Brexit Story for the Day - Update - Post Brexit

Daily Mail: Reports " May’s big gamble: PM lays down the gauntlet to Tory Brexiteers and Remainers by urging EU customs extension until 2023 as she paves way for major Commons showdown   "

Lets Get Real:

At last the PM has made decision, she wants to keep the EU Customs extension in till 2023, the hard Brexit supporters will not be happy, they want the UK out of the EU some time after 2020, while the hard remainers want to keep the Customs Union in till forever.  It will be interesting to see who folds first, will the remainers really throw away the UK staying in the EU in till 2023 or will the hard brexit supporters demand that the UK leaves after 2020.  It will be an interesting fight, the numbers are close, this blog still supports a customs union and single market, lets see how the chips fall. 

The US on North Korea - Update 3 - Trump Era

Sky News - Live Reporting: Reports in its 5.03pm post the following, " The US secretary of state has also been speaking to a Senate committee.

Mike Pompeo says he hopes the talks between the two sides can be resumed at some point: "I hope we quickly are able to get back to that place, but ultimately Chairman Kim will have that decision to make for himself."  "

Lets Get Real:

The US has thrown the ball back in to North Korea's lap, it will be up to Chairman Kim or Rocket Man to make the decision if he wants a REAL peace with the US and its allies.  One does wonder what part China has played in this diplomatic game, have they tried to get North Korea to the table or do they want to keep North Korea as a dangerous satellite in the area. 

Trump on North Korea - Update 2 - Trump Era

BBC News - Live Reporting: Reports the following in its 4.37pm post, " The North Koreans announced Thursday morning that they had collapsed the tunnels at their nuclear test site, but they accompanied it with threats of nuclear war and a demeaning swipe at Vice-President Mike Pence. Mr Trump has shown time and time again that he won’t abide verbal swipes from the North Koreans.

He responds to their nuclear sabre-rattling with another round of “fire and fury” style language, boasting about the massive and powerful US nuclear arsenal that Donald Trump prays to God will never be used. It’s a return to the rhetoric of last summer, when it appeared the US and North Korea were headed toward a military confrontation. The start of the letter may be diplomat-speak, but this is Mr Trump’s voice coming through.  "

Lets Get Real:

It will be interesting to see what North Korea says about the cancelled Summit, will they back track and allow Trump to put the Summit back on or are they under pressure from China not to give to many concessions to the Trump Oval. Of course since North Korea is such a mystery, it is a closed society, the leadership could be under pressure from other forces within North Korea.   One suspects that the North Korean Army does not want to give up its nuclear arsenal, also the treasure of North Korea is spent on the armed forces, one can not discount that view.   One suspects there will be Summit, of course that depends on Trump and Kim Jong-Un, there still might be WAR. 

Trump Cancels North Korean Summit - Trump Era

The White House: Reports that President Trump has cancelled the Summit with North Korea due to North Korea's " anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement.  "

Lets Get Real:

This cancellation of the North Korean Summit is not that surprising, the harsh rhetoric out of North Korea has increased over the last few days, the North Korea has been critical of White House Staff and of the Vice - President.   It was a odd news day, the North Koreans blew up their nuclear facility while doing harsh rhetoric with the US.  One could almost say that the talks themselves become a problem, the North Korean Regime does not want to be another Libya, that is Gaddafi thrown from power by his people and killed by the people, so any such reference to Libya does not go down well.  In the view from the US, the Libya model works for them, Gaddafi agreed to remove his nuclear project, his fall from power, came years later.  It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few days. 

Here is your Brexit Story for the Day - Update - Post Brexit

Daily Mail: Reports " Brexit chaos as HMRC warns that Boris Johnson's 'Max Fac' customs plan could cost UK firms £20bn  "

Lets Get Real:

The above is operation fear by the hard remainers, all future figures are up to debate.  This blog has made it clear that it has come around to the fact that the UK should stay in the Customs Union and the single market, this kind of fear reports makes this blog think it should go back to being a hard Brexit supporter.  In the 2016 vote on Brexit the Hard remainers pressed the fact that the UK would fall of a cliff if it voted to leave the EU, it did not happen, thus the hard remainers can not be trusted.   The Government should get on with Brexit, Labour can be used to get the Customs Union passed, also the single market, May has to show that SHE is the PM, and that she will not be lead by the nose. 

Trump and Iran - Iran Crisis

Sky News: Reports on what POTUS really wants with IRAN, " But it is clear what the Trump administration wants in Iran is regime change.  "

Lets Get Real:

The US has promised the strongest sanctions ever against Iran, this long term plan could undermine the Tehran Regime, it of course rises the question of what Iran will do when faced with these sanctions.   The hardliners in Tehran could start their nuclear process again, this would require the US to think about military strikes against Iran and the regime.  In the present crisis mode of the White House, the OVAL is very unlikely to think about another War in the Middle East.   Thus the end result is that the Obama/Iran deal is off the table and Iran in due course will go nuclear.   One only hopes that the Mossad of Israel will keep the World informed of any nuclear armed Iran. 

Pay to Play - The Ukraine and President Trump - Trump Era

BBC News: Reports " Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, received a secret payment of at least $400,000 (£300,000) to fix talks between the Ukrainian president and President Trump, according to sources in Kiev close to those involved.  "

Lets Get Real:

In Chicago they call the above alleged allegations Pay to Play, the question is how much did the President KNOW and when DID HE KNOW IT.  The above allegation is VERY SERIOUS, and if proven that POTUS knew about the deal, then you have the grounds for impeachment of the President.  The World of Trump is very murky, so many much MONEY washing about, let's see if any of it sticks to the President.  One can expect that the Special Prosecutor is hoping that Michael Cohen will turn on Trump for a lesser charge, this is a minefield for the Trump White House, expect the elite press to go after this story.