A MAN of NO Importance - Lord Prescott

Guardian: Has a review of Lord Prescott at the Iraq Inquiry, it seems even the left Guardian has a low view of the importance of Lord Prescott when it comes to the Cabinet either supporting the War or not, when Lord Prescott was asked if he could move the Cabinet he told the Inquiry that he in essence didn’t have the political power of being DPM. It seems that Prescott didn’t think much of the intelligence against Iraq and he didn’t think he had the power in the Cabinet, well there was one way to show power, that was to resign, it seems that Prescott was just window dressing for what ever sofa plan that Tony Blair dreamed up with Bush 43.

The HISTORIC UK Coalition - The Deals

Telegraph: Reviews yesterdays BBC documentary on the formation of the UK Coalition Government in May. It was a interesting programme, the only missing person was the dour Gordon Brown, but then having Gordon as Gordon might have sent the viewing figures down. Lord Peter Mandelson did his usual of putting the knife in to former UK PM Gordon Brown, Mandelson confirms the old saying, the last man standing is the winner! Brown seems to be in self exile in Scotland with the odd visit down to his place of paid employment, its got green benches, just in case Gordon Brown has missed the point of his election as an MP. The one aspect that was missing was the fact that leading Labour MPs made it clear that Labour had lost and they in essence should make way for a new government, this was a odd exception to a great show, this was worth the cost of the licence that the UK voters pay for the BBC.

Dale on Prescott

Iain Dale: One of the UK’s leading political blog writers reviews Lord Prescott at the Iraq Inquiry, “ He seemed almost detached from the decision to go to war, almost as if he felt that he ought to leave it to his intellectual superiors - which was very unlike him. ” If you read the Campbell Diaries you get the impression that the main complaint from then Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and future Deputy PM Lord Prescott is the fact that he was left out of discussions, he was bought in to keep the Labour Party happy not for sage advice on the weighty matters of War and Peace. In essence Lord Prescott was window dressing for New Labour, he kept the great unwashed, in other words Labour MPs and members from interfering in the policy aims of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Peter Mandelson and Alastair Campbell.

Worst MONTH for US in Afghanistan since 2001

BBC News: Reports that the US has had its worse month in Afghanistan since the War started in 2001, the US lost 63 of its Armed Forces Personnel in July alone. As President Obama places more troops in to Afghanistan as LBJ did in Vietnam the level of body bags will go up, as more troops thus more targets for the Taliban. It can be postulated that when it comes to next year the planned troop withdrawal will be small or none at all, Afghanistan has become Obama’s War.

Operation TOR SHEZADA - Black Prince

MOD: Reports on the successor operation to Operation MOSHTARAK in Helmand Province Afghanistan, the MOD states Operation TOR SHEZADA will clear the insurgents from “ Sayedabad to the south of Nad 'Ali in Helmand province ”. The aim of the operation will be to clear and hold the area and prevent the Taliban / Al Qaeda coming back and mounting attack operations against NATO Forces. The question that the Taliban will ask should they fight or just walk away, the Obama and Cameron remarks on timetables for getting out of Afghanistan is a good a reason as another for the Taliban to keep their powder dry, it can be postulated that that Taliban could just wait out the US and UK forces, as Operation Moshtrarak has shown the Taliban have returned to Marjah, its not easy to tell the Taliban apart from innocent civilisations, thus lets see what the Taliban do, in Marjah they just walked away and came back when it suited them, that is why Afghanistan is a lot like Vietnam and why Obama is the next LBJ not Reagan.

Export of Terror = Pakistan - PM Cameron

Gurdian: Reports on critical comments of Pakistan by Coalition PM David Cameron, the Prime Minister stated that in essence Intelligence network of Pakistan, the ISI was exporting terror to its neighbours and around the world. The PM is right, but one can argued that this rebuke to a close ally should have been done behind close doors in Pakistan and not on the ground of India the mortal enemy of Pakistan in the eyes of Pakistan. But it is done, thus Government of Pakistan has to reign in the ISI, it can have it cake and eat it, in other words it cant have money from the West, the USA and the UK while funding and supporting the Taliban as to gain the upper hand in Afghanistan and keep India and the region on its toes. Lets hope this blunt and frank comments are heard in Pakistan.

The Law and Al Gore

The Telegraph: Reports that former US VP Al Gore, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Oscar winner and close loser of the 2000 election has been questioned by police over an allegation of sexual assault. Not withstanding the case, that is under legal review, it will be interesting to see how the elite media run with this story, if it was a Republican it would be all over the press and media, lest see, Bill Clinton must be laughing his backside off, all the morality arrows that he had to take from Al Gore before and after the 2000 election.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the name of the UK Soldier that was killed on Monday in Afghanistan, the Soldier was “ Sapper Mark Antony Smith, 36 Engineer Regiment, serving with the Counter-IED Task Force ”. Our thoughts are with the family of Sapper Smith.
　

Obama's Polls

RCP Polls: Reports on the nosedive in the Osama’s polls, their average of the polls has Obama’s job performance approval at 45.7% and disapproval at 49.0%. These are not great numbers to go in to the Mid Term Congressional Elections with, a lot on the Hill will be asking do they want Obama in their State or District, the Obama success on the Hill with his economic package, health care reform and regulation of the banks is not getting people back to work, with such a high level of unemployment around the country the Democrats face a wave election, this could see the House go Republican and the Senate being close to a tie. If this was the result President Obama would be forced to move to the centre in his last two years in office, this would drive Liberals up the wall, and could cost Obama the Presidency in 2012 or the reverse, he could get back Conservative Democrats, floating voters, white voters, small business owners, it will be up to Obama to decide does he want a second terms or does he want to be another LBJ. Johnson had the Great Society between 1964 - 1968 but still go his backside kicked out of office, and the Republicans in power for most of the Century.

Cameron ATTACKS Labour over AV VOTE

BBC News: Reports that Coalition PM David Cameron has attacked the Labour Party for stating that it oppose the Referendum Bill before Parliament even after it was in their 2010 Manifesto. The reason that the Labour Party is withdrawing its support for the Referendum Bill is simple, the Bill will make Parliamentary Seats equal, in the old system it took more voters to elect Conservative MPs that Labour MPs; due to the fact that a majority of Tory Seats are rural; in other words Labour wants to keep its electoral plus. If the Bill is passed lets see how the Labour Party will react, will they support the change to AV or will they use the vote to get a dig in at the Coalition and support the Conservatives in rejecting the Bill. The aim would be to bring down the Coalition.

The A - Team is BACK ?

Telegraph: Reports on the movie version of one of my favourite shows form the 80s the A - Team. Another please don’t balls it up, one would love for the plan to come together, the original series was great fun to watch, funny, a story, things being blow up, and no one ever died. Think Dr Who with machine guns!

Gaza Prison Camp - PM Cameron

Guardian: Reports on remarks by the new UK Coalition PM David Cameron, the PM called Gaza a Prison Camp, in other words it’s the fault of Israel, also the PM called for Turkey to be allowed in to the EU, this is opposed by Germany and France. Thus PM Cameron is very different from Tony Blair; it can be argued that Blair was pushed out by the end due to his support for Israel and its actions in the Middle East, Cameron is following a typical Foreign and Commonwealth position, support the Arabs against Israel. Also he will cause friction with Germany and France as they oppose having Turkey in the EU due to ethnic problems with their won countries. On the first point it can be argued that PM Cameron is wrong, the issue of Gaza is complex, its not just Gaza the underdog vs. the Giant Israel. Gaza is a national security threat to Israel, it is liking having Wales throw bombs over the border to England. As to Turkey the PM is right, Turkey is part of NATO and a close ally of the West thus it should be in EU. This will drive France and Germany up the wall, those opposed to the EU will love that PM Cameron has taken a firm stand that is a rebuke to Paris and Berlin.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a UK Soldier was killed on Monday in Afghanistan, the Soldier was from the “ 36 Engineer Regiment serving as part of the Counter-IED Task Force ”. Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 325 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 286 in combat operations and 39 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.

My Way - Gordon Brown

The Daily Mail: Reports that former UK PM Gordon Brown will bring out a book on his role in the banking collapse. This will be interesting as Mr Brown was Chancellor of the Exchequer for ten years, those years that allowed for the framework for the banking collapse, lets see if he gets his own back on Tony Blair or Lord Mandelson, with Tony Blair it depends how honest Mr Blair is when it comes to his relationship with Mr Brown, how many coup attempts that he faced from Mr Brown, how Gordon Brown kept him shut out of the Treasury. It can be postulated that the book will be heavy duty economics book, in other words a door stop.

Al Qaeda + Iran + North Korea = Trouble

The New York Times: Reports more on today’s Afghanistan leaks, it reports from the secret military documents that the money man for UBL has flown from Iran to North Korea to buy weapons. Thus the two countries that Obama has tried to appease are throwing sand in his face, the North Koreans have threatened to use their nuclear deterrent during the US Naval and South Korean military exercises and is selling military equipment to Iran so it can be passed on to the Taliban/ Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. In other words Bush 43 was right about Iraq, Iran and North Korea. Sooner or later Obama will have to take on Iran, if the US is weak then Israel wont trust the US and will strike, this could lead to a regional war in the Middle East, if your weak in International Politics you are not respected by despised, Obama is a laughing stock already, that is why he is another Carter, thus a one term President.
　

Iran in Afghanistan BIG TIME

Guardian: Reports in detail on the role of Iran in Afghanistan, the Tehran Regime is giving aid and comfort to the Taliban. Thus one has to ask how come the Obama Administration has being trying so hard to get a deal with Iran when Iran is costing the lives of US Soldiers in Afghanistan. The fact that Iran was giving comfort and aid to the Taliban is not new, but these leaks will make it harder for the Obama Administration to push its diplomatic outreach to Iran, when Iran is telling Obama to get lost, thus the time will comes for Israel to hit Iran and Obama will have to support Israel.

War Crimes in Afghanistan

Telegraph: Reports that Julian Assange the founder of Wikileaks has stated that his leaks could lead to investigations of War Crimes in Afghanistan. The hunting down and execution of Taliban leaders is not a War Crime if it keeps one UK soldier alive or not getting hurt, these black Op soldiers are modern heroes, otherwise in war there are mistakes, in any War. What about going after the Taliban/Al Qaeda, they do not follow any rules of War or any legal norms.

Afghan Leaks = Pentagon Papers ?

BBC News: Reports on the leak of ninety thousand military secret documents to the press by the Wikileaks website. One can only postulate that President Obama will understand how Richard Nixon felt with the release of the Pentagon Papers in the early 1970s. On one level Nixon has had is easier, the Pentagon Papers did not cover his Administration, the new leaks cover 2004 - 2010, the first year of the Obama Administration. The Obama Administration has issued a statement by the Obama’s National Security Advisor General James Jones, the General states the following on the leak “ The United States strongly condemns the disclosure of classified information by individuals and organizations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk, and threaten our national security. Wikileaks made no effort to contact us about these documents – the United States government learned from news organizations that these documents would be posted. These irresponsible leaks will not impact our ongoing commitment to deepen our partnerships with Afghanistan and Pakistan; to defeat our common enemies; and to support the aspirations of the Afghan and Pakistani people. ” Nixon would be proud above the comments, in the fact the Nixon White House could have written the above comments. The Obama Administration is keeping both feet in Afghanistan, General Jones on Obama Afghan policy “ President Obama announced a new strategy with a substantial increase in resources for Afghanistan, and increased focus on al Qaeda and Taliban safe-havens in Pakistan, precisely because of the grave situation that had developed over several years. This shift in strategy addressed challenges in Afghanistan that were the subject of an exhaustive policy review last fall. We know that serious challenges lie ahead, but if Afghanistan is permitted to slide backwards, we will again face a threat from violent extremist groups like al Qaeda who will have more space to plot and train. That is why we are now focused on breaking the Taliban’s momentum and building Afghan capacity so that the Afghan government can begin to assume responsibility for its future. The United States remains committed to a strong, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan. ” The more Obama is tied to his Afghan policy the harder it will be to take troops out of Afghanistan in 2011, all his remarks and the remarks of his Administration would be thrown in his face if he starts to withdraw in 2011. The Obama policy to Afghanistan is tied to the security of Pakistan, here is General Jones on Afghanistan and Pakistan, “ Since 2009, the United States and Pakistan have deepened our important bilateral partnership. Counter-terrorism cooperation has led to significant blows against al Qaeda’s leadership. The Pakistani military has gone on the offensive in Swat and South Waziristan, at great cost to the Pakistani military and people. The United States and Pakistan have also commenced a Strategic Dialogue, which has expanded cooperation on issues ranging from security to economic development. Pakistan and Afghanistan have also improved their bilateral ties, most recently through the completion of a Transit-Trade Agreement. Yet the Pakistani government – and Pakistan’s military and intelligence services – must continue their strategic shift against insurgent groups. The balance must shift decisively against al Qaeda and its extremist allies. U.S. support for Pakistan will continue to be focused on building Pakistani capacity to root out violent extremist groups, while supporting the aspirations of the Pakistani people. ”. As Pakistan is a nuclear armed power it cant be allowed to fall to the Taliban of Pakistan, thus the US is stuck in Afghanistan as it secures Pakistan, years to go folks.
　
　
　
　

Campbell vs Mandelson

Alastair Campbell Blog: The 2nd great spin master after Lord Peter Mandelson, AC is going after Lord Mandelson, he states over his influence in the early Blair Government, AC states the following, “ I must say that,……it is striking that someone who now presents himself as having been so all important at the time spent so much time and energy complaining how little he was involved. ”. After this New Labour bitching there is some good news, the 2nd volume of the Campbell Diaries are out in the New Year. The first complete volume is great, it’s a page turner, also recalls some political incidents that over time this political blog had forgotten about, those days pre 9/11 seems like a different country, a different time, what is so great is that Mr Campbell is not afraid to show himself in a bad light, his views on Education and the right of parents to decide what is in the best interest of their children is out of Tony Benn book of old Labour. On the other hand you have to be sympathetic when the constant backbiting that AC faced from GB,PM, the fact that TB on occasions does not get the fact that he is in the Labour Party. They you have the Scottish Wars between Brown and Cook and JP feeling that he is on the outside always being told last what the policy is at any given time. Will have to get my order in for the second volume, half way through the first volume.
　
　

Upstairs, Downstairs is BACK

The Daily Mail: Reports on the return of Upstairs, Downstairs to our TV screens. Have to admit when I heard about this folks I had some worries, I loved the original, I have seen all the colour and black and white shows that they don’t show that often. But with the original creators are back, Dame Eileen Atkins and Jean Marsh and Ms Marsh is back as Rose, Doctor Who and Upstairs, Downstairs shows that you can act in something over forty years ago and return to the part, that is a time travel. One word to the new writes, don’t balls it up, this is a much loved show, one of those rare shows that all the family have and can watch together, also the scripts and acting from the original show is something you can watch and re - watch and see something new after forty years. Cant Wait folks, I do miss Mr 165 Eaton Place.

De-Blairification and the Labour Party

Guardian: Interesting article that looks on the effects of Iraq and the leadership of Tony Blair on the Labour Party, how Labour has to find its soul, and that is not New Labour. If the Guardian is moving to support Ed Miliband then it can be postulated that Miliband junior has the leadership in the bag, but lets be honest if your read the Campbell Diaries Tony Blair had nothing but contempt for the Guardian, in view of Blair the Guardian would rather be pure than in power. Thus a bit early but the Labour Crown is close to the head of Ed Miliband, what does David Miliband think of his younger brother stabbing him the back, what price family blood, the support of the Unions.

Yes NYT is RIGHT = North Korea!

The New York Times: Has a very tough Editorial on North Korea, the liberal NYT states the following, “ China,…..needs to ensure that the North’s bluster is only bluster. And it needs to tone down its own. ”. It seems that even the extreme liberal NYT has had enough of the tensions building of North Korea and the lack of leadership of China. Let us be clear North Korea will not use its nuclear deterrent on US Naval Ships in the region, the Obama Administration would have no choice but remove North Korea from the face of the earth, China could not prevent such a military action, this is the time for China to act as a grown up, if they want to be taken as a World Player they have to deal with their satellite, they have to cut off food and lights to North Korea and tell them to get back in to talks with the US. It only needs someone to make a misjudgement for a serious War to break out between the US and North Korea, then the US would have Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan ( the Tribal areas of Pakistan ) and North Korea, think how much that would add the US Debt. Thus the US has to be firm, but lets keep our eyes on getting talks back on between the US and North Korea.

Ten Years to Late, Brown and the Banks

BBC News: Reports on remarks by ex UK PM Gordon Brown that he wished he had noticed the banking faults before 2008. Mr Brown was Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Iran Chancellor, he had control of the UK economy, he allowed the framework that allowed the Banks to rob the tax payer, and at the end of the day New Labour was more interested in saving the bankers and their perks than the tax payer. The UK in many respects in bankrupt due to the public spending of Gordon Brown, he would not support Tony Blair when he wanted to reform the public sector as noted by Lord Mandelson. How many days has Mr Brown been in the House of Commons, does he get paid when he only turns up, thus far his hiding places haven been Scotland and Africa, how about the House of Commons after the recess Mr Brown.

Balls Balled out of Labour Contest ?

Telegraph: Reports that the Ed Balls the Shadow Education Secretary and contender in the Labour Leadership contest is thinking of pulling out of the race and he has not gained enough Union support. As the article notes the race for the leadership is coming down to Ed and David Miliband, this is worse than when Gordon Brown pulled out of the 1994 contest against Tony Blair, brother and against brother, this shows that Ed Miliband has bigger flaws that Gordon Brown, he has moved to the left, promising all the Unions that they would want to support him, his election would be a disaster for Labour, he would move the Party to the left, the Miliband Christmas Family gatherings would make the Blair/Brown meetings look cordial. This race has in a odd way the echoes of the race between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown but worse, it can be argued that Ed Miliband would lead Labour to defeat at the next election, thus the Labour Party would end up going for the senior brother David Miliband, the ex Foreign Secretary, perhaps Labour wants to move to the left to find its soul after Tony Blair but the election of Ed Miliband would bury New Labour and allow the Coalition a chance to rule for ten years, does Labour want to play that price, what Mrs Miliband was thinking to allow her sons to run is beyond reason, this is a time for a parent to lay down the law to the junior brother, in this case Ed Miliband, this will be a disaster for Labour.

Nuclear Deterrent Threat from North Korea - Bad Bluff

BBC News: Reports that North Korea has threatened to use its Nuclear Deterrent when the US and South Korea start their military exercises. Thus this is the worse kind of bluff folks, in less North Korea wants to commit suicide it will not attack the US Ships or South Korea, this is an attempt to rattle the Obama White House, its nuclear blackmail, think if it was Iran. Thus POTUS should get on with the military exercise but should add more US Ships just in case and place US Forces in the region on alert, just in case North Korea wants to start a War.

Threat from North Korea - NO WAY!

Guardian: Reports that North Korea has stated that it will take physical action should the planned military exercises between the US and South Korea take place. In one word folks, Rubbish, the North Koreans are not nutty enough to attack the US Fleet, the Obama Administration would have no choice but to take military action, this is further hot air from North Korea, the problem with North Korea its hard to see what they want, they have been offered a great deal by the US and its Allies, give up its nuclear programme and it gets all it wants, but recent tensions between North and South Korea has more to do with the succession problem in North Korea, thus its hard to see which forces are pushing for recent tensions, the nutty Dear Leader in need of Prozac or some military forces who want to replace the “ Royalty “ of North Korea, one thing can be postulated folks North Korea is all bluff no backbone.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the names of the UK Soldiers that were killed on Wednesday in Afghanistan, the Soldiers were “ Corporal Matthew James Stenton from The Royal Dragoon Guards and Lance Corporal Stephen Daniel Monkhouse from 1st Battalion Scots Guards ”. Our thoughts are with the families of Corporal Stenton and Lance Corporal Monkhouse.

No Election in 2007 COST US the Election in 2010 - former Labour Chancellor

New Statesman: Reports on comments by the last Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling, Mr Darling stated that when Gordon Brown failed to call an election in 2007 he really hurt Labour's chances of winning in 2010. The decision by Gordon Brown not to call an election in 2007 was an example of Gordon Brown at his worse, he didn't stand against Tony Blair in 1994, he caused havoc in Government by blocking the public sector reforms of Tony Blair, he pushed out Blair in 2007 with his constant coup attempts, then he made sure that when he become leader there was no contest, he wanted the Crown but didn't want to fight for it, the chance of going early and losing was to much for Brown thus his bottling of the election. The real black mark against Tony Blair is that he left the UK with Gordon Brown, that is worse that Iraq folks.

Tony Blair in the US HOT Seat over BP and Libya ?

Telegraph: Reports on the request by a US Senate Committee that former UK PM Tony Blair appear before it to discuss UK Government links with Libya and if these connections lead to the release of the Lockerbie bomber. How dare these Senators up for re-elections try to drag Tony Blair in to their Campaign runs, this request is nothing more than political play, a former UK PM does not have to justify his action to the US Senate, Mr Blair should tell the US Senate to take a running jump over a big cliff, the US Senate should keep their nose out and look in to how Obama Administration using the offer of public jobs to get people not to run in different State races, the request by the US Senate should be used as toilet paper. What cheek by the US Senate, a former or a current UK PM only has to answer to the House of Commons or Inquires set up by the House of Commons. END OF SUBJECT.

Obama Administration and Race 11

This is the White House view of the case of Shirley Sherrod and the rush to fire her from the Obama Administration, the White House Press Secretary stated the following, " ..... I think this is a fair way to put it: Members of this administration, members of the media, members of different political factions on both sides of this have all made determinations and judgments without a full set of facts. I think that is wholly and completely accurate. I think without a doubt Ms. Sherrod is owed an apology. I would do so certainly on behalf of this administration. I think if we learn -- if we look back and decide what we want to learn out of this, I think it is, as I said, everybody involved made determinations without knowing all the facts and all the events..... think we live in a culture that things whip around, people want fast responses, we want to give fast responses, and I don't think there’s any doubt that if we all look at this, I think the lesson -- one of the great lessons you take away from this is to ask all the questions first and to come to that fuller understanding. I say that, again, from the perspective of this administration; I say that from the perspective of those that cover this administration, and those that are involved in the back and forth in the political theater of this country. ". The Press Secretary is a 100% in this case. In this 24/7 news world its quick to rush to a judgement about an incident, but it also important to check a story out from top to bottom and sideways when it comes to race issues. The case of Shirley Sherrod shows that a story can be taken out of context, a story that has implications of racism turn out to be a story about learning how racism can be seen and how it can be reversed. In this case the from the White House down everyone jumped on the poor lady without the context of the story, this blog in future will be careful about racism stories, you have to be right folks, it does not matter if the White House gets the wrong end of the stick, they are politicians, when do politicians ever get the point. One has to in these days of political heat not allow ones political judgement to overcome the UK's believe in the truth, and also justice is blind, lets hope this is the last case of racism being used a political weapon by all sides in the political spectrum.

Deaths in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that two UK Soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, the Soldiers were from the "The Royal Dragoon Guards and the 1st Battalion Scots Guards ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 324 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 285 in combat operations and 39 due to illness, accidents and other incidents.

Iraq War " illegal " - Nick Clegg

Guardian: Reports on the remarks by the DPM Nick Clegg that the War in Iraq was illegal while he was standing in for PM Cameron at PMQs. As the article notes 10 Downing Street has stated that this is not the view of the Coalition Government, just the personal view of Nick Clegg the DPM of the Coalition. This might look like a mistaken comment but it helps Nick Clegg with his own Party. It shows that the Lib Dems have not been taken over by the Conservative Party, lets face it the Iraq War was not that popular with the UK voter. One can postulate that Cameron and Clegg have a common view on Afghanistan and Iraq but that the Conservative leader cant state such left wing views due to the right wing of the Conservative Party. Also Iraq is down to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, helps the Coalition to divert attention back on the major mistake of Labour while in power. Spin within Spin folks.

Hollow US sanctions against North Korea

Fox News: Reports that the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has placed even more sanctions on North Korea. The aim of these sanctions is to prevent the development of the nuclear programme of North Korea by hitting its funding. Folks its simple, North Korea is a nuclear armed power, without its nuclear bombs and its short range missiles who would care about North Korea if they didn’t have the bomb, they are experts at poker, they have rolled every President since Bill Clinton when it comes to their nuclear ability. At the end of the day the West will have to make a deal that is not great for the West, it will have to feed the people of North Korea, it will have accept the fact that North Korea is never going to give up its nuclear programme, the only deal that can be gotten is that North Korea does not sell the technology to Iran, as it sold it to Syria. The US cant launch a military strike on North Korea as its million man army will walk within a second in to South Korean Capital. Also China will not allow North Korea to fall apart, it does not need the millions of North Korean flooding its border. In essence a draw folks, and no one is happy.

Gordon Brown and the Polls

Guardian: An interesting blog post on Gordon Brown’s pollster in the guardian, on how Gordon Brown dealt with poll findings. In essence any aspiring politician should do the reverse of Gordon Brown, but it does have an interesting comment on Labour supporters in the 1980s, it seems they were “… all a bit weird…” As a life long Conservative supporter it did not take a pollster to tell me that Labour voters and supporters had the above profile, they elected Mr Foot as leader, he lead the Party to its worse election result in living memory. I would have replaced weird with out and out nuts, in need of prozac.

DP Clegg at PMQs

Telegraph: Nick Clegg the Deputy PM in the Coalition Government stands in at Prime Minister Questions while PM Cameron is in Washington D.C. A Telegraph review gives the thumps up to Mr Clegg. Mr Clegg does have polish in the House and is a safe pair of hands, on the whole good first stand in, Mr Clegg should be expected to be hated by the Labour Party. The political future for Mr Clegg is with the Coalition Government and the Conservative Party, the Labour Party will never do a deal with Mr Clegg as leader of the Lib Dems, thus a great political gambit by Mr Cameron, he has tied in the Lib Dems and even more important Mr Clegg needs Mr Cameron more than Cameron needs Clegg.

Conditions Based WITHDRAWAL in Afghanistan of UK Troops - 2011

BBC News: Reports on comments by the UK Coalition PM David Cameron that the UK could start to withdraw from Afghanistan next year based on conditions on the ground. Lets be honest here folks, PM Cameron wants out of Afghanistan, yes we have to keep the US happy but why should the UK lose one more soldier for a decision that has already been made to get out of Afghanistan. Lets get out next year, declare victory and leave Afghanistan to President Obama.

Black Racism and the Obama Administration

CNN:Reports on the case of Shirley Sherrod a Obama Administration official who admitted that race played a role in one of her decisions in a past post before she joined the Obama Administration. This is the last thing the Obama Administration needs, its bad on the ethics and on the politics, it plays in to view that the Obama Administration is in some form racist, left wing and does not care about whites and independents. Lets see who the main stream media play this latest story, lets see if they go big or small on the story, this blog can guess the outcome.

Black Racism and the Obama Administration

CNN:Reports on the case of Shirley Sherrod a Obama Administration official who admitted that race played a role in one of her decisions in a past post before she joined the Obama Administration. This is the last thing the Obama Administration needs, its bad on the ethics and on the politics, it plays in to view that the Obama Administration is in some form racist, left wing and does not care about whites and independents. Lets see who the main stream media play this latest story, lets see if they go big or small on the story, this blog can guess the outcome.

Lockerbie and the Mid Term Elections

Telegraph:Reports that the new UK Coalition PM David Cameron has agreed to meet with US Senators to discuss the release by the Lockerbie bomber and oil deals between BP and Libya. Lets be honest here folks, this issue is important but the reason that it has spiked is that BP is public enemy number one in the US and the Hill faces Mid Term Elections, the fault lies with the devolved Scottish Government and the Labour Government under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Mr Cameron should take it as a serious issue, but it’s a political issue, next week it will be something else that diverts the Congress.

Obama and Cameron MEET in the US

BBC News: Reports on the up and coming meeting between President Obama and the new UK Coalition PM David Cameron. Lets hope PM Cameron states to POTUS that the UK will be out of Afghanistan by 2014 and that the UK will turn its economy around by doing cuts not spending like a drunken sailor or a LIBERAL. But at the end of the day a UK PM has to be close to the American President, but lets not have another Iraq or Afghanistan. Also Mr Cameron should be aware that Obama could be a one term President, so close but not that close.

The Democrats at War - After Mid Term Elections ?

Time: Reports that Democrats are keeping their cannons on the White House out of sight in till after the Mid Term Congressional Elections, they want to show unity in till Congress goes to the Republicans. In many respects the Democrats on the Hill are very much like the New Labour Cabinet they are willing to falls on their swords, end their political careers due to the fact they don’t have the guts to tell Obama to get lost. If after the Mid Term Congressional Elections the Democrats have lost the House and the Senate expect movement to get Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run against Obama in 2012 as Edward Kennedy ran against Jimmy Carter in 1980. The difference this time folks is that it can be argued that Secretary Clinton could beat Obama, if by 2011 Obama is not close or above 50% in the polls he is a political dodo very much like Gordon Brown, the question will be asked do the Democrats have the guts of the Aussie Labour Party to dumb its leader when that leaders is a loser. Will the Democrats want Obama on top of the 2012 ticket or Hillary Clinton, doubt that Mrs Clinton would take the VP spot if offered by Obama, why be second when you can be POTUS.

Disaster of the Times Paywall

Guy Fawkes Blog: Reports on the low numbers of people willing pay for the Times online. Folks if you want your news free then go sites that don’t charge, NEWS is current folks, the Times seems to have forgotten the old business model of a loss leaders, this is simple folks, you sell something for a loss by you get them in and then they buy more expensive products, what has stopped the Times from becoming another online Book/DVD/ Music etc seller while keeping its news content free. Time no pun intended to teach the Times a lesson folks, go to free news sites, BBC, Guardian, Telegraph, New York Times ( in till they go behind a pay wall ) Independent, the political blogs. Show you preference folks, use your mouse for freedom of news.

US / South Korea Strong Alliance

The New York Times: Reports that the US and South Korean military are to take part in military exercises in South Korean waters. This is a good move by the Obama Administration, it shows that the US will not allow North Korea to bully its neighbour with the sinking of South Korean military vessel. Lets see what North Korea does next, it can be postulated that that North Korea will not take on the US Carrier Fleet. Thus the North will complain but do nothing, they are at the end of the day cowards, even they are not that bonkers to start a war with the US, also Obama can not afford for another country to slap him in the face after his failed policy with Iran. Thus the White House will react with force should North Korea attack any US Naval Vessels.

Mandelson and the Labour Party

Telegraph: Excellent article in the Conservative Telegraph on the relationship between Lord Peter Mandelson and New Labour, in essence Blair/Brown and Mandelson bought the Labour Party back from the POLITICAL DEAD. After the 2010 General Election defeat the Labour Party and the leadership contenders have decide on a policy of placing New Labour in the grave and are reverting to old Labour. This would be a political disaster for Labour, Tony Blair moved the Party to the centre and even the centre right when it came to business and foreign policy, but the fault in New Labour was that the move to the right on business didn’t allow for tight regulation, thus the banking meltdown of 2008, the foreign policy move lead to Iraq and Afghanistan, the UK only got out of Iraq in 2009 with the loss of 179 of its Armed Forces Personnel, the UK is still in Afghanistan, the death toll now stands at 322. The Labour Party NOW has to look at itself and find a centre ground that connects it back to its voters but getting back Southern England voters, this will not be a one day job, thus the Labour Candidates should not cast out Mandelson they might need him to get back in to power.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the name of the latest Soldier to die in Afghanistan, the Soldier was “ Staff Sergeant Brett George Linley, from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps ”. Our thoughts are with the family of Staff Sergeant Linley.

Welfare Reform

Guardian: Reports on arguments between the UK Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions, the argument is how to get people off welfare bill without it costing or cutting benefits to fund any welfare reform. The Coalition Government has to be tough, it has to cut benefits for those in the Middle Class, it’s a tax break in many respects, it needs tax money to help those get a job but also make sure that if you get a job you are not worse off, thus cut middle class benefits such as child benefits to any family with an income over forty thousand pounds, reduce benefits for those under forty thousand, in fact half such benefits. In the long term you get people back to work, the tax revenue goes up and you can afford to give back these tax benefits. This is the time for tough action folks, later down the line the political costs will be to high, strike while the voter understand and benefit at the polls later.

Afghan Exit 2014 - UK

Telegraph: Reports on remarks by the UK Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox that 2014 is the end date for the UK to start to withdraw combat troops out of Afghanistan. This will be a red flag to the Taliban / Al Qaeda they will see that the UK is looking for an EXIT route and they will be right. The problem of stating a date is that Taliban will start to hit UK troops more, they will see London as weak, if we are getting out lets get out NOW. Why should the UK lose one more of its Armed Forces Personnel in the hell hole that is Afghanistan, lets get out NOW and use SAS, SBS to help the Americans, but also lets make it clear if there is an attack in the UK that is planned from Afghanistan then the UK will use ALL means in retribution. Lets not play about with these people, let the new Afghan Government have it straight, its their job to keep order, or if attacked as in 7/7 the UK would reserve the right to use any means for its protection, any means!

Civil War in Labour Party - Lord Mandelson

BBC News: Reports Lord Mandelson is blaming ex Labour PM Gordon Brown for not allowing Tony Blair when he was Prime Minister from reforming the public sector. The Dark Prince has taken hostile fire from the candidates for the Labour Leadership over his memoirs, but in the Campbell Diaries and Mandelson Memoirs you see all the shine taken away from Labour, at the end of the day Gordon Brown when Chancellor was not going to allow PM Blair to have a major success in the domestic field, from 1994 to 2007 Gordon Brown resented that he has given way to Tony Blair and that Blair had become leader and PM. Thus failure of Blair/Brown to deal with welfare reform has been left in the lap of the new Coalition Government, also in the economic boom years the Labour Party did not save for a rainy day, thus the 25% - 40% cuts that the new government has to set in place. As in the 1970s the Labour Party ruined the economy now the new Coalition Government has to clean up the mess of New Labour, the blame is at the feet of Blair and Brown.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the names of three of the four Soldiers killed in Afghanistan since Friday, the Soldiers were, " Marine Jonathan David Thomas Crookes from 40 Commando Royal Marines,Senior, Aircraftman Gunner Kinikki "Griff" Griffiths, Sergeant David Thomas Monkhouse, from The Royal Dragoon Guards ". Our thoughts are with the families of Marine Crookes, Senior Aircraftman Griffiths and Sergeant Monkhouse.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a third British Soldier was killed on Saturday in Afghanistan, the Soldier was from the " Royal Logistic Corps, serving with the Counter-IED Task Force in support of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South) ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 322 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 283 in combat operations and 39 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a British Soldier has died in Afghanistan on Friday due to a traffic accident, the Soldier was from the " Royal Air Force Regiment ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 321 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 282 in combat operations and 39 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.

Public Spending Cuts and the Labour Party

Back to economic policy, geek stuff!

Alastair Campbell Blog: The Master of Labour Spin AC is attacking the public spending cuts of the new Coalition Government, AC states the following, “ …..have entered a return to Thatcherism, with Osbornic knobs on. The motto appears to be ... All cuts good, all spending bad, consequences not to be considered. ” After the Labour Party under Gordon Brown left the UK Treasury with no money and after ignoring advice form Lord Mandelson that Labour would have to deal with real cuts its pretty hard to take the Master of Spin seriously when it comes to an economic viewpoint. The Labour Party if it wants to be seen as serious about getting back in to POWER will have to say when it would cut and what, so for its all NO, not YES to cuts. The economic mess left by Labour is seen by the general public, they GET THE FACT that the UK is broke, perhaps Mr Campbell should spin less and recall how the rest of US get on in life. If we spend more than we have we go broke, if we had spent like Labour we would have been thrown in to Jail. But Mr Campbell is lucky this is not the 16/17th Centuries if Labour had been in power then they would have been thrown in to the Tower of London and rotten fruit thrown at them by the skint public and a very annoyed Crown. Also bring back the THATCHER YEARS, that was a great decade and the Conservative Party was in power for seventeen years.

Mad Men is BACK - USA

The New York Times: Reports on the return of the fourth season of Mad Men to US screens. Those lucky Colonials, sorry US Ally. Lets hope the BBC gets off its backside and gets the new series on UK air as soon as possible. I want to be Don Draper when I grow up!

Mandelson Talking - In the Sun light!

Telegraph: Great fun interview of the Dark Prince Lord Mandelson, Article of the Day.

Labour does NOT LOVE the Dark Prince - Lord Mandelson

BBC News: Reports that three of the contenders for the Labour Leadership; David Miliband, Ed Miliband and Andy Burnahm; have been highly critical of Lord Peter Mandelson and his memoir. The Dark Prince must be laughing his head off, Blair does not get his book out in till September and is abroad most of the time, Brown is in self exile in Scotland, and who is at the centre of attention, YES it’s the Dark Prince himself, Lord Mandelson, he really is the Master of Spin. In some respects Alastair Campbell must be fuming, his complete Diaries cover the period of 1994 - 1997 and the start of the Blair/Brown and Madelson feud in a lot of detail but who has the press, it’s the Dark Prince, advice to Mr Campbell learn from the Master of Spin Lord Mandelson on how to sell a book. Advice to readers, buy both books they are page turners, kind of meet in the middle in some respects.

Deaths in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that two British Soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan Today, the Soldiers were from the “ 40 Commando Royal Marines and the Royal Dragoon Guards ”. Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 320 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 282 in combat operations and 38 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.

Peter’s SPINNING - The Dark Prince Lord Mandelson

The Daily Mail: Reports on remarks by Lord Peter Mandelson on his book and the Labour Party, Lord Mandelson has stated that his book is flattering about ex PM’s Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. NO, NO NO, Lord Mandelson, it’s the truth about New Labour but its not flattering, it shows a bunch of egomaniacs that you would not allow to take your dog for a walk, with the Mandelson memoir and the Campbell Diaries you have Gordon Brown brooding and plotting over the succession of Tony Blair between 1994 - 2007, Tony Blair never really standing up to Gordon Brown, guilty about taking the PRIZE from him, then you have Peter Mandelson and Gordon Brown at daggers drawn, the Deputy Leader John Prescott not being kept informed, then you have internal Scottish Wars between Gordon Brown and the late Robin Cook. But this is the important point folks the Memoir of Lord Mandelson is a page turner as in the Alastair Campbell Diaries, lets hope Tony Blair has taken this in account for his book, you have to want to turn the page, lets recall this blog is quite Conservative.

Obama, the Political World and Real World!

Politico: Reports on the following perception on the Obama Presidency, “ Obama is still widely perceived as flirting with a failed presidency. ” As the article notes Obama has been very successful in getting the US Congress to pass his agenda, in Democratic terms he is more LBJ than Carter. But the Agenda does not get jobs for the American people, US Government statistics place the level of unemployment at 9.5%, Obama in his argument for his economic package stated that if it was passed the level would not go beyond 8%. Thus the Obama’s economic policy has failed, when it came to health care reform the White House argued that once it was passed the US voter would come around and support the policy, the latest polls show that the US voter still opposes ObamaCare. The Democrats always compare Obama to Ronald Reagan and his first term, Reagan’s economic package took time to work and he was down in the polls but the economic package did work by the time of the re- election campaign of 1984, Reagan won 49 states out of 50 and 59% of the vote. The Obama domestic agenda has higher taxes to fund his health care reform, the Bush 43 tax cuts will cease, business faces tax increase on various levels. Thus Obama might be LBJ when it comes to the Congress but LBJ got his backside kicked out of office in 1968. After LBJ the US had Republican Presidents from Nixon to Bush 43, and in between moderate to conservative Democrats in the White House. Thus still my prediction that Obama will lose Congress in 2010 and will either not run in 2012 or will lose by 49 states and the US will see a generation of Republican Presidents.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the name of the fourth soldier to be killed on Tuesday in Afghanistan, the Soldier was “ Marine Matthew Harrison from 40 Commando Royal Marines, serving as part of Combined Force Sangin ”. Our thoughts are with the family of Marine Harrison.

Blair and Iraq

Guardian: Reports on more revelations from the memoirs of Lord Mandelson, in this case it deals with Iraq, it seems that Tony Blair thought that post war planning for Iraq was down to the US. If your ally in a war you have JOINT responsibility for the aftermath, if the Iraq Inquiry finds fault with the Blair Government when it comes to post war planning then Labour Party might have to cut bait when it comes to Tony Blair, there are so many negative revelations of late when it comes to New Labour that the post Gordon Brown Labour Party will move to bury New Labour and disown its parents.

Rendition and Tony Blair

Telegraph: Reports on previous secret documents that seem to revel that the then UK PM Tony Blair supported the US policy of rendition of suspect terrorists even those with UK links. One word folks, GOOD, Bush 43 and Obama have the same policy when it comes to rendition, in this matter Mr Blair did the right thing as in the alliance with the US and in the national security interest of the UK. Lets be clear, there have been and will be mistakes in this policy, but if it saves lives then so let it be, we can protest because we have that right, but you have to be breathing to protest, the Bush/Blair Era polices allowed the UK and US to get its hands dirty as keep the public hands clean, good job Mr Blair.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the names of the three British Soldiers of the “ 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South) ” that were killed on Tuesday in Afghanistan, they were “ Major James Joshua Bowman, Lieutenant Neal Turkington and Corporal Arjun Purja Pun ”. Our thoughts are with the families of Major Bowman, Lieutenant Turkington and Corporal Pun.

Gordon Brown = Lord Byron and a Mafia Don ?

Guardian: Reports on more revelations form the Dark Prince Lord Mandelson, the Guardian reports that the ex UK PM Tony Blair stated that his successor was mad, bad etc, but it can be postulated without the writing qualities of Lord Byron and the threatening manner of a Mafia Don, didn’t hear about any horses head in 10 Downing Street. Have to admit this does sound over the top even for New Labour, but on other hand can you see Lady Thatcher putting up with Gordon Brown for a day never mind 10 years. This blog is still waiting to hear why Tony Blair didn’t sack Gordon Brown when he had the chance in 2005, yes Brown would have caused massive problems on the backbenches but at lest it would have been Blair ‘s Government, was Mr Blair afraid that he would share the same fate as Lady Thatcher when she got rid of her opposition. How New Labour every won three elections will be mystery to this blog for many a year, on the whole a bunch of ego maniacs with no self discipline and then there is the Iraq War, what more can you say about New Labour.

The Double Agent Feeling!

Its odd how some things never change, have just finished watching Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy with the great Sir Alec Guiness, its about double agents at the height of the Cold War, and what do I read in the Telegraph, the hot Russian spy Anna Chapman is being held by the Russians to check out if she is double agent. Advice to the successor KGB don’t let men question her, she could be a double agent and is so hot that the men would offer to carry the stuff to the US Embassy. But seriously folks, have to admit have enjoyed this return to the Cold War, there is one thing you can guarantee about the spy business folks, the real good ones by the end are working both sides against the middle, that how stay alive. Also they never allow emotion to get in the way, to miss quote a line from a film “ A spy should after a years of creating a network be willing to sell that network down the water in a second if its in the national security interest of that spy ”. At the end of the day folks it’s more George Smiley than James Bond, lot of leg work, reading and watching, and having a unhealthy diet on a stakeout. Would the US send back a double agent, in less it was setting up a agent to cover for another Agent in Moscow. Or of course the info about the Russian Agents came via the air.
　
　

Coalition Government WINS VAT vote in the House of Commons

BBC News: Reports that Coalition Government has won the vote in the House of Commons to increase VAT from 17.5 to 20%. Thus far so good in Coalition terms, the tough time really comes when the Treasury starts to cut Departmental Budgets from 25% to in some extreme cases 40%. The question has to be asked do the Liberal Democrats have the political backbone to be hated, if you’re a Conservative its part of the deal of being a Torie. The Budget cuts will make the Thatcher years look like old Labour was in power, but once the Government deficit is removed then the Conservatives can start to cut taxes, make government limited, reverse the Big Government view of New Labour. Then in 2015 the Conservative Party can send Labour in to political oblivion by winning a second term with an increase majority.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a fourth Soldier was killed on Tuesday in Afghanistan, the Soldier as a “ Marine from 40 Commando Royal Marines ”. Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 318 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 280 in combat operations and 38 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.

When the Plotter becomes the TARGET - Labour Leadership

Guardian: The Shadow Education Secretary and Labour Leadership Candidate Ed Balls has had to defend his role in the infamous Blair / Brown Wars, it seems all the coup attempts came down to creative differences. This is when Labour treats the voters as fools, it seems that Mr Balls is following the lead of his political master Gordon Brown, Mr Balls is making the same mistake as Gordon Brown, hiding from the truth, the Blair / Brown wars created the a political cancer for New Labour and in the end destroyed a well oiled winning political machine. I thought Mr Balls was a contender for the Leadership but his spinning shows that he has not learned from the mistakes of New Labour or the Blair/Brown turf Wars. In looking at the candidates one is left with David Milliband as the next leader, advice to young Mr Miliband, don’t put Ed Balls in the Shadow Cabinet, it will just be a rerun of the Blair/Brown Wars for the next generation.

In RODE the weak CABINET to political OBLIVION

Telegraph: More revelations from the memoirs of Lord Peter Mandelson, the former Business Secretary revels that senior Cabinet members thought that Labour would lose the General Election under PM Gordon Brown. One thing about the Conservative Party is when they see defeat they cut off the head of the leader and get a new one, thus the coup against Lady Thatcher and the succession of Sir John Major, it should be noted that Sir John become PM in 1990 and went on to win the 1992 General Election. The fact that the Labour Cabinet could see the writing on the wall and didn’t chop off Gordon Brown shows the right Party won the UK General Election in 2010.

Labour’s VAT Bombshell - VAT UP to 19%

BBC News: Reports that the Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling wanted to put up VAT but a veto came from PM Gordon Brown, while Chancellor Darling prevented a promise in the Labour Manifesto not to put VAT up. Thus when Labour attacks the Coalition Government it has to be seen as rank hypocrisy, at the end of the day taxes had to go up, and VAT is a good stream of money in to the government. The 156 billion deficit left by the last Labour Government has show the failure of Labour to reform itself, they had a chance in the good years to keep some of the money back for a rainy day but they spent it like drunk sailors. Thus the new Coalition Government has to cut government spending from 25% to 35% in some government departments. This is the age of austerity folks, the 1950s will look like the good times.

Deaths in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that three British Soldiers died Today after being attacked by a member of the Afghan National Army, the Soldiers came from the “ 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles ”. Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 317 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 279 in combat action and 38 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. This is the SECOND time this has happened with Afghan Security Forces, our troops should be allowed to take preventive action should they consider they are under a threat from the Afghan Army or Police.

The Iraq War and the Iraq Inquiry

Guardian: Reports on allegations by Carne Ross formerly of the FCO that the Iraq Inquiry has been lied to by past witness. The new Coalition Government should have placed the Iraq Inquiry under a more Judicial foundation, even if people have lied so what, without the legal power of perjury charges why should people tell truth that has a negative effect on their futures.

It should be noted that unlike Afghanistan, the War in Iraq falls only in to the PM eras of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Tony Blair to Gordon Brown = YOUR OUT

Telegraph: Reports on more revelations form the memoirs of Lord Mandelson, PM Gordon Brown was told by ex PM Tony Blair that he would have to give up 10 Downing Street. There was no way these days that Gordon Brown could have kept the keys of 10 Downing Street, the tribal politicians of Labour had their mugs on TV saying that this was a chance for centre left alliance between the Lib Dems and Labour. The price would have been keeping Gordon Brown in power for a while, it should be recalled that the Labour result was the worse in living memory, even worse that 1983. At the end of the day the grow ups in Labour told the bunkers around Gordon Brown that Labour had lost they had to go, also the Lib Dems went with the Conservative Party. In 1997 the new Labour PM Tony Blair wanted to deal with the Lib Dems but the massive majority prevent such a deal, it was to late in 2010.

The FINAL nail in the political coffin of Gordon Brown!

BBC News: Reports on the memoirs of Lord Peter Mandelson, it was the Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg that put the stake through the political heart of Gordon Brown. If the Lib Dems do nothing for the next hundred years they did the UK a favour by getting rid of Gordon Brown. The shallowness of New Labour is seen in its dark glory through the Diaries of Spin Master Campbell and the Memoirs of the Dark Prince himself Lord Mandelson.

Blair vs the Dark Prince

The Daily Mail: Reports on a bust up between former UK PM Tony Blair and the Dark Prince himself Lord Mandelson, the issue the book launch by Lord Mandelson and that Tony Blair is in essence portrayed as two faced, that his word was not his bond. If Mandelson’s book is not a bestseller I will donate a fiver to the Labour Party, this is fun politics folks, when the Masters of spin turn on themselves. RIP New Labour.

The Dark Prince RETURNS

This is how to sell a book folks, the Dark Prince Lord Mandelson is really going after Gordon Brown, why in the earth did Gordon Brown bring back Mandelson to the Cabinet. This is New Labour at its worse, Tony Blair must be tearing his hair out, makes him look bad in the long term.

The Dark Prince ( Lord Mandelson ) vs. the Brown Camp

The Sunday Telegraph: The bitter feuds of the Blair/Brown years has come back to haunt the Labour Party with the publication of autobiography of Lord Peter Mandelson. The Dark Prince can forget getting an job in another Labour Government, in the Labour mind the Coalition Government is on the back foot and this book only brings back the bad days of the political cancer at the heart of New Labour, the political feud between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair. The destructive relationship was political lethal for Labour, for over ten years of Tony Blair in 10 Downing Street you had the open and covert warfare between Blair and Brown and their allies. By the time Tony Blair was pushed out in 2007 by the Brown Camp had become a spent political force, in his turn Gordon Brown faced numerous coup attempts, the defence for Brown was Lord Mandelson, without Mandelson Brown would have been toast a lot sooner. What is new is the fact that Lord Mandelson could see that Labour was going to lose and was looking to parachute out of Labour back in to Europe, this seems to have opened up the old wounds, thus the lousy Labour Campaign of 2010. Lord Mandelson can expect a lot more arrows in his direction from Labour, Tony Blair in some respects must be laughing his head off, Labour was only a major political force when he was leader, after he left Labour returned to its losing form.

Here Gone tomorrow Politician!

Alastair Campbell Blog: AC is defending Tony Blair again over his visit to Kosovo, the master spin is has his back up over the lack of UK press interest in the visit by ex PM Blair to Kosovo, Mr Campbell writes the following sarcastic remark, “ Tony, you know that Iraq is the only country you had anything to do with ”. Yes to give Mr Blair his due he was part of the solution to the Northern Ireland troubles and saved the people of Kosovo, but at the end of the day he was another Eden, the UK has been thrown out of Iraq for a second time, the War in Afghanistan is not going well, the economy left by Labour is in the toilet. Its about time AC saw that in many respects he was part of the problem for Mr Blair. It can be postulated that in the future when you think of Mr Blair you will think of Iraq and the post failure planning after the War. Also Mr Blair left the UK with Gordon Brown, that was beyond the pale.

A Coalition AFTER 2015?

The Daily Mail: Reports that UK PM David Cameron has suggested that the UK Coalition could go carry on after the supposed 2015 Election. This would be a major revolution in UK politics folks, if the Conservatives and Lib Dems could agree not to attack each other at the next election and offer the UK a future Coalition Government and if the voters supported such a revolution the Labour Party would be out of power for a generation. Its the reverse of what Tony Blair really wanted after the 1997 election but could not due to having a such a massive majority. One can postulate that Tony Blair is smiling somewhere, it would show that he was right when it came to the politics of getting a deal with the Lib Dems but that Labour Party would not get in to bed with the Lib Dems once they smelled power.

Gordon Brown = Leonid Brezhnev ?

Guardian: Reports on a speech by David Miliband the former Foreign Secretary and leading candidate for the Labour Leadership, Mr Miliband stated that PM Gordon Brown sent the Labour Party “ backwards and left it lacking a central creed. ”. In essence Mr Miliband wants to place the blame for the election defeat at the door of Gordon Brown, he wants to move away from New Labour due to the fact that his own brother Ed Miliband and another candidate for the Labour leadership has moved to the left. Thus it must be sad day for the founders of New Labour, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Peter Mandelson and the Spin Master himself Alastair Campbell to their creation buried and scorned. The question for the Labour Party is NOW WHAT ? It was New Labour that got Labour elected, if they throw out New Labour and return to OLD Labour they might get spirit back but never win another election. Thus a warning to the Labour Party, DON’T SCORN YOUR PARENTS, Blair, Brown, Mandelson and Campbell.

The Feud that would NEVER Die !

Telegraph: Reports on comments by the former Labour Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, Lord Mandelson states that the former Labour PM Tony Blair had to do battle with his Chancellor and future successor Gordon Brown from the moment Mr Brown made way for Tony Blair to be elected leader to his departure in 2007. This is not breaking news, the Alastair Campbell Diaries show a brooding Gordon Brow, also the constant view that Lord Mandelson was up to something and how Tony Blair had to deal with these over the top egos. One at times feels sorry for Tony Blair, why he didn’t sack Gordon Brown in 2005 after the General Election is the one issue that remains a mystery in till the next book by Mr Campbell.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the name of the second UK Soldier to die in Afghanistan on Thursday, the Soldier was “ Marine David Charles Hart from 40 Commando Royal Marines, serving as part of Combined Force Sangin ”. Our thoughts are with the family of Marine Hart.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the name of the first of two British Soldiers that died in Afghanistan on Thursday, the Soldier was “ Bombardier Samuel Joseph Robinson serving in support of Combined Force Sangin ”. Our thoughts are with the family of Bombardier Robinson.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a second British Soldier was killed on Thursday in Afghanistan, the Soldier was a “ Royal Marine from 40 Commando Royal Marines ”. Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 314 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 276 in combat operations and 38 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.

Obama’s NOSEDIVE in the Polls

Gallup: Reports on the latest dive in the approval ratings for President Obama, the latest job performance poll is as follows for Obama, Approval 44% and Disapproval 48%. In 1980 when Congress members felt that Carter was a threat to their re-election they dragged in Senator Edward Kennedy run against President Carter, will Hillary Clinton resign in 2011 and run against Obama, or will President Obama be forced to give Clinton the VP spot. If the Obama White House loses the Capital Hill expect the House and Senate members to move to the Clinton Camp, it could be a rough two years for President Obama, thus my prediction that he will not run in 2012 or will lose by 48/49 states. Also lets recall that in 1976 Ronald Reagan ran against President Ford, Reagan only lost at the Republican Convention by about a hundred votes, Hillary Clinton would have Bill Clinton at her side, she could win and beat Obama in 2012.

Its getting Dirty folks, Labour Leadership Campaign

The Independent: Reports on allegations by the former Health Secretary and Labour Leadership Candidate Andy Burnham that another candidate is using a the black political arts to get Mr Burnham out of the race, it has been floated that Mr Burnham wants a exit out of the race as to avoid coming last. Have to admit Mr Burnham has not set the race alight, he keeps going out about that he is from the North, if he wanted to actor in Coronation Street so let it be, but he is running for the Labour Leadership, lets look how badly Gordon Brown did with Southern England, okay Mr Burnham is not Scottish but he is not Tony Blair or David Cameron either, lets be honest they comes from the elites, the UK it seems prefers its PM to know from the start which knife and fork to use in a State Dinner. As to whom VIEWS is supporting, well for the sake of the Labour Party it should have a look at Ed Balls. Before you start, yes VIEWS is a Conservative Blog but Mr Balls has the passion to lead the Labour Party in Opposition, when in Opposition you need a passionate leader to lead the troops. Also Mr Balls has had a few good days when it comes to his former Brief of Education, he has placed the Coalition Government on the back foot over cuts in Education. Lets be clear Mr Balls will not be the next Labour PM but he is a decent stop gap while Labour find a new Tony Blair.

The Classic Spy Swap

Telegraph: Reports that the Stunning Russian Spy Anna Chapman and her fellow spies will be swapped for alleged Western Spies in Russian Jails. Its seems that both Washington D. C and Moscow wanted to settle this case before it got even more bad PR for the relationship between the US and Russia. This blog would advice Ms Chapman to take up another career, modelling or acting perhaps, her intelligence cover is well blown.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a British Soldier was killed today in Afghanistan, the Soldier was from the " 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, serving in support of Combined Force Sangin ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 313 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 275 in combat operations and 38 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the name of the British Soldier that died in the UK of wounds sustained in Afghanistan, the Soldier was “ Private Thomas Sephton, 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment ”. Our thoughts are with the family of Private Sephton.

Torture Whitewash ?

Guardian: Has a very tough article on the new torture Inquiry, the Guardian notes the following, “ .. government officials made clear, that most of the evidence to the inquiry will be heard in private, and as a non-statutory inquiry, its powers will be limited. ” Also the Inquiry will not have access to CIA officials or even to then Labour PM Tony Blair, in other words folks it can be argued from the left that this is a Whitewash, but the difference is that in this case its good to have a whitewash, the PR will be good, the alleged victims will receive a payout for their suffering and the UK can follow its tradition policy of letting sleeping dogs lie. The truth is never pretty and in the cases after 9/11 the Labour Government had no choice but to act like Jack Bauer from the 24 series. In that time the Western Governments and people thought that there would be another attack, that the attack could even have been from weapons of mass destruction, but due to the polices of the Bush/Blair Governments there was not another 9/11. Thus lets wash those walls white folks.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the name of the British Soldier that was killed on Monday in Afghanistan, the Soldier was “ Trooper James Anthony Leverett of D (The Green Horse) Squadron, The Viking Group, The Royal Dragoon Guards ”. Our thoughts are with the family of Trooper Leverett.

Obama and Netanyahu

Lets have a look at the today’s meeting between President Obama and Israeli PM Netanyahu, the official White House readout of the meeting states the following on the relationship, “ The President and the Prime Minister reaffirmed the strong, unbreakable bonds that characterize the special relationship between the United States and Israel. ”. In other words both President and PM figured out that they needed each other, Obama cant throw Israel under the bus, the Democratic Party would rather throw Obama under the bus with his present poll ratings, while Israel needs the security support of the US under President Obama, PM Netanyahu stated the following on the relationship in the Oval “ Let me make a general observation…..And here I’ll have to paraphrase Mark Twain, that the reports about the demise of the special U.S.-Israel relations -- relationship aren’t just premature, they're just flat wrong. There’s a depth and richness of this relationship that is expressed every day. Our teams talk. We don't make it public. The only thing that's public is that you can have differences on occasion in the best of families and the closest of families; that comes out public -- and sometimes in a twisted way, too. ” In other words we are stuck with each other, and the Obama ego has seen the political polls, he cant walk on water or stop an oil spill, does not need the Israeli lobby on his back at the present. The Obama thaw can be seen with the following from the readout “ In light of the threat posed to both our nations and to regional stability by Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, the President and the Prime Minister reiterated their strong support for the adoption of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1929 and the additional national measures that have been taken since its adoption, and discussed the need to build upon that strong foundation as we continue to strengthen the international coalition dedicated to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The President reaffirmed the United States’ unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security, and the leaders reviewed the significant progress made in recent months to expand coordination between our militaries, to preserve and strengthen Israel’s qualitative military edge, and to fortify Israel’s ballistic missile defenses, including through additional U.S. financial support for Iron Dome. The President told the Prime Minister he recognizes that Israel must always have the ability to defend itself, by itself, against any threat or possible combination of threats, and that only Israel can determine its security needs. The President pledged to continue U.S. efforts to combat all international attempts to challenge the legitimacy of the State of Israel. The President and the Prime Minister discussed the global challenge of nuclear proliferation and the need to strengthen the nonproliferation system. They also exchanged views on the regional conference to discuss a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction and systems for their delivery referenced in the 2010 NPT Review Conference final document. The President informed the Prime Minister that, as a cosponsor charged with enabling the proposed conference, the United States will insist that such a conference will be for discussion aimed at an exchange of views on a broad agenda, to include regional security issues, verification and compliance, and all categories of weapons of mass destruction and systems for their delivery. The President emphasized that the conference will only take place if all countries feel confident that they can attend, and that any efforts to single out Israel will make the prospects of convening such a conference unlikely. In this regard, the two leaders also agreed to work together to oppose efforts to single out Israel at the IAEA General Conference in September. The President emphasized that the United States will continue its long standing practice to work closely with Israel to ensure that arms control initiatives and policies do not detract from Israel’s security, and support our common efforts to strengthen international peace and stability. ”. In other words folks hands off the Israeli nuclear capability, Obama like Reagan wants a nuclear free world, its not going to happen, so he just better get the idea in to his head, neither Israel or Iran if it gets the bomb are going to give them up to make Obama happy, and Obama is no Reagan or JFK.
　
　
　
　
　　
　
　
　

Obama and Netanyahu on Iran

Some interesting comments by President Obama and PM Netanyahu on Iran, President Obama stated the following, “ We discussed the issue of Iran, and we pointed out that as a consequence of some hard work internationally, we have instituted through the U.N. Security Council the toughest sanctions ever directed at an Iranian government. In addition, last week I signed our own set of sanctions, coming out of the United States Congress, as robust as any that we've ever seen. Other countries are following suit. And so we intend to continue to put pressure on Iran to meet its international obligations and to cease the kinds of provocative behavior that has made it a threat to its neighbors and the international community. ” The question will this be enough for Israel, it can postulated in the short term yes but there has to be a solution, the Israeli PM stated the following on Iran “ The greatest new threat on the horizon, the single most dominant issue for many of us, is the prospect that Iran would acquire nuclear weapons. Iran is brutally terrorizing its people, spreading terrorism far and wide. And I very much appreciate the President’s statement that he is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. That has been translated by the President through his leadership at the Security Council, which passed sanctions against Iran; by the U.S. bill that the President signed just a few days ago. And I urge other leaders to follow the President’s lead, and other countries to follow the U.S. lead, to adopt much tougher sanctions against Iran, primarily those directed against its energy sector. ”. Its not very subtle folks, there is time for sanctions but there comes a time when the talk has to end and Israel will take action. In the Q/A session with the Press in the Oval the Israeli PM stated the following, “…I think the sanctions the President signed the other day actually have teeth. They bite. The question is -- how much do you need to bite is something I cannot answer now. But if other nations adopted similar sanctions, that would increase the effect….”. Thus Obama has bought off Israel for a short time when it comes to Israel bombing Iran, but the clock is ticking folks, don’t confuse the Middle East Process with a planned Israeli attack on Iran, once Mossad gets the word that Iran is close to being a member of the nuclear club they will take out Iran.
　
　

UK Troops out of Sangin - Afghanistan Humiliation

Telegraph: Reports that UK troops will be withdrawn from the area of Sangin in Helmand Province of Afghanistan. This is a major humiliation folks for the UK Army, the UK has lost over a hundred soldiers in the Sangin area. One the one hand its good that our troops are getting out of the hell hole that is Sangin but its not a withdrawal from Afghanistan, this smells like Iraq all over again! In Iraq by the end the UK was not trusted by the Iraqi Government or the US Administration. In the history of the British Army it’s the second time we have been thrown out of Iraq, the times we have withdrawn from Afghanistan is to many. One has to be brutal why did we lose over a hundred brave soldiers, was it for sand to slip through our fingers. One can postulate that the new Conservative PM David Cameron wants out of Afghanistan thus his recent remarks about wanting the UK out of Afghanistan by the next UK General Election in 2015. If this is the first step to withdrawal then it’s a slow start, if we are getting out lets get out, why lose one more Soldier for a War that we cant carry the burden any more, its been a long and bloody war in Afghanistan, time to stand down. The UK should use the economic mess left by the past Labour Government as a reason to get hell out of Afghanistan, also it’s a Coalition Government, thus reason enough to get out. Afghanistan is turning in to another Iraq humiliation folks.
　

Israel and the US

BBC News: Reports on a meeting between President Obama and the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Well if Mr Netanyahu gets a picture and a press conference that will be a major step up from the last meeting between the two men, Israel has somewhat mellowed its stand over Gaza, while the US has been positive about such developments. The main topic from the Israeli side will be Iran, what is Obama going to do to prevent a nuclear armed Iran, on the US side they have two points, prevent Israel from attacking Iran and getting the Middle East Peace Process moving. It can be argued that the Middle East peace process will be around long after the Obama Administration is memory, the real problem is Iran, Israel can only give the Obama Administration so much time, sooner or later it will have to cut bait when it comes to President Obama and attack Iran. At the end of the day Obama likes the echo of his own voice, he wants to be loved by the left thus he will not take action, Israel should hit Iran just before the Mid Term Congressional Elections, make Obama take a stand, either support Israel or Iran. Of course if the Republicans win Congress then the Israeli lobby has a VETO over Obama when it comes to Israel.

Torture Allegations

The UK Prime Minister David Cameron has set up an investigation in to torture allegations against the UK Intelligence Services. In the Statement the PM stated the following, “ I believe we have the finest intelligence services in the world…..The intelligence services also keen publicly to establish their principles and integrity…..” The PM stated the following on the nature of the Independent Inquiry, “ It will look at whether Britain was implicated in the improper treatment of detainees held by other countries that may have occurred in the aftermath of 9/11. And if we were, what went wrong, and what do we need to do to learn the lessons…” The Inquiry would note the circumstances post 9/11 the PM stated the following, “... we should not be naïve or starry-eyed about the circumstances our security services were working under in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. There was a real danger that terrorist could get their hands on a dirty bomb, chemical and biological weapons – or even worse. Threat levels had been transformed. The urgency with which we needed to protect our citizens was pressing. But let me state clearly, we need to know the answers. If things went wrong, why? And what we must do to uphold the standards that people expect. ” The PM makes it clear that due to the nature of the investigation that most of it will be behind closed door, the PM stated the following, “ Let’s be frank, it is not possible to have a full public inquiry into something that is meant to be secret. So any intelligence material provided to the Inquiry panel will not be made public and nor will intelligence officers be asked to give evidence in public. ” There will be those that argue that this is a cover up, they want the 1970s US Congressional type open meetings, that was a disaster for the CIA, it took years to recover, some have argued that in never really recovered thus Iran - Contra. But when it comes to a ticking dirty bomb or other weapons of mass destruction the State has to take action that the left will always hate, but its by taking these dirty actions that people are allowed the freedoms to protest.