US off to Pakistan AGAIN for Talks - Update

BBC News:  Reports in its 1.21pm post the following  " Trump: US team heading to Pakistan for talks with Iran "

Let's Get Real:

This could be it from Trump, take this ďeal or else.   There are only so many times can do a TACO moments, the Iranian's can only hope for so long that the Democrats will come to rescue them, North Vietam had the right instincts about the Congressional Democtrats in 1975.  

What is in a Name - Department of Defence or War - Trump 47

 The Hill: Reports " Trump blames ‘wokey’ Defense Department for US losing wars in agency rebrand "

Lets Get Real:

On this issue this blog will give Trump 47 some benefit of the doubt, if his history is a bit Putin in content, in other words WRONG.   The US won in the First Gulf War, it removed Iraq from Kuwait, in the 2nd Gulf War the US won the War but lost the peace in Iraq, the failure in Afghanistan was down to President Biden and his obsession with getting out, on the other hand, the US had been in Afghanistan for over 20 years and the Kabul Government fell over the weekend, the Saigon Government survived for two and half years before falling in 1975, and that was the fault of the Democrats in the US, who would not fund a rescue package.   Thus the far in the 2nd Trump term, the US has not gone to war, just the be the lap dog to Putin. 

More talks between Ukraine and Russia - Ukraine and Russian War - New Cold War 2

Guardian - Live Blog: Reports in its 2.02pm post the following, " Ukrainian negotiators arrive for talks with Russian side in Belarus, says Russian news agency...Ukrainian negotiators have arrived by helicopter for talks with the Russian side in Belarus, the Russian state news agency TASS said.  "

Lets Get Real:

What are the Russians playing at, it might be an attempt to show to the Russian people that they tried for TALKS before the erase Ukraine from the MAP.  The Ukraine Delegation should be MAKRE FIRM DEMANDS, a ceasefire, the Russians return home, that there be REAL HIGH LEVEL talks between the Kiev Government and Moscow.  The Kiev Government is trying to show that it has tried even in a WAR to have talk, that should make the West feel guilty for not placing sanction on the gas and oil from Russia.  This blog has argued that the Kiev Government has to make up its mind, how much of there cities and lives are they willing to lose, it would be better to go full insurgency, getting support from the Wes, in this case the US and UK, make the Russians fight the Ukraine WAR, in the woods and mountains.  The lessons of Vietnam and Afghanistan show that insurgency can work, it just takes time and the patience to wait out the enemy.

Joe Biden = Neville Chamberlain - Munich 1938 - Kabul 2021 - Biden Era

BBC News - Live Blog: Reports in its 4.50pm post the following, " Biden to stick with 31 August withdrawal...US President Joe Biden will stick with the 31 August withdrawal deadline, an administration official has said....A Pentagon recommendation to stick with the current date was made on Monday, based on concerns about security risks to US forces, the official says.  "

Lets Get Real:

This is the most humiliating day for  President Biden, there has not been such a day since  Saigon 1975.  It is interesting that NOW that Biden is listing to the Defence Department, they advised to keep a small presence of troops in Afghanistan but the President did not take their great advice, now his policy has been shown to be up there will Neville Chamberlain, he could have changed his mind and just sent in more troops, but with the advice from the Pentagon he got a get out clause.  The Presidential polls have taken a nose dive, they will be hard to get back, perhaps Joe Biden has decided not to run in 2024, of course he will show appeasement to Iran, then Israel will have to make a choice, either trust Joe Biden to defend them or take action, what would you do if you were under a direct threat, would you trust Joe? 

Thousands of US Citizens still in Afghanistan - Biden Era

BBC News - Live Blog: Reports the following in its 3.36pm post, " Several thousand Americans still in Afghanistan - US advisor...Several thousand US citizens are believed to still be in Afghanistan, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has said...Sullivan also described the threat of attacks by the Islamic State group against the airport as "real" and "acute". "

Lets Get Real:

The last thing that POTUS can afford is to leave American citizens in Afghanistan controlled by the TALIBAN, the Americans could become hostages if the Taliban start to return to form, they could demand that the West gives the financial support before they allow Americans to leave.  It would make the Iran hostage crisis look like happy hour at the pub.  The Democrats with long memories will recall how the Iran hostage crisis defined the Carter Administration from 1979 to 1981.  The Democrats will be worried that there could be US hostages in Afghanistan at the time of the Mid Terms in 2022.  Let's be frank, in pure political terms, its getting the Americans out, and some of the Afghans, they are less important to the Biden Oval, he either sends in more troops to the airport or does a runner in a few days. 

President Biden on Afghanistan FALL - Biden Era

Guardian - Live Blog: Reports the following in its 10.13pm post, " Joe Biden defended his decision to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan, even after Taliban forces took Kabul and the world saw images of desperate Afghans attempting to flee the country. “I stand squarely behind my decision,” Biden says. “After 20 years, I’ve learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw US forces.” "

Lets Get Real:

This is perhaps the worse speech given by a US President in the 21st Century, the American voters did not know that Joe Biden was going to appease the Taliban, that he would cut and run when given the chance, he stated that OBL was killed, what he did not say was that he was against the mission to get the Al Qaeda leader, it shows how a lack of insight there is in Joe Biden, he was repeating past statements, Biden showed why Robert Gates, the Defence Secretary for Bush 43 and Obama,  was right when he stated that he had not been right about foreign policy in 40 years.  South Korea, Baltic States, Poland and IRAQ you must ask is the US security guarantee worth the paper it is written on if signed by Joe Biden.  It odd to see a American President become Neville Chamberlain the appeasing PM of the 1930s.  The US voter does not like to see the US humiliated when it was not needed.  It should be recalled that President Ford lost to Jimmy Carter in 1976 in a very close election, a year after the Saigon evacuation.   Of course Americans were tired of the Afghan War and the cost, what they do not like or support is a President with no backbone or insight in to own weakness when it comes to foreign policy. 

UK Deployment in Afghanistan - Biden Era

Sky News: Reports " UK to deploy 600 troops to Afghanistan to help evacuate Britons "

Lets Get Real:

One assumes the military strategy is justified in sending OUR troops back, one can not see why the Embassy staff can not leave on civilian flights or special aircraft sent to get them, the Embassy has been clear to those UK citizens  remaining in Afghanistan that it was time to leave.  Of course the UK has a moral responsibility to those that have worked for the UK over 20 years to get them out, the hard part will come when the flights are leaving and refugees start turning up at the Airport, Saigon 1975 all over again!! Also the Taliban will want to be seen as pushing the Allies out, thus one can expect some action on that front, it would be foolish mistake by the Taliban, the US and the UK have the power to stop them in their tracks.   But then the Taliban have shown they do not care about human life, thus attacks can be expected.  The UK should have gone it alone, and remained in Kabul and Afghanistan, but then we  always needs the Americans, and they, well POTUS wanted out, thus the disaster that is Afghanistan.   

President Biden talks to Israeli PM - Biden Era

The White House: Has a readout of the telephone call between President Biden and the Israeli PM,  Benjamin Netanyahu, " President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today by phone with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. The President affirmed his personal history of steadfast commitment to Israel’s security and conveyed his intent to strengthen all aspects of the U.S.-Israel partnership, including our strong defense cooperation. Together, the leaders discussed the importance of continued close consultation on regional security issues, including Iran. The President emphasized U.S. support for the recent normalization of relations between Israel and countries in the Arab and Muslim world. He underscored the importance of working to advance peace throughout the region, including between Israelis and Palestinians. Together, they affirmed their shared interest in continued strategic cooperation to confront the many challenges facing the region. "

Lets Get Real:

The Israeli side will know that the good times under Trump are over, that Biden whatever he says will try to return to the Obama Nuclear Deal.   Thus the one of the two ACE's that Israel has in the Mid Terms in 2022, the Biden will not want to be seen as a sell out before then.  One can suspect that the Biden Administration is already in secret talks with Tehran to return to the deal, but the Oval knows that if it lifts the Trump sanctions without some concession from Tehran it will be seen as sell out of the first order.   Thus expect Tehran to make a soft concession and for that to be taken by Biden as a way to to revoke the Trump sanctions, this might happen just before or just after the Mid terms.  The Biden Administration will want to see Israel good relationship with the other Arab Countries, this also gives Israel an ACE, Israel and its Arab NOW friends see Iran as a threat, thus the Israelis with the help and assistance of the Gulf States could attack Iran before its secret nuclear planning bears fruit.   The prospect of a nuclear Iran will be to much for Israel and its friends.   This development could lead to a problem for the Biden Oval, does it support ISRAEL or is it critical of Israel, Democrats will be worried that voters will see Biden as a modern Neville Chamberlain, if he sells out Israel.   Also there is the problem of AFGHANISTAN; will Biden who went out of his way to undermine Obama when he was Vice - President when it come to Afghanistan; keep US troops in Kabul or will he do a President Ford, who saw the US runout of South Vietnam;  watch as the last Americans leave Afghanistan by helicopter with the Taliban at the door.  The Biden Administration has not had a foreign policy crisis yet, it will come, they always do. 

Trump's Madness over Syria and Turkey - US Election 2020

Daily Mail: Reports " Donald Trump calls Turkish invasion of Syria 'strategically BRILLIANT' for the U.S. as he slams Kurds as 'no angels' and says: 'There's a lot of sand they can play with. It's not our problem' "

Lets Get Real:

The late Presidents Kennedy and Reagan must be turning in their graves, an American President has removed troops from Syria and welcomes that the Russians are taking over.  The OLD Republican Party of Reagan was about strong national security, the Trump Republican Party is about appeasing the enemy and not supporting US allies.   At their debate last night the Democrats sounded more hawkish than Trump, let's get real, if asked in 1975 would these candidates have supporting keeping troops in Southern Vietnam, many hundreds of thousands of US allies were left in the Country when the LIBERAL US Congress cut off monies to help Southern Vietnam fighting, while it was a LIBERAL Congress that cut off military support to the Contra freedom fighters in Nicaragua.   The Democrats are only hawks in name only, do you really trust them with US security, look at Obama taking US troops out of Iraq and the formation of Daesh, the US has to send troops back in to Iraq.   The World needs US leadership, thus far neither Republicans or Democrats seem to get that message. 

The FATE of Baghdad and IS - The New War on Terror

Daily Mail: Reports " ISIS has infiltrated suburbs just eight miles from Baghdad's international airport... and now wields shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles...ISIS militants have now reached Baghdad's outer suburb of Abu Ghraib "

Lets Get Real:

The Oval must get ground troops to Baghdad and fast, if IS arrives in the Capital the US will not have time to get ALL its people OUT, think of the images of South Vietnam just before the fall in 1975, and think of that happening in this 24/7 news cycle.   The Obama Presidency would be OVER, the Democrats would have no trust on national security, the Clintons will dump on high on Obama, if it is a choice between the Clintons getting back in to the White House and making the last two years of the Obama Presidency HELL, they will do it, the Clintons are playing for keeps this time, so what will the Oval do.   The Oval at present is playing a stalling game, it wants to hand the mess over to his successor, the problem is that IS is playing to WIN now.    Thus its up to the OVAL to decide its legacy, tough or weak, does Obama want to be Carter Mark2.  Even Jimmy Carter has been critical of President Obama, if your getting a critical review from that side you better look again at your choices and make changes. 

Obama on Troop presence in Afghanistan after 2014 - Afghan War

The White House: In part President Obama stated the following in the live statement, " At the beginning of 2015, we will have approximately 9,800 U.S. servicemembers in different parts of the country, together with our NATO allies and other partners. By the end of 2015, we will have reduced that presence by roughly half, and we will have consolidated our troops in Kabul and on Bagram Airfield.  One year later, by the end of 2016, our military will draw down to a normal embassy presence in Kabul, with a security assistance component, just as we’ve done in Iraq. "

Lets Get Real:

President Obama wants to finish Afghanistan before he ends his 2nd term, he wants to say HE finished the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the problem with this arrogant view is that the Taliban and Al Qaeda might have something to say about this subject.  Lets recall that image of the final helicopter out of South Vietnam in 1975, the Taliban want that image, does the Administration not think that the Taliban and Al Qaeda will use the reduce US presence as a chance to take more control of Afghanistan, also it can be expected that those Western troops that remain in Afghanistan will become target practice for the opposition, as noted in previous post the British left a force in Afghanistan in the 19th Century and it was a disaster, thousands were killed on the retreat, this will not happen in 2014 or after, but it can be argued that the Taliban and its terrorist allies will increase the terrorist attacks in Kabul, and Afghanistan will go down the same road as Iraq, it will return as a base for Al Qaeda, thus leaving the problems for the next President.   Obama Presidency is about rhetoric, not the real world, the problem is that Obama has long lost the ability to see the difference. 

The Afghan War and US Public Opinion - 2nd Term Blues

CNN - Politics: Reports on its new poll on the US view of the Afghan War, the article notes the following, " ..Support for the war in Afghanistan has dipped below 20%, according to a new national poll, making the country's longest military conflict arguably its most unpopular one as well. ".

Lets Get Real:

Well the US public has taken its time, this blog HAS NEVER supported the Afghan War, the UK has the bloody T - shirt from previous Afghan Wars at the time of the Empire, no one ever benefits from invading Afghanistan, a sharp and short attack yes, the US and UK should have left Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban and the displacement of Al Qaeda, instead it fell in to the trap of nation building, that has never worked, from the time of the British Empire in the 19th Century  to the USSR invasion in the 20th Century.    The Afghans hate it when they get invade, they can wait out any power, after the US and UK leave in December 2014 it can be expected than within six months the Taliban will be back at the door of the Capital.   The only worse option would be for the US to leave a small force in Afghanistan, they would become daily targets, we could see pictures of the US helicopters taking out the last US personnel, very much like Vietnam in 1975.   What ever the end it will be BAD, just depends how many US and UK personnel have to pay the price for a failed political policy. 

UK PM Cameron in Afghanistan - Afghanistan Theatre

BBC News: Reports on the visit to Afghanistan by UK Coalition PM David Cameron, the PM stated that the mission in Afghanistan had been accomplished.

Lets Get Real: 

If mission accomplished means getting out without winning then the UK Troops have done their job, that is not a critic of our brave soldiers, more their military and political leadership they have had since 2001.  It can be postulated that six months after the Western allies leave the Taliban will be at the door of Kabul, of course if the US leaves a small force behind they will become daily targets.    This has all the hallmarks of Vietnam in 1975,  who will be the last US person out on the last helicopter, another example of the Obama failure in leadership, and not understanding Afghan history. 

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a UK Soldier was killed in combat today in Afghanistan, the Soldier was from the " 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) ".  Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 445 of its Armed Forces Personnel due to combat and other incidents.    

Lets Get Real: 

Folks WHY are we still losing brave members of our Armed Forces in a War we are getting OUT off, what is the point, by the end of the next year we should be out of Afghanistan AGAIN, we should cut our loses  and leave Afghanistan to the US and its future plans.    Our forces will do the job they have been sent out to do, but it can be argued that the Coalition Government should have a duty of CARE, we are walking off the pitch next year, it can be postulated that Afghanistan within six months will back in to a state of Civil War, the Afghanistan Taliban will use the leaving of Western troops as a PR for their course, when Kabul falls to the Taliban, is the US ready for another Southern Vietnam 1975,  who wants to see US helicopters getting the last US diplomats and allies out of Afghanistan.   At the end of the day folks, Afghanistan and Iraq was a disaster for the West, what have we gained, NOTHING, and the result, Western Armed forces are tired and Western voters wish they had never heard of Iraq or Afghanistan, our military and political leadership from the Generals to the Political elite have shown that they were donkeys leading lions. 

Obama's FAILURE on Afghanistan - Afghanistan Update

Guardian: Reports the first attempts for talks between the US and the Afghan Taliban, the article notes the following, " Afghan government anger at opening of Taliban office in Qatar leads US to suspend plans to attend talks  ".

Lets Get Real:

Advice to the Oval, when POTUS gets back to the Oval has really has to sit down and work what he wants to do with Afghanistan, the news that the US was to start talks with the Afghan Taliban looked good at first, but then the Afghan Government threw a wobble and the US has had to back down, the Afghan War was the War that Candidate Obama wanted to fight, it was the GOOD WAR, going after those that had killed three thousand people in New York in 2001.   But there is a difference between being a Candidate and President, the War is not popular, it has cost to much in US lives and in US money.  The US Voter wants OUT of Afghanistan, thus this rush to start talks before all the dots had been connected folks, with the Taliban and the Afghan Government.   After 2014 the Oval can not afford for the Taliban to take over Afghanistan, this would look like Vietnam all OVER AGAIN, Obama does not want to be seen as another LBJ, when one thinks of the Johnson Administration one thinks of Vietnam not the Great Society, one has to give some credit to the Oval for getting out of Iraq, even if there was no agreement on a post war stay for the US, thus the present problems, in Afghanistan Obama does not want to be in the Oval and see people feeling on the last helicopter as was the fate of President Ford in 1975.    The US should get OUT in 2014, leave a shaky Government and make it known, that should Afghanistan become a threat again, the US will nuke them, be very clear on that, the powers never win Afghanistan, its just how much damage the Powers suffer before they get out, time to get out of Afghanistan folks. 

CNN and the Oval - 2nd Term Blues

CNN - Politics: Reports the following on the scandals facing the Oval, " Less than five months in, Obama and his administration appear knocked off balance by a barrage of controversies and criticisms .. ".

Lets Get Real:

The  Oval needs to find that BIG IDEA, something for the history books, with Reagan after Iran - Contra it was the end of the Cold War and the legacy that was the end of the USSR and the freedom of Eastern Europe, with Bill Clinton after his Impeachment it was the seeking of Middle East Peace, he came close to getting the creating of a Palestinian State, it was a narrow defeat, Bush 43 had his surge in Iraq, this allowed the US to leave Iraq with honour, no last helicopter as with Vietnam in 1975.   Thus Obama needs that big idea, something that does not need Congressional approval, the question is what, well how about Iran, either getting talks going on the use of force, getting a peaceful end would be a great result, does Obama have the ability of Reagan and Clinton, that is the question folks. 

Talking to the Taliban - Vietnam Again!!

Telegraph: Reports the following agreement by the US and Afghan Governments, the article notes the following, " ..agreement from the US to set up a Taliban office in the Qatari capital, Doha, to facilitate possible peace negotiations with Taliban. ".

Lets Get Real: 

This is a mistake folks, the US Government from LBJ to President Ford talked to North Vietnam about the the Vietcong War in Southern Vietnam, the US even signed a peace agreement with the North in 1973, the US got out and in 1975 the Northern Vietnam forces took over the South.   The Taliban will see this move as weakness, they will see that the Oval really wants out of Afghanistan, so why deal, they can out wait the Obama Oval, just carry on the attacks and have massive type Tet attacks so it gets on the US news.  Once NATO leaves it is just a matter of time before Afghanistan falls in to Civil War and the Taliban use the NATO withdrawal as PR to show they WON and threw out the Western forces.    Folks history has a very nasty way of repeating itself, this is just another example.   So many Western deaths for nothing, for nothing. 

Afghan Massacre - Taliban

Guardian: Reports that the Taliban of Afghanistan have killed 17 people, the article notes the following, " ..killed 17 civilians – reportedly by cutting their throats – in a remote and violent corner " of Afghanistan.

Lets Get Real:

The West is leaving the poor people of Afghanistan, men, women and children to the mercy of the Taliban, murders, thugs, criminals and complete B ( you can finish that word folks ). This will be Southern Vietnam 1975 all over again, who will be on the last helicopter out, and what UK Soldier will die for nothing, and if the West is not about winning in Afghanistan then any death is for nothing, lets get our brave boys and women out NOW, this war can not be won, this is bloody Afghanistan after all, powers never have a good time, one has to feel sorry for the poor people of Afghanistan, after the West leaves the people will be returned to the Dark Ages, shame on the West.

Afghanistan Attacks Part Two

Telegraph: Reports that the UK and German Embassies and NATO headquarters in Kabul have come under attack. Thus folks this shows how the supposed security that NATO brings is hollow and can be thwarted in the fighting Summer months. If the NATO Allies want out of Afghanistan by 2015 they will have to up their game, they can not afford from the PR point of view to have the Taliban take over once the last truck or helicopter leaves Afghanistan, that would be to much like Saigon in South Vietnam in 1975. That would be a disaster for any US President or UK PM. Thus, there is a need to revise the military plans for Afghanistan, at least to give the appearance that when NATO leaves that the Afghan Government can fight off the Taliban, at least long enough for the 24/7 news channels to get bored with the post NATO Afghanistan.

What Security ? = Afghanistan

Telegraph: Reports the following on the attempted assassination, an “ Afghan civilian worker stole a truck and evaded a security cordon surrounding the airfield in the middle of the base.. ”. Lets be honest folks the Taliban know who is coming in and out of Afghanistan, the local workers either support the Taliban or fear if they don’t tell the Taliban their families will be target. Thus for VIP visits in the future, all local Afghans should be removed from secure areas, its to much of a target for the Taliban folks. As Afghanistan goes down the toilet expect more incidents, it could get even more nasty folks, this is turning in to the next Vietnam in its own way. Who will be on the last helicopter OUT folks!