The Real Iraq Policy - Obama

The New York Times: Reports on the President - Elects move to keep Robert Gates at the Pentagon. What is interesting is the following from the Obama circle, the article states the following on Iraq, " But advisers argued that Mr. Gates was a practical public servant who was also interested in drawing down troops in Iraq when conditions allow. " Thus the sixteen month deadline seems to have gone out of the window. Its a shame Obama didn't say that during the election, then even some Conservative Bloggers could have supported him, as stated this blog is very liberal on Domestic Issues, just when in it comes to National Security I want a President who is a hawk. It seems Obama is a very canny politician, the liberal left have no one else to support, thus he can throw them over board. Thus on the Domestic Front Obama can start a New Deal by public spending, lets recall it was World War 2 that got the USA out of the Great Depression not the New Deal. On the International Front, he will have Clinton at State, she is more of a hawk than Obama, thus don't expect Obama to visit Iran any time soon, the left will not be happy. At Defence Gates will get the USA out of Iraq with honour, not like Vietnam in 1975. This blog takes its hat off to the President - Elect.

Robert Gates at Pentagon

BBC News: Reports that Robert Gates is to remain as Secretary of Defence in a Obama Administration. This is a wise move by the President - Elect, Gates is an outstanding public servant and has made Iraq a low key War. The next job of the Secretary of Defence is to get the USA out of Iraq. The Government of Iraq has take over its own security. The West, UK and USA are in economic meltdown, we cant support two wars, thus Iraq is in a better position to take the load of security off the West. The War in Afghanistan is not going well, we need to win, if we lose in Afghanistan the terrorists will haunt the streets of London and New York again, it will be a long War. As stated in this blog, I want out of Afghanistan, but if we can develop new ideas and win, that would be a excellent development, lets hope Secretary Gates has new ideas for Afghanistan.

New York Subway Threat

BBC News: Reports on a threat to the New York Subway. As it should be recalled al-Qaeda has a pattern of going back to targets. If I recall al - Qaeda had a made plans to strike the New York Subway a few years ago, using poison gas or some the other substance. As we have a new Administration coming in 2009, it can be argued that their will be some reaction by the terrorist group, it follows a pattern. Read this BBC Report from 2005.

Obama's Tax Hikes NO MORE!

The New York Times: Reports that President Obama has decided that his call for Tax Hikes on those on more that two hundred and fifty thousand no longer apply. Have to admit have been very impressed with the Obama Cabinet and this latest news on Taxes, Obama should have a word with UK PM Gordon Brown, Brown wants to after the next General Election to have a 45 percent tax band on those on one hundred and fifty thousand. The PM is pandering to the left of the Labour Party. On the other hand President - Elect Obama is following the example of Ronald Reagan, tax cuts work, the left of the Democratic Party will not be happy, Michigan Senator Carl Levin stated on CNN's Late Edition on Sunday that he wanted to raise the tax on the rich. Lets not get to far head of praise for Obama, lets see what he does after January 20th 2009.

Economic News in the UK

On the economic side we have some good news if you want to be conned, in this case its the new policy by Labour Government to cut VAT, Value Added Tax from its present 17.5% to 15%. The catch is that it will go back up after a year. Have to admit sat down to watch the Chancellor of the Exchequer but he was so boring fell asleep. Its a con, its being done as way to allow Labour to have some good news before calling a General Election. If Labour really wanted to help people it would have cut income tax, all the policies are pandering, make the left happy, what my concern is the future of the UK Economy. WELCOME BACK TO THE 1979 AND THE WINTER OF DISCONTENT FOLKS.

Death in Afghanistan

BBC News: Reports on the death of another British Soldier in Afghanistan. The total of deaths now stands at 126. After January 20th 2009, President Obama is going to ask the UK to send more troops to Afghanistan. I hope PM Gordon Brown has the courage to follow the example of the late PM, Harold Wilson and refuse such a request, in Wilson's case it was Vietnam. The UK is doing her bit, to much it can be argued, its about time that the rest of NATO got off their back sides and helped. The UK is in a War that is without End, we cant win and we cant afford to lose in Afghanistan, also we have the prospect of another Great Depression, we need new ideas and polices for Afghanistan.

Liberal Fury at Obama

Telegraph: Reports that the Liberal Left of the Democratic Base is furious that President - Elect Obama is placing more conservative characters on his National Security Team. This shows a wise President - Elect, also a canny politician, Obama is liberal on the Domestic Stuff, Abortion, Stem Cell, Gay Marriage, but on the International Front he does not want to turn in to Jimmy Carter Mark II. Also Obama knows what happens when you follow the crowd, Munich 1938, Reagan in 1976 said of the then Soviet Union " We Win they Lose ", recall folks this was in 1976. At the time no one in the Foreign Policy Establishment was stating this view, their view was that the Soviet Union had to be dealt with as an equal, not confronted and finished off. Obama has to have a tough impression going in, he will be challenged, Iran and the Bomb, Afghanistan could blow up, the terrorists could try a Tet kind offensive, nuclear armed Pakistan could fall apart. Due to the economic 9/11 faced by the West, the USA has to get its troops out of Iraq, this will take time and has to be done in a delicate manner, Obama does not want a Civil War in Iraq and Iran taking over the Oil Fields, that would make a deep recession a depression. If Iraq falls apart and Iran goes in, could they stop the oil to the West, the 70s all over again. Thus Obama will get out of Iraq but in manner that does not recall the USA getting out of Vietnam in 1975. Obama does not want to see that last chopper leaving and the USA in decline, that would cancel in chances of re - election. The left have no else to vote for, he can afford to throw them over board.