Obama - 4,000 Soldiers to Afghanistan

BBC News: Reports that the Obama Administration will sent another four thousand troops to Afghanistan to help train the police and other internal security forces. This is a mistake, does any one recall that's how the Vietnam War started to get real under Kennedy, Kennedy sent in thousand of trainers, then came the troops, the USA has done it backwards, but its the same point. Thus the War in Afghanistan becomes the Obama War. The sending of the first 17,000 troops now followed by this extra 4, 000 makes Obama more tied to the War. The Obama Plan for an Exit route is rubbish, the Afghan Army and Police will never be ready to take over the fighting. The idea that Pakistan can somehow take on the Taliban/Terrorists in the tribal badlands on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is a non starter, the government is on very thin ground at the moment; the USA use of drones to kill the terrorists in Pakistan has not gone down well; the political elite is split in Pakistan, thus the recent decision by the Government to fold to the demands of the political opposition for the ex Chief Justice of Pakistan to get his job back. Thus it can be argued that Obama is the new LBJ. Thus Obama will no win re-election in 2012.

North Korea - WE WILL GO NUCLEAR

Fox News: Reports that Stalinist North Korea has threatened to restart its nuclear ambitions if the International Community takes action over the Missile launch that is expected in April. The USA should take a tough line, any missile launched from North Korea should be shot down, the USA should also warn, that any military action taken by North Korea will be seen as an attack on the USA. Thus Obama should follow the Kennedy line as in the Cuban Missile Crisis. The world is looking at Obama, if he is seen as weak over this issue, Iran will see it as a green light to go nuclear. Thus North Korea is connected to Iran. If Obama allows North Korea to launch its missile without any real reaction, the UN is not a real reaction, rogue states and terrorists will see that Obama does not have a backbone. This issue in a odd way could define the Obama Presidency as much as Iraq, Afghanistan and the Economy. It only takes two of these to wrong for Obama to be a one term President.

Pakistan's ISI supports the Taliban/Terrorists in Afghanistan

The New York Times: Reports that the Taliban/Terrorists in Afghanistan is getting support from Pakistan's secret service the ISI. The Obama Administration has to get tough with the Government of Pakistan, the USA and the UK cant fight the terrorists if these terrorists are getting assistance from intelligence to military support from the secret service of Pakistan. Its bad enough that the Army of Pakistan has no control over the badlands of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and that the Government of Pakistan has appeased the Taliban/Terrorists in the Swat Valley. The West almost cant win if the ISI is playing a game for after a win by the West in Afghanistan, one can understand why, after the Soviet Union was forced out of Afghanistan the West lost interest, thus it is the backyard of Pakistan. But the West does not have the time for the ISA to play their games, its time for the Ugly American to show his face, get tough with Pakistan, tell the Government to clean house in the ISI, send the Army in to the Swat Valley, and take the fight to the Taliban/Terrorists in the badlands. Its time to show that the West can play tough and mean it and win. Read of the Day.

UK Gilts = Premium Bongs

Telegraph: Reports that the UK Government could not sell all its UK Gilts, Gilts are like Premium Bonds, investors buy them and get an interest, the Government gets the money to spend. This development is not surprising, as the Governor of Bank of England has stated that the UK Government can not afford to spend more money to get the economy out of the present recession. Thus we are seeing a conflict between the USA under President Obama who wants to spend money and the EU who want to regulate the system without the spending. In this case the EU is right, if you think about it Obama has made sure that the USA will be in debt for generations. The EU sees this policy as a mistake, thus don't expect much agreement at the G20 conference.

Hillary Clinton WARNING to North Korea

Fox News: Reports that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has sent a warning to North Korea over its plan to launch a missile, there would be a diplomatic reaction to the launch. It seems the best the Obama Administration can come up with it to take North Korea to the UN. One response, weak, if North Korea can develop a missile that can reach the USA it becomes even more of a threat, the USA should make clear that it will take military action if North Korea launches the missile. The USA should state it will shoot down the missile, this would have two benefits, it would take the pressure of Japan to shoot down the missile, it wold also force North Korea to think again. This crisis is getting hotter, expect more tension folks.

Battlestar Galactica - The Best Drama on US TV

Have just seen the last two episodes of Battlestar Galactica, one word GREAT. The series might have been set in Space but it was about US now, the War on Terror and how we view government in that light. The series made you think, was not afraid to tackle issues like 7/7 with its plot about Suicide Bombers, but what was interesting and a scene from Series 3 sticks in my mind, it has the Puppet President confront the Opposition leader about the use of Suicide Bombers by the Humans against the Cylons. The power of that exchange and the will of the writers to deal with it and to send out a clear message that it was wrong, that humans even when they have different political point of view should not go around using murder, and using people to blow themselves up and others in attempt to gain on the political field. Also Galactica dealt with torture, it made those who support extreme interrogation ask some tough questions, it made them accept that they have to accept that if you support such actions as tough interrogations you have to get your hands dirty. That was the success of the series, if you read the New York Times, you know what view they are going to take thus if your a Conservative you take a different view. TV wont be the same without Galactica, thus there is only 24 and Mad Men know for the viewers who likes good drama. To the actors, writers, crew I raise my hat, you shall be missed, SO SAY WE ALL.