Obama and Netanyahu

Lets have a look at the today’s meeting between President Obama and Israeli PM Netanyahu, the official White House readout of the meeting states the following on the relationship, “ The President and the Prime Minister reaffirmed the strong, unbreakable bonds that characterize the special relationship between the United States and Israel. ”. In other words both President and PM figured out that they needed each other, Obama cant throw Israel under the bus, the Democratic Party would rather throw Obama under the bus with his present poll ratings, while Israel needs the security support of the US under President Obama, PM Netanyahu stated the following on the relationship in the Oval “ Let me make a general observation…..And here I’ll have to paraphrase Mark Twain, that the reports about the demise of the special U.S.-Israel relations -- relationship aren’t just premature, they're just flat wrong. There’s a depth and richness of this relationship that is expressed every day. Our teams talk. We don't make it public. The only thing that's public is that you can have differences on occasion in the best of families and the closest of families; that comes out public -- and sometimes in a twisted way, too. ” In other words we are stuck with each other, and the Obama ego has seen the political polls, he cant walk on water or stop an oil spill, does not need the Israeli lobby on his back at the present. The Obama thaw can be seen with the following from the readout “ In light of the threat posed to both our nations and to regional stability by Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, the President and the Prime Minister reiterated their strong support for the adoption of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1929 and the additional national measures that have been taken since its adoption, and discussed the need to build upon that strong foundation as we continue to strengthen the international coalition dedicated to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The President reaffirmed the United States’ unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security, and the leaders reviewed the significant progress made in recent months to expand coordination between our militaries, to preserve and strengthen Israel’s qualitative military edge, and to fortify Israel’s ballistic missile defenses, including through additional U.S. financial support for Iron Dome. The President told the Prime Minister he recognizes that Israel must always have the ability to defend itself, by itself, against any threat or possible combination of threats, and that only Israel can determine its security needs. The President pledged to continue U.S. efforts to combat all international attempts to challenge the legitimacy of the State of Israel. The President and the Prime Minister discussed the global challenge of nuclear proliferation and the need to strengthen the nonproliferation system. They also exchanged views on the regional conference to discuss a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction and systems for their delivery referenced in the 2010 NPT Review Conference final document. The President informed the Prime Minister that, as a cosponsor charged with enabling the proposed conference, the United States will insist that such a conference will be for discussion aimed at an exchange of views on a broad agenda, to include regional security issues, verification and compliance, and all categories of weapons of mass destruction and systems for their delivery. The President emphasized that the conference will only take place if all countries feel confident that they can attend, and that any efforts to single out Israel will make the prospects of convening such a conference unlikely. In this regard, the two leaders also agreed to work together to oppose efforts to single out Israel at the IAEA General Conference in September. The President emphasized that the United States will continue its long standing practice to work closely with Israel to ensure that arms control initiatives and policies do not detract from Israel’s security, and support our common efforts to strengthen international peace and stability. ”. In other words folks hands off the Israeli nuclear capability, Obama like Reagan wants a nuclear free world, its not going to happen, so he just better get the idea in to his head, neither Israel or Iran if it gets the bomb are going to give them up to make Obama happy, and Obama is no Reagan or JFK.
　
　
　
　
　　
　
　
　

Obama and Netanyahu on Iran

Some interesting comments by President Obama and PM Netanyahu on Iran, President Obama stated the following, “ We discussed the issue of Iran, and we pointed out that as a consequence of some hard work internationally, we have instituted through the U.N. Security Council the toughest sanctions ever directed at an Iranian government. In addition, last week I signed our own set of sanctions, coming out of the United States Congress, as robust as any that we've ever seen. Other countries are following suit. And so we intend to continue to put pressure on Iran to meet its international obligations and to cease the kinds of provocative behavior that has made it a threat to its neighbors and the international community. ” The question will this be enough for Israel, it can postulated in the short term yes but there has to be a solution, the Israeli PM stated the following on Iran “ The greatest new threat on the horizon, the single most dominant issue for many of us, is the prospect that Iran would acquire nuclear weapons. Iran is brutally terrorizing its people, spreading terrorism far and wide. And I very much appreciate the President’s statement that he is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. That has been translated by the President through his leadership at the Security Council, which passed sanctions against Iran; by the U.S. bill that the President signed just a few days ago. And I urge other leaders to follow the President’s lead, and other countries to follow the U.S. lead, to adopt much tougher sanctions against Iran, primarily those directed against its energy sector. ”. Its not very subtle folks, there is time for sanctions but there comes a time when the talk has to end and Israel will take action. In the Q/A session with the Press in the Oval the Israeli PM stated the following, “…I think the sanctions the President signed the other day actually have teeth. They bite. The question is -- how much do you need to bite is something I cannot answer now. But if other nations adopted similar sanctions, that would increase the effect….”. Thus Obama has bought off Israel for a short time when it comes to Israel bombing Iran, but the clock is ticking folks, don’t confuse the Middle East Process with a planned Israeli attack on Iran, once Mossad gets the word that Iran is close to being a member of the nuclear club they will take out Iran.
　
　

UK Troops out of Sangin - Afghanistan Humiliation

Telegraph: Reports that UK troops will be withdrawn from the area of Sangin in Helmand Province of Afghanistan. This is a major humiliation folks for the UK Army, the UK has lost over a hundred soldiers in the Sangin area. One the one hand its good that our troops are getting out of the hell hole that is Sangin but its not a withdrawal from Afghanistan, this smells like Iraq all over again! In Iraq by the end the UK was not trusted by the Iraqi Government or the US Administration. In the history of the British Army it’s the second time we have been thrown out of Iraq, the times we have withdrawn from Afghanistan is to many. One has to be brutal why did we lose over a hundred brave soldiers, was it for sand to slip through our fingers. One can postulate that the new Conservative PM David Cameron wants out of Afghanistan thus his recent remarks about wanting the UK out of Afghanistan by the next UK General Election in 2015. If this is the first step to withdrawal then it’s a slow start, if we are getting out lets get out, why lose one more Soldier for a War that we cant carry the burden any more, its been a long and bloody war in Afghanistan, time to stand down. The UK should use the economic mess left by the past Labour Government as a reason to get hell out of Afghanistan, also it’s a Coalition Government, thus reason enough to get out. Afghanistan is turning in to another Iraq humiliation folks.
　

Israel and the US

BBC News: Reports on a meeting between President Obama and the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Well if Mr Netanyahu gets a picture and a press conference that will be a major step up from the last meeting between the two men, Israel has somewhat mellowed its stand over Gaza, while the US has been positive about such developments. The main topic from the Israeli side will be Iran, what is Obama going to do to prevent a nuclear armed Iran, on the US side they have two points, prevent Israel from attacking Iran and getting the Middle East Peace Process moving. It can be argued that the Middle East peace process will be around long after the Obama Administration is memory, the real problem is Iran, Israel can only give the Obama Administration so much time, sooner or later it will have to cut bait when it comes to President Obama and attack Iran. At the end of the day Obama likes the echo of his own voice, he wants to be loved by the left thus he will not take action, Israel should hit Iran just before the Mid Term Congressional Elections, make Obama take a stand, either support Israel or Iran. Of course if the Republicans win Congress then the Israeli lobby has a VETO over Obama when it comes to Israel.

Torture Allegations

The UK Prime Minister David Cameron has set up an investigation in to torture allegations against the UK Intelligence Services. In the Statement the PM stated the following, “ I believe we have the finest intelligence services in the world…..The intelligence services also keen publicly to establish their principles and integrity…..” The PM stated the following on the nature of the Independent Inquiry, “ It will look at whether Britain was implicated in the improper treatment of detainees held by other countries that may have occurred in the aftermath of 9/11. And if we were, what went wrong, and what do we need to do to learn the lessons…” The Inquiry would note the circumstances post 9/11 the PM stated the following, “... we should not be naïve or starry-eyed about the circumstances our security services were working under in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. There was a real danger that terrorist could get their hands on a dirty bomb, chemical and biological weapons – or even worse. Threat levels had been transformed. The urgency with which we needed to protect our citizens was pressing. But let me state clearly, we need to know the answers. If things went wrong, why? And what we must do to uphold the standards that people expect. ” The PM makes it clear that due to the nature of the investigation that most of it will be behind closed door, the PM stated the following, “ Let’s be frank, it is not possible to have a full public inquiry into something that is meant to be secret. So any intelligence material provided to the Inquiry panel will not be made public and nor will intelligence officers be asked to give evidence in public. ” There will be those that argue that this is a cover up, they want the 1970s US Congressional type open meetings, that was a disaster for the CIA, it took years to recover, some have argued that in never really recovered thus Iran - Contra. But when it comes to a ticking dirty bomb or other weapons of mass destruction the State has to take action that the left will always hate, but its by taking these dirty actions that people are allowed the freedoms to protest.
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　

HIS WAR!, Obama and Afghanistan

The War in Afghanistan is Obama’s War; as with LBJ after 1964 it become his war after President Johnson sent in the Marines to protect the airfields; Obama got his War when he sent in his first surge to Afghanistan, the second surge sealed the deal of the fate of the Obama Presidency, Obama could have take the advice of VP Biden to scale back US footprints and do more Special Forces operations and drones, but the Obama ego and it seems the Presidents scant CV when it comes to military matters helped the Military Chiefs; my dog lucky has seen more of war and that’s with cats; thus the military had their way and now we have over a hundred thousand NATO forces in Afghanistan. The President has stated the following to his Civilian and Military Officials in Afghanistan, “ Earlier this afternoon, the President held a conference call with Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and General David Petraeus. He congratulated General Petraeus on the change in command, underscored that his thoughts are with them and their teams on this holiday weekend, expressed his appreciation for their sacrifice, and reiterated the importance of our vital mission in Afghanistan. ”. In many respects General Petraeus is more powerful than Obama, the hero of Iraq has the clout to force Obama to stay in Iraq well after 2011, also Obama does not want Petraeus to be the Republican nominee for President in 2012, thus he has to keep him happy, also if the Congress goes Republican the Republicans will keep the Obama feet close to the political heat when it comes to Afghanistan, they wont allow Obama to withdraw troops based on any left wing timeline, this is why Afghanistan is Obama’s War and why he is the next LJB, and lets recall LBJ didn’t run in 1968.
　

Death in the UK - Afghanistan

MOD: Reports that a British Soldier died Yesterday in the UK due to wounds that he suffered while on active service in Afghanistan, the Soldier was from the “ 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment ”. Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 312 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 274 in combat operations and 38 due to illness, accidents or other incidents.