Tipping Point in Afghanistan?

Telegraph: Reports from the front line, and the view that UK surge is working, and that the Taliban/Terrorists are being push out of Helmand. The Taliban/Terrorists could be using the Viet Cong strategic method, they might be losing on the ground but want to sap the will of the UK population to fight the War in Afghanistan. If we are winning on the ground, and by winning we are taking ground and keeping the Taliban from coming back then we have to give time to the Army. Also we need to send out more troops with better kit, that goes from personal amour to helicopters, if we are staying in Afghanistan lets win in the bloody place. Thus lets see if the US and UK can keep the ground they take and win the hearts of minds of the locals. If we can take the population away from the Taliban, then we are half way to victory. The question is what kind of victory are we looking for, if we expect a Liberal Democracy then we are going to be disappointed, what we need a semi functional government that can control most of the country and repel the Taliban/Terrorists. If this can be done with having a semi Democratic Government with rights for women that would be great but that is by product not the objective. Thus if takes a Military Rule by a Strong General with no rights for women so be it, as long as we can get out, and our National Security is not under constant threat.

Deaths in Afghanistan

Courtesy of the BBC

MOD: Reports on the death of five British Soldiers, the soldiers came from the "The 2nd Battalion The Rifles". The total of UK Armed Forces Personnel lost in Afghanistan has now reached 184. The breakdown of those losses is as follows, in combat the UK has lost 153, while it has lost 31 due to accidents, illness or other incidents. The summer months in Afghanistan are the frighting season, thus more deaths are expected, also there is the Presidential Election in August, the Taliban/Terrorists want to cause havoc in the lead up to the vote. Thus more heavy fighting in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan and Iraq, The Death Toll

Afghanistan Death Total = 179, Combat 148, other 31 - There will be more.

Iraq Death Total = 179, Combat 136, other 43. UK out of Iraq.

Death in Afghanistan

BBC News: Reports that another British Soldier has died in Afghanistan. The Soldier was from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment. In total from the MOD, the UK Armed Forces have lost 179 personnel. In combat the UK has lost 148, through accidents, illness or other incidents the total is 31. Thus the UK has lost ten soldiers in ten days. Why do I have this nasty feeling when we look back, when we are out of Afghanistan, we will say WHY, Afghanistan is the War Obama wants to fight, well let him, the UK has done its bit, time to get out and rebuild our Forces.

No Tax Cuts !!

The New York Times: Has an article by the Nobel Prize winning economist, Paul Krugman, Mr Krugman states the following on the Obama Economy and future spending, " including, quite possibly, another round of stimulus — may be necessary. " I have read the article twice, but in less I missed it, Mr Krugman does not mention tax cuts, the one sure way to get the economy going out of a recession. If you spend money more money when the first stimulus did not work you invite inflation. The Obama Economic Plan has not worked, Obama should follow the path of Ronald Reagan, cut taxes, cut government spending with the exception of Defence and not try to create a NHS in the USA. Please read this article and if you see tax cuts mentioned please reply to this post. Why are Liberals afraid to give money back to the tax payer, it seems they are more interested in backgrupting the USA, can I get Nobel Prize in Economics, my following the Reagan plan would work for the USA.

Nuclear Iran within Year

TJP: Reports that Iran could go nuclear with a year. If Iran goes nuclear and it has the ability to place nuclear warheads on its missiles the region could get very hot. Lets recall it has a very close relationship with the Stalinist North Korea. The Times of London has reported that North Korea can already place miniature warheads on its missiles, thus its a nuclear power. As the UN has placed sanctions on North Korea that prevents it sending missiles outside North Korea the Stalinist Government could try to get money by selling information to Iran on how to develop its nuclear and missile abilities. Also the Foreign Policy in Iran will be effected by the stolen election, the Government of Iran has already stated that the protesters are being lead by the West, thus to divert attention from internal problems Iran could push its nuclear progress, thus develop the bomb and missile abilities. This would force the Obama Administration to allow Israel to hit Iran, this from Tehran might not be a bad result, the Government in Iran would ask for unity, it would get support, it would divert attention to the West, thus as an politician once stated, all politics is local.

Deaths in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that two British Soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, one soldier was from the " 4th Battalion The Rifles " and the other soldier was from the " The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards. " In total the UK has lost 178 Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, the break down is as follows, of that 178, 147 have died in combat, while 31 have died of illness, accidents or other incidents. This is the ninth death is nine days, at what point does this level of attrition of our troops become a military problem. The UK will be in Afghanistan for years, how many more good men and women will be lost in War we cant win. That simple and brutal folks.