New Afghanistan Deal - Afghanistan War

BBC News: Reports " A deal to form a government of national unity in Afghanistan has been signed at a ceremony in Kabul. "

Lets Get Real:

Thus a successful piece of diplomacy by US Secretary of State John Kerry, given the law of averages he was bound to find success somewhere, the new national government has agreed to allow US troops to stay in Afghanistan after the NATO mission comes to an end, this allows the US to train Afghan Forces but also allows them to keep Al Qaeda on their toes.   It is a pity that POTUS did not take an interest in Iraq during their talks with the US, if the US had kept a force in Iraq this could have prevented the rise of IS, and the new war on terror.   The most interesting part will come when the majority of Western troops have left, how long before the Taliban and Al Qaeda start to undermine the new Afghan Government and step up attacks on US troops in country.    This is a high point, there will be low points, that is the nature of Afghanistan for any power. 

Obama on IS - The War in Iraq

The White House: Reports on the weekly address by POTUS.  Here are the remarks, " Over the past week, the United States has continued to lead our friends and allies in the strategy to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL.  As I’ve said before, our intelligence community has not yet detected specific plots from these terrorists against America.  Right now, they pose a threat to the people of Iraq, Syria, and the broader Middle East.  But its leaders have threatened America and our allies.  And if left unchecked, they could pose a growing threat to the United States.

So, last month, I gave the order for our military to begin taking targeted action against ISIL.  Since then, American pilots have flown more than 170 airstrikes against these terrorists in Iraq.  And France has now joined us in these airstrikes.

Going forward, we won’t hesitate to take action against these terrorists in Iraq or in Syria.  But this is not America’s fight alone.  I won’t commit our troops to fighting another ground war in Iraq, or in Syria.  It’s more effective to use our capabilities to help partners on the ground secure their own country’s futures. We will use our air power. We will train and equip our partners.  We will advise and we will assist.   And we’ll lead a broad coalition of nations who have a stake in this fight.  This isn’t America vs. ISIL.  This is the people of that region vs. ISIL.  It’s the world vs ISIL.

We’ve been working to secure bipartisan support for this strategy here at home, because I believe that we are strongest as a nation when the President and Congress work together.  We’ve been consulting closely with Congress.  And last week, Secretary of State Kerry, Secretary of Defense Hagel, and military leaders worked to gain their support for our strategy. 

A majority of Democrats and a majority of Republicans in both the House and the Senate have now approved a first, key part of our strategy by wide margins.  They’ve given our troops the authority they need to train Syrian opposition fighters so that they can fight ISIL in Syria.  Those votes sent a powerful signal to the world: Americans are united in confronting this danger.  And I hope Congress continues to make sure our troops get what they need to get the job done.

Meanwhile, because we’re leading the right way, more nations are joining our coalition.  Over 40 countries have offered to help the broad campaign against ISIL so far – from training and equipment, to humanitarian relief, to flying combat missions.  And this week, at the United Nations, I’ll continue to rally the world against this threat.

This is an effort that America has the unique ability to lead.  When the world is threatened; when the world needs help; it calls on America. And we call on our troops. Whether it’s to degrade and ultimately destroy a group of terrorists, or to contain and combat a threat like the Ebola epidemic in Africa; we ask a lot of our troops.  But while our politics may be divided at times, the American people stand united around supporting our troops and their families.  This is a moment of American leadership.  Thanks to them, it is a moment we will meet. "

Lets Get Real:

I wish President Obama would stop saying that there will be no ground troops in Iraq, the US has 1,600 troops on the ground already, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs has stated that these Military Advisors could go out on missions with their Iraqi colleagues.   Thus the US does have boots on the ground, it also needs spotters for the air strikes, Vietnam started with military advisors.  In 1965 LBJ placed the Marines in South Vietnam to protect US planes, will Obama in 2015 send real ground troops back in to Iraq, there is more chance of that than the US leaving Iraq for good. 

Time Heist - Doctor Who Review

Doctor Who News: Reports " 4.93 million watched Doctor Who - Time Heist, according to unofficial overnight figures, a share of 23.8 % of the total TV audience. "

Lets Get Real:

This was a fun episode, the Doctor as a bank robber, but the reason for the robbery is a spoiler, the demise of two characters through the episode was shocking but seeing the result of action taken by spoiler you could see why they did it, then at the end manipulative side of the Doctor came through, the two deaths had a different outcome, again spoiler.   The wonderful Keeley Hawes was the Bank Manager was was the enemy of the Doctor, she was smart, and an equal to the Doctor, but of course she lost but also won at the end, there are to many spoilers to tell this part of the story, lets just say its open for Ms Hawes to come back, timelines are great for Time Lords.   One thing that was retro was than the Bank of Karabraxos was a real building, just the most secure building in banking, if your up to something the bank will know, and what the Doctor stole is a spoiler.   See episode again, do feel sorry for the bank and the Manager! Bankers are nice are they not, but then my memory is gone, did I ever visit the bank of Karabraxos!!  Spoiler alert there too!!