Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that another UK soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 36 Engineer Regiment, part of the counter - IED Task Force ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 256 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 223 in combat operations and 33 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. It can be postulated that 2010 will be a lot worse that 2009 for our forces out there in Afghanistan.

What POTUS really thinks about HEALTH CARE REFORM

Just sometimes politicians tell the truth, one can argue that below is really the view of President Obama, what ever his public statements Obama wants a second term, one term failures never get a good press, Ford, Carter, Bush 41, at the end of the day a President wants a second term, it can be argued that it can be a disaster in some respects, Nixon, Clinton are an examples of that Watergate and Impeachment, even the beloved Ronald Reagan had problems with Iran - Contra and Bush 43 had Iraq. It can be postulated that Obama wants the Congress to dump health care reform without his prints on the dispatch of the Bill. A couple of days ago President Obama stated the following, " So there's a lot of information out there that people understandably are concerned about. And that's why I think it's very important for us to have a methodical, open process over the next several weeks, and then let's go ahead and make a decision. And it may be that -- you know, if Congress decides -- if Congress decides we're not going to do it, even after all the facts are laid out, all the options are clear, then the American people can make a judgment as to whether this Congress has done the right thing for them or not. And that's how democracy works. There will be elections coming up and they'll be able to make a determination and register their concerns one way or the other during election time. All right?.." In other words please take this problem away from the Oval, if you pass this Bill Obama will have to sign it in to law, then defend the tax hikes and making people buy health care insurance for the next eight months. After the Mid Term Congressional Elections he will find that Republicans have taken over the House and Senate and will make it their business to repeal the very Act that Obama has just signed. The Obama Presidency would then be forced to move to the centre or even centre right, thus my prediction that Obama will not seek a second term or will lose big in 2012.

Iran and the World

The New York Times: Reports on world reaction to the push by Iran to enrich its uranium by 20%, the articles states the following, " Officials from the United States, France and Russia called Monday for stronger measures against Tehran........ " Thus you have three permanent members of the UN calling for action, thus one can also include the UK, China will not want to be left out in the cold, thus it wont veto any sanctions. Also another interesting statement by the Obama Administration and the EU, the White House press release states the following on the stolen election in Iran and the demands by the USA and the EU, " The United States and the European Union condemn the continuing human rights violations in Iran since the June 12 election. The large scale detentions and mass trials, the threatened execution of protestors, the intimidation of family members of those detained and the continuing denial to its citizens of the right to peaceful expression are contrary to human rights norms. Our concerns are based on our commitment to universal respect for human rights. We are particularly concerned by the potential for further violence and repression during the coming days, especially around the anniversary of the Islamic Republic's founding on 11 February. We call on the Government of Iran to live up to its international human rights obligations, to end its abuses against its own people, to hold accountable those who have committed the abuses and to release those who are exercising their rights. " Thus any chance that President Obama will talk to President President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad face to face is off the table, Obama does not want to be another Neville Chamberlain; not with his present poll plunge, he does not need another Munich pre - World War Two. The real question that has to be asked will any new UN sanction be tough enough to make Israel happy, if they are weak and Obama is seen as weak then Israel will have to act, Obama has to much on his hands in Afghanistan, Iraq, terrorist threat and the economy really to take Israel on should it hit Iran. In other words a weak Obama might be the best thing for Israel, Obama would have no choice but support Israel, a weak American President cant take on the Israeli lobby. Also a President who wants to win a second term can not afford to be another Jimmy Carter.

More SANCTIONS on IRAN

BBC News: Reports that the USA sees more sanctions as the only option left for its Iran policy. The Tehran Regime knows that it needs the bomb or the Regime will fall and the leaders will be hanging from the nearest lamp post, thus the reality of Iran's nuclear plans does not matter, it would not matter if it was only on paper, the threat of a nuclear armed Iran has to look real or the regime is done. In some respects this is like Iraq, but the difference is that Iran has gone down the nuclear road, and it has the money to buy nuclear material or information from North Korea or Pakistan. Thus the threat might be long term for the rest of the world and even the region but Iran needs the world to react as if it has the bomb, and Obama Administration has no choice, it has looked foolish with Iran throwing sand in to its face, thus the Oval has to move down the road as if Iran has the bomb, thus tough sanctions, the reality does not matter, both sides have to much to lose, the Tehran regime would fall and Obama cant be sure how far Tehran has gone with its nuclear plans. Its a game folks, but the problem is that Israel sees it as a threat to its existence, a nuclear armed Iran might be a threat thus Israel has no choice, that is the real world folks. Lets hope Mossad has better info than the rest of the world.

The Obama Playbook on Health Care Reform

Politico: Reports that President Obama is to hold a open meeting with Republicans and Democrats on health care reform, the meeting will be on TV. This is an interesting move by POTUS, if he agrees to some of the Republican demands that is a new bill, the Republicans are not going allow health care reform on some vague promise of another Bill later, so either Obama wants a real deal or this a TV event to make him look good. This move could hurt the Democratic leadership and their own health care reform bill, if POTUS agrees to some of the Republican demands, such as a cap on phony legal claims and allowing people to buy health care insurance across states lines this would go along way to get Republican support, but its a new Bill, Obama does not have the political time to start the process anew, lets recall its the Mid Term Congressional Elections in November, thus this must be a TV event, he will say soothing words and then push the Democrats to push the Bill through, if that is the plan the Republicans will be in control of Congress after November.

Deaths in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that two more UK soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, the soldiers were from the " The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS), part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 255 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 222 in combat operations and 33 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. In 2009 in February the UK lost six of its soldiers, so far this month we have lost four soldiers, it feels like 2010 will be as bloody or even more so than 2009.