UN and Iraq - Iraq Crisis

BBC News: Reports " The UN has called for action to prevent what it says may be a possible massacre in the northern Iraqi town of Amerli. "

Lets Get Real:

Thus we come to another problem for the Oval, it can hardly allow thousands of people to be killed in Amerli, the US will have to hit IS around the sieged City, this will of course make the US more of target for Al Qaeda and IS, the threat of IS like when Lenin came to power in Russia, the West didn't have the staying power to take out the Communists, think of ALL the millions that could have been saved if Lenin, Stalin had been destroyed at the start, IS is the modern version of Communism, it has to be destroyed and its ashes thrown to the sands of Iraq.   The West, in this case the US, UK and France have to send ground troops to Iraq to finish this threat before it gets its hands of WMD.   Time is of the essence. 

Democrats seek Distance from POTUS - 2nd Term Blues

The New York Times: Reports on how Capital Hill Dems feel about POTUS, the article notes the following, " In interviews, nearly two dozen Democratic lawmakers and senior congressional aides suggested that Mr. Obama’s approach has left him with few loyalists to effectively manage the issues erupting abroad and at home and could imperil his efforts to leave a legacy in his final stretch in office. "

Lets Get Real:

This means that Capital Hill Dems are looking past Obama to Hillary and also the uber liberal NYT wants to make sure that it keep its readership, and also gets favour by the Clintons.   The cool Obama is now seen as distant, he was never a political player such as LBJ and Bill Clinton, while Ronald Reagan could charm he could could also deal.   Thus the three former Presidents had better relationship with the Hill, they had people who fought for their agenda, but once Obama leaves office in 2017 there will be nobody, the only interest Obama has is Obama not the Democratic Party.    That is what you get when you elect a charming Jimmy Carter type President, both seen as distant by the Hill, who did not see their election as part of the politics as usual, they were outsiders, both had a foreign Policy that was bad for the US, thus lets hope the Republicans choose another Reagan type character,  a POTUS who is President of ALL, but can play the political game. 

Hillary Clinton and 2016 - Part 2

CNN - Politics: Reports on the role of Hillary Clinton in the Mid terms of 2014, the article notes the following,  " Clinton, the former secretary of state and frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, has committed to play a sizable role in fundraising for the party ahead of the 2014 elections,.. "

Lets Get Real:

This is about showing that the Clintons can be friends for those that support them, they will raise money, its also a way just in case there is a fight in the Primary process to get hold of Super Delegates, the lack of Super Delegates in 2008 cost Clinton the nomination.   The downside will getting back in to the political process is two fold, you make statements that can back to haunt you and you are seen as just another political hack trying to get votes.   The Republicans will watch Hillary in case she slips up and says something that can be used against her in 2016.   Thus the 2016 Democratic race has began, any challenge to Hillary will come from the extreme left of the Democratic Party, or VP Biden, sorry that was a joke, will not be Biden for dog catcher!!  Thus Clintons will be shaking as many hands as they have too, there is one objective, get a Hillary back in the Oval and Bill back in to the White House. 

Kurdish & US VICTORY at Mosul Dam - Iraq Crisis

Guardian: Reports " US hails recapture of Mosul dam as symbol of united battle against Isis..Iraqi and Kurdish co-operation with Pentagon allows site to be retaken and shows how to defeat extremists, says Obama "

Lets Get Real:

This is one battle, an impportant battle but only the first, there will be other victories and defeats, the Kurds and Baghdad have to form a strategic plan for the whole of Iraq, also the US will have a lot of bombing missions, also when it comes to combat in the Cities the Kurds might be very wary, the new Iraqi Army will take time to form, thus US & UK Special Forces will have to take the lead in street fighting.   This is going to be a long WAR, lets hold the celebrations in till Iraq and the West defeat IS and put in in the bin of other failed terror groups. 

Hillary Clinton and 2016

CNN - Politics: Reports " Hillary Clinton will headline Sen. Tom Harkin's Iowa Steak Fry, a Democratic source familiar with the event tells CNN, a move the steps up Clinton's political activity ahead of the 2016 presidential race. "

Lets Get Real:

If is official in a unofficial way that Hillary Clinton is running for 2016, all the moves, the distance from President Obama, this speech in Iowa is a clear signal that Clinton is running,  the Clinton Camp has to make sure that Hillary spends more time in Iowa, she came 3rd in Iowa in the last run in 2008.    Thus after the book tour the Clintons should move to Iowa, well rent a place, the people of the first States to vote in the nomination process like to get to know the candidates, they have seen candidates come and go, they like to see the real person behind the Campaign, also Hillary has to be careful of a challenge from her left, she has moved centre right on Foreign Policy, that was her mistake in 2008, the Democratic Base is very left wing, so in the primary process she can not ditch Obama to early but after in the General she can move hard right on Foreign Policy and centre on domestic policy.   Lets hope the Republicans chose a wise candidate, and not Senator Paul, if he is the choice of the Republicans this blog will support Hillary Clinton. 

Ukraine Update - Ukraine Crisis

Telegraph: Reports " Fighter jet shot down over Luhansk region, rebels say, as Russian aid convoy arrives at border checkpoint and foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France meet in Berlin to discuss crisis "

Lets Get Real:

Ukraine has to careful that Russia does not add arms to the rebels in East Ukraine, it looks like Kiev has the rebels on the run, the rebels have been successful is shooting down aircraft of the Ukraine air force, they have also been accused of shooting down MH17.     The Kiev Government needs to block any Russian military help to the rebels, Moscow could be using the aid convoy as a rouse to allow them to give more arms, men and missiles to the rebels, or as a reason to invade, NEVER TRUST THE RUSSIAN BEAR, it always up to something, it does not matter if its Tsarist Russia, the USSR or Great Russia that Putin is trying to create. The Russian Bear always has it claws out! 

Kurds Partial Victory over IS - Iraq Crisis

BBC News: Reports " Kurdish forces have recaptured the eastern part of the Mosul dam in Iraq from the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, Kurdish officials say. "

Lets Get Real:

This is a good first step, but lets get real, this fight against IS will take months if not years, the US and its allies can be the air force for the Kurds and the Baghdad Government but they have to fight IS on the ground.   Thus the US/EU will have to arm the Kurds, this will not go down well with Turkey, they have their own Kurdish problem.   The problem develops if the West creates a Kurdish State by accident, the threat to Ibril, the Capital of the Kurds shows how much the Kurds need the West to give it air cover, the US/EU by creating a structure to fight the IS will help create a civic, economic, military State for the Kurds, that is a long term problem, the main issue NOW is IS, they have to be taken down, destroyed at birth before they become a threat to the Middle East and the West.