The Hagel Sacking Mess - 2nd Term Blues

CNN - Politics: Reports the following on the sacking of Secretary Hagel from Defense, the article notes the following, " CNN has learned the White House wanted Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to wait until this week to resign, so it would have a new nominee in place by then. But Hagel refused to wait, ..."

Lets Get Real:

This blog has respect for Secretary Hagel, if he was being fired he would go out on his terms, and not allow the White House to stage manage the event, at least Secretary Hagel has been under real fire, he served in military, while nearly none of Obama's inner team have had any military history.   That is the problem with 2nd terms, all the good people are gone searching for new jobs, what you have left is those that could be called the 2nd term, the lack luster replacements for those that got the President there.  As noted the new Defense Secretary can do what he or she likes, they can not be fired, 5 former Defense Secretaries would look bad on the PR front and to history.    The curse of the 2nd term has really hit Obama. 

IS Update 3 - Kerry on IS War - Middle East Crisis

Telegraph: Reports " Air war on Isil 'could last years' says John Kerry..US secretary of state praises ground advances against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant but adds campaign will continue "for as long as it takes" "

Lets Get Real:

As the article notes these land victories against IS have been on the margins of IS control, when it comes to taking on the larger areas of Iraq and Syria it will require US and UK Special Forces and it might even need combat troops to take the towns,   The West has to be careful that it gives IS to much time, lets recall IS has its own currency or is planning its own currency, it teaches the young the values of IS with brutal sick videos, it has aspects of a State and those roots can not be allowed to grow.   Thus after the air was has done all it can do the Oval and its allies will have to have real talks on a ground plan for Syria and Iraq, the Oval wants to pass the problem the next US Administration, it might not have the time, if IS grows it could attack Jordan or Lebanon, allies of the West,   Also as noted the US  has to be kept an eye on  a nuclear Iran, that is a major threat to Middle East security. 

 

IS Update 2 - Middle East Crisis

Guardian: Reports " Iran's air force bombs Isis in Iraq, says Pentagon...Washington and Tehran deny coordination as part of US-led coalition against Islamic State "

Lets Get Real:

The politics of the Middle East is murky at the best of time, it has been reported that President Obama sent a letter to Tehran in the hope of getting an agreement on various issues, it has also been reported that there was no official reply.   It not the official reply that worries this blog, its the back channels between the US and Iran, talks with Iran after the revolution have never gone well, the latest talks on their nuclear plans shows a Regime that is stalling, wants endless talks with the prospect of getting the bomb while the West is diverted by IS and the hope of an agreement between the US and Iran.   The US should send a warning shot over the bow of Iran, they might be on the same side when it comes to IS up to a point, but the West still understands that Iran is a major threat to Western security. 

IS Update - Middle East Crisis

BBC News: Reports " Air strikes carried out by the US-led collation on Islamic State (IS) have inflicted "significant" damage on the group's capabilities, US Secretary of State John Kerry says. "

Lets Get Real: 

The article mentions that Iran has hit IS in Iraq, thus in the respect of IS, Iran and the US are on the same page, they are not working together but they have the same aims, to roll back IS in Iraq and Syria, when it comes to Syria as the article notes Iran supports Assad with arms and men, Iran has used Iraqi air space to send arms to Assad, on the ground Iran has enough men to deal with the fall of Assad should it happen.   An air war by itself will not work, the planned training of a new Free Syrian Army by the US has not started, the air power of the West needs troops to take and hold land that has been left by IS.   Thus one can understand why Obama is trying to get secret talks with Iran, the problem is that Tehran wants the bomb, that is the major one threat to the security of the Middle East.