The US and the Ukraine - 2nd Term Blues

Telegraph: Reports on US policy towards the protesters in the Ukraine, " John Kerry to meet Ukrainian opposition leaders in Germany ".

Lets Get Real:

Thus the US Secretary of State John Kerry IS finally doing something about the Ukraine, he has waited long enough, one does wonder does the Oval have Kerry on a lead, that is the problem when you make someone like Kerry your Secretary of State, Kerry is a War hero, was Lt Governor of his State, was a US Senator and was the Democratic nominee for President in 2004, he has his own political base.   It can be argued its better to appoint someone who does not have his political base within the Party and in his dreams thinks he should be in the Oval.  The Obama Administration has to be careful that it does not push to hard, the Kremlin has a vast interest in the Ukraine, if Putin thinks that the US is trouble making in his own backyard he could cause problems with Syria and Iran.   The Oval has to be careful, and keep an eye on Kerry, just in case he is free lancing for himself and not for the Oval Office. 

The Truth and the Obama Administration

Guardian: Reports on remarks by President Obama defending his Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, the article notes the following, " Obama admits intelligence chief fault over false Senate testimony..President continues to defend James Clapper in the face of calls for his resignation after 'untruthful' statement about bulk collection ".

Lets Get Real:

On this issue the DNI was right to lie to Congress and the Oval is right in defending him, on the whole the Obama Administration has a fickle understanding of telling the truth but the data collection was rightly protected by the DNI, Obama understands that he needs the NSA to keep him informed of any THREAT to the US, if he curtails the NSA and something happens, the people wont blame themselves, the liberal elite press will turn on Obama and ask why he did not defend the US.   On the issue of intelligence the US has to bug everyone so it knows what it does not need to know, thus the millions of texts from around of the World that is picked up by the NSA.   The President has to stand up to the Congress on this issue, he can not fold, he can not give way, he has to protect the  US, thus hat off to the Oval.

The MESS in the Ukraine - Great Russia Threat

Telegraph: Reports the following from the Ukraine, " Ukraine's Yanukovych takes sick leave as opposition refuses to abandon protests..Protesters say they have no plans to go home, after government passes amnesty bill ".

Lets Get Real:

The Ukrainian protesters have to careful that they do not give a reason for President Putin of Russia to march in to the Eastern part of the Ukraine to protect Russian natives, Putin's Russia wants to return Russia to the former lands of the old USSR, thus if the Ukraine looks like it is falling in to Civil War it could use that reason.   If the President is off on sick leave and the Government has resigned, who is running the Ukraine, a leaderless country allows right and left wing extremes to fill up the space of power, thus the Ukraine protesters have to play their cards with care and know when they have won. 

Blair on the the Egyptian Counter Revolution - Egypt Crisis

Guardian: Reports the following from Egypt, " Tony Blair backs Egypt's government and criticises Brotherhood..Former British PM says Muslim Brotherhood was stealing Egypt's revolution and army intervention has put it on right path ".

Lets Get Real: 

The liberal left will go bonkers with the above remarks, the extreme left consider Mr Blair a War Criminal after the Iraq War, this will further the image that Blair is on the extreme right wing of politics and only cares about Western interests in the Middle East.   As with the Iraq War Mr Blair is RIGHT, the Egyptian Army acted to protect the people of Egypt from the Government turning Egypt in to another Iran.   The mass support for the Army by the people has shown that the Muslim Brotherhood had abused it time in power to for its own end, and thus the people revolted.  Hat off to Mr Blair for his wise words and actions.   It is a pity that Mr Blair is not in power NOW, Syria would be so different under a Bush 43/Blair type of leadership. 

WMD and Syria - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports the following on the agreement by Syria to give up its WMD, " US 'concern' at Syria chemical weapons delay ".

Lets Get Real:

Why should Assad follow through with the agreement, he knows that President Obama will never follow through with a strike, there is no political will in D.C or in the US as a whole for another War, the latest strikes on Syria have been by Israel and Turkey.   The Assad Regime will give enough but wants to keep some of its WMD in case the Syrian rebels are at the doors of the Presidential Palace.     In this Assad will be supported by Russia and Iran.   The Obama Oval wants a deal with Iran so bad it will over look that Tehran is keeping Assad in power.    This lack of will by POTUS is the reason the Middle East is falling apart, from Egypt to Iraq.    POTUS has allowed Russia to come back as a World leader, thus the new New Cold War. 

The 2014 Campaign - 2nd Term Blues

The New York Times: Reports on how the Republicans and Democrats stand as they prepare for the 2014 Mid Terms, the article finds that the Republicans will keep the House and even could retake the Senate or cut the Democratic majority down. 

Lets Get Real:

It is to early for this blog to make a prediction on the 2014 Mid Terms, the reporting of the NYT could be spot on, it could turn out that the Republicans keep the House but the Senate by a narrow majority remains in the hands of the Democrats and the Oval.  That is the pray of Democrats if they believed in God, otherwise if the Republicans retake the Senate it could be a very cold and rough last two years for President Obama.   The Senate Republicans would start to investigate ALL the scandals of the Obama Administration that the Oval and Democratic Senate have stalled.   

Hillary Clinton, Benghazi and 2016

CNN - Politics: Reports the following on remarks by Hillary Clinton on Benghazi, " Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday that the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya was her biggest regret ....".

Lets Get Real:

This ALL about 2016, the issue of Benghazi is haunting the Clinton Campaign for 2016, they need a PR answer that allows Hillary Clinton to take the blame as she was the Secretary of State but without taking ownership for the deaths of four Americans in Libya.    Lets be very honest here, the Democrats will stress her time in the Senate and her appointment as Secretary of State to President Obama, but and this is the BUT the Republicans will use, her election to the Senate was based on her running for the Presidency in 2008, and she lost when see was seen by everybody as the future nominee before the arrival of President Obama.  In her time in the State Department was more about air miles that success, her restart with Russia has seen Putin replace Obama as the World's leader, also Syria started under her watch, then we have the terrorist attack in Libya.   Hillary Clinton is NO Bill Clinton, lets see if there are Second Chapters when you fail to win a Presidential Nomination. 

Ukraine Crisis - Great Russia Threat

Guardian: Reports the following from the Ukraine, " Ukraine threatens state of emergency after protesters occupy justice ministry...Anti-government demonstrators now occupy four buildings in the centre of Kiev, including the city hall ".

Lets Get Real:

One has to wonder how much pressure that Russia is placing on the Ukraine President to keep the line, not to allow new elections that could move the Ukraine from Russian influence to the EU path favoured by the Western part of the Ukraine.   On the whole the US, UN and the EU have been very quiet about the protests in the Ukraine, the failure of the above to react to Syria has shown the weakness of the World Community.   Lets see if Putin's Russia does something before the Winter Olympics, keep an eye on the Eastern part of the Ukraine, this area looks to Russia as its protector, interesting times in the Ukraine. 

Exit OUT of Afghanistan - Afghanistan Theatre

Guardian: Reports that President Karzai of Afghanistan is calling on the US to have talks with the Taliban or leave the Country. 

Lets Get Real:

This is the best news this blog has head in months, the US and UK should take up the offer from Karzai and just leave, it would madness for the US to leave behind a small force to combat the Taliban and Al Qaeda they would be under constant threat, the New York Times reports that the Pentagon has suggested that the US if it is going to leave behind a force should leave around ten thousand troops.   The US should make a deal with the Government of Pakistan, open up some of the Old Imperial bases on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan and use drones to strikes at threats in Afghanistan.   It is no wonder President Obama can not stand Karzai, he is over playing his hand, after the US troops leave the Afghan Government will fall, the Taliban will retake the Country.    The West should make it CLEAR that should that happen, and the Taliban allow terrorist groups back in to Afghanistan then the US will see Afghanistan a a free fire zone, the drones and US planes will strike at will, and special forces will have a free hand in theatre, in other words no holds barred attack on terrorist threats.    Thank you President Karzai for giving the West a way out. 

The Crisis in the Ukraine - Great Russia Threat

BBC News: Reports the following from the crisis hit Ukraine, " Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych has offered the position of prime minister to an opposition leader, Arseniy Yatsenyuk. "

Lets Get Real:

This blog suggested in a recent post that Russia could take action in Eastern Ukraine, one gets the feeling with the Winter Olympics coming up that could be to much of a risk for President Putin, he does not want to force the hand of President Obama, at the moment the Obama Oval needs Russia to keep Syria in line, well not the use of WMD right in front of the world press, if Putin went in to the Eastern part of the Ukraine the Oval could face calls to boycott the Winter Olympics, the Olympics does not need to repeat the history of the Cold War, when the USSR and US boycotted games on each others soil.   Thus those wanting closer ties with the European Union just might have caught a break, Moscow cant or wont take action in the Ukraine before or during the games, thus the opposition can place more pressure on the Russian leaning  Administration.   Interesting times in the Ukraine. 

What IF, Russia does another 1956, 1968 ? - 2nd Term Blues

Telegraph: Reports the following from the Ukraine, " Ukrainian protesters seized a government ministry in the capital and besieged several governors' offices in western regions on Friday,.. ".

Lets Get Real:

What IF the Ukraine falls in to a Civil War, will  Putin's Russia do another 1956 and 1968, then the old USSR took action in Hungary and Czechoslovakia to protect communism and its power in East Europe, could President Putin invade the Eastern part of the Ukraine, then declare since the Country is in a State of Civil War he is taking action to protect the native Russians in the area.   The Russians on the whole would not take action NOW as there is the Winter Olympics coming up, but what IF the Ukraine falls apart, can it afford to lose its Presidential ally in the Ukraine.   Also President Putin has seen how weak President Obama was over Syria, he might try his luck in the Eastern part of Ukraine, how would the Obama Oval react, it could not afford to be seen to lose ground to a Greater Russia or a new USSR.   Thus watch the Ukraine it could get very hot and interesting to the outside world. 

Why Iran DEAL not signed by Tehran ? - 2nd Term Blues

CNN - Politics: Reports the following on the UN and Iran Deal, " The interim nuclear deal with Iran and six other world powers was never signed by the representatives who brokered the agreement last November..".

Lets Get Real:

No wonder the Obama Administration has not released the full deal, there are no signatures on the deal, how idiotic can you get, Tehran will appear to follow the deal for six months then it might break out and become a nuclear armed power.   The Obama Administration would rather trust Tehran than the US Senate that want more sanctions on Iran.   One wonders does President Obama understand that he is placing his entire political future with Iran, if they break out he is finished, he would be lucky to be 2nd term lame duck President, the Congress might impeach him, yes it is that serious, what if Mossad find  another secret nuclear plant, if that was to happen Obama would go down in Presidential history as the US Neville Chamberlain.   Lets hope Democrats on the Hill have the intelligence to distance themselves from the Oval before the 2014 Mid Terms. 

Ice Cold in Syrian Talks - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports that the Syrian Government and the Opposition will meet tomorrow for face to face talks. 

Lets Get Real:

The face to face talks are pointless, the article notes that there is the hope for small deals, this recalls Bosnia all over again, endless talks, a truce that only lasts as long as the ink on the paper and not even then, in the end the US had to use military force in Bosnia, does any one see President Obama really striking Syria after his failure a few months ago, also the US voter does not want another Middle East War.   The power of Secretary Kerry has been broken due to President Obama's failure on striking Syria, the Syrians, the Russians and Tehran have the Oval number, it is called weakness when faced by a strong enemy.  The people that will suffer for the next few years will be the Syrian people, its always the innocent that get killed, while the political leaders have endless debates that mean nothing and only make them happy, what a shame for the poor people of Syria. 

Assad MUST GO - Kerry - 2nd Term Blues

CNN - Politics: Reports the following from Geneva 2, " Syria defiant at conference; Kerry rules out al-Assad ".

Lets Get Real: 

The Oval has cut off Secretary Kerry's unmentionables months ago, when the Secretary took the US to brink of War then Obama folded, this removes the big stick of the US, no one fears the US, and more important the allies of  THE US do not trust the word of President Obama.   As stated in previous post this is a PR for the press, its the World being seen to do something.   The US after its failure to take action has no role in Syria, it barely has a role in the Middle East.   The Oval is so keen for a deal with Iran over its nuclear plans that it is willing to sell out long term allies for a fake deal to take the issue off the table in till 2017 and leave the problem to the next President.   This is why the Middle East is in a mess, the decline of the US has seen the growth of Iran and Russia in the Middle East at the expense of Western and US interests, the Obama years will get a critical review by historians and this blog. 

NSA vs. Liberal ACLU - 2nd Term Blues

Guardian: Reports the following from Washington D.C, " US withholding Fisa court orders on NSA bulk collection of Americans' data..Justice Department refuses to turn over 'certain other' documents in ACLU lawsuit meant to shed light on surveillance practices ".

Lets Get Real:

The liberal left will just have to accept that President Obama will go so far, he will not risk his Presidency on making the crazy left wing of the US happy, if the Government releases highly secret information it can be read by the very threat that these schemes were created to combat.  The Oval does not want to get the blame if there is a another 9/11 because it was to weak when dealing with the left within the US and the Democratic Party.   When President Obama and his Administration does the right thing this blog will support such decisions, on the domestic side the Oval is just WRONG, but when it comes to the defence of Bush 43 security structure the Oval is the best PR man for that structure.  It is easy to be critical when your on the outside, when in your in the Oval you have to deal with the threats to the US, on this President Obama gets a A+ from this Blog. 

The Pointless Talks of Geneva 2 - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports on the negative tone of the talks between the Syrian Government and the Opposition at Geneva 2.

Lets Get Real:

This is PR for the press, the action is not in Europe, its in Syria, Iran and Russia, as long as Assad knows that the US will not take action and that he will be supported by Iran and Russia he will not give way, also on the battlefield the Government has pushed back the rebels, the rebels are fighting among themselves, between those that want a secular Syria and Al Qaeda groups in Syria, who want to turn Syria in to a Islamic State.    The people that are going to suffer are THE Syrian people, the other Countries in the region, the Al Qaeda elements in Syria are moving in to Iraq to add flames to the low level civil war, both Jordan and Lebanon are feeling the aftershock of the War in Syria, they have feed hundred of thousands of refugees and have to cope with the massive influx of people in their Country, also Turkey a NATO member has had terrorist attacks on its border areas.   This is what happens when you have a weak leader in the Oval. 

Geneva Peace Talks and Iran - 2nd Term Blues

Guardian: Reports the following on the stalled Syrian Peace Talks, " Syria summit on brink over Iran refusal to endorse transitional government...UN general secretary, Ban Ki-moon, 'dismayed' by failure of attempts to get Tehran to concede on issue ".

Lets Get Real:

Since the revolution in 1979 Iran has caused problems for the Middle East and the US, it bought down the Presidency of Jimmy Carter with the holding of US Diplomats in till he left Office, in total for 444 days.    The lowest point of the Reagan Administration was the Iran - Contra affair, at its core the the US sold arms to Iran in the hope of getting its hostages out, then used profits from the scheme to arm the Contra freedom fighters.   Once the scheme came out President Reagan was in hot water, he got through but it hurt, as to results, well Reagan left Office with a 63% Approval rating and his VP, Bush 41 become President, thus in the end it didn't hurt in the long term for Reagan.  Iran is never good for US Presidents, lets hope President Obama does not get hurt as Carter and Reagan did in some respects.    The Syrian Civil War is a proxy War between the biggest players in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Iran,  they have the money and the time to play this out, long enough to out last the Obama Presidency, there is NO deal without SA and the Syrian Rebels, they want Assad OUT, the Tehran Regime needs him power as Assad is a close ally and allows them to show their power in the region, which is negative for Israel and the US in the long term.   The UN made this mess  by the invite to Iran, it has to clear up this mess, none of the Western sides are going to give in on this, neither are the Syrian rebels, the UN just might have sunk the peace talks before they even started IN Geneva.  What a diplomatic disaster for the UN. 

Update: Both Sky and BBC News confirm that the invite for Iran to attend the Syrian talks has been withdrawn by the UN.   Lets see what the talks bring, this blog has doubts that there will be any real agreement, the action is in Syria, not in Europe. 

The UN and Syria - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports that the US has demanded that the UN recall its invite to Iran to attend the Geneva talks on Syria, as Iran has not signed up to the points already agreed. 

Lets Get Real:

The Oval is having a tough time stopping the US Congress passing tougher sanctions on Iran after its deal with Tehran, it does not have the political weight at home to allow Iran to attend, the Syrian opposition has made it clear it will not attend if Syria's close ally attends.   The meeting is pointless anyway, as President Assad has made it clear in recent days that he is not going anywhere, thus this is what happens when the US has a weak President, the UN tries to run such meeting, under the assumption that the Oval will fold, it cant, if it does it will be accused for furthering a policy of appeasing Iran.   The Syrian Civil War will go on, the Gulf States will back the rebels, while Syria is supported by Russia and Iran.  More deaths and sadness for the people of Syria and the Middle East. 

The US and Iran Deal - 2nd Term Blues

The White House: Statement from the White House Press Secretary on the UN and Iran deal, " Today, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran has taken the initial specific steps it committed to on or by January 20th, as part of the Joint Plan of Action between the P5+1 (the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China, coordinated by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton), and Iran.  As a result, implementation of the Joint Plan of Action will begin today. 

Specifically, the IAEA has verified in a written report and subsequent briefing for P5+1 technical experts, that Iran has, among other things, stopped producing 20% enriched uranium, has disabled the configuration of the centrifuge cascades Iran has been using to produce it, has begun diluting its existing stockpile of 20% enriched uranium, and has not installed additional centrifuges at Natanz or Fordow.  These actions represent the first time in nearly a decade that Iran has verifiably enacted measures to halt progress on its nuclear program, and roll it back in key respects.  Iran has also begun to provide the IAEA with increased transparency into the Iranian nuclear program, through more frequent and intrusive inspections and the expanded provision of information to the IAEA.  Taken together, these concrete actions represent an important step forward.

In reciprocation for Iran's concrete actions, the United States and its P5+1 partners - the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China, as well as the European Union -  will today follow through on our commitment to begin to provide the modest relief agreed to with Iran.  At the same time, we will continue our aggressive enforcement of the sanctions measures that will remain in place throughout this six-month period.

Following the actions taken today, the P5+1, EU, and Iran will also begin the process of negotiating a long-term, comprehensive solution that seeks to address the international community's concerns about Iran's nuclear program.  The United States remains committed to using strong and disciplined diplomacy to reach a peaceful resolution that will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.  ".

Lets Get Real:

This is a trick by the Tehran Regime, they see a Oval that wants a deal no matter the cost, thus they will play President Obama in till they get close to the bomb or get the bomb.  One suspects that Iran has other hidden plants, one can  assume that Israeli Intelligence the Mossad will be looking for these plants.   This blog has been saying for some time that Israel will hit Iran, this blog still holds to that viewpoint, lets see if Israel has the steel backbone to over rule the White House. 

Obama and the NSA - Review

The New York Times: Has the following reaction to the Obama speech on the NSA, " Mr. Obama’s speech on Friday was as much about the larger question of faith. Rather than throw out the programs at issue, he hoped to convince the public that they are being run appropriately. ".

Lets Get Real:

When President Obama was Candidate Obama he was rebuking the Bush 43 Administration for its use of national security tools to protect the US, now that he has been in THE Oval Office for five years he understands he needs the security information.   The speech on the whole was a PR speech for the left, the NSA will keep doing what its doing, the Oval will just say that its different.   President Obama is a Chicago Pol, he understand the power of the NSA and the CIA, he does not want them on his back for the rest of his term or after he leaves in 2017, that is smart, the Oval understands if something does go wrong and it is found that any real reforms allowed had allowed another 9/11 then Obama would be toast by historians.   Thus this PR show, better PR, the Democratic base will be kind of happy if not having happy hour.   Who would have thought that Obama would be the PR man for Bush 43. 

Obama and the NSA - Review

BBC News: Has the following review of the President Obama's speech on the NSA, the article notes the following, " What he's announced shouldn't upset the intelligence community - and is unlikely to greatly reassure civil liberties groups - but both sides will be left with more questions than answers. ".

Lets Get Real:

In other words a stonewalling speech, lot of waffle that will make no one unhappy, but more important will not make the NSA that unhappy, you do not want the NSA as a enemy at any time.   Those on the left will think that Obama is Bush 43 with charisma, one can say that the Bush 43 Era policies on the whole has been extended by the Obama Oval.   There will always be spies, and spy agencies, and they will spy, just now they have the ability to spy on everyone, and they will, no President is above the intelligence networks, the agencies know to much and can sink a Presidency, just ask the late Richard Nixon about the FBI and Watergate. 

Obama on the NSA - 2nd Term Blues

POTUS at 39% Job Approval - Gallup

Gallup: Reports that President Obama has a 39% Job Approval rating, while 53% Disapprove of the Obama record. 

Lets Get Real:

The Mid Terms are only 10 and half months away, those Democrats in Congress who support the Obama Presidency and ObamaCare and are from States or Districts that went for Romney in 2012 will start to look at the latest polls and wonder how long they can support the Oval.  If your a smart Democrat and under threat you would start to make yourself a pain the backside for the Oval, in fact the Oval should hate your guts, the Obama political career is Over in a sense, those in Congress want to get re-elected, thus time to put hard politics ahead of political loyalty, the Oval if in the place of the Congress would have done the same thing, time for real politic, those in Seats under threat should start to support Republican plans and run point for deep investigations of the Obama Presidency.   Time to decide Democrats. 

Unemployment Benefits Extension FAILS in the Senate - 2nd Term Blues

CNN - Politics: Reports the following from the US Senate, " Senate passage of long-term unemployment benefits appeared in doubt on Tuesday following the failure of two procedural votes.. ".

Lets Get Real:

The Republicans should Deep Six this welfare scheme, the Democrats are playing games, they want the issue for the November elections, they need people on welfare, the Democrats keep saying the US economy is improving, well then it should be easier for people to get JOBS.   If the US economy is not working its down the economic policies of President Obama, but the Oval will not change path, thus the Republican leadership in Congress should not deal on this issue, let it drown with all the other Obama promises, one fake scheme for a fake promise from a Chicago Pol.  It is time for the Republicans to play hardball, that is the only kind of fight the Chicago political mob understand. 

Bengahzi could have been prevented - US Senate

BBC News: Reports that a US Senate Committee has found the following in a report, " The deadly September 2012 attack on the US consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi could have been prevented, ".

Lets Get Real:

Thus the Congress has found out that President Obama was informed that the attack was a terrorist attack by his Defence Chiefs, now the Congress has stated that the attacked could have prevented.   This raises questions about the role of POTUS on that night and his later statements that the attack was due to a film.   The former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has to answer why there was not proper security at the Consulate.   The Obama White House lied to get re-elected and Democrats are still protecting the White House as to protect the prospect for a Hillary Clinton run in 2016.   The House should form a Special Committee to bring ALL the House investigations under one structure, the House should have the powers to make people attend under threat of arrest if they do not turn up.    The attack in Libya still holds secrets, it is time for the Republican House to take the gloves off, time for the dead to get some peace with the TRUTH coming out.

Are the Clintons waitng for political payback for political traitors - 2016

Telegraph: Reports the following from Washington D.C, " As Hillary Clinton deliberates on whether to run for president in 2016 a new book paints the Clintons as vindictive and raises ugly memories of desertions and betrayals in the 2008 campaign ".

Lets Get Real:

Do the US voters want another Nixon in the White House, the above story sounds very Nixon, the Crown was there for the taking by Hillary Clinton but she lost to President Obama, the Clintons never forgive, and the use of the race card on Bill Clinton is something one can understand the lack of forgiveness for, Bill Clinton was seen as the 1st black President, and for the Obama Campaign to use the race card must have hurt Bill Clinton,  also long term friends got on the USS Obama and left the Clintons on the shore, Hillary Clinton was made Secretary of State, and President Obama tried to get on with Bill for a limited time, just he didn't need the constant talks.  Bill Clinton likes to talk, as President he was never on time, correction, when he was sworn in as President.    Fun time ahead for Americans, will Hillary run, will she win, and what will the Old Dog do in the White House. 

Gates on Gates - 2nd Term Blues

Guardian: Reports the following from Washington D.C on remarks by former US Defence Secretary Robert Gates and his memoir, the article notes the following, " Former defence secretary Robert Gates defends book as 'an honest account'. "

Lets Get Real:

This blogger has the Gates book on order, one can say that the former Secretary has been very blunt and candid, VP Biden is hopeless at foreign policy and always has been, Hillary Clinton and President Obama ran their campaigns not on real objection to the Iraq War but for political reasons, the President sent thousands of Soldiers in to Afghanistan based on a military strategy did not think would work, LBJ all over again.  Has President Obama listened to the LBJ tapes, will the press really ask him tough questions the next time he does  a press conference.   Also Hillary Clinton has been hiding, when we she deal with the allegation that she ran 2008 on pure political motives not policy.    One has to wonder is Robert Gates is looking for the VP spot on the Republican ticket in 2016.   Everything is political in D.C.

Obama/Iran vs. The US Congress - Iran Crisis

The White House: Released the following statement on the deal between the UN and Iran over its nuclear plans, the statement contained the following threat to Congress, " Imposing additional sanctions now will only risk derailing our efforts to resolve this issue peacefully, and I will veto any legislation enacting new sanctions during the negotiation. ".

Lets Get Real:

Thus President Obama would rather trust Tehran than his fellow Democrats, the question that the Congress has to ask does it trust the judgement of President Obama, lets see has he got, Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq right in his years in power, the answer would be a NO, the Democrats on the Hill will pay the political price if this is a con job by Tehran, the Israeli Lobby should place pressure on the Congress to pass tougher sanctions, get Obama to VETO any new sanctions, and thus when it falls apart it will be down to the Oval.   The Democrats can not afford to be soft, they are on the ballot in 2014, not President Obama, the Windy City has lost its power, the question is will it take the Democrats with it 2014 and 2016. 

National Television Awards - Awards Season

National Television Awards: Yes its that time of year again, the awards season, and the good Doctor is up for awards.   Thus vote for Doctor Who for Best Drama, Matt Smith (11/12th Doctor, ) for best actor in a drama.  In the TV Detectives section, it has to be David Tennant ( 10/11th Doctor ) for Broadchurch.  

Lets Get Real:

You get the idea, what ever the Doctor or former Doctors are in you VOTE for it, think of the year of pleasure we have had, David Tennant back in Doctor Who, John Hurt as the 9th Doctor, what ever he called himself.  How this is fun and darn confusing, thus the Doctors in brackets.    The new Doctor, is the 13th Doctor, but the 1st  in the new cycle, thus 13.1.  Yes we fans in this 50th year of Doctor Who have had a  great year.   Thus lets show our thanks by voting for the good Doctor, all of him are good chaps as the Brig would say, we do miss the Brig. 

The US tried to OUST President Karzai of Afghanistan - Robert Gates

Guardian: Reports the following on the Gates memoir, " US 'tried to oust Hamid Karzai by manipulating Afghan elections'..Former defence secretary Robert Gates is quoted as saying in his memoirs that US tried to eject Afghan president in 2009 ".

Lets Get Real:

Is it open season for US secrets, this is the last thing the US wants out, they are trying to pressure Karzai to do a deal for US to remain in Afghanistan after 2014, and this comes out, this will strain even further the relationship between Karzai and the Oval.   This is quite a damaging revelation, did the Oval know this was going on, its an interesting question.    The US and the UK should get out of Afghanistan, its a hell hole, and always will be for Western forces.  If the Oval to really wants help he should send troops back in to Iraq.   The threat from Al - Qaeda is growing, the US can not have Syria and Iraq under terrorist control, this really would be a threat to Western security and its economic recovery.  One has to ask what is the former Secretary of Defence thinking, he is shifting the blame for the future, if the whole Middle East blows up under the Obama foreign policy. 

Jobs Figures a Disaster in US - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports that just 74,000 jobs were created in December in the US, the article notes the following, " The labour force participation rate - a closely watched measure - fell noticeably. The share of Americans who are either working or looking is now 62.8%, close to 35-year lows. ".

Lets Get Real: 

Read the article on the BBC website, you will then see how the left spin stories that help President Obama, the above quote is the only negative part of the article, when your employment participation force is back at 1970s level you have a major problem, its simple US population growth is not the same as it was in the 70s, thus hundred  of thousands if not millions of people have just give up in the Obama economy, and then the US faces the next boot to drop in ObamaCare, the employer mandate, it has been reported that between 50 - 100 million of Americans could lose their health cover and workers could find their hours cut as to keep the business out of ObamaCare.     Thus on the economic front President Obama could be the NEW Jimmy Carter but worse. 

Unemployment Benefits - 2nd Term Blues

CNN - Politics: Reports that the plan to extend unemployment benefits has been stalled in the US Senate, the article notes the following, " A compromise Senate plan to pay for the cost of extending unemployment benefits ran into resistance Thursday from a group of Republicans whom the agreement was supposed to attract. ".

Lets Get Real:

The Republicans Senators should pass the three month extension but tell the House it should be DOA on arrival at the House, the House should demand for the extension there has to be cuts in other areas of the Federal Government.    There is no chance that the Democrats will take the House, but the could keep the Senate if they can make the PR point that the Republicans in the Senate have done nothing.   The Republicans have to play it SMART, the Republicans have to keep their focus on ObamaCare, do not let the Democrats change the game, its all a game, the result is about winning.  The Republicans need to get hold of the Senate to block the Obama Agenda and make the Oval deal. 

CNN and Clinton - 2nd Term Blues

CNN: Reports the following on the Gates Memoir, " Gates was also critical of Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, recounting a conversation between Obama and Clinton suggesting political motives for their positions on Iraq. ".

Lets Get Real:

At least the semi liberal CNN is not afraid to mention that Robert Gates was critical of Hillary Clinton when it comes to her political position over Iraq, lets see how long this lasts, the left after supporting Obama are seeking a new champion, in their eyes this is Hillary Clinton, the one problem is that she is a bad candidate, she was suppose to win in 2008 and lost to President Obama.  Also lets get real, she will be 69 in 2016, Hillary is no Ronald Reagan,  one can expect younger candidates to smell the air for a chance to run, one can expect VP Biden to check if he should run, also some of the younger Democratic Governors and Senators.     The left wants political purity, the honesty of the Gates Memoir could very well hurt Clinton in 2016, thus a lot of work for Bill Clinton do over the next few years. 

Covering for Clinton - Guardian

Guardian: Reports the following on the Gates memoir, " White House downplays Robert Gates memoir's allegations of infighting..Obama has not changed view of former defence secretary, White House says, after book detailing tensions with military leaders ".

Lets Get Real:

The left wing Guardian does not even mention Hillary Clinton, thus we now know that the left wing liberal media has their new political darling in Hillary Clinton, they will not mention anything negative, they will downplay the Gates book.   One can only come to the conclusion that the left lives in a different world, they see what they want to see, and will hide stories if it not match their future aims.   The left wants Hillary Clinton to be the first woman in the Oval, thus expect more of this kind of reporting, anything bad Hillary Clinton will not be reported.   They will revise history, so North Korea and Stalin.

Protecting Hillary Clinton - BBC

BBC News: Reports on the bombshell book by former Obama Defence Secretary Robert Gates, the article states the following on Hillary Clinton, " He is also effusive in his praise of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.".

Lets Get Real:

Thus the left wing media is out to protect Hillary Clinton, what the article does not mention is that in front of Robert Gates both Hillary Clinton who was Secretary of State and President Obama stated that the opposition to the Iraq war was not based on policy but politics, that Clinton wanted to counter Obama in the Iowa election of 2008.   Even the White House when given the choice of defending Clinton or VP Biden who is accused of being wrong on foreign policy for over forty years chose to defend Biden, no one has come out out to contest the remarks between Clinton and Obama.   Thus the Chicago machine has been exposed to the World. 

The US Welfare States - Jobless Benefits - 2nd Term Blues

CNN - Politics: Reports the following from the Capital, " ..Democratic and Republican lawmakers will charge right into the first partisan showdown of the year: extending jobless benefits for 1.3 million long-term unemployed. ".

Lets Get Real:

This blog has been thinking about this latest policy conflict on Capital Hill, on the political and policy merits the Republicans should ONLY grant a three month extension of this jobless benefits scheme, the Democrats do not care about the jobless, this is ALL political, ObamaCare has been a disaster, and its on going a disaster, thus the Democrats return to class warfare as a campaign strategy.   The Republicans should take the issue off the table, its rough during the Winter months, you can see the Democrats  and the elite liberal press bring out SAD stories, people thrown OUT on the street in the snow, yes get the sad music out, life is not fair that is from JFK.    The Republicans should grant the extension on the understanding that its ONLY three months, no more, no clause for further extensions.   The Republicans should keep to one issue, that is ObamaCare, bring out stories of the nearly seven million people who have lost healthcare, how people have found that ObamaCare is to expensive if your in the Middle Class.   The Republicans should not allow the Democrats to define the 24/7 news cycle. Time for Republicans to be SMART. 

Gay Marriage FROZEN in Utah - 2nd Term Blues

Guardian: Reports the following from the US Supreme Court on the latest gay marriage development, " 

Utah same-sex marriages put on hold in US supreme court decision..Gay marriages suspended pending lower court appeal ".

Lets Get Real:

This blog is a Conservative/Republican Blog, but on this issue the US Supreme Court is wrong, this blog has always supported the right of gay people to marry, this decision only affects Utah, but as the article notes this effects around nine hundred people, so what are their statues NOW, are they married or not, the Supreme Court should make its decision soon, one can make the argument that this decision is immoral, either allow or ban gay marriage, either make it a federal right for ALL Americans or not, the worse decision would make it a State matter, thus a couple might be married in a liberal State but not a Conservative State.   This is unfair and unwise, lets hope the Court makes the right decision soon as gay marriage is a Civil Right. 

Al - Qaeda threat to the Obama Legacy - 2nd Term Blues

Telegraph: Reports the following from Washington D.C on the latest developments in Iraq, " US fears over Al-Qaeda takeover of key Iraqi cities..President Obama put on the spot as Iraqi security forces and loyalist tribesmen fight to retake Fallujah and Ramadi ".

Lets Get Real:

This is the time for President Obama to let out his Chicago ruthless side, the US can not afford for Syria and Iraq to become a major training ground for Al - Qaeda, the US should send in drones, US special forces and the CIA, all this should be done in secret, keep the US Congress out of it, for POTUS this is about his legacy, if he fails here, ObamaCare will not matter, all historians and the right wing will do is push Middle East down his throat for rest of his life.   Lets recall it took decades for Jimmy Carter to regain some affection by the US voter, his post Presidential work does not make up for his term in Office, but it does balance it out.   The Liberal left of the Democratic Party will never support taking action, but they on the whole do not write the history books, look at what Vietnam did to LBJ, his Great Society was epic, makes ObamaCare look small, but he still has negative ratings with the US voter.  Thus time for Obama to act or face harsh critical review from historians. 

The failure of President Obama in the Middle East - 2nd Term Blues

The New York Times: Report on the bloodshed from  Lebanon, Syria to Iraq, the article notes the following, " the emergence of a post-American Middle East in which no broker has the power, or the will, to contain the region’s sectarian hatreds. ".

Lets Get Real:

The article does not state it but one can only come to one result, the bloodshed in the Middle East is down the foreign policy failure of President Obama, he has allowed the Syrian War to become a religious conflict, it started out as a secular revolt, the lack of action by the Oval over the years has allowed Al - Qaeda to take the lead, the failure to follow through with a military strike after WMD was used has made the allies of the US, from Israel to Saudi Arabia understand that they will have to take action if they want to stop Iran getting the bomb.   President Obama is a smart man, but he does not understand the Middle East, he thinks his words are reality, his words represent someone who has never done a single class in International Politics, being a Harvard Graduate in Law does not cut it, Obama is clueless, he has made is Secretary of State look like a fool, marching the troops up the hill then walking them down over Syria.   The bloodshed in the Middle East will get worse, large parts of Iraq and Syria could come under Al - Qaeda control, this could further the religious conflict between Saudia Arabia and Iran.    The Israeli Government will need to strike Iran this year, a war is coming, it just depends when, that is the fault of a clueless President. 

Target Fallujah - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports the following from Iraq, " ..the Iraqi government said it had lost control of the key city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad. ".

Lets Get Real:

The US should use its drone force to take out Al - Qaeda in Fallujah, also it you should consider using its special forces to help the Iraqi Government, the issue is not only the security of Iraq its how the US is perceived, if Obama loses the peace in Iraq the US allies in the region will consider they are alone, thus Israel and Saudi Arabia will join forces to strike Iran before it gets the bomb.    The results of such a strike could drag the US in to a regional war, it does not matter what POTUS wants, it what happens on the ground that matters.   The failure of the Obama policy in the Middle East could cause a regional war that could return the West in to recession.   Thus POTUS has to see the real world, before the real world knocks at his door, and the Oval has no choice but to send troops back in to Iraq. 

The Immortal Mr Holmes?

The Blog of Dr. John .H. Watson: Reports the following in his fun and well written blog, " As the trending hashtag says: #sherlocklives ".

Lets Get Real:

This blog has followed the career of Mr Sherlock Holmes with interest, the Met could do with the help, if Mr Holmes is at a lose end could he find my stolen wallet, the Met didn't do much, and its been four years.   That would be very cold case! I dare you! As to the TV, newspaper headlines, and of course Twitter, Mr Holmes should get Dr Watson to write down his tales in book form, one good start is how he faked his own death, there have been many theories on the Blogs, Twitter, etc, last nights press conference by Mr Holmes left with no CLEAR understanding of how he managed to fake such an even in such a short time, using the skills of Mr Holmes, one could postulate that he was never on the roof, falling down with a robe and crash mat does sound like a PR statement to feed the hungry plebs, and this pleb is not baying it for a second.   One can assume that Mr Holmes was holding the body of the look alike then threw the body over, then he was helped by friends, who, why, people at the hospital, his brother, the other Mr Holmes works in the shadows for Her Majesty's Government.  This blog will keep an eagle eye on the cases of Mr Holmes, it would be nice if Dr Watson was a faster writer, we need more cases solved by the Immortal Mr Holmes and his good friend, soon to be married Dr Watson. 

NYT, Guardian - Traitors to the Soul ?

Guardian: Has the following editorial on Edward Snowden, " We hope that calm heads within the present administration are working on a strategy to allow Mr Snowden to return to the US with dignity, and the president to use his executive powers to treat him humanely and in a manner that would be a shining example about the value of whistleblowers and of free speech itself. ".

Lets Get Real: 

It seems the publishers of the Snowden material, the elite left wing New York Times and the Guardian are spinning for a traitor that has hurt the US and UK around the World.    If these papers had released that kind of information during World War 2, there would be no nice chats from the men from 10 Downing Street, the reporters and editors would have found themselves under arrest and under a charge of treason, lets get real, in either WW1 or WW2 they would have spent years in jail, and not allowed out even after the Wars were over, if we ever have a WW3, the US and UK Governments will have to close down these papers that support treason.  The above papers bring shame to the meaning of being a reporter, they value their own view above that of the common man, the man they are supposed to be protecting.   This episode SHOULD shame these papers, but they are so much up their own ego and that they see their reality as the real world, shame on them. 

Edward Snowden is a TRAITOR, What about the NYT ?

The New York Times: The US paper of record writes the following in its editorial on Edward Snowden,"... deserves better than a life of permanent exile, fear and flight. He may have committed a crime to do so, but he has done his country a great service. It is time for the United States to offer Mr. Snowden a plea bargain or some form of clemency that would allow him to return home,.. ".

Lets Get Real: 

How out of touch is the extreme liberal NYT, lets recall this is the same paper that covered for Stalin during the Cold War*, the paper has lost it moral soul, it no longer cares about the security of the United States, it peddles left wing spin as reporting, that virus seems to have travelled to its foreign policy writing as well, the US voter if they take the NYT should consider changing paper, if the NYT had ruled the US through the 80s the Warsaw Pact would still be around, Eastern Europe would still be under Soviet control and the USSR would still be living threat to Western democracy.    If the Republicans retake the White House in 2016 it should allow the DoJ to look at the NYT, to see if it has broken any laws, the release of highly secret documents found itself on the front page of the NYT, this was a blow to US national security.    The NYT must have wept that Reagan was right about the USSR, while the liberal elite had their heads up their own egos.   Thus hubris before the fall, all things end, will the NYT just become a forgotten paper from the early years of the 21 Century. 

*In reference to the Cold War, this blog takes the start of the Cold War from 1917, when the Communists took over, to its end in the mid 1980s under Reagan and Gorbachev.   The exception was a brief and for mutual reasons the alliance between the US, UK and USSR during World War Two, the alliance folded after the end of WW2 in 1945. 

Faith Part 2 vs. ObamaCare - 2nd Term Blues

CNN - Politics: Reports on the costs that would be paid by religious groups should they fail before the Courts, " Some religious-affiliated groups were required to comply with contraception coverage or face hefty fines. ".

Lets Get Real: 

The Republicans and the Tear Party should appeal to those of a religious faith to join the Republicans in pushing the Democrats out of the Congress in the 2014 Mid Terms, the Democrats already have their talking points, that if your a Conservative/Republican, you must hate women, women should not control their bodies, etc, the usual BS out of the Democrats.   If your a religious group or body you have your faith and its rules, if a person can not accept that they can always walk.    The secular LIBERALS want to drive GOD out and to be replaced by pressure groups, this almost destroyed the Democratic Party in the 1970s, to a LIBERAL, if your a pot smoking, gay, anti smoking, anti gun, God has no place in the US then your a perfect LIBERAL Democrat.    If you have any faith in the view of Liberals,  your a racist, women hating, gay hating, tree hating, anti Government, you must be pushed out of the Civic Society, for a Liberal there is no place for God, only what LIBERAL pressure groups want should be taken in to consideration.  That is the harsh truth about Liberals.  

Faith vs. ObamaCare - 2nd Term Blues

Guardian: Reports the following from the US Supreme Court when it comes to ObamaCare, " ..Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Tuesday night granted Roman Catholic-affiliated groups a temporary exemption from a part of the Obamacare healthcare law that requires employers to provide insurance policies covering contraception. ".

Lets Get Real:

The Oval will not be happy about these turn of events, President Obama placed Sonia Sotomayor on the bench, if this is successful except other religious faiths to seek to prevent them coming under ObamaCare, this could get trickie, if different faiths and private companies get a escape route this could mean that others have to pay for the shortfall, either ObamaCare covers everyone or the law will fall apart, its about money at the end of the day, the US voter is already unhappy with ObamaCare if they have to pay for the exceptions then they will support the Republicans in the 2014 Mid Term Elections.  That is the problem with the US Supreme Court, once the Judges are confirmed they can go their own way, they do not have to care about the political ramifications of their decisions. 

ObamaCare is ACTIVE - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports that ObamaCare comes in to force today, the article notes the following, " Those who cannot afford it will get help, but those without any insurance will be fined. ".

Lets Get Real:

The BBC is left wing, it reports that millions will get health cover, what it does not mention is the nearly 7 million of Americans who have been thrown off their cover, the pressure from Democrats and Employers to push back the dates for the fines for those that have lost their health cover due to ObamaCare and the fact that the employer mandate doe not come in to effect in till later this year.    Lets see how many who have enrolled in ObamaCare actually pay the first month health cost, how many millions of Americans in the Middle Class have no health cover because they do not get any Government help and can not afford ObamaCare.   The left will regret supporting ObamaCare.   A lot of shoes are yet to drop this year when it comes to ObamaCare.