Day: May 20, 2015

Scott Walker: Comedian In Training?

The list of GOP candidates grows then shrinks……but one candidate that is probably running but has not made it official yet with an announcement is Wisconsin’s governor Scott Walker….he appears to be the darling of the Right…..the Right that has half a brain that is……

I judge a candidate by his answers to foreign policy questions…..why?  Internationally is where we have the most problems and the most entanglements…….foreign policy experience does mean a more aware candidate…….

But what about Walker’s chops internationally?

Okay he was a governor and that could be good to govern the country…….but he said that one of his strong suits is that he has visited other countries……

“And I do think if foreign policy plays an important role, the contrast will be clear because just about everywhere Hillary Clinton has played a role with this president — under President Obama — that part of the world is largely a failure, a mess,” he continued. “Because of the policies we’ve seen from Obama and Clinton.”

After noting that Walker had recently visited Israel, a trip partially paid for by billionaire Sheldon Adelson, Schieffer wondered what made the Wisconsin governor qualified to lead the county’s foreign policy.

“As a governor, I’ve been, just recently in Germany, in Spain and France,” Walker explained. “Earlier in the year, it was the United Kingdom on trade related missions. A few years back in China and Japan. So, that’s probably the most of any governor of either party has is that experience in terms of trade relations.”

If visiting other countries would make one the best choice for president then I should be in the running for I have visited 22 countries…….does that make me 4 times more qualified than he?  It is pathetic to think that anyone who has simply visited other countries is the best person for the job of president…….

Walker is just another clown for the car that is the GOP……..this one statement shows a serious lack of judgement…..and judgement is a prerequisite for the presidency……at least in my mind.

He’s out as a viable candidate.

There could be a alternate explanation for his irresponsible statement…………..Maybe he was trying out material for his new day job……..as a COMEDIAN!

Afghanistan: An ISIS Foothold?

This post is for all those haters out there that must hate or die……

Recently an attack in North Central Afghanistan has be said to be an Afghan group loyal to ISIS………this is where I have my doubts…….I do not see the Taleban accepting the rivalry from ISIS…..they allowed al-Qaeda to operate for years withing their borders but AQ was of no threat to the rule of the Taleban…..however ISIS will challenge them for the control of the country and region……not something that I feel the Taleban or ISIS is willing to take on at this time…….

Observation by World Affairs Journal……

The Afghanistan-Pakistan region is a natural target for Islamic State expansion not only because the region has limited government and military, but also because of its history as home to mujahedin movements. Indeed, the very name Khorasan is a reference to the historical name of the region, one some associate with a hadith of the Koran heralding an Islamic caliphate. In January, ISK was formally made part of the Islamic State movement, with a former Pakistani Taliban senior leader, Hafiz Khan Saeed, named as its head. The bulk of ISK is thought to be in Pakistan, but the group is trying to make inroads into Afghanistan.

………..

There is no reason to be alarmist about the strength of ISK at this point, and the United States is already doing a great deal to support the Afghan government to manage its security. But the tendency of the international community is to view threats through a security-focused lens, and in this case it may be too narrow. Afghanistan’s balance remains supremely delicate, and the international community must learn to view ISK not simply as a terrorist threat, but as a political spoiler.

The article in its entirety can be read here……..

http://worldaffairsjournal.org/blog/rebecca-zimmerman/has-islamic-state-entered-afghanistan

Helping make the case for US audiences is the president of Afghanistan…….

President Ashraf Ghani has repeatedly raised fears that IS — notorious for their brutal reign of terror in Syria and Iraq — are making steady inroads into Afghanistan, which is already in the grip of a fierce Taliban insurgency.

IS fighters are “supporting the Taliban, training the Taliban, trying to build the capacity of the Taliban for a bigger fight”, provincial governor Mohammed Omar Safi told the BBC.

Recently the Taleban has started its Spring offensive, where it attacks government forces all over the country…..is it possible that the fighting is more the Taleban and the use of ISIS is an Afghan plan to gain more support out of Washington?

While the post disagrees with my assessment of the situation….I will keep an eye on the situation.  But I will not step back from my assessment……I do not think that ISIS has a snowball’s chance….at this time……..however it also is contingent on the amount of forces left behind by the Western countries to do the heavy lifting and the mere hint of an ISIS in-road will keep forces there and on alert……

The question I ask is whether the US will repeat the mistake of the past and allow this scenario to play out as it did in the 1980’s and 1990’s…….(if confused look it up……you really should more attention to history and maybe you would not so surprised when it happens….just a thought).

How Jeb Bush blundered into making the Iraq war his problem

Do not know if anyone is noticing but the Iraq War of GW is back in the news…..and it all started by asking Jeb one simple question…..and now they are asking all candidates the same question…….and NO seem capable of answering it as simply as it is asked…..it is fascinating watch the candidates scramble for an answer…..an answer beyond the “official” GOP talking points, that is……….

Here is Jeb’s mounting problem……..

 

How Jeb Bush blundered into making the Iraq war his problem.