US Strikes IS in Nigeria - Trump Era

BBC News: Reports that the US has attacked IS ( Daesh) in Nigeria, in cooperation with the Government.

Lets Get Real:

This is a good move by the Trump Oval, IS ( Daesh) has to be destroyed in any places it tries to settle and targets the locals, in this as stated by Trump its Christians or local Muslims.  The War on Terror goes on, the US can never be complacent, IS and Al -Qaeda are still a threat to the West.  Lets see what the Democrats say about the STRIKE.

COBRA Meeting on Sudan - After Afghanistan

Sky News - Live Blog: Reports in its 7.12pm post the following, " 

Another COBRA meeting to be held later this evening.....

five of these meetings had been chaired by Rishi Sunak, including one at 3.15am on Saturday.  "

Lets Get Real:

The PM should not listen to the FCO, they will slow pace the UK to do nothing and in that they will be followed by the US State Department, these Departments are run by Elites who never want to do anything. POTUS and the PM should act in firm manner and use the US Defence Department in the US and the MOD in the UK. 

The UK has already sent troops to Sudan to plan getting UK Citizens OUT, they have been showed up by the rest of Europe, other EU Countries have manged to get their people out, even the Irish have manged it, so why cant the UK, there is a simple answer the FCO should not be used, it was sending messages to the Sudan to UK Citizens but the internet is down there, so how are people meant to get the messages from the UK, how are people to be gotten out, the US might be slow, has the Biden Oval forgotten the lessons of Afghanistan, also Biden wants to announce his re-election bid on Tuesday, he does not need the fact that there are sixteen thousand citizens from the US in the Sudan and they might be needed to be gotten out.  Sudan could be another Afghanistan and another disaster for the US and the UK.

President Obama on Trump Victory - Trump Era

Daily Mail: Reports " Obama says 'it's not a miracle' Trump won- he always had a chance - but it is a disappointment: 'I don't want to sugarcoat it. There are consequences to elections' "

Lets Get Real:

THE main legacy of President Obama is that on January 20th his successor will be Donald Trump, the Obama legacy is on the chopping block, one can say ObamaCare is a goner, the Iran nuclear deal will be goner in less it can be proven to work in the real World.   The failure of the Obama legacy when it comes to Foreign Affairs is show with the disaster that is Syria and Iraq, the growth of Daesh in the Middle East and through Europe.   The failed State of Libya is a result of US military action to get rid of Gaddafi, also the death of the US Ambassador to Libya in 2012.   The War on Terror will become a real war under Trump, those Drones will be in constant action, also Special Forces.   Then we come to Afghanistan, the US has been in Afghanistan for over 16 years and the fight looks like it will carry on, so in the end what has President Obama achieved, not a lot to be honest, he is the first African - American to get elected to the Oval Office, that is a noble achievement in itself.

US hits Daesh in Libya - Terror Update

BBC News: Reports " The United States has carried out air strikes on positions of so-called Islamic State (IS) in Libya, following a request by the UN-backed government there, the Pentagon says. "

Lets Get Real:

At least in the last months of the Obama Administration the Oval has not taken its eye off the threat from Daesh to Europe and the US, the US needs to make sure that Daesh does not grow, its a viral cancer that needs to be destroyed.   The new HRC Administration needs to be tougher ( its a given that HRC will win ) the new President could place a no fly zone in Syria and use more special forces in Syria and Iraq, in many ways carrying on the Obama policy, who would have thought it has worked.   In between now and the election the security structure of the US and EU has to have its eyes and ears open, the threat from terrorism is on going and it will take years to crush Daesh.

Obama's failure in Libya - Obama Era

BBC News: Reports " US President Barack Obama has said failing to prepare for the aftermath of the ousting of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi was the worst mistake of his presidency. "

Lets Get Real:

Thus the great one admits a mistake in way, he blames the long term disaster of Libya on the UK and France, how comes it is never his FAULT, he is the President of the United States, the buck stops with him, the next leader will have to make up for the Obama failures, one is shocked that Obama does not blame himself for the rise of Daesh in Syria and Iraq, his failure to keep troops in Iraq after 2011 allowed for the growth of Daesh, the secular revolution in Syria become a religious war between the two main sections of Islam.   The Russians have gained back the Crimea and parts of East Ukraine due to weakness of the Obama Administration.   The Obama Administration saw the Abdication of the US as a World leader, and the fault is with the Oval Office. 

Troops for Libya - Libya Crisis

Guardian: Reports " Crispin Blunt: Britain has moral responsibility to train Libyan army..Foreign affairs select committee chair backs limited intervention but warns against sending British forces to Tripoli "

Lets Get Real:

The UK has an obligation after it helped with the removal of Gaddafi to solve the political and economic mess that is Libya, in this it should be helped by the French and the US, the EU Countries need to help also, if Libya was one country again it could help stop the refugees coming from Syria and heading to EU Countries such as Germany, thus Berlin should also send troops, neither the UK and Germany are new to Libya, many a tank battle was fought there during World War 2.   If you remove a government from a Country you must do something about it when it falls in to a mess, this blog is still opposed to the idea, as Iraq has shown it never works when you leave. 

UK Troops for Libya - Cameron's Legacy

Telegraph: Reports " Senior Tories attack 'disastrous plan' to station 1,000 UK troops in Libya...Government says no decisions have been made about where to base the training mission, but top MPs say Tripoli is under consideration "

Lets Get Real:

This would be a major mistake by the Cameron government, the UK soldiers would be a open target to Daesh, the terrorist group which is losing vast tracks of land in Syria and Iraq could see Libya as a safe haven, also Libya opens the route to Italy and the EU.   The UK Government should only use special forces in Libya, that takes its off the political radar and keeps the House of Commons quiet.    The air was being carried out by the US, UK and France is having the desired results in the Middle East, the UK should be cautious about placing its combat troops in harms way, this policy needs more though and more troops from other countries. 

Belgium Terrorist Attacks - Update

BBC News - Live Updates: Reports the following in its latest post, " An image widely published by Belgian media is said to show three men who are believed to have carried out the attack at Zaventem Airport. "

Lets Get Real:

At this moment the death toll in the Brussels attack stands at 34, Daesh has stated that it was behind the attacks.  The Belgium Government needs to tough up its ACT, while the EU needs to face the problem that free travel within the EU is giving to many access points to the terrorists.   The Intelligence networks need to take the gloves off and go on the attack, to close down threats. 

The attacks on the airport and metro in Brussels seems to be following the script of Obama's favourite TV show, Homeland, one would have to be curious, were these attacks planned before the show or did the show give the terrorists ideas for an attack.   In Homeland it was Germany that was attacked, the terrorists picked a country with weaker internal security when it hit Belgium, it barely has a government. 

Obama in Cuba - Obama's Legacy Tour

BBC News: Reports " President Barack Obama has arrived in Cuba for a historic visit to the island and talks with its communist leader. "

Lets Get Real:

This visit by Obama is an attempt to cover up his failed Presidency, in the eight years of Obama the allies of the US have been let down by a Presidency who thinks he knows it ALL and does not.    Thus Obama left Iraq in 2011, this allowed for the birth of Daesh, in Iraq and Syria.   The President failed to enforce his red lines with Assad 's Syria, thus showing that Obama treated the enemies of the US better than its allies, in this case moderates in Syria.   The secular rebellion turned religious and allowed Daesh to take controls of large parts of Syria.   In East Europe Obama allowed Russia to take over the Crimea and did not defend East Ukraine.    No one will ask this former President for advice on foreign policy when he leaves office in 2017.

How Obama FAILED to lead the WEST - 2nd Obama Term

Guardian: Reports " Obama's criticism of Cameron reveals president's own weaknesses...To complain so candidly while still in office is unusual, but Obama inadvertently highlights what historians may come to see as his major flaw in international affairs "

Lets Get Real:

In can be postulated that when it comes to foreign policy the Obama Oval has no clue, just because it was right about Iraq does not mean that it understood the complex nature of international affairs, when Obama left Iraq without leaving US troops behind it allowed for the growth of IS in Syria and Iraq.   The failure to bomb Assad after he used chemical weapons on his own people allowed a role for Putin's Russia and created more death in Syria.  In the Ukraine Russia took over the Crimea and has taken over parts of Eastern Ukraine. the low level conflict goes on in the region.  In can be argued that the failures in the Middle East and Eastern Europe place Obama as the successor to Jimmy Carter.  The Iran deal gave Iran what it wanted and gave nothing to the West, Tehran will go nuclear and the blame will be with President Obama.    As for Cuba, the Castro brothers are rewarded while its jails are full of those that oppose the regime. 

The Failure of the Obama Foreign Policy - Syria and Libya

Daily Mail: Reports " Britain's 'special relationship' with the United States came under threat today as a former Cabinet minister hit back at Barack Obama after he savaged David Cameron for leaving Libya a 's*** show' after intervening to oust Colonel Gadaffi in 2011. "

Lets Get Real:

Thus we can expect a lot of this re-writing of history by the Obama Oval from now in till the election in November.   This is a President who has lead from behind, is more interested in his own rhetoric than reality.   When an American President says there is a red line, and then does nothing, it undercuts the US and the West.   Thus we have the disaster that is Syria and Iraq in the Middle East and Putin pushing to gain more ground in the Ukraine. The allies of the West know that the Oval can not be trusted, the enemies of the US, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Russia know that Obama can be pushed around.  The state of the security in the World has gotten worse since Obama, the US and the World needs a new Reagan. 

Obama on David Cameron and the Special Relationship

BBC News: Reports " The White House says David Cameron has been "as close a partner" as Barack Obama has had, after the president appeared to criticise the PM. "

Lets Get Real:

This is about a failed President on his way out, who has had a failed policy in Libya, Syria and Iraq.  The President is trying to make his legacy look good after allowing his arrogant view to override those of others.   In Syria the President did not follow through with his bombing threat, then he withdrew troops from Iraq that allowed for the creation of Daesh and when it comes to Syria and Iraq is doing just enough to hand over to a new Administration.   It can be postulated that Obama is a even worse President than Jimmy Carter and that takes some doing.    The World is waiting to see who will be elected President in November, hoping its not Trump. 

Al Qaeda Franchise hit by the US - The War on Terror

BBC News: Reports " A US air strike has killed more than 150 al-Shabab militants in Somalia, the Pentagon says...the strike, by both drones and manned aircraft, took place on Saturday and targeted Raso Camp, a training facility about 120 miles (195km) north of the capital, Mogadishu. "

Lets Get Real:

This blog does not have a problem with drones and manned aircraft taking out terrorists, but a 150 in one day, were they all terrorists, did they have families present, were there any innocent people killed, did the US have men on the ground to check the aftermath of the attack.   Also on the legal front, did any Court have an overview, did POTUS have the final say.    This my sound like the ravings of a extreme liberal, but anyone that has read this blog understands this blog is happy to see the use of force and the removal of terrorists threats, BUT 150!  Even the Mossad is more careful,   On the whole a good day for the good guys. 

David Cameron and Syria Part 2 - Syrian Crisis

Guardian: Reports " UK could join Syria airstrikes within weeks, Osborne suggests..Chancellor says PM will call Commons vote only when he expects to win it but there are signs that MPs’ mood has already shifted after Paris attacks "

Lets Get Real:

IF the PM is going to strike Syria he should start this week, then have the House of Commons vote, there is no way the House of Commons would say NO if aircrew are in the air and are attacking Daesh.   The PM should use the Royal powers he already has and go to war.   Daesh could use the time between the Cameron's outline for the role of the UK in a Syrian Strike as a chance to hit UK as with Paris or cause problems as is the case in Belgium. The West has to destroy Daesh, it can not be contained, time for West to find its Churchillian/Thatcher backbone.   Time for War.

US Targets Al Qaeda in Libya - New War on Terror

The Hill: Reports " The U.S. military targeted an al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist in a “counterterrorism” airstrike in Libya late Saturday, the Pentagon announced. "

Lets Get Real:

Thus the removal of Colonel Gaddafi has had long term ramifications for Libya and the West, the Country has fallen to terrorists and ethnic groups who like fighting each other; than fighting the growing power of IS; the failure of Libya has allowed thousands of people to try to get to Europe via Libya, there have been many deaths.    The case of Libya will haunt the Hillary Clinton Campaign, she pushed for the US to support the rebels against Gaddafi, then there is the death of the US Ambassador, and the growth IS in Libya.   The latest action by the US could see a more active role for the US in Libya, they broke then they have to fix it, General Powell said that about Iraq, well the same goes for Libya.  There are always ramifications for actions. 

Obama and his Legacy - 2nd Term Blues

The New York Times: Reports on the failure of President Obama to get the Trans Pacific Partners trade deal through the House of Representatives, the article notes the following, " As it turned out, the biggest challenge to securing that legacy has been at home, and not overseas, as Mr. Obama’s fellow Democrats  ..." refused to support President Obama with their votes in the House. 

Lets Get Real:

This happens to ALL 2nd term Presidents, they find the power they once had on the Hill has gone,  the full House and part of the Senate are up for re-election, thus they have to get money in their campaigns, the Unions are against TPP as they see the deal as a job killer.   Thus President Obama will have tough time over the next year and half getting his agenda through Congress.    The Democratic nominee for President will have to careful, they need the support of the Oval Office but they do not want to be seen as a third term for Obama,  it is interesting that Hillary Clinton is using the campaign book for Obama this time, but HRC is no Obama, she is not that good on the campaign trail.      It can be argued that the HRC campaign is fighting the last campaign not the new one in 2016.    Of course there is the problem of Iraq, Syria, Libya and Afghanistan, the next President will have the same problem as Obama found in 2009, it can be postulated that the US will have thousands of troops in Iraq to deal with IS, the war in Syria will be on going, the disaster of Libya might haunt HRC as she supported the removal of Gaddafi, and then we have Afghanistan, the US will need to keep troops there for years, so the new President will not have a rosy time. 

The Rise of IS - The New War on Terror

The New York Times: Reports " Islamic State militants staged attacks near Baghdad and the Libyan city of Surt on Tuesday, underscoring the group’s persistent strength on both fronts.. "

Lets Get Real:

The cancer that is ISLAMIC STATE ( IS) has to be removed from the body politic in Iraq, Syria and Libya it brings nothing but destruction and death to the people.   There no talking to IS, there are no committee meeting you can have with them, they have to be taken by their roots and removed.   This can only mean one thing, that is Western ground troops in the above countries.   The Obama Oval needs to take action, its problem is POTUS, the Candidate who ran against the Iraq War does not want to send troops back in, it would make him look foolish and the Obama ego can not take that, this is a result of people falling at his feet in 2008, he has drunk his own PR spin.  The problem is others are being killed while the Oval watches the World burn in the Middle East and Africa. 

Hillary Clinton and Libya - New War on Terror

CNN - Politics: Reports the following on Libya and Hillary Clinton, " But she'll face a broader challenge in what's become of the North African country since, as secretary of state in 2011, she was the public face of the U.S. intervention to push out its longtime strongman, Moammar Gadhafi. "

Lets Get Real:

The subject of Libya and its fall in to a failed State is about the 2016 US Presidential Election, the disaster that is Libya  today is down to the foreign policy of Hillary Clinton; in the eyes of Republicans; when she was the US Secretary of State, she pushed for action, the results, a failed State, the death of the US Ambassador and the rise of IS.   The Republicans in both the House and Senate will want to place the blame on the front door of HRC.   In the case of Libya HRC did the right thing, she pushed for the overthrow of Gaddafi when he become a threat to Benghazi .   The fallout is based on not planning for afterwards, the same with Iraq.   This blog has been critical of HRC in the past but not over this issue, she tried it did not work, that is a lot more than Obama can say about Iraq and Syria. 

The US/Iraq and the Future - New War on Terror

BBC News: Reports " The US does not yet have a "complete strategy" for helping Iraq regain territory from Islamic State (IS), President Barack Obama has said. "

Lets Get Real:

The one question that has to be asked about the above is WHO's fault is it that the US does not have a complete strategy to take on IS.   The one answer is President Obama, he allowed his rhetoric to matter more than his duty to protect the US, thus he withdrew US troops from Iraq in 2011 and thus allowed for the development of IS in Syria, Iraq, Libya and other African States.   The failure of the Obama Administration to support secular rebels in Syria allowed them to be taken over by the IS and Al Qaeda, thus the present mess in Syria.   The Obama Administrtaion has been a total failure on foreign policy. 

Hillary Clinton and Libya - Libyan Arms

Fox News: Reports " Recently released emails detail then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's interest in arming Libyan opposition groups using private security contractors before the fall of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011 – though at the time, the opposition was not formally recognized by the U.S. or United Nations, which prohibited arming without following strict guidelines and oversight. "

Lets Get Real:

At least Hillary Clinton was tough, more a hawk than dove, and lets face after President Obama the Oval Office could do with a tough hawk, the problem seems to rise when there is a question of those arms being send to Syria to arm the Syrian opposition, did they end up the arms of IS.  One can understand why the Obama Administration and its officials are not to keen to discuss the issue, it would be a PR disaster if arms sent to support the Libyan opposition ended up with the enemies of the US.    One suspects in this case it is better to let sleeping dogs sleep, one might not like the answer and the problems for the US and for the Hillary Clinton in 2016.    That is why any such secret operations are done in the manner that allows the White House and other Departments to state they knew nothing, that is a lot better than a paper trail through emails.    In this case it might be wise for the Republicans to let the issue drop, the Republicans do not need to create flak for themselves.