War Crimes in Afghanistan

Telegraph: Reports that Julian Assange the founder of Wikileaks has stated that his leaks could lead to investigations of War Crimes in Afghanistan. The hunting down and execution of Taliban leaders is not a War Crime if it keeps one UK soldier alive or not getting hurt, these black Op soldiers are modern heroes, otherwise in war there are mistakes, in any War. What about going after the Taliban/Al Qaeda, they do not follow any rules of War or any legal norms.

Afghan Leaks = Pentagon Papers ?

BBC News: Reports on the leak of ninety thousand military secret documents to the press by the Wikileaks website. One can only postulate that President Obama will understand how Richard Nixon felt with the release of the Pentagon Papers in the early 1970s. On one level Nixon has had is easier, the Pentagon Papers did not cover his Administration, the new leaks cover 2004 - 2010, the first year of the Obama Administration. The Obama Administration has issued a statement by the Obama’s National Security Advisor General James Jones, the General states the following on the leak “ The United States strongly condemns the disclosure of classified information by individuals and organizations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk, and threaten our national security. Wikileaks made no effort to contact us about these documents – the United States government learned from news organizations that these documents would be posted. These irresponsible leaks will not impact our ongoing commitment to deepen our partnerships with Afghanistan and Pakistan; to defeat our common enemies; and to support the aspirations of the Afghan and Pakistani people. ” Nixon would be proud above the comments, in the fact the Nixon White House could have written the above comments. The Obama Administration is keeping both feet in Afghanistan, General Jones on Obama Afghan policy “ President Obama announced a new strategy with a substantial increase in resources for Afghanistan, and increased focus on al Qaeda and Taliban safe-havens in Pakistan, precisely because of the grave situation that had developed over several years. This shift in strategy addressed challenges in Afghanistan that were the subject of an exhaustive policy review last fall. We know that serious challenges lie ahead, but if Afghanistan is permitted to slide backwards, we will again face a threat from violent extremist groups like al Qaeda who will have more space to plot and train. That is why we are now focused on breaking the Taliban’s momentum and building Afghan capacity so that the Afghan government can begin to assume responsibility for its future. The United States remains committed to a strong, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan. ” The more Obama is tied to his Afghan policy the harder it will be to take troops out of Afghanistan in 2011, all his remarks and the remarks of his Administration would be thrown in his face if he starts to withdraw in 2011. The Obama policy to Afghanistan is tied to the security of Pakistan, here is General Jones on Afghanistan and Pakistan, “ Since 2009, the United States and Pakistan have deepened our important bilateral partnership. Counter-terrorism cooperation has led to significant blows against al Qaeda’s leadership. The Pakistani military has gone on the offensive in Swat and South Waziristan, at great cost to the Pakistani military and people. The United States and Pakistan have also commenced a Strategic Dialogue, which has expanded cooperation on issues ranging from security to economic development. Pakistan and Afghanistan have also improved their bilateral ties, most recently through the completion of a Transit-Trade Agreement. Yet the Pakistani government – and Pakistan’s military and intelligence services – must continue their strategic shift against insurgent groups. The balance must shift decisively against al Qaeda and its extremist allies. U.S. support for Pakistan will continue to be focused on building Pakistani capacity to root out violent extremist groups, while supporting the aspirations of the Pakistani people. ”. As Pakistan is a nuclear armed power it cant be allowed to fall to the Taliban of Pakistan, thus the US is stuck in Afghanistan as it secures Pakistan, years to go folks.
　
　
　
　

Campbell vs Mandelson

Alastair Campbell Blog: The 2nd great spin master after Lord Peter Mandelson, AC is going after Lord Mandelson, he states over his influence in the early Blair Government, AC states the following, “ I must say that,……it is striking that someone who now presents himself as having been so all important at the time spent so much time and energy complaining how little he was involved. ”. After this New Labour bitching there is some good news, the 2nd volume of the Campbell Diaries are out in the New Year. The first complete volume is great, it’s a page turner, also recalls some political incidents that over time this political blog had forgotten about, those days pre 9/11 seems like a different country, a different time, what is so great is that Mr Campbell is not afraid to show himself in a bad light, his views on Education and the right of parents to decide what is in the best interest of their children is out of Tony Benn book of old Labour. On the other hand you have to be sympathetic when the constant backbiting that AC faced from GB,PM, the fact that TB on occasions does not get the fact that he is in the Labour Party. They you have the Scottish Wars between Brown and Cook and JP feeling that he is on the outside always being told last what the policy is at any given time. Will have to get my order in for the second volume, half way through the first volume.
　
　

Upstairs, Downstairs is BACK

The Daily Mail: Reports on the return of Upstairs, Downstairs to our TV screens. Have to admit when I heard about this folks I had some worries, I loved the original, I have seen all the colour and black and white shows that they don’t show that often. But with the original creators are back, Dame Eileen Atkins and Jean Marsh and Ms Marsh is back as Rose, Doctor Who and Upstairs, Downstairs shows that you can act in something over forty years ago and return to the part, that is a time travel. One word to the new writes, don’t balls it up, this is a much loved show, one of those rare shows that all the family have and can watch together, also the scripts and acting from the original show is something you can watch and re - watch and see something new after forty years. Cant Wait folks, I do miss Mr 165 Eaton Place.

De-Blairification and the Labour Party

Guardian: Interesting article that looks on the effects of Iraq and the leadership of Tony Blair on the Labour Party, how Labour has to find its soul, and that is not New Labour. If the Guardian is moving to support Ed Miliband then it can be postulated that Miliband junior has the leadership in the bag, but lets be honest if your read the Campbell Diaries Tony Blair had nothing but contempt for the Guardian, in view of Blair the Guardian would rather be pure than in power. Thus a bit early but the Labour Crown is close to the head of Ed Miliband, what does David Miliband think of his younger brother stabbing him the back, what price family blood, the support of the Unions.

Yes NYT is RIGHT = North Korea!

The New York Times: Has a very tough Editorial on North Korea, the liberal NYT states the following, “ China,…..needs to ensure that the North’s bluster is only bluster. And it needs to tone down its own. ”. It seems that even the extreme liberal NYT has had enough of the tensions building of North Korea and the lack of leadership of China. Let us be clear North Korea will not use its nuclear deterrent on US Naval Ships in the region, the Obama Administration would have no choice but remove North Korea from the face of the earth, China could not prevent such a military action, this is the time for China to act as a grown up, if they want to be taken as a World Player they have to deal with their satellite, they have to cut off food and lights to North Korea and tell them to get back in to talks with the US. It only needs someone to make a misjudgement for a serious War to break out between the US and North Korea, then the US would have Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan ( the Tribal areas of Pakistan ) and North Korea, think how much that would add the US Debt. Thus the US has to be firm, but lets keep our eyes on getting talks back on between the US and North Korea.

Ten Years to Late, Brown and the Banks

BBC News: Reports on remarks by ex UK PM Gordon Brown that he wished he had noticed the banking faults before 2008. Mr Brown was Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Iran Chancellor, he had control of the UK economy, he allowed the framework that allowed the Banks to rob the tax payer, and at the end of the day New Labour was more interested in saving the bankers and their perks than the tax payer. The UK in many respects in bankrupt due to the public spending of Gordon Brown, he would not support Tony Blair when he wanted to reform the public sector as noted by Lord Mandelson. How many days has Mr Brown been in the House of Commons, does he get paid when he only turns up, thus far his hiding places haven been Scotland and Africa, how about the House of Commons after the recess Mr Brown.