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Saudi King approves additional deployment of US troops
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 4: Opinion
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3 19:31 DooDahMan [] 
6 21:19 Lex [1] 
4 15:26 trailing wife [] 
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Page 3: Non-WoT
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Page 6: Politix
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Latest Development In Flynn Case Proves Special Counsel Was A Cover For Taking Down Trump
[The Federalist] The special counsel’s investigation was a sham controlled by the intelligence community. Evidence has long suggested as much, but testimony earlier this week from Michael Flynn’s ex-lawyer‐that Flynn’s former legal team had not seen recently revealed information purporting to implicate Flynn in a conspiracy with a Turkish agent‐confirms it.
One of many such initiatives by the Deep State.
This testimony came on Tuesday when Flynn’s former Covington and Burling lawyer, Robert Kelner, took the stand at the trial of Flynn’s former partner at Flynn Intel Group (FIG), Bijan Rafiekian. Rafiekian, who co-founded FIG with Flynn, is on trial for conspiring with his co-defendant Kamil Ekim Alptekin and others (unnamed in the indictment) to act as an unregistered agent of the Turkish government and conspiring to file a material false Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) statement. (Alptekin is a fugitive believed to be in Turkey.)

The government had planned to call Flynn as a witness at Rafiekian’s trial, but at the last minute prosecutors informed the court that Flynn would not testify. Instead, prosecutors notified the court that they viewed Flynn as an unindicted co-conspirator and that they intended to present hearsay evidence against Rafiekian‐something allowed if Flynn had conspired with Rafiekian and Alptekin to file the false FARA statements.

Last week, presiding Judge Anthony J. Trenga held that the government had not yet presented sufficient evidence of a conspiracy to admit prior statements made by Flynn and Alptekin. Until prosecutors made a preliminary showing of a conspiracy at trial, Trenga ruled, the hearsay evidence would not be admitted, and even then the government may be bound by its prior admission that Flynn was not a co-conspirator.

Then last Friday came the revelation that the government possessed previously undisclosed information supposedly implicating Flynn in a separate conspiracy with Alptekin. Rafiekian’s attorney disclosed this shocker at the close of a pre-trial hearing, telling the court that before the start of the proceedings, the government had handed him a one-sentence statement. "If I may read it for purposes of the record," Rafiekian’s lawyer continued:
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/20/2019 01:31 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I'm trying to formulate a 25-words-or-less summary of this convoluted story.
Posted by: Bobby || 07/20/2019 6:52 Comments || Top||

#2  There is only one reasonable explanation for this: The intelligence community viewed the special counsel’s investigation as an insurance policy meant to destroy Trump. And Flynn was just a means of getting to Trump.

The author's bottom line above. She's coming to the party a bit late. Many of the guests have already departed.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/20/2019 7:10 Comments || Top||

#3  GEN Flynn was, to my mind at least a great innovator with intel and timely distribution. I wouldn't underrate the animus the collected agencies have for him personally.
Posted by: Cesare || 07/20/2019 8:40 Comments || Top||

#4  Ref #3: My take on Gen. Flynn as well. Yes, the "animus of the collected agencies" generally excludes those within the Department of Defense.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/20/2019 8:49 Comments || Top||

#5  Why is Steele not being prosecuted as an "unregistered foreign agent"?
Posted by: Lex || 07/20/2019 10:24 Comments || Top||

#6  The left has assiduously tried to take down Trump before and after he was POTUS. Everyday it is death-by-a-thousand-cuts from all directions from the left, Donks, RINOS, MSM, and even some foreigner s. Trump must have the skin of an armadillo. The usual Pub response would have been to cave long ago. Go Donald and thxs for taking the slings and arrows.
Posted by: JohnQC || 07/20/2019 11:45 Comments || Top||

#7  Why is Steele not being prosecuted as an "unregistered foreign agent"

He was very likely "registered" (and compensated) under a different type of....hmm hmm system. To charge him as an "unregistered foreign agent" would open up a virtual Pandora's box. A Pandora's box that would make any defense attorney ecstatic.

Very possibly the same with Nellie Ohr I might add.



Posted by: Besoeker || 07/20/2019 12:02 Comments || Top||

#8  To paraphrase the old joke, they pulled out just enough to win.
Posted by: KBK || 07/20/2019 21:25 Comments || Top||


Plans to decriminalize prostitution will increase human trafficking
[Washington Examiner] Some of his victims were just 14 years old when they were sexually exploited, coerced, and beaten. The Jeffery Epstein case shows what sex trafficking a form of human trafficking really looks like: a living nightmare filled with mental manipulation, substance abuse, and all manners of sexual violence including rape.

Yet, as the human trafficking epidemic continues, presidential candidates Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Tulsi Gabbard and Kamala Harris are on-record supporting the decriminalization of prostitution. They do so in defense of a women’s right to use her body as she sees fit. Other Democratic candidates are also likely to jump at the chance to raise their hands in support of legalizing the abuse of women under the guise of freedom. New York, Maine, and Washington, D.C. feel similarly and are currently considering decriminalization bills.

Supporters argue decriminalization is a "choice" made between two consenting adults who should have autonomy over their bodies and their labor.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/20/2019 00:31 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I'm pretty sure you could do this while keeping child prostitution and human trafficking illegal.
Posted by: Iblis || 07/20/2019 10:44 Comments || Top||

#2  Watch for the development of more sophisticated pimps.
Posted by: AlanC || 07/20/2019 11:37 Comments || Top||

#3  Regarding my post about the young lady losing her win in the Miss World (Miss Michigan) contest for supporting Trump. Considering the sad history of Miss World and the sex trade.... (not quite the same with Miss Universe) she should be counting her blessings at being dethroned.
Posted by: 3dc || 07/20/2019 12:29 Comments || Top||

#4  Considering the sad history of Miss World and the sex trade....

What history, 3dc?
Posted by: trailing wife || 07/20/2019 15:26 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Trump: Is There Anything He Can't Do?
It's official; we've reached peak stupid.
[CNN] A rise in premature births among Latina women may be linked to Trump's election, study says.
Posted by: Mercutio || 07/20/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  There's hot sauce which can induce premature delivery...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 07/20/2019 7:25 Comments || Top||

#2  With the election nearly 16 months away I fear we are very, very far from peak stupid.
Posted by: Cesare || 07/20/2019 8:43 Comments || Top||

#3  In the nine months beginning with November 2016, about 3.2% to 3.6% more preterm births to Latina women occurred above the levels of preterm births that would have been expected had the election not occurred,

Nine months is a curiously short period for a population study. Three plus percent is a small change. And 2016 was the beginning of a drastic decline in the number of sunspots. Yeah, I'm going with sunspots.
Posted by: SteveS || 07/20/2019 11:16 Comments || Top||

#4  Indeed. Nine months is only 3/4 of the Preferred Legal Democrat Abortion Period™
Posted by: Frank G || 07/20/2019 12:02 Comments || Top||

#5  that would have been expected

and where did you all come up with those numbers - adjusted for variance like the temperature numbers we get bombarded with by the Gore-kin?
Posted by: Mercutio || 07/20/2019 16:14 Comments || Top||

#6  So Trump's election led to an anomalous spike in unprotected s*x?
Posted by: Glenmore || 07/20/2019 22:55 Comments || Top||

#7  Had to hurry up and generate those anchor babies...
Posted by: Glenmore || 07/20/2019 22:56 Comments || Top||

#8  ^ There was a farmer had a dog and Bingo was his name-o!
Posted by: Phearong the Fragrant9941 || 07/20/2019 23:58 Comments || Top||


China-Japan-Koreas
Pres. Trump is missing an opportunity in Hong Kong
[The Hill] With massive protests continuing in Hong Kong against China’s efforts to erode its freedoms, Washington is missing a sizable opportunity to promote our ideals, encourage democratic forces elsewhere, and leverage Beijing’s need for a trade deal.

Of late, President Donald Trump has sidestepped the matter and forced other administration officials to do the same. Trump reportedly assured China’s autocratic leader, Xi Jinping, in recent days that he would avoid criticizing Beijing over Hong Kong in order to advance trade talks, and the State Department prevented outgoing U.S. Consul General Kurt Tong from criticizing China over Hong Kong as part of a farewell address.

Trump’s approach to Hong Kong is part of a broader U.S. strategy of sacrificing human rights at the altar of trade. Vice President Mike Pence had planned to echo the criticism he leveled at Beijing last fall over its brutal suppression of Muslim Uighurs who seek to practice their faith, but he changed course and remained silent last month as Washington and Beijing sought to reignite trade talks.

The President’s reluctance to speak out for Hong Kong’s protestors is particularly ill-timed, for it comes as China cracks down more harshly on freedom at home while promoting its authoritarian model of governance abroad as an alternative to U.S.-led freedom and democracy ‐ thus challenging U.S. influence in Asia and elsewhere. That this year marks the 30th anniversary of Beijing’s crackdown on protestors in Tiananmen Square makes Trump’s silence even more painful.

Moreover, Hong Kong may be a particularly bad place for Trump to take a pass on defending freedom because that city has come to symbolize freedom, ranking first in the Heritage Foundation’s 2019 Index of Economic Freedom ‐ and at a time when the United States, the free world’s leader, languishes at number 12.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/20/2019 00:54 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  An "opportunity" entirely worth missing. Millions of protesters are making their voices heard.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/20/2019 1:02 Comments || Top||

#2  After "Trump Speaks Out" and the ChiComs say "Gweilo FOAD!" ... then what? Enquiring minds want to know what the next step is?
Posted by: magpie || 07/20/2019 1:49 Comments || Top||

#3  I'm sure the Hill has nothing but Trump's best interests at heart.

"Let's you and him fight!"
Posted by: charger || 07/20/2019 10:30 Comments || Top||

#4  Next step? Cold War.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis || 07/20/2019 10:42 Comments || Top||

#5  Exactly what is this missed opportunity?

Is it an opportunity to piss off the Chinese?

Is it an opportunity to turn into a scum sucking proggie globalist?

Is it an opportunity to start a war?

What exactly are you asking for?
Posted by: AlanC || 07/20/2019 19:26 Comments || Top||

#6  Next step: Play the Russia card against China.
Peel Vlad off from the Chinese, and give the ChiComs grief and anxiety everywhere we & Russia can.
Posted by: Lex || 07/20/2019 21:19 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
BM tips from Prevention.com
BLUF:
Is it bad that I don’t go? How often should I go?

There’s no rule that says you must go once a day. "On average, people go once or twice a day," says Dr. Schnoll-Sussman. "But many people go way more." And not pooping for a day, two, or even three can also be fine. In short, if you feel OK‐no upset stomach, no trouble making it to the bathroom on time‐then you probably don’t need to worry.

"The rule is there’s no such thing as normal‐just normal from one person’s perspective," says Dr. Schnoll-Sussman. So what if you’re a once-a-day BM person who’s suddenly going three or four times a day? Dr. Schnoll-Sussman says that it could be as simple as your diet (eat some sketchy meat recently?) or as complex as an infectious diarrheal disease. It could even be a good change; maybe you’ve started eating more fiber, for example. The important thing is to go to your doctor if your new BM schedule gives you a constant upset stomach or your frequent bathroom trips start to make social situations awkward.
Posted by: Besoeker || 07/20/2019 01:14 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Fixation on Elimination Disorders in the Elderly
Posted by: Skidmark || 07/20/2019 5:17 Comments || Top||

#2  When ya gott ago, ya gotta go..
Posted by: M. Murcek || 07/20/2019 7:37 Comments || Top||

#3  I was just about to say that some of the....oh, hold on...sorry, I gotta go take a Hillary.
Posted by: DooDahMan || 07/20/2019 19:31 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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1Taliban
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1al-Shabaab (AQ)
1Pirates
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1Govt of Pakistan

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Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
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Two weeks of WOT
Sat 2019-07-20
  Saudi King approves additional deployment of US troops
Fri 2019-07-19
  'HOSTILE ACT' Iran seizes British oil tanker in the Gulf with 23 crew on board days after clash with Royal Navy
Thu 2019-07-18
  Iran seizes foreign tanker with 12 crew accused of smuggling oil
Wed 2019-07-17
  Pakistani police arrest Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed (again)
Tue 2019-07-16
  United Arab Emirates oil tanker vanishes after drifting into Iranian waters
Mon 2019-07-15
  Car bomb and all-night hotel siege kill 26 in Somalia's Kismayo
Sun 2019-07-14
  African Migrants Turned Church Into Base to Deal Heroin
Sat 2019-07-13
  Kismayo attack: 26 dead as gunmen storm Somali hotel
Fri 2019-07-12
  Labor Sec. Alex Acosta Resigns Amid Pall of Jeffrey Epstein Investigation
Thu 2019-07-11
  Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boats tried, failed to seize British oil tanker in Persian Gulf
Wed 2019-07-10
  Egyptian Court Convicts Al-Azhar Professor, Others For Spying For Iran
Tue 2019-07-09
  Hafiz Multan, Taliban’s deputy Red Unit commander killed in Kandahar
Mon 2019-07-08
  Bouteflika’s ex-party chief detained in Algeria corruption probe
Sun 2019-07-07
  Radioactive material worth $72m seized from car in Turkey
Sat 2019-07-06
  Deal between protest leaders and Sudan’s ruling generals

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