Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the name of one of the two UK Soldiers killed on Sunday in Afghanistan, the Soldier was “ Lance Corporal Martin Joseph Gill, from Kilo Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines ”. Our thoughts are with the family of LCpl Gill.

Winter of Discontent Part Two ?

Telegraph: Reports that the Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable has warned unions that they could face tough new strike laws should strikes become a threat to the UK economy. The Conservatives know what happens if you let the Unions get out of control, in the late 1970s the Labour Government faced a winter of discontent, people that had died could not get buried. The Thatcher Governments bought in tougher new Unions laws, these laws broke the power of the unions, thus the Coalition has to two historical case studies, Labour in the 70’s and the Conservative Governments of the 80’s and 90’s. The Unions have been warned, if they become a threat to the UK economy then public sector unions should be banned from striking under heavy legal sanctions or heavily restricted in then nature of strikes, if push comes to shove, the Coalition should be more Thatcher than Thatcher, leadership respected, might not be liked but it is feared, thus the Unions has been warned.

Coalition Economic Policy = IMF Approval

BBC News: Reports that the International Monetary Fund has given the thumps UP to the cuts policy of the Coalition Government. This news will not do any favours for “ Red ” Ed Miliband, lets be honest here, the Labour Party needs for the economy to fail if it to have any chance of winning the 2015 election, the more it is seen as out of touch the more that Miliband Junior will look like IDS the former Conservative leader who was dumped by his own Party as not being able to win a General Election. The real worry for Ed Miliband is what is Ed Balls the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer up to, does really want Ed Miliband to be successful or does he want to give the appearance of being loyal but when the chips are down will he stab “ Red ” Ed in back, stabbing people in the back is a profile both shared by Ed Balls and Ed Miliband, it would be ironic if Ed was taken down as he took his brother down.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that another UK Soldier was killed on Sunday in Afghanistan, the Soldier was from the “ 1st Battalion The Rifles ”. Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 371 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 327 in combat and 44 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.

The Obama Strategy in 2012

The New York Times: Reports that due the dire economics in the US the Obama Chicago re-elect committee will run on not changing horses midstream. If this is not political spin then Obama is in real trouble, if that is the best his Chicago operation can come up with he needs new people. You cant go from positive in 2008 to life is crap but it will be crapper under a different guy. If unemployment is not well below 8.5% by mid 2012 then Obama should start to apply to become a law professor, because he is going to lose big time. What could really finish Obama in 2012 is if the economy turns around and those people that are unemployed return to actively seeking work, the rate of unemployment could go up to 10%. Also you have those on part time jobs or jobs that are well below their qualifications, that would put the unemployment rate at around 16%. Lets hope the horse arguments was spin for the Liberal New York Times, because if its true the game is over, and the Republicans will back in the Oval.

Saleh of Yemen in Saudi Arabia

Telegraph: Reports that President Saleh of Yemen has arrived in Saudi Arabia for treatment. This could be a way of solving some of the troubling aspects of the conflict in Yemen, if Saleh was to resign due to ill health after the recent attack, the US and Saudi Arabia could try and get a stable and western supporting regime in Yemen. As noted in previous post on Yemen, it does not have any oil but its importance comes from its strategic importance at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. The West needs a semi stable regime that is Western looking, what it does not need is for Al Qaeda to grow in influence or for an extreme Islamic Government to take over with sympathy for Al Qaeda. Lets see if Saleh returns to Yemen, this blog would very surprised.

Syrian Diversion = Attacks on Israeli Border

BBC News: Reports that Israel has fired on Syrian Palestinian protesters as they try to march on Israeli held Golan Heights. One does not need a degree in international politics to see this protests as PR diversion by the Syrian Government, the elite Western Media will lap this story up folks. It is Israel as the bad actor in this context, but lets call a spade a spade, this protest is just a diversion as to get the press of the back of the Syrian Government, the Assad Regime is killing its own people, it has taken down the Internet, thus its buying time by turning the heat up on Israel, it is such an old trick, one should be almost ashamed to use it as a PR weapon, so much a trick but the elite Western media will run the story, any chance to slap Israel around, they are happy.