Iran NO to Nuclear Deal

The New York Times - Global: Reports that Iran has rejected the UN's IAEA deal for its to transfer its nuclear material out of Iran, first to Russia and then to France as to allow these countries to change Iran nuclear material so it can be used for peaceful purposes, the NYT writes the following, " The apparent rejection of the deal could unwind President Obama’s effort to buy time to resolve the nuclear standoff. " How much money would you bet that Israel has its planes ready to go at a moments notice, time is going fast folks, lets hope Iran gets the fact that Israel is serious, it will not allow a nuclear armed Iran.

Israel vs Iran

WSJ: Reports on the domestic option within Israel on the threat from a nuclear armed Iran. How the issue is always in the background with the public and that Israel might one day pull the plug on Obama's aim of peace between the West and Iran. I will bet money that Israel will not wait till the end of time for Iran to do a deal with the USA and the UN. At the end of the day the security of Israel is the one fundamental obligation of any Israeli government, Iran can never be allowed to get the bomb. If Obama's dithering over Afghanistan shows anything is that Israel can not trust the Obama Administration, it might need to go it alone when it comes to Iran. If that day does come, Good Luck Israel, your doing the world a great favour.

The End of a Time Lord ?

The Times: Reports on the last specials for David Tennant, the 10 Doctor Who. It will be interesting to see if the 11th Doctor can match the fan affection for Mr Tennant. But a show about Time Travel and next year I can see a few people saying David Who ? The 11 is the best. But this fan will always see Mr Tennant as the best Dr Who just before the 5th Doctor Mr Peter Davison, I still think think that the Caves of Andronzani with Mr Davison is the best Dr Who ever!, its so dramatic; the Doctor is under constant threat of getting shot; and moving; the Doctor saves Peri but losses the fight and has to regenerate, and the Doctor has no control of events in the story, not sure the modern Who could even get pass the BBC. Salute to the one and only Doctor.

Does Speaker Pelosi have the VOTES for Health Care Reform ?

Fox News: Reports that the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi could have problem in passing her very liberal health care reform bill. It seems she has problems with her liberal base who want something like the NHS in the UK and the Blue Dog Democrats who want to get re-elected in in 2010. Lets recall folks that there is the Mid Term Congressional Elections next year, and all of the House are up for election, its a good time to be Republican. As when the Congress was under total Republican control the Democrats are over playing their hand, they are allowing their liberal base to define the party. Thus the Republicans have to make the Democrats swallow the fact that their health reform will bankrupt the country and the USA can not afford a one trillion price to tag to keep liberals happy. If your a Blue Dog Democrat you are have to run in a conservative district, how do you sell a one trillion prize tag without getting tar and feathered by the voter in November. In other words what is more important the liberal leadership or the re-election of Blue Dogs. That simple and brutal folks, its about being in office.

1 Trillion for Health Care Reform - CNN

CNN News: Reports that the Obama health care reform bill could cost the USA in the region of one TRILLION dollars. Folks this could be you only chance, if you want to save the USA, you have to let your member in Congress know that you oppose such a move that will bankrupt the USA. The Democrats are being ECONOMIC WITH THE TRUTH, in other words they are laying to the voter. In the UK the costs of the NHS always goes up, that the fact of real world folks, health costs and will always go up, it never goes down, always new drugs that keep you alive longer, thus the cost of people who live longer. Its simple folks, Heath always leads to bigger taxes for the Middle Classes and ration care, thus if your old or been in the Armed Forces don't expect that much care, its about cost at the end of the day, if your old will cost to much to keep you alive, if you come back injured from War, what is the cost of helping you and will you pay it back through taxes, that simple and harsh folks. It is time to lets Congress know that if they vote for such a bill they will be looking for a new job after next November. Also on a cultural side, if the Democrats push this through they should pay for abortions without conditions, why should women suffer for the men's club that is the Obama White House. If the Democrats can pander they should pander to women, thus the government should pay for abortions not left to individual to get the money. Its about fairness folks, oppose this Bill folks it could be your last chance to save the good old USA.

Good Old Joe

ABC News: Reports that the Independent Democrat, Senator Joe Lieberman will support some Republicans in the 2010 Mid Term Elections. You have to salute Senator Lieberman he has always followed what he thought was the right road for the USA, from his support of the Iraq War to his pressure on President Obama to send more troops to Afghanistan. The ironic and fun part is that Democrats cant run the Senate without him, they need his vote, got love the irony, Lieberman is also opposed to a public option in the health care reform bill, thus he can block Obama master plan, again salute to Joe Lieberman, a man that would make a great President.

The Politics of War - Obama and Afghanistan

The Hill: Reports on the visit of President Obama to the Dover Air Force Base and the return of dead Americans from Afghanistan. This is a bad political move by the President, the reason is simple folks, it has been reported that President Obama will split the difference on the request by General McChrystal for more troops for Afghanistan, the General has asked for forty thousand troops, well the Obama White House it has been reported will send about twenty thousand. In other words Obama thinks he has passed West Point, the Nobel Peace Prize has really gone to his head. Thus in a report from General McChyrstal it stated that the USA could lose the war in Afghanistan within the year if the Obama Administration did not follow his recommendations, well it seems that Obama will not grant the request thus every dead soldier that returns from Afghanistan is his fault, he will not support his Commanders on the ground because he is more interested in keeping his left wing base happy, he needs the base to support his health care reform. In other words if President Obama does not follow the recommendations of his own picked General he is derelict in his duty to the Armed Forces. That’s harsh but the truth folks, Obama believes his own press statements more that the advice from the military. Thus what is the point of meeting the caskets of dead Americans if by his own policy he his causing more deaths, that pictures will come back to haunt him, the American people will ask what is the point of these press visits if he will not support his troops in the hell hole that is Afghanistan. These heroic soldiers don’t need a Presidential visit they need their friends supported in the field, they are not there to be token picture of Obama saluting.

Three in this Marriage ?

CNN: Reports that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a real chance of becoming Vice - President of the United States under President Obama, but for the fact of Bill Clinton. It would have been a nightmare of a ticket, can you see Obama in the Oval and waiting outside to come it give him advice that he has not asked for, well of course Bill Clinton. As the article states Obama was not keen on having Bill Clinton in his ear all the time, as the husband of the VP Obama could not say no to meetings, think of the earache he would get, he might be arrogant and naive but he is not stupid, even VIEWS would have felt sorry for Obama with the Clinton's down the corridor, think the power grabs they would try from inside the White House. Wise move Mr President, at State at least you can keep Hillary Clinton on a tight lease, and you don't have to see Bill Clinton all the time. Even VP Biden on the whole was a better choice, not by a lot but just enough for Obama.

Iran and the Bomb

New York Times - Global: Reports on the latest indications from Iran as to their acceptance of the nuclear deal offered by IAEA. IAEA's deal would see the nuclear material of Iran go first to Russia and then France, after Iran's nuclear material had been made safe for peaceful means it would be returned to Iran. The NYT reports that Iran has gone half way, yes to the deal but with conditions. The NYT writes the following, " American officials are concerned that the Iranians are planning to run out the clock...........so that they can.....build a weapon..." Of course Iran is running the clock out, they want to be a nuclear armed power, they think that Obama is weak, in other words they can push him around, also they want to go nuclear as to prevent Israel doing an Iraq or Syria, in other words the fear in Tehran is that Israel will get fed up with the wait and see diplomacy of Obama and strike Iran. Thus folks the clock is moving quite fast, faster than most people think, if Obama is seen as weak when it comes to Iran, then Israel will have no choice but to protects its own security.

Obama's half a loaf for General McChrystal in Afghanistan

Fox News: Reports that General McChrystal the US Commander in Afghanistan might not get the troops he has requested, he will get half a loaf. In other words General McChrystal who has asked for between forty and eight thousand troops might get around twenty thousand troops from President Obama to fight the counterinsurgency against the Taliban/Al Qaeda. In other words Obama does not have the bottle to defend his troops, as stated in previous posts if Obama will not support his troops in the foxholes of Afghanistan then the UK and NATO should get out of Afghanistan. The US Commander on the ground General McChrystal has made it clear that without a new strategy and new troops the War in Afghanistan will be lost, well Obama has made his decision, thus if he is weak the UK should not lose one more of its Armed Forces Personnel due to the weakness of Obama, TIME FOR THE UK TO GET OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

House Democrats Health Care Reform Bill

Politico: Reports that the US Democratic controlled House of Representatives has released its own version of Health Care Reform. Lets hope the Blue Dog Democrats don't vote for this bill, as with the Senate version it has a public option, this is a political power grab by the Democrats, they don't care if they destroy the US health service, they are more interested in following an ideology over a cliff. If your a Blue Dog Democrat and you want to get re-elected in 2010 don't vote for this bill, its that simple and brutal, if you vote for this Bill you could find yourself out of Office in 2010, that's the choice for Blue Dog Democrats.

No Public Option for Health Care Reform ?

Fox News: Reports that the US Senate Democratic Majority Leader, Senator Harry Reid might pull the idea for a public option in the health care reform bill due the lack votes to close down a Republican opposition. As stated in previous post the present battle in the Senate is more to do with the political career of Harry Reid, he needs Liberal support for is re-election run in 2010 and thus is giving the liberal base what it wants, the public option, well the votes are not there, and thus we should have a few days of this shadow boxing before the Senate can have a real discussion about the health care reform without the public option. Poor Harry NOT!

The Taliban of Afghanistan and Pakistan

BBC News: Reports on the murders committed by the Taliban of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the recent hours. One can postulate that there was some coordination between the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan for the recent attacks, the attack on the UN was to make a point due to its overview of being in charge of the Afghan Election, thus with the second round its in the interest of the Taliban to cause havoc for the West and the UN. Lets recall the effect of Tet offensive of the Vietnam War, its not the actual military result that matters its the PR. The Afghan War in not popular in the USA, thus to be brutal this attack on the UN is more about the political context in the USA. The Taliban want to put the fear of God in to Obama, they want him to think that he is the next LBJ and that Afghanistan is his Vietnam. The attacks in Pakistan are aimed to work on two levels, the Taliban of Pakistan want the Army of Pakistan out of the badlands of the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, that is their base, thus they want to show that they cant hurt Pakistan by attacks the political, economic and civic centres of Pakistan. They also want to put the fear of God in to the people, they want to turn the people against the government, they want to people to force the government to appease the Taliban. Also the attacks while Hillary Clinton is in Pakistan is a message to Obama, not follow the advice of VP Biden, the VP wants to move the US strategy from Afghanistan to Pakistan, by the use of drone attacks on Taliban and Al Qaeda, this could cause more problems for the secular government of Pakistan. At the end of the day these attacks are more about PR than actual results, the question is does Obama have the backbone to stand up to the Taliban and Al Qaeda, we shall know the answers soon to that question.

Obama's Health Care Reform Bill

The New York Times: Reports that the US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is having problems with his fellow Democrats, the NYT writes the following, " Senate Democrats voiced deep disagreements on Tuesday over the idea of a government-run health insurance plan,....( Reid)...had failed, ........to unite his caucus. " As stated this is about Reid saving face with the extreme Liberal wing of his Party, he will it can be argued show that he tried and then try to cut a deal that can get some Republican support, what so sad is that the US Senate has to waste its time in the protection of the political career of Harry Reid.

Obama on Afghanistan

In a speech to the Armed Forces Obama stated his mind set on Afghanistan and the troop surge, the President stated the following, " And while I will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests, I also promise you this -- and this is very important as we consider our next steps in Afghanistan: I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm's way. I won't risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary......And if it is necessary, we will back you up to the hilt. Because you deserve the strategy, the clear mission, and the defined goals as well as the equipment and support that you need to get the job done. We are not going to have a situation in which you are not fully supported back here at home. That is a promise that I will always make to you " Well lets see JFK had thirteen days with the Cuban Missile Crisis, Reagan had to deal with the terrorist attack on a US base in Lebanon that saw hundreds killed and then he had to invade Grenada to prevent the Island going communist, all this took place within 24 hours, Obama has had weeks to deal with Afghanistan. As to his strategy for Afghanistan, there can never be a clean exit out of Afghanistan, it has never happened to any power, Obama is not that special. While Obama dithers the US military has had its worse month in Afghanistan, it has lost 55 soldiers, thus when is Obama going to support the troops. If Obama sends troops to Afghanistan he will do so with near total opposition form his own Party, thus either Obama is going for half measures in Afghanistan and then the West is going to lose or he is being economic with the truth, in other words he will send the troops and he knows that there is no political support for the strategy, either way its bad. That's the problem with Obama his rhetoric never matches the real world.

8 US Soldiers killed in Afghanistan

BBC News: Reports that eight more US soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan. Why the increase in attacks folks, simple the Taliban and Al Qaeda see President Obama as weak, his dithering is getting US soldiers killed. The Taliban/ Al Qaeda are a bunch of murdering cowards but they are not stupid, they know that the Tet offensive in Vietnam finished off the the Great Society of LBJ and lead to the destruction of the Johnson Presidency. Thus they see Obama dithering and see a chance to frame the context of the debate back in Washington D.C, expect a massive increase in attacks, the more Obama dithers the more the Taliban will think they have the US on the run, thus it is time for President Obama to make his mind up, good people are dead and they did not dither, they did their duty, its about time Obama as Commander in Chief got his finger out and sent more troops, if not pull them out, any half measures and the soldiers that are killed will be the fault of Obama. If Obama is weak and tries a half measure this blog will argue that the UK should get out, we should not be the backbone for Obama. So what is the word Mr President Yes or No for more troops.

The Real Politics of Health Care Reform

The New York Times: Reports on the political pressure on the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the NYT writes the following, " If for some reason members of his caucus balk and join Republicans in opposing a motion to proceed to the legislation,....( Reid ) can always make changes...." In other words the US Senate has to do some shadow boxing to save the political career of Senator Reid. The Senator can now tell the extreme wing of his party that he has tried to get a public option but he didn't have the votes, how much time will this waste, and what about the poor American people, will any reform be worth the paper its written on, have my doubts folks.

Blow to Health Care Reform - Lieberman NO to Democrats

Fox News: Reports that Independent Senator Joe Lieberman has stated he can not support the present Health Care Bill. This is a blow to the Democrats, although Lieberman is an Independent he votes with the Democrats, without his vote the Democrats will find hard to stop the Republicans blocking the health care reform bill. As Newsweek pointed out, the Lieberman is vote is more important that most votes due to the fact that he will take moderate and conservative Democrats with him, thus lets see how the Democrats play this loss, lets see if they can get to the centre of American politics or has the extreme left wing of the Democratic Party taken over and is taking the Party over a cliff.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the soldier that died on Sunday due to wounds sustained in Afghanistan, the soldier was " Corporal Thomas 'Tam' Mason from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) " Our thoughts are with the family of Corporal Mason.

Public Option for Obama

The New York Times: Reports that the US Senate's health care bill will have a public option, but states can opt out, the NYT states the following on the announcement made by the Senate Majority Leader, " some Democrats on Capitol Hill privately expressed worries that he did not have firm commitments from all 60 Senate Democrats. " The extreme left has finally taken over the Democratic Party, they don't care about the Mid Term Congressional Elections next year, they just want their ideological nirvana now at any cost, eve if the Democrats lose the House next year. Lets see what the Blue Dog Democrats do in the House, if you have a Blue Dog Democrat as your representative in the House or Senate, get on the phone, email, twitter, facebook and tell them to vote against this bill. The Bill will bankrupt the USA, the old and Armed Forces veterans will be thrown on the scrap heap, your Doctor will be told how to treat you. The internal row within states will be a nightmare, it will be a constant battle between Democrats and Republicans as to the way the State will go, this could be your last chance folks. STOP THE OBAMA HEALTH CARE BILL.

Who owns the Titanic ?

Guardian: Reports on the US legal case as to whom owns the Titanic and the artifacts from the great ship. In this case to be honest the the court case does not interest me, its the stories from the doom ship that interest me, those that acted in a heroic manner and those that thought only of surviving. In life it is rare to come to such a dramatic crossroads, if you had been on the Titanic would you have been a hero or a coward, the water was very cold folks, so would you have gotten on a lifeboat no matter what or would you have meet your end like a gentleman or lady. Is surviving enough?, its an interesting question folks.

Is Obama another Jimmy Carter or Ronald Reagan ?

CNN: Has a look at the Obama Presidency in comparison to his predecessors in the Oval Office. Depending your political point of view, if your a Republican you see him as another Jimmy Carter, thus hope he will be a one term President, and you will find another Reagan to take over at the next election. If your a Democrats you see Obama as a Liberal Reagan, the PR skills of Reagan but on the left, also the fact that Reagan become a beloved President. But more important you see Obama winning a second term as President in 2012. After eight months as President how would one grade Obama, well he got his economic package through, but with no Republican support, he has won the Nobel Prize for doing nothing, but he still won the prize. As for his foreign policy one would have to look at what he has done, he has sent another 21 thousand troops to Afghanistan, but is now dithering about extra troops, on Iraq Obama is following the Bush 43 agreement on the reduction of troops, all combat troops should be out of Iraq by 2010, but around fifty thousand troops will stay in theatre till 2011. In Iraq we have elections in 2010, thus we have seen terrorist attacks in Baghdad, the aim of these attacks is to make Iraq again a more fragile state, Obama needs a new agreement to keep troops in Afghanistan past 2011. Then we come to Iran, all Obama's friendship requests have been turned down, and it looks like Israel will attack Iran in the near future. Thus the over all grade for Obama, VIEWS does not mark on the curve, tough marking, so one can argue that Obama has come to crossroads, his place in history will depend on Afghanistan, if sends the extra troops as requested he could become another Reagan, or he if says NO, then he is Jimmy Carter, so Mr President what is the word.

Sixteen US Soldiers killed in Afghanisan in 24 Hours

The Times: Reports that sixteen soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, the USA is taking heavy causalities due to the Taliban and the hard battle environment of Afghanistan. Over all as reported by icasualties.org the USA has lost 267 of its Armed Forces Personnel this year, in total since 2001 the USA has lost 897 of its Forces in Afghanistan. This year alone has seen the heaviest losses, in 2008 the USA lost 155 of its Armed Forces Personnel, the Taliban are back with a vengeance, one can see why Western Forces have a low morale in Afghanistan, why does this recall Vietnam to me so much, but worse, the Obama Administration stated that this was the Just War that the USA should be fighting, and now Obama is dithering, the request for more troops has been on his desk for weeks, why the delay, its not going to get any better, in fact it will get a lot worse. The Taliban do read Western news, they see that Obama is frightened to make a decision thus they will increase the attacks on Western troops, they want to scare Obama out of Afghanistan. The question is have the Taliban/Al Qaeda read Obama right, is he weak, is he the new Jimmy Carter.

Health Reform Bill

Fox News: Reports that the US Democratic Leadership in the US Senate could produce a health care bill this week. Simple advice folks, if the Bill has a public option you should oppose it, the reason is simple, if your old or have been the Armed Services this bill asks you to fall of the cliff so the young can get cover. If no public option then its a fair bill, its that simple folks. If the Democrats go for a public option and your old you should communicate with your Congressman or woman or Senator and tell them to oppose this bill or you will use your Democratic right to vote against them in the Mid Term Congressional Elections next year.

Obama's Iran Policy

The New York Times: Reports that the Obama White House is worried that Iran is playing it to gain time to develop the bomb, the NYT writes the following, " aides are wary that Iran is setting a trap, trying to turn the administration’s signature offer of engagement into a process of endless negotiations... " It is not a matter of IF Iran gets the bomb its a matter of when, of course they are playing Obama, they seem him as weak, his dithering over Afghanistan has not helped, thus it will be down to Israel to take action, if Obama takes this long to make his mind up about Afghanistan, how long will he take to decide to strike Iran if it has the nuclear bomb.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a UK soldier has died of his wounds due to combat operations in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland " Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 223 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 192 in combat operations and 31 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. They are all sad losses, all are heroes.

Reagan and the Modern Republican Party

The Hill: Reports on the debate within the Republican Party how to regain the success the Party had under Reagan, do they go for ideological purity or a party that allows for different shades of Republican thought. At the end of the day Reagan understood you had to win, thus the Reagan success with the fabled Reagan Democrats, in other words the over taxed over looked middle class, tough on Foreign Policy, moderate on social issues and very pro USA. When looking at Reagan you have to go beyond the spin, yes there are some fundamental values that are not open to debate, small government, low taxes, a strong defence, also allowing individuals to follow the American dream. The above is strategy, but we are talking about tactics, Reagan could be tough in talks from Democrats to the USSR, but he was open to pragmatic talks on how to reach his goals, he was willing to compromise up to a point, as long as the policy was kept on his road. Thus lets recall some simple facts, Reagan was elected in 1980, he smashed Carter, in that first term he equalled LBJ on his management of Congress, he built up the military, cut taxes, used the US military to show that Vietnam was in the past. Thus from the economic recession at the start of the 80's we saw a economic boom that lasted for over a decade. In his re-election in 1984 Reagan destroyed the political career of Walter Mondale, the VP to Carter. In total Reagan took 49 states and 525 Electoral College votes, no one so far has beaten that, in the second term we saw the end of the cold war, Reagan and Gorbachev found that they could deal, thus USSR started to leave Afghanistan in 1988. On the political front Reagan saw his VP, Bush 41 become his successor in 1989, Bill Clinton's VP, Al Gore could not manage in 2000 that due to the Impeachment of Bill Clinton over his affair. After Reagan left office we saw the Republicans take over Congress following the principals of Reagan, the question one has to ask will Obama even win a second term in 2012, Obama has shown the PR skills of Reagan but has not learnt the message of Reagan was also important in making Reagan a beloved President.

Terror in Baghdad - Iraq

BBC News: Reports on massive terror attack in Baghdad. a high death total is expected, initial reports seem to place the blame on Al Qaeda. This is a reminder folks that Al Qaeda is not just in Pakistan, they are also a threat to the West in Iraq. As Iraq has new elections next year we can expect more attacks, as in Afghanistan the Taliban/Al Qaeda know that democratic elections are a threat to their existence, it shows that there is a different path for the people of the region. The Afghan and Iraqi elections are also a challenge to the Obama Administration, as Obama dithers about Afghanistan he can not afford to lose Iraq. The Bush surge worked, Iraq on the whole has gone off the news wires, the terrorists will now start to hit targets in Afghanistan and Iraq. This the time for Obama to show some backbone in both Afghanistan and Iraq. In Afghanistan President Obama should send the extra troops requested by General McChrystal and in Iraq Obama should offer to start talks for keeping the US in Iraq post 2011. Obama can not afford Afghanistan or Iraq, either loss would undermine the West and would allow the terrorists to win in the long term.

Iraq Elections 2010

The New York Times: Interesting Op - Ed article by Thomas Friedman, how important Iraq still is to American Foreign Policy, Friedman writes the following on Iraq, " Six years after the U.S. invasion, Iraq continues to unnerve and tantalize. " As Mr Friedman points out of if Obama can make Iraq work this could be more important than Afghanistan, as a working Arab Democracy would be a major threat to Iran. It would be ironic if the only foreign policy success for Obama would be Iraq, he ran against the Bush surge when he was running for President but so far has kept the troops in Iraq and is following the agreement between Bush 43 and the Iraqi government for the withdraw of American combat troops by 2010 and all US forces by 2011. But lets get real here folks, if Iran goes nuclear then Iraq might ask the USA to keep military bases in Iraq, or of course Israel could hit Iran and then Iran would attack US bases in Iraq. Thus the USA is not out of the woods yet in Iraq.

The Reality of Afghanistan

The Sunday Times: Reports on the challenges facing the West in Afghanistan, from the poverty of the people to the Tribal Warlords that control the people. If you want to know why VIEWS is ambivalent about Afghanistan read this article, it shows why the West cant win in the long run, it would take to long and cost to much of its treasure and manpower, but if we lose Afghanistan we could lose Pakistan, and the loss of a nuclear armed Pakistan to the Taliban would make the loss of Vietnam look like happy hour at the local. Also Iran would see that the Obama Administration was weak and go nuclear, as stated this would force Israel to take action, its quite a vicious circle when it comes to Afghanistan, that is why the British Empire on the whole kept is nose out, we had been burned to many times in the badlands of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, then it was of course British India, the Jewel of the Crown. Read of the Day.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the soldier killed last Thursday, the soldier was " Corporal James Oakland of the Royal Military Police " Our thoughts are with Corporal Oakland's family.

Obama and Fox News

Politico: Reports that Moderate and Conservative Democrats are worried by the attack stand of the Obama Administration when it comes to Fox News. This is the problem you find when one Party has total control of Congress, an arrogant White House who are still in Campaign mode, also a bunch of Chicago politicians who come from dysfunctional and corrupt state such as Illinois. It is ironic that President Obama has become the New Nixon, one can see Richard Nixon looking down at his successor and smiling and saying " That my real Successor ". If your a moderate or a blue dog Democrat you have to get elected or re-elected in states between New York and California, if you listen to Obama you will go down the political toilet. Thus moderate or blue dog Democrats vote against the Obama Health Care Reform Bill and tell the Oval that if President Obama is not losing sleep over the fight with Fox News he should stop writing his Nobel Peace Prize Speech and care more about House Democrats at risk in the 201o Mid Term Elections.

Does the Speaker have the Votes - Public Option

The Hill: Reports that House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been counting the votes for a public option in the Obama Health Care Reform Bill, and the Speaker is finding she might not have the votes. Folks this is simple, if you old or a veteran of the services you need this this bill like a zimmer frame, the bill hurts the older generations. The Bill is set up by a Democratic Party obsessed by youth. Thus if your old and you cost to keep alive then you can forget it by this Bill from the Obama White House. Also there are two arguments for the people and Blue Dog Democrats, if your a citizen do you want to see your country bankrupt, well this Bill would send the American Economy in to tailspin, the costs of health care never go down folks, NEVER, they always go up, that the price for modern medicine, if Obama thinks prices will go down he is conning you or conning himself. Any one that accepts a Nobel Prize for doing nothing is quite able to con themselves, even Bill Clinton conned himself during the Impeachment Trial that he had nothing wrong, even Nixon had that flaw. Lets be honest folks, Obama is the New Nixon, just with TV skills. If your a Blue Dog Democrat you have to have this on your mind, 1994, the Clinton health care reform package made sure the Republicans won the House, do you want to give the House to the Republicans, do you want to find another job? Thus Obama does not care about you, make him care, withdraw your vote for his Bill.

Iran 1 - West 0 ( Nuclear Threat )

Fox News: Reports that Iran has rejected the deal offered by the UN's IAEA, the deal would mean that Iran would transfer its nuclear material first to Russia then to France, after it had been made safe it would be sent back to Iran to be used for peaceful purposes. This is surprising move by Iran if the news is later confirmed, as stated this blog thought Iran would use the deal as a means of a Trojan Horse. In other words send out its public nuclear material and keep going with presumed secret material at its secret facilities. It could be that this is the crossroads for Iran, its either NOW that it comes a nuclear power or not, what will Israel do, let me guess, the birds are ready to fly and and all it takes is for the fuel to be put in the planes and we could have another war in the Middle East. At the end of the day its not down to Obama, its down to Israel and its Mossad, if Israel is under threat then Israel has a morale duty to protect its citizens, the world should not allow another holocaust.

"It wants to delegitimize any significant dissent " Krauthammer on Obama White House

RCP: Excellent article by Mr Krauthammer on how the Obama White House is turning in to the Nixon White House. What is ironic is that both Obama and Nixon shared two aspects, they are both highly intelligence but very thin skinned, they are not Ronald Reagan. The Gipper had to put up with a lot worse from the Main Stream Media, on the whole the liberals of the period thought that Reagan would start World War Three, thus Gipper was attacked personally and policy wise, but he didn't start a war against the New York Times or the Washington Post. Its a matter if your loved by the voters, Reagan like JFK was loved, what ever their faults. On the other hand no one ever accused the American voter of loving Nixon, but they had a secret admiration for the man, he was one of them, he had worked his way up the system. As for Obama it can be argued that the US voter wanted to love him, they wanted another JFK or Reagan but Obama has allowed his own arrogance to get in the way, thus the health care debate. Obama might think that Reagan will go down as a great President but he has not caught on to the fact that although he had the love of the voters he also had the policies, Obama is all wind from Chicago.

NATO pressure on Obama = Afghanistan

The New York Times: Reports on the NATO pressure on Obama to send more troops, the NYT writes the following, “ defense ministers gave their broad endorsement Friday to the counterinsurgency strategy for Afghanistan laid out by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal…” In essence NATO has told VP Biden to get lost with his plan to reduce troops in Afghanistan and use drones to attack Al Qaeda bases in Pakistan. It will be harder for President Obama not to send troops now to Afghanistan, LBJ would have sold one of his daughters to have NATO in Vietnam, to have them want to send more troops he would have sold Texas back to Mexico. Also the UK has announced that will send another five hundred troops to Afghanistan on the condition that the rest of NATO also follows through, that includes a the Nobel Prize Winning President. I think its safe to say that Obama will send the troops through gritted teeth. Folks this time the UK just might win in Afghanistan.

I - Day ( What will Iran Do ? )

The Times: Reports that today Iran will state if it accepts the deal it was offered by UN's IAEA over its nuclear material. As stated they will take the deal, then after the public nuclear material is taken out of Iran they will double their effort to become a nuclear armed power. Thus this crisis will be delayed for some time, as the Times reports it will take Iran a year to get back to this level, thus Iran will sell a Trojan horse to the West and within a year the West will back with the same crisis. History is not new its just has new actors who make the same mistakes.

Dollhouse Season Two

The second season of Dollhouse has just started in the UK, it was fantastic, in way since we know how it will end, its more fun to see how the characters reach their future destiny. Also the way its done you can have two arc stories, you have the individual missions of the Dolls, and I am using the term mission in the generic sense of the word, still have some problems with some aspects of this show, the Welsh Methodist coming out I guess. Also you have the fight of Echo for her individual self, as we have see it takes a long time. Also the supporting actors are great, some of the best acting and scripts I have seen in ages on TV. Good Work folks.

No NEED for the Public Option!

The New York Times: Reports that the Democratic Senate Majority Leader Senator Reid might try to get a public option passed the US Senate, the NYT writes the following, " Harry Reid, is leaning toward including a government-run insurance plan in a health care bill he will soon take to the Senate floor.." As stated folks this blog supported the compromise Bill that was developed by the Senate Finance Committee, it seems that liberals are drunk on power. The Liberal Bill would tell Doctors how to look after their patients, thus if your old or a veteran you can forget that hip replacement, YOUR TO OLD for the Democrats. If your Doctor wants to do more tests you can forget it, Washington D.C will decide how much tests you can have, if you old you will see a decline in your care. But the most important part folks is that the USA will will go bankrupt, the Democrats don't really care, they share the same arrogance of President Obama. Thus its time to call your Congress representative, tell them to vote NO, protect your health care folks.

New US Troops for Afghanistan ?

CNN: Reports that President Obama could decide on more troops for Afghanistan before the second round election in Afghanistan. This is counter to the view as stated by his Senator John Kerry (D) and the White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, what is interesting is that this news came after the critical comments by the US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who stated that the US didn’t have the time to wait for second round. It can be argued that Mr Emanuel is a great political operator, he gained the House of Representatives back for the Democrats but he is a lousy Chief of Staff, he is acting like he is back in the Windy City and Washington D.C is some ward that he has to control by fear, does recall the mind set that lead to Watergate. On the domestic front President Obama could declare he is Marxist and that would not on the whole bother me, its what he does on Foreign Policy that is my main concern, thus his sell out of Poland and the Czech Republic on the idea that he had a deal with Russia over sanctions for Iran. That deal didn’t last, Moscow has no real urge to place sanctions on country that it wants to deal with from military to economic. Thus the move by the Obama Administration of late to do a new deal with Poland to place its new missile defence in Poland, also for the VP Biden to fix the impression that Obama would sell out Eastern Europe for fools gold, a deal with Russia. Thus we come back to Afghanistan, the UK will have 9,500 troops in Afghanistan later this year, thus as long as President Obama follows the recommendations of General McChrystal I would not care what he does on the domestic front, as long as he is a hawk in Afghanistan and Iran.

Assassination in Pakistan

The Times: Reports on the assassination of Brigadier Moenuddin Ahmed of the Army of Pakistan. Thus as was expected the Taliban of Pakistan have decided that since the Army of Pakistan has gone in to the badlands of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan in South Waziristan the Taliban will use terror tactics on the political, military, and civil elite of Pakistan. As noted on previous post the Army of Pakistan has tried military action in the badlands before, it didn’t work, the terrain does not help a Western Army model, also the Army of Pakistan is trained to fight India not its own people. Thus expect more attacks on the cities of Pakistan, the aim is simple, weaken the will of the people and the government, this time its different, if the Taliban are allowed to win this time they pose a threat to the secular state of Pakistan and more important they could get their hands on the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan, thus the Army of Pakistan has to fight, this War they cant lose, or the region might go up in flames.

Cheney on Obama and Afghanistan and 2012

The New York Times: Reports on a critical speech by former VP Cheney on Obama's policy towards to Afghanistan, the NYT writes the following, " The Obama administration is dithering on a decision about whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, former Vice President Dick Cheney said..." One can almost get the impression that Cheney might be thinking about 2012 and running for the Presidency, its not that out there folks, think about it, Cheney was a Chief of Staff to President Ford, supported Reagan in the House of Representatives, Defence Secretary to Bush 41 and Vice - President to Bush 43. Lets be honest folks what is Obama's CV, in the real world folks, doubt he would get an internship in a blue chip company overall, but this is not the real world, its a world that gives a Nobel Peace Prize for doing nothing, so is a Cheney run really out there folks, Cheney 2012 does have a ring to it folks.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports another British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " Royal Military Police ". Thus in total since 2001 the UK has lost 222 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total 191 have died in combat operations, while the other 31 have died due to illness, accident or other incidents. How much more soldiers will the UK lose with this second election in Afghanistan, we know that President Karzai will win, so what is the point, to make the UN happy, well that does not make me happy, if there has to be another round let the US run the security. If it down to the US President Obama might get off the dime and agree to send more troops.

No Lifeboat for Mr Craig!

The New York Times: Reports that Mr Gregory Craig the White House Counsel ; the Presidents lawyer; could be on the way out, he has failed to close Guantánamo Bay Detention Centre for terrorists. In all White House's if there is a major failure there has to be someone thrown over board, it can never be President, the NYT writes the following on Mr Craig, " for months now, he has endured a spate of speculation in print and around the White House about whether he is on the way out. " Every President sooner or later has to be a good butcher, JFK has to get rid the Director of CIA after the Bay of Pigs, Ronald Reagan had to fire his Chief of Staff after Iran - Contra. It was either the President or the Staff that had to go; in all cases its the staff, did not matter if they had done anything, the politics of Washington D.C called for a head, thus it seems that for the Obama White House it has to be Mr Craig. One has to wonder why Mr Craig is still there, cant he read the tea leaves, the critical hatched job in the Washington Post should have been a good indicator, its time for Mr Craig to Obama a favour and fall on his sword, time for him to move on and write his book about his time in the Clinton and Obama White House.

Trojan Horse by Iran

BBC News: Reports the UN's IAEA ( International Atomic Energy Agency ) has presented a plan for Iran to send the majority of its nuclear material to Russia first and then France before being returned for peaceful means in Iran. This is a perfect plan for Iran, it can send its public nuclear material out and then use its hidden nuclear material to make the bomb, its a perfect Trojan Horse for Iran. On the whole don't trust Russia or France, so what will the Obama Administration do with the issue, that's easy they will want to take the deal, but its not up to them, it depends on the reaction of Israel, and what its Intelligence Network the Mossad knows about Iran's nuclear hidden facilities and nuclear material. This is a game, Iran is playing for time, if Obama does not react then Israel will, can any one reading this blog but their hands on their hearts and say they trust Iran. Iran wants to be a nuclear power, its that simple and brutal, anything else is a game, and Iran is past master of games with the West. The question will Iran be allowed to play the role of the Greeks and their destruction of Troy by the use of a faint, the legend that was the Trojan Horse.

Not SELLING out POLAND - Obama Administration

The New York Times: Reports that the Obama Administration will attempt to warm up relationships between the USA and Poland after the the Obama decision to withdraw the missile shield, the USA has agreed that Poland will part of a new system, the NYT writes the following " ( Poland ) will accept an offer to host parts of a new, more mobile missile defense system, Polish officials said Tuesday. " At the time that President Obama announced that he was scrapping the Bush Missile Defence shield he stated a few times that Poland and the Czech Republic had the protection of NATO. One can also postulate that since the visit of Secretary of State Clinton to Moscow the President has learned an important lesson, never give something away for nothing, it seems that Moscow will not support real tough sanctions against Iran, thus to smooth Poland this move by the Obama Administration. One has to ask what does the Czech Republic get out of the deal ?

Gates to Obama - MAKE YOUR MIND UP

Fox News: Reports that US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has stated that the US cant wait for the Afghan Election to make its mind up about troop reinforcements for Afghanistan. I guess the Obama Administration is really split, on Sunday we had the Biden supporters on the Sunday talk shows, they argued the Biden argument of no more troops at pressent, in other words scale back and hit Pakistan with drones, the Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel sounded like he wanted to remove troops from Afghanistan not send more, this in in line with the Biden argument, after that to counter that argument we have Defence Secretary Gates who wants to remind the President that Afghanistan cant wait, as with the case with Vietnam it not a matter that lends itself to a Presidential wait and see stand. If Obama wants the good people of Afghanistan to vote again then he should send the troops that will give the people security. Lets hope Obama is not in the pocket of Biden.

Obama on Second Afghan Election

The White House: Full Presidential Statement on Second Afghan Election. As stated it can be argued that the Obama West Wing would have preferred a unity government in Kabul but at least the train is still on the tracks, the President stated the following on the Afghan Election, " I welcome President Karzai’s statement today accepting the Independent Electoral Commission’s certification of the August 20 election results, and agreeing to participate in a second round of the election. This is an important step forward in ensuring a credible process for the Afghan people which results in a government that reflects their will........I congratulate the Afghan people on the patience and resilience they have shown throughout this long election process. Given Afghanistan’s recent history, it is extraordinary that they were able to overcome threats and violence to express their democratic right to choose their leader. Insecurity in the country prevented some Afghans from voting, but it is a testimony to the bravery of the Afghan people that so many of them did come out to vote in the first round under tremendously difficult circumstances. " As Obama has gotten his second round will he give security to the Afghan people by sending more troops, the election is two weeks time will almost without doubt come under attack from the Taliban, thus the brave people of Afghanistan will need Western security as allow them to vote. The President might be sending a signal that he understand the need for security, in the statement the President states the following, " It is now vital that all elements of Afghan society continue to come together to advance democracy, peace and justice. We look forward to a second round of voting, and the completion of the process to choose the President of Afghanistan. In that effort, the United States and the international community are committed to partnering with the Afghan people. " Thus lets hope Obama does follow through, if the brave people of Afghanistan go out to vote for a second time lets hope Obama has sent troops to protect them from the Taliban.

More Troops = Second Afghan Election

The New York Times: Reports on the connection between the second Afghan election and the Obama decision for more troops, the NYT states that Afghan government was informed that the decision for more troops was based on the agreement for a second Afghan election, the NYT writes the following, "...Obama would not make a decision to add to the 68,000 American troops in the country until Mr. Karzai agreed to accept the election outcome. " Thus President Obama has his second election, as the UK has already stated that it is sending five hundred more troops to Afghanistan based on the assurance that the Obama Administration would follow through, will President Obama now agree to send the extra forty thousand troops as requested by General McChrystal.

Second Election in Afghanistan - Part Two

BBC News: Reports that Afghanistan is to hold a second round of its Presidential Election due to fraud in the first round. The reasons can be found in the press release by the Electoral Complaints Commission under the UN umbrella, the ECC found that fraud had occured in 21o polling stations in Afghanistan thus President Karzai didn't get over 50% in the first run to avoid a second round, as the BBC reports he got 48%. On first impressions it looks like President Karzai has given in to the USA and the UN but its a mirage, what is to stop another massive fraud in the second round of elections, Hillary Clinton has stated that Karzai would win a second round so what is the point, the Obama Administration wanted a Unity government in Kabul but President Karzai and Dr Abdullah both or one of them wants sole power, looks more like President Karzai. Thus we come to the second round of elections, so in under two weeks the polling stations have to be ready, security for the voters has to be in place, the first round has a year's grace before the actual event, thus what can we expect, thus Karzai will win again, Diem all over again, Obama will be in tight spot, he wanted a unity government but can you see JFK and Richard Nixon working together after the 1960 election or Al Gore and Bush 43 working together after the contested 2000 election, of course not, power is power at the end of the day. Also the Taliban and Al Qaeda will try to use the second round for good PR from their view, thus attacks on the people and on the Western security. This is Obama's mess, PM Brown should state that it will have to be US troops that give security, its going to be Karzai anyway, thus Obama should provide the security, this might get him to send the extra forty thousand troops as requested by General McChrystal.

Threat to UK and USA from Iran

Telegraph: Reports that Iran has threatened to take military action against the UK and the USA for the recent terrorist attack in Iran. One word folks, RUBBISH, keep steady its not going happen, Iran will not do a overt attack on either the USA or the UK interests, its simple, such attack and Obama would have to take action, he could not dither as he is over Afghanistan, covert action is something else, the Government of Iran has shown that it is a totalitarian regime that is afraid of its people. Thus the recent development that the Government in Tehran will use the recent attack to reverse itself over its agreement with the UN and the West to hand over its nuclear materials, they will play up the Western threat to Iran, this will leave the Obama policy towards Iran in the cold, and thus again we are back to Israel.

Second Election in Afghanistan ?

The Times: Reports that President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan will not allow himself to be pressured by the US or the UN to have a second Presidential Election. In pure political terms Karzai has the aces of all cards, he can ask the USA to leave Afghanistan, this would place Obama right in the LBJ nightmare of Vietnam. On the one side Obama could be pleased if Karzai did ask him to leave, the one problem is that he cant in real terms, this would be seen as a massive defeat for the USA and President Obama. If and this is a big IF, this argument developed in to reality, Obama would have to replace Karzai with a President that would support the USA in Afghanistan. The reason is two fold, in the 2008 Presidential Election in the USA, Afghanistan was the Just War that Obama wanted to fight, well its his war now, also if Obama was to lose Afghanistan this could lead to the loss of Pakistan. Lets recall Pakistan is a nuclear armed power, in other words Obama is stuck in Afghanistan no matter the views of VP Biden. In 1963 the Kennedy Administration sent out the infamous August Telegram that allowed for the removal of Diem of South Vietnam, after that coup Vietnam was Americana's War. Thus if Obama removes Karzai he will be acting like the old British Empire, that didn't end well either for the UK. Also one has a contradiction within the Obama Administration, Secretary Clinton gave the impression that the USA had accepted that Karzai would remain President of Afghanistan. Also beyond the politics we have the weather, its getting time for the snows to come in, thus the fighting will quite down, its a Afghan tradition, fighting happens in the summer months. Thus political and natural conditions might prevent any Obama policy on Afghanistan does not have the OK of Karzai.

DITHERING President Obama

The New York Times: Reports that the Obama Administration will delay making a decision about Afghanistan till there is a clear winner, the NYT writes the following, " until the disputed election there had been settled and resulted in a government that could work with the United States. " This is why Iran is walking back from its agreement to send its nuclear material out of the country, the see Obama as weak, a President who will dither about the security of his own troops, will take a Nobel Peace Prize for doing nothing, in other words the Windy City of Chicago has produced an empty suit with TV skills. In Afghanistan the Taliban will see that all they have to do is wait out Obama, your either a strong or weak President in their eyes, the Taliban don't go for a Third way. Thus the security of the West is in the hands of another Neville Chamberlain, and we all know what the result of that was, World War Two, of course Obama could learn after he is burned by Iran, and Israel destroys the nuclear facilities of Iran, one can postulate that Iran will hit Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, then Obama must show his tough side, its easy to bully Fox News, let see if he has the backbone to take on Iran, if not an ancient civilisation the Mayans did say that the world would end in 2012, the year of the Obama re-election. On the side after the disaster that was the Carter Presidency we did get Ronald Reagan, thus Obama is following the road to be a disaster as President, thus all the Republicans have to do is get the political Son or Daughter of Reagan to run in 2012 and win against Obama and clear up his mistakes.

Prediction was RIGHT about Iran

BBC News: Reports that Iran could withdraw from its agreement to transfer its nuclear material out of Iran. The terrorists attack in Iran has given Iran a good way to withdraw co - operation from the UN and the West on its nuclear plans. It can be argued that the Obama Administration was thinking ahead, thus the visit of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Moscow to seek co - operation over sanctions for Iran. The question now is what will President Obama do, he has Iran who after his dithering over Afghanistan see him as straw man, man with no backbone, thus this move to keep their nuclear material, lets recall Iran shares a border with Afghanistan and could cause massive problems for the Obama Administration in Afghanistan in this crunch time for the Obama policy towards Afghanistan. Also Israel has given President Obama a deadline of the end of the year to solve the Iran problem or they will, and if Israel takes action over Iran, it will be Obama who will face the military consequences, Iran could hit, Iraq, Afghanistan and close down oil from region. Thus Afghanistan and Iran could very well define the Obama Presidency over the next few weeks, it could decide if Obama gets re-elected in 2012.

The Vietnam War

The Washington Post: Has a look at the policy process that lead to the Vietnam War and how the different actors down from President Johnson acted in the development of policy. In some respects this is about Afghanistan now, but one has to be careful about placing other wars in present context. This is not 1965 and the LBJ decision to send in the troops, this is 2009 and Obama already has sixty eight thousand troops in country and another forty thousand NATO troops. Also Vietnam has to been seen in the context of the Cold War and the domino theory for the region, while Afghanistan is about 9/11 and the loss of three thousand people in New York. Also the Obama Administration has stated that it is not taking troops out, also Afghanistan was the Just War of the Obama Presidential Campaign in 2008. If Obama losses Afghanistan he could lose Pakistan, a nuclear armed Pakistan in the hands of the Taliban/Al Qaeda would make Vietnam look like happy hour at your local pub. Thus in less Obama wants to be Neville Chamberlain he has no choice but to send the troops, the one lesson from Vietnam that the President should take is always tell the truth to the American voter. Read of the Day.

Afghanistan/Vietnam LESSONS for Obama

The New York Times: Has an excellent Op - Ed piece on the lessons learned form Vietnam and how they can be made to work in Afghanistan, the article states the following, "....few seem aware of the many successful changes in strategy undertaken in the later years of the conflict. " I would state that one fundamental lesson from Vietnam is that the events on the ground have to be matched by the information given by the President. Thus if Obama does follow the McChrystal recommendations he has to be frank with the US voter, if it works tell the country but if goes down the toilet also tell the voter. Its about trust at the end of the day between the President and the US voter. President Obama is a keen reader it has been stated, well he should read this article and then send the forty thousand troops as requested by McChrystal. Read of the Day for the White House.

Counting the VOTES in the US Senate - Health Care Reform

Newsweek: Reports on the vote counting in the US Senate to get health care reform through, how the important actors are Senators Snowe ( R ) and Lieberman ( I ). As stated as long as there is no public option, that abortion and gender rights are protected, VIEWS supports the basic framework of the Senate Finance Bill.

USA and UK BLAMED for attack in Iran

BBC News: Reports that the Government of Iran has blamed the USA and the UK for a terrorist attack within Iran. Beyond the spin could this be a way for the Government of Iran to back away from its agreement at Geneva to transfer its nuclear material out of Iran, one always has to think two steps ahead with Iran. I am sure the CIA and MI6 are in Iran, also the SAS but only to keep an eye on Iran's nuclear facilities, the ones that the public are not been told about, lets get real folks, its not the facilities that are public that worry me its the one's the West have limited knowledge about in the short term.

Army of Pakistan in South Waziristan

The Sunday Times: Reports that the Government of Pakistan has sent thirty thousand soldiers in to South Waziristan to clear out the Taliban and Al Qaeda. To be honest folks not holding my breath on this one, the one area you don't want to fight is the badlands of the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. As the article notes this is not the first time Pakistan has tried to clear out the threat, it never works, the Swat Valley was a success due to the fact that it was closer to Pakistan proper, at least the place had roads, communication, the fight in South Waziristan could get bogged down due to the weather, also the its a tribal area, it depends on how the tribal warlords see the fight, whats in their interest in the long term and who pays them and is not a threat to their power. Even in the time of the Empire the UK kept its nose out of this area on the whole, not place to get bogged down in a long war.

No More Troops for Afghanistan - Senator Kerry

CNN News: Reports on the opinion of the former Democratic Nominee in 2004 and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator John Kerry. Mr Kerry has stated that sending more troops to Afghanistan would be " irresponsible " on the part of the Obama Administration. One could argue that liberals are afraid that Obama might actually send the forty thousand troops as requested by General McChrystal thus the roll out of the Biden argument and now John Kerry. If Obama follows the advice of his idiotic VP and John Kerry who is still fighting the Vietnam War in his head then Obama will lose Afghanistan to Al Qaeda and the Taliban. This is crunch time for Obama, if he goes for middle path, lets say twenty thousand new troops then the Taliban will just wait Obama out, its that simple, brave soldiers will die because Obama does not have the guts to tell his left wing to get lost. It should be noted that health care reform is important, but the life's of NATO troops is more important, if Obama does follow the weak route when it comes to Afghanistan then ever soldier that dies after that date should be on his conscience, he and no else could back them up, and if he decides not to he is as Ted Sorenson once called Joe Biden a political hypocrite and as Reagan called Biden a demagogue that mantle would also be worn by President Obama. The reason is Obama used Afghanistan as the Just War in 2008, well if he fails the troops he will be seen as a politician who uses the fear of the voter to get elected and then flushes the voter and his troops down the toilet.

The Afghan Results

The New York Times: Reports on the troubled Afghan election, due to the allegations of fraud a second round is needed, the NYT writes the following, " Mr. Karzai seems to be balking at accepting the results,..." In other words President Karzai is turning it to another Diem of South Vietnam, the Obama Administration and the West have to be careful, this move for a second round cant bee seen as a colonial demand, this would not go down well in Afghanistan. The question is what do about President Karzai, will there be another infamous August telegram that occurred in 1963 when the Kennedy Administration agreed to the toppling of the Diem regime. As JFK noted in 63 his government was falling apart due to South Vietnam, well in many ways the the Obama Administration is split over Afghanistan, VP Biden wants less troops on the ground and more attacks by drones on Pakistan, while everyone else wants to go along with the plan of General McCrystal, lets see what President Obama does, its his War after that, does he go with Biden or with the military experts.

Second Election in Afghaistan ?

The Times: Reports on the possibility of a second round of the Presidential Election in Afghanistan due to the fraud in the first round. Just seen the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on CNN, it seems that the US has accepted that for the next few years the President of Afghanistan will be President Karzai. The chances of a second round are dim, the second round would have the same level of fraud, why should it change, also the weather has a negative fact or the chances of a second round. The article notes the chance of a national government in Kabul, is this really a good idea, in the case of Afghanistan you can make an argument that the DEAL is part of Afghan culture, but this is about elites making deals between themselves, what about the people of Afghanistan, they want security and some hope at the end of the day, its not about who is Mayor of Kabul. I have my doubts about a unity government, looks more like pressure from the West, in other words colonial rule, we have been down this road before in Afghanistan, always baits us in the backside.

The CIA and the Kennedy Assassination

The New York Times: Reports on secret documents that the CIA is refusing to release as the come under the scope of the Kennedy's Administration attempt to overthrow President Castro of Cuba. The lack of openness is seen has having a connection to the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, the NYT writes the following on the the idea that the CIA was behind in some manner the death of President Kennedy, " Probably not. But you would not know it from the C.I.A.’s behavior.......even researchers with no use for conspiracy thinking question its stance. " The point of an intelligence agency is to keep secrets, those that work for the CIA or MI6 have to trust to use an intelligence term that they wont be blown, as some those that work for these agencies are from abroad and would be seen as traitors by their own governments or terrorists groups it is important that the Western Agencies keep faith with these people. Lets say the USA or the UK needs information on a terrorist cell and we turn a terrorist,he or she needs to know that we wont release their names, as they would be under threat and their families. Thus good job by the CIA to keep state secrets.

The Public Right to Know and the World of MI6

BBC News: Reports on the decision by the UK High Court that US secrets should be made public, the case concerns a former detainee of Guantanamo Bay. This is the time to let the Judges know who is in charge when it comes to the security of the UK. In other words New Labour should pass a Bill through the Parliament that revokes their powers in such cases and makes it clear that their decisions if negative should be followed by their immediate resignation under threat of losing their pensions. In the world of intelligence we need the US, we don't need some UK Judges, in other words they should be remained that they represent the Queen and thus can be fired by her Chief Adviser the PM, the Queen is Sovereign in Parliament, she is the law.

Rethinking Iran - Obama Administration

Fox News: Reports that the US Intelligence Body is thinking of a revaluation of its past estimation of Iran's nuclear plans. As the article points out this goes back to Bush 43, under the Bush Administration the US Intelligence Agencies come to the conclusion that Iran was not planning to become a nuclear armed power. The fact that Iran has been caught out and that the UK, France and Israel think Iran is a major threat is the reason for the revaluation. Of late we have seen the media elite as represented by the liberal New York Times go for the argument that Iran can make the bomb but has not crossed that line and that West is ready to deal. What the extreme liberal New York Times seems to have over looked is Israel, the Israeli intelligence agency the Mossad will decide if Iran is a threat, if after that judgement the West will not take action then Israel will hit Iran. In many respects the judgement of the US Intelligence Agencies is of no matter, when it comes to the Middle East one on the whole would go to Mossad for the truth about Iran.

MI5 - Torture works, PEOPLE SAVED after 9/11

The Times: Reports on the speech by Director General of MI5, Jonathan Evans. Mr Evans has stated that after 9/11 MI5 needed information on Al Qaeda, thus took information that saved UK lives, this information was gained from abroad and the information was a matter of national security, how it was gotten in many respects after 9/11 was a secondary issue to the security of the state. Its easy looking back from 2009 to say that the UK over reacted to 9/11 and 7/7 but those that lived and saw those events thought that the USA and the UK would be attacked again in the near future. Thus the actions of the USA and UK under Bush 43 and Tony Blair have to bee seen in the context of the preservation of the state. This blog has stated many times that in a case of terrorism, the state has to what it has to do to protect its citizens. Thus the use of torture while not the first option if its the only choice left you use it, you pull nails out if need be to save life's. That's is why VIEWS really hates Al Qaeda, before 9/11 VIEWS would never have thought that the use of torture was justified at any price, but events change minds. In preventing the loss of innocent life's, the State has to do torture, or one day we will wake up again and a dirty or nuclear bomb has gone off, my conscience can take torture if it prevents another 9/11, what it could not take is weakness in its use and then the Innocent die. This is the real world folks, and the end of the its about survival.

The MIDDLE PATH for Afghanistan ?

LA Times: Reports that the Obama White House is looking at rejecting the recommendations of General McChrytal for a surge of between forty to eight thousand troops and sending twenty thousand or less troops to Afghanistan. Folks this would lose the war in Afghanistan and could lead to the fall of Pakistan, its the weak path supported by VP Biden. Also the gradual approach has been tried in Vietnam, it does not work, at the end of the day you would have about ninety thousand US troops and forty thousand NATO troops in theatre. This level of force would prevent the Taliban taking over the major cities but would leave the rest of Afghanistan in the hands of the Taliban and Al Qaeda, the terrorists could create bases in Afghanistan while also attacking Pakistan. The recent attacks by the Taliban of Pakistan have shown how weak the central government is in Pakistan, how much weaker they will be if the Taliban of Afghanistan and Pakistan can have secure bases in Afghanistan, outside the remit of the Army of Pakistan and without having to fight NATO. This would be the worse of both worlds, a war that the USA could not win but would not lose, also at the same time taking major casualties. If Obama is thinking this is his way out he his making a major mistake, this would make him the next LBJ.

APPEASEMENT with Iran ?

The New York Times: Reports that experts on Iran see the chance of deal between Iran and the UN on its nuclear development, the NYT writes the following, " The analysts cite a confluence of factors...Iran’s internal political crisis to the change in leadership in Washington,..." Also as the NYT points out its checkmate, Iran can make the bomb and the West is willing to cut a deal to stop the process. The above has logic except for one thing, its rubbish, Iran has seen that North Korea gets a semi Presidential visit from Bill Clinton because it has the bomb, the Obama Administration has no alternative it has to talk to North Korea, as the Times of London has reported North Korea can now place miniature warheads on to missiles, thus a threat to the region. Iran wants the bomb and it will play games with the UN and the West, it will hold the PARTY that the Liberal New York Times is falling in to place, no great surprise there, it covered for Stalin. The judge on how Iran's nuclear plans is not the UN or the West its Israel, Israel that is under real threat, thus if Obama falls for this line from Iran the Government of Israel will have not choice but to attack Iran. What is about totalitarian regimes that seems to attack the Liberal New York Times and Jimmy Carter, are they that Anti - American.

Taliban on the MOVE in Pakistan

BBC News: Reports on the latest Taliban terrorists attacks in Pakistan, so far today thirty eight people have been killed by the terrorists. One can almost argue that Pakistan is going the way of Afghanistan, the centre is losing ground to the Taliban, how long before the Taliban of Pakistan get hold of a nuclear facility and blackmail the the secular Government of Pakistan and the USA. Lets hope the the Obama Administration knows the sites of the nuclear material of Pakistan, if the Taliban get control of Pakistan it will be a nightmare for the West and could lead to a war between Pakistan and India.

Biden's Advice on Pakistan = Aid Failure

The Times: Reports that President Obama's Pakistan policy is falling apart, due to Pakistan's refusal to be told how to spend aid from the USA. This is when Obama's arrogance comes in to play folks, this is not 1914 and the Austrian - Hungarian Empire telling Serbia what it had to do to prevent War, give up its sovereignty in essence, Pakistan is an ally of the USA, thus you cant tell it to give up its sovereignty to please 100 would be Presidents in the US Senate. As noted in the New York Times ( when it comes to reporting from this region, the liberal NYT plays it straight ) the USA is not that popular at the moment with the elite in Pakistan, this aid package with heavy strings, the building of a massive US Embassy in Pakistan and the drone attacks has not made the USA that popular within Pakistan. President Obama needs Pakistan and vice versa, its more about equals than than the USA pushing its weight around to keep the liberal base happy in the USA. This is the kind of mistake you make when you follow the Biden advice when it comes to Pakistan, President Obama should follow the advice of General McChrystal when it comes to his AfPak policy.

Biden and Afghanistan

The New York Times: Reports on the role of VP Biden in the Obama Administrations discussion on Afghanistan, the NYT writes the following on Biden, " the strongest voice against further escalation of American forces..... .......a role that may have been lonely at first,.....attracted more company inside the White House " One has to wonder who has leaked this story, Biden to get some PR in just in case Obama does agrees to the McChrystal recommendations, in essence a get of jail card with the liberal base, making them aware that its down to Obama. Also one has to look at the political side of the Obama White House, they could be afraid that Obama could taken them down the toilet with him if Afghanistan goes South. This is Obama's moment, if he follows the military advice those in NATO might send more troops, but anything else and NATO and the Taliban will know that Obama has no stomach for a real winning strategy in Afghanistan. If your Iran or North Korea you will look at the Obama action and see at the end of the day what kind of President he really is, weak or strong. Israel will also be looking, they have given Obama a deadline of December to solve the Iran nuclear problem, any waffling or wobble and Israel will strike Iran, they don't care about Obama's Nobel Peace Prize. This is really Obama's crossroads, will he be Neville Chamberlain or Ronald Reagan.

US Health Care

As predicted yesterday the US Senate Finance Committee passed their version of the health care reform bill, also as predicted all Democrats voted for the Bill. The one surprise was that Republican Senator Olympia Snowe also voted for the bill. It should be noted that Senator Snowe made it clear she would not vote for any new bill that had the Public Option. On the whole support the Finance Committee Bill as long as it has lower costs for Americans, does not break the bank, allows the Government to pay for Abortions and gives equal treatment to gays and lesbians as other people in the system.

The New York Times: Reports on the fun process of the combination of different Bills in the Senate and House. This is the time for President Obama to show how good of a manager he is of Congress, is the new LBJ or Reagan, or he is Jimmy Carter. The President will have to persuade, do deals and twist arms to get a compromise Bill through, lets hope the Nobel Peace Prize Award has not gone to his head, have my doubts. This is good old fashioned politics time, if you can manage the Congress the Voter will be impressed if not you get one term like Jimmy Carter.

500 EXTRA Troops to Afghanistan

BBC News: Reports that later today UK PM Gordon Brown will announce that the UK will send another five hundred troops to Afghanistan. Lets hope this deployment has been agreed by the UK only on the condition that President Obama sends the extra forty thousand troops as requested by US Commander on the ground General McChrystal. If no such agreement between the UK and the USA then oppose such a move, why should our soldiers die or get hurt because Obama does not have the backbone to stand up to his left wing or the Nobel Peace Committee.

Senate Democrats and Health Care Reform

Fox News: Reports on the US Senate's Finance Committee Bill for Health Care Reform, how some Liberal, Centre and Conservative Senate Democrats have not show their hand on the Bill. I will make this prediction that all the Democrats will vote for the Bill, they are still in enchanted with President Obama, as long as the Bill helps main street that is the point, the costs should be lower for customers to buy health care, the Insurance companies should take people on with a pre existing condition, there should not be a cap on the cost of the cover, new treatment cost that is just a fact of life. Also Abortion should be paid for my the Government and Gays and Lesbians should have the same rights as everyone else in the USA who are married or in civil partnership. As to the COST, all US citizens should be me made to pay for medical over, business through tax credit should cover their workers. The US Government should tax the banks to pay for some of this, if they can be bailed out they can pay for the system that bailed them out this time. As to illegal immigrants they should be allowed to buy medical over, its logical in some respects, if they have cover they don't add to the cost to others, if they are not allowed to have cover they cost for US citizens will go up as they will have to cover for illegal immigrants. This blog is not predictable on some issues.

Clinton, Gates on Afghanistan

The New York Times: Reports on the united front of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defence Robert Gates when it comes to Afghanistan, the NYT writes the following, "delivered a one-two punch in favor of a more ambitious approach. " It will be interesting to see how President Obama deals with this split in his Administration, on the one side you have State and Defence who want to increase troops in Afghanistan and then you have VP Biden who is having flashbacks to Vietnam and wants to withdraw troops and hit Al Qaeda bases in Pakistan with drones, even if this could topple the secular government of Pakistan. Every President has a defined moment, this is Obama's, lets see if his judgement is up to par.

13,000 BACK UP for US troops in Afghanistan

CBS: Reports that the Obama Administration is sending out another thirteen thousand troops as back up to his March surge, these troops serve as a back up to combat troops, the cover different aspects beyond combat, they keep the Army in the field. Thus as CBS notes Obama has now sent thirty four thousand troops to Afghanistan. The real question for President Obama is will he send the forty thousand combat troops as requested by the US Commander on the ground General McChrystal. As CBS notes to keep forty thousand combat troops in theatre they need back up, from engineers to cooks, thus your talking a few more thousand US troops on the top of the combat request. If Obama agrees to the McChrystal request then the West will know that Obama wants to win in Afghanistan, if on the other hand Obama follows the Biden advice of taking troops out of Afghanistan and more drone attacks on Pakistan the West will learn that Obama is not serious about Western security, also it would show bad judgment on the people around Obama, and lets be honest here Obama has a track record of bad judgment on the people close to him at one time or another. If President Obama does follow the advice of General McChrystal it would show the American voter that Obama is willing to take on his left wing, and the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize had not made him soft to the security of the USA or the West.

Fox News vs President Obama

Fox News: Reports on its own battle with the Obama White House. Of course VIEWS is a great Fox fan but does have a question, when Mr M starts to charge for content wont this effect his power in the political sphere. How can Conservatives get Conservative opinion if they have to pay to read it, while the White House Blog is free and will remain free. Also most bloggers are not rolling in money, thus they will not be able to afford the fees of Fox or The Times on line. Thus if bloggers don't link back to Fox News or the Times on line wont this cut the power of Mr M in the political sphere. Lets recall we have the UK election in 2010 and then the Mid Term Congressional Elections in the USA. Those that Blog in a respectful manner always link back to the original article so readers can see if the commentary is valid. Lets hope Fox News and Times political thinkers have taken this in to consideration or they might find they don't have the political power they once had in the media.

Partisan CBS

CBS News: On the whole the the networks try to give the appearance of being objective, but it seems in the days of Obama, that does not matter, thus shock statement by veteran CBS reporter, Bob Schieffer, " For the record, I generally agree with the President's approach on foreign policy,..." I ask the reader can you think in the time of Ronald Reagan that the elite media would state that they supported the Reagan Foreign Policy. It seems in the time of the ONE, the STAR, get a Nobel on the cheap that the Main Stream Media and that includes, ABC, NBC and CBS have taken a side, like the Nobel Committee they have shown that Republicans should only go on Fox News, because they will be targets to the Liberal Main Stream Media. My kind of reporter is Walter Burns from the Front Page, will investigate anybody and if no story will invent one, at least you can trust that kind of reporter.

How much for CLEANING and GARDENING = 12,415

BBC News: Reports that UK PM Gordon Brown will have to pay back 12, 415 to the tax payer for his expense claims for cleaning and gardening. If you want to see a political dodo watch Gordon Brown, New Labour does not have the courage to get rid of this political loser, thus the country has to go through months of this slow destruction of a government. Its a pity that Labour does not have the butchers instinct that the Conservative Party had in 1990, when Lady Thatcher was seen as a vote loser she was out, Tony Blair was forced out under pressure, to be replaced by Gordon Brown due to the Iraq War, now look what has happened, Brown is set for political oblivion while our Tony is to become the President of the EU. You have to love politics, its brutal and not fair, that why this blog exists.

Afghanistan NEEDS at least 25,000 more US Troops or its LOST

CNN: Reports on the views of David Kilcullen an adviser to the US military on Afghanistan and Iraq, in essence the US needs another twenty five thousand troops in Afghanistan or it will lose the War. One can understand the position of President Obama, he has just won the Nobel Peace Prize, and his military want him to send between twenty five and over sixty thousand new troops to Afghanistan. If does send the troops whats the point of the Nobel Peace Prize, if he does not send them he will be seen as weak and afraid to act after winning an Award for nothing. This is a tricky moment of Obama, the wrong move and his wont win re-election in 2012. One gets the impression that some of the advice he is getting is from those that are fighting the Vietnam War all over again, yes that would be VP Biden. The problem for President Obama is that he has never served, this is a military decision, last time I looked Obama never went to West Point, one wonders if he knows the difference between an aircraft carrier and a battleship, at least Jimmy Carter had been an officer in subs. It will be simple for readers to understand the Obama decision, if he follows the McChrystal request he wants to protect the the USA and the West, anything less at the US voter has voted in the new Neville Chamberlain.

What NEXT for Afghanistan ?

The New York Times: Reports on the debate in the Beltway of Washington D.C on the level of troops that should be sent to Afghanistan, as the NYT writes " to add another 40,000 troops on top of the 68,000 Americans already deployed there. " It should be noted that other NATO countries have about forty thousand troops in theatre, thus the US and NATO already has about one hundred thousand troops in theatre. An interesting fact that has come out is that the forty thousand request could be the middle level, it has been leaked that General McChrystal has also set a higher level of over sixty thousand new troops for Afghanistan. Thus the US military wait for the Hamlet of the Oval to make his mind up, keep at present level and lose the war, split the difference, at about twenty thousand troops and lose the war or win the war with forty thousand troops. If President Obama does not go along with the recommendations of General McChrystal then expect the USA to lose in Afghanistan, also that Taliban will take over Afghanistan and that Pakistan will come under more threat from the Taliban of Pakistan. All this down to arrogant and weak President. Obama is no Reagan.