Beacon Extra

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
MAZEL TOV !
… `` Ilhan Omar Named 2019 Anti-Semite of the Year , '' by WFB ’ s Adam Kredo : The organization StopAntiSemitism.org chose Omar , who has repeatedly spread anti-Israel and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories , following a public nomination and voting period .
`` Among Rep. Ilhan Omar 's transgressions , she perpetuated anti-Semitic tropes on Twitter to nearly two million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress that promoted boycotts of the State of Israel and likened them to boycotts of Nazi Germany , '' the group wrote in a press release Monday .
`` The public 's vote highlights the growing concern among Americans about the Congresswomen 's ability to use and abuse her position of power to propagate hatred in the U.S. '' ASTROTURF … `` March For Our Lives Raised Nearly All Funding from Secret Six-Figure Donations , '' by WFB ’ s Stephen Gutowski and Joe Schoffstall : The group reported $ 17,879,150 in contributions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , its first year of operations .
95 percent of those contributions came from 36 donations between $ 100,000 and $ 3,504,717—a grand total of $ 16,922,331 .
The group 's reliance on a small number of large donations raises questions about its ability to turn rally-goers and supporters into donors .
It also provides ammunition to gun-rights activists who have long cast the gun-control movement as driven not by grassroots supporters , but by billionaire benefactors like Michael Bloomberg .
DEADBEAT DAD … `` Where ’ s Hunter ?
Arkansas Mother Accuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WFB ’ s Brent Scher : Lawyers for Lunden Alexis Roberts are crying foul after Biden declared himself `` unable to appear '' for a scheduled Tuesday hearing that Biden himself set the date for .
The filing asks the court to deny Biden 's motion to reschedule the hearing .
THE AVERAGE BERNIE BRO IS 27 YEARS OLD , THEY LITERALLY KNOW NOTHING … `` Obamaworld Hates Bernie—and Has No Idea How to Stop Him , '' via DAILY BEAST : Indeed , the most striking aspect of Obamaworld ’ s response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an uptick in the polls , and unusually frequent hat tips about the merits of his character from his rivals—is the lack of a cohesive one .
Seasoned Obama operatives who spoke to The Daily Beast concede that Sanders is likely to be a major player through the end of the primary , with several agreeing there ’ s little to no consolidation around one anointed candidate to blunt his momentum .
HE ’ S GOT NOTHING ON HUNTER … `` Ilhan Omar ’ s ex-husband Ahmed Hirsi remarries 37 days after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : That was quick !
Rep. Ilhan Omar ’ s ex-husband has remarried — just 37 days after their divorce was finalized , according to a new report Monday … Omar and her husband filed for divorce in October amid allegations she was having an affair with DC political consultant Tim Mynett .
DEM DONOR FACES LADY JUSTICE … `` Harvey Weinstein Has Been Charged In Los Angeles For Rape And Sexual Assault , '' via BUZZFEED : Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was indicted Monday for raping one woman and sexually assaulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day his sex assault trial kicked off in New York City … Los Angeles prosecutors are recommending bail be set at $ 5 million .
If convicted of all charges , Weinstein faces up to 28 years in state prison .
RUSSIAN INFLUENCE REVEALED … `` AOC Likes Tweet From Russian State Media Claiming Iran Doesn ’ t Target Civilians , '' by WFB ’ s Alex Griswold : Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) liked a tweet from a Russian-funded operative [ Ranika Khalek ] claiming that Iran , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorism , does not target civilians … Khalek is a host for In the Now , a viral media company funded by the Russian government that was kicked off Facebook for its pro-Russia propaganda .
She previously served as an editor for anti-Israel site The Electronic Intifada but resigned after speaking at a pro-Bashar al-Assad conference in Syria .
NO LEG ROOM NEEDED … `` Qassem Soleimani ’ s dead body flies coach back to Iran , '' via NY POST : The remains of Qassem Soleimani , the Iranian military commander killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparently placed in a cardboard box and flown out of Iraq across rows of passenger seats , new video shows … Soleimani ’ s coffin was laid across rows of passenger seats instead of transported in the cargo hold .
TRUMP MAKES AYATOLLAH WEEP … `` Iranian leader ’ s tears a sign of respect for slain general , '' via AP : In a rare display of emotion from the typically reserved and measured supreme leader of Iran , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cried openly Monday at the funeral of slain Gen. Qassem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with whom he shared a deep bond … The funeral showcased the depth of the bond Khamenei had with the slain general and gave insight into how Soleimani ’ s death is being felt personally by the supreme leader .
It could also impact how Khamenei responds to the United States .
SHOT … `` U.S .
Journalists Mourn Death of Iranian Terrorist , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : The U.S. media 's peculiar ( albeit predictable ) behavior in response President Donald Trump 's successful assassination of Iranian Gen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage of the slain terrorist 's funeral in Tehran … ABC News 's Martha Raddatz donned a ( mandatory ) headscarf and walked among the `` massive and emotional '' crowds of mourners .
She declared that the Iranian people were `` united against America . ''
CHASER … `` NYT Reporter : Defense Department ‘ Quite Tragically ’ Good at Killing People , '' by WFB ’ s David Rutz : `` This is something that the American Defense Department , quite tragically almost , is very good at doing .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon reporter Helene Cooper said during an appearance on `` The Daily '' podcast .
`` And we had been tracking for more than a decade , almost two decades , Qassem Soleimani . ''
NO RESPECT … `` CNBC Mistakes Andrew Yang for GOP Venture Capitalist , '' by WFB ’ s Collin Anderson : CNBC on Monday mistook Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang for Geoff Yang , a venture capitalist and Republican donor who has appeared on CNBC several times … Though Andrew Yang 's supporters quickly welcomed Geoff to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an endorsement from the venture capitalist anytime soon .
CNN HARDEST HIT … `` Michael Avenatti Loses Bid to Have Two Nike Extortion Charges Tossed , '' via BLOOMBERG : Celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti lost his fight to dismiss two of the counts in the criminal case accusing him of trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike Inc. … '' The indictment adequately alleges that Avenatti engaged in ‘ wrongful ’ conduct , because it pleads facts demonstrating that Avenatti used threats of economic and reputational harm to demand millions of dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which he had no plausible claim of right , '' Judge Paul Gardephe said Monday .
TOM HANKS , CALL YOUR AGENT … `` The Whiteness of ‘ Toy Story 4 ' , '' via THR : TS4 ’ s main family lives in a big , brightly lit house in an ivory utopia ; its daughter sleeps in a plush room packed with a U.S. Treasury ’ s worth of gizmos ; they drive around in a gas-guzzling RV , stopping for carnivals and carnies that would be right at home in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prejudice , money and unemployment never seem to cross anyone ’ s mind .
LO $ T CAU $ E … `` Human Cash Incinerator Jon Ossoff Raises Another $ 1 Million in Georgia Senate Race , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : Ossoff , 32 , is trying to establish himself as the frontrunner in a Democratic primary that features three other candidates vying to challenge incumbent senator David Perdue ( R. , Ga. ) in 2020 .
The doe-eyed failure raised more than $ 800,000 in the first three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but remains a long shot to win the statewide election .
The goods news for Ossoff is that he will actually be able to vote for himself this year .
The candidate could not do so in 2017 because he did not live in Georgia 's Sixth Congressional District .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 1,122 .
Come back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ t have it ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ @ @

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
MENSHEVIKS PREPARE FOR LAST STAND … "Democratic Leaders Willing to Risk Party Damage to Stop Bernie Sanders," via NYT: Since Mr. Sanders’s victory in Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, the Times has interviewed 93 party officials—all of them superdelegates … and found overwhelming opposition to handing the Vermont senator the nomination if he arrived with the most delegates but fell short of a majority …
Since Mr. Sanders won Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, four donors have approached former representative Steve Israel of New York to ask if he can suggest someone to run a super PAC aimed at blocking Mr. Sanders. He declined their offer.
THE NEW NEW DEMOCRATS … "2020 Dem Plans Reflect Party of the ‘Professional Class’," by WFB’s Charles Fain Lehman: The [Manhattan Institute] report examines the distributive impacts of major proposals, including Medicare for All, student debt forgiveness, and the repeal of key components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). It argues that while Democratic candidates talk big about supporting workers and the poor, these programs primarily serve the interests of the wealthy …
Long branded as representatives of the working class, the Democratic Party has come to appeal primarily to the college-educated, often affluent residents of urban America, data indicate.
MIKE GOT IT DONE … "Bloomberg Locked Up Nearly Half a Million People on Marijuana Charges," by WFB’s Yuichiro Kakutani: The administrations of [Michael] Bloomberg's three predecessors … collectively arrested 226,000 people, or 25 people daily, for the same charge over a 24-year period between 1978 and 2001. During Bloomberg's tenure, approximately 471,000 people were arrested on possession charges …
The possession arrests for Bloomberg's tenure peaked in 2011 when the police hauled in more than 50,000 New Yorkers.
DOWNLOAD UNAVAILABLE IN WISCONSIN … "Coming to a podcast near you: Hillary Clinton," via POLITICO: The former first lady, secretary of State, and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee is planning to launch a new audio program in late spring, just in time for her to have a powerful new megaphone during the 2020 election …
Clinton’s show will feature her in conversation with a brand-name guest, who might be drawn from world leaders and politicians, of course, but also celebrities, authors and perhaps famous chefs.
BOOK THROWN … "Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh sentenced to 3 years for ‘Healthy Holly’ children’s book fraud scheme," via BALTIMORE SUN: [Pugh] told reporters: "This is not the last you’ll see of Catherine Pugh" …
Pugh’s political fall began in March when the Baltimore Sun revealed she had entered into a no-bid deal with the University of Maryland Medical System, where Pugh sat on the board of directors, to buy 100,000 copies of her sloppily self-published "Healthy Holly" books for $500,000.
YANG HOLDS OUT FOR BETTER OFFER … "Michael Bloomberg’s Campaign Sought Andrew Yang’s Backing, Floated Vice- Presidential Slot," via WSJ: Aides to the former New York City mayor reached out to discuss ways the two entrepreneurs-turned-politicians could work together as Mr. Bloomberg seeks the Democratic nomination, these people said.
Mr. Yang, who dropped out of the race earlier this month, didn’t commit to join forces, as he considers his own political future, a third person familiar with the discussions said.
NO SURRENDER … "Congressional Republicans Warn Trump Against Inking Peace Deal With Taliban," by WFB’s Adam Kredo: The lawmakers … are demanding they receive assurances the administration "will not place the security of the American people into the hands of the Taliban" …
The lawmakers are also demanding the release of so-called secret annexes in the draft agreement that they claim establish a set of unknown side deals with the Taliban, a move reminiscent of the Obama administration's secret agreements with Iran when the Iran nuclear deal was being negotiated.
TEHRAN MARY … "Iran Vice President Is One of 7 Officials to Contract Coronavirus," via NYT: The disclosure came a day after a cabinet meeting in which she was in close contact with other government leaders, including [Hassan] Rouhani. A photo posted by a BBC Persia reporter on Twitter showed she had been sitting a few yards from the president.
[Masoumeh] Ebtekar, one of four vice presidents, was known to Americans as "Mary" during the Tehran hostage crisis four decades ago, when, as a young revolutionary, she was a spokeswoman for the captors of the 52 Americans held at the United States Embassy.
PICTURE OF COWARDICE … "Sony World Photography Awards Removes Hong Kong Protest Images," via HYPERALLERGIC: Since pro-democracy protests prompted by the Hong Kong government’s now-scrapped extradition bill erupted across the city in spring 2019, China has tightened its grip on the media …
Now, some speculate WPO yielded to pressure from China to take down the photographs, especially because other entries featuring arguably graphic or politically sensitive content have not faced a similar fate in past competitions.
THE REAL VICTIMS … "Mark Halperin Says Murderers Are Treated More Fairly Than Canceled People," via MOTHER JONES: "I haven’t had a job interview in two years," Halperin said, adding that he has applied to work at restaurants and Target, trying to get health insurance for his three-year-old son …
When [asked to] differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate ways that he had been held accountable for his behavior … he said victims deserve "top priority" but complained again that there isn’t a mechanism for reintegrating canceled people.
THIS IS CNN … "Sasse Criticizes CNN for Referring to a Baby as a ‘Fetus That Was Born’," via CNN: "The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is about babies who have already been born," [Sen. Ben] Sasse said to the Washington Free Beacon. "I’m glad CNN finally made the correction, but there’s no reason this needed to take two days. Planned Parenthood desperately wants to misrepresent this bipartisan, pro-babies bill, and unfortunately too many reporters have bought their spin hook, line, and sinker."
PUNK IS DEAD … "Billy Idol is helping de Blasio take on idling cars in new campaign," via NY POST: Billy Idol has a new Rebel Yell: helping Mayor Bill de Blasio fight fume-spewing vehicles that idle on Big Apple streets …
The campaign will also publicize the city’s 2018 "Citizens Air Complaint Program," where individuals who see a bus or delivery truck idling for longer than four minutes can file a complaint and collect a 25 percent bounty off the fine, worth $87.50.
"The First Postmodern Pandemic," via WFB’s Matthew Continetti: We were better off when the media focused on impeachment. Now that it is interested in coronavirus, a familiar pattern will set in. Data will be publicized without the slightest sense of proportion. The most outrageous scenarios will receive the most attention. Speculation will be paraded as fact …
The Washington Post transcribes Democratic Party talking points when it suggests Vice President Mike Pence is incapable of overseeing the government's efforts because he opposes needle-sharing programs. Among the reasons [President Donald] Trump is said to have weakened public health? He defunded Planned Parenthood.
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-07--March For Our Lives Raised Nearly All Funding from Secret Six-Figure Donations

The gun-control group responsible for a 2018 march on Washington , D.C. , raised the vast majority of its funds from undisclosed donations over six figures , a recently released tax document shows .
The March For Our Lives Action Fund , a 501 ( c ) ( 4 ) `` social welfare '' organization launched in the aftermath of the deadly 2018 shootings at Florida 's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School , is bankrolled almost entirely by large donations in excess of $ 100,000 .
The group reported $ 17,879,150 in contributions and grants over the course of 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ninety-five percent of those contributions came from 36 donations between $ 100,000 and $ 3,504,717—a grand total of $ 16,922,331 .
The group 's reliance on a small number of large donations raises questions about its ability to turn rally-goers and supporters into donors .
It also provides ammunition to gun-rights activists who have long cast the gun-control movement as driven not by grassroots supporters , but by billionaire benefactors like Michael Bloomberg .
The group 's 990 tax form shows another 38 donations totaling between $ 5,000 and $ 100,000 , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of revenue .
The remainder , just 0.5 percent of total receipts , came from those giving less than $ 5,000 .
While March For Our Lives is not required to disclose its donors under federal law , some businessmen and Hollywood celebrities vowed to provide generous contributions for the group 's 2018 march on Washington , D.C. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and billionaire businessman Eli Broad both gave $ 1,000,000 , two of six donors to do so .
George Clooney and wife Amal Clooney gave $ 500,000 , as did fashion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went primarily toward its March 24 , 2018 , march on Washington , D.C. , which garnered several hundred thousand attendees and featured speakers pushing for new gun bans and magazine limits .
The event cemented March For Our Lives as one of the most prominent and radical gun-control groups in the country .
The group has since called for confiscating up to 117 million firearms from Americans as part of its highly publicized `` A Peace Plan for a Safer America . ''
The final cost for the group 's 2018 march @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million appears to have gone to Harbinger LLC , a D.C.-based marketing agency , for production services .
The group later embarked on a 24-state , 60-day , $ 4 million summer tour to educate and register young voters .
An additional $ 3.8 million was put toward gun-control advocacy efforts , which were `` instrumental in ensuring the passage of over 50 pieces of gun violence legislation , at the state and federal level , '' the forms claim .
Travel grants were also cut by the nonprofit to roughly 20 organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , National Urban League , InspireNOLA Charter Schools , and the PICO National Network .
The PICO National Network , which has since changed its name to Faith in Action , has worked in conjunction with liberal groups like the Center for Popular Democracy to quietly target Republican politicians up for election .
Millions more were spent on independent contractors .
Soze Productions Inc. , a New York-based group , was paid $ 1.6 million for tours and production services .
Michael Skolnik—liberal activist and founding partner of the Soze Agency , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the CEO of Soze Productions by New York state business records .
Other groups receiving money included Hand in Hand Inc. , a Los Angeles-based company with practically no online presence , which was paid $ 1.25 million for production services .
California business records show the group was launched in June 2018 and is led by Hollywood producer Evan Prager .
Law firm Loeb & Loeb LLP was paid $ 932,000 for legal services ; the group finished 2018 with $ 2.4 million in assets .
K2 Intelligence LLC , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was paid $ 2.1 million for security services .
March For Our Lives did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story .

The gun-control group responsible for a 2018 march on Washington, D.C., raised the vast majority of its funds from undisclosed donations over six figures, a recently released tax document shows.
The March For Our Lives Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) "social welfare" organization launched in the aftermath of the deadly 2018 shootings at Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, is bankrolled almost entirely by large donations in excess of $100,000. The group reported $17,879,150 in contributions and grants over the course of 2018, its first year of operations. Ninety-five percent of those contributions came from 36 donations between $100,000 and $3,504,717—a grand total of $16,922,331.
The group's reliance on a small number of large donations raises questions about its ability to turn rally-goers and supporters into donors. It also provides ammunition to gun-rights activists who have long cast the gun-control movement as driven not by grassroots supporters, but by billionaire benefactors like Michael Bloomberg.
The group's 990 tax form shows another 38 donations totaling between $5,000 and $100,000, which together accounted for an additional $876,114 of revenue. The remainder, just 0.5 percent of total receipts, came from those giving less than $5,000.
While March For Our Lives is not required to disclose its donors under federal law, some businessmen and Hollywood celebrities vowed to provide generous contributions for the group's 2018 march on Washington, D.C. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and billionaire businessman Eli Broad both gave $1,000,000, two of six donors to do so. George Clooney and wife Amal Clooney gave $500,000, as did fashion company Gucci.
The group's spending went primarily toward its March 24, 2018, march on Washington, D.C., which garnered several hundred thousand attendees and featured speakers pushing for new gun bans and magazine limits. The event cemented March For Our Lives as one of the most prominent and radical gun-control groups in the country. The group has since called for confiscating up to 117 million firearms from Americans as part of its highly publicized "A Peace Plan for a Safer America."
The final cost for the group's 2018 march was $7.8 million. $4.7 million appears to have gone to Harbinger LLC, a D.C.-based marketing agency, for production services. The group later embarked on a 24-state, 60-day, $4 million summer tour to educate and register young voters.
An additional $3.8 million was put toward gun-control advocacy efforts, which were "instrumental in ensuring the passage of over 50 pieces of gun violence legislation, at the state and federal level," the forms claim.
Travel grants were also cut by the nonprofit to roughly 20 organizations, including the Center for American Progress, National Urban League, InspireNOLA Charter Schools, and the PICO National Network. The PICO National Network, which has since changed its name to Faith in Action, has worked in conjunction with liberal groups like the Center for Popular Democracy to quietly target Republican politicians up for election.
Millions more were spent on independent contractors. Soze Productions Inc., a New York-based group, was paid $1.6 million for tours and production services. Michael Skolnik—liberal activist and founding partner of the Soze Agency, which works with numerous left-wing political organizations—is listed as the CEO of Soze Productions by New York state business records.
Other groups receiving money included Hand in Hand Inc., a Los Angeles-based company with practically no online presence, which was paid $1.25 million for production services. California business records show the group was launched in June 2018 and is led by Hollywood producer Evan Prager. Law firm Loeb & Loeb LLP was paid $932,000 for legal services; the group finished 2018 with $2.4 million in assets. K2 Intelligence LLC, a New York-based investigative and cyber defense company, was paid $2.1 million for security services.
March For Our Lives did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story.


freebeacon--2020-01-07--As Mayor, Pete Buttigieg Saw His Own Street Repaved

Top aides to former South Bend , Ind.
, mayor Pete Buttigieg expressed interest in the repavement of a small segment of road directly in front of the mayor ’ s home shortly before the city repaved the street in August 2017 .
Though his street was not initially slated for repavement by the city in the summer of 2017 , emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show that Buttigieg ’ s then-chief of staff Angela Kouters expressed concern that Buttigieg 's home would not benefit from road maintenance .
`` What ’ s going on with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t on the latest paving list , '' Kouters wrote in an email to the city 's then-deputy director of public works , Jitin Kain .
Kouters sent the email two days before the city released its paving schedule .
Kain indicated that he had `` mentioned to the mayor that north shore was being added , '' and the work in front of the historic home that Buttigieg purchased in 2009 was completed 10 days later , city records show .
South Bend records indicate that the city itself had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in good condition at the time it was repaved .
The portion of the road in front of his home was in better condition than nearby blocks on the same street that were not repaved in 2017 , according to city records .
The Buttigieg campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
Eric Horvath , South Bend ’ s public works director , said that Buttigieg ’ s block of North Shore Drive `` was added to the paving list by the Street Department . ''
`` When Ms. Kouters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drive added , that is when she asked about the paving and said , ‘ It wasn ’ t on the latest paving list.
’ … She was surprised to see it added , '' he told the Washington Free Beacon .
Neither Kouters nor Kain responded to requests for comment .
Buttigieg was elected mayor of South Bend in 2011 and spent much of his tenure in office working to revitalize the college town 's economy .
He championed a `` smart streets '' initiative that eliminated one-way roads , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s downtown .
Other streets across the city were simply repaved .
South Bend uses the Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating ( PASER ) scale , a 10-point rating system used to evaluate pavement conditions , according to a press release .
Roads that receive a score between one and four are recommended for repaving .
A full list of street assessments by South Bend in March 2017 shows the portion of North Shore directly in front of Buttigieg 's home , stretching from Michigan St. to Lafayette Blvd.
, was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in `` good '' condition .
Horvath , South Bend ’ s public works director , emphasized that PASER ratings are `` only one part '' of the decision-making process .
He added that it is not uncommon to make additions to the paving list during the season .
The city ’ s press release cites only to the PASER ratings .
`` I want to be very clear when I tell you that the Mayor had nothing to do with generating the paving list , '' he said .
South Bend ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent on `` road improvements , '' with the city ’ s internal paving list indicating that 130,335 square yards of road were paved at a cost of $ 11.43 per square yard .
Taxpayers spent more than $ 45,000 to pave the 0.2 mile stretch of North Shore in front of Buttigieg 's home .
A draft press release circulated among Department of Public Works employees indicated that Buttigieg ’ s block was repaved because it was `` initially left out when other portions of the street were paved in 2014 '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocks were repaved that year and rated in excellent condition .
Other blocks on the street , however , were not repaved and remained in worse condition than that of the mayor 's street .
Buttigieg 's street was in better condition than 31 of the 32 roads paved during the same round of road work in 2017 , according to the city ’ s assessment of street conditions .
The roads repaved by the city in 2017 held an average rating of 3.6 .
Buttigieg bought the home on North Shore Drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling the South Bend Tribune in 2011 that he used to `` drive by the stately , yet rundown and vacant , historic home on North Shore Drive and cringe , '' hoping `` someone would buy it and restore it to its glory . ''
`` You can only look at something for so long and feel frustrated before you just have to get in and do something yourself , '' Buttigieg said .
His purchase has proved to be a good investment .
While the median home value in South Bend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Association of Realtors , Buttigieg , who has spent time renovating the house , has seen his property value more than double to an estimated $ 262,300 since 2009 , according to the association 's estimate .

Top aides to former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg expressed interest in the repavement of a small segment of road directly in front of the mayor’s home shortly before the city repaved the street in August 2017.
Though his street was not initially slated for repavement by the city in the summer of 2017, emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show that Buttigieg’s then-chief of staff Angela Kouters expressed concern that Buttigieg's home would not benefit from road maintenance.
"What’s going on with the paving on North Shore? It wasn’t on the latest paving list," Kouters wrote in an email to the city's then-deputy director of public works, Jitin Kain. Kouters sent the email two days before the city released its paving schedule.
Kain indicated that he had "mentioned to the mayor that north shore was being added," and the work in front of the historic home that Buttigieg purchased in 2009 was completed 10 days later, city records show. South Bend records indicate that the city itself had deemed Buttigieg’s street to be in good condition at the time it was repaved. The portion of the road in front of his home was in better condition than nearby blocks on the same street that were not repaved in 2017, according to city records.
The Buttigieg campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Eric Horvath, South Bend’s public works director, said that Buttigieg’s block of North Shore Drive "was added to the paving list by the Street Department."
"When Ms. Kouters saw the new list with North Shore Drive added, that is when she asked about the paving and said, ‘It wasn’t on the latest paving list.’ … She was surprised to see it added," he told the Washington Free Beacon.
Neither Kouters nor Kain responded to requests for comment.
Buttigieg was elected mayor of South Bend in 2011 and spent much of his tenure in office working to revitalize the college town's economy. He championed a "smart streets" initiative that eliminated one-way roads, as well as narrowing and beautifying roadways in the city’s downtown. Other streets across the city were simply repaved.
South Bend uses the Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER) scale, a 10-point rating system used to evaluate pavement conditions, according to a press release. Roads that receive a score between one and four are recommended for repaving. A full list of street assessments by South Bend in March 2017 shows the portion of North Shore directly in front of Buttigieg's home, stretching from Michigan St. to Lafayette Blvd., was rated a six, indicating it was in "good" condition.
Horvath, South Bend’s public works director, emphasized that PASER ratings are "only one part" of the decision-making process. He added that it is not uncommon to make additions to the paving list during the season. The city’s press release cites only to the PASER ratings.
"I want to be very clear when I tell you that the Mayor had nothing to do with generating the paving list," he said.
South Bend’s 2017 budget shows $1.49 million spent on "road improvements," with the city’s internal paving list indicating that 130,335 square yards of road were paved at a cost of $11.43 per square yard. Taxpayers spent more than $45,000 to pave the 0.2 mile stretch of North Shore in front of Buttigieg's home.
A draft press release circulated among Department of Public Works employees indicated that Buttigieg’s block was repaved because it was "initially left out when other portions of the street were paved in 2014" due to forthcoming sewer work.
Neighboring blocks were repaved that year and rated in excellent condition. Other blocks on the street, however, were not repaved and remained in worse condition than that of the mayor's street.
Buttigieg's street was in better condition than 31 of the 32 roads paved during the same round of road work in 2017, according to the city’s assessment of street conditions. The roads repaved by the city in 2017 held an average rating of 3.6.
Buttigieg bought the home on North Shore Drive in 2009 as a renovation project, telling the South Bend Tribune in 2011 that he used to "drive by the stately, yet rundown and vacant, historic home on North Shore Drive and cringe," hoping "someone would buy it and restore it to its glory."
"You can only look at something for so long and feel frustrated before you just have to get in and do something yourself," Buttigieg said.
His purchase has proved to be a good investment. While the median home value in South Bend is $125,000, according to the National Association of Realtors, Buttigieg, who has spent time renovating the house, has seen his property value more than double to an estimated $262,300 since 2009, according to the association's estimate.


Beacon Extra 1/6/20

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
FOR IT BEFORE HE WAS AGAINST IT … `` In 1996 Interview , Joe Biden Called Iranian Bombing ‘ Act of War , ’ Called for Tough Response , '' by WFB ’ s Brent Scher : `` [ The United States ] could take whatever action it deems appropriate , '' Biden said at the time .
`` They yield their sovereignty if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … it 's an act of war . ''
The strong stance differs greatly from his response to Thursday night 's deadly strike on Soleimani—itself a response to Iran 's attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad that killed an American contractor and wounded American troops .
DANCES WITH WHACKOS … `` The Left criticized Elizabeth Warren for calling Soleimani a ‘ murderer , ' so she issued a new statement focused on attacking Trump , '' via EXAMINER : When news broke that Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was killed , Sen. Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ balance by acknowledging that he was a `` murderer '' while also attacking the decision to kill him as `` reckless . ''
… Liberals quickly jumped on Warren 's comments , attacking her for employing the language used by hawks to justify war … She then released a follow-up statement stripped of any criticism of Soleimani , and instead focused exclusively on attacking President Trump for an attack that she rebranded as an `` assassination . ''
DEMS CALL FOR SECRET BALLOT … `` Ted Cruz Dares Democrats , Offers Senate Resolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WIRE : Per the senator ’ s aides who spoke to Fox News on Friday , Cruz ’ s resolution is `` structured and worded the same way as a 2011 resolution commending the Obama administration '' for locating and eliminating terror mastermind and Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden … Sens .
Dick Durbin ( D. , Ill. ) and Tim Kaine ( D. , Va. ) are reportedly drafting their own competing resolution to Cruz ’ s , also condemning the Trump administration ’ s decision to engage in a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D THINK THE $ 150 BILLION WOULD HAVE COVERED THIS … `` Soleimani funeral procession eulogist puts prize on Trump ’ s head , '' via AL ARABIYA : The eulogist at the funeral procession of prominent Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iran put an 80-million-dollar prize on U.S. President Donald Trump ’ s head on live state TV .
`` We are 80 million Iranians , if each one of us puts aside one American dollar , we will have 80 million American dollars , and we will reward anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head with that amount , '' he said , addressing a large crowd in Iran ’ s north-eastern city of Mashhad .
WAS THERE A MONEY BACK GUARANTEE ?
… `` Iran abandons nuclear deal over U.S. killing general , '' via PBS : The announcement came Sunday night after another Iranian official said it would consider taking even harsher steps over the U.S. killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Friday in Baghdad .
State TV cited a statement by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ’ s administration saying the country will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of stockpiled enriched uranium as well as research and development in its nuclear activities .
FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE , PUPPET MASTER PULLS A FINAL STRING … `` Iraq Calls for Foreign Troops to Leave After U.S .
Killing of Iranian Commander , '' via REUTERS : The Iraqi parliament passed a resolution calling for an end to all foreign troop presence , reflecting the fears of many in Iraq that the strike could engulf them in another war between two bigger powers long at odds in Iraq and across the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the government , this one is likely to be heeded : Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdihad earlier called on parliament to end foreign troop presence as soon as possible .
MOST POPULAR PERVERT … `` Ricky Gervais ’ Golden Globes Monologue Mocks Hollywood ’ s Jeffrey Epstein Ties , '' via DAILY BEAST : Gervais then plugged his own Netflix show After Life , in which he plays a man who wants to kill himself .
`` OK , spoiler alert , season two is on the way , so in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself , '' he said .
`` Just like Jeffrey Epstein . ''
As the crowd groaned , he added , `` Shut up !
I know he ’ s your friend , but I don ’ t care .
You had to make your own way here on your own plane , didn ’ t you ?
! ''
… '' Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg , '' he continued .
`` So if you win , come up , accept your little award , thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ f— off . ''
GO , BARI , GO … `` Weiss : Jews Do Not Cause Anti-Semitism , '' by WFB ’ s Cameron Cawthorne : New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss on Sunday said the national media have `` absolutely '' been slow in their coverage of the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States … She noted that it `` took two years for the mainstream press '' to cover the ties between Linda Sarsour—a former leader of the Women 's March and surrogate for presidential candidate Sen. Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louis Farrakhan , the leader of the Nation of Islam and an infamous anti-Semite .
HEY TEHRAN , NEED A QB ?
… `` After Soleimani death , Colin Kaepernick decries U.S. ‘ terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people ' , '' via FOX NEWS : In a separate tweet , Kaepernick decried `` American imperialism '' and its `` policing and plundering of the nonwhite world . ''
`` America has always sanctioned and besieged Black and Brown bodies both at home and abroad , '' he wrote .
`` America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imperialism , to enforce its policing and plundering of the nonwhite world . ''
TECHNICAL FOUL … `` Critics of Warriors coach 's Iran rant point to NBA 's China silence , '' via FOX BUSINESS : Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr faced backlash for telling Americans not to `` believe our government when it comes to matters of war , '' with many critics juxtaposing it with the NBA 's silence on human rights abuses in China , one of its most lucrative partners … Kerr previously caught flak when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision not to air two NBA games—a response to a league general manager expressing support for Hong Kong protesters .
RISKY BUSINESS … `` Intrepid Reporter Stephanie Ruhle Walks the Plank ( to Success ) at NBC , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : The New York Post reports that Ruhle has been named a senior business correspondent for MSNBC parent company NBC News and will soon make regular appearances on the network 's flagship programs , including Today and NBC Nightly News … The promotion was announced less than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deeply reported story on Ruhle 's unusually close relationship with Kevin Plank , the billionaire founder and chairman of athletic apparel company Under Armour .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 1,121 .
Come back , Joe !
`` You know who really doesn ’ t have it ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Iran continues to seethe, the 1990s come back to haunt Joe again, and Kaepernick seeks Tehran's open QB position
Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
FOR IT BEFORE HE WAS AGAINST IT … "In 1996 Interview, Joe Biden Called Iranian Bombing ‘Act of War,’ Called for Tough Response," by WFB’s Brent Scher: "[The United States] could take whatever action it deems appropriate," Biden said at the time. "They yield their sovereignty if they are [behind the attack] … it's an act of war."
The strong stance differs greatly from his response to Thursday night's deadly strike on Soleimani—itself a response to Iran's attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad that killed an American contractor and wounded American troops.
DANCES WITH WHACKOS … "The Left criticized Elizabeth Warren for calling Soleimani a 'murderer,' so she issued a new statement focused on attacking Trump," via EXAMINER: When news broke that Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was killed, Sen. Elizabeth Warren thought she was striking a careful balance by acknowledging that he was a "murderer" while also attacking the decision to kill him as "reckless." …
Liberals quickly jumped on Warren's comments, attacking her for employing the language used by hawks to justify war … She then released a follow-up statement stripped of any criticism of Soleimani, and instead focused exclusively on attacking President Trump for an attack that she rebranded as an "assassination."
DEMS CALL FOR SECRET BALLOT … "Ted Cruz Dares Democrats, Offers Senate Resolution Praising Soleimani Mission," via DAILY WIRE: Per the senator’s aides who spoke to Fox News on Friday, Cruz’s resolution is "structured and worded the same way as a 2011 resolution commending the Obama administration" for locating and eliminating terror mastermind and Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden …
Sens. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) and Tim Kaine (D., Va.) are reportedly drafting their own competing resolution to Cruz’s, also condemning the Trump administration’s decision to engage in a "war" with Iran.
GET A ROOM …
YOU’D THINK THE $150 BILLION WOULD HAVE COVERED THIS … "Soleimani funeral procession eulogist puts prize on Trump’s head," via AL ARABIYA: The eulogist at the funeral procession of prominent Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in Iran put an 80-million-dollar prize on U.S. President Donald Trump’s head on live state TV.
"We are 80 million Iranians, if each one of us puts aside one American dollar, we will have 80 million American dollars, and we will reward anyone who brings us [Trump]’s head with that amount," he said, addressing a large crowd in Iran’s north-eastern city of Mashhad.
WAS THERE A MONEY BACK GUARANTEE? … "Iran abandons nuclear deal over U.S. killing general," via PBS: The announcement came Sunday night after another Iranian official said it would consider taking even harsher steps over the U.S. killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani on Friday in Baghdad. State TV cited a statement by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s administration saying the country will not observe limitations on its enrichment, the amount of stockpiled enriched uranium as well as research and development in its nuclear activities.
FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE, PUPPET MASTER PULLS A FINAL STRING … "Iraq Calls for Foreign Troops to Leave After U.S. Killing of Iranian Commander," via REUTERS: The Iraqi parliament passed a resolution calling for an end to all foreign troop presence, reflecting the fears of many in Iraq that the strike could engulf them in another war between two bigger powers long at odds in Iraq and across the region …
While such resolutions are not binding on the government, this one is likely to be heeded: Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdihad earlier called on parliament to end foreign troop presence as soon as possible.
MOST POPULAR PERVERT … "Ricky Gervais’ Golden Globes Monologue Mocks Hollywood’s Jeffrey Epstein Ties," via DAILY BEAST: Gervais then plugged his own Netflix show After Life, in which he plays a man who wants to kill himself. "OK, spoiler alert, season two is on the way, so in the end obviously he didn’t kill himself," he said. "Just like Jeffrey Epstein." As the crowd groaned, he added, "Shut up! I know he’s your friend, but I don’t care. You had to make your own way here on your own plane, didn’t you?!" …
"Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg," he continued. "So if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent and your god, and f— off."
GO, BARI, GO … "Weiss: Jews Do Not Cause Anti-Semitism," by WFB’s Cameron Cawthorne: New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss on Sunday said the national media have "absolutely" been slow in their coverage of the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States …
She noted that it "took two years for the mainstream press" to cover the ties between Linda Sarsour—a former leader of the Women's March and surrogate for presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.)—and Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam and an infamous anti-Semite.
HEY TEHRAN, NEED A QB? … "After Soleimani death, Colin Kaepernick decries U.S. 'terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people'," via FOX NEWS: In a separate tweet, Kaepernick decried "American imperialism" and its "policing and plundering of the nonwhite world."
"America has always sanctioned and besieged Black and Brown bodies both at home and abroad," he wrote. "America militarism is the weapon wielded by American imperialism, to enforce its policing and plundering of the nonwhite world."
TECHNICAL FOUL … "Critics of Warriors coach's Iran rant point to NBA's China silence," via FOX BUSINESS: Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr faced backlash for telling Americans not to "believe our government when it comes to matters of war," with many critics juxtaposing it with the NBA's silence on human rights abuses in China, one of its most lucrative partners …
Kerr previously caught flak when he declined to comment on China's decision not to air two NBA games—a response to a league general manager expressing support for Hong Kong protesters.
RISKY BUSINESS … "Intrepid Reporter Stephanie Ruhle Walks the Plank (to Success) at NBC," by WFB’s Andrew Stiles: The New York Post reports that Ruhle has been named a senior business correspondent for MSNBC parent company NBC News and will soon make regular appearances on the network's flagship programs, including Today and NBC Nightly News …
The promotion was announced less than a year after the Wall Street Journal published a deeply reported story on Ruhle's unusually close relationship with Kevin Plank, the billionaire founder and chairman of athletic apparel company Under Armour.
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW: 1,121. Come back, Joe!
"You know who really doesn’t have it? Joe Biden." —Former President Barack Obama
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-07--Sanders: Biden Is Too Low Energy to Defeat Trump

Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) said on Monday former vice president Joe Biden wo n't be able `` to bring forth the energy we need to defeat Trump '' as a presidential candidate .
Sanders said defeating Trump requires having a huge voter turnout and exciting young voters and that Biden 's record will not accomplish either of these goals .
`` Joe Biden voted for the disastrous trade agreements , like NAFTA , and permanent normal trade relations with China , which cost us millions of jobs .
You think that 's going to play well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said during an appearance on CNN 's Anderson Cooper 360 .
`` Joe Biden has been on the floor of the Senate , talking about the need to cut Social Security or Medicare or Medicaid .
Joe Biden pushed a bankruptcy bill , which has caused enormous financial problems for working families , '' he continued .
`` To get turnout , you need energy and excitement .
I do n't think that that kind of record is going to bring forth the energy we need to defeat Trump . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Biden as polls show the Vermont senator in a three-way tie with him and former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg for first place in Iowa .
Sanders also holds a slim margin over Biden in New Hampshire .

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) said on Monday former vice president Joe Biden won't be able "to bring forth the energy we need to defeat Trump" as a presidential candidate.
Sanders said defeating Trump requires having a huge voter turnout and exciting young voters and that Biden's record will not accomplish either of these goals.
"Joe Biden voted for the disastrous trade agreements, like NAFTA, and permanent normal trade relations with China, which cost us millions of jobs. You think that's going to play well in Michigan or Wisconsin or Pennsylvania?" he said during an appearance on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360.
"Joe Biden has been on the floor of the Senate, talking about the need to cut Social Security or Medicare or Medicaid. Joe Biden pushed a bankruptcy bill, which has caused enormous financial problems for working families," he continued. "To get turnout, you need energy and excitement. I don't think that that kind of record is going to bring forth the energy we need to defeat Trump."
The Sanders campaign has turned its focus on Biden as polls show the Vermont senator in a three-way tie with him and former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg for first place in Iowa. Sanders also holds a slim margin over Biden in New Hampshire.


freebeacon--2020-01-08--Dem Sen: Trump Is on Verge of 9/11-Style Attack on Iran

Sen. Ed Markey ( D. , Mass . )
said Tuesday that President Donald Trump is getting close to launching an attack reminiscent of 9/11 on Iran , citing Trump 's threat to retaliate for any further Iranian attacks .
`` When al Qaeda attacked us on September 11 , 2001 , which targets did they select ? ''
Markey said during a speech on the Senate floor .
`` They selected the World Trade Center , the symbol of capitalism in the United States .
They selected the Pentagon , the symbol of our defense . ''
In Markey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution opposing the targeting of cultural sites because Iran may imitate `` our reaction '' to being attacked on 9/11 .
`` We have a choice to make right now out here on the floor of the United States Senate , '' he said .
`` And that is to make a statement before we do that to the Iranians , because we ourselves experienced it , and we know what our reaction was . ''
`` They will rise up in a way that will make it impossible to reconcile .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Middle East . ''
Trump 's threat came in the wake of a drone strike on Iranian general Qassem Soleimani , the terror leader that the Iranian regime is now honoring as a martyr .
For months , Iran escalated tensions with the United States by downing a U.S. drone and by having its proxies storm the United States ' Iraqi embassy , and last week Trump ordered the strike on Soleimani .
Democratic lawmakers have speculated Trump authorized the strike in order to distract from his impending impeachment trial .
Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a list of 52 potential targets in Iran , adding that the sites have strategic and cultural significance .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper have stated that any military action against Iran would be lawful , although Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif accused Trump of gearing up to commit war crimes .

Sen. Ed Markey (D., Mass.) said Tuesday that President Donald Trump is getting close to launching an attack reminiscent of 9/11 on Iran, citing Trump's threat to retaliate for any further Iranian attacks.
"When al Qaeda attacked us on September 11, 2001, which targets did they select?" Markey said during a speech on the Senate floor. "They selected the World Trade Center, the symbol of capitalism in the United States. They selected the Pentagon, the symbol of our defense."
In Markey's view, Congress must support his resolution opposing the targeting of cultural sites because Iran may imitate "our reaction" to being attacked on 9/11.
"We have a choice to make right now out here on the floor of the United States Senate," he said. "And that is to make a statement before we do that to the Iranians, because we ourselves experienced it, and we know what our reaction was."
"They will rise up in a way that will make it impossible to reconcile. We will be in eternal war in the Middle East."
Trump's threat came in the wake of a drone strike on Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the terror leader that the Iranian regime is now honoring as a martyr. For months, Iran escalated tensions with the United States by downing a U.S. drone and by having its proxies storm the United States' Iraqi embassy, and last week Trump ordered the strike on Soleimani.
Democratic lawmakers have speculated Trump authorized the strike in order to distract from his impending impeachment trial.
Trump said on Twitter that the United States has a list of 52 potential targets in Iran, adding that the sites have strategic and cultural significance. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper have stated that any military action against Iran would be lawful, although Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif accused Trump of gearing up to commit war crimes.


freebeacon--2020-01-08--Attacks Underway on Multiple Locations in Iraq: U.S. Official

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – The United States believes there have been potentially multiple attacks on locations in Iraq , @ @ @ @ @ that hosts U.S. forces , a U.S. official told Reuters on Tuesday , without providing @ @ @ @ @ unclear what other sites may have been attacked .
Tensions have mounted with Iran following @ @ @ @ @ Friday that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani .
Another U.S. official , speaking on @ @ @ @ @ confirmed to Reuters earlier that a rocket attack had taken place against al Asad airbase @ @ @ @ @ other sites .
U.S. President Donald Trump visited the base in his December 2018 trip @ @ @

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States believes there have been potentially multiple attacks on locations in Iraq, including the al Asad airbase that hosts U.S. forces, a U.S. official told Reuters on Tuesday, without providing additional information.
It was unclear what other sites may have been attacked. Tensions have mounted with Iran following a U.S. drone strike on Friday that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.
Another U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, had confirmed to Reuters earlier that a rocket attack had taken place against al Asad airbase, but did not confirm other sites.
U.S. President Donald Trump visited the base in his December 2018 trip to Iraq.
Reporting by Phil Stewart, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien


freebeacon--2020-01-07--Facebook Exec: Trump Ran ‘Single Best Digital Ad Campaign I’ve Ever Seen’ in 2016

A Facebook executive who supported Hillary Clinton said Donald Trump 's 2016 campaign ran the `` single best digital ad campaign '' he 'd ever seen .
In an internal memo obtained by the New York Times , Facebook vice president Andrew Bosworth said his company 's role in Trump 's victory was not the result of Russian misinformation or the controversial use of social networking data by Cambridge Analytica , two reasons often cited by Democrats .
`` He got elected because he ran the single best digital ad campaign I 've ever seen from any advertiser , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Period . ''
`` [ Trump campaign digital media director Brad ] Parscale and Trump just did unbelievable work , '' Bosworth added .
`` They were n't running misinformation or hoaxes .
They were n't microtargeting or saying different things to different people .
They just used the tools we had to show the right creative to each person… .
That brings me to the present moment , where we have maintained the same ad policies .
It occurs to me that it very well may lead to the same result .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ see Trump defeated but warned Facebook employees against putting their thumbs on the scale , writing that to do so would be to `` become that which we fear . ''
Some media outlets portrayed Bosworth 's memo as holding Facebook alone responsible for Trump 's win .
`` A Facebook Executive Said The Platform Is Responsible For Trump ’ s Election , '' read BuzzFeed ‘ s headline on the story , with the subhead cutting off the written remarks at `` So was Facebook responsible for Donald Trump getting elected ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The Verge ( `` Facebook executive : we got Trump elected , and we should n't stop him in 2020 '' ) and CNN ( Top Facebook exec : Yes , we got Trump elected and it may happen again '' ) ran similar headlines .

A Facebook executive who supported Hillary Clinton said Donald Trump's 2016 campaign ran the "single best digital ad campaign" he'd ever seen.
In an internal memo obtained by the New York Times, Facebook vice president Andrew Bosworth said his company's role in Trump's victory was not the result of Russian misinformation or the controversial use of social networking data by Cambridge Analytica, two reasons often cited by Democrats.
"He got elected because he ran the single best digital ad campaign I've ever seen from any advertiser," Bosworth wrote on Dec. 30. "Period."
"[Trump campaign digital media director Brad] Parscale and Trump just did unbelievable work," Bosworth added. "They weren't running misinformation or hoaxes. They weren't microtargeting or saying different things to different people. They just used the tools we had to show the right creative to each person.... That brings me to the present moment, where we have maintained the same ad policies. It occurs to me that it very well may lead to the same result."
Bosworth said he badly wanted to see Trump defeated but warned Facebook employees against putting their thumbs on the scale, writing that to do so would be to "become that which we fear."
Some media outlets portrayed Bosworth's memo as holding Facebook alone responsible for Trump's win.
"A Facebook Executive Said The Platform Is Responsible For Trump’s Election," read BuzzFeed's headline on the story, with the subhead cutting off the written remarks at "So was Facebook responsible for Donald Trump getting elected? I think the answer is yes."
The Verge ("Facebook executive: we got Trump elected, and we shouldn't stop him in 2020") and CNN (Top Facebook exec: Yes, we got Trump elected and it may happen again") ran similar headlines.


freebeacon--2020-01-07--Valerie Plame Returns to Twitter After Blaming Social Media Site for Spread of Anti-Semitic Screeds

Democratic congressional candidate Valerie Plame returned to Twitter on Sunday several months after blaming the social media website for her own anti-Semitic tweets .
Plame , a Democratic candidate for Congress in New Mexico 's Third Congressional District said the risk that President Donald Trump would drive the country into war based on `` fabricated intelligence '' compelled her to reactivate her account .
Plame was roundly criticized in 2017 after she shared with her Twitter followers several anti-Semitic articles from the fringe site the Unz Review , including one accusing `` American Jews '' of `` driving America 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I Still Dislike Israel . ''
Plame defended herself last September when CNN anchor Chris Cuomo asked what she liked about the anti-Semitic website , noting she had shared nine of its articles .
`` Sometimes all sorts of things come across , as you know , in social media that you do n't read all the way through , '' Plame said .
`` That 's why I 'm not on Twitter anymore . ''
MSNBC 's Kasie Hunt also asked Plame about sharing anti-Semitic posts , prompting her to apologize and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' although sharing the articles was `` a doozy . ''
Plame , a former undercover CIA agent , reactivated her Twitter account to send out a series of tweets criticizing President Donald Trump 's decision to kill Iranian terror leader Qassem Soleimani , claiming Trump used `` fabricated intelligence '' to go to war and be reelected .

Democratic congressional candidate Valerie Plame returned to Twitter on Sunday several months after blaming the social media website for her own anti-Semitic tweets.
Plame, a Democratic candidate for Congress in New Mexico's Third Congressional District said the risk that President Donald Trump would drive the country into war based on "fabricated intelligence" compelled her to reactivate her account.
Plame was roundly criticized in 2017 after she shared with her Twitter followers several anti-Semitic articles from the fringe site the Unz Review, including one accusing "American Jews" of "driving America's wars" and another titled "Why I Still Dislike Israel."
Plame defended herself last September when CNN anchor Chris Cuomo asked what she liked about the anti-Semitic website, noting she had shared nine of its articles.
"Sometimes all sorts of things come across, as you know, in social media that you don't read all the way through," Plame said. "That's why I'm not on Twitter anymore."
MSNBC's Kasie Hunt also asked Plame about sharing anti-Semitic posts, prompting her to apologize and say, "We all make mistakes," although sharing the articles was "a doozy."
Plame, a former undercover CIA agent, reactivated her Twitter account to send out a series of tweets criticizing President Donald Trump's decision to kill Iranian terror leader Qassem Soleimani, claiming Trump used "fabricated intelligence" to go to war and be reelected.


freebeacon--2020-01-07--CNN Settles Lawsuit From Free Beacon Man of the Year Nick Sandmann

Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann scored a legal victory against fake news after CNN agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging that the network falsely tarred the teenager as racist .
The settlement was announced at a Tuesday hearing at the federal courthouse in Covington , Ky. , according to Cincinnati FOX affiliate FOX19 .
A source at CNN confirmed the settlement to the Washington Free Beacon but said that details have yet to be finalized .
`` The case is settled , '' Sandmann attorney Todd McMurtry also confirmed in an email .
`` We have no comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN 's coverage of a January 2019 confrontation between the student and Native American activist Nathan Phillips was false and one-sided , based only on interviews with Phillips and a selectively edited Twitter video .
The full one-hour video taken at the March for Life contradicted Phillips 's claims that Sandmann and his fellow students approached him , `` blocked '' and `` surrounded '' him , and chanted `` build the wall . ''
Sandmann , a Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year , filed the lawsuit in March 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a larger campaign against supporters of President Donald Trump .
Attorneys for the 16-year-old Kentucky native sought $ 75 million in compensatory damages and $ 200 million in punitive damages `` to punish and to deter CNN from ever again engaging in false , reckless , malicious , and agenda-driven attacks on children . ''
Lawsuits against the Washington Post and NBCUniversal remain pending .
Sandmann attorney Lin Wood told FOX19 that they also plan to file lawsuits against Phillips and Gannett , the publisher of the Cincinnati Enquirer .

Sandmann accused CNN of falsely portraying him as the aggressor in a viral January 2019 confrontation
Covington Catholic High School student Nick Sandmann scored a legal victory against fake news after CNN agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging that the network falsely tarred the teenager as racist.
The settlement was announced at a Tuesday hearing at the federal courthouse in Covington, Ky., according to Cincinnati FOX affiliate FOX19. A source at CNN confirmed the settlement to the Washington Free Beacon but said that details have yet to be finalized.
"The case is settled," Sandmann attorney Todd McMurtry also confirmed in an email. "We have no comment."
Sandmann's lawsuit charged that CNN's coverage of a January 2019 confrontation between the student and Native American activist Nathan Phillips was false and one-sided, based only on interviews with Phillips and a selectively edited Twitter video. The full one-hour video taken at the March for Life contradicted Phillips's claims that Sandmann and his fellow students approached him, "blocked" and "surrounded" him, and chanted "build the wall."
Sandmann, a Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year, filed the lawsuit in March 2019, arguing that CNN defamed him as part of a larger campaign against supporters of President Donald Trump. Attorneys for the 16-year-old Kentucky native sought $75 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages "to punish and to deter CNN from ever again engaging in false, reckless, malicious, and agenda-driven attacks on children."
Lawsuits against the Washington Post and NBCUniversal remain pending. Sandmann attorney Lin Wood told FOX19 that they also plan to file lawsuits against Phillips and Gannett, the publisher of the Cincinnati Enquirer.


freebeacon--2020-01-07--Joe Biden Confuses Iraq With Iran—Twice

Joe Biden Confuses Iraq With Iran—Twice

Former vice president and presidential hopeful Joe Biden confused Iraq with Iran twice while on the campaign trail on Tuesday .
`` Iran 's parliament voted to eject all Americans and coalition forces from the country , '' Biden said at a rally in New York .
He made the mistake again when he said Trump threatened to get the United States into war with Iraq .
`` I said not long ago that as the walls close in on this president , I worried that he was going to get us in war with Iraq , '' Biden said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Iraq 's parliament approved a resolution calling for the removal of U.S. troops from the country in the wake of a drone strike on Iranian general Qassem Soleimani .
Biden condemned Trump 's decision to eliminate Soleimani as `` a huge escalatory move in an already dangerous region . ''
This was a reversal from a 1996 interview , in which Biden described a bombing by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as an `` act of war '' and said the United States `` could take whatever action it deems appropriate '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the campaign trail before .
He said he was in Ohio while campaigning in Iowa and he said he was in Iowa while campaigning in New Hampshire .
He falsely claimed he was vice president during the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida , which occurred in 2018 .
He defended the mistake by saying he was still called `` vice president '' at the time of the shooting .
He also mistakenly said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated in the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's .
Biden has said his stumbles occur due to fatigue and not due to a childhood stutter .

Former vice president and presidential hopeful Joe Biden confused Iraq with Iran twice while on the campaign trail on Tuesday.
"Iran's parliament voted to eject all Americans and coalition forces from the country," Biden said at a rally in New York. He made the mistake again when he said Trump threatened to get the United States into war with Iraq.
"I said not long ago that as the walls close in on this president, I worried that he was going to get us in war with Iraq," Biden said at private fundraiser in New York City.
Also, per pooler @ShaneGoldmacher, Biden twice appeared to misspeak, saying 'Iraq' instead of 'Iran': "I said not long ago that as the walls close in on this president, I worried that he was going to get us in war with Iraq, as the ultimate wag the dog...'' Biden said. — Trip Gabriel (@tripgabriel) January 7, 2020
Iraq's parliament approved a resolution calling for the removal of U.S. troops from the country in the wake of a drone strike on Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Biden condemned Trump's decision to eliminate Soleimani as "a huge escalatory move in an already dangerous region." This was a reversal from a 1996 interview, in which Biden described a bombing by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as an "act of war" and said the United States "could take whatever action it deems appropriate" to retaliate.
Biden has confused locations on the campaign trail before. He said he was in Ohio while campaigning in Iowa and he said he was in Iowa while campaigning in New Hampshire.
He falsely claimed he was vice president during the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, which occurred in 2018. He defended the mistake by saying he was still called "vice president" at the time of the shooting. He also mistakenly said Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated in the late 1970's, not the late 1960's.
Biden has said his stumbles occur due to fatigue and not due to a childhood stutter.


freebeacon--2020-01-07--Warren: AOC Is Wrong, Democrats Need to Be a Big Tent Party

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( Mass . )
said on Tuesday that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) is wrong about Democrats not needing to be a `` big tent '' party .
The View cohost Meghan McCain asked Warren if she agreed with the freshman congresswoman 's recent comment that Democrats may have `` too big of a tent . ''
`` I think Alexandria was talking about other political systems .
There are a lot of political systems where it 's multiple parties , but we are in a two-party system .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need a really big tent , '' Warren said .
`` We need to win . ''
Ocasio-Cortez commented in a New York magazine interview about the lack of progressive conviction in the Democratic Party and the watered-down nature of national party politics .
`` Democrats can be too big of a tent , '' she said , pointing to the policy gap between her and former vice president Joe Biden .
`` In any other country , Joe Biden and I would not be in the same party , but in America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The democratic socialist endorsed Warren 's presidential election opponent Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) last year .

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) said on Tuesday that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) is wrong about Democrats not needing to be a "big tent" party.
The View cohost Meghan McCain asked Warren if she agreed with the freshman congresswoman's recent comment that Democrats may have "too big of a tent."
"I think Alexandria was talking about other political systems. There are a lot of political systems where it's multiple parties, but we are in a two-party system. In a two-party system, you better believe Democrats need a really big tent," Warren said. "We need to win."
Ocasio-Cortez commented in a New York magazine interview about the lack of progressive conviction in the Democratic Party and the watered-down nature of national party politics.
"Democrats can be too big of a tent," she said, pointing to the policy gap between her and former vice president Joe Biden. "In any other country, Joe Biden and I would not be in the same party, but in America, we are," Ocasio-Cortez said.
The democratic socialist endorsed Warren's presidential election opponent Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) last year.


freebeacon--2020-01-07--Iran’s Zarif Accuses U.S. of Violating U.N. Deal by Denying Him a Visa

UNITED NATIONS ( Reuters ) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the United States on Tuesday of violating its agreement with the United Nations by denying him a visa to speak at a Security Council meeting amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran .
A U.S. official , speaking on condition of anonymity , told Reuters on Monday that Zarif would not be given a visa to attend Thursday 's meeting .
Zarif confirmed on Tuesday that he would not be given a U.S. visa .
`` What we know is that the U.S. State Secretary ( Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Secretary General of the United Nations ( Antonio Guterres ) , said : ‘ We did not have time to issue a visa for Mohammad Javad Zarif and we will not issue a visa ' , '' said Zarif , according to Iran 's semi-official ISNA news agency .
`` The Secretary General responded by saying that it is Iran 's right to take part in this session , '' Zarif said .
Zarif wanted to attend a meeting of the Security Council on the topic of upholding the U.N. Charter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been planned before the latest flare-up in tensions between Washington and Tehran .
The Security Council meeting would have given Zarif a global spotlight to publicly criticize the United States for killing Iran 's most prominent military commander , Qassem Soleimani , in Baghdad on Friday .
`` I do n't think Secretary Pompeo thought this was the right time for Mr Zarif to come to the United States and whenever he comes to New York he spreads propaganda , '' White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien told Fox News on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine missing that meeting , '' he said , suggesting Zarif could participate by phone or video conference .
Zarif posted on Twitter earlier on Tuesday : `` What are they really afraid of ?
Truth ? ''
Pompeo and Guterres spoke by phone on Monday .
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said he was unaware of the exact status of Zarif 's visa and declined to comment on the details of the phone call between Pompeo and Guterres .
Iranian diplomats spoke with a senior official in Guterres ' office on Monday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday that he would not comment on visa matters `` so I ca n't add much more to this issue of Foreign Minister Zarif 's travel to the United States . ''
`` I 'll say only this – we will always comply with our obligations under the U.N. requirements and the headquarters agreement and we will do so in this particular instance and more broadly everyday , '' Pompeo said .
Under the 1947 U.N. `` headquarters agreement , '' the United States is generally required to allow access to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington says it can deny visas for `` security , terrorism and foreign policy '' reasons .
A possible caveat in the agreement reads : `` The United States retains full control and authority over the entry of persons or property into the territory of the United States and the conditions under which persons may remain or reside there . ''

By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the United States on Tuesday of violating its agreement with the United Nations by denying him a visa to speak at a Security Council meeting amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters on Monday that Zarif would not be given a visa to attend Thursday's meeting. Zarif confirmed on Tuesday that he would not be given a U.S. visa.
"What we know is that the U.S. State Secretary (Mike Pompeo), in a call to the Secretary General of the United Nations (Antonio Guterres), said: 'We did not have time to issue a visa for Mohammad Javad Zarif and we will not issue a visa'," said Zarif, according to Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency.
"The Secretary General responded by saying that it is Iran's right to take part in this session," Zarif said.
Zarif wanted to attend a meeting of the Security Council on the topic of upholding the U.N. Charter. The meeting and Zarif's travel had been planned before the latest flare-up in tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The Security Council meeting would have given Zarif a global spotlight to publicly criticize the United States for killing Iran's most prominent military commander, Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad on Friday.
"I don't think Secretary Pompeo thought this was the right time for Mr Zarif to come to the United States and whenever he comes to New York he spreads propaganda," White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien told Fox News on Tuesday.
"I think he'll be fine missing that meeting," he said, suggesting Zarif could participate by phone or video conference.
Zarif posted on Twitter earlier on Tuesday: "What are they really afraid of? Truth?"
Pompeo and Guterres spoke by phone on Monday. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said he was unaware of the exact status of Zarif's visa and declined to comment on the details of the phone call between Pompeo and Guterres.
Iranian diplomats spoke with a senior official in Guterres' office on Monday afternoon, Dujarric said.
Pompeo told reporters on Tuesday that he would not comment on visa matters "so I can't add much more to this issue of Foreign Minister Zarif's travel to the United States."
"I'll say only this - we will always comply with our obligations under the U.N. requirements and the headquarters agreement and we will do so in this particular instance and more broadly everyday," Pompeo said.
Under the 1947 U.N. "headquarters agreement," the United States is generally required to allow access to the United Nations for foreign diplomats. But Washington says it can deny visas for "security, terrorism and foreign policy" reasons.
A possible caveat in the agreement reads: "The United States retains full control and authority over the entry of persons or property into the territory of the United States and the conditions under which persons may remain or reside there."
(Additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)


freebeacon--2020-01-07--Pompeo: Trump Admin Ready to Launch More Strikes on Iran

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Trump administration would not hesitate to conduct further military strikes against Iran following the killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani .
Speaking before reporters on Tuesday , the nation ’ s top diplomat warned Tehran that if it `` makes another bad choice , '' President Donald Trump is prepared to approve further military actions like the drone strike in Iraq that took out Soleimani .
`` We got it right , '' Pompeo said of the intelligence factors that prompted the administration to move against Iran ’ s top general last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision . ''
As Iran plots retaliatory attacks , including ones that could take place within the United States , the administration will take decisive action to protect American citizens and its regional assets .
`` I think the president ’ s been unambiguous in his—both the remarks he made down in Florida as well as the tweets that he ’ s put out—about the seriousness with which we take this , the risk attendant that we are deeply aware of , and the preparations we ’ ve made to prevent those risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranians make another bad choice , [ the ] president will respond in a way that he did last week , which was decisive , serious , and messaged Iran about the constraints that we are going to place on that regime so that it doesn ’ t continue to put American lives at risk , '' Pompeo said .
Iranian proxy groups have already been mobilizing against U.S. forces in the Middle East .
Already , Tehran has threatened drone attacks and touted military plans for 13 separate `` revenge scenarios .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters who alleged the U.S. strike was an act of terrorism .
`` The Department of Defense did excellent work , '' Pompeo said .
`` And the president had an entirely legal , appropriate , and a basis , as well as a decision , that fit perfectly within our strategy of how to counter the threat of malign activity from Iran more broadly . ''
Intelligence obtained by the United States indicated that Soleimani and his Iranian-backed militias were planning attacks that were `` going to lead potentially to the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some have claimed that Soleimani—who was among the most established Iranian military planners—was on a diplomatic mission in Baghdad , Pompeo urged reporters to not buy into Iranian propaganda .
`` Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman , this diplomat of great order , Qassem Soleimani , had traveled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission ? ''
Pompeo asked .
`` I made you reporters laugh this morning .
That ’ s fantastic .
We know that wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the history , we know in that moment that was not true . ''
Pompeo went on to make clear that his administration ’ s policy is a marked departure from that of the Obama administration .
`` Previous administrations made a different choice , '' he said .
`` They chose to underwrite and appease .
We have chosen to confront and contain .
Those are different strategies . ''

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Trump administration would not hesitate to conduct further military strikes against Iran following the killing of Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani.
Speaking before reporters on Tuesday, the nation’s top diplomat warned Tehran that if it "makes another bad choice," President Donald Trump is prepared to approve further military actions like the drone strike in Iraq that took out Soleimani.
"We got it right," Pompeo said of the intelligence factors that prompted the administration to move against Iran’s top general last week. "It was the right decision."
As Iran plots retaliatory attacks, including ones that could take place within the United States, the administration will take decisive action to protect American citizens and its regional assets.
"I think the president’s been unambiguous in his—both the remarks he made down in Florida as well as the tweets that he’s put out—about the seriousness with which we take this, the risk attendant that we are deeply aware of, and the preparations we’ve made to prevent those risks."
"In the event the Iranians make another bad choice, [the] president will respond in a way that he did last week, which was decisive, serious, and messaged Iran about the constraints that we are going to place on that regime so that it doesn’t continue to put American lives at risk," Pompeo said.
Iranian proxy groups have already been mobilizing against U.S. forces in the Middle East. Already, Tehran has threatened drone attacks and touted military plans for 13 separate "revenge scenarios."
Pompeo pushed back against State Department reporters who alleged the U.S. strike was an act of terrorism.
"The Department of Defense did excellent work," Pompeo said. "And the president had an entirely legal, appropriate, and a basis, as well as a decision, that fit perfectly within our strategy of how to counter the threat of malign activity from Iran more broadly."
Intelligence obtained by the United States indicated that Soleimani and his Iranian-backed militias were planning attacks that were "going to lead potentially to the death of many more Americans."
While some have claimed that Soleimani—who was among the most established Iranian military planners—was on a diplomatic mission in Baghdad, Pompeo urged reporters to not buy into Iranian propaganda.
"Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order, Qassem Soleimani, had traveled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission?" Pompeo asked. "I made you reporters laugh this morning. That’s fantastic. We know that wasn’t true. We not only know the history, we know in that moment that was not true."
Pompeo went on to make clear that his administration’s policy is a marked departure from that of the Obama administration.
"Previous administrations made a different choice," he said. "They chose to underwrite and appease. We have chosen to confront and contain. Those are different strategies."


freebeacon--2020-01-07--Warren Caves: ‘Of Course’ Soleimani Is a Terrorist

Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
on Tuesday admitted Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was a terrorist after refusing to condemn the terror master in prior interviews .
`` So he 's not a terrorist ? ''
ABC 's The View host Meghan McCain asked .
`` Of course he is , '' Warren said .
`` He 's part of a group that our federal government has designated as a terrorist . ''
McCain initially asked Warren why it was difficult for her to call Soleimani a terrorist .
The senator evaded McCain 's question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Soleimani led the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps which trained , funded , and armed Iran-sympathetic terrorist groups in Lebanon , Syria , Iraq , and around the Middle East .
Such groups have killed thousands , including hundreds of Americans .
The United States designated the Quds Force as a Foreign Terrorist Organization .
It orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq , including a December 27 attack that resulted in the death of an American contractor .
Soleimani also approved the attack on the U.S. embassy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren 's initial response to the Soleimani strike called the general a `` murderer . ''
In a second statement , the senator referred to the strike as an `` assassination '' of a `` senior foreign military official . ''

Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) on Tuesday admitted Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was a terrorist after refusing to condemn the terror master in prior interviews.
"So he's not a terrorist?" ABC's The View host Meghan McCain asked.
"Of course he is," Warren said. "He's part of a group that our federal government has designated as a terrorist."
McCain initially asked Warren why it was difficult for her to call Soleimani a terrorist. The senator evaded McCain's question several times before calling Soleimani a terrorist.
Soleimani led the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps which trained, funded, and armed Iran-sympathetic terrorist groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and around the Middle East. Such groups have killed thousands, including hundreds of Americans. The United States designated the Quds Force as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. It orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq, including a December 27 attack that resulted in the death of an American contractor. Soleimani also approved the attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad that took place last week.
Warren's initial response to the Soleimani strike called the general a "murderer." In a second statement, the senator referred to the strike as an "assassination" of a "senior foreign military official."


freebeacon--2020-01-08--Iran Strikes at U.S. Troops in Iraq, Trump Weighs Response

BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON/DUBAI ( Reuters ) – Iranian forces fired missiles at military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq on Wednesday in retaliation for the U.S. killing of an Iranian general , raising the stakes in its conflict with Washington amid concern of a wider war in the Middle East .
Iran 's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , addressing a gathering of Iranians chanting `` Death to America '' , said the attacks were a `` slap on the face '' of the United States and U.S. troops should leave the region .
Tehran 's foreign minister said Iran took `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not seek to escalate the confrontation .
The next move appeared to lie with Washington .
U.S. President Donald Trump , who ordered the drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday , gave an initial response on Twitter : `` All is well ! ''
.
Casualties and damage from the missile attacks were being assessed and Trump said he would make a statement on Wednesday .
Trump , who was impeached last month and faces an election this year , at the weekend threatened to target 52 Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing .
Iranian state television said Iran had fired 15 ballistic missiles from its territory at U.S. targets in its neighbor Iraq .
The bases targeted were al-Asad air base and another facility in Erbil , the Pentagon said .
One source said early indications were of no U.S. casualties , while other U.S. officials declined to comment .
Iranian television said 80 `` American terrorists '' had been killed and U.S. helicopters and military equipment damaged .
It provided no evidence of how it obtained that information .
Germany , Denmark , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops in Iraq were hurt .
Britain , which also has personnel in Iraq , condemned the Iranian action .
Iraq said its forces did not suffer casualties .
More than 5,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq along with the other foreign forces in a coalition that has trained and backed Iraqi forces against the threat of Islamic State militants .
`` As we evaluate the situation and our response , we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel , partners , and allies in the region , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tehran , Khamenei said in a televised speech : `` Military action like this is not sufficient .
What is important is ending the corrupting presence of America in the region , '' renewing Tehran 's long-standing demand for Washington to withdraw its forces .
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the strikes `` concluded '' Tehran 's response to the killing of Soleimani , who had been responsible for building up Iran 's network of proxy armies across the Middle East .
He was buried in his hometown Kerman on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We do not seek escalation or war , but will defend ourselves against any aggression , '' he wrote on Twitter .
Iranian television reported an official in the supreme leader 's office as saying the missile attacks were the `` weakest '' of several retaliation scenarios .
It quoted another source saying Iran had lined up 100 other potential targets .
The state media also showed footage of what it said were the missiles being fired into the night sky .
In the background , voices shouted `` God is greatest '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were images of the blasts where they struck .
It was not possible to verify the images ' authenticity .
Tehran 's defense minister said the missiles were Iranian-built .
Oil prices rose on Wednesday but retreated from peaks hit in frenzied early trading following the missile attack .
[ O/R ] .
Analysts said market tension could ease as long as oil production facilities remain unaffected .
They also saw Trump and Zarif 's comments as signaling a period of calm , at least for now .
If the U.S. military was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures to retaliate for Soleimani 's killing , there might be an opportunity for Washington and Tehran to seek a way out of their increasingly violent confrontation .
Analysts have said that despite its strident rhetoric , Iran will want to avoid any conventional military conflict with superior U.S. forces .
In the past , they say it has focused on asymmetric strikes , such as sabotage or other military action via proxies .
U.S. officials said Soleimani was killed because of intelligence indicating forces under his command planned attacks on U.S. targets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided evidence .
Before Soleimani was buried his body was taken on a tour of cities in Iraq and Iran , drawing huge crowds .
A stampede at his funeral on Tuesday killed at least 56 people .
An hour after the Iranian missile attack , state television showed footage of the burial , where hundreds of people started chanting `` God is greatest '' when the strikes were announced over loudspeakers .
`` His revenge was taken and now he can rest in peace , '' Iranian television said .
Friction between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump withdrew in 2018 from a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers , approved by his predecessor Barack Obama , and reimposed sanctions on Tehran slashing its vital oil exports .
Khamenei , in his speech on Wednesday , ruled out any resumption of talks with Washington on the 2015 deal .
Trump 's U.S. political rivals have challenged his decision to order Soleimani 's killing and questioned its timing in a U.S. election year .
Democrats in the U.S. Congress and some of the party 's presidential contenders warned about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the safety of our service members , including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence .
America & world can not afford war , '' U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Twitter .
In an apparently unrelated incident , a Ukrainian airliner with more than 160 people on board crashed on Wednesday soon after taking off from Tehran , killing all on board .

By Ahmed Aboulenein, Phil Stewart, and Parisa Hafezi
BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON/DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian forces fired missiles at military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq on Wednesday in retaliation for the U.S. killing of an Iranian general, raising the stakes in its conflict with Washington amid concern of a wider war in the Middle East.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, addressing a gathering of Iranians chanting "Death to America", said the attacks were a "slap on the face" of the United States and U.S. troops should leave the region.
Tehran's foreign minister said Iran took "proportionate measures" in self-defense and did not seek to escalate the confrontation.
The next move appeared to lie with Washington.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who ordered the drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Friday, gave an initial response on Twitter: "All is well!".
Casualties and damage from the missile attacks were being assessed and Trump said he would make a statement on Wednesday.
Trump, who was impeached last month and faces an election this year, at the weekend threatened to target 52 Iranian sites if Iran retaliated for Soleimani's killing.
CASUALTY TOLL DISPUTED
Iranian state television said Iran had fired 15 ballistic missiles from its territory at U.S. targets in its neighbor Iraq. The bases targeted were al-Asad air base and another facility in Erbil, the Pentagon said.
One source said early indications were of no U.S. casualties, while other U.S. officials declined to comment.
Iranian television said 80 "American terrorists" had been killed and U.S. helicopters and military equipment damaged. It provided no evidence of how it obtained that information.
Germany, Denmark, Norway and Poland said none of their troops in Iraq were hurt. Britain, which also has personnel in Iraq, condemned the Iranian action. Iraq said its forces did not suffer casualties.
More than 5,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq along with the other foreign forces in a coalition that has trained and backed Iraqi forces against the threat of Islamic State militants.
"As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take all necessary measures to protect and defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the region," Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said.
In Tehran, Khamenei said in a televised speech: "Military action like this is not sufficient. What is important is ending the corrupting presence of America in the region," renewing Tehran's long-standing demand for Washington to withdraw its forces.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the strikes "concluded" Tehran's response to the killing of Soleimani, who had been responsible for building up Iran's network of proxy armies across the Middle East. He was buried in his hometown Kerman on Monday after days of national mourning.
"We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression," he wrote on Twitter.
Iranian television reported an official in the supreme leader's office as saying the missile attacks were the "weakest" of several retaliation scenarios. It quoted another source saying Iran had lined up 100 other potential targets.
The state media also showed footage of what it said were the missiles being fired into the night sky. In the background, voices shouted "God is greatest". It also showed what it said were images of the blasts where they struck. It was not possible to verify the images' authenticity.
Tehran's defense minister said the missiles were Iranian-built.
WAY OUT?
Oil prices rose on Wednesday but retreated from peaks hit in frenzied early trading following the missile attack. [O/R].
Analysts said market tension could ease as long as oil production facilities remain unaffected. They also saw Trump and Zarif's comments as signaling a period of calm, at least for now.
If the U.S. military was spared casualties and Iran takes no further measures to retaliate for Soleimani's killing, there might be an opportunity for Washington and Tehran to seek a way out of their increasingly violent confrontation.
Analysts have said that despite its strident rhetoric, Iran will want to avoid any conventional military conflict with superior U.S. forces. In the past, they say it has focused on asymmetric strikes, such as sabotage or other military action via proxies.
U.S. officials said Soleimani was killed because of intelligence indicating forces under his command planned attacks on U.S. targets in the region. They have not provided evidence.
Before Soleimani was buried his body was taken on a tour of cities in Iraq and Iran, drawing huge crowds. A stampede at his funeral on Tuesday killed at least 56 people.
An hour after the Iranian missile attack, state television showed footage of the burial, where hundreds of people started chanting "God is greatest" when the strikes were announced over loudspeakers.
"His revenge was taken and now he can rest in peace," Iranian television said.
Friction between Iran and the United States rose after Trump withdrew in 2018 from a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, approved by his predecessor Barack Obama, and reimposed sanctions on Tehran slashing its vital oil exports.
Khamenei, in his speech on Wednesday, ruled out any resumption of talks with Washington on the 2015 deal.
Trump's U.S. political rivals have challenged his decision to order Soleimani's killing and questioned its timing in a U.S. election year.
Democrats in the U.S. Congress and some of the party's presidential contenders warned about the escalating conflict.
"We must ensure the safety of our service members, including ending needless provocations from the Administration and demanding that Iran cease its violence. America & world cannot afford war," U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Twitter.
In an apparently unrelated incident, a Ukrainian airliner with more than 160 people on board crashed on Wednesday soon after taking off from Tehran, killing all on board.
(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in Baghdad, Parisa Hafezi and Babak Dehghanpisheh in Dubai, Phil Stewart, Steve Holland and Eric Beech in Washington, Michelle Nichols at the United Nations, Steve Scherer in Ottawa and Robin Emmott in Brussels, Writing by Edmund Blair and Angus MacSwan, Editing by Janet Lawrence)