Real Politic over Afghanistan - Words Matter Mr President

The Times: Reports that the Obama Administration has seen the political wind, in the up and coming Presidential Election in Afghanistan it looks like Hamid Karzai will win the election. Lets be honest Karzai could be the next Diem, but Obama does not have a choice in the real politics of Afghanistan. Karzai as Diem is weak and does not follow the road wanted by the USA, but as with Diem if you get rid of him you might end up in worse trouble. The Obama Administration has a problem, Afghanistan is a very Conservative country when it comes to gender issues, the Obama Administration has a Liberal Base that wants gay weddings on the White House lawn and Abortion clinics at the other end. Thus an old Democratic Politician once stated all politics is local, Karzai has to keep American support but he also has to keep local support. Thus Obama might find that political reality does not care much for Liberal Ideals, at the end of the day after either four or eight years Obama might be closer to Bush 43 than the President ever thought when he started out in 2008.

100 Million - 100 Days/ Bush 43

Time: Reports that President George W. Bush has raised one hundred million dollars in one hundred days for his Presidential Library. This shows why Bush 43 won two terms, you would think with low ratings and the economy in the toilet the former President would have problems, but he is off to a good start. Time reports that the Presidential Library will cost around three hundred million dollars, but the Reagan Library still has Air Force One, Marine One and the Presidential Limo.

Pakistan Major National Security Problem - USA

Fox News: Reports that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen is very worried about Pakistan, he is concerned about the march of the Taliban/Terrorists in the districts of Pakistan. On the bright side he takes Pakistan at its word when it comes to the security of its nuclear arsenal. As stated in many posts even the USA is not sure how much the Army of Pakistan is winning, there are no independent reports how the body count for the terrorists, how well the Army is fighting, how far they have pushed the Taliban. It could be all spin, so far no objective reports if Pakistan is winning. Thus as stated before we could be a Vietnam Syndrome, the Army of Pakistan counts body bags but does not take in consideration the fact that the Taliban/Terrorists have the Swat Valley and that they can get more Taliban from Afghanistan, North Vietnam nightmare. What is concerning is the statement itself, one would guess that the Chairman has better intelligence that 24/7 news broadcasters. Keep your eye on Pakistan people, don't be surprised of Obama sends in the troops to the tribal badlands and the Swat Valley.

The Torture Debate - Bush 43

The New York Times: Reports on the internal debates within the Bush White House on the use of torture. As a hawk it could be argued that these debates should have been kept secret but as a reader of Presidential History its great to read this stuff, the debates between Vice - President Cheney and Secretary of State Rice on how far the USA should go, what was done, the torture methods had Presidential approval but Secretary Rice the NYT reports curbed some of the harsh methods. It would be interesting to know who leaked the information and why, Rice comes out okay from the article, VP Cheney is Darth Vader again. Thus one can postulate that the info came from friends of Rice, and not friends of Cheney. It should have been kept secret fun to read. Read of the Day.

Swat Vally Deal on the Brink ?

Yahoo! News: Reports that the peace deal between the Taliban/Terrorists and the Government in Islamabad could be on the brink of falling apart. The appeasement deal between the Taliban and the Government of Pakistan is the worse agreement since Munich of 1938. The Swat Valley appeasement deal showed that Islamabad was weak, thus the push by the Taliban in to the Buner, Lower Dir Districts of Pakistan and the Punjab. The deal was like Munich the Taliban agreed no more land grabs, once the Islamabad removed the threat the Taliban moved, thus the Taliban was within sixty miles of Islamabad. The wires have reported that the Army of Pakistan has moved in mob handed, that is good but the question is are they up to the fight, are their hearts in the fight. What is the ISI, the Intelligence Agency of Pakistan doing to support the Taliban. Lets hope the CIA and MI6 have good intelligence on the ground, lets hope we are not in a Vietnam syndrome, that is Pakistan is counting body bags but losing the Strategy overall.

USA worried about Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal and Facilites

The New York Times: Reports that the USA is worried about Pakistan's ability to secure its nuclear arsenal and its nuclear producing facilities. This follows on a posting from the UK Guardian that showed that the fighting between the Taliban/Terrorists is close to the nuclear producing facilities of Pakistan. This is the worry is the White House, what if the Taliban/Terrorists get their hands on a nuclear warhead or nuclear material, what if they use it as a terror weapon, what if they let off a dirty bomb in Islamabad the Capital of Pakistan. On other hand they might want to to start a war between Pakistan and India, what if India is attacked with a dirty bomb. India would blame Pakistan and we could have a nuclear conflict. Also there is the chance that a dirty bomb could be let off in Afghanistan or the West. This is why the security of Pakistan matters, we could all be under a mushroom cloud, with its origin in Pakistan.

Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman - No to PM Post!

BBC News: Reports that Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman has stated she does not want to be Labour Leader or PM. One word folks, rubbish, the moment it looks like Gordon Brown is finished Harriet Harman will be in the Water like a great white after him and his job. It was reported recently that Ms Harman had stated to friends that this was " her moment ". If Ms Harman ever got the main job it would be a disaster, she thinks she has an automatic right to it, a political correct mind set, so expect more trouble from Ms Harman in the background. After the June Euro Elections and if Labour comes third expect moves to get rid of Mr Brown, the Cabinet will state support but they will be out keep their own political skins, thus expect more plots folks, the fun has started on the demise of Gordon Brown.