/mailman/opt=
ions/spridgets/[email-masked]</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:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">l=
[email-masked]</a><br><br><br>=E2=80=9CRemember to look up at the stars=C2=A0=
and not down at your feet,=E2=80=9D he said.=C2=A0=E2=80=9CTry to make sens=
e of what you see=C2=A0and about what makes the universe=C2=A0exist. Be cur=
ious. And however=C2=A0difficult life may seem, there is always=C2=A0someth=
ing you can do, and 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></div>------------------------<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"norefe=
rrer">[email-masked]</a><br>
<br>
errer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
rer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</=
a>=C2=A0 <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer norefe=
rrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">ht=
tp://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div>

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[email-masked]

--===============1838926985050086726==--

---

From: David Woerpel via Spridgets <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:03:02 -0500

--===============8909219976525107039==

--000000000000f82d7f064d75fb95
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Respectfully,  gold with red.
Good save Grasshopper!  Good to here from you! =F0=9F=98=84
DaveW

On Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 9:18=E2=80=AFAM Weslake1330 via Spridgets <
[email-masked]> wrote:

> 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.
>
>> relationship between our NATO allies and the US I have ever seen in thos=
e
>> decades. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran a=
nd Ukraine is the
>> This is my opinion, and so far, in the US, I am still allowed to have
>> one.
>>
opinion
>> of an Englishman and an American.
>>
>> Larry
>>
>> 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
>> The news isn't saying much about how much help Iran has had and continue=
s
>> to have from Russia and China, the latter especially.  I believe that Ir=
an
>> decades by Russia and China.  I have heard that Chinese technicians aidi=
ng
>> Iran that's ok by me in a broad sense.  Iran with nuclear weapons would =
be
>> NATO is about defence and its membership agreement makes that clear.
>> NATO 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 othe=
r
>> country and arguably it has had the most back.  Europe provided the buff=
er
>> for the USA against the USSR and I guess that was a price the USA decide=
d
>> was worth paying.  Well times change and the USSR not longer exists but
>> former members are a threat.  The flipside to the coin that isn't discus=
sed
>> is not whether all the NATO countries need to spend more (and a couple d=
o)
>> but could America spend less?
>>
>> America has stated that China rather that Russia are the real threats an=
d
>> attacking Iran weakens China considerably though news commentators aren'=
t
>> saying so.  America seems to continue to be well disposed to Mr Putin an=
d
>> 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 sta=
te
>> answering a call to aid from America.  It is India, China and other east=
ern
>> countries who are not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and Europe=
an
>> countries.  It's also worth considering what countries are in NATO.  Wel=
l
>> territory) and they have good grounds for not rushing to the assistance =
of
>> the USA.  What about the European countries in NATO?  Well they are stil=
l
>> Russian aggression and threat - something that America thinks they ought=
 to
>> are free loaders, the truth and reality is quite different.  However, sp=
end
>> enough time and energy publicly criticising them and there is a real ris=
k
>> you'll discover how much they DID do when they decide to do a lot less o=
r
>> nothing for you in the future.  Google RAF Croughton and see not only ho=
w
=80=9D he
>> said. =E2=80=9CTry to make sense of what you see and about what makes th=
e
>> universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there i=
s
=80=99t just
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]

--000000000000f82d7f064d75fb95
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<div dir=3D"auto">Respectfully,=C2=A0 gold with red.<div dir=3D"auto">Good =
save Grasshopper!=C2=A0 Good to here from=C2=A0you! =F0=9F=98=84</div><div =
dir=3D"auto">DaveW=C2=A0</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quo=
te_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 9=
:18=E2=80=AFAM Weslake1330 via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:spridgets@au=
tox.team.net">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote =
class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid=
;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">Chrome but my Sprite doesn&#39;t have o=
ne to save weight.=C2=A0 I guess if there was a really nice transfer or sti=
cker I could use I might be tempted to have one.</div><br><div class=3D"gma=
il_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, 20 Mar 2026 at 13:3=
2, Ron Soave &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank" rel=
=3D"noreferrer">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=
=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rg=
b(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"auto">What color should the Sp=
rite emblem be on the rear boot?<div><br id=3D"m_-2034298004502038644m_-915=
0558312448340395lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir=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@aut=
ox.team.net" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email-masked]<=
/a>&gt; wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div dir=
=3D"ltr">=EF=BB=BFDaniel,<div><br></div><div>Well stated and thought from t=
he British POV. I agree with your points, but would like to insert one clar=
ification. It is not America that is insulting and bitching at NATO countri=
es.=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 the=
 US I have ever seen in those decades. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=
=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran and Ukraine is the bottom of the barrel in my opi=
nion.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>This is my opinion, and so far, in the=
 US, I am still allowed to have one.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Spridge=
teers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is simply the opinion of=
 an Englishman and an American. =C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Larry<br id=
=3D"m_-2034298004502038644m_-9150558312448340395lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessa=
ge"><div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div>On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=
=AFAM, Weslake1330 via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]=
.net" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email-masked]</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 see=
m to have no idea of analysis or wider impacts.</div><div><br></div><div>Th=
e news isn&#39;t saying much about how much help Iran has had and continues=
 to have from Russia and China, the latter especially.=C2=A0 I believe that=
 Iran is an evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and abetted) over =
decades by Russia and China.=C2=A0 I have heard that Chinese technicians ai=
ding Iran firing missiles have been killed.=C2=A0 So if America decides to =
attack Iran that&#39;s ok by me in a broad sense.=C2=A0 Iran with nuclear w=
eapons would be a disaster for the world.</div><div><br></div><div>NATO is =
about defence and its membership agreement makes that clear.=C2=A0 NATO is =
not a force multiplier to call upon when a member&#39;s aggression needs so=
me backup.=C2=A0 Yes, the USA puts more money into NATO than any other coun=
try 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 bu=
t former members are a threat.=C2=A0 The flipside to the coin that isn&#39;=
t discussed is not whether all the NATO countries 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 news commentators aren&#39;t saying=
 so.=C2=A0 America seems to continue to be well disposed to Mr Putin and Ru=
ssia and seem to ignore the large part of aid Russia has given to Iran.=C2=
=A0 Well I guess it might be in America&#39;s interest to say little and no=
t state what is close to being obvious.</div><div><br></div><div>What makes=
 no sense and is baseless criticism is to insult NATO and European countrie=
s (who get very little oil and gas from Iran) for not answering a call to a=
id from America.=C2=A0 It is India, China and other eastern countries who a=
re not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and European countries.=C2=
=A0 It&#39;s also worth considering what countries are in NATO.=C2=A0 Well =
Canada is in NATO and so is Denmark (who count Greenland as part of its ter=
ritory) and they have good grounds for not rushing to the assistance of the=
 USA.=C2=A0 What about the European countries in NATO?=C2=A0 Well they are =
still very focused on supporting Ukraine and the Arctic where there is stil=
l 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 publ=
icly state they aren&#39;t helping and are free loaders, the truth and real=
ity is quite different.=C2=A0 However, spend enough time and energy publicl=
y criticising them and there is a real risk you&#39;ll discover how much th=
ey DID do when they decide to do a lot less or nothing for you in the futur=
e.=C2=A0 Google RAF Croughton and see not only how important that is to Ame=
rica but the controversy caused by a fatal road accident that made everythi=
ng connected to that site unpopular.</div><div><br></div><div>Regards</div>=
<div><br></div><div>Daniel S</div></div>
------------------------<br><br><a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]"=
 target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">[email-masked]</a><br><br>D=
onate: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/donate.html" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D=
"noreferrer">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>Suggested annual donati=
on: $12.75<br><br>Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridge=
ts" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spri=
dgets</a> =C2=A0<a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" target=3D"_blank"=
 rel=3D"noreferrer">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br><br>Unsubscribe/Ma=
nage: <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/lmacy@mac.=
com" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">http://autox.team.net/mailman/opt=
ions/spridgets/[email-masked]</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:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">l=
[email-masked]</a><br><br><br>=E2=80=9CRemember to look up at the stars=C2=A0=
and not down at your feet,=E2=80=9D he said.=C2=A0=E2=80=9CTry to make sens=
e of what you see=C2=A0and about what makes the universe=C2=A0exist. Be cur=
ious. And however=C2=A0difficult life may seem, there is always=C2=A0someth=
ing you can do, and 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:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"norefer=
rer">[email-masked]</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>Donate: =
<a href=3D"http://www.team.net/donate.html" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"norefe=
rrer">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a></span><br><span>Suggested annual =
donation: $12.75</span><br><span></span><br><span>Archive: <a href=3D"http:=
//www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">ht=
tp://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</a> =C2=A0<a href=3D"http://autox.tea=
m.net/archive" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noreferrer">http://autox.team.net/a=
rchive</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>Unsubscribe/Manage: <a href=3D"=
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ets/[email-masked]</a></span><br></div></blockquote></div></div></blockq=
uote></div>
------------------------<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"norefe=
rrer">[email-masked]</a><br>
<br>
errer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
rer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</=
a>=C2=A0 <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer norefe=
rrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">ht=
tp://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div>

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

[email-masked]

--===============8909219976525107039==--

---

From: Monty Love via Spridgets <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:05:48 -0500

--===============8170285075899235957==

--0000000000005be3e1064d760758
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

How about we keep our politics to ourselves on this list and try to enjoy
the cars.

e
nd Ukraine is the
opinion
s
an
ng
be
r
er
d
sed
o)
d
t
d
.
te
ern
an
l
of
l
 to
end
k
r
w
=80=9D he
e
s
=80=99t just
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]
>

--=20
Shalom,
Monty Love
256-337-5581

--0000000000005be3e1064d760758
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:verdana,=
sans-serif;font-size:large">How about we keep our politics to ourselves on =
this list and try to enjoy the cars.</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quo=
te gmail_quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar=
 20, 2026 at 10:02=E2=80=AFAM David Woerpel via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"ma=
ilto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br><=
/div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;bo=
rder-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"auto">Am=
en to all both of you wrote. Especially Larry&#39;s closing plea.<div dir=
=3D"auto">I&#39;m just beginning my 8th decade(79) and a student of history=
.=C2=A0 Our close friends in Australia have the same fears and opinions as =
UK and Europe.=C2=A0 Different perspectives help us see the total picture.=
=C2=A0</div><div dir=3D"auto">1st day of Spring!!=C2=A0 Approaching 60*F he=
re in Cheeseland so may drop the tank on the Bugeye to replace the sending =
unit seal. Hardest part is emptying the boot.</div><div dir=3D"auto">Regard=
s,</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">DaveW</div><div dir=
=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">&#39;59:{)</div><div dir=3D"auto">&#3=
9;59 MGA 1500</div><div dir=3D"auto">&#39;Pay It Forward&quot;</div></div><=
br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri,=
 Mar 20, 2026, 7:38=E2=80=AFAM Larry Macy via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"mail=
to:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</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=
>Daniel,<div><br></div><div>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.=C2=A0</div><d=
iv><br></div><div>I have been around for nearly 7 decades and this is the a=
bsolute worst relationship between our NATO allies and the US I have ever s=
een in those decades. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NA=
TO, Iran and Ukraine is the bottom of the barrel in my opinion.=C2=A0</div>=
<div><br></div><div>This is my opinion, and so far, in the US, I am still a=
llowed to have one.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Spridgeteers, Please don=
=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is simply the opinion of an Englishman an=
d an American. =C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Larry<br id=3D"m_-7337965519=
567597478m_4724275360255771751lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div><br><bloc=
kquote type=3D"cite"><div>On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330 =
via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" rel=3D"norefe=
rrer" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:</div><br><d=
iv><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi List,<div><br></div><div>I wanted to post some thoug=
hts 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 o=
f analysis or wider impacts.</div><div><br></div><div>The news isn&#39;t sa=
ying much about how much help Iran has had and continues to have from Russi=
a and China, the latter especially.=C2=A0 I believe that Iran is an evil re=
gime supported (English phrase: aided and abetted) over decades by Russia a=
nd China.=C2=A0 I have heard that Chinese technicians aiding Iran firing mi=
ssiles have been killed.=C2=A0 So if America decides to attack Iran that&#3=
9;s ok by me in a broad sense.=C2=A0 Iran with nuclear weapons would be a d=
isaster for the world.</div><div><br></div><div>NATO is about defence and i=
ts membership agreement makes that clear.=C2=A0 NATO is not a force multipl=
ier to call upon when a member&#39;s aggression needs some backup.=C2=A0 Ye=
s, the USA puts more money into NATO than any other country and arguably it=
 has had the most back.=C2=A0 Europe provided the buffer for the USA agains=
t 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 no=
t whether all the NATO countries need to spend more (and a couple do) but c=
ould America spend less?</div><div><br></div><div>America has stated that C=
hina rather that Russia are the real threats and attacking Iran weakens Chi=
na considerably though news commentators aren&#39;t saying so.=C2=A0 Americ=
a 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.=C2=A0 Well I guess i=
t might be in America&#39;s interest to say little and not state what is cl=
ose to being obvious.</div><div><br></div><div>What makes no sense and is b=
aseless criticism is to insult NATO and European countries (who get very li=
ttle oil and gas from Iran) for not answering a call to aid from America.=
=C2=A0 It is India, China and other eastern countries who are not going the=
ir oil from the Gulf, not NATO and European countries.=C2=A0 It&#39;s also =
worth considering what countries are in NATO.=C2=A0 Well Canada is in NATO =
and so is Denmark (who count Greenland as part of its territory) and they h=
ave good grounds for not rushing to the assistance of the USA.=C2=A0 What a=
bout the European countries in NATO?=C2=A0 Well they are still very focused=
 on supporting Ukraine and the Arctic where there is still Russian aggressi=
on 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 allie=
s, or falsely accuse them.=C2=A0 And while you might publicly state they ar=
en&#39;t helping and are free loaders, the truth and reality is quite diffe=
rent.=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 the=
y decide to do a lot less or nothing for you in the future.=C2=A0 Google RA=
F Croughton and see not only how important that is to America but the contr=
oversy caused by a fatal road accident that made everything connected to th=
at site unpopular.</div><div><br></div><div>Regards</div><div><br></div><di=
v>Daniel S</div></div>
------------------------<br><br><a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]"=
 rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a><br><br>D=
onate: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/donate.html" rel=3D"noreferrer" targe=
t=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>Suggested annual donati=
on: $12.75<br><br>Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridge=
ts" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spri=
dgets</a> =C2=A0<a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer=
" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br><br>Unsubscribe/Ma=
nage: <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/lmacy@mac.=
com" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/opt=
ions/spridgets/[email-masked]</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:[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">l=
[email-masked]</a><br><br><br>=E2=80=9CRemember to look up at the stars=C2=A0=
and not down at your feet,=E2=80=9D he said.=C2=A0=E2=80=9CTry to make sens=
e of what you see=C2=A0and about what makes the universe=C2=A0exist. Be cur=
ious. And however=C2=A0difficult life may seem, there is always=C2=A0someth=
ing you can do, and 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></div>------------------------<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_b=
lank">[email-masked]</a><br>
<br>
errer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
rer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</=
a>=C2=A0 <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer norefe=
rrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">ht=
tp://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div>
------------------------<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">spridgets@aut=
ox.team.net</a><br>
<br>
et=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
rer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</a>=C2=A0 <a=
 href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank=
">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.=
team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div><div><br clear=3D"all"></div><div><br></div><span class=
=3D"gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_s=
ignature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><h1 style=3D"margin:0px 0px 15p=
x;color:rgb(24,24,24);font-weight:normal;padding:0px;font-size:14px;font-fa=
mily:Merriweather,Georgia,serif;line-height:21px">Shalom,</h1><div>Monty Lo=
ve</div><div>256-337-5581</div></div></div></div>

--0000000000005be3e1064d760758--

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[email-masked]

--===============8170285075899235957==--

---

From: Weslake1330 via Spridgets <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:20:15 +0000

--===============0182767223625055491==

--00000000000045a29d064d770f09
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Because one day the politicians will come for our cars and force us to buy
something with a big battery in it?

On Fri, 20 Mar 2026 at 15:26, Monty Love via Spridgets <
[email-masked]> wrote:

>> I'm just beginning my 8th decade(79) and a student of history.  Our clos=
e
>>> relationship between our NATO allies and the US I have ever seen in tho=
se
>>> decades. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran =
and Ukraine is the
>>> Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is simply the=
 opinion
>>> 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 beli=
eve
>>> that Iran is an evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and abette=
d)
>>> over decades by Russia and China.  I have heard that Chinese technician=
s
>>> aiding 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 weapon=
s
>>> would be a disaster for the world.
>>>
>>> needs some backup.  Yes, the USA puts more money into NATO than any oth=
er
>>> country and arguably it has had the most back.  Europe provided the buf=
fer
>>> for the USA against the USSR and I guess that was a price the USA decid=
ed
>>> former members are a threat.  The flipside to the coin that isn't discu=
ssed
>>> is not whether all the NATO countries need to spend more (and a couple =
do)
>>> 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 gi=
ven
>>> to Iran.  Well I guess it might be in America's interest to say little =
and
>>> not state what is close to being obvious.
>>>
>>> answering a call to aid from America.  It is India, China and other eas=
tern
>>> countries who are not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and Europ=
ean
>>> countries.  It's also worth considering what countries are in NATO.  We=
ll
>>> territory) and they have good grounds for not rushing to the assistance=
 of
>>> the USA.  What about the European countries in NATO?  Well they are sti=
ll
>>> Russian aggression and threat - something that America thinks they ough=
t to
>>> accuse them.  And while you might publicly state they aren't helping an=
d
>>> are free loaders, the truth and reality is quite different.  However, s=
pend
>>> enough time and energy publicly criticising them and there is a real ri=
sk
>>> 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 h=
ow
=80=9D he
>>> said. =E2=80=9CTry to make sense of what you see and about what makes t=
he
>>> universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there =
is
=80=99t just
> --
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]
>

--00000000000045a29d064d770f09
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<div dir=3D"ltr">Because one day the politicians will come for our cars and=
 force us to buy something with a big battery in it?</div><br><div class=3D=
"gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">O=
n Fri, 20 Mar 2026 at 15:26, Monty Love via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto=
:[email-masked]">[email-masked]</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"ltr"><div cl=
ass=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:lar=
ge">How about we keep our politics to ourselves on this list and try to enj=
oy the cars.</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" cla=
ss=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 20, 2026 at 10:02=E2=80=AFAM David Woerpel vi=
a Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blan=
k">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gm=
ail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,=
204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"auto">Amen to all both of you wrote.=
 Especially Larry&#39;s closing plea.<div dir=3D"auto">I&#39;m just beginni=
ng my 8th decade(79) and a student of history.=C2=A0 Our close friends in A=
ustralia have the same fears and opinions as UK and Europe.=C2=A0 Different=
 perspectives help us see the total picture.=C2=A0</div><div dir=3D"auto">1=
st day of Spring!!=C2=A0 Approaching 60*F here in Cheeseland so may drop th=
e tank on the Bugeye to replace the sending unit seal. Hardest part is empt=
ying the boot.</div><div dir=3D"auto">Regards,</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br><=
/div><div dir=3D"auto">DaveW</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"a=
uto">&#39;59:{)</div><div dir=3D"auto">&#39;59 MGA 1500</div><div dir=3D"au=
to">&#39;Pay It Forward&quot;</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><di=
v dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 7:38=E2=80=AFAM La=
rry Macy via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" targ=
et=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote =
class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px sol=
id rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div>Daniel,<div><br></div><div>Well =
stated and thought from the British POV. I agree with your points, but woul=
d like to insert one clarification. It is not America that is insulting and=
 bitching at NATO countries.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>I have been aro=
und for nearly 7 decades and this is the absolute worst relationship betwee=
n our NATO allies and the US I have ever seen in those decades. Treating Ru=
ssia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran and Ukraine is the botto=
m of the barrel in my opinion.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>This is my op=
inion, and so far, in the US, I am still allowed to have one.=C2=A0</div><d=
iv><br></div><div>Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It=
 is simply the opinion of an Englishman and an American. =C2=A0</div><div><=
br></div><div>Larry<br id=3D"m_-5303689062396775595m_-7337965519567597478m_=
4724275360255771751lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div><br><blockquote type=
=3D"cite"><div>On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330 via Spridge=
ts &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" targe=
t=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</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 analysi=
s or wider impacts.</div><div><br></div><div>The news isn&#39;t saying much=
 about how much help Iran has had and continues to have from Russia and Chi=
na, the latter especially.=C2=A0 I believe that Iran is an evil regime supp=
orted (English phrase: aided and abetted) over decades by Russia and China.=
=C2=A0 I have heard that Chinese technicians aiding Iran firing missiles ha=
ve been killed.=C2=A0 So if America decides to attack Iran that&#39;s ok by=
 me in a broad sense.=C2=A0 Iran with nuclear weapons would be a disaster f=
or the world.</div><div><br></div><div>NATO is about defence and its member=
ship agreement makes that clear.=C2=A0 NATO is not a force multiplier to ca=
ll upon when a member&#39;s aggression needs some backup.=C2=A0 Yes, the US=
A puts more money 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 USS=
R 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 threa=
t.=C2=A0 The flipside to the coin that isn&#39;t discussed is not whether a=
ll the NATO countries need to spend more (and a couple do) but could Americ=
a spend less?</div><div><br></div><div>America has stated that China rather=
 that Russia are the real threats and attacking Iran weakens China consider=
ably though news commentators aren&#39;t saying so.=C2=A0 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.=C2=A0 Well I guess it might be =
in America&#39;s interest to say little and not state what is close to bein=
g obvious.</div><div><br></div><div>What makes no sense and is baseless cri=
ticism is to insult NATO and European countries (who get very little oil an=
d gas from Iran) 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 t=
he Gulf, not NATO and European countries.=C2=A0 It&#39;s also worth conside=
ring what countries are in NATO.=C2=A0 Well Canada is in NATO and so is Den=
mark (who count Greenland as part of its territory) and they have good grou=
nds for not rushing to the assistance of the USA.=C2=A0 What about the Euro=
pean countries in NATO?=C2=A0 Well they are still very focused on supportin=
g Ukraine and the Arctic where there is still Russian aggression and threat=
 - something that America thinks they ought to be doing.</div><div><br></di=
v><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 help=
ing and are free loaders, the truth and reality is quite different.=C2=A0 H=
owever, 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 d=
o a lot less or nothing for you in the future.=C2=A0 Google RAF Croughton a=
nd 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 unpop=
ular.</div><div><br></div><div>Regards</div><div><br></div><div>Daniel S</d=
iv></div>
------------------------<br><br><a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]"=
 rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a><br><br>D=
onate: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/donate.html" rel=3D"noreferrer" targe=
t=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>Suggested annual donati=
on: $12.75<br><br>Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridge=
ts" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spri=
dgets</a> =C2=A0<a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer=
" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br><br>Unsubscribe/Ma=
nage: <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/lmacy@mac.=
com" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/opt=
ions/spridgets/[email-masked]</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:[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">l=
[email-masked]</a><br><br><br>=E2=80=9CRemember to look up at the stars=C2=A0=
and not down at your feet,=E2=80=9D he said.=C2=A0=E2=80=9CTry to make sens=
e of what you see=C2=A0and about what makes the universe=C2=A0exist. Be cur=
ious. And however=C2=A0difficult life may seem, there is always=C2=A0someth=
ing you can do, and 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></div>------------------------<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_b=
lank">[email-masked]</a><br>
<br>
errer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
rer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</=
a>=C2=A0 <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer norefe=
rrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">ht=
tp://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div>
------------------------<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">spridgets@aut=
ox.team.net</a><br>
<br>
et=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
rer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</a>=C2=A0 <a=
 href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank=
">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.=
team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div><div><br clear=3D"all"></div><div><br></div><span class=
=3D"gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_s=
ignature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><h1 style=3D"margin:0px 0px 15p=
x;color:rgb(24,24,24);font-weight:normal;padding:0px;font-size:14px;font-fa=
mily:Merriweather,Georgia,serif;line-height:21px">Shalom,</h1><div>Monty Lo=
ve</div><div>256-337-5581</div></div></div></div>
------------------------<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">spridgets@aut=
ox.team.net</a><br>
<br>
et=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
rer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</a>=C2=A0 <a=
 href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank=
">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://auto=
x.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div>

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[email-masked]

--===============0182767223625055491==--

---

From: Billy Zoom via Spridgets <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:24:19 -0700

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Totally non-functional....F*kit!

d Ukraine is the
.
pinion of
t
em
n
g
e
O
ry
e
th
ot
e
rn
n
f
to
nd
=80=9D he
=80=99t just
> http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]
>

--000000000000cce277064d78cbe9
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<div dir=3D"ltr">Totally non-functional....F*kit!</div><br><div class=3D"gm=
ail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On F=
ri, Mar 20, 2026 at 6:42=E2=80=AFAM Ron Soave via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"=
mailto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]</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_15=
27160007564609892lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir=3D"ltr">Ron Soav=
e</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@au=
tox.team.net" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br>=
<br></blockquote></div><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div dir=3D"ltr">=EF=BB=BF=
Daniel,<div><br></div><div>Well stated and thought from the British POV. I =
agree with your points, but would like to insert one clarification. It is n=
ot America that is insulting and bitching at NATO countries.=C2=A0</div><di=
v><br></div><div>I have been around for nearly 7 decades and this is the ab=
solute worst relationship between our NATO allies and the US I have ever se=
en in those decades. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NAT=
O, Iran and Ukraine is the bottom of the barrel in my opinion.=C2=A0</div><=
div><br></div><div>This is my opinion, and so far, in the US, I am still al=
lowed to have one.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Spridgeteers, Please don=
=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is simply the opinion of an Englishman an=
d an American. =C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Larry<br id=3D"m_15271600075=
64609892lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><=
div>On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330 via Spridgets &lt;<a h=
ref=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]=
eam.net</a>&gt; wrote:</div><br><div><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi List,<div><br></di=
v><div>I wanted to post some thoughts on=C2=A0Iran, NATO and Europe that si=
mply aren&#39;t being reported on national news, as far as I can tell, whos=
e reporters seem to have no idea of analysis or wider impacts.</div><div><b=
r></div><div>The news isn&#39;t saying much about how much help Iran has ha=
d and continues to have from Russia and China, the latter especially.=C2=A0=
 I believe that Iran is an evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and=
 abetted) over decades by Russia and China.=C2=A0 I have heard that Chinese=
 technicians aiding Iran firing missiles have been killed.=C2=A0 So if Amer=
ica decides to attack Iran that&#39;s ok by me in a broad sense.=C2=A0 Iran=
 with nuclear weapons would be a disaster for the world.</div><div><br></di=
v><div>NATO is about defence and its membership agreement makes that clear.=
=C2=A0 NATO is not a force multiplier to call upon when a member&#39;s aggr=
ession needs some backup.=C2=A0 Yes, the USA puts more money into NATO than=
 any other country and arguably it has had the most back.=C2=A0 Europe prov=
ided the buffer for the USA against the USSR and I guess that was a price t=
he USA decided was worth paying.=C2=A0 Well times change and the USSR not l=
onger exists but former members are a threat.=C2=A0 The flipside to the coi=
n that isn&#39;t discussed is not whether all the NATO countries need to sp=
end more (and a couple do) but could America spend less?</div><div><br></di=
v><div>America has stated that China rather that Russia are the real threat=
s and attacking Iran weakens China considerably though news commentators ar=
en&#39;t saying so.=C2=A0 America seems to continue to be well disposed to =
Mr Putin and Russia and seem to ignore the large part of aid Russia has giv=
en to Iran.=C2=A0 Well I guess it might be in America&#39;s interest to say=
 little and not state what is close to being obvious.</div><div><br></div><=
div>What makes no sense and is baseless criticism is to insult NATO and Eur=
opean countries (who get very little oil and gas from Iran) for not answeri=
ng a call to aid from America.=C2=A0 It is India, China and other eastern c=
ountries who are not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and European c=
ountries.=C2=A0 It&#39;s also worth considering what countries are in NATO.=
=C2=A0 Well Canada is in NATO and so is Denmark (who count Greenland as par=
t of its territory) and they have good grounds for not rushing to the assis=
tance of the USA.=C2=A0 What about the European countries in NATO?=C2=A0 We=
ll they are still very focused on supporting Ukraine and the Arctic where t=
here 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 yo=
u might publicly state they aren&#39;t helping and are free loaders, the tr=
uth and reality is quite different.=C2=A0 However, spend enough time and en=
ergy 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 only how important th=
at is to America but the controversy caused by a fatal road accident that m=
ade everything connected to that site unpopular.</div><div><br></div><div>R=
egards</div><div><br></div><div>Daniel S</div></div>
------------------------<br><br><a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]"=
 target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</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/[email-masked]=
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:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a><br=
om</a></span><br></div></blockquote></div></div>------------------------<br=
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">spridgets@aut=
ox.team.net</a><br>
<br>
et=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
rer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</a>=C2=A0 <a=
 href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank=
">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://au=
tox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div>

--000000000000cce277064d78cbe9--

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

[email-masked]

--===============3909923461851322683==--

---

From: Billy Zoom via Spridgets <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:26:02 -0700

--===============6324701931218950237==

--000000000000f17dbc064d78d1c7
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

I'm already in California.

On Fri, Mar 20, 2026 at 9:26=E2=80=AFAM Weslake1330 via Spridgets <
[email-masked]> wrote:

> Because one day the politicians will come for our cars and force us to bu=
y
>> How about we keep our politics to ourselves on this list and try to enjo=
y
>>> I'm just beginning my 8th decade(79) and a student of history.  Our
>>> close friends in Australia have the same fears and opinions as UK and
>>> Europe.  Different perspectives help us see the total picture.
>>> 1st day of Spring!!  Approaching 60*F here in Cheeseland so may drop th=
e
>>>> Well stated and thought from the British POV. I agree with your points=
,
>>>> relationship between our NATO allies and the US I have ever seen in th=
ose
>>>> decades. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran=
 and Ukraine is the
>>>> Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is simply th=
e opinion
>>>> continues to have from Russia and China, the latter especially.  I bel=
ieve
>>>> that Iran is an evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and abett=
ed)
>>>> over decades by Russia and China.  I have heard that Chinese technicia=
ns
>>>> aiding Iran firing missiles have been killed.  So if America decides t=
o
>>>> attack Iran that's ok by me in a broad sense.  Iran with nuclear weapo=
ns
>>>> needs some backup.  Yes, the USA puts more money into NATO than any ot=
her
>>>> country and arguably it has had the most back.  Europe provided the bu=
ffer
>>>> for the USA against the USSR and I guess that was a price the USA deci=
ded
>>>> was worth paying.  Well times change and the USSR not longer exists bu=
t
>>>> former members are a threat.  The flipside to the coin that isn't disc=
ussed
>>>> is not whether all the NATO countries need to spend more (and a couple=
 do)
>>>> Putin and Russia and seem to ignore the large part of aid Russia has g=
iven
>>>> to Iran.  Well I guess it might be in America's interest to say little=
 and
>>>> answering a call to aid from America.  It is India, China and other ea=
stern
>>>> countries who are not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and Euro=
pean
>>>> countries.  It's also worth considering what countries are in NATO.  W=
ell
>>>> Canada is in NATO and so is Denmark (who count Greenland as part of it=
s
>>>> territory) and they have good grounds for not rushing to the assistanc=
e of
>>>> the USA.  What about the European countries in NATO?  Well they are st=
ill
>>>> Russian aggression and threat - something that America thinks they oug=
ht to
>>>> accuse them.  And while you might publicly state they aren't helping a=
nd
>>>> are free loaders, the truth and reality is quite different.  However, =
spend
>>>> enough time and energy publicly criticising them and there is a real r=
isk
>>>> 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 roa=
d
>>>> =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
>>>> ~Stephen Hawking

--000000000000f17dbc064d78d1c7
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<div dir=3D"ltr">I&#39;m already in California.</div><br><div class=3D"gmai=
l_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri=
, Mar 20, 2026 at 9:26=E2=80=AFAM Weslake1330 via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"=
mailto:[email-masked]">[email-masked]</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"ltr">B=
ecause one day the politicians will come for our cars and force us to buy s=
omething with a big battery in it?</div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div=
 dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, 20 Mar 2026 at 15:26, Monty Love =
via Spridgets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_bl=
ank">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"=
gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(20=
4,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_default" =
style=3D"font-family:verdana,sans-serif;font-size:large">How about we keep =
our politics to ourselves on this list and try to enjoy the cars.</div></di=
v><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On F=
ri, Mar 20, 2026 at 10:02=E2=80=AFAM David Woerpel via Spridgets &lt;<a hre=
f=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]=
m.net</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"ma=
rgin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:=
1ex"><div dir=3D"auto">Amen to all both of you wrote. Especially Larry&#39;=
s closing plea.<div dir=3D"auto">I&#39;m just beginning my 8th decade(79) a=
nd a student of history.=C2=A0 Our close friends in Australia have the same=
 fears and opinions as UK and Europe.=C2=A0 Different perspectives help us =
see the total picture.=C2=A0</div><div dir=3D"auto">1st day of Spring!!=C2=
=A0 Approaching 60*F here in Cheeseland so may drop the tank on the Bugeye =
to replace the sending unit seal. Hardest part is emptying the boot.</div><=
div dir=3D"auto">Regards,</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto=
">DaveW</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">&#39;59:{)</div>=
<div dir=3D"auto">&#39;59 MGA 1500</div><div dir=3D"auto">&#39;Pay It Forwa=
rd&quot;</div></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=
=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 7:38=E2=80=AFAM Larry Macy via Spridg=
ets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">sprid=
[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quot=
e" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204)=
;padding-left:1ex"><div>Daniel,<div><br></div><div>Well stated and thought =
from the British POV. I agree with your points, but would like to insert on=
e clarification. It is not America that is insulting and bitching at NATO c=
ountries.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>I have been around for nearly 7 de=
cades and this is the absolute worst relationship between our NATO allies a=
nd the US I have ever seen in those decades. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9C=
friend=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran and Ukraine is the bottom of the barrel in =
my opinion.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>This is my opinion, and so far, =
in the US, I am still allowed to have one.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>S=
pridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is simply the opin=
ion of an Englishman and an American. =C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Larry=
<br id=3D"m_4928107252240756881m_-5303689062396775595m_-7337965519567597478=
m_4724275360255771751lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div><br><blockquote ty=
pe=3D"cite"><div>On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330 via Sprid=
gets &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" tar=
get=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a>&gt; wrote:</div><br><div><div d=
ir=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 analysi=
s or wider impacts.</div><div><br></div><div>The news isn&#39;t saying much=
 about how much help Iran has had and continues to have from Russia and Chi=
na, the latter especially.=C2=A0 I believe that Iran is an evil regime supp=
orted (English phrase: aided and abetted) over decades by Russia and China.=
=C2=A0 I have heard that Chinese technicians aiding Iran firing missiles ha=
ve been killed.=C2=A0 So if America decides to attack Iran that&#39;s ok by=
 me in a broad sense.=C2=A0 Iran with nuclear weapons would be a disaster f=
or the world.</div><div><br></div><div>NATO is about defence and its member=
ship agreement makes that clear.=C2=A0 NATO is not a force multiplier to ca=
ll upon when a member&#39;s aggression needs some backup.=C2=A0 Yes, the US=
A puts more money 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 USS=
R 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 threa=
t.=C2=A0 The flipside to the coin that isn&#39;t discussed is not whether a=
ll the NATO countries need to spend more (and a couple do) but could Americ=
a spend less?</div><div><br></div><div>America has stated that China rather=
 that Russia are the real threats and attacking Iran weakens China consider=
ably though news commentators aren&#39;t saying so.=C2=A0 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.=C2=A0 Well I guess it might be =
in America&#39;s interest to say little and not state what is close to bein=
g obvious.</div><div><br></div><div>What makes no sense and is baseless cri=
ticism is to insult NATO and European countries (who get very little oil an=
d gas from Iran) 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 t=
he Gulf, not NATO and European countries.=C2=A0 It&#39;s also worth conside=
ring what countries are in NATO.=C2=A0 Well Canada is in NATO and so is Den=
mark (who count Greenland as part of its territory) and they have good grou=
nds for not rushing to the assistance of the USA.=C2=A0 What about the Euro=
pean countries in NATO?=C2=A0 Well they are still very focused on supportin=
g Ukraine and the Arctic where there is still Russian aggression and threat=
 - something that America thinks they ought to be doing.</div><div><br></di=
v><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 help=
ing and are free loaders, the truth and reality is quite different.=C2=A0 H=
owever, 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 d=
o a lot less or nothing for you in the future.=C2=A0 Google RAF Croughton a=
nd 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 unpop=
ular.</div><div><br></div><div>Regards</div><div><br></div><div>Daniel S</d=
iv></div>
------------------------<br><br><a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]"=
 rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">[email-masked]</a><br><br>D=
onate: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/donate.html" rel=3D"noreferrer" targe=
t=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>Suggested annual donati=
on: $12.75<br><br>Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridge=
ts" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spri=
dgets</a> =C2=A0<a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer=
" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br><br>Unsubscribe/Ma=
nage: <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/lmacy@mac.=
com" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/opt=
ions/spridgets/[email-masked]</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:[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">l=
[email-masked]</a><br><br><br>=E2=80=9CRemember to look up at the stars=C2=A0=
and not down at your feet,=E2=80=9D he said.=C2=A0=E2=80=9CTry to make sens=
e of what you see=C2=A0and about what makes the universe=C2=A0exist. Be cur=
ious. And however=C2=A0difficult life may seem, there is always=C2=A0someth=
ing you can do, and 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></div>------------------------<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_b=
lank">[email-masked]</a><br>
<br>
errer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
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a>=C2=A0 <a href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer norefe=
rrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">ht=
tp://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div>
------------------------<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">spridgets@aut=
ox.team.net</a><br>
<br>
et=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
rer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</a>=C2=A0 <a=
 href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank=
">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://autox.=
team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div><div><br clear=3D"all"></div><div><br></div><span class=
=3D"gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_s=
ignature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><h1 style=3D"margin:0px 0px 15p=
x;color:rgb(24,24,24);font-weight:normal;padding:0px;font-size:14px;font-fa=
mily:Merriweather,Georgia,serif;line-height:21px">Shalom,</h1><div>Monty Lo=
ve</div><div>256-337-5581</div></div></div></div>
------------------------<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">spridgets@aut=
ox.team.net</a><br>
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et=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
rer" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</a>=C2=A0 <a=
 href=3D"http://autox.team.net/archive" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank=
">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://auto=
x.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div>
------------------------<br>
<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" target=3D"_blank">spridgets@aut=
ox.team.net</a><br>
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et=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
<br>
Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets" rel=3D"norefer=
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">http://autox.team.net/archive</a><br>
<br>
ets/[email-masked]" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">http://au=
tox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/[email-masked]</a><br>
</blockquote></div>

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[email-masked]

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From: "AOL Mail Update \(Terms & Policy\) via Spridgets" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:59:32 +0000 (UTC)

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 Thumbs up from this unheard voice!
    On Friday, March 20, 2026 at 09:39:11 AM EDT, Philip Nase via Spridgets=
 <[email-masked]> wrote: =20
=20
 =F0=9F=91=8D=F0=9F=8F=BC
Phil Nase

On Mar 20, 2026, at 8:35=E2=80=AFAM, Larry Macy via Spridgets <spridgets@au=
tox.team.net> wrote:

=EF=BB=BF Daniel,
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 insultin=
g and bitching at NATO countries.=C2=A0
I have been around for nearly 7 decades and this is the absolute worst rela=
tionship between our NATO allies and the US I have ever seen in those decad=
es. Treating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran and Ukrai=
ne is the bottom of the barrel in my opinion.=C2=A0
This is my opinion, and so far, in the US, I am still allowed to have one.=
=C2=A0
Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a mess. It is simply the opi=
nion of an Englishman and an American. =C2=A0
Larry

On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330 via Spridgets <spridgets@a=
utox.team.net> wrote:
Hi List,
I wanted to post some thoughts on=C2=A0Iran, NATO and Europe that simply ar=
en't being reported on national news, as far as I can tell, whose reporters=
 seem to have no idea of analysis or wider impacts.
The news isn't saying much about how much help Iran has had and continues t=
o have from Russia and China, the latter especially.=C2=A0 I believe that I=
ran is an evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and abetted) over de=
cades by Russia and China.=C2=A0 I have heard that Chinese technicians aidi=
ng Iran firing missiles have been killed.=C2=A0 So if America decides to at=
tack Iran that's ok by me in a broad sense.=C2=A0 Iran with nuclear weapons=
 would be a disaster for the world.
NATO is about defence and its membership agreement makes that clear.=C2=A0 =
NATO is not a force multiplier to call upon when a member's aggression need=
s some backup.=C2=A0 Yes, the USA puts more money into NATO than any other =
country and arguably it has had the most back.=C2=A0 Europe provided the bu=
ffer for the USA against the USSR and I guess that was a price the USA deci=
ded was worth paying.=C2=A0 Well times change and the USSR not longer exist=
s but former members are a threat.=C2=A0 The flipside to the coin that isn'=
t discussed is not 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 a=
ttacking Iran weakens China considerably though news commentators aren't sa=
ying so.=C2=A0 America seems to continue to be well disposed to Mr Putin an=
d 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's interest to say little and not=
 state what is close to being obvious.
What makes no sense and is baseless criticism is to insult NATO and Europea=
n countries (who get very little oil and gas from Iran) for not answering a=
 call to aid from America.=C2=A0 It is India, China and other eastern count=
ries who are not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and European count=
ries.=C2=A0 It's also worth considering what countries are in NATO.=C2=A0 W=
ell 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 of=
 the USA.=C2=A0 What about the European countries 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 ou=
ght to be doing.
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't helping and are=
 free loaders, the truth and reality is quite different.=C2=A0 However, spe=
nd enough time and energy publicly criticising them and there is a real ris=
k you'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 only=
 how important that is to America but the controversy caused by a fatal roa=
d accident that made everything connected to that site unpopular.
Regards
Daniel S------------------------

[email-masked]

Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets =C2=A0http://autox.team.ne=
t/archive

ac.com

=E2=80=94

Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.
[email-masked]

=E2=80=9CRemember to look up at the stars=C2=A0and not down at your 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=A0dif=
ficult life may seem, there is always=C2=A0something you can do, and succee=
d=C2=A0at. It matters that you don=E2=80=99t just give=C2=A0up.=E2=80=9D=C2=
=A0
~Stephen Hawking

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

[email-masked]

Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets =C2=A0http://autox.team.ne=
t/archive

e.com

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

[email-masked]

Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets=C2=A0 http://autox.team.ne=
t/archive

[email-masked]
 =20
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<html><head></head><body><div class=3D"ydp7bda1c63yahoo-style-wrap" style=
=3D"font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px=
;"><div></div>
        <div>Thumbs up from this unheard voice!</div><div><br></div>
       =20
        <div id=3D"ydp7bda1c63yahoo_quoted_4811929140" class=3D"ydp7bda1c63=
yahoo_quoted">
            <div style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, s=
ans-serif;font-size:13px;color:#26282a;">
               =20
                <div>
                        On Friday, March 20, 2026 at 09:39:11 AM EDT, Phili=
p Nase via Spridgets &lt;[email-masked]&gt; wrote:
                    </div>
                    <div><br></div>
                    <div><br></div>
               =20
               =20
                <div><div id=3D"ydp7bda1c63yiv0182898379"><div><span>=F0=9F=
=91=8D=F0=9F=8F=BC</span><br id=3D"ydp7bda1c63yiv0182898379lineBreakAtBegin=
ningOfSignature"><div dir=3D"ltr">Phil Nase</div><div dir=3D"ltr"><br><bloc=
kquote type=3D"cite">On Mar 20, 2026, at 8:35=E2=80=AFAM, Larry Macy via Sp=
ridgets &lt;[email-masked]&gt; wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><=
blockquote type=3D"cite"><div dir=3D"ltr">=EF=BB=BF Daniel,<div><br></div><=
div>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 insu=
lting and bitching at NATO countries.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I have=
 been around for nearly 7 decades and this is the absolute worst relationsh=
ip between our NATO allies and the US I have ever seen in those decades. Tr=
eating Russia as a =E2=80=9Cfriend=E2=80=9D over NATO, Iran and Ukraine is =
the bottom of the barrel in my opinion.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>This=
 is my opinion, and so far, in the US, I am still allowed to have one.&nbsp=
;</div><div><br></div><div>Spridgeteers, Please don=E2=80=99t t make this a=
 mess. It is simply the opinion of an Englishman and an American. &nbsp;</d=
iv><div><br></div><div>Larry<br id=3D"ydp7bda1c63yiv0182898379lineBreakAtBe=
ginningOfMessage"><div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div>On Mar 20, 2026, =
at 6:33=E2=80=AFAM, Weslake1330 via Spridgets &lt;[email-masked]&=
gt; wrote:</div><br class=3D"ydp7bda1c63yiv0182898379Apple-interchange-newl=
ine"><div><div dir=3D"ltr">Hi List,<div><br></div><div>I wanted to post som=
e thoughts on&nbsp;Iran, NATO and Europe that simply aren't being reported =
on national news, as far as I can tell, whose reporters seem to have no ide=
a of analysis or wider impacts.</div><div><br></div><div>The news isn't say=
ing much about how much help Iran has had and continues to have from Russia=
 and China, the latter especially.&nbsp; I believe that Iran is an evil reg=
ime supported (English phrase: aided and abetted) over decades by Russia an=
d China.&nbsp; I have heard that Chinese technicians aiding Iran firing mis=
siles have been killed.&nbsp; So if America decides to attack Iran that's o=
k by me in a broad sense.&nbsp; Iran with nuclear weapons would be a disast=
er for the world.</div><div><br></div><div>NATO is about defence and its me=
mbership agreement makes that clear.&nbsp; NATO is not a force multiplier t=
o call upon when a member's aggression needs some backup.&nbsp; Yes, the US=
A puts more money into NATO than any other country and arguably it has had =
the most back.&nbsp; Europe provided the buffer for the USA against the USS=
R and I guess that was a price the USA decided was worth paying.&nbsp; Well=
 times change and the USSR not longer exists but former members are a threa=
t.&nbsp; The flipside to the coin that isn't discussed is not whether all t=
he NATO countries need to spend more (and a couple do) but could America sp=
end less?</div><div><br></div><div>America has stated that China rather tha=
t Russia are the real threats and attacking Iran weakens China considerably=
 though news commentators aren't saying so.&nbsp; America seems to continue=
 to be well disposed to Mr Putin and Russia and seem to ignore the large pa=
rt of aid Russia has given to Iran.&nbsp; Well I guess it might be in Ameri=
ca's interest to say little and not state what is close to being obvious.</=
div><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 I=
ran) for not answering a call to aid from America.&nbsp; It is India, China=
 and other eastern countries who are not going their oil from the Gulf, not=
 NATO and European countries.&nbsp; It's also worth considering what countr=
ies are in NATO.&nbsp; Well Canada is in NATO and so is Denmark (who count =
Greenland as part of its territory) and they have good grounds for not rush=
ing to the assistance of the USA.&nbsp; What about the European countries i=
n NATO?&nbsp; Well they are still very focused on supporting Ukraine and th=
e Arctic where there is still Russian aggression and threat - something tha=
t America thinks they ought to be doing.</div><div><br></div><div>It is nev=
er good sense to insult your friends and allies, or falsely accuse them.&nb=
sp; And while you might publicly state they aren't helping and are free loa=
ders, the truth and reality is quite different.&nbsp; However, spend 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.&nbsp; Google RAF Croughton and see not only how impo=
rtant that is to America but the controversy caused by a fatal road acciden=
t that made everything connected to that site unpopular.</div><div><br></di=
v><div>Regards</div><div><br></div><div>Daniel S</div></div>
------------------------<br><br>[email-masked]<br><br>Donate: htt=
p://www.team.net/donate.html<br>Suggested annual donation: $12.75<br><br>Ar=
chive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets &nbsp;http://autox.team.net/=
archive<br><br>Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/sp=
ridgets/[email-masked]<br></div></blockquote></div><br><div>
<div style=3D"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;=
 font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-inde=
nt: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none;">=
=E2=80=94<br><br>Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.<br>[email-masked]<br><br><br>=E2=80=9C=
Remember to look up at the stars&nbsp;and not down at your feet,=E2=80=9D h=
e said.&nbsp;=E2=80=9CTry to make sense of what you see&nbsp;and about what=
 makes the universe&nbsp;exist. Be curious. And however&nbsp;difficult life=
 may seem, there is always&nbsp;something you can do, and succeed&nbsp;at. =
It matters that you don=E2=80=99t just give&nbsp;up.=E2=80=9D&nbsp;<br>~Ste=
phen Hawking<br><br></div>
</div>
<br></div><span>------------------------</span><br><span></span><br><span>s=
[email-masked]</span><br><span></span><br><span>Donate: http://www=
.team.net/donate.html</span><br><span>Suggested annual donation: $12.75</sp=
an><br><span></span><br><span>Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridg=
ets &nbsp;http://autox.team.net/archive</span><br><span></span><br><span>Un=
subscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/spridgets/pnase@me.=
com</span><br></div></blockquote></div></div>------------------------<br><b=
r><a href=3D"mailto:[email-masked]" rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_b=
lank">[email-masked]</a><br><br>Donate: <a href=3D"http://www.tea=
m.net/donate.html" rel=3D"nofollow" target=3D"_blank">http://www.team.net/d=
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ank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/spridgets</a>&nbsp; <a href=3D"http://au=
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@aol.com</a><br></div>
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[email-masked]

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