Happy Christmas from the White House

Death in the UK - Afghanistan Theatre

MOD: Reports that a member of the RAF has died in the UK of wounds sustained in Afghanistan. Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 393 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 349 in combat action and 44 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.

Happy Christmas & New Year

Happy Christmas

And

Happy New Year

Let there be Peace and Harmony in 2012

Syrian Regime and the Bombings

Guardian Live - Syria: Reports the following on the bombings, “ The Syrian state media appeared to be laying the ground work for its claims of a terrorist attack yesterday. ”. Thus if you discount Al - Qaeda and the native insurgents, you are left with the only suspect, that is of course the Syrian Regime. It can be argued that they have not been that subtle, getting up the framework for the attack, then creating either a real attack or a bogus attack, did the bombing actually kill anyone, or are the victims those already dead, killed by the Regime. Lets hope the CIA and MI6 have their ears open, and eyes on the ground.

Syrian Bombings

BBC News: Reports on two suicide bombings in Damascus, Syria, from State TV sources the death toll is at 40 and those injured at over a 100. This Syrian Regime blames Al - Qaeda for the attacks, part of the unrest in the Country since March, the general comment on the TV networks is that the bombings could have been planned either by A) Al - Qaeda, B) The internal insurgents, C) The Syria Regime. Of the three this blog would postulate that it could be either A or C, we have seen it is believed Al Qaeda bombings in Iraq, but the Syrian Regime would have no problem is bombing its own people and placing the blame on the native insurgents. As the Arab League is sending Monitors to Syria it would be a perfect way for the Syrian Regime to curtail their movement, of course there is one possibility, that the Syrian Regime planned the bombings in Iraq to give more weight to the bombings today in Syria.

Republicans Fold - Payroll Tax Cut

The White House: Statement by the President Obama on the payroll tax cut deal. The President stated the following, “ ..Today, I congratulate members of Congress for ending the partisan stalemate by reaching an agreement…Because of this agreement, every working American will keep his or her tax cut – about $1,000 for the average family. That’s about $40 in every paycheck. Vital unemployment insurance will continue for millions of Americans who are looking for work. And when Congress returns, I urge them to keep working to reach an agreement that will extend this tax cut and unemployment insurance for all of 2012 without drama or delay….This is the right thing to do to strengthen our families, grow our economy, and create new jobs. This is real money that will make a real difference in people’s lives. And I want to thank every American who raised your voice to remind folks in this town what this debate was all about. It was about you. And today, your voices made all the difference. ”. The Republican controlled House of Representatives has folded in its battle with the Democratic Senate and President Obama when it comes to the payroll tax cut. The Republicans lost the political fight, the Democrats wanted a two month extension of the tax cut while the Republicans wanted a year, the fight allowed Democrats to be seen as a tax cutters, while the Republicans had the image that they wanted to raise taxes. Yes people we are through the Twilight Zone when it comes to Washington D.C. Thus another fight in Feb folks, the Democrats will want to keep it on the table in till November 2012, the Republicans in the Senate and the House will have to stand together, and make it simple, a year extension, to be paid for the repeal of ObamaCare, pass nothing in till Obama veto’s the bill. And by nothing this blog means nothing, not even Defence, roll dice the folks. Obama can take a short political war but not a long term one, also if the US Supreme Court throws out ObamaCare the Democrats will be forced to deal, its time for Chicago politics folks, the last man standing wins.

Iraq Civil War?

BBC News: Reports on multiple bomb attacks in Baghdad, Iraq, at present there are 63 reported deaths and 185 people have suffered injuries. Are we seeing the start of a Civil War in Iraq folks, it is a possibility, as the article notes the co -ordination of the attack has the fingerprints of al-Qaeda in Iraq, this group on the whole is Sunni. The bombs seem to have been targeted at the Shia population. The Sunni’s feel pushed to the outskirts of power within the new Iraq Government, with the US out of Iraq this has given the Sunni insurgents the chance to flex their power. The question is can the Iraqi Government deal with these terrorists attacks, or are we seeing the start of a Civil War. In a odd way it would please neither the US or Iran for the Country to fall apart, it would look like Obama has turned victory to defeat and Iran funds the Shia Party of the Iraqi PM, a Civil War would not help them in making a Iraq a Iran puppet.