Thursday, January 08, 2009

Obama and Hamas

Guardian: Has an Exclusive report that Obama will talk to Hamas. The article states the talks will be at low level but there will be talks, Reagan talked to Iran and we had Iran - Contra. The problem with talking to rouge nations and terrorists groups is that they play by different rules and the policy can bite you back. One would have thought that President Obama would have learned from past mistakes in the Middle East, all Presidents have attempted some policy path in the Middle East, but most end in failure, Carter has success between Egypt and Israel but then he had Iran hostages that lead to his defeat in 1980. Clinton tried to get a final deal between the Palestinians and Israel that also failed. The Middle East will only be solved when the people of the Middle East grow tired of the violence as the case in Northern Ireland.

Obama's Economic Plan



The Times: Reports on the Obama Plan to prevent another second Great Depression in the United States, majority spending on public areas and tax cuts.. The problem with the plan is two fold, it wont work fast enough, all the spending on the roads and schools and new Energy Technology etc will take time, while that is going on the recession could become a Depression. Also it it needs stating that it was not Roosevelt's New Deal that bought the USA out of the Great Depression it was World War Two, in fact it was the spending of the UK that bankrupted the Empire but allowed the USA to become our successor on the World Stage. Also the idea that tax cuts will be spent by the poor is missing the point, spending will occur on house hold items, food, medical items but what about non important items, the service industry survives on those extra dollars being spent, if the poor don't spend and the rich don't get any tax cuts who is going to buy that new Car or that faster broadband. Obama just might be a one term President.


Also the President shows some naivety if he thinks the Congress wont place its own interests when it comes to spending money, Obama stated the following today in a speech, " That also means an economic recovery plan that is free from earmarks and pet projects. " What ever Obama wants to spend you have to add a few billions from the House and Senate, that it how the systems works, the Democrats will support Obama but they have run for re-election in two and six years time, thus they have to bring back dollars to their home turf. Obama might find his best friend in the US Senate is John McCain, McCain has opposed the idea for years that the Congress should add their own projects to government spending. Lets hope Obama has the right team in the White House, in 1981 Reagan had the best team since LBJ, he got his tax cuts and defence spending through a Democrats Congress also deep cuts in non Defence projects. Obama has to use the phone and go up to the Congress and twist some arms, but he should recall he has eight years to solve this problem, FDR had four terms. After two years if Obama's polls are low the Congress will run against him if they have to get re-elected. Lets hope Obama when it comes to dealing with Congress is another LBJ and Ronald Reagan.

David Tennant - Hamlet

Telegraph: Great review of David Tennant in Hamlet, the paper writes the following, " one of the finest productions of Hamlet I have ever seen, led by an actor of extraordinary courage and charisma who has made a persuasive claim to true greatness." This is why Mr Tennant is considered a great Doctor Who, a great charismatic actor, you don't get that normally, charisma and great acting ability, Mr Tennant has shown that in Casanova and Dr Who, we shall miss him as the Time Lord but we of the Dr Who fan base know one day he will get an Oscar, Hollywood will sure call for our Doctor.

Gaza Today

The Times: Reports on the temporary ceasefire in Gaza Today and the on going mission by Israeli Armed Forces to prevent rocket attacks on Israel. Israel should not allowed itself to be bullied by the outside world, this is their time to destroy Hamas. If the government of Israel waits it will face an Obama Administration that will be pushed by its left wing to veto further military action by Israel. It is better to be harsh now and win, than appease the World and face rocket attacks from the Gaza that is supported by Iran. The government of Israel has to ask, what if Iran gives Hamas nuclear material to throw at Israel. The government of Israel has a duty to protects its citizens. Thus Destroy Hamas and then have a two state solution in the Middle East.