Bush 43

The Times: Reports on how Bush 43 perceives his Legacy, his achievements and mistakes. Read of the Day. The Bush Legacy is many respects will be defined on how good or bad his successors are, if Obama is a weak President, if there is another terrorist attack while Obama is President and his answer is seen as weak then Bush 43 will look better looking back, if Obama is another Kennedy or Reagan then Bush will not look great, its matter of events. In recent poll by the BBC, the three favourite Presidents of the USA, drum roll please, 3) Kennedy 2) Reagan 1) Clinton. If you had asked the elite in 1980 if Reagan would over take Kennedy in such a poll they would have laughed. If Obama wants to be Reagan he has to get his Agenda through, also see the USA as Reagan often stated, a Shinning City on Hill.

The Obama Team on National Security

The Times: Bronwen Maddox writing in the paper of record states the following on the Obama National Security Team, " But in policies, not a million miles from the chastened and cautious Bush Administration of the past year. " The Obama National Security Team has won rave reviews from Republicans and Conservatives. The Liberal Left don't have a choice, they have to support Obama, there is no one else they can support if they want influence with the new Administration. It will be interesting to see how the Senate controlled by the Democrats move on with the confirmation process for Hillary Clinton, the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee is Senator John Kerry, he wanted to be Secretary of State, he campaigned for the job, not the done thing in the Beltway. It will be interesting to see how he handles Hillary Clinton. Also will the Republicans go after the business deals of President Bill Clinton. I do feel sorry for Bill Clinton, he will have get a pass to change ties from the Obama Administration, how long before he he blows a casket and does or say something that is opposed to Obama. President Obama should think of giving him a job, how about US Ambassador to the Court of St James. That is a plum post by any standards but also would get him out of the country. The fun times are back folks, its Clinton Time.

The Nation on Obama and Gates

The Nation: The Bible for Liberals ( if they believed in God ) is not happy that President - Elect Obama has decided to keep Robert Gates at the Pentagon, the Nations writes the following, " By keeping Gates on Obama worsens the Democratic image on national security--- sending the message that even Democrats agree that Democrats can't run the military. " The real message that the President - Elect is sending is that he will get out of Iraq with honour. Obama does not want to be another President Ford and that last chopper leaving the Embassy. Secretary Gates understands that Iraq is over as a War, there will be low level conflict but the government of Iraq should be able to deal with these problems. Also the USA will keep a presence in Iraq to train forces. The War on Terror has gone back to Afghanistan, it is Afghanistan that needs a surge of troops. By 2011 Iraq will have limited USA presence, Afghanistan if the surge works there should be a low level conflict. The only spot on the horizon is what will the terrorists do in the early days of an Obama Administration, a Tet kind of offensive in Iraq or Afghanistan, or a terror attack on the USA mainland. In many respects Obama is like Kennedy in 1961, Kennedy had Cuba and a very Cold War, Obama has it worse, two wars and the the threat of terror. In keeping Gates, the President - Elect has shown wise judgement. You would think the left would give him a chance to get in to Office.

Pakistan, India and The West

The Times: Reports that Pakistan has threatened to move its troops from the badlands of the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan and move them to the border between India and Pakistan due to the terrorist attack in Mumbai, India. If there is a conflict between India and Pakistan this could damage Western interest in Afghanistan, we need Pakistan to keep its troops in the badlands of the border. If they follow through with their idea to move their troops the USA and UK would have to consider placing Western troops in Pakistan. Lets not jump the gun, the USA under President Bush and Obama should send a diplomatic delegation to India and Pakistan, if that fails we should make clear to both countries, if they want a war then fine, but not nuclear, that has to be made clear to both governments. The West can not afford to see both India and Pakistan in a nuclear rubble, and not with Western troops in Afghanistan. That sounds harsh but its the reality, thus if and this is way off, should the terrorists win the final round, India and Pakistan must not be allowed to use nuclear weapons for any reason. Thus the CIA AND MI6 should make sure they are aware of the sites for these weapons in case they have to be taken out one way or another. This is the time for Obama to show real skill as a statesman, this crisis might not wait for January 20th 2009.

India and Pakistan at War ?

Telegraph: Reports that India has placed herself on a War footing with Pakistan. The terrorists have won the first two rounds, they terrorised Mumbai ( Bombay ) for days, now India and Pakistan are back at each others throats. The West has to make sure that the terrorists don't win the final round, President George W. Bush should send a Diplomatic mission to the region, he should invite President - Elect Obama to send his envoy with the group. If India and Pakistan go to war, the entire region could go up in flames, lets recall both nations are nuclear powers. Thus the security of the West requires that the USA take an active role to get both countries back on the same page, the terrorists can not be allowed to start a nuclear war in the region.

Secretary Clinton

The New York Times: Reports that President - Elect Obama will announce Hillary Clinton as his nominee for Secretary of State on Monday. I cant decide if this move by the President is brilliant or the most foolish since the Russia sold Alaska to the USA; before the Russians knew about the Oil; it can be argued that Bill Clinton will go off the Obama Foreign Policy Reservation within six months. I could not cope with the Clintons for four to eight years, Obama must have the patience of a Saint, he is going to need that patience with the Clintons.

The Military and Obama

The Washington Post: Reports on the future relationship between the US Military and President Obama. As the article points out the main issue that could be a problem is Iraq, the pledge by Obama to get out of Iraq is sixteen months, the article states the following, " ..some Pentagon officials believe an Iraq withdrawal order could become Obama's equivalent of the Clinton controversy over gays,..." Obama will not want to leave Iraq in a mess, he does not want to be President Ford, those images of the Chopper leaving the US Embassy in 1975 are iconic, Obama does not want to turn a victory in to defeat. A quick withdrawal could lead to a civil war in Iraq, the chance for Iran to invade and take over the oil fields, cut off oil to the West, would not make economic sense but who said Iran was working from the Western Page. Does Obama want to see cars waiting for Oil, this would really help the Democrats in the Mid - Term Elections of 2010. Also if the USA is seen as leaving the Terrorists could come back, does Obama want to see Iraq in a Civil War with the terrorists throwing in their bombs. Thus it could be argued that Obama will be more moderate that his Campaign Pledge. Also keeping Secretary Gates on is a good move, will allow Gates to get the USA out of Iraq with honour. Lets be honest, the Western Economy is in the toilet we have to get out of Iraq, they have to take up the burden, we just have to leave with honour and our backs protected by the Government in Iraq.