USA - Syria Alliance ?

The Times: Reports on brief meeting between Hillary Clinton the US Secretary of State and the Syrian Foreign Minister. This meeting could be an interesting development, if Iran is off the table for talks, then both the USA and Israel would be interested in getting Iran's closes partner on board and for Syria to change sides in the Middle East. If Iran is attacked either by the USA or Israel, getting Syria on board would be a very good idea, it would prevent Iran from attacking Israel through Syria. Thus the question that the USA and Israel will have to ask, what is the price for this deal, is the price lower than a Nuclear Armed Iran. The question will be yes, also Syria could join Egypt in having a normal relationship with Israel. This deal and the devil is in the details, would block Iran in, this would be good for the security of the Middle East and the West.

No Iran Talks ?

The New York Times: Reports that the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has stated that the USA does not expect Iran to talk to the USA. This is a crafty move by Hillary Clinton, she does not want to be the fall guy for the Obama Administration when it comes to talking to Iran. The Clintons are always thinking long term. The Liberal pressure groups will not be happy, they want to appease Iran but the Clintons know how much that would cost the image of the Clintons, yes that's Bill also. President Obama might want to talk to Iran without conditions but if expects Hilary Clinton to lose the Jewish vote for him he is reading to much of his press statements. If Obama was to lose in 2012, Hillary Clinton wold be the leading candidate for the nomination in 2016. Thus the Clintons are looking long term, they will not appease Iran and allow Iran to become a nuclear armed power, the Jewish vote in the Democratic Party is a major player. Also it is a good way to undercut Iran, if they wanted to talk it would now look like weakness or their part. Hat off to the Clintons, they are master of the game.

The End ?

BBC News: Reports on the World wide slump in shares. The Market is still over priced and we still don't know what debts the banks in the Western system hold. If there is more debts the UK and the USA will have to do further bailouts. The more bailouts we have of banks makes these banks owned by the Governments. The question should be asked at what point does a Government in the UK or the USA say No. This is nothing more than welfare for banks, these bailouts will kill private business for years to come, the point of the Western system is that people can get rich, but also there is balance, people will be poor. The rate of the bailouts means we are all poor, and we are owned by Government. Thus if Government controls the system you have the USSR. At the end of the day individuals have to look after themselves, that goes for banks also, these bailouts will end, then the system will go in to real free fall, what the USA and the UK is doing is only temporary, sooner or later the the debt dyke will bust and we will be worse off in the West.

Strategic Thinking by Obama Administration over Iran

New York Times: Reports that USA thinks that Iran has enough nuclear material to create a bomb. The Times reports that the USA will place pressure on Russia to help prevent Iran becoming a nuclear power, in return the USA will deal with the Russian concern about US Missile Defences in Eastern Europe. The question will this strategic thinking work, the answer is no, Iran wants to join the nuclear club, it knows that it will get respect from the West if its a nuclear power, the USA will be timid in trying to remove the regime. In some respects it does not matter what the Obama Administration wants, if Israel thinks that Iran is a threat to its survival it will take out the nuclear plants in Iran. The Obama Administration must get its head around that thought, thus one can expect that Israel will hit Iran, Iran will attack Iraq and the USA will be in Iraq for many years. The Middle East in a mine field at the best of the times, a nuclear armed Iran makes it a lot worse, thus expect some action between Israel and Iran before the end of 2010. I was wrong last year in thinking Israel would attack before Bush Administration came to end but that was before the latest developments, thus the tinder box that is the Middle East will be one of the top issues for Obama.

Is Afghanistan turning in to Diem's Vietnam ?

Telegraph: Reports that President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan is trying to bounce the USA in to an early election in Afghanistan. The early election would be fraught due to the military and weather conditions. As with Diem it seems President Karzai is not listening to Washington D.C, a election now would be fraught between attacks by the Taliban/Terrorists and the severe weather conditions in country. It seems from the Telegraph report that President Karazi want to keep on to power till the election, his term ends before the suppose new election. Why it can be asked does Karazi want to stay in power, if he was no longer President he would become an open target, one has to see his narrow point. At the moment Karazi is protected by the USA Special Forces, would the USA still give him protection if he was no longer President. The new Obama Administration has a low opinion of the Karazi Government, its lack of reform of Afghanistan is a major issue in D.C. So to the question, as Diem would not listen to D.C, the powers that be in D.C gave the green light to remove Diem, will Obama allow President Karazi to be removed, whats in the best interest of the West might not be in the interest of President Karazi. At the end of the day the removal of Diem in Vientam was a disaster, thus better to keep the Devil you know, because the next leader could be worse.

" No Decision Either Way on North Korea " - Mullen

Fox News: Reports on the comments of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Mike Mullen, the Admiral stated that the Obama Administration had not made a decision on how to respond should North Korea launch a long range test missile that can reach the USA. The Admiral was on CNN also, thus the above comment by Mullen, he stated the same thing, but I would be very surprised if there are not standing orders should North Korea launch a missile that reaches the USA. If launched this would be a game changer in the region, Japan would be on the phone asking for Nuclear Missiles for its protection. I don't think China would like it either, North Korea would be even more stubborn, also it would show that China was weak that it could not control one of its closes satellites. The USA would think that the leaders in China had lost the leadership of the region if they could not control North Korea. If China wants to be taken as a World Leader it should take action in North Korea, one communist country to another, prevent a launch of this missile, the West would be very grateful.

Praise from WP for President Obama

Washington Post: Has praise for President Obama for his Iraqi Plan. The WP states the following, " Though he opposed the war, his strategy recognizes what has been achieved in Iraq, even at a terrible cost, and aims at preserving it. His party would do well to follow his lead." The President has followed a wise policy, it allows the USA to leave Iraq with honour but also allows the USA to protect its interest in the Middle East. Liberals in Congress have no sense of long term policy, they just want to pander to their pay masters in Liberal Pressure groups. Thank God President Obama does not have to worry about the House Speaker or other Liberals. The Republicans will support the move, also wise Liberal Papers think its a good idea. Thus lets hope the Liberal New York Times comes out against the plan, President Obama will then know that its a good plan.