Its ALL about Pakistan - Obama and Afghanistan

Today President Obama announced a review of his Afghan Policy, lets start with the ironic or economic with the truth to be kind ( and that is being kind ), the President stated the following on Afghanistan, “.. I can report that thanks to the extraordinary service of our troops and civilians on the ground, we are on track to achieve our goals. ” From Alexander the Great, to the British Empire to the Soviet invasion of 1979 no one has achieved their goals in Afghanistan, it’s a wild and remote place and that is just the people, the geography of Afghanistan does not help Western Armies, the Soviet didn’t play by the rules and got kicked out in the end, NATO is playing by the rules, lets see how that far that gets the West. But the real point about the statement about Afghanistan is the remarks by President Obama on Pakistan, “ Finally, we will continue to focus on our relationship with Pakistan. Increasingly, the Pakistani government recognizes that terrorist networks in its border regions are a threat to all our countries, especially Pakistan. We’ve welcomed major Pakistani offensives in the tribal regions. We will continue to help strengthen Pakistanis’ capacity to root out terrorists. Nevertheless, progress has not come fast enough. So we will continue to insist to Pakistani leaders that terrorist safe havens within their borders must be dealt with. At the same time, we need to support the economic and political development that is critical to Pakistan’s future. As part of our strategic dialogue with Pakistan, we will work to deepen trust and cooperation. We’ll speed up our investment in civilian institutions and projects that improve the lives of Pakistanis. We’ll intensify our efforts to encourage closer cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. And, next year, I look forward to an exchange of visits, including my visit to Pakistan, because the United States is committed to an enduring partnership that helps deliver improved security, development, and justice for the Pakistani people. ” At the end of the day a nuclear armed Pakistan falling in to the hands of the Taliban / Al Qaeda would be a disaster for the West, it would make the Afghan War look like a fun period. Thus what ever President Obama says about leaving Afghanistan should be taken with a massive pinch of salt, as long as Pakistan is under threat the US will be in Afghanistan, that simple and serious folks.

The Apprentice - Interview Stage - Major Spoiler! Red Alert!

The Daily Mail: Reports that Lord Sugar really goes after Stuart “ The Brand ” Baggs at the interview stage of the Apprentice. At its most essence to misquote Bush 43 on a New York Times Reporter, Mr Baggs is a major league rotten apple. Mr Baggs has been fun to watch but how he go to this round makes you wonder if Lord Sugar should sign a power of attorney to Lady Sugar. Lets see the House of Baggs fall all over Mr Baggs.

North Korea - Third Nuclear Test ?

Telegraph: Reports that South Korea Intelligence thinks that North Korea will try a third nuclear test next year. It is time to take North Korea on, the nuclear blackmail of North Korea has to be seen to fail, the failure has to be seen by Iran, otherwise they will push for the bomb and the Middle East will see a nuclear arms race. One would not be surprise to see that North Korea either sell the information to Iran to create a bomb or sell them a small scale missile. The more weak President Obama looks when dealing with Iran the more his re-election chances go down the drain, thus that nightmare of a 3am call could be that North Korea has invaded South Korea and that Iran has invaded Iraq on the same day and according to a joint plan. Also Israel is being hit from Gaza and Lebanon by groups loyal to Iran. It has to be questioned if POTUS could deal with that kind of political nightmare.

Greek Austerity and the Violent Mob

BBC News: Reports on the violent General Strike in Greece due to the imposed austerity measures by the IMF. It time for all Governments in process of austerity to get very tough with those that protest against the needed austerity measures, any public servant that goes on strike should be sacked, any student arrested should lose his or her University place. All those arrested should have a criminal record that that can VETO any public sector job for life. Time to get tough folks, we had the years of plenty now it’s the time for the harsh real world, you don’t get something for nothing.

The Future of Afghanistan

The New York Times: Reports that US Intelligence Agencies are telling the Obama Administration that there cant be success in Afghanistan as long as the Taliban/Al Qaeda have safe heavens in Pakistan. Well folks this does recall the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong had support from North Vietnam, thus they could never be defeated, the Obama Administration will have to place more pressure on Pakistan to clean up the border badlands between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the insurgents can attack NATO forces in Afghanistan and then run back to Pakistan, safe that NATO wont follow then on the ground, for NATO to place troops in Pakistan could lead to the fall of the Western supporting Pakistan Government. On the he other hand POTUS cant afford to lose Afghanistan, it’s the War he wanted to fight, he didn’t start the War but he has to finish it, in many respects Afghanistan is Obama’s Iraq. The announced 2011 pull out of US troops has been dropped for a NATO end game of 2014 for the transfer of the fight to the Afghan Government. But lets be clear here folks, its not about Afghanistan, its about Pakistan, a nuclear armed Pakistan can not be allowed to fall in to the hands of the terrorists. Thus if this horror story was to develop it is easier to transfer troops from Afghanistan to Pakistan, lets always remember that folks. Many more deaths before peace folks, if there can ever be peace in Afghanistan.

ObamaCare and the US Court System

The New York Times: Reports on the recent defeat in Federal Court of aspects of ObamaCare, in essence the funding for ObamaCare, requiring US citizens to buy health insurance. Thus by 2012 a Presidential Election year the Obama White House will have the Bush 43 tax cuts and ObamaCare as major hurdles to fight. The extension of the Bush 43 tax cuts ends in 2012, will Obama really run on tax hikes in a bad economy, also ObamaCare should have reached the US Supreme Court by then, what if the 5 Conservative Justices throw out ObamaCare, the only thing in the Obama domestic locker will be the tax cuts, does not leave a lot of options. It can be argued that Obama has started his route to re-election in 2012 or that he has created events that will define him as one term President, long road ahead folks.

49% Job Disapproval for Obama - Gallup

Gallup: Reports that President Obama’s job disapproval rating is at 49%, while 45% approve of President Obama’s job performance. It really takes something when your giving the US voter a major tax cut to end up in negatives. This is down to the first reaction of President Obama, he in essence called the Republicans terrorists, he stated they were hostage takers via the Middle Class tax cuts. Thus when you are giving the voter something they want and you tell them they are taking presents from terrorists their reaction will not be great. Also Obama was critical of Democrats, well if you going to annoy both your base and your opposition you get what you deserve in the polls. The Bush 43 tax cuts are now the Obama tax cuts, he better get use to that fact or he will be a one term failed President. Also if the US Courts throw out ObamaCare the Bush tax cuts might be the only thing Obama has on the domestic front, Obama better start liking tax cuts or its Jimmy Carter time all over again for the Democrats.