2010 US Presidential Election

[disputed]

realclearpolitics.com, Sunday August 9th

Quinnipac Polls Give Front Runners Encouragement

A new 50 state poll by Quinnipac gives all three of the Republican front runners reason for encouragement and continues to suggest that this three way race could go right to the wire.

Top 4 results by state:

Alabama: Walken 22%, Sullivan 20%, Haffley 16%, Alexander 13%
Alaska: Walken 28%, Sullivan 25%, Haffley 15%, Blakemore 12%
Arizona: Blakemore 25%, Walken 23%, Sullivan 22%, Alexander 14%
Arkansas: Sullivan 22%, Walken 21%, Blakemore 17%, Haffley 13|%
California: Blakemore 26%, Walken 23%, Sullivan 20%, Alexander 15%
Colorado: Sullivan 23%, Walken 22%, Blakemore 22%, Haffley 16%
Connecticut: Blakemore 28%, Walken 22%, Sullivan 19%, Alexander 16%
Delaware: Blakemore 23%, Walken 21%, Sullivan 21%, Alexander 17%
Florida: Walken 26%, Blakemore 22%, Alexander 20%, Sullivan 18%
Georgia: Walken 29%, Sullivan 25%, Haffley 16%, Blakemore 13%
Hawaii: Blakemore 32%, Sullivan 21%, Walken 19%, Alexander 17%
Idaho: Haffley 32%, Walken 30%, Sullivan 21%, Blakemore 8%
Illinois: Blakemore 25%, Walken 24%, Sullivan 20%, Alexander 15%
Indiana: Sullivan 24%, Walken 23%, Blakemore 23%, Haffley 11%
Iowa: Walken 61%, Sullivan 15%, Haffley 11%, Alexander 6%
Kansas: Walken 44%, Sullivan 19%, Haffley 12%, Blakemore 11%
Kentucky: Sullivan 28%, Walken 24%, Blakemore 19%, Alexander 13%
Louisiana: Sullivan 25%, Walken 24%, Haffley 15%, Alexander 10%
Maine: Blakemore 29%, Skinner 19%, Walken 17%, Alexander 15%
Maryland: Blakemore 26%, Walken 21%, Sullivan 16%, Alexander 16%
Massachusetts: Blakemore 23%, Walken 21%, Alexander 19%, Sullivan 18%
Michigan: Blakemore 46%, Walken 20%, Sullivan 13%, Alexander 8%
Minnesota: Walken 25%, Blakemore 24%, Sullivan 18%, Alexander 14%
Mississippi: Walken 31%, Sullivan 20%, Haffley 15%, Alexander 11%
Missouri: Walken 69%, Blakemore 13%, Sullivan 8%, Haffley 5%
Montanta: Haffley 23%, Walken 21%, Sullivan 20%, Blakemore 12%
Nebraska: Walken 30%, Sullivan 20%, Haffley 14%, Blakemore 10%
Nevada: Walken 28%, Haffley 21|%, Sullivan 20%, Blakemore 18%
New Hampshire:Sullivan 25%, Blakemore 21%, Walken 20%, Alexander 18%
New Jersey: Blakemore 26%, Walken 22%, Sullivan 20%, Alexander 17%
New Mexico: Sullivan 24%, Walken 20%, Blakemore 17%, Haffley 12%
New York: Blakemore 23%, Walken 20%, Sullivan 17%, Alexander 16%
North Carolina: Sullivan 26%, Walken 25%, Blakemore 23%, Alexander 15%
North Dakota: Walken 27%, Haffley 23%, Sullivan 20%, Blakemore 18%
Ohio: Reed 24%, Walken 20%, Blakemore 18%, Sullivan 17%
Oklahoma: Walken 33%, Sullivan 22%, Haffley 18%, Blakemore 10%
Oregon: Haffley 29%, Walken 19%, Blakemore 19%, Sullivan 16%
Pennsylvania: Blakemore 24%, Walken 23%, Sullivan 21%, Alexander 15%
Rhode Island: Blakemore 31%, Walken 24%, Sullivan 15%, Alexander 13%
South Carolina: Walken 26%, Sullivan 19%, Blakemore 18%, Haffley 15%
South Dakota: Sullivan 24%, Walken 22%, Haffley 20%, Blakemore 13%
Tennessee: Sullivan 26%, Walken 23%, Pratt 20%, Haffley 14%
Texas: Walken 30%, Sullivan 19%, Blakemore 17%, Alexander 14%
Utah: Walken 27%, Haffley 24%, Sullivan 20%, Blakemore 17%
Vermont: Blakemore 27%, Skinner 23%, Walken 18%, Sullivan 16%
Virginia: Sullivan 28%, Walken 22%, Blakemore 18%, Alexander 16%
Washington: Haffley 41%, Walken 20%, Blakemore 16%, Sullivan 13%
West Virginia: Sullivan 47%, Walken 21%, Blakemore 14%, Alexander 9%
Wisconsin: Blakemore 23%, Walken 20%, Sullivan 18%, Alexander 14%
Wyoming: Walken 30%, Haffley 25%, Sullivan 18%, Alexander 10%

[Marky Bunny]

realclearpolitics.com Monday August 10th 2009
Poll Analysis
The first state by state polling makes for interesting reading.
It sees Walken, Blakemore and Sullivan locked in a pratical deadheat, with Jeff Haffley gaining ground on the front three.
It seems that many elections are happening. In the south it looks to be a clear fight between Walken and Sullivan, with Alexander, Blakemore, and Haffley behind. In the coming months expect Walken to step up his attacks on Sullivan in states like Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee where Sullivan holds small leads. These four states have 191 delgates up for grabs.
The mid-west is a clear three way fight between Walken, Blakemore and Sullivan.
New England and the north-east looks strong for Blakemore he leads in every state apart from New Hampshire which Sullivan has opened up a four point lead. Blakemore has pulled ahead of Matthew Skinner in Vermont.
Blakemore holds a 3% in lead both Calfornia and New York which would give him 274 delegates.
Haffley is leading in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Iado where his main rivial is Walken. Nicholas Alexander is still polling in the mid-teens, but the only state he looks like he could win is Florida where his in a strong third place behind Walken and Blakemore.
Edward Pratt looks like he is finished, he is not playing in the south, and is even in third place in his own state. Rumours abound that the ACA is trying to get Pratt to pull out of the race. The other story coming from this are also the rumours that their is a split within the leadership of the ACA. We understand that Mary Marsh wants Former Alabama Governor Wesley Burke to enter the race, but the problem is that if Burke entered the race he would only play in the south and spilit the race with Walken and Sullivan and letting in Alexander and or Blakemore to winning.
Rev Don Butler and Rev Al Caldwell believe the best thing would be for Pratt to pull out and endorse Walken, but polictical director George Rhor favours throwing support behind Jeff Haffley.
Jeff Haffley looks to have bounced back in recent weeks, despite poor fundraising in quarter two, poor polling numbers, and in-fightning between his campaign team. His second place in Ames and these polling numbers will give him a big boost.
Matt Skinner looks to have lost the race with Blakemore and Alexander for the "Vinick" wing of the party. He is even behind in his own state behind Blakemore. Skinner must be looking at pulling out, and if he where and endorse Blakemore it would almost certainly give the Former michigan Governor a big boost, and lock-up totally the north-east, and would almost certainly see him over take Sullivan in New Hampshire.
Governor Mike Reed gives the impression that he knows he will not win the nomination, but unlike Pratt and Skinner he is still ahead in his own state, Ohio. He knows that the states election coming on "Mini-Super Tuesday" in early March, that it could be vital for both Walken and Blakemore, he could be "king-maker" with 88 delegates on offer. Reed who was on Vinick's VP short-list in 2006, will be corted by both Walken and Blakemore.
All in all, this looks to be shaping out to be an amazing race, since it started in December last year we have already had several twists and turns and before Iowa goes to the polls on January 7th 2010 we are bound to have many more.

[Marky Bunny]

CNN.COM Monday August 10th 2009
Rohr meets with Pratt
George Rhor, Polictical director of the ACA, had a three hour meeting with Edward Pratt today, believed to be about the Former Tennessee Governor pulling out of the nomination race.
Pratt pulled badly in Iowa, a state he should have done better in. A new poll puts him in third place in his own state way behind Ray Sullivan and Glen Walken. It only seems to be a three way spilit emerging in the leadership of the ACA. We understand that Mary Marsh wants Wesley Burke to join the race, once Pratt stands a-aside, Rohr we understand prefers Pratt throwing his support behind Jeff Haffley whilst Rev Don Butler and Rev Al Caldwell favour supporting Glen Walken. They believe he is the only man would could win the General election against Santos next fall.
Pratt and Rohr would not be drawn on the meeting.

[New Patomic]

( OOC: Mind If I join )

BBC.CO.UK/News Monday Augest 10th 2009
Greece hit with waves of civil unrest
Starting after police killed a university student in Athens after he protested the government action in dealing with some of the latest in the Greek Wildfire season, major riots broke out in Athens and quickly spread to the rest of the country, and Cyprus. Marking some of the worst unrest in the country since the fall of the military Junta. Police in Athens have already arrested over 157 people, and there are reports of cars being set on fire. Many experts are worried that this may be used by radical fringe groups in the country, or even to provoke a international crisis.

[disputed]

washingtonpost.com, Monday August 10th

Can Blakemore’s Big State Strategy Win GOP Nomination?

After another weekend of developments we are left with another raft of questions in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination.

The Ames Straw poll threw up an unsurprising winner in Glen Walken, but caused quite a stir as former speaker Jeff Haffley, who for all intents and purposes is broke, sneaked past Governor Ray Sullivan into second place. Cue much complaining of skullduggery from Sullivan’s supporters.

Sullivan and former Michigan Governor Marcus Blakemore continued their war of words with everything from tax to race being fair game in this particular battle.
Of all four of these it’s Blakemore that raises the most interesting question; can his big state strategy carry him to the nomination?

A Quinipac poll published at the weekend showed that the race is looking increasingly like a three way battle. Walken leads in most states, has strong appeal the south and mid-west, Sullivan seems to attract much of his support from what are traditionally seen as moderate Southern states – Virginia, North Carolina & Kentucky – as well as an emerging lead in New Hampshire, where his extremely aggressive campaign appears to be paying back. It’s Blakemore’s strategy however, that begs the most comment.

Looking at his spend for the past month it’s becoming increasingly clear that Blakemore’s path to victory is heavily dependent on winning big in New England and then sweeping the large, delegate rich states. It’s a risky strategy.

Already Blakemore is under intense attack from Ray Sullivan, that’s only likely to intensify, and one has to wonder just how long Glen Walken will continue to stay out of the dirtier sides of this race. His statesmen-like approach to the campaign so far, is at odds with the man who was so heavily involved in the Republicans brutal takeover of Congress in 1996.

A number of obstacles stand in Blakemore’s way. Firstly, his big state strategy relies on no other candidate picking up early momentum, should Walken wins Iowa, South Carolina and Florida (as polls suggest he might) then Blakemore will be done long before voters in California or New York get the chance to have their say. The same applies if Sullivan beats him in New Hampshire and carries his momentum through South Carolina into Super Tuesday.

The second challenge is money. A big state strategy is a huge drain on resources. New York, California, Pennsylvania & Illinois, all states that are vital to such a strategy, are the most expensive markets in the country, and most estimates suggest that Blakemore has to outspend Walken 2:1 to offset the former acting President’s significant name recognition advantage.

Finally, a big state strategy will be a long campaign – giving up the south guarantees that Blakemore will not secure the nomination until very late in the process – meaning that he will have to maintain his organization over the long haul. This is a huge undertaking and leaves him wide open to errors and gaffes.

In spite of these problems Blakemore remains in a strong position. He is polling well in the big states and is raising a lot of money. He has also shown an ability to tap into the enthusiasm of many of the Vinick Republicans that carried the current Secretary of State to the nomination in ’06.

What this past weekend has shown us yet again is that we are only in the early stages of what is likely to be a rollercoaster ride.

[disputed]

cnn.com, Monday August 10th

Haffley Reopens Iowa Office

A month ago former speaker Jeff Haffley’s presidential aspirations seemed dead in the water. Now, all of a sudden, he seems to be back in with a chance.

Following his surprise second place finish in the Ames Straw Poll, Haffley has now announced a couple of further developments that are likely to boost his campaign. Firstly, he has reopened his office in Iowa. The office, which is being run by campaign manager Anita Cross, has technically never closed as volunteers have continued to work for Haffley free of charge. Cross admitted she was delighted that she will now operate with increased funding and will be able to pay some key staff in the short term.

Secondly, Haffley has announced that his long time chief of staff Tom Forster has joined his campaign as a senior advisor. Forster, who many have credited with masterminding Haffley’s path to the speakership, resigned as Haffley’s chief of staff shortly after the 2006 Election which saw the Republicans lose control of the House. There were reports at the time that Haffley blamed Forster for the loss leading to his resignation.

The return of Haffley’s long time consigliere could be the final boost in a week which may well mark the turning point in the Washington Congressman’s campaign.

[Marky Bunny]

CNN.COM Tuesday August 11th 2009
Sullivan's son in trouble again as he is caught in the act
Just when it couldn’t get any worse for Presidential candidate Ray Sullivan, it has. His youngest son is in trouble again with the police. In May he was found drunk and was arrested.
It is understood late on Sunday evening Owen Sullivan 17, was questioned by police, who caught him in a car with a female also 17, both naked . The incident happened in a car park in Kanawha State Forest just outside Charleston, West Virginia. The officer who found the two filed a report of "sexual misconduct." He also found it is belived a small amount of majuaria and a large amount of achchol. Sullivan was tested for drink be found to be under the drink limit.
"They were both underage but they were both willing participants," said Charleston Police spokesman Ben Daniels . "We called the governor's office, spoke to the governor and spoke to the girl's family, and neither one of their families wanted to press charges. There will also be no charges over the small amount of majuaria that was found in the car"
"We find kids doing this inside cars all the time and we don't file reports all the time".
CNN understands he filed the report so there wouldn't be any political fallout if he didn't.

[New Patomic]

BBC.CO.UK/News Tuesday Augest 11th 2009
Turkey threatens Cyprus

Fears that the Greek civil unrest could cause a international crisis came true today as Turkey said it would send military forces to the island if any violence happens against the Turkish community on the island. Starting last night, it appears another Greek-Cypriot Unity group called EOKA-II, which has already proved itself to be just as violent as EOKA, and EOKA-B, if not more, has already used the situation to try and push it's enosis message. Greece itself grounded to a halt today. As a combination of rioting and a general strike shut down transportation, air service, and many other systems. The mass riots and protest have continued to grow, mostly with the Left-Wing and University community. Though it appears social and economic issues in the country have finally reached a breaking point with the police killing.

Britain in a statement today has condemned the Turkish reaction to the situation in Greece and Cyprus, and is urging the international community to be calm. The Greek government has said that if the riots don't stop, the government will be 'forced to act' and has also said that relations could be ruined with Turkey if they 'threaten the greek-cypriot community'

[Marky Bunny]

CNN.COM Tuesday August 11th
Vinick calls for "cool heads" over Cyprus
Sec of state Arnold Vinick called on both Turkey and Greece to have "cool heads" as a Greek Cypriot Unity group called EOKA-II has threated to make attacks against Turkish interests on the island.
In Greece itself, it was rocked again by a day of strikes, and rioting in most major cities.
Vinick speaking at a hastly agreed press conferance at the state department said "I have spoken to both Governments and have asked for cool heads, I have also spoken at length to the British Foreign Secretary Rachel Lilburn and Prime-Minister Green".

[Marky Bunny]

FOX.News.com Tuesday August 11th 2009
Sullivan campaign issues "no comment" statement over Owen Sullivan Sex case
Governor Ray Sullivan campaign team issued a brief over the miscoundunct charge placed against Owen Sullivan.
Owen Sullivan 17, was caught late on Sunday evening naked with a girl having sex in a car just outside Charleston.
"It is private affair for the Sullivan family, and has nothing to do with the campaign".
The statement is un-likely to please many on the right of the party, who see a fall in moral standards espically with teenagers.
One un-named Republican Congressman told Fox "If Governor Sullivan cannot control his own son, and his son's moral up-bringing how can he do the same for our country".
I for one, would not like to be Owen Sullivan today.

[disputed]

townhall.com, Tuesday August 11th

Sullivan Furious At “Uncalled For” Remarks

The campaign of Ray Sullivan have said that the Governor is furious at remarks made by a number of high profile Republicans in the media today regarding the arrest of his son Owen.

A campaign aide reported that Sullivan and his wife Kate were outraged at comments by the likes of Senator Herman Morton (WY) who said “It’s fairly clear that Governor Sullivan has failed as a father. How can he hope to be President?”

Sullivan is back in West Virginia having cut short a campaign stop in Florida to return home to deal with his son’s arrest. Thus far the former Governor has refused to comment on incident or what it means for his Presidential campaign.

It’s not the first time Sullivan’s son has caused him problems. Just three months ago Owen, 17, was detained after being found drunk near the family home in Charleston, WV.

The story has deflected attention away from another story that was being reported in and around the Sullivan campaign yesterday that the 2006 vice-presidential nominee had met with Colt Marchant in a hotel in Florida on Monday evening. Marchant, is best known as Owen Lassiter’s long time political advisor and deputy chief of staff during his time in the White House.

[disputed]

newyorktimes.com, Tuesday August 11th

Lassiters Endorse Walken

Glen Walken picked up a huge boost today after he was endorsed by the Lassiter family in California.

Walken traveled to San Marino, California, to accept the endorsements of former Senator Robert Lassiter, the brother of the late President Owen Lassiter. Senator Lassiter said “We need a leader in this country. We need some one who can create a better America both at home and abroad. That man is Glen Allen Walken, and I hereby endorse him for President.”

The oldest living Lassiter was followed by President Lassiter’s eldest son Richard, who is currently running for the Senate. “The country faces many problems, but we must be confident of a better tomorrow. I believe that under Glen Walken we will see a new era of prosperity in this country.”

Finally, Walken accepted the nomination of former first lady Libby Lassiter who said “Owen was proud of all he accomplished, and as such I am convinced that he would be supporting Glen had he still been with us.”

The former acting President seemed delighted by the endorsement saying “To stand at the Presidential library of one of my mentors and accept the endorsement of one of the country’s great political families is an honor in itself. I intend to make good on all my promises and create a better America for all our citizens.”

There had been reports that this endorsement had been originally planned for earlier in the year but was postponed after Walken softened his position on gay marriage, these were denied by Richard Lassiter as “totally unfounded” adding “whilst my mother may not agree, both my uncle and I are in full support of President Walken’s postion on same-sex marriage.”

[disputed]

nashrockford.com

The Rockford File

Laughing At Berryhill

You know me. I don’t like to nail my colors to the mast, but I have to say I am really enjoying the implosion of former Secretary of State Berryhill’s “campaign” for President.
Most of you will agree that it’s difficult to see me as a big fan of President Santos, but if there is one man who could get me to support him it would be the Democratic Party’s most egotistical and self centered politician. In case you haven’t guessed that would be one Lewis Berryhill.

Berryhill has been around forever. He claims to be 67 but I swear he was 60 when he was ambassador to Israel – and that was in 1983! Ever since then he’s been shamelessly promoting himself in his increasingly desperate attempt to become President.

Everyone knows he wanted to run in 1994, but realized Owen Lassiter was too popular so he opted against it. Then he was going to run in 1998, but as everyone know, “John Hoynes has the nomination sewn up” as he said in an interview in September 1997. Finally, he was apparently Jed Bartlet’s first choice to replace Hoynes as VP when the latter resigned. It still seems preposterous to me that Team Bartlet cowered and backed down at the first sign of a Republican objection. Perhaps he wasn’t quite as popular as he likes to make out.

Lest we forget that this refusal to fight their case led the country to end up with Bob Russell as Vice-President!

You can now add to this his current campaign - yet another comedy of errors. Firstly, a man who claims to be a “conviction politician” pontificates for months before finally making a decision. Then when he finally decides to get in he reveals that his supporters are some of the countries worst examples of the free loading Wasington elite – I’m looking at you Deborah O’Leary!

Then, as if that isn’t embarrassing enough it turns out that pretty much ever poll has him being humiliated by the a President with a 45% approval rating. Not great for the man who “the Republicans are terrified of” and America’s “most gifted and respected political force” – sorry I got distracted by some Berryhill literature.

So, whilst I’m not one for handing out advice to uber-liberal Democrats, I, on behalf of all decent Americans, hereby request that Berryhill put us all out of our misery and end this sham of a campaign.

[Marky Bunny]

Washingtonpost.com Tuesday August 11th 2009
Blakemore explains his "Gay marriage " stance
Marcus Blakemore writing for the Washington Post today outlined his position on Gay marriage and civil partnerships as well as the campaign in general.
"The simple truth is that many gay people do not support 'gay marriage'. Civil partnerships yes, but not gay marriage. I have always taken the view that marriage implies a religious element to the proceedings, whereas civil partnerships do not. That's not to say that gay people can't be religious, they can, I know my fellow presidential candidate Matt Skinner attends church every Sunday and belives in god but it is probably going one step too far for most religions to endorse gay marriage as an institution. So to be against gay marriage does not imply homophobia.
I also believe that it is a state issue, not one for the Federal Government.
The thing about political parties is that they are broad churches or they are nothing. Political parties which seek to become narrow, moralistic sects will inevitably die or lose elections. The liberal left find it difficult to understand how I and someone like Mary Marsh can be in the same party. I suspect we would both say that there is far more that unites us than divides us."
Writing about his on-going battle with Ray Sullivan.
"Everyone knows that we and Ray Sullivan are rivials for our parties nomination and we have many policy differances. It is not personnel. I will not be drawn into his family life, and will not will not attack him for those problems".
On President Santos.
"I like the President as a man and what he achieved by getting elected and what he did in the first Gulf War in 1991. On policy he has failed. He has be held hostage by the ultra-liberal hard left of his party.
We need to end the division that exists in our nation, and remember all our citizens, white, black, hispanic, gay, straight, are all americans. I know that I am the man to bring this nation back togther".

[Marky Bunny]

Sky News.com Wednesday August 12th 2009
Breaking News Breaking News
Turkey puts all armed forces on alert
Turkey has just announced that it has put all its armed forces on high alert and cancelled all leave.
Chief of the Turkish General Staff Salih Kazim made the annoucemnt as the situation in Greece and Cyprus threatens to slip out of control.
Turkey has the second largest standing army, in NATO after the United States.
The First Army has begun massing on the Greek border near the Town of Ipsala. It is the location of one of the main border checkpoints between Greece and Turkey.

Turkish forces moving up to the Greek border near the Town of Ipsala this morning.

[Marky Bunny]

UKPOLITICS.COM Wednesday August 12th 2009
With Turkey and Greece poised on the brink of war, we ask the question with the Prime-Minister on hoilday who is in charge?
With the situation in Greece looking to get out of control after two days of rioting, and anti-Turkish protests, and with the annoucement that Turkey has already threatened to send troops to Cyprus, and is massing its entire first army of five army corps on the Greek border, you would think that the prospect of armed conflict between two members of NATO, would force Prime-Minister Green to cancel his hoilday in Cornwall. Not a bit of it, we understand that he has spoken to US Secretary of State, Arnold Vinick (what a great President this man would have made), but that is it. Back in Whitehall, with the Foreign Secretary still recovering from the failed attempt on her life , no-one is sure who is actually running events. Is it Lilburns Deputy Jack Coll, the Defence Secretary Malcolm Cutter or Deputy Prime-Minister Peter Kennedy? No-one seems to be certain. A spokesman for the Foreign Office said "The Foreign Secretary has spoken to to the Prime-Minister and the US Sectary of State, and is being kept fully breifed" but another spokesman this time from the Ministry of Defence said "Secretary Cutter is in full control of the situation" ok what about the Deputy Prime-Minister "I am running the show with the Prime-Minister on hoilday, I have spoken to our Ambassadors in both countrys and today spoke at length to the Turkish and Greek Ambassadors". No-one seems to be in overall countrol and we seem to four people who think they are running the Government response to this crisis.
We call for the Prime-Minister to cut short his hoilday, and return back to London and get a grip. British lives are at risk espically in Cyprus where we have troops and bases if Turkey decides to invade. The Prime-Minister is believed by many to have had blinked during the terror attack last month, he cannot afford to do again.

[New Patomic]

BBC.CO.UK/News Tuesday Augest 12th 2009
Greece makes it's stance Clear

The riots in Greece have taken a large anti-Turkish turn. Following Turkish aggression against the Greece and Cyprus. Current Prime Minister, and New Democracy leader Alexander Economides has stated that Greece will not stand for Turkey to 'once again destroy the will of the Greek-Cypriot community. We, as Greeks, can no longer allow our brothers to be destroyed by Turkish Aggression. We will not be bullied, and neither will Cyprus'

The President of Cyprus and Greece today meet in Crete, in which they signed a mutual defense treaty. Saying in a joint statement that, 'this is not one step closer to enosis, but one step closer to a independent strong Cypriot state.'

Greece itself has started to somewhat calm. The Prime Minister has been using the Turkish threat to unite the country under his government. Police have also been given new powers to crack down on 'violent' protest. The Greek Armed forces have also started to be Mobilized, and the Greek Navy has moved into key positions near Cyprus, and in the Aegean Sea.

[New Patomic]

Gaurdian.Co.UK/News Augest 12th 2009
World holds Breath

Reports have come in tonight that there has been bombings against the Turkish community on Cyprus, and a skirmish over the Aegean Sea between the Air Forces of Greece and Turkey. Such conflicts have happened multiple times in the last two decades, but the latest one comes at a time when Turkey and Greece could very well be at war with each other coming up in the next day or two.

Diplomatic efforts, though strong, have failed to get the two sides from stopping the military build up against each other. With Turkey being outraged at Greek naval movements in what it views as its sphere of influence. Greece is equally angry with Turkey for what it views as extremely aggressive actions. Some in the Greek media have even accused Turkey of trying to recreate a Ottoman Empire. While Turkey has accused Greece of try to expand onto Turkish territory. Though such claims are largely unfounded, it does show how both sides will need to solve multiple issues before than can return to a state of normalcy.

[Marky Bunny]

CNN.COM Wednesday August 12th 2009
Walken comments on Greek crisis
As tensions threaten to spirial out of control between Greece and Turkey, Glen Walken today gave his opinion.
Speaking in Louisville, Kentucky "I have spoken to both the President and Secretary Vinick to offer my support. We cannot afford for two NATO nations to go to war, it could pull the alliance apart. I call on both sides to show calm and pull back".
Taking questions, he was asked about the Owen Sullivan story, in typically frank Walken style he replied "I am not interested in a teenage boys sex life, what I am interested in is two key allies about to go to war with each other".
A foreign crisis such as this, does play to Walkens undobuted strengths, namely his Foreign policy knowledge, and clear leadership skills, which where on show today.

[disputed]

msnbc.com, Wednesday August 12th

Washington Scrambling To End Conflict

President Santos has dispatched a high profile task force to Europe to attempt to calm hostilities between Turkey and Greece, amid growing fears that the two Nato allies may be on the verge of war.

Santos, talking at a Press Conference at Camp David, confirmed that a five person delegation, led by Secretary of State Arnold Vinick arrived in Brussels in the early hours of this morning. They are due to meet Nato Secretary General Leon Malou shortly and are due to have further meetings with key stakeholders during the next few hours.

The President is believed to be desperate to avoid a conflict which may permanently destroy Turkey’s chances of joining the EU, a goal he has been working towards throughout his administration.

He confirmed the members of the task force to be Vinick, Georgia Senator James Lancaster, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ohio Senator August Adair, who is the ranking Democrat on the Armed Service Committee, Illinois Congressman Todd Evers, a leading member of the US-Turkish relations Caucus and Mary Maskaleris, who holds a similar position in the Helenic caucus.

Santos said he was confident of a positive outcome and denied that this task force was a last ditch attempt to avoid war.