Monday, May 11, 2009

Roxana Saberi - Free

BBC News: Reports that US-Iranian Reporter Roxana Saberi is free from custody. This shows that a deal with Iran could be on the cards over its nuclear development. But lets get real here, it could also be a clever PR stunt by Iran. This will allow President Obama to seek further talks with Iran, without the pressure of a US Reporter in jail. But Iran could be playing a double game, it frees reporter and starts talks with Obama, keeps those talks going on and on, like Korea and then on the last day announces to the world it has the bomb. The delay through talks would remove the threat of an attack from Israel, Israel will not attack Iran if the USA is from their point of view in serious talks with Iran. Also we have to look at the internal politics of Iran, could the arrest have been done by the hardliners to prevent any talks, and the moderates have the upper hand to get the reporter released. Is the Conservative President of Iran playing to the moderates to win election, what next the appearance of talks with Obama. Then after endless months of talks Iran will declare it has the bomb.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Summer of Violence - Afghanistan

Telegraph: Reports that UK Military Chiefs in Afghanistan expect an increase in Attacks in a lead up to the August Presidential Election in Afghanistan. If the Al Qeada is no longer in Afghanistan why are we still there, I thought in 2001 we went to War to get rid of Al Qeada, if they are gone to Pakistan and are no longer operational in Afghanistan why are we still fighting the Taliban. If it is the Taliban cant we make a deal and get out, this is thinking outside the box, if a deal could be made that they turn against Al Qeada and start to fight them, we give them Afghanistan. The one negative is Pakistan, we cant make a deal with the Taliban of Pakistan, one reason only, Pakistan has a nuclear weapons. Thus in fact are the UK and the USA nation building in both countries, we have to Pakistan but why Afghanistan, lets think outside the box folks. Lets be honest do we care a dot about Afghanistan if it cost the life's of our brave soldiers, if we could close down the Afghanistan front then it would only be Pakistan, if we could get a deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan, a deal that would stick, the Army of Pakistan and the USA and UK forces could wipe out the Taliban in the Swat Valley and the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

When is to Far - Torture ?

The Sunday Times: Reports on tough interrogations methods used by the Bush Administration, suspected terrorists held by the USA would not be allowed to sleep for eleven days, and only allowed to wear a nappy. I was shocked at first when reading this article, but have to be honest at the end of the day my only question was did it work. If it worked and information that could be used to prevent attacks then so let it be, never thought I would defend torture, but then there is pre - 9/11 and after, we are living in a 24 world folks.

Al Qaeda still in Afghanistan ?

Fox News: Reports that General Petraeus has stated that the terrorist group Al Qaeda is no longer in the Operational Theatre of Afghanistan. They have moved to Pakistan to cause havoc. I hope the General has better information than the News Networks, on this I would like to see on the ground intelligence, information from captured terrorists, signal information. It could be that Al Qaeda sees Pakistan as an easy target, weak government, the ISI the Intelligence Agency of Pakistan is in bed with the Taliban. The Army of Pakistan who see their main enemy as India, and will have to be trained to fight the terrorists. If the Army of Pakistan is successful in the Swat Valley and the badlands of the border between the Afghanistan and Pakistan, then Al Qaeda will back in Afghanistan.

Aide to Speaker knew about TORTURE

Washington Post: Reports that an Aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was informed that that the Bush Administration used torture on terrorists in 2003. President Obama must wish he had kept his mouth shut on this subject. One does not start investigations when one catches ones own party in the net. The idea of an Independent Investigation is over, Obama can not risk other Democrats getting caught in this net. Tip of the hat to the Bush White House, they made sure that the Democrats had the information, thus should they try to play ball with this issue they face going down the toilet with the Bush officials. Nice move Bush White House.

A Fool and his MONEY!

FT: Have you noticed of late that the Stock Markets in the UK and the USA has gone up, it seems we are over the recession. A article in the Financial Times should be read by all who are thinking of going back in to the market, in essence beware of Fools Gold. In essence has the market really tanked enough, are we seeing the last hangover before the fall, in other words keep your money under bed folks, give it time, the Market looks to good, if you buy you could be buying a fake. From an non investment view the Market seems to have recovered quite fast, one minute we are in the Great Depression Mark 11 then its back to the day before, be cautions investor. Read of the Day.

Saturday, May 09, 2009

The New York Times vs The Speaker

The New York Times: Has a critical look at the role of Speaker Pelosi in the torture debate. From released information as to who knew what when, the Times states the following, " It appears to call into question the longstanding assertion of Speaker Nancy Pelosi that she was never told that waterboarding and other methods were actually used...." That the problem when you open a can of worms, Obama thought this would be easy when he closed down Gitmo and released the torture memos. The reverse has happened, from report on Fox News it seems that now that Obama will carry on with the Military Commissions on US soil and that the release of the torture memos has raised more questions about Democrats than Republicans. There is an old lesson in politics let sleeping dogs lie, and who in Congress knew what is a mystery that should have been left in the past. It would be unfair to go after the CIA only, or just Bush Administration officials, the Republicans would drag in Democratic Congressional Leadership, how ironic if Speaker Pelosi was to lose her job because of a Campaign she started, the irony.