Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a British soldier has been killed today in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 6 RIFLES, serving as part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 259 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 226 in combat operations and 33 due to illness, accidents or other incidents. They will be missed by their families and the Country.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the soldier that was killed in Afghanistan on Saturday, the soldier was "Lance Sergeant Dave Greenhalgh, from 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards ". Our thoughts are with the family of Lance Sergeant Greenhalgh.

Death in Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a British Soldier has been killed today in Afghanistan, the soldier was from the " 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards ". Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 258 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 225 in combat operations, and 33 due to illness, accidents other incidents. My problem with NATO strategy in Afghanistan is the same problem that the US had in the Vietnam War with Viet Cong, the Taliban can throw their guns away and hide in plain sight, thus Operation Moshtarak might be in conventional military terms a success but that success can turn sour within a few weeks or months if the soldiers become targets for the insurgents. Lets be honest folks the Taliban/Al Qaeda can wait out President Obama, if the two Obama surges in Afghanistan don't work by 2011 the President will be a tight spot, if the withdraws troops the Afghanistan War will be seen as another Vietnam, in essence the Taliban have won, but if POTUS keeps soldiers in theatre he will lose the support of the liberal left wing of the Democratic Party. Thus not surprising that President Obama has started to look old beyond his years. That star of 2008 might find that the young have moved on to vote for the next American Idol. Politics is like sand, you have only audience for a while then they move on, after FDR there have only be two long lasting stars of the Presidency, that has been JFK and Reagan, will Obama be the next star or another Jimmy Carter.

Operation Moshtarak ( Together ) - Results

BBC News: Reports on the early success of Operation Moshtarak, from operational reports it seems that the Taliban have withdrawn from Marjah, thus a success for NATO. As noted in this blog the Taliban could withdraw and hide in plain sight, what should worry NATO is what comes afterwards, the Taliban had no chance in a direct one to one fight with NATO, but that is not the point with Afghanistan, just ask the USSR. The point is after the initial military assault will NATO face an increase in insurgent attacks and will it the be able to hold Marjah and other areas. Also will the Kabul Government gain the loyalty of these new areas under NATO control, will the local people feel some kind of loyalty to Kabul. The Taliban have a strategic decision to make, do they hold back and wait for the Obama surge troops to go home in 2011 and face the prospect that they cant win back the population or do they carry on with the their insurgent fight, either could option and they could lose. Lets hope they make bad choice.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has released the name of the soldier killed on Thursday, the soldier was, " Lance Corporal Darren Hicks from 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards ". Our thoughts are with the family of Lance Corporal Hicks.

Iran and the Bomb?

The Daily Mail: Reports on the statement by President Ahmadinejad that Iran is now a nuclear state, President Ahmadinejad also stated that Iran has enriched its uranium by 20%. The year long search by President Obama to have talks with Iran has failed, the question is what now?, either Obama takes action or Israel will take military action. The first step for the Oval is to get tough sanctions through the UN Security Council, but as posted China is saying NO. Thus the US and its Allies might have to take independent action, the question is will these sanctions work and will it have any effect on Iran. One can postulate that these sanctions will fail, then what, well it comes down to military power, that is the choice for Obama, either US or Israeli planes attacking Iran. What Oval cant have is Israel taking action, this could lead Iran attacking US forces in Iraq. This would open a new War for the Obama Administration, thus its better a US attack, as Iran would be told that any return action and the US will remove the Tehran Regime by what ever means. The US will not play around with Iran, it wont be the Iran - Iraq War, the US reaction would be fast hard and ruthless. Thus interesting few weeks ahead folks.

China vs USA

Fox News: Reports on China's refusal to back tough sanctions on Iran. In this case the Obama Administration has to be careful, China is the banker for the USA, the Obama Administration needs China to buy its debt. The US economy and the Obama Presidency needs China to keep the debt of the US and to buy more of that debt. The day China says NO and sells the debt at a loss to make the point could see the end of the Obama Presidency. Thus President Obama by his own spending has risked the national security of the United States, from his economic package to his push for health care reform has placed US in the hands of China. Of course China has vast economic interest with Iran thus does not want to lose its money in this economic climate, who can blame them, thus President Obama will find that he will have to take tough action without China and the UN. As noted in his Nobel speech President Obama stated the he kept the right to take independent action for the security of the USA. Thus a blocked UN Security Council and the lack of power to force to China could mean that Obama ends up being another Bush 43.