Friday, February 28, 2014

Russian Provocation of Ukraine - Ukraine Latest


Lets Get Real:

It seems the Kremlin is trying to push the Kiev Government to take some kind of action then it can send in extra troops on top of the troops that have taken the local Parliament, Airports, Cost Guard Base and the local Crimean TV Station in the East Ukraine.    Lets be very clear here, one can argue that the Crimea is part of the real Russia, its a political accident of the 1950s that Crimea was given to the Ukraine, the Kiev Government should cut it losses, decide to recall its name as  West Ukraine, push the EU to grant it membership access due to the problems in the West.   The US/EU/IMF should fund  West Ukraine, the US and the West is not going to War over the Crimea, its not worth it, if the East wants to be under Putin let them learn the negatives in their own time, not on the dime of the West.   100 years since 1914, lets not make that mistake again. 

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Former President of Ukraine Yankovych is in Moscow, - Great Russian Threat

Telegraph: Reports the following from the Ukraine, " Viktor Yanukovych 'is in Moscow', says Russian news agency ".

Lets Get Real:

On the whole the above might be for the best, if the former President did end up in a Court, one can postulate that he would blame pressure from Russia for the shootings in the Ukraine, that would even further sour the relationship between the US and Russia.   One can postulate but not a 100% that Putin will keep the former President at some distance and away from the press, the idea to place the Russian Army on alert will get the attention of Kiev and Washington D.C, the problem is that Moscow can not be sure it will get a 100% welcome in the East of the Ukraine should it take action, and the international reaction will be BAD, the Oval will have a hard time keeping the relationship going, it needs that for Syria and Iran.  Interesting days and weeks ahead for the Ukraine. 

Russian THREAT to Ukraine - Great Russian Threat


Lets Get Real:

No one would be surprised if the Russians invaded the East of the Ukraine, it full of native Russians with Russian passports give out by the Moscow, also the Russian Navel fleet is stationed there, thus can Moscow afford to lose the Ukraine.   The Oval has warned Moscow about taking action, but if your Putin you must be laughing, Obama never follows through, see Syria.   The Oval stands up to Republicans but folds when it comes to Iran and Russia, thus if Russia does take action, one can expect refugees to head to neighbouring countries, and they are NATO countries.   Lets hope history is not repeating itself, the World can not afford another 1914. 

Withdrawal TALK Damage to US Troops - Afghanistan

BBC News: Reports the following from Afghanistan, " US Army boss: Afghan pullout talk may encourage Taliban ".

Lets Get Real:

The Taliban from their view have already won, they have waited Obama and the US out, if the US leaves a small force in Afghanistan they will become target practice for Al Qaeda and the Taliban, thus another defeat for the West.   The US and its Allies should just get out, there is no way they can defend a new Afghan Government, your in either in or out in Afghanistan, leaving a small force just makes you a target, just ask British Imperial planners of the 19th Century.   When it comes to Afghanistan every great power thinks they are asking new questions, they are not, at the end of the day the British learned ONE lesson, keep out of having a ground presence in Afghanistan, make any threat aware that the Empire will react, either through small units taking action, or later using planes.    Let the Afghan do their internal stuff any way they like, your not going to make it New York.    The Oval should just get out and use drones, make Afghanistan a free fire zone, yes its brutal but it works. 

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Russians on the MOVE in East Ukraine? - Ukraine Crisis


Lets Get Real:

The Crimea is really part of Russia, has been since the time of the Tsars, the Crimea was given to the Ukraine in the 1950s in the time of the old USSR.   Thus it can be argued from the viewpoint of Moscow that should they invade or go in to protect their citizens they are doing nothing wrong, of course those parts of West Ukraine that were part of Poland might want to join a Poland this now part of NATO and the EU.   The worse outlook for the Ukraine is that it sees parts of itself go their own way, due to past historical trends.    Thus the new Government in the Kiev needs to get its act together, otherwise it might have external and internal threats to deal with, a crisis can lead to events that are outside the control of various political leaders. 

Hague Trial for former Ukraine President Yanukovych - Ukraine Latest


Lets Get Real:

One suspects that Yanukovych is either in Russia now or close to getting out, Putin would not want him opening him mouth to an International Court, one suspects that the former President would blame the deaths in the Ukraine on President Putin, that could cause a crisis in itself between the powers.   The Russians on the PR front have been negative, but they have not taken any military action yet, are they playing the long game, it knows that Obama and the rest of the World Press will lose interest in the long term, with fresh elections coming to the Ukraine the attention of the press will turn to the next crisis, there is always Iran and Syria.   One can suspect that Putin will use his oil money to get a candidate who is not overly hostile to Russia, and a Ukraine in the EU might have long term positives, Putin wants to be a power in the West, and Ukraine might be his decoy in to the EU. 

President Obama and Afghanistan

The White House: Read out of telephone call between President Obama and President Karzai of Afghanistan.    On the future relationship between the US and Afghanistan the President stated the following, " With regard to the Bilateral Security Agreement, in advance of the NATO Defense Ministerial, President Obama told President Karzai that because he has demonstrated that it is unlikely that he will sign the BSA, the United States is moving forward with additional contingency planning. Specifically, President Obama has asked the Pentagon to ensure that it has adequate plans in place to accomplish an orderly withdrawal by the end of the year should the United States not keep any troops in Afghanistan after 2014. At the same time, should we have a BSA and a willing and committed partner in the Afghan government, a limited post-2014 mission focused on training, advising, and assisting Afghan forces and going after the remnants of core Al Qaeda could be in the interests of the United States and Afghanistan. Therefore, we will leave open the possibility of concluding a BSA with Afghanistan later this year.  However, the longer we go without a BSA, the more challenging it will be to plan and execute any U.S. mission. Furthermore, the longer we go without a BSA, the more likely it will be that any post-2014 U.S. mission will be smaller in scale and ambition. ".

Lets Get Real:

In the history of powers getting out of Afghanistan, the above statement that the US wants to keep troops in Afghanistan post 2014 must be the most foolish, any force left behind would come under the attack of Al Qaeda and the Taliban, what happens if these two forces are at the gates of Kabul, does the US just leave or does it find itself having to defend the new Government.   Lets hope Karzai gives the US a good reason to leave, otherwise the US will be stuck in Kabul and become target practice for various terrorists groups that will develop in Afghanistan.   The US should rent bases from the Government of Pakistan and just fly drones over Afghanistan, let it become a free fire zone, that will be a clear message, if your a threat your dead, simple and it has a tradition, the British Empire used to send over planes and drop bombs if the locals became a problem, will Obama learn this lesson, one doubts, its always hubris with THE Oval. 

Saturday, February 22, 2014

What NOW for the Ukraine - Ukraine Crisis - Great Russia Threat


Lets Get Real: 

It might be lucky for the Ukraine that the Winter Olympics is on, the Russians can hardly invade the Eastern part of the Ukraine, this would set back Russia to the BAD old days of the Cold War, one just has to hope that President Obama does not dither and comes out in total support of the new Revolution in the Ukraine, Obama has a habit of dithering and being slow to act to events.   If the Ukraine does split the Western part of the Country and those Eastern parts that want to stay with the Ukraine will need financial support and security cover as the Russians will be breathing down their necks from now on, this is a new dawn for the Ukraine, a 2nd chance to gets its split from Russia right, the poor people of Russia has to put with the USSR for decades.  Lets hope the EU and the US are on the ball like Sky News, dithering is not a option, action is needed, time waits for no one, the story is developing in the Kiev, Ukraine. 


A SPLIT of the Ukraine - Ukraine Crisis - Great Russia Threat


Lets Get Real:

Thus this blog and others were right, the East or some of aspects of the East could become a separate Country or join with Putin's Russia, THE EU and the US has to be firm with Russia, if this happens then this could lead to a New Cold War, that the West of the Ukraine would come under the security cover of NATO, reading the Ukraine people one can postulate that they want to keep the Ukraine, how will take the break up of the Ukraine, what if those areas closer to the Polish border want to join their former neighbours, this could get tricky very fast, pity Bush 41 is not in the White House, at least Bush 41 was a great diplomat, developing story.  

Note:  This blog is using, #FreeUk, #FreeUkraine. 

Friday, February 21, 2014

Kiev, Ukraine - Latest Part 2


Lets Get Real:

Lets hope that the above post leads to 100% truce and real talks, and that Moscow keeps its opinions to itself, it is not wanted, its none of their business who the people of the Ukraine want as their President.   The US/EU has to be firm, it has to support the protesters, it should offer financial support to a new Government of the Ukraine and even give it security cover in case Moscow loses the plot, better to keep Moscow as the borders of the Ukraine and NOT Poland, a NATO member.   If the crisis in the Ukraine goes South, it would make the Wars in Bosnia look like happy hour, thus important that the West reacts and holds the line, no waffle from the US or EU this time. 

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Kiev, Ukraine - Latest


Lets Get Real:

Events are leading if they are not stopped to the break up of the Ukraine, the West and East could split as suggested in a recent post of this blog, the East could either form its own Country or joint with Putin's Russia.   The late EU/US sanctions and the reaction of the Russians shows that we could be entering a New Cold War 11, lets hope President Obama is now more Reagan that Carter with the Russians, it might not be a bad idea to increase troops in those Countries that were part of the old Warsaw Pact, a break up of the Ukraine could see refugees going to neighbouring Countries, it can be argued that Ukraine is in STATE of low level Civil War at this present moment, it might get a lot worse before it gets better for the people of the Ukraine. 

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Ukraine Crackdown THREAT, Ukraine Crisis Part 3 - Great Russia Threat


Lets Get Real:

This is an excellent and fair reporting from the NYT, its odd but their foreign reporting has on the whole not fallen in to their liberal Democratic mind set, the Ukraine it can be argued is at a crossroads when it comes to its future, one can see one option of many, a split between the West and East Ukraine, the Eastern part either becoming its OWN Country or becoming part of Russia, and developing the aims of Putin for a Greater Russia in the mould of the old USSR.   Of course there could be a Civil War in the Ukraine, that would be bloody and draw in the powers, Russia and the US, the Ukraine is VERY close TO NATO countries, this option is out there, but its there as a consideration.   OF course the EU/US could force THE  Government of the Ukraine and the protesters to deal, depends if the West has the backbone to keep the pressure up, does President Obama, that is the question after Syria.   Interesting days ahead for the Ukraine and the West.   Are we seeing the development of a New Cold War 11. 

The Crisis in the Ukraine Part 2 - Great Russia Threat


Lets Get Real:

This is an interesting development, but then the EU has to agree between its 28 members one policy, lets see how that goes, one can expect the UK, France, Germany and Poland to be tough in demanding tough sanctions should this meeting in Kiev make no progress, it is as usual  down to the US to move the boulder up the hill, will President Obama take on President Putin of Russia, or does he need Putin to much when it comes to Syria and Iran.   One can postulate that President Putin has no respect for Obama, he sees him as weak, a US Gorbachev in many respects, the elite might love him, not the rest of the World after his failure not to take action on Syria.   Lets see if diplomacy/sanctions work or brute force in the Ukraine, it could go either way. 

The Crisis in the Ukraine - Great Russian Threat


Lets Get Real:

The US State Department has a very low opinion of the EU, such a large body can never have ONE foreign policy, it takes days even weeks for a narrow supportive action to be taken, the US and the UK should take a firm stand against the Government of Ukraine, there should be tough sanctions, but also in secret offer more than Russia has offered, if it takes under the cover bribes so let it be, the Oval Office can not be the first President since the end of the Cold War to lose land to a Great Russia, this would be nightmare of a legacy for President Obama, that and ObamaCare would place President Obama at the bottom of the Presidential table, he would be in the company of Nixon and LBJ.   Thus the US has to win this fight against Putin and Russia. 

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Latest Death Toll in Syria = 140,000


Lets Get Real:

The US could use US Special Forces to place pressure on Assad, its risky, they might get caught or get killed, a more safer route would be to use drones, also prevent Iran and Russian sending fresh arms to the Assad Regime.    There are always risks in any action, but doing nothing gets 140,000 Syrians killed and million running to other Countries for safety, thus placing pressure on these Countries, also the Al Qaeda terrorists are working both sides of the Syrian and Iraqi border, the death toll in Iraq has increased and Al Qaeda is a growing threat to the Iraqi Government.    The Obama Administration could place US Special Forces in Iraq to counter the threat of Al Qaeda, Obama does not want to win the war and lose the peace in Iraq.    This is the result for the Middle East when you have a weak US President. 

Obama and Syria - Syria Crisis

Guardian: Reports that after the failure of the Geneva talks on Syria that President Obama is looking at all options minus ground troops. 

Lets Get Real: 

This is a hollow threat from President Obama, the Syrian Regime knows that after the failure of the US to strike Syria over its use of WMD there will be NO military action, the Oval does not have the public support and the Congress is in no mood for another War, that includes Republicans and Democrats.   Thus the poor Syrian people can expect more hot air out of President Obama, one wonders how many Syrians have to die or become refugees before the West takes action, does it have to be half million dead, millions forced to run for safety in other Countries.   When the US is weak others suffer, one has to feel sorry for the poor people of Syria, a murderous Assad Regime on one hand and a weak and frightened West on the other, so many lost while the West waffles. 

The Failure of the Geneva Talks - Syria Crisis


Lets Get Real: 

This talks were always going to fail, the sides had two different outcomes, the opposition want Assad OUT, while Assad himself and his Regime wants to stay in power.  The failure of the US to strike Syria when it was found that Syria had used WMD on its own people showed the weakness of Obama to the world.   The Assad Regime is going nowhere while it is backed by Russia and Iran.  The Obama Oval wants a deal with Iran over its nuclear plans thus is prevented from putting to much pressure on Iran.    The end result is there will be more deaths, more innocents will be killed while the Oval seeks an illusion of peace with Iran.    The US always gets burned in the Middle East. 

Friday, February 14, 2014

The FAILURES of ObamaCare - 2nd Term Blues


Lets Get Real:
ObamaCare is a mess, the majority of those enrolling in ObamaCare had cover before ObamaCare, they only went on to the scheme because they were forced off their old health plan by the regulations of ObamaCare, the scheme does not hit the rich as they can afford to pay out of pocket for medical cover, ObamaCare takes patients away from their Doctor, removes some of the best hospitals from cover, ALSO ObamaCare has seen Doctors remove themselves from the scheme as they are not paid enough to care for their patients.  No wonder Democrats are running away from POTUS, ObamaCare is a growing cancer around Obama and the Democrats. 


The problem with Afghanistan - Afghanistan Theatre

Guardian: Reports from Washington D.C on the decline in the relationship between the US and Afghanistan, the article notes the following, " Obama administration looks increasingly likely to gamble with Afghan president’s successor over signing of security agreement ".

Lets Get Real:

President Karzai is looking after number one, himself, he does not trust President Obama to keep troops in Afghanistan as he closes his Presidency in 2016, the last Afghan leader backed by a Super Power was captured, tortured, castrated and hung, that of course was in the time of the USSR, with a few years of leaving Afghanistan there was no USSR.   That is why President Obama's weakness over Syria and Iraq has ramifications in other areas, leaders do watch the news and read the newspapers, the Obama Oval is seen as weak, thus the relationship between the US and Afghanistan will have to wait for a new leader as the article suggests, of course a new leader might have the same worries, its a vicious path when dealing with Afghanistan. 

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Who is to BLAME for World War One - 100 Years On

BBC News: Has ten different viewpoints on who is to blame for World War One.

Lets Get Real: 

This blog likes to be different, its not who is to blame, its WHAT, and that is a simpler answer, it was technology, ALL the powers had to move troops, thus the WHAT was to blame for the War was train timetables, once WAR looked like the result the Military had to move troops to face the threat from their viewpoint, once the Russians mobilised their troops the Germans needed a quick victory in the West, thus the invasion of Belgium, one of the contributors states the following and is close to this blog's view of World War One and the role of Imperial Germany,Finally, they violated international treaties by invading Luxemburg and Belgium knowing that the latter violation was virtually certain to bring in Britain... ".  Although the invasion of Belgium SOLD the War to the public, the British Empire could not allow France to FALL, this would have made Imperial Germany the central power in Europe and a threat to the British Empire in the long term.   Thus the WHAT that pushed the powers to WAR was the railways, the WHO was Germany, a Kaiser so saw the threat to late, and could not back down or stop the developments that lead to World War One. 

Hillary Clinton and REVENGE - 2016 Election

CNN - Politics: Reports on more secrets from the archive of a late friend of Hillary Clinton, the latest is the then First Lady asking how to keep records of her time in the White House, the article notes the following, When asked why, according to the friend’s June 20, 1994, diary entry, Clinton said, “Revenge.”.

Lets Get Real:

The US voter has to asked do they want another Richard Nixon in the White House, we have heard that in 2008 the Clinton Campaign kept a list of those that had been seen to betray the former First Lady and then Senator when she ran against President Obama, with ALL the good stuff that comes with the Clintons, they are real policy wonks, there is also the scandals and the women, the article notes that Hillary Clinton called Monica Lewinsky a “narcissistic loony toon.”, can a President Hillary Clinton keep Bill under control, can Bill Control himself, one does lose count of actual women and the alleged women from his time as Governor and President.    Politics is an art, Clinton is seen as the front runner for the Democrats in 2016, three years is a long time, we shall see if its another Clinton vs. Bush match up again, it could be back to the future again. 

Friday, February 07, 2014

F**k the EU - US/EU Debate - 2nd Term Blues


Lets Get Real:

The Kremlin must be loving this discord between the powers, the Russians sees the Ukraine as their backyard, they do NOT want to see the Ukraine join the EU, this would be a disaster for their influence abroad, it would make Putin look a like a hollow leader of Russia.    Thus the very reason that the US should force the pace, the US should lead, if the EU wants to be slow, so be it, the EU does not have  common EU Foreign or Defence policy, just what a majority can agree on, they will join the US lead push to force the Ukraine to hold fresh elections and support the demonstrators in the streets, so "F**k the EU", what a excellent and honest reaction  by the US State Department Official.   It is about time London said the same thing to the EU. 

POTUS on 40% Approval - Gallup - 2nd Term Blues

Gallup: Reports on its latest poll on the job approval for President Obama, today POTUS has a " 40% Approval Rating, while 51% of Americans Disapprove of the Obama record ".

Lets Get Real:

This is what happens when people tune you OUT, the Obama Presidency might never recover from the disaster that was the rollout of ObamaCare, those that bought their health cover on the individual market were thrown off their cover, nearly six million Americans lost cover, and also lose their Doctor and local hospital, this year those that get their health cover from their employer face either higher charges to keep their cover or be forced to buy ObamaCare.   The FACT that over twenty thousand Americans who made appeals after going on to ObamaCare might as well throw tea out of tent, the computer to deal with their problems has not been built yet.     All these problems will come up  before the 2014 Mid Terms, Democrats will have to choose soon, do they rough it out with the Oval or do they throw the Oval under the bus, time is running out for the Democrats, Republican groups are already starting negative adverts in Red States were there are Democrats in Congress, either ObamaCare starts to work or the Dems face a tough choice. 

No US Immigration Reform before 2014 Mid Terms - Speaker Boehner


Lets Get Real:

This is a mistake by Republicans, Ronald Reagan in 1984 stated that he approved of amnesty for those illegals in the US, yes the 1986 Immigration Reform Act had its flaws, but at least the Republicans had a chance to gain traction in those Communities affected by reform, also lets get real, within a few decades White Anglo Protestants (  WASPS ) will be a minority within the US, the Democrats are playing smart politics for the long term, the Republicans might be able to keep the House and even the Senate in play but they might never again hold the Oval Office. After the Mid Terms the Republicans have to come up with a way for illegals to become US Citizens in the long term, yes the Democrats will gain the short term, but the issue will be off the table, and the Republicans can start to attract ethnic voters based on sound Conservatives policies, of small government, low taxes, big defence spending, and Conservative Judges on the bench.  

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

ObamaCare HITS the Working Poor - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports on the Congressional Budget Office report on ObamaCare, the article notes the following, " Lower-income workers will be hardest hit, limiting their hours to avoid losing federal subsidies. ".

Lets Get Real:

It can be argued that President Obama is trying to follow France, it reduce the number of hours it workers could work thus the reason that the present French economy is in a mess,  thus if your poor and want to work you lose your health benefits, thus ObamaCare is creating a European style welfare state in the US, people are better off poor, not working with no savings, and US interest rates are under the water and will be so for years.   The problem for the Democrats is that the next Democratic nominee either has to carry the Obama banner and face losing or find a way to distance their campaigns from this mess, thus stage left we have Hillary Clinton, who should keep being a non candidate as long as possible, in 2016 the Clinton Campaign might need to dump all over President Obama to WIN, and the Clinton's like winning.  Fun time if your a Republican. 


Monday, February 03, 2014

That Fox News Interview with President Obama - 2nd Term Blues


Lets Get Real: 

The President's either thinks he is telling the truth, which would be a major worry or he does not care that his Administration and himself lied to the US people and the UN that the attack was down to a film,  the only reason for the LIE was the fact that POTUS had stated that Al Qaeda was on the run and near death and that he had saved the US Car industry, well Al Qaeda and its franchise groups are alive and well in Syria, Iraq and Africa, and Obama is sending mixed signals, on the one hand he using drones to kill the Al Qaeda terrorists but on the other hand is stating that Al Qaeda is no longer a threat to the US homeland.   This is the reason that the US is not trusted by former US allies in the Middle East, the spin is more important to POTUS than the truth, we have another three and half years of this kind of rubbish spin, lets hope the US voter elects a President who sees the real World in 2016. 

The Guardian vs. Fox News - 2nd Term Blues

Guardian: Reports that Fox News will show the 2nd part of Bill O' Reilly's interview with President Obama tonight on the Factor, the article notes the following, " O’Reilly’s job is to get the president to comment on the Fox News product. His viewers apparently mistake that product – intricate misreadings of national and international affairs – for news coverage. ..".

Lets Get Real:

The above is false, Mr O' goes after everyone on his show, Republican or Democrat, in fact one can say that the Factor on the whole gives President Obama the benefit of the doubt, more than this blog would, the Guardian the most left wing national paper in the UK can not see through its own bias towards anything on the left.    Fox News and Mr O' should consider going after the paper in the Courts, one could almost call the above slander.   In the first part of the interview the questions were about ObamaCare and the attack on the US Consulate in Libya, on ObamaCare the President was in spin mode, its getting better, no need to fire anyone, while on Libya the President did not see that three attacks on US interests in Libya as a PLAN, he seems to have fallen  in to the trap of following his own spin.  No wonder Obama has taken a political hit in the polls, he has lost the plot, if ever understood the plot in the first place.