Obama on Iran

The White House: Statement by the President. President Obama has stated the following on Iran, “ …what I can say with respect to Iran, I think it's very important to remember, particularly given some of the political noise out there, that this administration has systematically imposed the toughest sanctions on Iraq -- on Iran ever. When we came into office, the world was divided, Iran was unified and moving aggressively on its own agenda. Today, Iran is isolated, and the world is unified in applying the toughest sanctions that Iran has ever experienced. And it's having an impact inside of Iran. And that's as a consequence of the extraordinary work that's been done by our national security team. Now, Iran understands that they have a choice: They can break that isolation by acting responsibly and foreswearing the development of nuclear weapons, which would still allow them to pursue peaceful nuclear power, like every other country that's a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, or they can continue to operate in a fashion that isolates them from the entire world. And if they are pursuing nuclear weapons, then I have said very clearly, that is contrary to the national security interests of the United States; it's contrary to the national security interests of our allies, including Israel; and we are going to work with the world community to prevent that. ” If I was the Oval I would not be that smug, the Israeli Government does not have confidence in President Obama, thus the recent talk that Israel will strike Iran. The storming of the UK Embassy in Tehran shows that the hardliners want to unify the people behind an anti Western PR campaign. The Tehran Regime thinks that Obama is bluffing, they have in essence told him to get lost, thus their confidence in the plan to kill the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in the US. The Middle East from Israel to Tehran think they have the Obama number, thus the Obama Administration or its allies through their intelligence services have being using covert means to delay Iran going nuclear. The shooting down of a drone in Iran shows that that tensions are building folks, Obama might not have the time to wait, either Israel strikes Iran as it struck Iraq in 1981 and Syria in 2007 or Obama will have to take action, time is running out folks.

Death in UK - Afghanistan Theatre

MOD: Reports that a UK Soldier has died in the UK of wounds sustained in Afghanistan, the Soldier was from the “ 35 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers ”. Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 391 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 347 in combat action and 44 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.

ECB and the Markets

Telegraph Live - Euro: Reports that the UK’s FTSE -100 was down 1.14% after the ECB stated it would not increase its bond buying scheme. In other words folks there is only so much that the ECB can do for Italy and the rest of the bailed out States of the Euro. The bond rates of Italy and Spain have started to raise again folks, how long before Spain gets its begging bowl out, lets hope Italy never asks, the EU does not have a big bowl. The Godfather would not be happy!

Obama on the Euro

Guardian Live - Euro: Reports from the AP that President Obama has stated that the EU can solve the Euro crisis if it has the political will, but what is interesting is the reaction Guardian, “ So that's it then, Obama says it'll be OK. We can all rest easy. ”. The left wing Guardian sending up POTUS, it seems on the financial side that even the PC Guardian does not trust the judgement of Obama. Also lets get real folks, the US has a 15 trillion debt, the Super Committee failed to develop a plan for trillions of cuts, the US under Obama has lost its AAA rating with S&P, the Republican House wont pass a thing that Obama wants, and here is Obama lecturing the EU on its problems, get a grip Oval. Your no JFK or Reagan, solve your own problems first, the STAR has not had box office hit in a while, grow up POTUS.

France and the Euro

BBC News: Reports that French President Nicolas Sarkozy has stated that Europe could fall apart without a deal at the EU Summit. The Capitols of Paris and Berlin want a new EU Treaty that allows the EU Commission to regulate the Eurozone and to fine those Countries that break the rules. Lets recall folks there are already rules, but who broke these rules, lets have a guess, UK, NO, it was Germany and France. Lets be clear, if in the future the French need to break the rules they will, does not matter what the leaders say NOW. When it comes down to it France is about France, you have to respect that, if they do break the rules in the future, do you think Paris is going to care a second what the EU thinks, of course not, the UK PM should be firm with our European allies, at the end of the day UK PM Cameron should safeguard UK interests and prevent the Eurozone outvoting the UK in the future. Tense time ahead folks.

Goody bye Colonel Potter - Harry Morgan has Died

The New York Times: Reports on the death of the actor Harry Morgan, best known as Colonel Potter in MASH. This blog send its condolences to the family and friends of Mr Morgan, a fine dramatic and comic actor, his Colonel Potter was the kind of officer you would hope to get if you ended up in the services, firm, considerate, wise, and the ability to see the fun side of life but also get on with the military job. Goodbye Colonel Potter.

PM Cameron and the Euro

Guardian: Reports on the pressures faced by the UK Coalition PM, the article states the following, “ ..buffeted by the conflicting pressures of a Eurosceptic cabinet ….and increasing isolation in key capitals across Europe. ”. At the end of the day the Eurozone Countries need the UK to agree for the EU Institutions to regulate any new 17 nation euro deal, if the UK does not get what it wants when it comes to the single market and the City of London the PM can veto any deal. The Liberal Democrats might not be happy but what choice do they have, do they want a General Election based on Europe. They would be destroyed, the Labour Party also has a healthy element of Euro sceptic MPs and members. Thus it might suite PM Cameron to take this to the edge. He has to keep the support of his Party, he is the Conservative leader, he can not afford to become the next Edward Heath. That’s the UK version of Jimmy Carter. In other words a disaster in Office. Thus the PM should stand up to Germany and France, safeguard UK interests and reclaim some powers back, the EU needs the UK more than the UK needs the Euro, after all its always the Germans causing the problems, no to Euro bonds, No to the ECB taking action, invading Poland, sorry wrong REICH. Time for Cameron to be Churchill not Chamberlain.

The German/French Plan - EU

BBC News: Reports on elements of the German/French plan to save the Euro, the two Countries are asking for a common corporation tax and a tax on the financial sector of the Eurozone. The UK has made it clear that the main red spots for the Coalition Government is that 17 States of the Euro should not damage the single market, or that the EU should try to backdoor a tax on the UK financial sector. As the article notes even the 17 States of the Euro might have problems with the plan, Ireland with the common corporation tax, that has been a major selling point for the Irish, if the Eurozone push for an increase then these Big Companies will go to cheaper areas, the UK should look at this factor. The Germans must be mad to agree to a tax on their financial sector, the UK has said no, the USA the same, this really could hurt Germany. Also lets not forget that the credit agency S&P has warned that Germany and France are on a negative credit watch, what if this plan does not work, what if it makes it worse, it does not solve the debt crisis of the EU. The Germans have made it clear that Euro bonds are off the table and that the ECB should be the lender of last resort. The German Coalition Government might want to agree to the above but they would have to get it through the German Parliament and the German Supreme Court. The idea that this plan will be done by March 2012 shows how out of touch the EU is, what if Ireland says No again, will they be forced to have another vote, will democracy been thrown in the bin to keep the 4th German Economic Reich happy. This folks could make the crisis worse, there are always unknowns of the unknowns out there folks. There is always that iceberg.