The Left and Obama

Politico: Reports on how the left has been quiet with Obama appointing hawks by the standard of the Democratic Base or keeping Bush people in place. The Politico writes the following, " Still, it’s clearly a team that tilts to the right of Democratic foreign policy thought. " Obama has an Economic 9/11 to deal with, he needs people who can run Foreign Policy, Gates will get the USA out of Iraq with honour, not like Vietnam in 1975. Secretary of State Clinton will start talks with Iran but from a posture of strength not weakness, Bill Clinton will not allow his wife to become an appeaser. This kind of weak policy would be bad for the Clinton reputation, both him and her. As stated many times with Hillary you get Bill, and Bill bombed the Serbian Capital.

New York Subway Threat 2008

WCBSTV.COM: Has more details on the threat to the New York Subway. As stated the last threat was in 2005, this time the Intelligence Organisations have to worry that al - Qaeda are following an election pattern, 1993 the new Clinton Administration had to deal with the first attack on the World Trade Centre, 2001 the new Bush Administration had to deal with 9/11, in the UK 2007 the new PM Gordon Brown had to deal with the failed threat in London and the attack in Scotland. The attack in Bombay could be a warning to the West or it could be a diversion, lets hope the CIA are connection the dots this time around.

Mumbai ( Bombay ) Terrorist Attacks

The Times: Reports on the terrorist attack on Mumbai ( Bombay ). It argues that it is to early to say who is behind this evil attack on the city. To be honest have not blogged on this Issue due to the fact that it is on going, also it is hard to figure out if this is a internal terrorist group, that might have been trained by al-Qaeda or a franchise group of al - Qaeda. It will take a long investigation and could take months before we have an answer to this question. I did see something interesting on the TV Networks last night, what if India joins Afghanistan and Pakistan and becomes a failed state or forced to become a failed state due to these terrorists actions. Lets recall that both Pakistan and India are nuclear powers, this could be one of the top Issues to face a new Obama Administration.

Deaths in Afghanistan

BBC News: Reports that two more British Soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan. The total of the dead now stands at 128. If we do send more troops in to Afghanistan after the New Year lets have new ideas of how to win, otherwise we are going to lose more good men and women in a War we cant win and we cant afford to lose. We have to strike the safe bases in Pakistan, this is the Obama Plan, but we need to strike in manner that does not cause the Government of Pakistan to fall. A failed State like Pakistan that is a nuclear power could make last few years look like happy hour.

Surge for Afghanistan

Telegraph: Reports that an Obama Administration will send twenty thousand soldiers to Afghanistan. The article makes a great point, " Current and former US officials have warned that a surge of forces into Afghanistan will not necessarily meet with the same success as the troop build-up in Iraq. " The problem with Afghanistan is that throwing more troops in the mix never works, Afghanistan is a nightmare for combat troops, the environment helps the terrorist, also the terrorists can come over the border from Pakistan. All countries that have gone in to Afghanistan have in the end thought better about the idea, the UK in the 19th Century, the USSR in 20th Century, and of course we are back with the USA in the 21st Century. Afghanistan is just a god awful place to fight, high and dangerous mountains, tribal loyalties that are hard to breach. That the problem with the Tribal lands on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. We cant win but we cant afford to lose, the Commander that solves Afghanistan will become a legend.

The Real Iraq Policy - Obama

The New York Times: Reports on the President - Elects move to keep Robert Gates at the Pentagon. What is interesting is the following from the Obama circle, the article states the following on Iraq, " But advisers argued that Mr. Gates was a practical public servant who was also interested in drawing down troops in Iraq when conditions allow. " Thus the sixteen month deadline seems to have gone out of the window. Its a shame Obama didn't say that during the election, then even some Conservative Bloggers could have supported him, as stated this blog is very liberal on Domestic Issues, just when in it comes to National Security I want a President who is a hawk. It seems Obama is a very canny politician, the liberal left have no one else to support, thus he can throw them over board. Thus on the Domestic Front Obama can start a New Deal by public spending, lets recall it was World War 2 that got the USA out of the Great Depression not the New Deal. On the International Front, he will have Clinton at State, she is more of a hawk than Obama, thus don't expect Obama to visit Iran any time soon, the left will not be happy. At Defence Gates will get the USA out of Iraq with honour, not like Vietnam in 1975. This blog takes its hat off to the President - Elect.

Robert Gates at Pentagon

BBC News: Reports that Robert Gates is to remain as Secretary of Defence in a Obama Administration. This is a wise move by the President - Elect, Gates is an outstanding public servant and has made Iraq a low key War. The next job of the Secretary of Defence is to get the USA out of Iraq. The Government of Iraq has take over its own security. The West, UK and USA are in economic meltdown, we cant support two wars, thus Iraq is in a better position to take the load of security off the West. The War in Afghanistan is not going well, we need to win, if we lose in Afghanistan the terrorists will haunt the streets of London and New York again, it will be a long War. As stated in this blog, I want out of Afghanistan, but if we can develop new ideas and win, that would be a excellent development, lets hope Secretary Gates has new ideas for Afghanistan.