Obama and McCain

The New York Times: Reports on the meeting between President - Elect Obama and his Republican opponent Senator John McCain. Its a pity that the President - Elect didn't follow the example of the West Wing. In the series Democratic President - Elect offered the job of Secretary of State to his Republican opponent. But lets get real, if the Obama Presidency is in trouble due to the economic problems and the Wars a few years down the line it will be good to keep Hillary Clinton in the tent. To miss quote LBJ, if the wet tea bags are thrown its better that they are throw out of the tent not at the tent. Lets hope this Clinton Drama does not play out of the next four years, but with Bill Clinton you get drama, at least it fun if your a Republican or a Conservative.

NYT and Bill Clinton

The New York Times: Reports on the background checks of President Bill Clinton. Read this article folks and tell me that the Liberal Times does not want the Clintons in the Obama Orbit. It's almost a political hatchet job on Bill Clinton, like the one the Times did on McCain. Read of the Day.

The Bill Clinton Problem Part Two

Politico: Reports the one issue that could block a Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, of course that being Bill Clinton. The main concern of the Obama Camp as reported by Politico is the business dealings of Bill Clinton and his future charity work. Why President - Elect Obama went down this road is a mystery, if Clinton was not good enough to be his VP why is Secretary of State any better. if there are problems with the business or charity work of Bill Clinton and it blocks the appointment it will cause a rupture of the good relationship between the Clinton's and Obama. Also if there is no problem now what about the future, President Obama could never sack a Secretary Clinton. As stated before this was not a wise move by the President - Elect. Does recall the mess of the 1992 Clinton Transition.

The Bill Clinton Problem !

Fox News: Reports on the problem that Bill Clinton could cause his wife in becoming Secretary of State. Does President - Elect Obama really want to give the Republicans a chance to do their favourite thing, investigate the Clintons. I would recommend Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, was UN Ambassador and Energy Secretary for Bill Clinton and supported Obama over Clinton in the Democratic fight for the nomination.

Clinton wants to be Secretary of State !

The New York Times: Reports on the views of the Democratic Foreign Policy Establishment on the idea that Senator Hillary Clinton should be the Secretary of State in a Obama Administration. The article states the following, " Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama ..........are not as far apart on foreign policy — particularly the issues of Iran and Iraq — as they seemed to be during the long primary battle for the Democratic presidential nomination. " As most of the Democratic Foreign Policy Establishment worked for the Clinton White House at one time or another this can be seen as a move by the Clintons to force President - Elect Obama to offer her the job, it seems from a reports that they have meet but there was no direct offer. It can be argued that the Clintons see this a their chance to get back in to power. Lets be very direct here, with Hillary you get Bill, as stated in the past that is a positive and a negative. Also if the Obama Foreign Policy goes in to the toilet, it will be very hard for Obama to sack Hillary Clinton. Also what about Bill Clinton, this is not just a husband or wife, this is a former President of the United States, will stop giving speeches for hundred thousand of dollars, what about the funding for his Presidential Library, lets be honest, you can see companies and countries thinking, how can we get through the Diplomacy, lets see give a large donation to the Clinton Presidential Library. Before you start this is not a critic of Bill Clinton its not, it would not matter to Clinton if you gave his Library Billions, he is more of a power man than money, but its a fault line that others might see and cause problems for Obama. Also can you see Bill Clinton keeping to the Obama Agenda on Foreign Policy, he is a former President. This move by Obama to have Hillary in the Cabinet would be one of the worse mistakes he could make for his Administration.

Iraq Exit 2011

BBC News: Reports on Agreement between the USA and Iraq for the USA to leave Iraq in 2011. As the USA and the UK are in a recession, any long term plans to stay in Iraq are out of the window. The New Obama Administration has a plan to leave Iraq within sixteen months if conditions stay as they are, Iraq taking over responsibility for her own security. Thus this new agreement will help the new Administration, as they can keep their promise to get most US troops out of Iraq, while keeping forces to fight the terrorists. Iraq now has a timetable, it has not choice it will have to take responsibility for its own security and fund its own security. Lets hope the Iraqi government can stand up to Iran. Also lets hope that after the West has left Iraq that a Civil War does not develop, as present Western economic crisis would be nothing if Iran moves in to Iraq and turns the screw on the West when it comes to oil.

Death in Afghanistan

BBC News: Reports on the death of another British Soldier in Afghanistan. The total now stands at 125 killed in action and accidents. I was watching a moving documentary on BBC 2 last night on those that have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the question that has to be asked was it worth it, the loss of good men and women in Wars that after they are finished will they be looked backed as just or glorious wars; glorious as long as we win, no matter for if just or not; when it comes to the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq it can be argued in both ways, in Afghanistan it was a just War, all those that lived through the events of 9/11 would argue that the West was attacked on 9/11; the base of operations was Afghanistan, thus the War as Just; but its an endless war, that's the problem, what is the Exit route and how long will the public support the War. In Iraq it can be argued its a glorious War, in the long term we got rid of a tyrant, the reason for the War was rubbish but we won. The UK is out of Iraq next year, thus there is no reason to lose any more troops in Iraq. Thus on the one hand a Just War and a Glorious War, our Armed Forces Personnel had done their best, the politicians have let them down in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the years to come they will be remember as those that have died in WW1, WW2, Korea, Falklands, Gulf War 1 and Northern Ireland.