POTUS in the Senate Game - Health Care Reform

McClathy: Reports that the Obama health care reform is not a done deal. I must admit I was surprised that the Obama West Wing allowed Obama to gather all the Democratic Senators together without a done deal, if the deal does come through then it looks like the President used how skills to get a deal, but if no deal then it looks like Obama is weak on the domestic front. I expect a Bill to get voted on and passed by the US Senate by Xmas. A failure of the Obama health care reform bill would make sure that Obama would lose his bid for re-election in 2012.

The Threat from Iran - Long Range Missile Threat

The Times: Reports that Iran has tested its long range missile, the missile could be a threat to Israel and Europe. As this blog posted yesterday the US Military has tested its missile defence system and the enemy was Iran. Thus Iran is now sending a message that US assets and Europe could be targets for any Iran counter attack to an attack by Israel. All games at the end of the day, but the result could be deadly for the Middle East and the World.

Israel on Iran and the BOMB

Fox News: Reports that Israeli Military Intelligence has confirmed that Iran is close to getting a nuclear bomb. It seems that Israel is willing to give the UN a chance to solve this problem, but the time is limited, this is crisis will not take a year to come to an end, either Iran gives up its nuclear ambitions or Israel hits, that simple and brutal folks. As stated before, one has to look at the internal politics of Iran, as the NYT has stated the protests against the stolen election of this year has turned to anger at the regime itself, thus for the regime to survive in Tehran is needs a Ace in the hole, the bomb is that Ace in the hole, lets see who is good at poker, lets hope Obama knows the difference between a winning and losing hand.

Deaths in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that two more British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, the soldiers came from the " 3rd Battalion, The Rifles ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 239 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total 208 have died in combat operations, while 31 have died due to illness, accidents or other incidents. These deaths will not be the last, the cost of Afghanistan is always high for the UK.

Kennedy and the Coup in Vietnam

The National Security Archive: An excellent National Security Archive Electronic Briefing Book No. 302 by the NSA. After a very quick read it can be seen that Kennedy as Obama with Afghanistan, at the end of the day was not planning to leave Vietnam. Lets hope the Obama West Wing reads the book. Read of the Day.

International Politics and International Law - The REAL World

Guardian: Reports on the breakdown of diplomatic relationships between the UK and the Israel, an arrest warrant was granted by the Courts for the former Israeli Foreign Minister and head of the Kadima Party Tzipi Livni. This could be a real problem for the UK, if Israel wont talk to the UK how will the UK place pressure on Israel not to strike Iran in the New Year. This is time for an Enabling Act by Parliament, this Act would remove the power of the courts in cases of International Diplomacy to act without the authority of the FCO or Downing Street. As Judges the UK are an eccentric bunch at the best of times, but they don't have a clue when it comes to International Politics, thus time to revoke the powers of the courts in such cases.

In the Oval for Health Care Reform

Fox News: Reports that POTUS is meeting all Democratic Senators as to create a united health reform package that does not include a public option or allowing medicare to cover people over 55. One can postulate that this meeting is more of a PR stunt, as Liberals have been forced to give up the above, this will give them face time with President Obama, they can vent their anger and go out and support the package. I would be very surprised if this deals requires Obama to do another Afghanistan level of meetings. Expect a nice picture of the Senators with Obama and the Bill passing before the Christmas break.