Trump warns NATO over Strait of Hormuz- Update

Guardian: Reports in its 11.46pm post the following, "Trump says Nato faces 'very bad' future if US allies don't help open strait of Hormuz  "

Let's Get Real:

This goes back to 1987 when private citizen Donal Trump took out advert in NYT that opposed the Reagan convoy system of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iraq - Iran War, using the same argument that other Countries should do it, as they got a majority of oil.  Is the above an empty threat by POTUS, time will tell.

Happy End to Iran - Contra - Reagan Era

 CNN: Reports that Lt. Colonel Oliver North ( Marine Retired ) has married his former Iran - Contra Secretary Fawn Hall.

Lets Get Real:

Thus happly end to Iran - Contra, the couple were widowers, thus gives us all hope of finding love later on in life.  As President Reagan stated Ollie North is an American hero, he kept the Contra Freedom fighters going in Nicaragua by selling arms to Iran by and diverting profits to the freedom fighters.  When the news broke, Ms Hall destroyed documents in the shredder to cover the operation.  The right thing to do at the time, whatever the Democrats said at the time.   The operation was a costly mistake for President Reagan, it took time to recover from, in the end Bush 41 won in 1988, the American people forgave the Gipper, thus 1st Vice President to succeed his boss in over a hundred years, with the exception of assassination or resignation.

US to defend Taiwan Against Chinese Attack - POTUS - Biden Era/King Charles III Era

Sky News: Reports "  US forces 'would defend Taiwan' in face of Chinese invasion, Joe Biden says in candid interview....The United States has long stuck to a policy of "strategic ambiguity" and not made clear whether it would respond militarily to an attack.  "

Lets Get Real:

This is not the first time that POTUS has putt his foot in his mouth, the Chinese will not be happy, they might even try more military drills close and around Taiwan.  The US policy is either strategic ambiguity over what the US would do should China take action, or that the US will defend the Island. If your in China you are getting a CLEAR MESSAGE, that as long as Biden is POTUS, any action by them will be meet by a US reaction.  The White House can only walk back so many times a remark by the US President, either POTUS keeps his mouth shut or US policy has changed, and the US will protect Taiwan against any Chinese action. In trying not to be CLEAR, the US Foreign Establishment is causing more problems that could lead China to take action.  Who is in charge of US Foreign Policy, the American President or State Department diplomats, who should not be trusted, they did not want President Reagan to say in his famous Berlin Speech that Mr Gorbachev should tear down the Berlin Wall.  Its the same with the FCO in the UK, they tend to appease, and cannot be trusted to follow the orders of No 10.  On this POTUS is right, the US should defend Taiwan with troops, that is a clear warning to China. 

The US on the Russia - Ukraine Peace Deal - Russian - Ukraine War - New Cold War 2

BBC News - Live Blog: Reports in its 7.02pm post the following, " Biden: We'll see if Russia follows through on plans to de-escalate....As we've been reporting, the UK and US have urged caution, after Russia said it would "drastically reduce" attacks in Kyiv and Chernihiv...."We’ll see if they follow through what they’re suggesting. There are negotiations that continued today, one in Turkey and others.  "

Lets Get Real:

POTUS is right to be cautious, the Russians lied pre invading the Ukraine, how many times as President Macron phoned PUTIN and been give the run around.  The Russian Bear can never be trusted, the Russians broke INF Treaty, a foundation of nuclear disarmament by cheating, the US was right to revoke the agreement, the Russians can neve be trusted, thus we shall see if the Russian Army cuts back on its bombing of Kyiv and Chernihiv, it has been stated that Chernihiv was becoming another Mariupol, and what what about Mariupol, will the Russians allow the people to leave, will they stop the bombing.   It what's the Russians do that counts, the next few hours and days should tell us what the Russians are really up too in the Ukraine.  The West has to be wary that any PEACE DEAL will be short term and that Russia will try again under Putin to invade the Ukraine and the US and the UK will be left to fight back, as part of the security guarantee,  in other words WW3.

Peace TALKS between Russia and Ukraine - Update - Russian - Ukraine War - New Cold War 2

BBC News - Live Blog: Reports in its 12.08pm post the following, " Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has now said it's unlikely they will begin on Monday, but may start on Tuesday..."Regrettably, we cannot say there have been any significant achievements or breakthroughs so far," he added..  "

Lets Get Real:

The Russians are using talks to get some free good PR, they have no intention of getting a REAL DEAL, the Russians have made it clear that Putin will not meet with the President of the Ukraine at the present, they want to place more pressure on the Ukraine, they want to kill more people and destroy the Ukraine State.   The Russians have been helped by the gaffe by President Biden in Poland, when he stated the following on Putin, "  For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.  " the European West has backtracked on that, on that issue they were helped by the Biden White House, who talked backed the comments before the President got to his car.  That was a mistake by the Biden Oval, when a President says whatever one is thinking and is overruled by Foggy Bottom ( the US State Department ) no one can trust what Biden's says, it gives ground to the idea that Biden cannot be trusted out by himself and has gone gaga. The Biden Oval should have owned the comment and make the US State Department and Western Europe support it, what would have they done, said that Putin was ? Hardly.  The comment went down well in the Ukraine, and they are doing the fighting and getting killed by the Russians.  In 1987 when President Reagan was in Berlin he talked to his National Security Advisor, that the US State Department did not want him to say Mr Gorbachev tear down this wall ( Berlin Wall ), the President overruled them and did it his way, in 1989 the Wall came down, but in most footage it is showing going down after the Reagan speech.  It makes you believe that the Gipper could see how that part of the speech would be played in the future.

COVID - 19 - Update 2 - Health

Sky News: Reports " FTSE 100 sheds 10% in worst day since 1987 crash..A ban on flights to the US from most of Europe tips investor sentiment into renewed panic mode across the world.  "

Lets Get Real:

It can be argued if you have the money to burn, e.g you can afford to lose it, this is the time to buy shares, ( if you invest, can you afford to lose it, ) some great companies are going cheap.  On the other hand, the markets might need to lose more before it looks like a great time to buy.  Also COVID - 19 is will go away at some time, thus do not panic, keep calm, a stiff up lip and invest wisely.  IF you are not sure ask your financial advisor, this blog does not take responsibility for your losses.  Markets go up and down, it's knowing when to buy and when to cut your losses. 

What happens behind the OVAL OFFICE Door - Iran Crisis - Trump Era

CNN - Politics: Reports in its 9.23pm post the following,  " Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is "a triangulator" between President Trump and national security adviser John Bolton on the topic of Iran, a senior diplomatic source of a US ally told CNN....A senior White House official told CNN that there is a Bolton v. Trump debate on how to proceed on Iran, and Trump definitely does not want conflict. The source said Pompeo, Vice President Mike Pence and incoming acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper are the “swing votes.”  "

Lets Get Real:

The FACT that the US has not acted on the US Drone getting shot down shows a WEAK President, the Tehran Regime has shot down a 110 million drone, not money you find behind the sofa.  One has only to look at how the Reagan Oval dealt with such issues in 1987/88, they took action, and let's recall Bush 41 went on to win the 1988 Presidential Election even after Iran - Contra, due to the popularity of the Gipper, it was seen as his third term.  If the Trump White House does not act, then Democrats can show that they are strong on defence, that never happens!! Also let's also remember that as Citizen Trump, POTUS opposed the Reagan policy when it came to defending the Tankers in the persian Gulf.  A weak President will be a rollover for Iran and North Korea, the US might have elected a DOVE( that is being nice ) to the White House.  JFK and Reagan looking down must be horrified. 

US military build up in the Middle East - Middle East/Persia - Trump Era

Washington Post: Reports " The New York Times reported Monday that Trump’s acting defense secretary, Patrick Shanahan, drew up plans to deploy 120,000 U.S. troops to the region if Iran attacks American forces or restarts its nuclear program ... "

Lets Get Real:

This article looks how Iran is different from Iraq in 2003, it shows any WAR would be on  bigger scale, that costs in men and monies would be very high.  Of course the problem with that view is that Reagan was wrong to say that Marxism - Leninism would be placed on the ash heap of history, that the USSR was an Evil Empire and his call for Gorbachev to take down the Berlin Wall in 1987 was the WRONG call.   As history has shown President Reagan was RIGHT, he could see beyond what the elite foreign policy thought about the Cold War.  Thus it might be the very time to HIT Iran, if the Tehran Regime does not back down, and agrees to end its nuclear plans, end its rocket advances, and to stop supporting terrorists groups then it might be the BEST TIME TO HIT IRAN, before it goes nuclear, before it closes down the Persian Gulf.  Also to stop it giving rockets to its terrorists allies in Gaza and Lebanon.   War should be the LAST RESORT, but it should never be OFF THE TABLE, otherwise the BAD GUYS WIN, recall Munich 1938.   The US has to plan for WAR, and a complete WAR with Iran, remove the cancer from the region. 

What would President Reagan THINK of Trump? - Trump Era

Daily Mail: Reports " 'The Gipper would be heartbroken': Ronald Reagan's daughter slams 'autocratic' Trump and says her father would be 'horrified' at the state of the country and GOP "

Lets Get Real:

It must be CLEAR to those that are kind to read this blog that this writer thinks the Gipper was the greatest President EVER.   The Reagan Revolution changed the domestic and international agenda.   President Trump bends over backwards to please Putin's Russia, he does not want the US to lead the World, the very opposite of President Reagan.   Let's be clear on the Reagan record, in the first term on the domestic front, he cut taxes, cut welfare, increased defence spending, challenged the the USSR in Afghanistan and Central America.  In a famous speech he called the USSR an " EVIL EMPIRE ".   He showed US leadership by invading Grenada to remove a Communist Coup.  In the 2nd term he started the process of ending the COLD WAR with President Gorbachev, in 1987 he called for Gorbachev to tear down the BERLIN WALL, also signed the INF Treaty with Gorbachev in the White House, on the domestic front reformed the tax system, this helped MAIN STREET, and then did immigration reform all this done while the House was controlled by Democrats.   It should be noted that he moved the US Supreme Court to the right, thus helping in the selection of Bush 43 as President in 2000.  Also his VP was his successor, that had not be done in over a hundred years, and has not been done since, Trump is NO REAGAN. 

The Allegations against Paul Manafort - Russian Connection - Trump Era

Guardian - Live: Reports the following post at 9.06pm , " CNBC has published a detailed interactive chart of the funds allegedly laundered by Paul Manafort through offshore accounts over the course of some seven years.    In detailing the alleged scheme, Mueller’s office listed more than 200 transactions involving payments from shell companies and offshore accounts for property, men’s clothing, antiques, home improvement and cars. "

Lets Get Real:

One should recall that the Watergate break took place in 1972, the resignation of Richard Nixon was in 1974, and Trump is no Nixon, he will fight and he has the money and base support for this to last years. When it comes to Iran Contra, it broke late in 1986 after the Mid Terms, Reagan and his staff did a great job of dealing with the legal and political aspects of the scandal, at the end Reagan got a slap on the hands for bad management skills, while Bill Clinton and his scandal took up 1998 and only came clean when he had no choice.   The Democrats best hope is that they take the House and Senate in 2018, otherwise it does not matter what they want, the Republicans will stall in till 2020, there is already talk that Trump will not run for a 2nd term, with his poll ratings that could be a good idea, he does not want to be a LOSER.   This story is far from over.

Trump and Nukes - Trump Era

Telegraph: Reports " Donald Trump says he wants to expand US nuclear arsenal, make it 'top of the pack'"

Lets Get Real:

This could be POTUS sabre rattling with the Russians as they have broken the INF Treaty with the development of a new Cruise Missile.   The US has to be firm with Russia, the Russia Bear thinks it can act as it wants because Trump wants a better relationship, well it is times for the US Eagle to show its claws, make the Russian Bear back off.   The INF Treaty was seen as ending the Cold War in may ways, it abolished any entire type of missile, and later saw the development of the START framework for the reduction of the nuclear missiles.   The US has to show that it supports Ukraine in its fight against Russia and will support its NATO allies in the Baltic States.  Time for the Donald to bully Russia back, show that he is not a puppet of Russia and the allegations that Russia has something on him are rubbish.

POTUS vs. The US Intelligence Community - Trump Era

BBC News: Reports " President Donald Trump has lashed out at the US intelligence community and media after new reports of contacts between members of his team and Russia. "

Lets Get Real:

As stated in previous post, will someone please take away the cell phone of President Trump.   The one smart thing you do in D.C is not to take on the FBI or the NSA, even President Obama never went after the NSA, they are everywhere and know all, they bugg everyone and record all, thus if you are smart you leave them alone, otherwise they can make your Administration hell on earth.   The President needs to show he is tough when it comes to Russian, he needs to send in troops to West Ukraine to defend the West of that invaded country.   Also troops should be sent to the Baltic States.   It was reported last night on Fox News that the Russians have developed a new Cruise missile, this is against the INF treaty signed by Reagan and Gorbachev  in 1987, the Oval Office should come down hard against Russia.   Trump looks weak, thus he needs to project power abroad. 

Corbyn and Welfare - Corbyn Mania

BBC News: Reports " Jeremy Corbyn has reaffirmed his desire to scrap the welfare cap after differences with his shadow cabinet, calling the policy "devastating". "

Lets Get Real:

Thus another LEFT wing POLICY from Jeremy Corbyn, the voters want a welfare cap and here we have Corbyn thinking his policy is better than what voters want.   Labour MPs have to get rid of Corbyn or Party will never again gain power.    The Welfare State is to big, you need help those in work, not the idle or those young who have never worked.    The Labour Party is going back to the 1980s, in that period they lost two general elections, 1983 and 1987.   The Party has to learn to LOVE Tony Blair again, otherwise they are finished. 

The END of the INF Treaty - New Cold War

Telegraph: Reports " Nuclear missiles could be sited again on British soil in new 'Cold War' with Russia...Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says there are 'worrying signs' about the increased activity of Russian forces and the UK would consider the pros and cons of taking US intermediate-range weapons  "

Lets Get Real:

Thus the nuclear treaty signed by Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev is under threat due to the actions of President Putin in the Crimea and the East Ukraine.   The West should wait in till Moscow breaks the INF Treaty then it can say that since Russia has broken the agreement the West will place nuclear missiles back in the UK.   One would hope that Russia does not break this agreement, if it does it would show that the Russian word can not be trusted and we are back to the worse of the Cold War days.  Lets hope Putin knows when to STOP. 

Is Labour going the way of the dodo - Post 2015 Election

Telegraph: Reports the following on Labour since the election defeat, " For the past week it looked like the wheels were coming off the Labour Party. Right now it looks as if the whole car is about to be dragged to the junk yard and pounded into scrap. "

Lets Get Real:

The Labour defeat on May 7th was bad, its up there with 1983, 1987 and 1992.   But Labour did come back under the leadership of Tony Blair, although Blair is toxic these days within Labour because of Iraq he should be listened too, the Labour Party when it goes left does not get elected.   IF Labour is to come back it needs to go back to the centre even centre right, the best candidate for that is Liz Kendall, it depends if Labour is willing to take a risk, also what ever leader is chosen that leader has to show results and fast, the Party stuck with Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband and it was a disaster, thus a safe pair of hands are needed, but also someone you could see your self voting for, if the Labour Unions have their choice it will be a left winger, that could mean the end of the Labour Party, time for HARD CHOICES from Labour, learn or fall in to a dustbin. 

US and Russian - Ukraine Crisis

The White House: Reports on the telephone call between President Obama and President Putin of Russia, the readout is as follows, " President Obama spoke today with Russian President Putin about the situation in Ukraine and the bilateral relationship.  The President reiterated his deep concerns about Russia’s increased support for the separatists in Ukraine.  The President reinforced his preference for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Ukraine, and the two leaders agreed to keep open their channels of communication.  The President also reiterated his concerns about Russia’s compliance with its obligations under the INF Treaty. "

Lets Get Real:

President Putin has no respect for Obama, he thinks he is weak and is a pushover, the lack of military action after the shooting down of MH17 HAS shown that the US and the EU is weak when it comes to the defence of Western Europe and its interests.   It has been noted that President Putin has respects for animals that do not cow or show fear in his presence, well that should tell you what Putin thinks of Obama.   The lack of military support by the US for Kiev Governments shows how weak the position of the US is, any other President would have supported Kiev with arms to fight the Russians should they invade.   Also the Russian breaking of the INF Treaty shows that RUSSIA can not be trusted, its not a fit partner for Western Europe. 

Russians BREAK INF Treaty - 2nd Term Blues

The New York Times: Reports that Russia has violated the INF Treaty signed by President Reagan and President Gorbachev in 1987, the article notes the following on the INF Treaty, " ..helped seal the end of the Cold War and has been regarded as a cornerstone of American-Russian arms control efforts. "

Lets Get Real:

When it came to the Russians the Gipper stated Trust but verify, it seems that the Russians are back sliding on a Treaty, the Oval should place pressure on the Kremlin to keep to this important Treaty, if the Russian word can not be trusted then the West will have to increase defence spending and place more troops in East Europe and the Baltic States, the US should give Russia time to get back on board when it comes to INF, but a limited time.   President Putin plays games, he sees the lack of resolve in the West, thus time for the West to consider a massive increase in defence spending, the Post Cold War period IS OVER, its a NEW COLD WAR 2.    At the end of the day the Putin's Russia breaks treaties, allows it powerful weapons to shoot down planes, is shelling the East of Ukraine, time to clip the claws of the Russian bear, before he gets out of total control. 

Obama's Berlin Speech - Review

Telegraph: Here is a review of President Obama's Berlin Speech, following in the steps of President Kennedy and President Reagan, the article notes the following, " Barack Obama bombs in Berlin: a weak, underwhelming address from a floundering president ".

Lets Get Real:

Thus folks the Obama " Star Show " is over, 2nd terms never go well, just ask Nixon, Reagan, Clinton and Bush 43, but the BIG BUT when talking about Obama's speech is the fact that Reagan had gone through Iran - Contra in late 1986, and then a Congress started hearings, that did not stop Reagan from being Leader of the West, he demanded that President Gorbachev, " .....if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! "*  The 2nd Obama Term is going through its scandals, from Libya to the IRS, and a few other in between, the Obama of 2013 is not the Obama of 2008, a weak President is a weak leader, the US needs another Reagan in 2017. 

* “  Remarks on East-West Relations at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin June 12, 1987.” The Public Papers of President Ronald W. Reagan.  Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

The Thatcher Funeral - The Passing of a Great Leader

Guardian: One writer writes the following of the Thatcher funeral, " Invocations of Churchill were wide of the mark. This was a well-staged attempt to write an ideologue into the national story  ".

Lets Get Real:

This is mild from the left wing Guardian, the uber left wing elite will never forgive Lady Thatcher for breaking their defeatist elite view of the fall of the UK, they were happy for the Trade Unions to bring down a Government has happened to Ted Heath in 1974, they did not care that Eastern Europe was under the control of the USSR, they thought that the West should do deals with the USSR, not call it the Evil Empire as Reagan had done in the early 1980s, they did not support sending out the Fleet to retake the Falklands, there mind set was old and totally defeatist.  Yes Lady Thatcher should have have had a ceremonial funeral, she was the best PM after Churchill, she saved the UK as Churchill saved Western Europe from Hitler.   I think its fair to say folks, that Churchill would have been a fan of Lady Thatcher, a fighter for the UK and World freedom.   The dodo's of the elite and the miners will not be remembered in the future, they are old and yesterdays fish and chip paper,  Thatcherism is forever. 

Reagan on the Bork Nomination failure - 1987

Here is what President Reagan said on the failed nomination of Judge Robert Bork in 1987, " I am saddened and disappointed that the Senate has bowed today to a campaign of political pressure and has turned down the nomination of Judge Robert Bork to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Warren Burger said that he could not recall a more qualified nominee in the past 50 years. The highest Court in our land will not enjoy the services of one of the finest men ever put forward for a place on its bench. Judge Bork will be vindicated in history.

Alexander Hamilton wrote that ``the complete independence of the courts of justice is . . . essential in . . . [the] Constitution.'' The framers of our Constitution believed that the judicial branch should be removed from politics and that its only goal should be the fair and impartial administration of justice. But in the last few months, the confirmation of a judicial nominee has become a spectacle of misrepresentation and single-issue politics. To allow this unprecedented practice to become the rule would jeopardize the integrity and independence of the American system of justice. All Americans have a stake in making sure that the confirmation process is never distorted like this again. Let me just add that those Senators who stood up today for Judge Bork and for a judiciary free of politics have my gratitude and respect.

My next nominee for the Court will share Judge Bork's belief in judicial restraint: that a judge is bound by the Constitution to interpret laws, not make them. In our democracy, it is the elected representatives of the people, not unelected judges, who make laws. He or she will share my belief in judicial restraint. He or she will share my belief that the courts of law must administer fair and firm justice to criminals and must show compassion to the victims of crime. I will seek a nominee who understands the dangers of judicial license and leniency in the courtroom. This is the kind of jurist the American people want on the Supreme Court. This is the kind of jurist the framers of our Constitution envisioned sitting on the Supreme Court. This is the kind of jurist I am determined to appoint to the Supreme Court. ". *

Lets Get Real:

The Supremes  lost a chance to have wise and conservative Judge on the bench due to the vicious attack of liberals in the Senate and around the US.   The present cold war between Democrats and Republicans comes from this time as noted by this blog, how about Democrats saying sorry. 

*" Statement on the Failure of the Senate to Confirm the Supreme Court Nomination of Robert H. Bork. October 23, 1987 " The Public Papers of President Ronald W. Reagan.  Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1987/102387c.htm