Vietnam and Afghanistan & Iraq - The Left Start the Same GAME!

The New York Times: Has an article on the death of former Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara, the man that lead the USA in to the Vietnam War under JFK and LBJ. As expected the Liberal Left has started after Iraq to compare Afghanistan to Vietnam, the article states the following, " None of these wars had clearly articulated goals or endgames. " Thus as stated in this blog, the Liberal Left will start to cause problems for President Obama next year, they want out of Afghanistan, when ever a war is not over in a hundred hours the Liberal Left show a yellow streak a mile away. The operation in Afghanistan will take more than year, it will take years, the Obama and UK surge has just started, the Army of Pakistan is fighting the Taliban/Terrorists on many fronts, this war is going to take years. Obama will have to show backbone, this is the war he wanted to fight, well he might he find that he has to fight own base first before taking winning over the Taliban/Terrorists.

No Green Light to Israel - Obama on Israel and Iran

TJP: Reports that President Obama has stated that he has not give the green light for Israel to attack the nuclear facilities of Iran. Thus we seem to have a conflict in the Obama White house between the President and the Vice - President. A confusing signals does not help with policy. The President has stated that Iran has till the end of the year to start to talks, well so far that looks like a long shot. The Government of Iran has stolen an election, repressed the people through violence and fear. They have created a PR strategy that the protests after the Presidential Election was the fault of the UK. Thus at the end of the day Israel will have to protect its security, Obama might want to the follow the Neville Chamberlain route to Peace, Israel has see the result of appeasement, thus if Iran does not want meaningful talks with Obama, Israel will have to strike Iran, for the security of Israel and the West.

The Obama Offer to Russia

The Times: Reports that President Obama in a speech has offered a deal to Russia, help the USA prevent Iran going nuclear and the USA wont place missiles defence in the old Warsaw countries. This is a good offer by President Obama, Russia if it is thinking straight will take this deal, a nuclear Iran is a much of a threat to Russia as to the West. One can argue that even Ronald Reagan would offer this deal, it does not block missile defence just changes the placement of the missile shield. Also President Obama has to deal with the threat from North Korea, the missile defence for that rouge nation is in Alaska. This could be a Grand Bargain if Russia mind is in the present and not in the past with the USSR.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports on the accidental death of a British Soldier, the total of UK Armed Forces Personnel killed in accidents, illness or other incidents has now reached 30. In Combat operations 145 have been killed. The latest combat casualty as reported by the MOD is " Lance Corporal Dane Elson from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards was killed in Afghanistan on 5 July 2009. " In total the UK has lost 175 Armed Forces Personnel. Through combat or other incidents there will be more deaths in Afghanistan.

Taliban Surge in Afghanistan ?

Telegraph: Reports that the Taliban/Terrorists are mounting their own surge to counter the Obama surge of US troops in to Afghanistan. Lets hope the Taliban/Terrorists stand and fight, it would be a military mistake, in one to one fight between USA Forces and the Taliban, the USA will always win. It seems from the Telegraph report that the Taliban are not stupid they are going for insurgent tactics, in other words IED's and sneak attacks, it is reported that the USA has already lost seven soldiers in combat since the surge. Thus the War in Afghanistan has become Obama's War. Thus the good deal between the USA and Russia that allows USA to move troops and equipment through Russia, these shipments are less open to attack. It has been reported that Liberals in Congress have given Obama a year to get a handle on Afghanistan, its going to take longer and more deaths. Obama might wanted this just war but war is bloody and not on political timetables, thus President Obama will have to show some backbone next year if Afghanistan is not working, the Liberal Left will want to cut and run, Obama knows he can not afford to be another Jimmy Carter. Thus Obama like LBJ in 1968 could face a challenge for the nomination in 2012.

Review of the US - Russian Summit

Courtesy of the White House. ( Centre, Left to Right ) President Obama and President Medvedev. 6/7/09

BBC News: Reports on the US - Russian Summit between President Obama and President Medvedev of Russia. The most interesting part of the Press Conference it can be argued was the news that Russia has agreed to allow the USA to transport weapons and troops to Afghanistan through Russia. This benefits both the USA and Russia. On the USA side it helps that it does not have to relay on Pakistan, the Taliban/Terrorists have been successful in attacking Western Military Convoys from Pakistan to Afghanistan. As from the Russian perspective they have their own Islamic problem, also they have been burnt in Afghanistan during the USSR period. Thus USA owes them a favour, also its pay back time for the defeat of the USSR in Afghanistan. This is real politics at is most brutal and beneficial for both sides. As to the agreements on nuclear levels, this is a sideshow, who thinks there is going to be World War 3. The USA has developed better nuclear missiles and the Russian missiles are old. Thus in some respects it benefits Russia to cut the levels. As to missile defence, it can be argued that Obama cant really give the store away, there is Iran, the Congress well the Conservative Blue Dogs in the House and Senate will not allow Obama to sell the store on this issue while Iran and North Korea are a threat. Thus in pure real political terms both sides get something out of the deal, the USA can supply its troops in Afghanistan through Russia, the Russia bear gets the respects it wants and it owed a favour by the USA. A good Summit, but lets not thinks this is a NEW DAWN. In the time of the British Empire we played the Great Game with Russia, now its the USA. The Russia bear should be respected but its weak and old, the appearance of respect yes but not a veto to Western Policy. Lets hope Obama knows the difference between spin and the old Reagan line, TRUST BUT VERIFY.

The End of the Vietnam War ?

The Times: Reports on the death of Robert McNamara, Defence Secretary under JFK and LBJ the man that was seen as having taken the USA in to the Vietnam War. Mr McNamara was very intelligent, he was called a computer on legs in his day, but the failure of Vietnam defined him and the USA till the election of Ronald Reagan. As to how history will judge Mr McNamara that is still up in the air, if your on the right you see him as doing the right thing in Vietnam, if your on the left you seen him as having taken the USA in to a war on a lie. The end result was the USA lost the Vietnam War, and the USA does not like to lose, that simple and brutal folks, thus Robert McNamara is seen as a failure overall.