Mingora, Swat Valley - Pakistan

Telegraph: Reports on the gradual retaking of Mingora the main town in the Swat Valley. The Army of Pakistan from the reports seems is taking the gradual path, street by street, house by house. The Army of Pakistan has to win the hearts and minds of people but also make sure while they are killing the Taliban/Terrorists they protect the innocent people of Mingora. Thus the operation could take weeks even months. After the operation is finished the Government of Pakistan will have to rebuild the Swat Valley but also deal with some of the social issues, help the poor see that Government of Pakistan is a benefit to the people, thus the USA and the West will have to spend billions, in the long term cheaper that a nuclear armed Pakistan in the hands of the Taliban.

Obama's Israeli problem - Expansion in the West Bank

BBC News: Reports on a very subtle policy by the new Israeli Government, no new settlements in the West Bank but the expansion of old settlements. In other words Israel has a veto over what the Obama Administration can do in the Middle East. President Obama might want to create a Palestinian State but any perceived threat to Israel and the Israeli Lobby will run to Congress to block any moves by the Obama Administration. President Obama has or will learn the reason that US Administrations leave new policy for the Middle East in till in the second term is the fact that at the end of the day its down to the players in the region, Obama cant force Israel to act, if he thinks he can he does not understand the power of Israeli Lobby, both Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan understood their power in American Politics, and more important the lobby is very powerful in Democratic politics.

The Women of JFK

Telegraph: Reports on one of the last women in the romantic life of JFK, Mimi Beardsley Alford had a seventeen month affair with the President from 1962 till his death, Mrs Alford is to write a book about her life. Lets be honest here, is it a great surprise that JFK had a woman on hand in the White House, JFK's affairs are legendary, but lets not forget the whole man, his romantic life was part of him but also he was an American War Hero, a respected Writer and witty and President of the United States.

Liberal Left and Iran vs Obama

The New York Times: Has an opinion piece from the Liberal left when it comes to Iran, it attacks Obama for his policy on Iran, seen as leading to failure, they want to surrender to Iran in many respects. Obama is being attacked from the left over Iran, that must mean he must be doing something right, Iran is playing games, it will start endless talks and then go nuclear, like North Korea. Obama cant allow himself to be played by Iran, he cant be seen as weak, weak Presidents are thrown out on their ear by the voter. Thus expect Israel to hit Iran by the end of the year if Iran does not move and start real talks, from this old Iran watcher not holding my breath.

Death in Afghanistan

BBC News: Has more details on the latest death in Afghanistan. The news wires report another British Soldier has died in Afghanistan, thus the death total due to combat is now 132, while those that have died due to accidents, illness or other incidents is 29. Since 2001 the UK has lost 161 UK Armed Forces Personnel.

Missing the Pulse of the US Voter and forgetting the Republicans

The New York Times: Reports on how the Republicans in Congress have outfoxed the Obama Administration when it comes to closing down Gitmo. It will be interesting to see of the Obama Administration can come up with a detailed plan for Congress and can sell it to the US voter, any plan for closing Gitmo has to be detailed but simple enough to explain. If Obama cant close down Gitmo it will show that his support his shallow, and thus is open to defeat in 2012. Read of the Day.

Drudge Report - Obama We Have No Money

Drudge Report: Reports that President Obama has stated in an interview that the USA has no money. In other words the USA is broke folks, its getting on by having a debt that is supported by China and the Middle East. The problem for Obama is that he has Afghanistan an on going War, Iraq that wont finish in till 2011. The bailouts of the banks and the car industry, and he he is spending billions, sorry trillions on pandering to the left. Sooner or later something will have to give, the USA has tried the Obama spending before in the Great Society of LBJ, it didn't work folks. It will take the Republicans to win 2010 for the USA to turn around, also for another Ronald Reagan, this makes Obama another Jimmy Carter.

Star Trek

Just seen the new Star Trek movie, I am a Star Trek fan, not quite going to conventions and dressing up in Starfleet costume, nothing would fit, but a fan. When I heard that a new movie was coming out and it would be back when Kirk, Spock and Bones had just left the academy I was not that happy, but it had the original Spock in it, so gave it a go, it was fantastic, it has the zest for life that I recall from the 60s series, it was fun but also moving, so I am converted, lets have a sequel but lest have the original Kirk back with Spock facing their younger self's, working or in battle with themselves. Cant wait for the next Star Trek movie, the times are changing folks.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports on the death of another UK soldier. The death total of those killed in combat now stands at 131, those killed due to accident, illness or other incidents is 29. In total since 2001 the UK has lost 160 of our Armed Forces Personnel. In hostile or combat operations in Iraq the UK lost 136, who thinks we wont pass that Afghanistan. There is expected heavy fighting in the run up to the Presidential Election in Afghanistan, how long can UK Forces take this battering, we either need to increase our force presence, use the SAS in Pakistan in the Tribal badlands or we need a smart exit route. As UK PM Gordon Brown wants to keep in the good books of the Obama Administration is expect our forces to stay, but with no increase, it like putting target marks on our soldiers. At least the Obama Administration has placed extra troops in to Afghanistan and are using their killer drones to great effect, why are the British always the last to learn military lessons.