USA Surge in Afghanistan ?

CNN News: Reports that President Obama will make his decision on more troops for Afghanistan quite soon. Here is my advice to the new President, no surge of troops to Afghanistan, more troops wont help, in less your going to go big and quick in to Pakistan, to clean out the tribal areas of the terrorists bases. Otherwise its wiser to keep Afghanistan at its present low level of conflict. Also when it comes to Iraq, start to withdraw troops but over a twenty three month period, also change the status of most of the combat troops to trainers of the Iraqi Army and Police. If Obama sends troops in to Afghanistan but does not deal with Pakistan he is doing a LBJ, sending in troops but not attacking the supply area with combat troops, in the case of Vietnam, it was North Vietnam, in the case of Afghanistan its Pakistan. Thus Afghanistan will become Obama's War. He might find that he wishes had kept his troops in Iraq and kept Afghanistan a low level War.

790 Billion, Jobs or More Flushing down the Toilet ?

Fox News: Reports that the West Wing and Congressional Leaders have agreed a final sum for the Obama Economic Plan, the very grand total of seven hundred and ninety billion dollars. This will either work or President Obama will have to find a Plan B, the problem is there might not be a very good Plan B. If the Debt of the American Banks is anything like the EU problem the USA is in " A World of Hurt ". The Moderate Republicans in the Senate will vote for the final combination of the House and Senate Bill, they have gone this far, the Conservatives in their States will never vote for them again, they might even face a Primary fight down the line. I guess they might be thinking that Obama will give them a job in his Administration down the line if they find they cant get re- elected back to the Senate. In the House it can be postulated that Obama will fail to get any Republican votes, in their Republican Districts this Bill has had a negative reaction.

Europe Broke !!

Telegraph: Reports that European Banks could have a debt of 16.3 Trillion pounds. In other words if you think its bad now, its going to get worse, how many banks are still to go to the Wall. It has to be postulated can the UK and the EU go broke, are we heading in to the Dark Ages when it comes to the Economy, is it every man for himself, will we start to see the UK and the EU start to use protective measures to preserve their own economies and workers. In simple language folks we are on the edge of a cliff and it will take a miracle for us not to have a worse Great Depression than the one of the 30s.

Market NOT HAPPY !!

The Times: Reports Breaking News, the Dow Jones is in Free Fall over the latest plan by the Obama Administration to save the Banking system. At 8.26pm UK time the Dow Jones is down 381.43. The Banking system is like a first date, if chemistry is wrong you don't get a second call, lets hope the Obama Administration has not forced the Market down a few more hundred points. Lets hope it rallies tomorrow.

Obama on Iraq and Afghanistan

The White House: The President was asked about Iraq and Afghanistan at his First Prime Time Press Conference. The President stated the following, " With respect to Afghanistan, this is going to be a big challenge. I think because of the extraordinary work done by our troops, and some very good diplomatic work done by Ambassador Crocker in Iraq, we just saw an election in Iraq that went relatively peacefully. And you get a sense that the political system is now functioning in a meaningful way. You do not see that yet in Afghanistan. They've got elections coming up, but effectively the national government seems very detached from what's going on in the surrounding community. " The President did not mention any timetable for Iraq, even though the question stated his Campaign pledge to get out of Iraq in sixteen months, the President did not confirm that in his answer. As Fox News has reported the Pentagon is in favour of a 23 month withdrawal, this would allow a effective withdrawal of troops and equipment. Also it would allow the Obama Administration to change the status of most troops from Combat to Training Troops, there can be a lot of trainers over a hundred thousand. President Obama is clever guy, even if his press conferences are dull! he knows that Iraq has worked, Afghanistan could be a bloody nightmare, think LBJ and Vietnam but worse, at least Vietnam never attacked the American homeland, the terrorists in Afghanistan did on 9/11 2001. Thus Obama cant get out of Afghanistan, if the USA leaves and the terrorists come back, we are back to more attacks like 9/11. Thus one can postulate that Obama will find good reasons to stay in Iraq, and keep Afghanistan at a low boiling point. The Economic Crisis, two wars are enough for two terms, if he makes a mistake in Iraq he could have a war with Iran on his hands. Thus expect the tone to change but not actual policy.

838 Billion, Down the Toilet ?

BBC News: Reports that Obama Economic Plan will cost eight hundred and thirty eight Billion Dollars. If this does not work it will destroy the election chances for Democrats for a generation, this is the final throw of the dice of those that supported the New Deal and the Great Society. Its the view that Government should run the market, yes its the most terrifying words once can hear, " We are from the Government and am hear to help! ". Its simple folks, if this works Obama gets re- elected, if it does not work, the Democrats are out in the 2010 Mid Terms and Obama is out in 2012. One hell of a throw of the dice!

The Obama Economic Plan and the Senate

The US Senate has passed its version of the Obama Economic Plan, as with the closure vote the Democrats passed the Bill with Moderate Republicans. The vote was 61 - 37.