Boris Nemtsov A Profile - Putin's Russia

BBC News: Reports " Boris Nemtsov, who has been shot dead in Moscow at the age of 55, was a charismatic figure within Russian politics, a liberal reformer who rose to prominence under Boris Yeltsin and became a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin. "

Lets Get Real:

It will be interesting to see if there will be a REAL investigation, at this point the Putin Regime has to show it has no link to the murder, the action of President Putin from Georgia to East Ukraine and other acts of terror show that the Putin Administration is not held back by normal human values, this is the same Country that gave the Russian rebels the ability to shoot down a  plane over East Ukraine.   The Kremlin could fear that a bad economy could give support to the Russian opposition, better to take out threats before they can lead a successful opposition to the Putin Regime.   Once KGB always KGB. 

Obama on the passing of Leonard Nimoy

The White House: Has a Statement from President Obama on the death of Leonard Nimoy, " Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy.  Leonard was a lifelong lover of the arts and humanities, a supporter of the sciences, generous with his talent and his time.  And of course, Leonard was Spock.  Cool, logical, big-eared and level-headed, the center of Star Trek’s optimistic, inclusive vision of humanity’s future.

 

I loved Spock.

 

In 2007, I had the chance to meet Leonard in person.  It was only logical to greet him with the Vulcan salute, the universal sign for “Live long and prosper.”  And after 83 years on this planet – and on his visits to many others – it’s clear Leonard Nimoy did just that.  Michelle and I join his family, friends, and countless fans who miss him so dearly today. "

Lets Get Real:

This is a very moving statement by President Obama, its a day not for politics but recalling a great artist, Mr Nimoy will always be Spock, it can be argued that Spock's eyebrow would have gone up at all this praise and say " fascinating ".   In this case the praise is deserved, the arts and us as humans are better off because of Mr Spock, as Captain Kirk might have said " We are all human, even aliens ".  Live Long and Prosper ALL. 

Leonard Nimoy A Profile

BBC News: Has a profile of the great Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy who died today.

Lets Get Real:

It is sad day if your a fan of Star Trek and the arts, Mr Nimoy was a man of great intelligence, and bought the half Vulcan and half Human Spock to life.   This blog has always thought that the success of Kirk and Spock was down to the political climate of the US at the time.   In 1963 Kennedy was killed in Dallas and then there was Vietnam.  In 1966 the USS Enterprise and its five year missio was bougt to TV.  For future generations Kirk would represent the heoric view of JFK and then the less known facts about his private life, Kirk always had a woman on the go!  While Spock represnted it can be argued Bobby Kennedy, as he was seen in the start of the 60s, the cold ruthless brother.  Kirk and Spock had heroic aspects but they also had their down sides, that made them human and also appealing for the generations that have seen them since the 60s.   Thus a sad day for the Nimoy family and friends and for the arts, LLAP all Star Trek fans. 

Ukraine Latest - Ukraine Crisis

Guardian: Reports " Britain to send military advisers to Ukraine, announces Cameron..Prime minister says service personnel to provide infantry training as well as advice on logistics, medical care and tactical intelligence "

Lets Get Real:

This is a good clear message from the West, that the UK will not allow East Ukraine to become another Crimea, the question is what next, when the Russian rebels push to take more land as to allow a land access from Mother Russia to the Crimea, what will the US, UK do about this threat.   The West has to place arms in the hands of the Kiev Government and even draw a red line, and mean it, the Russian bear is looking for weakness, the use of only economic sanctions has not worked, the Russians economy really needs to hurt before the Kremlin moves for better relationship with the West, the Russian Bear needs its claws clipped.   Thus better tough action NOW, not regret in the future. 

Ukraine Latest - Ukraine Crisis

Telegraph: Reports " Ukraine 'will not withdraw heavy artillery from the front line'

The decision by Kiev comes after two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 10 wounded over a 24 hour period on Sunday and Monday "

Lets Get Real:

The Russian rebels want a land route to Crimea, even with their military advances with the help of the Russians they still need other areas of East Ukraine, such as Mariupol, thus expect more fighting, the Russian rebels might not totally be under the control of Putin, but the Kremlin should have the ability to stop its own soldiers, IF Putin can not do that one would have to ask how much power Putin really has, lets see what happens over the next few days, the fate of Mariupol might decide the fate of East Ukraine within the State of  the Ukraine. 

US and Iran - Iran Crisis

Guardian: Reports " Iran reports that differences remain after John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif meet for two hours  "

Lets Get Real:

At the moment the US has to much on its plate, there is Russia in the East Ukraine and its Russian rebels,  then we have IS in Iraq and Syria, the US at this moment share the same enemy with Iran, that being IS.   IF a REAL deal can be made then the Oval Office has to make sure that any deal passes the smell test, as the Gipper said of the late USSR, Trust but verify, any deal has to check that Tehran does not cheat, it would be a total disaster for President Obama if Iran got a deal and then declared within a few years that it had the bomb, of course Israel might decide that its a risk it will not take and bomb Iran.   Thus the US needs a tough deal that can pass the Senate, anything else and Obama will be seen as an appeaser of Iran. 

Cash for Access? - MPs Scandal

BBC News: Reports on the scandal of former British Foreign Secretaries Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Jack Straw, the article notes the following, " Sir Malcolm and another former foreign secretary, Jack Straw, who was also filmed, say they have broken no rules. "

Lets Get Real:

This is more a political problem for the Conservative Party as Sir Malcolm is standing in the 2015 election, while Jack Straw is leaving the House of Commons after the General Election.   From seeing some of the video footage this is more about old politicians wanting to make sure that they earn enough money while in the House of Commons and can take care of their personal finances after leaving front line politics.   The phrases used by both politicians is not great, " under the radar " with Jack Straw and " self employed " by Sir Malcolm.   The punishment should be a public rebuke and lets deal with real issues, MPs are real people with the same concerns as the rest of us, we all want to make money and we all want to retire with a good pension.