Pakistan and Afghanistan, Endless War

Time: Reports on the political, military and economic situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. On the whole some good news form Afghanistan, a new plan by the Obama Administration, to build up the civic structure of Afghanistan while fighting the Taliban. In Pakistan is just bad news, more the USA goes after the Taliban the more it causes problems for the secular government of Pakistan. This is one of the best articles I have read on the War in Afghanistan and the terror safe heavens in Pakistan, the civic build up of Afghanistan could of course turn to dust, Obama could not get more combat troops from NATO, it does not matter if you have a good police force if your are losing on the military front to the Taliban/Terrorists. In Pakistan it could be argued that what even Obama does it will have a negative effect on the secular government of Pakistan. Thus in for a penny as much as a pound, Obama should take over the Tribal areas, clean house on the military front but also build the civic structure of the area, build schools that allow for both genders, hospitals, jobs for the locals. Pakistan could be North Vietnam as far as Obama is concerned, if he does not get it right he could be out of office in 2012. Read of the Day.

Russia ready for Tougher Action on Iran ?

Fox News: Reports that Russia is ready to take more firmer action on Iran, Moscow has stated that its Intelligence on Iran is not as up to date as the USA's recent statements on Iran. It seems that the Moscow has sniffed the wind and decided its better to be a friend of the new Obama Administration. Russia does not want a missile defence shield in the Czech Republic and Poland. Also Iran is as much of a threat to to Russia and the USA. Also Moscow might think that Israel will attack Iran anyway, thus might as well be on the same page as Obama. Also we have to look at the context that Iran will have Presidential Election this year, if the moderates win this would place Moscow on the same page as the defeated President of Iran. Thus expect Russia to take a pragmatic view of Iran.

UK and Pakistan - Work Together Against Terror

BBC News: Reports on the call by the UK PM Gordon Brown for the UK and Pakistan to work together against terrorism. This is a fine call from Mr Brown, one problem the Government of Pakistan cant even control the terrorists in the Swat Valley, and that is in Pakistan proper. In the tribal areas the Army of Pakistan is losing the battle with the terrorists. Thus the UK should expect within the next few years to get hit against as it was on 7/7. Guardian readers think its our fault, because we are in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that we don't place enough pressure on Israel. President Obama stated on his recent trip the following " .....don't fool yourselves -- because some people say, well, you know, if we changed our policies with respect to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or if we were more respectful towards the Muslim world, suddenly these organizations would stop threatening us. That's just not the case. " Thus we are fighting terrorists not because what we do, it is because who we are, Western, Liberal, Democratic.