My Way - Gordon Brown

The Daily Mail: Reports that former UK PM Gordon Brown will bring out a book on his role in the banking collapse. This will be interesting as Mr Brown was Chancellor of the Exchequer for ten years, those years that allowed for the framework for the banking collapse, lets see if he gets his own back on Tony Blair or Lord Mandelson, with Tony Blair it depends how honest Mr Blair is when it comes to his relationship with Mr Brown, how many coup attempts that he faced from Mr Brown, how Gordon Brown kept him shut out of the Treasury. It can be postulated that the book will be heavy duty economics book, in other words a door stop.

Al Qaeda + Iran + North Korea = Trouble

The New York Times: Reports more on today’s Afghanistan leaks, it reports from the secret military documents that the money man for UBL has flown from Iran to North Korea to buy weapons. Thus the two countries that Obama has tried to appease are throwing sand in his face, the North Koreans have threatened to use their nuclear deterrent during the US Naval and South Korean military exercises and is selling military equipment to Iran so it can be passed on to the Taliban/ Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. In other words Bush 43 was right about Iraq, Iran and North Korea. Sooner or later Obama will have to take on Iran, if the US is weak then Israel wont trust the US and will strike, this could lead to a regional war in the Middle East, if your weak in International Politics you are not respected by despised, Obama is a laughing stock already, that is why he is another Carter, thus a one term President.
　

Iran in Afghanistan BIG TIME

Guardian: Reports in detail on the role of Iran in Afghanistan, the Tehran Regime is giving aid and comfort to the Taliban. Thus one has to ask how come the Obama Administration has being trying so hard to get a deal with Iran when Iran is costing the lives of US Soldiers in Afghanistan. The fact that Iran was giving comfort and aid to the Taliban is not new, but these leaks will make it harder for the Obama Administration to push its diplomatic outreach to Iran, when Iran is telling Obama to get lost, thus the time will comes for Israel to hit Iran and Obama will have to support Israel.

War Crimes in Afghanistan

Telegraph: Reports that Julian Assange the founder of Wikileaks has stated that his leaks could lead to investigations of War Crimes in Afghanistan. The hunting down and execution of Taliban leaders is not a War Crime if it keeps one UK soldier alive or not getting hurt, these black Op soldiers are modern heroes, otherwise in war there are mistakes, in any War. What about going after the Taliban/Al Qaeda, they do not follow any rules of War or any legal norms.

Afghan Leaks = Pentagon Papers ?

BBC News: Reports on the leak of ninety thousand military secret documents to the press by the Wikileaks website. One can only postulate that President Obama will understand how Richard Nixon felt with the release of the Pentagon Papers in the early 1970s. On one level Nixon has had is easier, the Pentagon Papers did not cover his Administration, the new leaks cover 2004 - 2010, the first year of the Obama Administration. The Obama Administration has issued a statement by the Obama’s National Security Advisor General James Jones, the General states the following on the leak “ The United States strongly condemns the disclosure of classified information by individuals and organizations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk, and threaten our national security. Wikileaks made no effort to contact us about these documents – the United States government learned from news organizations that these documents would be posted. These irresponsible leaks will not impact our ongoing commitment to deepen our partnerships with Afghanistan and Pakistan; to defeat our common enemies; and to support the aspirations of the Afghan and Pakistani people. ” Nixon would be proud above the comments, in the fact the Nixon White House could have written the above comments. The Obama Administration is keeping both feet in Afghanistan, General Jones on Obama Afghan policy “ President Obama announced a new strategy with a substantial increase in resources for Afghanistan, and increased focus on al Qaeda and Taliban safe-havens in Pakistan, precisely because of the grave situation that had developed over several years. This shift in strategy addressed challenges in Afghanistan that were the subject of an exhaustive policy review last fall. We know that serious challenges lie ahead, but if Afghanistan is permitted to slide backwards, we will again face a threat from violent extremist groups like al Qaeda who will have more space to plot and train. That is why we are now focused on breaking the Taliban’s momentum and building Afghan capacity so that the Afghan government can begin to assume responsibility for its future. The United States remains committed to a strong, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan. ” The more Obama is tied to his Afghan policy the harder it will be to take troops out of Afghanistan in 2011, all his remarks and the remarks of his Administration would be thrown in his face if he starts to withdraw in 2011. The Obama policy to Afghanistan is tied to the security of Pakistan, here is General Jones on Afghanistan and Pakistan, “ Since 2009, the United States and Pakistan have deepened our important bilateral partnership. Counter-terrorism cooperation has led to significant blows against al Qaeda’s leadership. The Pakistani military has gone on the offensive in Swat and South Waziristan, at great cost to the Pakistani military and people. The United States and Pakistan have also commenced a Strategic Dialogue, which has expanded cooperation on issues ranging from security to economic development. Pakistan and Afghanistan have also improved their bilateral ties, most recently through the completion of a Transit-Trade Agreement. Yet the Pakistani government – and Pakistan’s military and intelligence services – must continue their strategic shift against insurgent groups. The balance must shift decisively against al Qaeda and its extremist allies. U.S. support for Pakistan will continue to be focused on building Pakistani capacity to root out violent extremist groups, while supporting the aspirations of the Pakistani people. ”. As Pakistan is a nuclear armed power it cant be allowed to fall to the Taliban of Pakistan, thus the US is stuck in Afghanistan as it secures Pakistan, years to go folks.
　
　
　
　

Campbell vs Mandelson

Alastair Campbell Blog: The 2nd great spin master after Lord Peter Mandelson, AC is going after Lord Mandelson, he states over his influence in the early Blair Government, AC states the following, “ I must say that,……it is striking that someone who now presents himself as having been so all important at the time spent so much time and energy complaining how little he was involved. ”. After this New Labour bitching there is some good news, the 2nd volume of the Campbell Diaries are out in the New Year. The first complete volume is great, it’s a page turner, also recalls some political incidents that over time this political blog had forgotten about, those days pre 9/11 seems like a different country, a different time, what is so great is that Mr Campbell is not afraid to show himself in a bad light, his views on Education and the right of parents to decide what is in the best interest of their children is out of Tony Benn book of old Labour. On the other hand you have to be sympathetic when the constant backbiting that AC faced from GB,PM, the fact that TB on occasions does not get the fact that he is in the Labour Party. They you have the Scottish Wars between Brown and Cook and JP feeling that he is on the outside always being told last what the policy is at any given time. Will have to get my order in for the second volume, half way through the first volume.
　
　

Upstairs, Downstairs is BACK

The Daily Mail: Reports on the return of Upstairs, Downstairs to our TV screens. Have to admit when I heard about this folks I had some worries, I loved the original, I have seen all the colour and black and white shows that they don’t show that often. But with the original creators are back, Dame Eileen Atkins and Jean Marsh and Ms Marsh is back as Rose, Doctor Who and Upstairs, Downstairs shows that you can act in something over forty years ago and return to the part, that is a time travel. One word to the new writes, don’t balls it up, this is a much loved show, one of those rare shows that all the family have and can watch together, also the scripts and acting from the original show is something you can watch and re - watch and see something new after forty years. Cant Wait folks, I do miss Mr 165 Eaton Place.