Obama and Iraq Redux

Have just seen the speech by Obama on what a Obama Administration would follow as its Foreign Policy, have to say my estimation of Obama has gone down, he did not look that comfortable giving the speech. Also the speech will help Senator McCain, Iraq is working and what does Obama want to do, remove that success, the question he has not answered is what happens if the troops are removed and the terrorists come back, Iran has greater influence and Oil goes up to three hundred dollars a barrel because Iran develops the bomb and the USA has to react, not talk, use military means, will Obama put troops back in to Iraq, will he allow a Nuclear Iran to became a threat to Israel and the region. This was the chance for Obama to show some backbone but he failed, he could not stand up to his left wing base, he came under heavy criticism from the left when he looked like he was going to refine his Iraq policy. This speech was pandering to the left, not the American People.

The Obama Camp has made a political mistake, the American people as polled by the WP/ABC News are split on the policy on Iraq, half want to stay the other half support Obama. Also McCain is seen more as a leader. The Problem for Obama is what if Israel reacts to the speech and hits Iran, Iran causes havoc in the region, what then of the fine words of Obama. Senator Obama might be Jimmy Carter, win the nomination against the odds but lose the general election.

USA Polls

As a policy I tend to check the tracking polls on Friday at the end of the week. I have found that sometimes you have polls that are just outriders and are not relevant for the long term race. Also I trust only a few pollsters, don't want to be in the same boat as Newsweek of 1984 which had Mondale winning.

Reagan, Carter and Obama vs The War on Terror

The New Republic: A article that will look at how a Obama Administration would fight the War on Terror. An interesting argument, that Obama will use the Reagan and Carter doctrines for Foreign Policy, as in Reagan the use of local government or NGOs to fight the cause of USA interests and the Carter Policy of benefits as in money and support if these NGOs and governments follow some American rules of conduct. A good article makes you think, lets postulate that Obama wins, with a healthy majority in both Chambers of Congress, lets recall that will be a lot of Liberals, do you think they will allow Obama a free hand in Foreign Policy, the Liberal Left wing of the Democratic Party have a pre 9/11 mind set, they watch to much Law and Order, thus have a police mind set to terrorism. All the reforms that the Bush Administration has created to prevent another terrorist attack would be seen through the eyes of San Francisco Liberals, UBL should be read his rights before being either shot or arrested, no harsh treatment of terrorists, all calls or email outside the USA would require a warrant, the terrorist would have more rights that the American Citizen. The success of the President is seen in what he can get done on the Hill, Obama will need the Congress to pass his Agenda. The cost will be the National Security of the USA and the West. Read of the Day.

Update: Non Government Organisations. In the Reagan Time it was the Freedom fighters of Nicaragua, the Contras.