The New START Treaty - Senate Chances ?

CNN: Reports that the Republican Senate Minority Leader, Senator McConnell has stated that he cant support the latest US - Russian Treaty when it comes to cutting the nuclear arsenals of the two countries. The Republicans are afraid that that the Treaty will harm the US’s missile defence shield protection. The US Senate must pass a Treaty by 67 votes for it to come in to force, it can be argued that the US Senate should pass the treaty, if the Treaty has a negative effect the Republicans can use it to clobber the Obama White House for being weak on national security, think JFK and the missile gap in 1960. It would be a good issue to run on in 2012 by any Republican nominee.

Bush Review - NYT

The New York Times: A review of the autobiography by President George W. Bush. Its by the Liberal NYT, thus very sarcastic in tone, but what do you expect from the bloated left wing media. This blog plans to read the book in the new year after finishing the book by Tony Blair.

Korean Tensions

BBC News: Reports that South Korea has stated it will still carry on its planned military drill close to the border between South and North Korea. The South Koreans cant back down, if the South backs down the North just might get the idea that they can invade and the US will not protect the South. If China wants to be a Super Power it should control its dangerous ally the North Koreas. If North Korea attacks the South again then the South should hit back hard, but not over the top, the US can not afford a third war. Lets hope its all spin from the North, otherwise we could see a Second Korean War, that would drag in the UN, and US and UK Armed Forces.

North Korea THREAT to South Korea

Guardian: Reports that North Korea has threatened South Korea with military action should it carry on with its plan for a military drill on the disputed border between the two countries. Should North Korea take action then the South has a perfect right to defend itself, if attacked South Korea should hit back hard, not over the top but a warning to the North, China should make clear to its ally the North that it can NEVER use its nuclear arsenal or its on its own. Lets hope China has some influence over North Korea and is using that influence, a nuclear exchange between North Korea and the US is not in the interest of China at any time. One of the issues that could really sink Obama is North Korea, the worry is that North will see President Obama as weak and take military action, with the US in Afghanistan and Iraq the US would find it very hard to fight a third War.

Ireland Default ?

Telegraph: Reports on the massive downgrade of Ireland’s credit worthiness by Moodys a Credit Agency and the negative effects on Spain and Portugal. Lets get real folks, either Spain or Portugal will default next year, the interest charged by the EU/IMF makes sure the Irish economy will be in the toilet for years, thus mass emigration to the UK and other EU countries. If Spain, Ireland and Portugal default then its over for the Euro, the EU can not afford to bailout Spain, a default Spain would wreck the economies of Western Europe, but the cost of nearly half trillion to bail out Spain would be to much for the German voter and th UK voter would take to the streets in the cold to demonstrate, so would this blog. The bond market should chop Spain, Ireland and Portugal NOW, lets start the recovery with the pain, and there will be pain folks, but then the economic structure would be clean of the known and hidden debts of the EU countries and banks. The more the EU tries to hide this debt the more the cost will be in the future, lets have the pain NOW, a mass unemployment, a cut in the welfare state, less Government not more, then the Western Economy can get out of this mess, otherwise when the fall does come it will be hard and brutal, and lets recall the Great Depression came to and end with World War Two, the West can not afford a World War Three.

The Passing of the Obama/Bush 43 Tax Cuts

The House of Representatives: The US House has passed the Obama/Bush 43 tax cuts by 277 to 148. This is a good news day for the Obama White House, it just might be the day that President Obama got re-elected, depends how he plays it from here, if he moves to the centre even centre right and nicks a few Republican ideas he can do a Bill Clinton of 1996. Although no doubt that Obama has a fine mind, very much like Jimmy Carter does he have the political mind of a Bill Clinton, will he know when to fight and when to give way, will he go down to the mat over ObamaCare, even if the US Courts at the end of the day declare that ObamaCare is illegal. From January its not what Republicans do that will decide if Obama gets re-elected its what the Oval does, Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter, that is the choice for POTUS.

Its ALL about Pakistan - Obama and Afghanistan

Today President Obama announced a review of his Afghan Policy, lets start with the ironic or economic with the truth to be kind ( and that is being kind ), the President stated the following on Afghanistan, “.. I can report that thanks to the extraordinary service of our troops and civilians on the ground, we are on track to achieve our goals. ” From Alexander the Great, to the British Empire to the Soviet invasion of 1979 no one has achieved their goals in Afghanistan, it’s a wild and remote place and that is just the people, the geography of Afghanistan does not help Western Armies, the Soviet didn’t play by the rules and got kicked out in the end, NATO is playing by the rules, lets see how that far that gets the West. But the real point about the statement about Afghanistan is the remarks by President Obama on Pakistan, “ Finally, we will continue to focus on our relationship with Pakistan. Increasingly, the Pakistani government recognizes that terrorist networks in its border regions are a threat to all our countries, especially Pakistan. We’ve welcomed major Pakistani offensives in the tribal regions. We will continue to help strengthen Pakistanis’ capacity to root out terrorists. Nevertheless, progress has not come fast enough. So we will continue to insist to Pakistani leaders that terrorist safe havens within their borders must be dealt with. At the same time, we need to support the economic and political development that is critical to Pakistan’s future. As part of our strategic dialogue with Pakistan, we will work to deepen trust and cooperation. We’ll speed up our investment in civilian institutions and projects that improve the lives of Pakistanis. We’ll intensify our efforts to encourage closer cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. And, next year, I look forward to an exchange of visits, including my visit to Pakistan, because the United States is committed to an enduring partnership that helps deliver improved security, development, and justice for the Pakistani people. ” At the end of the day a nuclear armed Pakistan falling in to the hands of the Taliban / Al Qaeda would be a disaster for the West, it would make the Afghan War look like a fun period. Thus what ever President Obama says about leaving Afghanistan should be taken with a massive pinch of salt, as long as Pakistan is under threat the US will be in Afghanistan, that simple and serious folks.