Hillary Clinton and Libya - Libyan Arms

Fox News: Reports " Recently released emails detail then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's interest in arming Libyan opposition groups using private security contractors before the fall of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011 – though at the time, the opposition was not formally recognized by the U.S. or United Nations, which prohibited arming without following strict guidelines and oversight. "

Lets Get Real:

At least Hillary Clinton was tough, more a hawk than dove, and lets face after President Obama the Oval Office could do with a tough hawk, the problem seems to rise when there is a question of those arms being send to Syria to arm the Syrian opposition, did they end up the arms of IS.  One can understand why the Obama Administration and its officials are not to keen to discuss the issue, it would be a PR disaster if arms sent to support the Libyan opposition ended up with the enemies of the US.    One suspects in this case it is better to let sleeping dogs sleep, one might not like the answer and the problems for the US and for the Hillary Clinton in 2016.    That is why any such secret operations are done in the manner that allows the White House and other Departments to state they knew nothing, that is a lot better than a paper trail through emails.    In this case it might be wise for the Republicans to let the issue drop, the Republicans do not need to create flak for themselves. 

Are the French TOUGHER on Iran than the US - Middle East

Guardian: Reports " France: no Iran nuclear deal if military site inspections are blocked..French foreign minister Laurent Fabius urges other negotiators to take a tough stance if ayatollah Khamenei continues to resist inspections "

Lets Get Real:

Who would have thought that is would be the French who were tough on Iran, the Obama Oval can smell a deal, it wants a deal at any cost, the French should stand up to Obama,  he will be out of Office in 2017, any failed deal will be left to the powers, thus better to be firm NOW, not later.   That kind of mess can lead to WAR.    The Gulf States are using their money and influence to make it clear to the French, that should they be tough they will gain long term economic and political influence that once the US held.    If POTUS wants to give up the leadership of the West, that is fine, but he does not get to say who takes over, its only an ego maniac who thinks he can control those kind of events.. 

The Daily Mail and Tony Blair - Middle East Peace

Daily Mail: Reports the following on Tony Blair, " Crossing the globe on private jets, Tony Blair mixed big business, charity, faith, and politics in a way that many regarded as morally odious. "

Lets Get Real:

Thus the one word that always comes up with Tony Blair is IRAQ, the destruction of the Saddam Hussein was a good development, the post war planning for Iraq was a disaster and Blair should have used his influence with Bush 43 to correct some of the mistakes of the US in Iraq, like dissolving the Army, that caused years of blowback through the killing of US and UK and troops with the help of Iran.   On the other hand US/UK action in Kosovo prevented mass murder, this also showed the good that Blair could do, getting the US in to action to prevent the march of the Serbs.   Also there is the peace deal in Northern Ireland, Mr Blair spent, hours, days, weeks, months, even years on this deal.  Also a good development.   Thus this blog's view of Blair is mixed, a great politician, he did win three elections for Labour, he did take action as mentioned above, but then we come to Iraq, the Western failure to build a strong and united Iraq, and thus the growth of IS, but it should be noted that the growth of Islamic State is down to the Obama Oval, it removed troops in 2011, thus Bush43/Blair set the field for IS but its growth is down to the weakness of President Obama.   This blog hopes history will be kinder to Blair than his present critics allow, at least Blair tried. 

Tony Blair OUT as Middle East Envoy - Middle East

BBC News: Reports " Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is to stand down from his role as Middle East envoy representing the US, Russia, the UN and the EU, sources confirm.  "

Lets Get Real:

As with Iraq there was a lot of hope that Tony Blair could achieve a lot more in the job outside its borders.   At the end a few economic developments and very much less hope that a Middle East Peace could be made between Israel and the Palestinian people.   The article notes the following, " No-one is going to consider Tony Blair's period as Quartet envoy a resounding success.  But it can't be written off as a failure either, largely because of the mandate he was given. "   As most things with Blair, HOPE turns to failure.