No War in Iraq Options - Straw

Guardian: Reports that former Labour Foreign Secretary Jack Straw under PM Tony Blair advice the then PM to find other ways to deal with Iraq that didn’t include War. The advice was a week before the War started, bit late folks, also if Mr Straw had any doubts, War is different from most politics he should have resigned.

The UK Cabinet and the Iraq War

Telegraph: Reports that the former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has told the Iraq Inquiry that he told the UK Cabinet that the Iraq War would be legal without a new UN resolution even after being told by the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith that the reverse was true. One would really like to see the former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith given evidence under Oath, all roads it seems lead to what the Attorney General thought and when he didn’t think that, as at the last minute he changed his mind. The Iraq War cant be illegal as the UK lost a 179 of its Armed Forces Personnel in the War and its aftermath, it was iffy, it is up there with Suez, if no UK Soldier had died then this blog would quite happy see Mr Blair at the International Court, but our heroic soldiers did die, thus let those deaths be on the mind of Tony Blair for years to come, when you think of Blair think Iraq.

The US and the Violence in Egypt - Obama White House

The Obama White House has released a very short statement on the violence in Egypt, the statement has the following comment, “ The United States deplores and condemns the violence that is taking place in Egypt, and we are deeply concerned about attacks on the media and peaceful demonstrators. We repeat our strong call for restraint. ”. At the of the day the US gives the Army of Egypt over a billion dollars a year, they could always cut that grant, but then they would have no influence in Cairo, so what will the Army of Egypt do, well if they are this slow on internal matters lets hope they never go to war, Egypt would have been invaded so far. The Army of Egypt has to jump one way or another, support the protesters, or support President Mubarak. The Army is not looking good at the moment.
　

Obama DUMPS Mubarak

The New York Times: Reports that the word was sent form the Oval that President Mubarak should not stand for another term as President. Lets hope the White House has a plan, A) Mubarak OUT, B) Suleiman as Acting President, C) That the protesters don’t push their luck with the Army, D) That the peace deal with Israel is not revoked, E) That after Mubarak Egypt does not fall in to the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood, a lot more problem folks, but lets get the speech from President Mubarak first then lets see if this calms the Arab Street.

Mubarak OUT - Next Election ?

Guardian: Reports that President Mubarak will announce that he will step down at the next election but will stay as President in till those elections. This just might take the steam out of the protests folks, but if the opposition taste blood in the water they might want more, the might want Mubarak out NOW and not for Vice - President Suleiman to take over, of course the protesters might just push the Army to far, they still have the guns, this requires some backroom talks, discreet talks, could go either way folks, don’t see the Regime as in the Army just handing power over to the Muslim Brotherhood, this could get tricky folks.

Mohamed ElBaradei NEXT President of Egypt ?

Telegraph: Reports that the former IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei is having secret talks with the Army and the Government, this could lead to Mr ElBaradei becoming the next President. Folks this might be great for Egypt but it would be a disaster for the Middle East and US Foreign Policy, while as the IAEA Mr ElBaradei was weak on Iran, thus the present nuclear problem that the West has with the Regime in Tehran. Also lets be honest according to reports Mr ElBaradei is not that well known in Egypt, has a very narrow support base, secular liberals, he has the support of the Muslim Brotherhood, that should send a chill in the Oval. Also the Army would be the real masters, thus you would have weak President supported by a very weak coalition who hate each other, and the Army wary of losing its power and wealth. Also Iran would feel free to develop its nuclear programme, knowing that Egypt would be dealing with internal problems. The Obama Administration would have lost a close ally, and the search for peace in the Middle East would be dead in the water, Israel would have to develop a defensive posture against Egypt after thirty years of peace. The above is a nightmare folks.

FCO and Egypt

FCO: Reports that it is sending out a charter plane to Cairo to pick up those UK Citizens who want to get out, but has stated if they have a commercial flight they should take that avenue out. The Foreign Office does seem to have been slow on this development, the US have had planes going in for days, yes the US Citizens have to pay for the flight but least they have gotten out, also the Foreign Advice seems to have been the reverse of other Countries, the US and other EU countries have told their citizens to get out, while flights from the UK has taken holiday makers to holiday areas that are considered safe by the FO. What happens if Egypt goes to hell in a hand basket, we have to get those people back due to the false info form their own government. Lets hope the FO gets away with this advice.