Harvard and the Russian Spy

The New York Times: Reports on how one of the alleged Russian Spies Donald Heathfield went through Harvard’s Kennedy School for Government course, also how he kept close contact with those in his class. Harvard is seen as one of the ways to become a mover and shaker in world politics. Lets see if this Russian spy network went beyond just taking pay checks from Moscow, did they cause any real damage, did they compromise any one in public office or get leaks from public officials. Kennedy and Sex does seem to go together, one can postulate that JFK would have been fascinated by one of the alleged spies, guess who!

The SELLING of a SEXY Spy!

Guardian: Reports on how the Media has gone bonkers over the alleged Russian “ Hot Babe - Sexy ” Spy, Anna Chapman. Well folks if the broadsheets of the press are going with the story this blog even with its high concept of Foreign Policy and US, UK Politics has to follow, if the allegations are true many weeks of news reports on Ms Chapman, worse ways to spend a Summer reading.

Petraeus of Afghanistan

Fox News: Reports that the US Senate has confirmed General Petraeus as the next US Commander in Afghanistan. Lets be clear here folks General Petraeus turned around Iraq, but can he turn around Afghanistan, no war is the same, the conditions on the round in Afghanistan are different from Iraq, at its most basic the power of the Kabul Government runs from the Presidential Palace to the outskirts of Kabul. In Iraq there was enough of a national identity for Petraeus to work with and thus turn Iraq around, in Afghanistan the Taliban and Al Qaeda are more linked, thus it will be hard to get moderate Taliban or War Lords to support the Kabul Government. Also why should these people place their heads above the trench when the US has stated it will leave in 2011, this was a major mistake by President Obama. In his confirmation hearings General Petraeus stated that 2011 was a start date to leave Afghanistan not an end in itself. Thus it can be postulated that Petraeus has about a year to turn around Afghanistan, if by next year the Taliban / Al Qaeda are still winning then Obama and NATO must start to look for a Plan Z, as stated get a strong man in, allow him to run Afghanistan has he wants, as long as no Al Qaeda, also place a Special Forces Base in Pakistan, and allow Afghanistan to become a free fire zone for future defence of Western interests in the region.

The Hot Babe Spy ?

Telegraph: Reports that the UK is looking in to the alleged case of the Russian Spy Anna Chapman and her connections in the UK. All the UK papers have run pictures of Ms Chapman, if true the spy business must attract stunning women, if one didn't know she was alleged spy who had been arrested in the USA you would think she was a celebrity, a actress or a supermodel. If is Ms Chapman is cleared by the US authorities and is not a spy; if she was one her cover has been blown till the end of time; then she has a career as a model or actress. On other hand if she is a spy the US should throw the book at her, the rest of Western World might live on the superficial but this blog does not, a Russian spy how ever good looking is a threat to Western security, even more so if good looking, lets hope Ms Chapman has a good agent and has copyright on her pics , she might need the money for her lawyer fees. I would postulate that James Bond would very happy to debrief Ms Chapman.

1.3m to lose Jobs - Coalition Cuts ?

BBC News: Reports on a Guardian article that states that UK Treasury thinks that up to 1.3 million people will lose their jobs due to the Budget Cuts. At the end of the day the UK can not have an effective economy if employment comes direct or indirect from the Government, the private sector has to grow, the private sector should be the force for the creation of jobs. The last Labour Government threw money at the public sector, one can postulate that it was more do with politics than ideological agenda, more public sector more votes for the Labour Party. The problem with this theory is that it only works as long as the economy is going great, if not then we are on the road to Cuba or the old USSR. The Budget will hurt folks, then good, tough medicine for a better tomorrow.