Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the British Soldiers killed on Sunday in Afghanistan, the soldiers were " Lance Corporal Tom Keogh from A Company, 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 RIFLES), part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group and Corporal Stephen Thompson from 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES), serving as part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group ". Our thoughts are with the families Lance Corporal Keogh and Corporal Thompson.

The Deal ? - HCR

Fox News: Reports that health care is closer to getting passed by the House, Anti Abortion leader, Congressman Bart Stupak has stated that he is close to deal with House leaders that would prevent federal money for abortion. As stated in this blog some time ago there was a 60/40 chance that the Bill would pass, the moderate and blue dog democrats have this habit of folding under pressure from the House leadership. In this case its wrong that the liberal leadership should fold over abortion, there are lot of poor women out in the USA that should get help with abortion costs and one would expect the Democratic Party to help them, but it seems it does not have the backbone to stand up to Conservative Democrats, thus as always with the Democrats the women lose.

Israel, USA and Iran

The New York Times: Reports on a visit to Israel by US Vice - President Joe Biden, the article states the following on US policy towards Israel and Iran, " Israel has been training for a military attack on.... ( Iran ),....Washington has been pressing it to hold off and help work out a sanctions regime. " The problem with the visit does Israel think that VP Biden has the ear of President Obama, he has failed to win over the President when it comes to Afghanistan, so why would Israel take any notice of Joe Biden. One can argue that if Obama really wanted to send a clear message of support to Israel he would send the Secretary Gates or Secretary Clinton or even stage a Presidential visit to the region. This blog still predicts an Israeli attack on Iran with the year.

The Hurt Locker - Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Have just see the winner of the Best Film at the Oscars, The Hurt Locker. Have to be honest as in the UK one has seen many War Films from 1930s onwards, the Hurt Locker in a way did recall those War films from the 40s and 50s, more about the characters in a war zone that the actual war itself. At least the film was not Anti Iraq War, the central character of Sergeant William James had the same quality as one has seen in many UK War Films, the man you would want in the foxhole with your in a time of War, but also the type that could get you killed in the process and who's inter personnel skills would make you run the other way if you meet them in a pub. Have to admit the above might sound harsh but after so many Vietnam War films, Platoon and Born on the 4th of July, the Hurt Locker did recall a previous age in film making, not a celebration of War but not an attack, and that's a lot from Hollywood. In Vietnam films there is a strong Anti War message, in the Hurt Locker it shows the perils of War, any one can die but that is a message of all good war films, the Hurt Locker is not about never going to War. The central character Sergeant James goes back to War, thus not Vietnam. It was interesting that on the same night ABC News ran a piece on EOD ( Explosive Ordnance Disposal ) teams in Afghanistan, as the real life soldier stated it helps if your a little bit nuts to do the job. Have also to admit a bit of fan of Danger UXB from UK TV series of the 1970s, about bomb disposal teams in World War Two, on the whole liked the film but its not All Quiet on the Western Front, Great Escape or Platoon.

Iraq, Obama and the NYT

The New York Times: Reports the following on the Iraqi elections, " Defying a sustained barrage of mortars and rockets in Baghdad and other cities, Iraqis went to the polls in strength on Sunday....". It would be fun to speculate how the extreme liberal NYT would have reported the story if Bush 43 was still in the Oval, you could image the following, " Baghdad - The Bush surge has not stopped the violence, people are voting, but ethnic division is still a major factor that could lead to civil war..". But its President Obama that is in the Oval and he needs some success so the NYT is taking the line of the brave Iraq going to vote and in a bigger turnout than in 2005. At least the UK is out of Iraq, the invasion itself in military terms was fine, but afterwards it was a disaster, the Iraqi Government and the US had a negative view of the UK presence in Basra, it seems the MOD thought Basra was Northern Ireland, it might be now but not at the time the UK was there, thus it took Iraqi and US forces to bring order to the South.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a British Soldier was killed on Sunday in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 1st Battalion The Rifles (1 RIFLES), serving as part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 272 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 239 in combat operations and 33 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. The MOD has to get a new plan for Sangin, thus far we have lost six soldiers this month and its only the 8/3/2010. The UK needs its own surge, it needs to clear Sangin and the area around, the Taliban/Al Qaeda are focusing its attack on UK forces, simple reason is that there is an election this year in the UK. Thus PM Gordon Brown should argue and approve thousands of more troops for Afghanistan, even calling up more of the TA active or non active. This is a fight the UK can no longer afford to lose. The War in Afghanistan is the template of Wars for the 21 Century.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the British Soldier killed on Saturday in Afghanistan, the soldier was " Rifleman Liam Maughan of 3rd Battalion The Rifles ". Our thoughts are with the family of Rifleman Maughan.