The War in Afghanistan: what exactly is the plan?

I’ve always had issues with invading Afghanistan. Yeah, I hated the Taliban as much as the next person (and yeah, I knew about them before 2001), but I couldn’t see the sense in a ground-war in a country so completely conditioned for decentralised guerrilla combat.

The plan, if it was to be violent (let’s face it, military retaliation was exactly what 9/11 was intended to provoke), should have been intelligence-gathering, air-strikes and hardware support for anti-Taliban forces. Not that I’m a military expert of course.

The one thing democratic governments can’t suffer is an endless war of attrition in a faraway land. Any conflict in Afghanistan, that involved regular infantry on the ground, was always going to be one.
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And so finally, fascist flabby arse-wipe Nick Griffin has achieved national political legitimacy by winning a seat at the European Parliament.

And guess what?

We put him there. The progressives. Or so-called progressives, anyway.

The New Labour project, that brave centre-left experiment to bring Clintonian Third-Way politics to a post-Thatcherite Britain, is over.

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You’ve probably heard all about Sonia Sotomayor by now. She’s the Bronx-rasied hispanic judge who Obama has nominated as his first appointee to the Supreme Court.

If like me you first read about her in The New York Times, you may also know that — from the comments posted there by liberal readers — the left aren’t particularly taken with her. The grassroots left, whose activism had propelled the young Chicagoan outsider to the presidency, were hoping for a nominee who would be guaranteed to further their cause (not to mention piss off the GOP).
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Unless Brown calls a snap election in the next month or so, we’ll have a General Election by June of next year whether we like it or not.

Personally, I couldn’t care less. Like the famous South Park episode, this election will offer the tempting choice between a giant douche and a turd sandwich.

Now I know the usual Labour commenters will hurl a volley of abuse at me. About how the Tories are so much evil’r – and of course, they are. But seriously, having been a Labour-leaning voter and blogger for many years, I have become to view this relationship as an abusive one. Labour kicked the stuffing out of me, and I just put up with it.

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I know, it’s hardly good form to pile in on the embattled Northern and Shell publishing group, what with the Dumblane story still rumbling…

But I have to pass comment on this week’s copy of OK! Magazine.

THIS week in our special tribute issue we’ve got world exclusive words from Jade Goody and unseen pictures as the brave star clings to life…

Is today’s celebrity culture so sickeningly turbo-charged, that we have “tribute issues” before people have even had the chance to die?

Hell in a handcart people, hell in a handcart.

(hat-tip Akela)

Huge fall revealed in UK car production

Nationwide
Blears tells cabinet ‘get a grip’
Tests blamed for blighting children’s lives
The march of the atheist movement
Pupils told to think like a suicide bomber
Homeowners will get £500m in mortgage aid

International
U.S. Tries a Trillion-Dollar Key for Locked Lending
Obama’s drive-by diplomacy
Signs of US protectionism worrying
Saab seeks bankruptcy protection in battle for survival
Christopher Hitchens duffed up in Beirut

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Sarah Ismail

Angela Saini: On journalism’s stars of the future. Friday Fun 1.

Blood and Treasure: Domestic violence with a difference.

Indigo Jo: Reviews last Monday’s Panorama.

MediaWatchWatch: Jacqui Smith is at it again.

Natalie Bennett: Has been getting to grips with France.

New Statesman: Observations on e-books. Friday Fun 2.

Stumbling and Mumbling: Has gone mathematical.

I stopped and blinked when I saw this headline on The Guardian’s site:

Bank bail-out ‘could send national debt soaring by £1.5 trillion’ (link)

Okay, upon reading the article it’s clear that the “soaring” has much to do with the ONS (the Office for National Statistics) reclassifying banks, that have been “recapitalised” with public funds, as public institutions (i.e. taking on the bank’s liabilities*). Therefore, we learn, that debt may exceed 150% of national income.

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While I can’t be quite as optimistic as James has been below, I do appreciate the contrarian and positive take he has offered on David Miliband’s latest Op-Ed in The Guardian.

I think you have to also give some credit to David Miliband, for his sheer bloody cheek. He’s spent the last 5+ years toeing the party line over Iraq and the wider war on terror, only to abandon the policy the moment a more sane administration begins measuring the drapes in the Oval Office.

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According to Politico, the chances of Jeb Bush running for the Senate in 2010 are very real.

Republican Mel Martinez has indicated that he will not seek a second term as one of the Senators from Florida, opening the door for the popular former governor to return to high-profile politics.

Unlike his idiot brother, Jeb is actually a very capable statesman. He left the governorship with stellar approval ratings and is considered something of a political “rockstar” among GOP ranks. 2012 may be too soon, but who would bet against another Bush ticket in the Presidential campaign of 2016? Not me, that’s for sure.

One of the key demographic swings of the recent election was the Latino embrace of the Democrats (traditionally a strong GOP voting block). As Spanish-speaking Americans continue to increase their number, both parties will double their efforts to capture their imagination. Jeb Bush is very well regarded among Latinos and this should increase his appeal to GOP party mandarins.

Jeb was always most gifted of the Bush progeny, but the question remains as to whether his moron of a brother has ruined the family brand permanently?

One to watch.

Today welcomes a new progressive force in the capital’s politics, as former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, announces a new coalition to win back London from the Conservatives.

Progressive London is a cross-party coalition that will feature leading figures from the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Trade Unions, and leading figures from the capital’s community.

On January 24th 2009, Progressive London will hold a conference to flesh out its plans for London’s future. Key issues include the financial crisis, and the city’s prominence in the financial world. Livingston, in an 8-point plan, has outlined what he thinks London should do to “meet the recession”.

Transport is expected to be one of the main areas of contention, with Livingstone using the coalition launch to attack Boris Johnson on public transport fares:

‘The international financial crisis means that to sustain London as the best city in the world and protect living standards we need more public investment in areas like transport, good housing and improving the environment while, for example, holding down fares and promoting the city’s international openness and multicultural dynamism.

‘This whole approach is challenged by the London Mayor undermining London’s prosperity and pursuing policies like cutting transport investment and pushing up fares for ordinary Londoners while letting Chelsea tractors clog the roads and poison the city’s air.

Among the speakers at the convention will be the MP for Dagenham John Cruddas, who as Dave Hill explains, “is thought by many as the man who could win back some of the mostly white, outer London voters who opted for Boris.”

It’s unclear as to the involvement, if any, of official party leaderships in the coalition.

(hat-tip, with kisses, to Leon)

Brown bounce fuelled by fears of recession

Elsewhere…
Mandelson: banks meltdown could save post office network
Now banks raise credit card costs
Tories ‘plan to cut business tax’
Pakistanis Mired in Brutal Battle to Oust Taliban

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Aaron Heath

Mark Pack/LDV – Were the record turnouts just media hype?

Andy Worthington – Andy updates us on the strange case of Guantánamo detainee Binyam Mohamed, and his quest for justice.

Tim Worstall – On the 11th-hour of the 11th-day, Tim rues the erosion of our liberties.

Mr. Eugenides – The angry little tot brings us this week’s Britblog review: The Audacity of Hazel Edition.

Bloggerheads – Iain Dale wades into the justice system. Comedy ensues.

Index on Censorship – David Davis MP writes on how further curtailment of media freedom, in respect to matters of ‘national security’, would be a mistake.

Millennium Dome, Elephant – The Fluffy take on Ros, Lemit, and the “other one”.

Paying their respects :: Earthpal, Mike Power, Jennie, James Higham… if I’ve missed you, let me know in the comments.

Trevor Phillips: Labour ‘racism’
would block British Obama

Elsewhere
Tesco boss put pressure on Bank to cut rate
Palin: I’m not a diva
School collapse in Haiti
UK criminals ‘behind £500m Ireland cocaine haul’
Japanese Stores Take Convenience To a New Level

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Aaron Heath

Alix Mortimer – Possibly the most impressive blog post in the history of everything. Alix should be placed in shrinkwrap so that she’s never spoiled by this horrid, horrid world.

Paul Linford – In a week of elections, Paul opines on the contrast between the victors.

Liberal England – A National DNA database? Yeah, the Tories would be so much better on issues of civil liberty. Not.

Back Towards The Locus – BenSix argues that the activists that helped Obama win his presidency, now need to hold him to his promises.

The Daily (Maybe) – Yeah, he’s black – but he means so, so much more. Jim as ever, is right on the money.

Obsolete – Characteristically insightful analysis of the the Glenrothes by-election. Also, beware the rise of Poppy fascism.

HuffPo – Palin lashes out at the “jerks”.

Hat-tips to Justin and Jennie, who unknowingly helped put together today’s review.

So before we go any further, I think Unity said it best:

Congratulations, and thank you America!

This morning the two-halves of America’s political world will be reflecting on the events of last night.

Democrats and Obama supporters will be celebrating a victorious new era of power and influence. Activists who worked hard to deliver America its historic first black president, can finally sleep. Looking forward Democrats have the unenviable job of rebuilding a damaged and wary nation.

Obama will now turn to building a cabinet to deliver on his promise of change – where the Clintons feature, who knows?

On the losing side, Republicans will be assessing a tattered party that has been thoroughly rejected by the American people. Many will blame John McCain, but the rot goes so much deeper than that.

The many scandals of the Republican congress have not been ignored. The Bush’s administrations many crimes and inadequacies have finally been punished (a bit). Americans have said enough to the myopic militarism of the Neocons, and they have said no more to the toxic culture war that has divided a nation.

If you ask me… it was the economy, stupid. But what were the major dynamics of this election? What now for the GOP and, of course, Sarah “Hockey Mom” Palin? And how does this election affect race-relations in America?

Good morning to a hopeful new post-Bush America, but will it really be all that different?

UPDATE: Justin, always the cynic, has got his bitter disillusionment in early.

On the historic night of the 2008 US Presidential Elections we Live Blogged the results.

It was a great night, and thanks to all the bloggers and readers who were involved.

Below is the live feed where we debated the unfolding events – archived.

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Don’t forget, tonight from 9pm, we’ll be Live Blogging the US election (pssst! Look, over there on the right of our page).

We don’t expect much to happen before midnight, but you can still join us for some drunken conjecture.

Hopefully in the wee hours we’ll have something substantial to natter about. Either way it’s the place to be.*

Getting Prepared

*Unless you have tickets to some swish election party with an open bar and Ferrero Rocher. If so, you can bugger off. Whatever. Like we care?

And the rightwing rags are off again.

This time the target is one of their own, BBC presenter and Thatcher-lovin’ columnist Jeremy Clarkson, who has upset viewers with a controversial remark about truckers.

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has prompted more than 500 people to complain to the BBC about a joke he made on Sunday’s motoring show.

Clarkson, 48, was taking part in a lorry-driving task, when he joked about lorry drivers killing sex workers.

“Change gear, change gear, check mirror, murder a prostitute, change gear, change gear, murder. That’s a lot of effort in a day,” he said.

The BBC said the joke had made “ridiculous an unfair urban myth”.

Lorry driver Steve Wright was jailed in February for killing five prostitutes in Ipswich.

I suppose Jez should be considered collateral damage?

Thanks to Leon for the link.

Election Live Blog

The Live blog has moved here, for archiving.

News Stories

A Sea Change for Politics as We Know It

Final Thoughts…
Thriller in Wasilla: Town abuzz over election
Polls Show Obama With Clear Advantage
Obama’s grandmother dies of cancer
US elections: time for America to decide
America is jittery as election’s outcome draws near
The Boss gives Obama a boost

Remember, LC will be live blogging tonight. Watch this space…

Election Netcast Special / by Aaron Heath

The Plain Dealer Blog – Ohio’s largest newspaper, The Plain Dealer, takes a snapshot of blogger opinion in this important swing state.

Arianna Huffington – Whoever is victorious tonight, it’s the Internet that is the big winner.

Oliver Willis – Easily the best web video of the election. Super Obama!!!

Kos – It’s prediction time at Daily Kos. Obama FTW. I’m cautious about Florida and Ohio, but feel two or three red states may fall.

Freemania – Tom calls the election. He believes Obama will win and explains his reasoning.

Rachel North – Explaining why Obama must win. Excellent post.

Andy Worthington – War crimes: what the candidates don’t talk about. Important.

Resources ::

The final polls at RCP

Election twitter feed

BBC coverage

A comment from an article about a Republican attempt to smear Obama. Two GOPers have asked an Oxford academic to ‘prove’ that Obama’s autobiography was written by domestic terrorist William Ayers.

Some of us in the United States would truly like to apologize for the actions of our politicians and to remind the world that many of us are actually sane, educated and moral people. Please remember that many of us are not simply Ugly Americans, just temporarily trapped here. ~ David McLarty, Rockwood, Tennessee, USA

Things are really getting this nasty.

Mr. McLarty, we stand with you.

And so it’s reported that a Kenyan relative of Barack Obama is in the US illegally. Obama claims he didn’t know of her illegal status, but the right, sensing a chink in Obama’s armour, moved swiftly in.

Michelle Malkin, the conservative blogger who has made a career out of bitching about illegal aliens, went on the attack, demanding answers from the Obama campaign.

Rush Limbaugh, who must have messed himself in the excitement, couldn’t wait to aim his barbs at Obama and public housing – which he helpfully refers to as “slums”.

And over at Townhall ratbag blogger Hugh Hewitt is wondering why it took so long to discover this skeleton, yet Sarah Palin’s brother-in-law scandal was unearthed within days? Maybe, Hugh, because Palin was already under investigation when appointed as McCain’s running mate? Doh!

And then on my travels I visit the rightwing libertarian blog Political Byline, only to find a dose of glorious reason ::

Obama says that he did not know, and you know, I’m inclined to believe the guy. You just cannot keep track of everything your damn family does.

Hell, I have a cousin who’s a career criminal, am I responsible for his actions? Hell no!

It just seems to me, that the Conservative Blogosphere has been on the hunt to; dare I say the word?; Lynch Barack Obama for having the gall, the outright audacity, the very nerve; to run for President of The United States of America. For, dare I say it?; venturing into White Man’s territory.

Well said. But I say let the wingnut muppets have their fun…

They’ve had to justify one of the worst presidential tickets in living memory, with a candidate bouncing from one embarrassing gaffe to the next. The least we can do is let them have a pop at a little old black woman.

Rescued bank to pay millions in bonuses

And more…
Specter of Deflation Lurks as Global Demand Drops
McCain scraps town hall format as crowds becomes vicious.
Miliband flies to Goma as rebels advance
Surge in recruitment as support for troops rises

DAILY BLOG REVIEW / by Aaron Heath

Stroppyblog – Janine makes the case for sacking Ross and Brand. On the grounds that they’re both crap.

Pickled Politics – Sunny reports on the ground war telephone operations of both parties.

Chicken Yogurt – Justin vents at a world where Tony Blair earns £12m a year and poor Lesley Douglas has to walk. Interesting debate in the comments.

Left of Centrist – McCain loses it as voters in Red States court Obama [video/humour].

Crooked Timber – The banking crisis pales in significance to the gargantuan environmental catastrophe that looms large over our tortured planet.

Earthpal – It’s the first day of the hunt. Don’t worry, the hunting ban is a meaningless law that’s not enforced. Tally-ho!

The Daily (Maybe) – And to finish things off, we have a review of the new Bond movie. Hurrah!

The awesome Jennie is up tomorrow, and I’ll be back for a special election review on Tuesday. Bye. *waves*.