Security for Labour Minister, Iraq ( No ), Afghanistan ( No ) - London 25 Grand!

The Times: Reports that Tourism Minister Barbara Follett charged over twenty five grand for the security of her flat. This is appalling, if she was our Minister in Iraq or Afghanistan then it could be argued that security was needed. Although London is not the safest place on earth, the rest of us don't charge the tax payer 25 grand when we are there. Think of the kit this money could have bought our Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a Disgrace.

Deaths in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports on the death of another three UK Soldiers. The total of those killed in Combat is now 128. Those that have died in either accident or illness or other incidents is 29. In total the death toll is now 157. The death toll is reaching Iraqi levels, and we will be in Afghanistan for years. One simple question what is the EXIT route out of Afghanistan, are our Forces getting the best equipment, from some of the news stories one gets the impression that we are back in World War One, Trench Warfare, lack of efficient kit. Lets support our Armed Forces by getting them out, but if they have to be there, lets make sure they have the best kit, we should not lose people because of a few pounds. If MP's can get money for their Second Houses, when they are supposed to live in No 11 Downing Street, then the UK Government can spend money on decent kit for our Armed Forces Personnel.

North Korea - 2nd Nuclear Test

Telegraph: Reports that North Korea is going to try a second nuclear test. North Korea is a growing problem for President Obama, he has to deal with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran. The problem is as the Times of London has reported, it is suspected that North Korea can place small warheads on missiles. Thus North Korea is part of the nuclear club, in other words Obama has a weak hand, its a matter of what it will take to buy North Korea off for a time. Also Obama has to worry that Japan will go nuclear, if Japan thinks its National Security is at risk it will go nuclear. This will not go down with another friend of the USA, China. Thus if China does not want to get in to arms race with Japan it should consider putting the pressure on North Korea. The question is what does the loony government of North Korea want, and can Obama afford to deal at their price.

Double Standards from Speaker

The Washington Post: Reports that the Democratic House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi was informed in 2002 that the Bush Administration was using tough interrogation methods on terrorists. In other words the Speaker knew that the Bush Administration was using torture. The lack of memory of such a meeting does recall what President Richard Nixon told his Lawyer John Dean on how not to tell truth, the best way being not to recall such meetings, as with Nixon there is hard evidence that either the Speaker has a very bad memory or she is economical with the truth. Obama can use this incident to close down calls for an investigation, the Democrats do not want to catch their own Speaker in a net before the Mid Term Congressional Elections of 2010.