Trump HAILS talks in Moscow with his Special Envoy - Trump47

Guardian: Reports " Trump hails ‘great progress’ after Witkoff meets Putin for talks on Ukraine....US president calls meeting ‘highly productive’ amid unconfirmed reports on halt to long-range strikes "

Lets Get Real:

Good talks in White House talking point, but the secondary sanctions will still go in to place on Friday, as far as we know, the article states that there might be a deal to halt long range strikes, the truth will be in the pudding.   Thus far Putin's Kremlin has played Trump like a fool,  it could be that Trump is praising the talks while still keeping the sanctions on board, thus his secondary sanctions in India.  Of course Trump could fold and allow himself to be played, and not place the extreme secondary sanctions on Russia, the US Senate Bill is on the extreme side, we shall see on Friday.

India Confirms Ceasfire with Pakistan - Trump47

BBC News: Reports in its 1.31pm post that India has confirmed a ceasefire with Pakistan after both sides escalated the War.

Lets Get Real:

As CNN reports the US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubion was instrumental in bringing this ceasefire to the Indian subcontinent.  This shows the power of Nukes, the US suddenly found that a World policeman was needed.  One hopes Trump and Trump Administration has learned an important lesson.

US calls for India and Pakistan to work together over tensions- Trump47

Guardian:  Reports in its 3.40pm post that Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State has called on Pakistan and India to work together to decrease the tensions between the two.

Lets Get Real:

RUBIO is Secretary of State and interim National Security Advisor, and other job titles.  It seems for now that Trump trusts him to deal with the issue of Pakistan and India.  Rubio should fly to India and Pakistan and tell both sides to decrease the military tensions, its getting to risky, there is always the threat of nuclear war, both sides have Nukes.  EVEN a cricket ground has been hit by a drone, and both sides love  Cricket, enough is enough.

Trade Deal between UK and US - Trump47

 Sky News: Reports in its 3pm post thar Sir Keir Starmer will give a news conference on the new trade deal between the US and UK at 4pm.

Lets Get Real:

The first trade deal with the US since Trump47 introduced major Tariffs for the World.  Also 2nd one since Brexit, the first was with India.  At least Sir Keir Starmer is getting things done, he might be a firm remainer, but even he has given up that ghost.  On the whole good news for the UK and Brexit.

EU calls for decrease in tensions between India and Pakistan - Trump47

BBC News: Reports in its 11.23am post that the EU is calling on India and Pakistan to decrease tensions between the two countries.

Lets Get Real: 

Three words, Fog of War, both sides are stating information as FACTS, its background noise, only check with the BBC News or Sky News, as long as the sides are giving doing unverified, they are not using NUKES, the US and the UK should be on the phone or sending their Secretary of States who deal with foreign affairs to do some shuttle Diplomacy, warning both sides to cut it out, D.C and London does not have the bandwidth to deal with more crisis points, Ukraine and Gaza are enough.

India STRIKES Pakistan - Trump47

Guardian: Reports in its 9.32pm post that India has hit 9 terror targets in Pakistan and Kashmir.

Lets Get Real:

The tension has been building for days, the attack was an response to a terrorist attack on Indian controlled Kashmir, over 20 people killed.  The worry is that both countries have Nukes, thus the US and others have attempted to reduce the heat of the Crisis.    One hopes that Pakistan does not react, the world and neither country can afford it, India has shut down water to Pakistan and stopped the mail between the two sides, enough is enough.

Imperial Responsibility - INDIA - British Empire

Sky News: Reports " COVID-19: Doctor at centre of India's coronavirus outbreak says next two weeks 'are going to be hell'...Wards in the hospital have more than double the normal number of patients as others are treated in tents in the car park. "

Lets Get Real:

The disaster that is India with COVID - 19 places a burden on the UK to ACT, let's recall that India was the Jewel in the Crown of the British Empire, and many of those living in India NOW had ancestors who played a role in World Wars 1 and 2, serving the their Emperor, yes INDIA become Independent in 1947, but that does not remove the obligation we have to India, the UK and the REST OF THE WORLD, should make sure India gets through this disaster, with the lowest level of deaths as possible, obligations of honour are not TIME LIMITED. 

India and Pakistan Crisis - Nuclear Age

BBC News - Live Blog: Reports the following in its 4.48pm post, " US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has spoken separately with foreign ministers of India and Pakistan, urging them to avoid "further military activity".  "

Lets Get Real:

One of the bedrocks of the Cold War was the FACT that both the US and then USSR understood that the use of nuclear weapons would mean the end of mankind.  Mutual Assured Destruction or MAD or short, kept both sides from going over the line, the closes the sides come to WAR was in 1962 with the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the USSR placed nuclear weapons in Cuba, at the end the USSR removed the Missiles, while the Kennedy Administration gave a secret assurance that it would take missiles out of Turkey in six months.  In 1983 the Kremlin Leadership had convinced itself that the Reagan Administration was about to do a first nuclear strike, when USSR radar showed a US nuclear strike, a brave and wise Soviet Office did not call the Kremlin, he thought it was a computer error, he was right, that is why we are all here.   When President Reagan learned that the USSR really thought that the US would strike in 1983 it started the path that would lead to the END OF THE COLD WAR with the arrival of President Gorbachev.   The examples above have been given to show how wise people need to make the right choices in the nuclear age.  One can only hope that India and Pakistan understand the COSTS of nuclear war, to miss quote Churchill, it's better to talk, talk, than War, War.

The END of Reagan's and Gorbachev's INF Treaty - Trump Era

Guardian - Live Blog: Reports in its 12.34am post the following, " The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, agreed to by Russia and the US to stop both nations from developing and deploying ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles may be dissolved at the end of this week, after negotiations failed today.  "

President Reagan in his farewell address to the Nation in 1989 -  The President stated the following on the then USSR - " I want the new closeness to continue. And it will, as long as we make it clear that we will continue to act in a certain way as long as they continue to act in a helpful manner. If and when they don't, at first pull your punches. If they persist, pull the plug. It's still trust but verify. It's still play, but cut the cards. It's still watch closely. And don't be afraid to see what you see. " - Courtesy of the Reagan Presidential Library:

Lets Get Real:

As always President Reagan was RIGHT, the Russians have been cheating for years, in the past they have tried to get OUT of the INF Treaty, it was always the US Administrations who said NO.  As President Reagan stated, you trust but verify, and always see the truth, even if you do not like the answer.   The Russians have created new INF missiles that breach the OLD TREATY, also the US fears these developments by China, India and Pakistan.  On this the Trump Administration might be RIGHT.   The Russians have threatened an ARMS RACE, the Trump Oval should remind President Putin that the Russians lost the last one during the Cold War.   The US can build up its nuclear weapons and develop space weapons, President Reagan presented the ground work with SDI.  The Trump Administration has to be tough with the Russians, the Gipper would expect nothing else. 

Doctor Who Review - Demons Of The Punjab

Doctor Who News: Reports " Doctor Who: Demons Of The Punjab was watched by 5.77 million viewers, a share of 27.5% of the total TV audience, according to unofficial overnight figures. "

Lets Get Real:

This was a thoughtful episode, the Doctor took one of her companions back to see her grandmother when she was young, the Doctor should have learned that mistake with Rose.  The episode took place in on the Indian - Pakistan border in 1947, the episode did not BLAME the British on the whole, well, it had more of a light touch, if you are interested then you should read up on the subject.   The Doctor for once got the wrong end of the stick, for most of the show the Doctor thought the aliens were the villians, in fact the threat was more human.  There was a lot of running, and the Doctor had to grant a ( spoiler ) to a couple.  The ending was SAD, the Doctor found out that she could not save everyone, time is fixed in some cases, a show to see again. 

David Davies - Update 2 - Post Brexit

Telegraph: Reports " David Davis accuses EU of being 'discourteous' and acting in bad faith over transition 'punishment' plan "

Lets Get Real:

AS stated by this blog, the EU is playing HARDBALL, this can be show by the above and the following in the article, " It came amid mounting frustration at the lack of progress in Brexit negotiations. The European Union cancelled several meetings with British negotiators this week and is not holding any next week.  "  The EU wants to keep the talks as close at possible to the end, as it allows them to say , take or leave it, the EU should not be surprised if the UK walks out.   The UK will not be pushed around, we are not France etc, the UK is a great power and had an Empire, the EU is for the elites, time for the UK to walk away, any deal would favour the EU, the UK has walked away from more in the past. 

Trump and Confederate Statues - Trump Era

CNN - Politics: Reports " Trump calls removal of Confederate monuments 'so foolish' "

Lets Get Real:

One would think that POTUS would be hiding in the Oval Office at this moment in time, of course he is not, he is back to his infamous tweets and is not helping the matter at all.  As a WHITE blogger it is hard to understand why the Confederate Statues are causing this much fuzz, on the other hand if your a African - American you must see the Statues as honouring a course that enslaved your ancestors, it would be offencive to black Americans.  If the statues were placed on a museum and explained in their context that would be a better solutions, with pics of slaves being held in the South in the 19th Century, how the Southern economy was based on slavery.   Or as they have done in India, they have placed Imperial Statues in the Parks were the weeds are taking over, they do not have to face their past of being the Jewel in the Crown, also we need a trade deal with the modern India.   After the break up of the USS the old USSR monuments were torn down and discarded, this has caused friction between Modern Russia and its former Satellite Countries   This is interesting as modern Russia manages to have it both ways, the last Tsar Nicholas 11 is now admired in Russia, but they also keep Lenin in Red Square, no wonder Russians drink a lot, two different icons celebrated at the same time and representing different agendas, one does not see Nicholas 11 sharing a tea with Lenin in heaven.   The US must deal with the issue of race, the drugs in the inner cities, the violence, how African - Americans tend to be jailed more than white defendants, African - Americans have real problems today, some of that is based on the fact that Blacks did not get their full rights in till the 1960s under LBJ.  A President must be President of ALL the people, Trump is fast becoming a President of his base, and its only been six months. 

Pakistan Update Part 2 - War on Terror

Guardian: Reports " President Barack Obama has condemned the “heinous” attack in a statement from the White House. "

Lets Get Real:

This is the time to call on Pakistan to be really be in the fight against terrorism, having it both ways leads to this on going tragedy in Pakistan, the more the Government tries to control Afghanistan through the use of terror networks, the more chance of blowback, the Government should request that the US uses its drones and US Special Forces to take the fight to the terrorists in Pakistan.  A stable Pakistan is in the interest of everyone, a State that is barely holding on is a threat to ALL.  That includes India.    The Army of Pakistan should stop thinking that India is the threat, it is not, the real threat is internal.  Just think if Taliban of Pakistan got control of a nuclear missile, then really start to worry. 

Al Qaeda and the Syrian Revolt - Syrian Update PT2

Guardian: Reports that an Al Qaeda linked Syrian rebel group has taken over the largest dam in Syria.

Lets Get Real:

Folks the idea must cause horror even in the Oval, that Al Qaeda gets the credit for getting rid of President Assad, that is nightmare for Syria, Israel and the US, it would be a disaster for US Foreign Policy, if Secretary Kerry wants to show a backbone he should march in to the OVAL and demand that POTUS arms Western supporting rebels in Syria, the present support of non arms is not working, if Syria goes for  friendly Al Qaeda Government and the secular Government of Pakistan falls to the Taliban of Pakistan after the US leaves Afghanistan in 2014 the West is in a World of hurt and so is the Oval.  Lets recalls that the Truman Administration was blamed for years by the Republicans for losing China to the Communists, Obama can not afford to let that happen to Syria and Pakistan.    What ever a US President wants, is not what he gets to deal with most of the time, the Oval wants to take the US to the left, but the World does not care for the wants of ego mad US President, yes that is President Obama,  a crisis defines the Oval, not the many views of the OVAL, thus Syria matters folks, so does Iran, and its about time the Oval grew up and fast.  Its not the great liberal reforms of the Great Society that LBJ is recalled for folks, its for Vietnam, time that Oval did a course on foreign policy and not be marked on a curve, time for reality to get through to the Oval. 

Afghanistan Exit and Obama - Afghan Front

BBC News: Reports that President Obama has stated that there will be no rush to the EXIT DOOR for Foreign troops after the recent Afghan Massacre by a US Special Forces Soldier. In other words POTUS doses not want to leave Afghanistan and find that the Taliban retake Kabul and support the Taliban of Pakistan against their own Government. If a nuclear armed Pakistan was to fall to the Taliban, a 2nd Obama term would be bloody nightmare, he would have Iran and Pakistan as a threat, the Indians would go bonkers and start a war to prevent the Taliban controlling a nuclear arsenal, the stakes are high when it comes to Afghanistan and Pakistan, perhaps the Obama has finally figured out that he is not the smartest guy in the room when in comes to Foreign Policy, as Vietnam fell LBJ, in way Nixon and Ford, so Afghanistan could become Obama’s Vietnam.

Terrorists Attack India

BBC News: Reports on three explosions in Mumbai ( Imperial Bombay ), as of present 21 are dead and over a hundred injured. One has to postulate that these terrorists have a Pakistan connection, or even an Afghan/Pakistan Taliban connection. As the explosions went off nearly at the same time one has to ask has Al Qaeda moved to attack India as an easier target and thus cause conflict between India and Pakistan, thus divert Pakistan from the badlands of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and cause problems for US Foreign Policy. As has been noted, the ISI, the Pakistan Intelligence Agency sees India as a mortal threat to Pakistan, not the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Pakistan and North Korea

Guardian: Reports that Generals in the Pakistan Army received money for the illegal transfer of nuclear information technology to North Korea. This is the problem that faces the Obama Administration when it comes to Pakistan, from the ISA, the Intelligence network of Pakistan to the Army, they play both sides, are corrupt, and want to be on the winning side. Thus ISI is in bed with the Afghan Taliban, as they see the Taliban as a counter to India, they don’t see the regional problems in the same way as the West. The security structure is corrupt, by selling nuclear technology to North Korea the Pakistan Army has made North Korea nuclear armed power, and thus limited pressure can be placed on North Korea, when it is threatening the South. At the end of the day Pakistan is heading to be a failed State, the US should have forces ready to take over the nuclear arms of Pakistan, they can not be trusted.

What is a Rebuke ?, Obama and Libya

The US House of Representatives has rejected a resolution that would give President Obama Congressional Approval for the War in Libya, the vote tally was 295 against approval while 123 supported the Libyan operation. It should be noted that 70 Democratic House members voted against their President. But on the other hand the House would not cut off funding for the War, the tally in this vote was 238 against cutting funding, while 180 wanted to cut funding. In this resolution 89 House Republicans voted against cutting funding. Thus a mixed message folks, it can be argued that President Obama has a few months to win this War, if Gaddafi is still in power in the New Year the House just might cut off funding, as the Democratic House cut funding for the Vietnam War in the early 1970s. Thus NATO has to win in Libya, it does not have all the time in the world folks, both the US and the UK are basically broke, even might powers when they are broke have to cut bait, after World War Two the UK gave up India, it was the right thing to do, democracy and all that, but also there was the fact that the Great Britain was broke, from Rome to the Soviet Union to the US, when the money runs out, the Armies have to come home.

What NEXT for Afghanistan ?

The New York Times: Reports that President Obama will announce on Wednesday the scale of US troops withdrawals from Afghanistan. Of all the options that has been presented to President Obama the one that this blog favours is that POTUS should set the end of 2012 as a deadline for the US surge troops to return to the US, while leaving the timetable to the Generals on the ground, as they have to fight the War. If President Obama takes a heavy withdrawal option it can be argued that POTUS is playing politics with Afghanistan. The NATO Allies have an exit date set for 2014 for Afghanistan, if with the death of OBL, POTUS rushes the withdrawal this could risk giving a PR victory to the Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda. Also let us not forget Pakistan, if Afghanistan falls to the Taliban after the NATO Allies have left this could lead to the Taliban of Pakistan taking over Pakistan, this would cause a War with India and the US, also as noted Pakistan is a nuclear armed power, thus worse than 9/11. Thus there is no easy solution to Afghanistan folks.

US Unemployment = 9.1%

Guardian: Reports that unemployment in the US rose from 9% to 9.1%. As wise campaign manager once stated its “ the economy stupid ” in other words it does not how much the main stream media cover for President Obama the people on main street know that Obama’s economic policies are not working, his vast spending in the first two years has not created jobs or bought down the health costs. The only idea to come out of the Oval is to raise taxes, typical tax and spend liberal. One has to be blunt for a bright guy POTUS is an economic idiot, in his Liberal Hollywood world, you raise taxes on the rich and then everything is okay, problem, if you tax the rich at 100% why should they bother to create jobs, the PUBLIC SECTOR does not create jobs, it does not lead to a booming economy, it has the reverse effect, think the Cuba and the Soviet Union, if people cant make money they will no nothing, you have decline and fall, does Obama want a post imperial American, where the powers are China, India, at least JFK had RFK and Reagan had Nancy, people who told the President the unvarnished truth, TRUTH that can HURT, Obama can be beaten folks, in 1997 UK election Sir John Major had on the whole nice encounters with the voters, the reason they voters had decided to vote for Tony Blair, Obama should not mistake big crowds for the idea he is going to win, it could mean the reverse, but it’s a long road to 2012 folks.