Russia on the Skids - Economic Cliff for Putin

Telegraph: Reports " Russia starts bailing out banks as economy faces 'full-blown economic crisis'..The Central Bank of Russia has said it will provide £343m of support to one of the country's more troubled banks, as analysts warn of a wave of defaults in the sector "

Lets Get Real:

The oil only approach of President Putin and his failure with the relationship with the West are the two faults that could bring down President Putin.   The fall in the oil price has hurt Russia, and there economy centred on Oil means that there is nothing of a secondary market cope with the economic decline.  This should be a warning to the Oil States, you need a broad economy that can take the shock of low oil prices.  A Country needs a Industrial or IT policy to cover any flaws in the budget.   The sanctions that Russia faces is due to the offensive policy of President Putin, he wants a Greater Russia, that means the old USSR.   The West should make Russia bleed its roubles and Western currency as way to bring Putin to a more Western view, that means he losses and and the West wins. 

North Korea Update 2 - 2nd Term Blues

Guardian: Reports " Pyongyang warns US ‘cesspool’ is a target as it alleges Obama administration was behind fictional Kim Jong-un assassination "

Lets Get Real:

One has to ask why the North Koreans have done this, are they really afraid of a US comedy, or is it the idea that its holds, the end of the North Korea leader ( his name is not worth knowing ) are they afraid that the poor people of North Korea will get the same idea, these Regimes ALL end sooner or later, does the North Korean leadership worry that they will end up like leader of Libya, humiliation and death at the end of a gun.   On the whole this blog does not approve of assassination as a strategy,  nothing to do if its right or wrong, you just  not sure what the result would be, it might be worse.    A case in point Libya.   The North Koreans will not do a thing, they are hot air without the fun bit of a balloon 

North Korea Threatens the US - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports " Sony hack: North Korea threatens US as row deepens "

Lets Get Real:

The North Koreans are major BS when it comes to making threats, they would have to be out of their mind to attack the US, the US Government even under President Obama would have to take a forceful action should they come under attack.   The North Koreans like to be at the centre of attention, the US and the West should just ignore them, the Country would be a laughing stock if it was not the fact that they have the bomb and a million man army, or says is the view from the West.    The prat leader of North Korea is a joke, his leadership from his grandfather onwards are murderous and thugs, they are without honour.    They should be laughed at,  the poor people of North Korea should have the pity of the West. 

IS Update - Middle East Crisis

Guardian: Reports " Iraqi Kurds push farther into Sinjar as air strikes destroy Isis strongholds "

Lets Get Real

Thus far the Obama strategy for Syria and Iraq is working, the success of IS has been stalled, the Kurds are equall to the IS, they are of course helped by the US and Allies mastery of the Sky.   If the Kurds can hold the land they recover then the War could be turning.   IS since the start of the air campaign has not had the success it had before, of course IS are ruthless terrorists, they need progress on the PR front to get more fighters, one would have to be stupid not to notice that the US airforce and its allies are pushing back IS, also IS can not take the US on in the air.    Lets not ge ahead of ourselfs the fighting is going to be hard and it will take years, but the Western supported side will win, it can wait IS out. 

North Korea and the Sony Hack - 2nd Term Blues

BBC News: Reports " President Barack Obama has said the US is considering putting North Korea back on its list of terrorism sponsors after the hacking of Sony Pictures. "

Lets Get Real:

At the end of the day North Korea attacked a film company, they didn't attack South Korea or threaten US troops.   The above action by President Obama is about right.   The film the Interview should be released by Sony to private websites or bloggers, will not mind putting the film on their own sites, if Sony is that afraid.    The film should be released as a rebuke to North Korea and its loopy leader.   The next time North Korea might attack the US Government or the US military, the North Koreans have to be shown that threats from Korea are only worth a belly laugh.  The Regime is a joke, the leader is a nut job in need for a better hairdresser. 

North Korea, Russia, Iran vs. US - Cyber Warfare

Telegraph: Reports the following, " China may have helped North Korea carry out the hacking attack on Sony Pictures, a US official has told Reuters....There were also reports on Friday that Iran and Russia may have also helped the North Korean hackers ".

Lets Get Real:

North Korea might think because Sony folded over this move then they might try someone, the NSA has to come down hard on North Korea and so does the Oval Office, what if there is a book, TV show, film, Internet project that upsets the North Koreans and they threaten cyber warfare on banks, the power grid, planes, etc you get the idea, you do not give a fool like the leader of North Korea that thought.    Thus the US should come out with tough sanctions, even tougher that the tough sanctions on North Korea already.  Evil should never be appeased, so lets put two fingers up to North Korea and its prat leder. 

The FBI and Sony Hack - 2nd Term Blues

Guardian - Live on NKorea: Reports the following in its 5.49pm post from the FBI, " The FBI now has enough information to conclude that the North Korean government is responsible for these actions. While the need to protect sensitive sources and methods precludes us from sharing [all the details of its evidence], ..."

Lets Get Real:

The question is what should the US do, well after a 9/11 type threat from the Sony hackers the Oval has to DO SOMETHING, if North Korea can take down Sony who else might their eyes turn too.    The US should tighten the security around US Government computers, also increase the presence of NSA in protecting private security.    Then the NSA should take down the computer services in North Korea, also make it clear to North Korea, the film will be shown in US, any terror threat will be seen as a threat on the US, thus military action, time to back down the idiot in North Korea.   Think would North Korea have tried this with Kennedy or Reagan or even Bush 43.