North Korea vs Japan

The Times: Reports that Japan will shoot down any missile that is launched from North Korea that is seen as a threat to Japan. The Japanese will use the Son of Star Wars, in other words Reagan's SDI project but a scale down version. Thus we have Iran in one corner and North Korea in the other corner, really depends which gets to annoy first and is seen as a threat, would not like to be President Obama in either case, all the options are bad, and in some respects your dealing with leaders will not all the bricks in the Wall. Ah for the good days of the Cold War.

Another Failed State = Pakistan

The Times: Reports on how the terrorists attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team has its origins in the internal politics of Pakistan, her relationship with India and the appeasement of the Taliban/Terrorists in the Swat Valley. If Pakistan fails the West has a major problem on its hands, Pakistan is a nuclear armed power, the West can not afford for the Terrorists to get hold of these nuclear weapons, thus the West has to think outside the box, does the West send in troops in to Pakistan. Its not the solution any one wants but it might be the only answer. The USA and the UK might have to sent troops in to the badlands of the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, clean out the terrorists that have created bases in this region. Also take out the terrorists in the Swat Valley, through Air Power and covert action, as a last resort, the use of ground troops. Its that bad folks. Read of the Day.

The Slow Obama Agenda

CQ Politics: Reports how the Obama Agenda is giving heart burn to Conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives, how many facing the Mid Term Elections in 2010 might oppose the Obama Agenda. Lets recall that the Presidential Race was two years in the making, also the Democrats own D.C. They have the votes in the House and Senate, thus Democrats in Conservative States have to think about their own political futures, not that of the Obama Administration. If the Obama poll ratings go down due to the present recession/depression these Conservative Democrats will be the first to face the music of the voters, thus expect Obama having to get votes from his own side first before getting Republicans.

Meeting of Minds ?

BBC News: Reports on the meeting between UK PM Gordon Brown and the US President Obama, it went well. It would not matter if they could not stand each other, the US and the UK are tied to the hip when it comes to the International System. The close relationships between FDR and Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan and Lady Thatcher had at its core a shared mutual interest, in World War Two it was winning against Germany and Japan, in the 80s it was standing up to the Soviet Union at the time of the Cold War. Today the USA and the UK are in Afghanistan, the UK is still in Iraq with the USA. Thus mutual interest is at the core of the Special Relationship. Also we cant stand France. The new Obama Administration cant get to close to Gordon Brown he might lose the General Election in the UK in 2010.

USA - Syria Alliance ?

The Times: Reports on brief meeting between Hillary Clinton the US Secretary of State and the Syrian Foreign Minister. This meeting could be an interesting development, if Iran is off the table for talks, then both the USA and Israel would be interested in getting Iran's closes partner on board and for Syria to change sides in the Middle East. If Iran is attacked either by the USA or Israel, getting Syria on board would be a very good idea, it would prevent Iran from attacking Israel through Syria. Thus the question that the USA and Israel will have to ask, what is the price for this deal, is the price lower than a Nuclear Armed Iran. The question will be yes, also Syria could join Egypt in having a normal relationship with Israel. This deal and the devil is in the details, would block Iran in, this would be good for the security of the Middle East and the West.

No Iran Talks ?

The New York Times: Reports that the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has stated that the USA does not expect Iran to talk to the USA. This is a crafty move by Hillary Clinton, she does not want to be the fall guy for the Obama Administration when it comes to talking to Iran. The Clintons are always thinking long term. The Liberal pressure groups will not be happy, they want to appease Iran but the Clintons know how much that would cost the image of the Clintons, yes that's Bill also. President Obama might want to talk to Iran without conditions but if expects Hilary Clinton to lose the Jewish vote for him he is reading to much of his press statements. If Obama was to lose in 2012, Hillary Clinton wold be the leading candidate for the nomination in 2016. Thus the Clintons are looking long term, they will not appease Iran and allow Iran to become a nuclear armed power, the Jewish vote in the Democratic Party is a major player. Also it is a good way to undercut Iran, if they wanted to talk it would now look like weakness or their part. Hat off to the Clintons, they are master of the game.

The End ?

BBC News: Reports on the World wide slump in shares. The Market is still over priced and we still don't know what debts the banks in the Western system hold. If there is more debts the UK and the USA will have to do further bailouts. The more bailouts we have of banks makes these banks owned by the Governments. The question should be asked at what point does a Government in the UK or the USA say No. This is nothing more than welfare for banks, these bailouts will kill private business for years to come, the point of the Western system is that people can get rich, but also there is balance, people will be poor. The rate of the bailouts means we are all poor, and we are owned by Government. Thus if Government controls the system you have the USSR. At the end of the day individuals have to look after themselves, that goes for banks also, these bailouts will end, then the system will go in to real free fall, what the USA and the UK is doing is only temporary, sooner or later the the debt dyke will bust and we will be worse off in the West.