Surge for Afghanistan

Telegraph: Reports that an Obama Administration will send twenty thousand soldiers to Afghanistan. The article makes a great point, " Current and former US officials have warned that a surge of forces into Afghanistan will not necessarily meet with the same success as the troop build-up in Iraq. " The problem with Afghanistan is that throwing more troops in the mix never works, Afghanistan is a nightmare for combat troops, the environment helps the terrorist, also the terrorists can come over the border from Pakistan. All countries that have gone in to Afghanistan have in the end thought better about the idea, the UK in the 19th Century, the USSR in 20th Century, and of course we are back with the USA in the 21st Century. Afghanistan is just a god awful place to fight, high and dangerous mountains, tribal loyalties that are hard to breach. That the problem with the Tribal lands on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. We cant win but we cant afford to lose, the Commander that solves Afghanistan will become a legend.

The Real Iraq Policy - Obama

The New York Times: Reports on the President - Elects move to keep Robert Gates at the Pentagon. What is interesting is the following from the Obama circle, the article states the following on Iraq, " But advisers argued that Mr. Gates was a practical public servant who was also interested in drawing down troops in Iraq when conditions allow. " Thus the sixteen month deadline seems to have gone out of the window. Its a shame Obama didn't say that during the election, then even some Conservative Bloggers could have supported him, as stated this blog is very liberal on Domestic Issues, just when in it comes to National Security I want a President who is a hawk. It seems Obama is a very canny politician, the liberal left have no one else to support, thus he can throw them over board. Thus on the Domestic Front Obama can start a New Deal by public spending, lets recall it was World War 2 that got the USA out of the Great Depression not the New Deal. On the International Front, he will have Clinton at State, she is more of a hawk than Obama, thus don't expect Obama to visit Iran any time soon, the left will not be happy. At Defence Gates will get the USA out of Iraq with honour, not like Vietnam in 1975. This blog takes its hat off to the President - Elect.

Robert Gates at Pentagon

BBC News: Reports that Robert Gates is to remain as Secretary of Defence in a Obama Administration. This is a wise move by the President - Elect, Gates is an outstanding public servant and has made Iraq a low key War. The next job of the Secretary of Defence is to get the USA out of Iraq. The Government of Iraq has take over its own security. The West, UK and USA are in economic meltdown, we cant support two wars, thus Iraq is in a better position to take the load of security off the West. The War in Afghanistan is not going well, we need to win, if we lose in Afghanistan the terrorists will haunt the streets of London and New York again, it will be a long War. As stated in this blog, I want out of Afghanistan, but if we can develop new ideas and win, that would be a excellent development, lets hope Secretary Gates has new ideas for Afghanistan.

New York Subway Threat

BBC News: Reports on a threat to the New York Subway. As it should be recalled al-Qaeda has a pattern of going back to targets. If I recall al - Qaeda had a made plans to strike the New York Subway a few years ago, using poison gas or some the other substance. As we have a new Administration coming in 2009, it can be argued that their will be some reaction by the terrorist group, it follows a pattern. Read this BBC Report from 2005.