Pressure on Iran by Obama Administration

Guardian: Takes its lead from recent reports in the USA that the Obama Administration is building up its missile defence in the Persian Gulf, the article states the following, " appears to be a deliberate attempt by the White House to ratchet up pressure on Iran ahead of attempts to increase sanctions against the country. ". It can be argued that the elite left in the USA and the UK do not want to deal with Iran in a serious matter, a recent article in the liberal NYT pointed out all the problem with the regime in Tehran and the answer, do nothing and wait, well if the Israel waits it might find that Iran has the bomb and become a direct threat to Israel. Thus as stated in previous post it looks like Obama is going for a policy of containment, lets see if it works, also will Israel buy the product, it easy for Obama to state containment, its Israel that has a greater threat to its existence. It really depends what Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency thinks the chances of a nuclear armed Iran is, if they see it a direct threat the government in Israel will take action and Obama will have to support them, otherwise a failed one term President. Iran is will be the major flash point this year folks, lets see if Obama can go beyond his own arrogance and deal with Iran in a military manner.

Obama and the THREAT from Iran

The New York Times: Reports that the Obama Administration is building up its missile defence protection in the Persian Gulf, the article states the following, " placing special ships off the Iranian coast and antimissile systems in at least four Arab countries, according to administration and military officials. ". It can be postulated that the Obama Administration is following the Cold War model when it comes to Iran, as with the USSR, the USA is seems is following a containment policy, the question that has to be asked is Obama another Harry Truman, does he have the right policy, over all the Truman policy worked but it was Reagan that wanted to finish off the USSR, thus Obama needs a containment plus, keep Iran at bay but also making sure that the regime in Tehran can be undermined, the same policy Reagan followed when it came to Poland and the USSR. It should be noted that Truman had dropped nuclear bombs on Japan thus he was seen as a strong President, while Obama is seen as weak by the rest of the world. The real question is will Israel trust the Obama Administration, if Israel thinks Obama will sell out Israel they will attack Iran, just ask Iraq and Syria if Israel will wait, the answer is no, thus interesting time ahead folks.

Obama at 48% Approval - Gallup

Gallup: Reports that President Obama has a 48% approval rating, while 45% of Americans have a negative of President Obama and his job performance. Thus it looks like the State of Union Address didn't have that much of an appeal, could it be that the US voter has not just turned against the Obama Agenda, they also don't like President Obama. As stated in previous post Obama could be a one hit wonder, reaching mass appeal in a limited time, but then falling to earth. Thus Obama might turn in to the 2nd Jimmy Carter.

Health Care Reform DEAD

The New York Times: Reports on the White House view of the Agenda for President Obama this year, the Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel stated the following, " act first on job creation, reducing the deficit and imposing tighter regulation on banks before returning to the health measure,.... " In other words moderate and conservative Democrats tell the Liberals to get lost, health care reform is dead folks, by the time they reach health care the Mid Term Elections will be in full swing, no way is the House or the Senate Democrats going to vote for a measure that will hand Congress over to the Republicans. Health Care Reform will have to wait for another time, another defeat.

Obama wants Trial for KSM in Court

Fox News: Reports that while New York is out for a trial of KSM, President Obama still wants to see KSM in a Federal Court. This is tricky for Obama, if New York does not want the trial due to security and financial concerns, is there any State in the Union that will take the case, or will Obama find that he just has to keep KSM is jail in till he dies, that was going to be the end result not matter the verdict in New York. The novice ideology of Obama has faced political reality, any City or State that takes KSM will become a terrorist target, thus Obama might find that he really loves Guantanamo Bay.

KSM - No New York Trial

The View from Here: Reports that the mastermind of 9/11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed ( KSM) will not be tried in New York as planned. This is another u - turn by the Obama Administration, just throw KSM in to the nearest darkest cell and throw away the key, just give him bread, water and the Koran, lets see how long he lasts, then quick Muslim funeral and the end of KSM. The above is more that KSM gave the victims of 9/11, that is the difference between Western Democracy and Islamic terrorism.

Mistakes in Process if not the Result - Blair on Iraq

The Times: Reports that former UK PM Tony Blair will admit mistakes in the lead up to the War in Iraq if not the result. This blogger supported the Iraq War, this was due in part to the presentation of the Tony Blair and the UK Government that Iraq was a threat to the UK and its military bases. But to be honest by 2003 it can be argued that Iraq was winning the PR war, the sanctions had a negative impression on voters, also the RAF in the No Fly Zones had to take constant flak from Iraq. The UK was lucky not to lose any brave pilots due to these missions. In 2003 it was now or never to finish the threat of Iraq and thus against public opinion this blogger supported the War. If one discounts the intelligence information that was false when it comes to Iraq; all powers believed that Iraq was a threat; its the after War planning that really lets Tony Blair down, the UK won the war but lost the peace, at the end of the day the UK was forced out of Iraq, not by the terrorists but the Iraqi Government and the USA, the UK was seen as weak, it wanted to make deals and not fight, the USA at the end of the day found the UK a hindrance to its operations. The post war planning is the real trial of Tony Blair.

Real Politics of Health Care Reform

Politico: Reports on the comments of Democratic Senator Mary Landreiu, the Senator stated that health care reform could be on its death bed. Lets be honest folks, the Senate has just one wish, that the liberals drop their campaign for health care reform, the Democrats want to keep control of the House and Senate in 2010, the one way to make sure that the Republicans take over is for Democrats to do an end run around the wishes of the voters. Please Democrats do that, then Republicans can take over and the Obama Presidency will be over in 2012.

Health Reform Bill and Liberals

The Almanac of American Politics: Reports that Speaker Pelosi has stated that she has the votes to pass health care reform, the article stats the following, ".....muster enough votes to pass the Senate version of health care reform if the upper chamber agreed to adjust the bill through the reconciliation process. " The moderate and conservative Democrats in the Senate don't need the headache of this process, if the Senate goes along with this deft plan the Democrats will be handing over Congress to the Republicans in 2010. The last thing Obama needs is after the State of Union that was about jobs is to go back to the issue of health, its a vote loser. Lets hope the Chicago White House buries this idea as the mob buried informers, never to be seen again.

Liberals vs Obama on DEFENSE

Fox News: Reports that Speaker Pelosi is causing heart burn to the Obama White House, the liberal Speaker wants to freeze defense spending, the Obama White House wants to freeze domestic spending. It is a fact of political life folks, that liberals spend like drunk sailors with the credit card of the nation, but the one area they always want to cut is defense spending. The Obama White House wants to reconnect with independent voters, in factor in the Mass vote was the appearance by the Obama White House that it was weak on national security. Its a charge that Republicans throw all the time and its the charge Democrats never win the long run. Thus Oval has to make sure that Speaker Pelosi tows the White House line, no cuts in defense spending.

Obama and the STATE OF THE UNION

The White House has released excerpts of what President Obama will say in his 1st State of the Union as President. Here are some of the most interesting parts to this blogger!, " We face big and difficult challenges. And what the American people hope – what they deserve – is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences; to overcome the numbing weight of our politics. For while the people who sent us here have different backgrounds and different stories and different beliefs, the anxieties they face are the same. The aspirations they hold are shared. A job that pays the bill. A chance to get ahead. Most of all, the ability to give their children a better life. " This is a bit rich from this President, the STAR has only reached earth due to the Mass vote, he has to talk to Republicans now or his Agenda is dead on the Hill. Also the stress of jobs is a good move, but the next nine months has to be about jobs,jobs,jobs, not telling the American people that they should learn to love the Obama health care reform bill. It seems that the Liberals in the White House and in Congress have not got the message with the election of Senator Scott Brown, thus Obama is still stressing health care, the President states the following in the speech, " By the time I’m finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance. Millions will lose it this year. Our deficit will grow. Premiums will go up. Co-pays will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans. And neither should the people in this chamber. " Is POTUS asking the House to pass the Senate Health Care Reform Bill, this would force moderate and conservative Democrats over the cliff, does Obama want to lose the House in 2010. The President is targeting Independent voters in the speech, Obama states the following, " Rather than fight the same tired battles that have dominated Washington for decades, it’s time for something new. Let’s try common sense. Let’s invest in our people without leaving them a mountain of debt. Let’s meet our responsibility to the people who sent us here. " Its President Obama who has been fighting the same tired battles, hence health care, he is still fighting the issue after the Mass vote. The White House still has some political reality thus they see that the US voter is fed up with how Washington works, thus this statement by the President, " I’m also calling on Congress to continue down the path of earmark reform. You have trimmed some of this spending and embraced some meaningful change. But restoring the public trust demands more. For example, some members of Congress post some earmark requests online. Tonight, I’m calling on Congress to publish all earmark requests on a single website before there’s a vote so that the American people can see how their money is being spent. " It has taken President Obama a year to get to this point, depends are how foolish the American voter is, one has to come to the conclusion that Obama is no Bill Clinton, he is not that good a politician.

Obama on Health Care Reform

The New York Times: Reports that President Obama will defend his health care reform, the article states the following, " if Democrats could figure out how to circumvent the procedural obstacles, they have yet to reach a final accord on the guts of the legislation. ". Thus while POTUS might say in public that he still supports the health care bill, the White House should make sure that the Bill is buried somewhere that it cant be found. The Obama Agenda has to be about JOBS,JOBS,JOBS.

The State of the Obama Presidency

BBC News: Reports that President Obama will stress the economy in his State of the Union Address to the American People at 2am UK time. Thus after the Mass vote it seems that the Obama White House will move to regain the vote of Independent voters. This is Obama's first State of the Union speech, he needs to move to the centre and more important he needs the Congress leadership not to push health care reform as this could cost Obama the Congress in 2010 and the Presidency in 2012.

Titanic SUNK Again!

Guardian: Reports that James Cameron has done it again, his movie Avatar is the biggest grossing film of all time, he has sunk Titanic to second place in movie ticket sales. I still think Titanic is more interesting, and the story of Rose/Jack is a great love story. But on the other hand, when you see Avatar you feel like your on another planet, the flowers of that planet come right to your face, you can almost touch an alien world. This is why Avatar is the biggest grossing film of all time, but my film buff heart will always be with the Titanic.

Emanuel TARGET of LEFT

Fox News: Reports that the liberal left in the Democratic Party is placing the blame of the political troubles of President Obama at the door of the Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, they had hoped for a more left wing President. There is blood in the water folks, this is how White House Counsel Greg Craig found out that he was on the way out, it started with leaks then he was out, so far we have liberal Nation and now the Conservative Fox News on the leak trail. How many think Mr Emanuel will be here next year, with the Presidency everyone can be booted with the exception of the President, thus the days of Rahm Emanuel as Chief of Staff are down to months if not weeks. Got to love politics, its a brutal sport, yes its a sport, one day your on Olympic Mountain, then you are thrown out like last nights meal, the fun part is watching the process, blood in the water folks, my guess that Mr Emanuel will run for Mayor of Chicago, nice exit route and with some dignity.

Iraq War - Illegal

BBC News: Reports on the legal opinion of the top Foreign Office lawyer Sir Michael Wood, Sir Michael has stated that he thought the War was illegal as it didn't have that all important second UN resolution. Thus as stated the Iraq Inquiry has seen the civil service place the blame for the War at the door of the then PM Tony Blair. As the UK was pushed out of Iraq, the war has been seen as a failure on both the military and diplomatic side, thus someone has to carry the can, well since Tony Blair is out of office, it seems that he is being set up as the new Eden, Iraq is Suez. The Establishment needs someone to take the fall and its down to Blair to be the political victim.

Obama vs The Hill

CNN: Reports that the Obama Administration will bring in a domestic spending freeze. This will really annoy the Liberals on the Hill, they spend like drunk sailors with credit cards of the NATION. Its time the NATION cut off their credit, just might get Obama re-elected in 2012.

Obama = Bill Clinton of 1995

The Times: Reports that President Obama is going after the Independents that have deserted him, thus more of a return to the small scale polices of Bill Clinton. Thus even President Obama gets the fact that if he has lost the Independent vote it does not matter about the base, he will be out of office in 2012, thus he has to show that he gets the fact of the Mass vote, the USA is not France, it wants small government and tax cuts, it does not want USA NHS.

One Term President - Obama

ABC News: Reports that President Obama has stated that he would rather be a good one term President that a two term mediocre President. Really the Oval needs someone that Obama cant fire like Nancy Reagan to take the President by the lapels and tell him a few home truths, there are no good one term Presidents who have lost re-election, go and ask Jimmy Carter or Bush 41 if it still hurts that they lost re-election. It seems that POTUS is tone deaf to the election defeat in Mass, the election of Scott Brown to the seat of Edward Kennedy should have been a warning call to the Obama White House, but both the Hill and the Oval are starting to believe their own press statements, thus this blog will predict that Obama will lose the House and could even lose the Senate. If the Democrats push through their health care reform bill they will almost guarantee that Obama will lose in 2012, someone needs to remind Obama that he could end up as a warm up act for Jimmy Carter, and Carter does not play well with other Presidents. SMELL THE COFFEE MR PRESIDENT.

Congress TONE DEAF

Politico: Reports that Congressional Leaders on the Hill are still looking for ways to pass health care reform, the article states the following, " using a parliamentary maneuver that the GOP says is no different than the partisan deal making that voters have rejected? " This would be a nightmare for Obama, if Congress uses the nuclear option of just 51 votes in the Senate the Republicans will ram the Act down the throat of the Obama White House for the next nine months. Any benefits of the bill don't come in to effect in till after 2012, but the tax hikes and the cut of medical coverage for the old come in to effect once the bill is passed. The Obama White House has to place pressure on the Hill to lose the Bill somewhere, anywhere in fact, as stated many times Senator Reid will be out in November and Speaker Pelosi might find she is no longer Speaker after November. Its seems that these dodo politicians want to flush moderate and conservative Democrats down the toilet with them, its time for House and Senate members to pull the plug on this political suicide run by the liberal leaders of Congress.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the latest soldier to die in Afghanistan, the soldier was " Lance Corporal Daniel Cooper from from 3 RIFLES ". Our thoughts are with the family of Lance Corporal Cooper.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that another British soldier has died in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 3rd Battalion The Rifles ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 251 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total, it has lost 218 in combat operations and 33 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.

The Left and Health Care Reform

The Washington Post: In the WP E.J. Dionne states how the Democratic Leadership on the Hill can do a end run around the result in Mass, the article states the following, " The House would pass a version of the reconciliation bill containing the various amendments and send it to the Senate. ". This is the nuclear option if used by Democrats, it only takes 51 votes to pass a reconciliation bill, the problem is will the moderate and conservative Democrats really want to commit political suicide for the sake of Harry Reid and Speaker Pelosi, think of the nightmare for the Obama White House, they will have to defend the Act for nine months and then the Republicans will have one simple message, repeal the Obama's Health Care Reform, every day the same message, while health care reform bankrupts the country. If your a Republican you have to hope that the Democrats are that brain dead, thus we have seen articles in Politico, New York Times, and now the Washington Post, is it a trial balloon or a real deal. Lets see how the story develops folks.

Gallup Poll - Obama at 47%

Gallup: Reports on its latest daily tracking poll for President Obama, not good news for the White house, the President approval and disapproval are tied at 47%. Thus after the Mass vote and the election of Senator Brown, the attack on the banks and the idea that health care reform was dead the Obama ratings are still down, it might get worse folks, the Democratic Leadership on the Hill wants to push through health care reform by using Parliamentary tricks, thus Obama who might want to go on to other issues will be stuck with an Act that could cost him the House and Senate and could be fatal to his re-election bid in 2012. This is time for leadership from POTUS, he has to send a message to the Democratic leaders to back off, give him time to stress jobs, jobs and jobs. The Obama White House does not need to defend an Act it does not want now for the next nine months. The Republicans will have a simple message, repeal Obama's health care reform, and they will retake the Hill.

Liberals DON'T GET THE MESSAGE - Health Care Reform

The New York Times: It seems the Politico was on to something, Liberals want Reid and Pelosi to to an end run around the Mass vote, the very liberal Paul Krugman states the following on the process, " the suggestion that Democrats use reconciliation — the Senate procedure for finalizing budget legislation, which bypasses the filibuster....That’s a real option ". Thus you see that liberals don't listen anymore, they talk to themselves, it easy when you have nothing to lose, Paul Krugman even states that Democrats should not care if they get re-elected. Thus moderate and blue dog Democrats bolt now or your political careers are over, as stated Reid is finished anyway, he will be out of office in November and Pelosi could find that she is no longer Speaker after November. Thus they want to take the Democratic Party down with them, let them go down the political toilet, if your a Democrat and in the House and with a brain cell tell your Speaker NO.

Health Care Reform NOT DEAD IN THE WATER!

Politico: Reports that the Democratic Leadership in Congress, Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi are planning an end run around the Mass vote, they plan to get the House to pass the Senate version of health care reform with no changes and then make changes by just getting 51 votes in the Senate. I really want the Democrats to do this, if they don't listen to the election of Senator Scott Brown in Mass of all places then they are tone def, if Reid and Pelosi push this through they will lose the House and Senate, and they will make sure that President Obama does not get re-elected in 2012. Lets be honest Reid is finished anyway, his polls are in the toilet in his state of Nevada, and Pelosi is safe in her very liberal district, its the rest of the Democrats that will take a dive to political oblivion, they will see the end of their political hopes. This is the time for moderate and blue dog Democrats to bolt, tell Reid and Pelosi to fall of the nearest cliff. Please Democrats do this, hand the House, Senate and White House back to the Republicans.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the latest soldier to die in Afghanistan, the soldier was " Rifleman Aldridge, of A Company 4 RIFLES, serving as part of 3 RIFLES Battle Group ". Our thoughts are with family of Rifleman Aldridge.

Is Obama the NEXT Reagan ? = NO

Politics Daily: Interesting article by Lou Cannon the great biographer of President Ronald Reagan, Mr Cannon argues that if President Obama can keep to his course he will follow the successful path of Ronald Reagan. But it has to be stressed that Reagan was about small government and cutting the taxes of the US voter, the Obama Administration is about BIG GOVERNMENT AND TAX RAISES, while Obama might have the communicative skills of Reagan he lacks the strategic thinking, to this blogger he recalls those left wing students from his Univ Days, the type you might like but had everything wrong, they tend to grow out of their left wing views, the problem is that Obama never had the chance to mature, therefore he actually believes in BIG GOVERNMENT, he has never had a real job, that is the problem, Reagan knew real world, Obama thinks his Agenda is the real world.

The Obama test on TERROR

BBC News: Reports that the US Department of Justice has recommended that 47 suspected terrorists be held without trial and the key thrown away. This will be another test for POTUS, the recent Mass vote had a terror element, the polls taken in Mass showed that the US voters even in liberal Mass after the the Xmas terror threat placed it high on their order of worry. In less Obama wants more Scott Brown's he will have to tell the left to get lost, this will further anger the left. In many respects President Obama if he is to regain the US voter will have to move to the centre right when it comes to national security, if a there is a successful terrorist attack on the Obama watch the President will lose his re-election bid in 2012.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that another British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 4 RIFLES ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 250 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 217 in combat action, while 33 have died due to illness, accidents or other incidents. Thus in the first month of 2010 the UK has lost five soldiers, in 2009 the UK lost six soldiers, thus so far we are following the trend of last year, this is not good folks. There will be more deaths in Afghanistan, we never learn about this bloody place.

No HOUSE votes for Health Reform - Speaker Pelosi

Fox News: Reports that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi has stated she does not have the votes to pass the Senate version of health care reform. This would be the best gift to President Obama, he could then talk to Republicans and get a scaled back version of health care reform passed, this reform would have Republican votes but would also cost less, it would be a victory, more that Bill Clinton managed in the first two years of his term. The new bill would prevent insurance companies from saying No to people will pre - existing conditions, they could not set limits on the costs of medical cover, these reforms have the backing of a majority of Americans. Then the Obama White House should stress jobs, jobs and jobs for the next nine months, Obama needs to keep the House and Senate Democratic.

Obama and Health Care Reform

The New York Times: An interesting editorial by the liberal New York Times, in its hubris view the vote in Mass was not a "..national referendum on health care reform — even though it has upended the effort to pass a reform bill,....". If the vote in Mass was not a referendum on health care reform how come that is the main casualty is health care reform, the Editorial board of the liberal NYT needs to smell the coffee, the above is a contradiction. Even the Oval has seen the light at know wants a health care reform agreement that takes in Republican votes. The problem is you know have a bill that is a orphan in political terms, the Senate does not want it back, the House does not want to vote on it, the members even Liberals see the light. Thus it is like when you dump a boyfriend or girlfriend, you can dump them and never speak to them again, and you don’t have to say why, if they seek answers they are stalkers. In the case of health care reform the stalkers are the elite media, they will not allow the Democrats to bin in their view a great bill without a lot of public shame, thus an orphan bill that everyone wants to dump but they are in the glare of the press. Those Olympic Gods are good when they see hubris in the Oval.

Rahm Emmauel - Political BLOOD in the WATER ?

The Nation: The Bible for Liberals if they believed in God points the finger at the Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emmauel for the present Obama mess over health care reform , the article states the following, "......the guy who made the private deals and told the senators what they could accept, he failed big-time and should be replaced. ". The Liberals in the party have never been happy with Mr Emmauel, they see him as to much of a political animal, in other words he can see the real world, thus they wanted Obama to be more left wing; how left he can get is beyond me!; thus they have started to point the finger at Rahm Emmauel, how long does he have as Chief of Staff, a few months, its a new ball game, you need someone that Republicans don't dislike, a real deal maker, Mr Emmauel to much of a political animal in his own right, there are rumours that he might run for Mayor of Chicago, that would be a way for him to make a graceful exit of the White House.

Obama favours SMALL scale version of Health Care Reform - ABC News

Fox News: Reports on a ABC News interview by President Obama, the President stated he was open to a scale down version of health care reform that got some Republican support. What the Obama White House does not need is a for the House to pass the Senate version of health care reform, the Obama team are not saying NO but they really don't need that kind of back pain, if the House passes a Bill that has no support and is loathed in Mass, the House and Senate members will have to defend it, that would be a disaster for the Democrats, the Republicans would have a simple message, repeal the Obama health care reform, thus Obama and the Democrats would be stuck with a Bill that could take them down faster than the Titanic went down in the Atlantic. This is the time for POTUS to manage the House, tell them to start to from scratch and for Liberals to shut up.

Health Care Reform - USA

CBS: Reports on the health care reform options that now faced by the Democrats, one option is a scale down version of health care that gets some Republican support, on other hand some Liberals still want the House to pass the Senate version of health care reform with no changes thus it can become law. If Liberals push this through the House after the Mass vote they are committing political suicide, they will face a political tsunami in November, the Republicans will hang this hated measure around the heads of Democrats, the House and Senate could be in play. This is time for Obama to take charge, tell the Liberals that the time has passed and go for a modest health care reform, there is always a next time in politics.

The REAL POLITICAL World after Mass Result

Politico: Reports that behind the bold rhetoric from the White House the Obama White House will be moving in some respects over the year to smaller issues, issues that unlike health care reform has some support in the USA. Think Bill Clinton after 1994. This shows that someone in the White House has smelled the coffee and gets the fact that this is not November 2008 but January 2010, and the Obama White House needs to protect the House and Senate, if they lose that they could lose the Presidency in 2012. Lets see if they are as good as the Clinton White House in a course change, so far not that impressive.

The Delusions of the Left and Obama

Guardian: Has an idea how Obama can improve is political future, "... a move toward passion and populism and idealism of the sort that impressed so many millions of Americans during Obama's historic presidential campaign...". In other words Obama should be more left wing, push his health care agenda through the House, raise taxes, what is wrong on the left, they are like old Generals fighting the last war, its a new day, a new battle, Massachusetts the most left of states has sent a very clear message to the Democrats and to the Oval Office, its simple, change or your out, don't the left get that, or are they stuck in a time warp and are back in November of 2008. They need to get back in to the Tardis and come to the present.

Scott Brown for 2012 ?

Just seen Senator - Elect Scott Brown at his first press conference, he is a natural, bright and funny, does recall a certain Ronald Reagan, could Brown really run in 2012, why not JFK and Obama both used the Senate as a step to become POTUS. What I have seen of the Senator - Elect he is a Conservative but does not cause you to worry, aka Reagan, also he is young, charming family, who does that recall, yes Obama. Think it would would cause Massachusetts to be in play in 2012, this will alarm Democrats, lets see how Brown does, he has to be tough but not alarming, he has to be funny but not arrogant, also he should start to have the family holidays in in Iowa and then NH. Brown could be the new Reagan, interesting times ahead folks.

Massachusetts Result

BBC News: Reports on the shock waves in Washington D.C with the election of the Republican candidate Scott Brown to take the Senate seat of the late Senator, Edward M Kennedy. Even at the end of the day this blogger thought the Democratic machine would win it for the Democratic candidate, the seat held by JFK and Edward Kennedy has gone to the Republicans, the most ironic part of the election is that the Republican candidate, Scott Brown has stated he will vote against the Obama health care reform, the very reform close to the heart of the late Edward Kennedy. This will be a real test for the Obama White House, since the election Democrats in the Senate have stated that there should be no vote on health care reform without Senator Brown in his seat, in other words the present health care reform bill is dead, its needs a major make over if it is to come back, does have some good elements but all the cover for those that don't have insurance will have to be binned. The Obama White House will have to start to do deals with Republicans, this will be interesting, can Obama walk over that bridge, so far its only Democrats he has had to deal with, let me be blunt, a few of them will be having route canal on their teeth should he want to visit them during the Mid Term Elections, he is a loser for a Candidate, its that simple, if he cant win in Mass he cant win anywhere, its that simple. Lets see the fun and games of Beltway start, will Obama be another Reagan or Carter.

Coakley a POLITICAL DODO - Politico

Politico: Reports on its new Poll, it has the Republican candidate Scott Brown with a 9 point lead over the Democrat Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts Senate race. If this is the result expect Democrats in the House to bolt, they will not sacrifice their political careers for Obama, Obama will have to learn the art of deal making with Republicans, lets see if the STAR is a real good politician or a one hit wonder as they say in the pop world. LBJ, Reagan, Clinton could make deals, lets see what Obama is really made of, if he has to deal with Republicans.

POTUS is the POWER

New York Post: A critic of Obama's visit to Mass, the main point of the article is that Obama is now the power, the Democrats control all wings of government. That Obama is making the same mistake of past Generals, fighting a new war with the old strategy. If the Republican candidate wins the Massachusetts Senate Seat the Obama White House will have to learn to make deals, it will have to compromise, it will have to move to the centre, thus Obama just might have a chance of getting re-elected in 2012.

Massachusetts VOTE 2010

VOTE BROWN

PROTECT YOUR HEALTH CARE

SEND A MESSAGE TO THE WHITE HOUSE

NO MR PRESIDENT, NO HEALTH CARE REFORM

Brown to win Mass - Obama White House

CNN: Reports that the Obama White House believes that the Republican Scott Brown will the Mass Senate Seat. If this does happen it will be down to one issue, the issue is health care reform, it shows how bad a political and policy judgement this issue is for the Democrats and and the Obama White House. One can see some blue dog Democrats in the House finding a reason to vote NO on health care reform, if Mass is in play then House Democrats have to worry about their seats, thus the will dump Obama rather than lose the their seat in Washington D.C.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the names of the latest soldiers to die in combat operations in Afghanistan, the soldiers were " Corporal Lee Brownson and Rifleman Luke Farmer, from 3rd Battalion The Rifles " . Our thoughts are with the families of the soldiers.

Obama and Afghanistan

LA Times: Reports that Afghanistan strategy is still being debated in the Obama Administration, with the military moving one way; long term stay in Afghanistan, while the political side wants a clear exit out of Afghanistan, the article states the following, " Obama put himself and the nation through all that deliberation last year....................he ought to see if he can get his aides to agree on what it means --..." Thus this debate in the background is what Obama can expect in 2011, the White House political operators see Afghanistan as a negative with the left wing Democratic base, the US Military cares about the security of the USA. But also lets be honest here folks, Obama has to carry the US voter with him, he cant lose them as LBJ did over Vietnam. Thus the Generals in Afghanistan have about a year to show some results, if its only a low level death rate for US forces and NATO. POTUS will start to look at 2012 and his re-election bid at the end of 2011, the USA should be out of Iraq by then, but its Afghanistan and Iran that will define the Obama Presidency, thus Obama can not afford for Afghanistan to turn in to another Vietnam, if that is the result Obama will be a one term President.

The BROWN Effect - Mass Senate Seat

Time: Report how Scott Brown the Republican candidate for the Senate Seat in Mass has changed the political landscape, how in a sense it does not matter if the Democrats get a slight win, the big prize will be November and the Democrats are under threat. Thus the big political guns, Bill Clinton and POTUS have or are heading to Mass to save the bacon of the Democratic Candidate, Martha Coakley, it seems from the article that Ms Coakley is a lousy politician, it seems that the Democratic political establishment still thinks it is last year and Obama will work his magic and it will turn out all right, what if he fails, then those Conservative Democrats in the House will start to ask serious questions about health care reform, can they afford to carry the load for a President that does not get them votes, think Jimmy Carter and you get the idea. Thus Tuesday is important to Mass and to the Obama Administration, if the Democrats lose the old seat of Ted Kennedy this will send alarms through out Congress, it might kill of health care reform in less the Democrats move fast, but do they dare push something through when they know the cost, will they carry the load for Obama, its 50/50 folks, that is how important the vote is on Tuesday. Also I have stated that if the Republican wins this blog will give £5 to the New Labour, thus please Democrats vote for the Democrat Candidate, I really hate New Labour, PLEASE.

Massachusetts Polls

RCP: Has the all the Polls from the Senate race in Massachusetts, of late the Republican candidate is leading the Senate race. This is a very very Blue state, the dead will be voting on Tuesday, think old and new type Chicago politics but with an Irish accent, this was the Senate Seat of JFK and EMK, the Democrats will win this seat by any means, but as argued in previous post this could hurt POTUS in the long term, as in the 2010 Mid Term Elections and in 2012 when Obama is up for re-election.

Obama in Massachusetts

Fox News: Reports that President Obama is to campaign in Massachusetts for the Democratic Senatorial Candidate, Martha Coakley. If the Democratic Candidate does win this could cost President Obama in the long term, in 2010 he cant be in every District and State, thus by helping Coakley now POTUS could create a political tsunami later on in the mid term congressional elections. If the Republican wins Obama will have to move to the centre, this might help him win re-election in 2012, that is what Bill Clinton did after losing the House of Representatives in 1994. The question is can Obama see long term, or he is glued to his Agenda as with health care reform, at the expense of the Democratic Party.

Deaths in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that two British soldiers were killed in Afghanistan on Friday, the soldiers came from the " 3rd Battalion The Rifles ". Thus so far in 2010 four British Soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, lets hope 2010 has a lower death rate than 2009. Since 2001 the UK has lost 249 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, in that total it has lost 216 in combat operations and 33 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. There will be more deaths.

Taxing the Banks - Obama

BBC News: Reports that the Obama Administration will tax the banks for they loans they received last year to keep them afloat. If this is a punishment, what punishment for the Obama Administration and their economic plan that spent over eight hundred billion dollars with the aim of keeping unemployment at 8% or lower, it is now around 10%. If this does not get the Obama polls ratings up the White House staff should start looking at their CVs and start to send them out, if the polls are still down it shows Obama will be out in 2012.

Is Health Care Reform in DANGER of FAILURE ?

The Hill: Reports on worries in the House that the Senate version of health care reform will not get the 218 votes to pass the House of Representatives. If health care reform fails it is goodbye Obama Administration, thus it will pass, even if its only the title. The Democrats will just buy the votes as they did in the Senate, any House Representative that will lose his seat in 2010 will find that his gets a nice job in the Obama Administration, also individual districts get some back handers, in effort to create jobs and thus get the economy going and buy a vote. Thus health care reform will pass, the effect might be that it leads to the defeat of President Obama in 2012.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the latest soldier to die in Afghanistan, the soldier was " Captain Daniel Read from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, part of the Counter-IED Task Force ". Our thoughts are with the family of Captain Read.

Murder in Tehran

Guardian: Reports on the murder of a nuclear scientist in Tehran, Iran, the scientist Masoud Ali Mohammadi had links to those dissenting in Iran. The Tehran government is blaming the Israel and the West, while the fact that the scientist has links to those dissenting in Iran could place the guilt at the hands of Government in Tehran. Thus one can see that the finger will be pointed at Mossad in Israel, the CIA in the USA and MI6 in the UK. As for the view of this blog, the murder does seem to have been a professional hit, but who and why, as the scientist had links to those that opposed the regime it seems odd that Israel or the West would take him out, on other hand his very career could make him attractive hit for the regime, as they could get rid of a dissenter, prevent him telling the West what he knew, make it look like a Western hit and the left wing elite media would blame Israel, we have all seen the film Munich. Thus one has a feeling that this will be a cold case for a very long time, of course it could just as well be a personal reason that he was killed, but it is easy for Tehran to set the blame on Israel and the West.

Secret History - The Blair/Bush Letters on Iraq

The Times: Reports on the revelation from the Iraq Inquiry that UK PM Tony Blair sent notes to Bush 43 that stated that the UK would support the USA at the end of the day when it came to Iraq. This is an interesting revelation, lets see if ever see the light of day this side of the pond, it would be interesting to see how much stress Blair placed on the Diplomatic route, if at any time Blair said something in the notes that did not match his public utterances or his statements to the House of Commons. This is the UK, those documents will never see the light of day, but in the USA there is the Freedom of Information Act, lets hope historians or even Congress has a look at these documents. Someone in the UK has to take the blame at the end of the day for the failure of the British mission in Iraq, last time I looked the PM at the time was Tony Blair.

Obama a Failure - CNN

CNN: Reports on its new poll that finds that 48% of Americans think that Obama has failed in his first year. The one major issue that has sent the Obama polls South has been his obsession with health care reform, the major issue for Americans is jobs, jobs and jobs. They see an elite President that does not get the terrorist threat, prefers to give rights to terrorists, spends like a drunk sailor, someone has to remind the STAR that there are a few states in between New York and California and that he only won by 7% in 2008. If Obama cant turn the polls around he will be a one term President, what the Olympic Gods they can take away, and they are lot more ruthless than the New York Times. Think if Obama was to lose the Democrats will be out of the White House for a generation, the President that was to make the Democrats the natural party of Government could make it the official opposition for many a year, what an irony that would be for Obama.

That Kennedy Senate Seat ?

Boston Globe: Reports on the close race to fill the Senate Seat of the late Senator, Edward Kennedy, the article states the following, " But the most striking.......is that they are both viable candidates in a race too competitive to call. In Massachusetts! " Thus we have the Obama effect, from health care reform to Afghanistan, it is hurting Democrats, here is my prediction, the old Democratic machine will win out, if the Republicans win will give five pounds to New Labour. The race should be a warning to other Democrats, don't think your re-election is assured, President Obama might cost you your seat in the House or the Senate.

Obama at 46% Approval

CBS: Reports on its new poll that has POUTS below magic 50% mark, the poll has Obama on 46% approval and 41% disapproval. Even the elite media has started to smell the coffee when it comes to Obama, a network like CBS would be loathed to produced a poll like this, but it follows a tend in other polls, in the months leading up to the Mid Term Congressional Elections in 2010, the Obama White House has to stress jobs, jobs , jobs, if the US voter gets the impression that POUTS is distracted by side issues they will punish the Democrats in November, the Republicans could retake the House and eliminate the Democrats control of the Senate. This blog is keeping to its prediction that Obama will either lose his re - election bid in 2012 or will decide to bow out and spend more time with his family. At the end of the day President Obama is no Ronald Reagan. Lets be more brutal, Obama does not have the political skills of a young Bill Clinton. In 1994 Clinton after the disaster that was his push for health care reform lost the House, but he came back to win re-election in 1996, Clinton could move with the political wind and win, Obama is stuck like glue to his Agenda, an Agenda that could make him the next Bush 41, a one term President. This year will see if Obama is either Carter or Reagan.

Guantánamo Bay Detainees - NO MOVE - SA

The Hill: Reports that the Obama Administration will not transfer Guantanamo Bay Detainees to Saudi Arabia in the future. The problem faced by the Obama Administration is that it cant risk any more Gitmo prisoners returning to the terrorist fight, if they release more prisoners and there is a terrorists attack the Obama Administration is over in political terms. Its an aspect of American politics that Democrats are seen as weak by the American voter, if the terrorists think that Obama is weak they will start to move the War on Terror from Afghanistan and Iraq to the United States. Thus Obama is in a tricky position, he has give the US Foreign Policy a new face for the World after Bush 43 in the eyes of Democrats but it cant be seen as weak, that can be tricky thing to manage. Thus still holding to my prediction that Obama will either lose his bid for re-election in 2012 or not run at all, he will want to spend more time with his family.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that another British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 11 EOD Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 247 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 214 in combat operations and 33 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. The question is how many more deaths this year, will it be worse than 2009.

Avatar - Film Review

Telegraph: Reports that the film Avatar directed by Titanic Director James Cameron has been accused of being racist. That is rubbish folks, its the most PC film you will see this year, wont tell you the ending but the wrong side won, in the real world if its between Earth vs Any Planet the Earth lot will do what takes to win. If you followed the outcome of the film there would never have been a United States, the " evil " the White man would have been taken out by the good Native Americans, with their bows taking down the bad railway. Folks this blog is about the real world, the world is a better place with the United States, lets be clear here folks, what the white Americans did to the Native Americans was wrong, but as Darwin stated the strong win that is the way of the world, also the film is about Iraq, yes it took years to get the right result but Iraq on the whole is at peace, yes the terrorists have had a few successful bomb attacks but the elections are still going to happen, Iraq has come through hell, they have seen the light, and that is no small part is down to the United States. Again for dim LIBERALS, if your a racist you need to get rid of those evil ideas, you treat people by the content of their character not their colour. Right back to the film, it was the event of the year for this film buff, images came out of the screen, you could touch the beauty that was Pandora, yes the MAN was wrong, but again when it comes to down the Earth vs Any other Planet this blog wants to send in the Starship Troopers, they will win, at the end of the day its about the Earth, simple question, is the USA good or bad, your view of this post depend on that answer. If you still think Avatar is racist you have just lost the plot or a New York Times reader, the same thing in my book.

Rahm Emanuel on the WAY OUT?

Politico: Reports on the speculation that the White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel could be on the way out. As a political operator Mr Emanuel is the best, he helped the Democrats retake the House from the Republicans, but as a Chief Staff is is lousy, think of Obama's poll ratings, they have gone south in a major way, the RCP average of Polls has Obama on 48.8% approval and 45.8 disapproval, the job of a Chief of Staff is to tell the President NO sometimes, its not to follow your own Agenda, the problem is that Mr Emanuel is a political animal in his own right, this has not be common to most Chief of Staffs of late, the last was Dick Cheney, what happened to him, yes Vice - President of the United States. A good Chief of Staff has to be ruthless but also has to have the ability to tell the POTUS that he is out of his mind, look at the effect of health care on the Obama ratings. If the Democrats lose the House in 2010 and the Republicans pick a few Senate Seats the Obama Agenda is dead on the Hill, no second chances. Thus it can be postulated that POTUS will show Emanuel the door should he lose the Hill. This my prediction that Mr Emanuel will be in the cold in the New Year of 2011.

PC and Senator Harry Reid

It seems that Political Correctness can even catch liberals, it has been reported that the Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid made racist comments about President Obama, to the effect that he was not a real African - American, and his language did not represent African -Americans. The President stated the following on hearing the news, " "Harry Reid called me today and apologized for an unfortunate comment reported today. I accepted Harry's apology without question because I've known him for years, I've seen the passionate leadership he's shown on issues of social justice and I know what's in his heart. As far as I am concerned, the book is closed." Lets be honest here if I was Republican I would be calling for the political head of Harry Reid, but this is fair blog, Harry Reid is a Liberal and a firm supporter of POTUS. Also lets state when Obama was running in 08 he had to put up with the same comments from some in the old 60s civil rights movement. Thus Republicans should take Senator Reid down in the 2010 Mid Term Congressional Elections, they should not play this kind of dirty pool, but lets be clear, the next time a Republican gets in to trouble over race the Democrats cant use it to attack, they get one out of jail card, and Harry Reid has just used that card.

Obama and Jobs

Fox News: Reports that the Obama Administration does not want to predict that the job market will improve by the 2010 Mid Term Elections. It seems that the Obama Administration has failed to learn the lesson of the Clinton Campaign of 1992, at its core the campaign was about jobs, not health care reform, thus Obama has spent a year on health care reform; a Bill that is opposed my a majority of Americans; when Obama should have been talking about jobs. If unemployment is still at the present highs and there is a jobless recovery the Democrats could find that they lose the House and lose their sixty filibuster proof majority in the Senate, a victim could be the Majority Leader Harry Reid. Thus for the next nine months Obama has to stress jobs, appearance matters more that substance, so he has to stress every good story about jobs and hope the rate of unemployment goes down before the first Tuesday in November, or else POTUS will face a Republican House.

Obama and the " War on Terror "

The Hill: Reports that Congress is getting worried with the Obama plan to close down Guantanamo Bay and send suspect terrorists back to countries with known terror links. As the article notes the Obama Administration has suspended returns to Yemen after the failed Christmas terror attempt, the Congress wants a general suspension. The Obama Administration has to be careful, if it stops all transfers the left will go bonkers, the will claim that Obama is just another Bush 43, but should the transfers lead to another terror attack then the Obama Administration is finished and could be out of power in 2012. When it comes to such issues, Obama does not have the final say, he can go blue in the face on extending his hand to the Muslim world but if extreme Islamic terrorists say NO and just attack on their calender the Obama White House will one day face a choice, either be tough as Bush 43 or lose re-election. Politics is a brutal game folks, its about winners and losers, does Obama want to be another failed Jimmy Carter.

Tough Year in Afghanistan - UK Military

BBC News: Reports on the comments by the head of the UK Army General Sir David Richards that Afghanistan will be tough for UK Forces in 2010. If by the end of 2010 the UK is still taking the level of losses of 2009 then the UK voter will demand that the UK gets out, the UK has played this game before and we have the bloody t-shirt. Thus it can be postulated that the the USA and NATO has about a year to turn things around in Afghanistan; of course they wont; but least Obama is giving Afghanistan a chance, his double surge this year alone means that its up to the US Military to win in Afghanistan, neither the US or UK voter will support failure or body bags, as reported if the US military thinks it will take 500 dead a month, if true prediction then the war is lost already, the US voter recalls Vietnam, they will simple not support failure. Thus the Military has about year to show some success, otherwise the NATO will have another Korea on its hands, just enough troops to keep the peace but a never ending the conflict, an endless war folks.

Its MY Bag - Obama on Xmas Terror Attempt

CNN: Reports that President Obama will take responsibility for the failures in the US system that nearly allowed a suspected terrorists to blow up a US place on Christmas Day. This shows leadership by POTUS, when he does the right thing this blog will praise his actions, as stated many times this blog is about results, on the whole the domestic agenda of Obama is a economic disaster, but it can be argued that Obama carried on the policies of Bush 43 from Afghanistan to rendition, thus will let off POTUS over this incident, he didn't allow the terrorists on board the plane and he was not at the CIA going over the information, but let off does not mean that if there is another terrorists attack this blog will not be highly critical of President Obama, this blog is fair but will call the President to account if there is another failure.

Health Care Reform - Bad Politics by Obama

CBS News: Reports how the final version of the Health Care Reform; the merging of the House and Senate version; will be produced behind closed doors. This is a reversal of the Obama promise in 08 to allow sunlight in to the process. This is bad politics by the Obama White House, you have a bill that does not have popular support, that was gotten through the Senate by buying the votes of individual Senators and their states. Thus by breaking a Campaign pledge Obama is showing that he has learned Chicago methods if not real good politics.

500 US Casualties A MONTH predicted in Afghanistan

The Times: Reports on the prediction by retired US General Barry McCaffrey that the US will lose five hundred soldiers a month in Afghanistan. If this prediction comes true President Obama can forget about a second term, the US voter is already wary of Afghanistan; that shows sound judgement; but the will not tolerate an endless War, the US will be in Afghanistan for years, that's not the point, its one thing being in theatre, its another when you see five hundred body bags a month. The US voter already has health care reform to hold against Obama, this kind of loss in Afghanistan would be the final straw, the Republicans would take back the White House and the Congress, House and Senate in 2012.

Advice to MEN - Dating Sites

BBC News: Reports on the increase in people joining dating sites due to the weather conditions around the country. Advice to guys, don't, its better to become a train spotter in the Atlantic, less stress and even less pain, at the of the day you get your heart handed to you, and you feel like you just come out of combat foxhole after a heavy bombardment. If your in your 40s you just have to accept that its over on the romantic front, and if your a guy and married here is a good piece of advice, don't even think of joining a married dating site, the women there will hand you your heart and smash it to pieces, take the advice guys from an expert.

Feeling the COLD WIND of 2010

ABC News: Reports that two US Democratic Senators have felt the cold wind of the Mid Term Elections and not seeking re-election, Senators Dodd and Dorgan have thrown in the towel. The Obama Agenda could have a massive negative effect on the Democrats on the Hill, they will have to go home to moderate and conservative States and Districts and sell his health care reform and his spending spree, not an easy sell at the best of times but now in the recession not a great political idea. It can be postulated that more Democrats in the House and Senate will throw in the towel, Obama is really turning in to another Jimmy Carter.

Dems vs Dems

Politico: Reports on the rebuke by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to President Obama, how Obama has moved away from his Campaign pledges. The main problem for the Speaker is that the House will have to take the whole of the Senate Health Care Reform, with no major changes, liberals in the House are up in arms, but if the House was to try and change the Bill the Democrats could lose their sixty votes in the Senate. Thus the Speaker has to make sure that her Democrats take some tough medicine, and even then the Democrats could lose the House in 2010, thus if your a newly elected Democrat you see that you could lose your seat in the House and that you could be in the Minority Party in 2011. Touch choices ahead for Democrats.

Is Brown on the Chopping Block ?

BBC News: Reports on a move to get rid of UK PM Gordon Brown. This is far to late by Labour MP's, they are running scared that they will lose their seats, they are right to be scared, if its going to happen a Cabinet Minister has to resign, and a heavy weight at that, otherwise all we are seeing is a bunch of political dodos on the way to out, its that simple and brutal, this attempt will fail, what ever you think of the Conservative Party they are very effective of getting rid of a leader, just ask Lady Thatcher, at the end of the day you have to have the backbone to stick the political knife in, otherwise you sink on the RMS Brown or as we know it better the Titanic.

New Year Poll - Obama at 50%

Gallup: Reports on its first new poll of the new year, it finds that President Obama has a 50% approval rating, while 44% of Americans have a negative view of President Obama. In some respects this must be good news for the Obama White House, at least Obama is at the 50% mark, also as Gallup notes Ronald Reagan going in to his second year had a 49% rating; it should be noted that Reagan in 1984 won 49 states against Walter Mondale; thus this is not the end of the Obama Era, but what it does show is that the Obama Team have to change the message for the second year, it has to be about jobs, the Reagan recession turned in to the economic boom of the 80s. The present recession does not indicate that it will turn around that fast, so the Obama team has to stress jobs, making sure the media stress the limited good news, even if the recovery is a no job recover. It should be noted that 2010 Mid Term Elections will have a negative effect on the Obama Administration, it is expected that House Democrats will keep the House but with a much reduced majority, in the Senate the Republicans will pick up enough seats to filibuster most of the Obama Agenda. Thus the Oval Office has a few months to change the political landscape or Obama will look back at the first two years of his first term as the best and the rest a nightmare. That is the fun of politics folks, up and down.

NTA - Vote

Its that time of year folks, its time to vote David Tennant the best actor of the year and Dr Who the best Drama Show. Click here to vote, tell your friends its their duty to vote, Mr Tennant is the best Doctor since the 5th. Lets get voting folks, lets get this message around the world. Honour the Doctor and honour the Message, vote Dr Who.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the soldier killed of late in Afghanistan, the soldier was " Private Robert Hayes of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment ". Our thoughts are with the family of Private Hayes.

NYT CRITICAL of OBAMA & BUSH 43

The New York Times: The Liberal NYT is back on its favourite hobby horse, it wants to grant rights to terrorists, this time the extreme liberal NYT is having a go at the US Court System, the NYT writes the following, " the Supreme Court has granted the government immunity for subjecting people in its custody to terrible mistreatment. " Thus Bush 43 and President Obama come under critical review, as stated in my last post while the rhetoric of Obama has to be the left his action on national security on the whole, has gotten him a B+ from this blog, he has carried on with rendition policies of Bush 43, he has increased drone attacks in Pakistan, he has increased US presence in Yemen another failed state. The extreme liberal NYT is not happy that the Obama Administration did not support a plan to get Bush era officials in to court, this was a wise move by Obama, he can not afford to be seen as weak on national security. The left have no place to go, they are not going to flush the first African - American President down the toilet, that would be racist, ironic, caught out by their own PC.

Military Exercise - Iran

WSJ: Reports that Iran will conduct a large military exercise before the deadline for its counter offer to the UN over Iran's nuclear ambitions. Thus folks we come down to the wire, the Obama Administration has to get tough sanctions through the UN Security Council with the support of China and Russia, also those sanctions have to be effective to prevent Israel taking military action. A recent article in the New York Times stated that Obama officials believe that with external and internal pressure on the regime, Tehran could become weak , also the drive by Iran to become a nuclear armed power has been delayed due to the lack of equipment and also action by the security services of the West; from the CIA to MI6; in other words sabotage. Thus Iran will define the Obama Presidency, any weakness and Iran become a nuclear armed power and Obama becomes another Jimmy Carter.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that another British Soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 246 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 213 in combat operations and 33 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. How many this year folks. The death toll in Afghanistan has well passed the total for Iraq, in that military operation and occupation the UK lost 136 of its Armed Forces in combat operations and 43 due to illness, accident or other incidents. One can postulate that the UK by the end, and there will be an end, could have lost close to five hundred of its Armed Forces in Afghanistan, is Afghanistan worth the cost folks.

Obama and the " War on Terror "

Telegraph: Reports on the reaction of the Obama White House to the attempted terrorists attack over the Christmas Period. How there is the perception that Obama does not get the fact that there is a War on Terror. As readers of this blog have noticed this blog did not cover the incident in detail, on the whole don't care what rhetoric Obama uses and as long as he gets the job done. Since President Obama took Office in 2009, he has kept the rendition polices of Bush 43, he has done a double surge in Afghanistan, attacked Al Qaeda in Pakistan, thus it can be argued that his actual policies to be fair are quite centre right, the rhetoric might be left wing, but actions speak louder than words, on the whole he would have gotten an A grade but his rhetoric to the left gets him a B+. The coming year will define the Obama Presidency, and the country that will define Obama is no Afghanistan or Iraq it will be Iran.

Sanctions and Iran

The New York Times: Reports that the Obama Administration sees sanctions against Iran being an effective policy weapon, the NYT writes the following on sanctions, " domestic unrest and signs of unexpected trouble in Tehran’s nuclear program make its leaders particularly vulnerable to strong and immediate new sanctions. " The article argues that due to internal and domestic pressure the time frame for Iran getting the bomb is longer than expected, sorry but I don't trust the extreme liberal New York Times when it comes to Iran, the Liberal NYT has an agenda, it does not want to do anything about Iran, it wants the pressure but no action, so lets see what Israel says about the nuclear plans of Iran, if they say wait that is fine if not then POTUS will have to get his finger out and take action, and to hell with the Liberal New York Times.

Spies and Modern Terrorism

WSJ: Reports how the CIA will deal with death of seven of its Agents in Afghanistan, how less security is traded off by getting real time information on the Taliban/Al Qaeda. The CIA officers that died were real heroes, but this is a new type of war, this is not the " Good Times of the Cold War", in that period both the USA and the USSR knew that there was a code, no extreme killing of other sides actual agents, not their operatives but US or USSR citizens, if they had gone on a killing spree the Cold War would have gone hotter faster, it was in their interest to allow each some leave way as to keep themselves informed and thus keep the Cold War from not getting warm. This is not to say that people didn't get killed, of course they did, but it was never policy of the USA or the USSR to wipe out the other sides Agents as this would have been a kind of nuclear option in many respects. The CIA is dealing with terrorists in the shape of the Taliban/ Al Qaeda would do not play by the rules, to them there can only be one winner, thus no rules, the CIA has to strike back hard, it has to be in some respects like the old KGB, strike terror in to those that would attack either the Agency or the USA.

The Left and Yemen

The Daily Beast: Interesting look in to the mid of the left wing, how the left are afraid that Yemen will become another Iraq or Afghanistan, think about this quote folks on US policy after 9/11, " America’s response to terrorist attacks is far more costly to the country than the damage caused by the attacks themselves. " I think it is fair to say if you ask those three thousand that died on 9/11 if America's response was worse they would look at you as if your a nutter, they died due to the weakness of the Clinton Administration, Al Qaeda started the War in the mid 1990s just no one knew in the United States, when you kill three thousand people the state are the right and duty to come after you, to destroy you, no matter the cost, otherwise the rest of the population are open targets. The policy of Bush 43 was right when it came to Afghanistan and at the outset for Iraq, but to appease the terrorists know would be a big mistake, you have to destroy Al Qaeda root and branch, or they will destroy you, its that simple folks.

Iran - To make on nuclear fuel ?

Fox News: Reports that Iran will make its now nuclear fuel if the West does not appease its demands to become a nuclear-armed power. Thus the question that will face the Oval Office is what next, any UN sanctions will be weak due to China and Russia, any weak sanctions and Israel will take action, if Israel takes action you could have a regional war in the Middle East, that leaves the US to take action, it might be the lesser evil, the regime in Tehran would know that if took on the USA the USA voter would be quite happy to erase Iran from the face of the earth, and Obama would have no choice, the Congress would Impeach him if he tried to be Neville Chamberlain, thus interesting few weeks ahead folks.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the recent soldier to die in Afghanistan, the soldier was " Sapper David Watson from 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Royal Engineers " Our thoughts are with the family of Sapper Watson.

The End of an Era - New Doctor

The Doctor Who News Page: Reports that the second part of the End of Time got an audience of 10.4 million. The the second of the two part special show is the end of the Tenth Doctor, what can you say, Mr Tennant will shall miss you, it can be said with no argument, you are at the top of the ten with the fifth Doctor, the final few minutes of the Doctor and Rose bought a tear to this fan boy. But as with all good things there is new Doctor, new adventures, but all I can say and think it can be said for Million, our Doctor has gone, and we are sadder for it, come back one day Doctor with Rose, few years down the line, lets see the human Doctor and Rose, that will be fun, a Doctor with no Tardis or sonic, but with Rose, hell that its own series. Well 11th Doctor you have filled big boots, lets see what your made off, lets see if you really are the The Doctor.

MET Police - London Police

Just a brief break from usual posts to tell a nightmare story from my recent trip to London, out in London for the New Year Celebrations I had my wallet stolen in a pub. On noticing the theft I walk out and there standing on a corner was five PC's, your humble correspondent informed the sergeant that my wallet has been pinched and told him that if he did a quick search of the pub; it was a small pub; he would catch the offender. The Sergeant then told me that there had been a incident somewhere and he had to listen to the radio; if the incident has been close, yes, I could have understood, but it was not from my perspective! Thus while he talked, the other PC's just stood on the corner, any one who has seen the Real Hustle will know that once a wallet has been pinched the crooks pass it on, thus if they are nabbed no evidence. Thus five minutes later it was too late, the alleged suspect ( As no wallet and no CCTV the suspect has to be considered innocent and totally innocent for legal reasons ) came out but no wallet, the police took my name and contact info and then phone me at 8.30am to tell me they had nothing to go on, great surprise, I said that to the sergeant at 2.30am in the morning. If Met can walk in to Houses of Parliament and arrest an MP, they can ask the DJ to turn off the music of a small pub, lights on and ask everyone to take a line and show their wallets or bags, then search them as the leave, quick, efficient, and logical. The Mayor should ask the Met Chief what are tourists to make of London Police if they are that slow and show no backbone, they could have gotten my wallet back and caught themselves a gang of pick pockets, but I guess that is why Gene Hunt is popular with the public, he would have done that, a real old fashioned Copper. I am a great support of the police and the security services, but when I find that level of logic and backbone I want action, it was my wallet, it was not the money or the cards, it was the pictures and a rose petal form an old friend, thus very annoyed, with myself for not being secure but also with the MET police, yes they do a fine job in hard circumstances, but this was clear result that they let go, I guess if you’re an MP doing your job you get arrested or if your victim of theft the MET either do the wrong thing or nothing, COME BACK DICKON OF DOCK GREEN or GENE HUNT.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that another British Soldier has died in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 245 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, in that total 212 have died in combat operations, while 33 have died due to illness, accidents or other incidents. This loss of a soldier happened on the 31 December 2009, one has to postulate there will be more deaths next year, as President Obama has set a 2011 deadline for his second surge in Afghanistan, the Taliban/Al Qaeda will make the effort to make any withdrawal after that date looked like surrender by Obama in the face to constant Taliban/Al Qaeda attack on US and NATO forces. Thus it can be argued that next year will be very bloody for Western forces in operational theatre.