Monday, July 13, 2009

Brown's Cheap Option for Afghanistan

The Times: Reports that UK PM Gordon Brown rejected a request from the UK Military for an extra two thousand troops for Afghanistan, and went for the cheap option of just sending seven hundred troops. This shows why UK PM Gordon Brown is unfit to be the UK PM, your brave soldiers are fighting a tough War in the hell hole that is Afghanistan, and you would rather bail out the banks than support the military. Thus on two separate occasions PM Brown has shown that he does not understand military affairs, while Chancellor of the Exchequer he cut spending on helicopters that could have saved life's in Afghanistan, and now we learn he would not support the military. When will New Labour have the backbone to send PM Brown on gardening leave and place in No 10 a real leader, at this moment would take Tony Blair back at PM.

Guantánamo Problem for Obama

The New York Times: Reports that President Obama might have a problem is closing down Guantanamo Bay Detention Centre due to long process in the classification of different inmates. The NYT writes the following, " the Obama administration is struggling with legal, political and logistical problems.." The major problem for the Obama White House is the fear that they release a terrorist and there is a major terrorist event in the USA, or they transfer a terrorist to the USA and his friends decided to hit the state to demand his release. The Obama West Wing might get lucky, the Bush Administration might have finished off the terrorists as a major threat, thus no come back on the Administration with the plan to close Gitmo, but what IF something happens and a terrorists that was released by the Obama White House launches a major attack on the USA. Thus Obama Administration if they are clever will take all the time they need, they should not have a political deadline as the final answer to a National Security problem. Lets hope Obama is lucky, Gitmo can be closed down, and Bush 43 has finished off the Terrorists as a major threat to the USA.

Obama's Health Reform ?

ABC News: Reports that Republican Senate Minority Whip Senator Jon Kyl has stated that the Obama plan for health reform will not be passed before the Senate goes in to recess. On the whole support the idea of universal health care for Americans, even if those in the higher tax bracket have to pay for it, but the proviso is that it cant damage the American Economy. The US economy is in recession/depression, thus hiking taxes on the rich might not be the greatest idea in history. On the other hand there is the morale aspect, people have the right to health care, so lets hope the Senate can produce a reform package that is tax neutral; does not hike taxes; covers all Americans, does not harm the economy in the long term. Lets recall the failure to pass health care reform in the Bill Clinton's first term lead to the Democrats losing the House in 1994.

The 1970s WITCH HUNT of the CIA all over again by the Obama Administration

The New York Times: Reports that President Obama faces pressure to investigate CIA under Bush 43, the NYT writes the following, " ( Obama ) facing new pressure to reverse himself and to ramp up investigations into the Bush-era security programs,..." As NYT states there could be political costs, the 1970s Church Committee investigation came after the USA was out of Vietnam after Watergate, the USA is still in Afghanistan and Iraq and is fighting terrorism around the world. The question does Obama think he can win a fight with the CIA, also what are the political costs of saying no or allowing the witch hunt. On the pro side, the Liberal New York Times would love the move, another chance to attack Bush 43 and VP Cheney, on the negative side, the investigations could come back to haunt Obama. The Republicans in Congress could go scorched earth policy when it comes to the Obama Domestic Agenda. Also they could counter with open hearings on the Obama policy to use drones in Pakistan, lets see how that tarnishes the Obama image. Also the Democrats should recall what was the outcome of the Church hearings, the CIA could not react, thus the Invasion of Afghanistan by the USSR in 1979, the overthrow of the pro Western Government in Iran. But on the Democrats on side who's reputation was dragged through the mud, yes it was JFK and his affairs. Also the CIA could leak right through the Obama Administration, if Obama wants a second term, he will have to reign his own Attorney General and the Democratic Leadership on the Hill who are covering for the House Speaker, as the Republican will make sure the Democratic Speaker would have to answer questions on what she knew and when she didn't know about the torture of terrorists.

Support for the War in Afghanistan!

BBC News: Reports that support for the War in Afghanistan has increased, but the UK is split on the War itself, half support the War and half oppose. The military on the ground think we have reached a tipping point in our favour, thus it can be argued that we should give the War a chance. There is a proviso to this argument, our troops need more support, thus we need more troops on the ground, also our troops need more kit, in other words helicopters. Lets see how the next few days, weeks and months play out in Afghanistan.

Recent List of the Fallen in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports on the fallen in Afghanistan, " Rifleman Daniel Hume of 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed in a contact explosion whilst on a foot patrol near Nad e-Ali, Helmand province on 9 July 2009....Private John Brackpool, serving as a rifleman with the Prince of Wales' Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed whilst on operations near Char-e-Anjir, just outside Lashkar Gah, in Helmand Province on 9 July 2009...Corporal Lee Scott of The 2nd Royal Tank Regiment was killed during an explosion just north of Nad Ali, Helmand Province, on the morning of Friday 10 July 2009...Corporal Jonathan Horne, Rifleman William Aldridge, Rifleman James Backhouse, Rifleman Joseph Murphy and Rifleman Daniel Simpson, all of 2nd Battalion The Rifles, were killed in action near Forward Operating Base Wishtan, Sangin on Friday 10 July 2009. " Thus 15 soldiers killed in 10 Days, lets us remember our our heroic soldiers in the years to come, lets make sure their deaths meant something in Afghanistan. Lets look after their families. Also lets make sure our Armed Forces in Afghanistan have enough troops and kit to do the job. If we are not going to supply them with more soldiers and better kit we should plan for a withdrawal within a short period.