Thursday, September 03, 2009

The Turmoil in New Labour over Afghanistan

Guy Fawkes Blog: Reports on the resignation of a close aide to the Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, Eric Joyce his PPS ( Parliamentary Private Secretary ) has resigned over the long term UK presence in Afghanistan and the lack of support for our armed forces. This could be the final nail in the political coffin of Gordon Brown's political career. The economy is weak, the polls are terrible, the War in Afghanistan is terrible and UK Gordon Brown has the television presence of your local tax man about give you an audit. How far will Labour go over the cliff with PM Gordon Brown.

IEDs

The Times: Reports how the UK Army has reacted to the threat of IEDs by making sure that Armed Forces Personnel can deal with the threat. Well to be honest its not working, the losses are still to high, in other words no soldier should be sent to Afghanistan in less they have better back up to deal with IEDs. If Satellites in orbit can peak in your Garden cant they be routed to do a 24/7 scan of Afghanistan, lets build more satellites if need be, lets borrow or steal them, lets protect our troops.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that another British soldier has died in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, operating with The Light Dragoons Battle Group " Thus the death total is now 212 of our Armed Forces Personnel, in that total we have lost 181 in combat operations and another 31 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. Lets hope UK PM Gordon Brown will send more troops, helicopters and kit to Afghanistan, its only the 3rd of September and we have lost two soldiers already, in July we lost 22 in August 19. The UK Armed Forces can only take so much level of attrition, we have to come with better Force Protection for our soldiers on the ground, IED's have been deadly, it about time the boffins at the MOD came up with something that would allow our Forces to neutralize their impact.

Is Afghanistan Worth the Price in Blood ?

New York Post: Interesting article by regular Fox Contributor, Ralph Peters, the article is critical that the review for Afghanistan has not stated how many new troops is need for new strategy in Afghanistan. The article states the following on the military operation in Afghanistan, " We can't save Afghanistan -- because Afghans don't want to be saved.... Afghanistan is worthless. Worthless.....In comparison, Vietnam was a model of clarity and purpose. " I noted that that the Mr Peters was a Fox Contributor as to show that he was not left wing, also Mr Peters is ex military, and does not favour a heavy troop presence in Afghanistan but special forces to take out the terrorists. Thus the point being that Afghanistan can sometimes have different bed fellows for supports or withdrawal. This blog has gone from wanting to withdraw, the need to win the War if the UK Government would spend some money to back to withdraw again. That the problem with Afghanistan there are no easy solutions, all are bad or worse solutions. When I read a left wing article that I don't want to agree with but find some substance I go back to supporting the War. The last thing on this earth that this blog ever wants to do is share a political bed with the New York Times or San Francisco Liberals, thus my counter arguments to withdrawal. Lets hope the new strategy works in Afghanistan, there seem no out that's the problem, just more blood. Read of the Day.

Afghanistan = Vietnam / Obama = LBJ

SF Chronicle: Article on President Obama's policy in Afghanistan, and how the President is following the path of LBJ and the War in Vietnam. The Article states the following, " ...Obama is threatened with a quagmire that could bog down his presidency....." As stated Liberals are on the way out when it comes to Afghanistan, the article fails to see that the main problem with the West leaving Afghanistan is not that the Taliban will retake Afghanistan, if fact they are welcome to the bloody place its that they would be a threat to Pakistan, and Pakistan is armed nuclear power. Do Liberals want to see the Taliban with nuclear weapons, a threat to India and the West. Also lets recall that the Taliban in Pakistan had Islamabad in their sights, the Taliban had only sixty miles to go before taking over Pakistan. Also lets be honest and direct here, if your India would you allow the Taliban to get hold of nuclear weapons, no you would have to strike first, thus a nuclear war that would cover India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Also unlike Vietnam the West has more than just US troops, we have NATO also in combat. If NATO is forced out of Afghanistan this could destroy the security body, as stated before , the Russian bear has his eye on the Ukraine, thus Obama and the West can not afford to fail in Afghanistan. Read of the Day.

President Obama, Republicans vs Left Wing Liberals and Democrats = Afghanistan

The New York Times: Reports that President Obama might need Republicans carry on with his policy in Afghanistan, the NYT writes the following, " One danger for Mr. Obama is that he may be forced to abandon his own party on Afghanistan for the right....." Thus we come to the Health Reform Package, if Obama forces it down the throats of Congress the Republicans could walk away and leave Afghanistan to become Obama's War. The Liberal Left and Democrats are out of the door when it comes to Afghanistan, thus Obama might not have much choice but to go moderate on health care reform to keep Republicans on side for a tough year in Afghanistan if the President sends another forty five thousand troops in to Afghanistan. The Democrats have never really gotten over the Vietnam War and the destruction of the LBJ Presidency. Thus if President Obama cant count of Democrats when it comes to Afghanistan he might find himself in bed with Republicans, not something that he wants but in the harsh politics of Afghanistan it might be his only choice. That's the problem when you campaign with the slogan that Afghanistan is the Just War, the war that the USA has to fight, you are left holding a delinquent country called Afghanistan.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that another British soldier has died in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, operating with The Light Dragoons Battle Group " Thus the UK has lost 211 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that number it has lost 180 in combat operations and another 31 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. One has to ask has it been worth it, there is a need for more troops on the ground, more helicopters and more kit for our troops, and so far they UK PM Gordon Brown is wanting a War on the cheap. New Labour will bail out our banks but will not support our Armed Forces, so our Armed Forces Personnel are heroes while they are being let down at home. Is Afghanistan worth the death toll ?, NO folks, Afghanistan is not Poland as in origins of World War Two. If the UK Government will not support our Armed Forces we should get out of Afghanistan, its Obama's War, we should offer military support to Pakistan, the SAS and the SBS should be offered for action on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, combat flights, but our other troops should be bought home.