Israel and the US - The Flawed Relationship - 2nd Obama Term

Telegraph: Reports " Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Washington on mission to thwart Iran deal..Israeli prime minister says he speaks for "the entire Jewish People" in attacking possible nuclear deal between US and Iran, ahead of speech to Congress "

Lets Get Real:

This blog is fair, lets see what the deal is between the Oval Office and Iran, any Treaty requires the approval of the US Congress, and the Congress will be extra tough on this deal.  If its not a Treaty but just an understanding between the US and Iran its not worth the paper its written on, are Democrats really at the end going to support the Oval Office no matter what, a flawed deal would be seen as a disaster for the US and a win for Tehran.   The Tehran Regime want to see an ease up in sanctions, there economy has tanked, thus they will appear to deal, but as pointed out by opposition groups last week the Tehran Regime can not be trusted, they have secret bunkers in which they pushing their nuclear plans.   Politics will decide how Democrats react to any deal, if the US voter says NO, then any Obama agreement is DEAD in the water, politics is brutal but simple. 

What NEXT in the New War on Terror - Iraq

Guardian: Reports the following on the Tikrit operation, " The long-promised battle for Tikrit and the province of Salahuddin, north of Baghdad, is set to be a dry run for another offensive, backed by the US-led international coalition and Shia militia, to retake Isis-controlled Mosul. "

Lets Get Real:

The prize for the new Iraqi Army and Government is the retaking of Mosul, but the price comes with costs, the attack has to be successful, the Army can not run away if there are problems, the US air force will have to have close co-operation with the land forces as to help in the house to house fighting in Mosul.   The Iraqi Army will also need support from US Special Forces, as the Iraqi Army will be attacking Mosul with the help of Iran it places the Oval Office in a fraught position, the the Israeli and US relationship is fraught to say the least, the Israeli Government sees Obama as selling out to Iran over a nuclear deal, thus the more the Oval is seen as in the same bed as Iran the more chance that Israel will attack Iran without telling the US.   The reason that the US needs Iran is simple, the Oval in 2011 left Iraq without leaving behind US troops, thus the growth of IS in Syria and Iraq.   Thus a threat to the region.  Mistakes have results even for a Nobel Prize winning President. 

Target Tikrit - New War on Terror

BBC News: Reports " Iraq has launched a military operation to recapture Tikrit, the hometown of former leader Saddam Hussein, from Islamic State (IS) and its allies. "

Lets Get Real:

If the new Iraqi Army can push IS out of Tikrit it will be a tactical victory for the West, on Strategy that is another matter, as the article notes the Iraqi Army is being helped by forces from Iran, thus when it comes to IS the US and Iran are on the same page.   This raises problems for the Oval Office, while the US and Iran are fighting IS in the Middle East they are having talks about the future of Iran's nuclear ambitions, how far can the Oval push Iran, when it needs Iran to buck up the new Iraqi Government, and what will the Allies of the US think that the US and Iran are in bed together in the MIddle East.   The politics of the Middle East are always murky, never more that NOW, lets see what the Iraqi Army can do in Tikrit, next it will be Mosul, and the Iraqi Army will need the support of the US in the air and on the ground. 

Statement by the President on the Murder of Boris Nemtsov

The White House: Has a released a statement by President Obama on the murder of Boris Nemtsov, the statement states the following, " The United States condemns the brutal murder of Boris Nemtsov, and we call upon the Russian government to conduct a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his murder and ensure that those responsible for this vicious killing are brought to justice.  Nemtsov was a tireless advocate for his country, seeking for his fellow Russian citizens the rights to which all people are entitled.  I admired Nemtsov’s courageous dedication to the struggle against corruption in Russia and appreciated his willingness to share his candid views with me when we met in Moscow in 2009.  We offer our sincere condolences to Boris Efimovich’s family, and to the Russian people, who have lost one of the most dedicated and eloquent defenders of their rights. "

Lets Get Real:

One does not have to be Mr Holmes to see who the White House think is behind the murder, the question is HOW will the the Kremlin react, will it find a puppet to throw to the wolves or will the murder become another Cold Case in Putin's Russia.   If this wa a move by the Kremlin it was a bad strategic move, it just recalls the fact that Russia has become seen as a BAD ACTOR on the World Stage.   When it comes to Putin's Russia there is no giving them the benefit of the doubt, never trust a former KGB Officer who thinks the end of the USSR was a tragic event in Russian history. 

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.