rawstory--2020-01-09--US-Iran distrust looms over Tehran air crash investigation

The crash of a U.S.-built airliner in Iran with the loss of 176 lives looks set to strain fragile international protocols on co-operation in air disaster investigations at a time when the United States and Iran are mired in confrontation .
The relatively new Boeing 737-800NG jet flown by Ukraine International Airlines burst into flames shortly after take-off from Tehran and crashed on Wednesday .
The results of an investigation and even the way it is set up and coordinated could inflame political differences as mystery surrounds the jet ’ s sudden nosedive , analysts said .
Iran and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global agreement on modern aviation 75 years ago and sit together at the United Nations ’ aviation agency , widely seen as an effective watchdog while serving in the past as a back-channel for Cold War adversaries .
The 1944 Chicago Convention gave rise to strict rules about how air accidents should be investigated , marking a blueprint for co-operation that has largely stood the test of time even as member countries shunned other types of diplomatic cooperation .
Under those rules , Iran ’ s AAIB air accident board automatically leads what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 572 , designed to help avoid future accidents .
As the country where the jet was designed and built , the United States has a right to be accredited to the investigation and would normally appoint Boeing as its own technical adviser .
But the crash , coming shortly after Iran retaliated against a deadly U.S. drone strike against one of its top officials last Friday , immediately triggered fresh signs of distrust .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was prepared to offer Ukraine assistance and called for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into cause of the crash .
He did not mention any role for Iran .
Iran said earlier it would not send black boxes from the crashed jet to Boeing – a step that would in any case be unusual , according to former investigators , but which appeared intended to snub any U.S. involvement .
“ Iranians will wonder if involving the United States means they get fair result , ” said Paul Hayes , safety director at aviation consultancy Ascend by Cirium .
The United States will on the other hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by what it sees as political aims , others said .
Aviation experts say Iran , hardened by a high accident rate that the country ’ s leadership blames on years of sanctions , has the technical capability to read the two flight recorders .
But it may need foreign help if the finger-nail-sized circuit boards containing pilot voice recordings and up to 2,000 parameters of data are badly damaged inside their “ crash survivable ” steel or titanium casings .
“ Iran has decent investigative capabilities .
They produce solid accident investigative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boxes from crashed jets are sometimes sent directly to Boeing ’ s suppliers – U.S.-based Honeywell or L3 – whenever they are too damaged to be examined properly .
That would normally be carried out in coordination with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board .
Iran could ask another country , possibly France or Russia , to help analyse the data if needed , Hayes said .
With 62 of its nationals on board the crashed jet , Canada , which has advanced technical capabilities , could also play a key role , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some of which are critical of domestic operators , have shown evidence of technical cooperation between Iran and the U.S..
But there has been little if any contact since Washington exited a nuclear deal in 2018 .
In 2015 , Iran ’ s AAIB asked the NTSB to produce a report on what it regarded as the harmful impact of sanctions on Iran ’ s air safety .
The NTSB responded this was beyond its mission .
It is not the first time countries have squabbled over sensitive investigations as economic influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel demand is strongest .
In March last year , Ethiopia and the NTSB clashed over the crash of a different type of Boeing 737 , the MAX , which remains grounded .
France ’ s BEA has aired differences in the past with Egypt over Airbus accidents .
The latest standoff comes at a time when the U.N. protocols – nicknamed Annex 13 – are struggling to adapt to the demands of social media and the increasing tendency of parties to give their own conclusions in public .
Boeing itself has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an earlier 737 MAX crash in 2018 .
Ukraine ’ s embassy in Tehran blamed engine failure for Wednesday ’ s crash in Iran , only to retract quickly .
Engine maker CFM urged restraint , calling such speculation “ premature ” .


rawstory--2020-01-09--Brazil judge yanks Netflix comedy featuring gay Christ

A judge in Brazil issued a temporary injunction Wednesday forcing Netflix to withdraw a comedy that depicts Jesus Christ in a homosexual relationship .
The film entitled “ The First Temptation of Christ ” , by the Brazilian production company Porta dos Fundos , came out on December 3 and drew strong criticism from conservative politicians in the mainly Catholic country , the church itself and from evangelicals .
Thousands of people signed a petition asking that it be withdrawn .
On Christmas Eve , the headquarters of the production company in Rio de Janeiro was attacked with Molotov cocktails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at least four men with their faces covered took part in the assault .
Judge Benedicto Abicair said Wednesday he was ordering the film yanked for now so as to calm tempers until courts can consider the broader merits of a suit against the movie brought by a Catholic association called the Don Bosco Center for Faith and Culture .
Netflix and the production company said they had not yet received the judge ’ s order .
Porta dos Fundos is an award-winning comedy producer founded in 2012 .
It garnered an @ @ @ @ @

Trained in political science and the law, he has no formal education in disaster preparedness or response. And prior to his current role, he never held a full-time job dedicated to emergency management.
Instead, his main qualification was being chief of staff to then-mayor Alan Arakawa. But in that role, he told Civil Beat Tuesday, he assisted during emergency operations. And he said he participated in online FEMA trainings and workshops throughout the years.
In 2017, Andaya beat out 40 other applicants for the job, Maui Now reported at the time.
As the mayor’s administration was coming to a close, a panel of government officials – which said it was independent of the mayor – chose Andaya for the civil service role.
Civil Beat reviewed Andaya’s experience after historic Lahaina was swallowed by an inferno last week, killing scores of residents and visitors who never saw it coming.
The Maui Emergency Management Agency had the authority to issue siren warnings that might have alerted people. After Andaya’s agency decided not to sound them, many survivors reported they only became aware of the fire when they saw and smelled smoke.
Andaya said sounding the sirens wasn’t an option officials considered because they’re “mainly used for tsunamis.” That’s why they’re mostly located on the coast, he said.
But the state’s own website says the sirens are useful for many kinds of emergencies.
“The all-hazard siren system can be used for a variety of both natural and human-caused events; including tsunamis, hurricanes, dam breaches, flooding, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, terrorist threats, hazardous material incidents, and more,” the site states.
Andaya wasn’t on the island when the fires started, and he hasn’t made any appearances at press conferences since the disaster occurred.
Asked about Andaya’s resume, David Hafner, a retired telecommunications planner for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, questioned whether his relative inexperience affected his agency’s performance in a crisis.
“It’s a good ol’ boy network,” Hafner said. “This time it cost lives.”
Hafner said it’s “absolutely essential” for emergency management leaders to have experience in the field so they make the right decisions both before and after disasters strike.
Not having it, he said, “can lead to grave mistakes in judgment.”
Andaya’s hiring came at a time when Hawaii’s counties had just taken on increased responsibility for disaster response, according to Hafner. State emergency management officials used to be the designated authority to respond to emergencies, he said, but an update to the law in 2014 put the counties in the driver’s seat.
Asked about Andaya’s LinkedIn resume, Colin Moore, a political scientist at the University of Hawaii, said he was shocked by the emergency administrator’s lack of relevant experience. He said the public is owed an explanation.
“It’s a legitimate question to ask why the person leading the county emergency services agency has no clear background in fire, police, public health, the usual emergency services backgrounds,” he said.
“Having that on-the-ground experience, you develop the instincts and the connections to be able to perform a job like this. And if you just have general government experience, there is just no opportunity to have that kind of on-the-ground knowledge that often is really useful in a crisis.”
Andaya said as a former member of the mayor’s cabinet, he was qualified for the job.
“Whenever there was an activation in the emergency operations center, we were involved,” he said. “To say that I have no experience or no background in emergency management is not correct.”
‘Political Influence’ A Concern
Andaya, 52, is from Maui and graduated from HP Baldwin High School.
He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from the University of Hawaii Manoa. He also has a law degree from the UH Richardson School of Law, although he never became a licensed attorney, according to the Hawaii State Bar Association’s online database.
He began his career clerking for Maui Judge Artemio Baxa. He then worked for the law office of Lynn Araki-Regan, an attorney who is the wife of Arakawa’s managing director, Keith Regan.
When Andaya vacated his position as chief of staff, it was filled by Araki-Regan, who was by then the county budget director. Regan said he had no involvement in Andaya’s hiring.
From the early 2000s onward, Andaya has held leadership positions in Maui’s Department of Housing and Human Concerns and worked as the assistant to the chancellor of UH’s Maui College, according to his LinkedIn resume. He is married to Rowena Dagdag-Andaya, a former elementary school teacher who served as Maui’s public works director and now works in Maui’s Office on Aging.
Andaya was Arakawa’s chief of staff from 2011 through 2017. That year, the mayor appointed him acting administrator of MEMA, and he became permanent by the end of that year.
In contrast, Honolulu’s emergency management director, Hiro Toiya, has technical training in emergency response, worked for years as a preparedness planner for the Hawaii health department and rose up the ranks of Honolulu’s Department of Emergency Management. He worked there for more than seven years before becoming the director.
Asked how he stood out among a pool of 40 job candidates, Andaya said Maui doesn’t have a lot of emergency management professionals to begin with. He noted that he had to take an exam and based on his score was determined to be a finalist.
“You would have to question the civil service process if you can believe that politics was involved,” he said. “This is something that my predecessors have to go through as well.”
Before Andaya was hired, there were concerns in Maui’s political scene that the county was considering someone who wasn’t qualified.
“In the past, this position has sometimes been filled by individuals without the proper emergency response background.”
Former Maui County Council Chairman Mike White
In July 2017, the chair of the Maui County Council at the time, Mike White, took the unusual step of writing a Maui News column warning that the job of emergency management was too important to be “subject to political influence.”
“In the past, this position has sometimes been filled by individuals without the proper emergency response background,” White wrote.
“The administration must search for well-qualified candidates who can make a seamless transition in leading our Emergency Management Agency. The stakes are too high and our community has grown to a point where emergency coordination has become quite sophisticated in its implementation.”
In his column, White praised the outgoing emergency management chief, Anna Foust, who had previously worked for years leading the Maui branch of the Red Cross. White emphasized her expertise.
“During her tenure, she used her emergency response experience and training to help guide the county to keep citizens safe during hurricane warnings and watches, flooding events and tsunami warnings,” White wrote.
Civil Beat wasn’t able to reach White for comment.
Panel Of Specialists Chose Andaya
On Tuesday, Arakawa’s former managing director, Keith Regan, said that politics was not a factor in Andaya’s hiring. Asked why Andaya was the best candidate, Regan said he didn’t know because he wasn’t on the hiring committee. But he was adamant there was “zero” political influence in the process.
“This was a straightforward civil service process,” said Regan, who is now the state comptroller.
When Regan ran for Maui County Council in 2015, Andaya was his campaign manager. This year, Andaya wrote a letter of support of Regan’s nomination to state comptroller.
Regan noted that the hiring panel included numerous experts in the field. Maui Now identified them at the time as then-Maui Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu; then-Maui Fire Chief Jeff Murray; Elton Ushio, administrator of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency; and Vern Miyagi, then-administrator of the Hawaii State Emergency Management Agency.
At the time, Ushio was quoted by Maui Now as saying Andaya’s “proven leadership abilities, executive level experience, and impressive knowledge of emergency management” made him a great fit for the job. Murray cited Andaya’s familiarity with government processes, his “institutional knowledge of the various emergency incidents” in recent years, and his then-recent work as acting leader of the department.
“These are not people that, you know, are just political people,” Regan said. “They’re people who understand emergency management and are going to make the right choice for the community.”
In a statement, former HI-EMA director Miyagi said the public’s focus should be on working together on response and recovery.
“Herman Andaya and his staff at MEMA are really good people,” he said. “They carried Maui successfully through numerous hurricanes, floods, and other disasters.”
He said the public should wait for the attorney general’s investigation before drawing conclusions.
Civil Beat left messages with the other hiring committee members on Tuesday, but they were not returned. Former mayor Arakawa also did not respond to a request for comment.
“Herman is a very skilled, experienced, knowledgeable, professional individual,” Regan said. “I trust that is making the right decisions … There is no question in my mind that he cares about that community, and he’s going to do everything he can to keep that community safe.”


rawstory--2020-01-09--China believes new virus behind mystery pneumonia outbreak

China believes a mysterious pneumonia outbreak that has struck 59 people is due to a new strain of virus from the family of pathogens that includes SARS , state media said Thursday .
The infection was first confirmed on December 31 in Wuhan , a central Chinese city with a population of over 11 million , and initially sparked fears about a resurgence of the highly contagious flu-like SARS .
It has also prompted authorities in Hong Kong — badly hit by SARS in 2002-2003 — to take precautionary measures , including stepping up the disinfection of trains and airplanes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert team has “ preliminarily determined ” that a new type of coronavirus is behind the outbreak , lead scientist Xu Jianguo told the official Xinhua news agency .
“ A total of 15 positive results of the new type of coronavirus had been detected ” in the lab , through tests on infected blood samples and throat swabs , Xu said .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) said in a statement Wednesday that a new coronavirus could not be excluded as a possible cause of the disease .
Xu said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the outbreak .
China ruled out SARS , which killed hundreds of people more than a decade ago , in a statement on Sunday .
Wuhan ’ s health commission said on Sunday seven of the 59 patients were seriously ill but none had died .
All patients received treatment in quarantine .
Eight patients have recovered and were discharged from hospital on Wednesday , according to Xinhua .
No patients are known to have died so far .
The commission said the infection broke out between December 12 and 29 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a seafood market in the city that has since been closed for disinfection .
No obvious evidence of human-to-human transmission has been found so far , according to the commission ’ s statement on Sunday .
Footage from January 1 by state broadcaster CCTV showed an official notice at the market saying it had been closed in light of the “ current pneumonia situation in our city , ” without providing a date for reopening .
The outbreak comes just a few weeks before China ’ s busiest annual travel period , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and planes for Lunar New Year .
China ’ s Ministry of Transport has “ made arrangements for disinfection , monitoring and prevention ” focusing on areas with large numbers of passengers , including stations and cargo hubs , the ministry ’ s chief engineer Wang Yang said at an annual press briefing Thursday .
The country ’ s civil aviation authority and national railway said at the briefing they had not received any reports of affected patients taking flights or trains , and that they were closely watching the situation .
Wan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Civil Aviation Administration , said all planes were equipped with emergency medical kits .
In Hong Kong , hospitals have raised their alert level to “ serious ” and stepped up detection measures including temperature checkpoints for inbound travellers .
Authorities in the financial hub say 38 people have been hospitalised after returning from Wuhan in recent days and displaying flu-like illnesses , but none were confirmed to have contracted the mystery new strain .
Twenty-one of the 38 patients have been discharged , Hong Kong officials said Wednesday .
City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy face masks from local pharmacies , with many selling out earlier this week .
Inbound trains and flights from the mainland are undergoing additional cleaning and disinfection , Hong Kong transport authorities said .
Additional thermal imaging systems have been set up at the city ’ s airport , while inbound high-speed rail passengers from the mainland face checks by hand-held infrared thermometers .
The upcoming holiday has prompted concerns in Taiwan , where top officials urged the island ’ s health and welfare ministry to strengthen quarantine controls at airports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s centre for disease control also advised residents planning to travel to or near Wuhan to wear masks and avoid contact with wild animals .
The US embassy in China warned on Tuesday that Americans travelling in the country should avoid animals and contact with sick people .


rawstory--2020-01-09--Iraq set for conflict — even if US and Iran de-escalate

Arch-foes Tehran and Washington may be temporarily calling it even after Iranian missiles targeted US forces in Iraq , but analysts predict violent instability will keep blighting Baghdad .
“ Iraq will remain a zone of conflict , ” said Randa Slim of the Washington based Middle East Institute .
Early Wednesday , Iran launched 22 ballistic missiles at bases in Iraq hosting American and other foreign troops , in a calibrated response to the killing of a top Iranian general in a US air strike last week .
Iran warned Iraq about the raids shortly before they happened and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tehran had concluded its “ proportionate ” retaliation .
US President Donald Trump , too , said Iran “ appears to be standing down ” and even suggested Tehran and Washington could work towards a nuclear deal while cooperating against jihadists .
That hinted at a common desire to contain the fallout , but analysts say it would not be enough to spare Iraq .
“ Both sides are so mobilised in Iraq , which has become such symbolic terrain for hitting out at the other , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Indeed , US troops and even the embassy in Baghdad had been hit by more than a dozen rocket attacks in recent months , which have killed one Iraqi soldier and an American contractor .
The attacks went unclaimed but the US blamed hardline elements of the Hashed al-Shaabi , an Iraqi military network incorporated into the state but linked to Tehran .
The strike that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani outside Baghdad international airport on Friday also killed his top Iraqi aid and Hashed deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other directly does not mean the Hashed would now sit on the sidelines , said Gaston .
“ The Hashed is closer to the tip of the spear , ” she said .
“ There isn ’ t perfect command-and-control in the Hashed , which includes a lot of angry militiamen willing to take revenge on the US , ” she added .
Bolstered by Iran ’ s attack , the Hashed said Wednesday it would take its own steps avenge Muhandis ’ s death .
Hours later , two rockets slammed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zone , the high-security enclave where the US embassy , other foreign missions and some foreign troops are based .
Hashed factions decided in recent days to unite under a “ resistance ” coalition to oust US troops from Iraq .
The spectre of bloodshed was especially worrisome as there is no evident mediator between the parties , said Slim .
In Lebanon , Iran ’ s ally Hezbollah has repeatedly clashed with its sworn enemy Israel but the United Nations ’ peacekeeping force in the south has usually intervened before the conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ who is the mutually liked mediator ?
” on Iraqi soil , Slim asked .
Baghdad has long warned that tensions between Tehran and Washington , which began deteriorating significantly in 2018 , would bring devastating conflict to the entire region .
Iraq ’ s government had tried to strike a balance between the two countries , both of which have close political and military ties to various elements of Iraq ’ s elite .
But the stunning developments of the last week — from the killing of Soleimani to Wednesday ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iraq ’ s political crisis .
“ It has made a balance impossible and pushed Baghdad squarely into Iran ’ s camp , ” said Toby Dodge , a professor at the London School of Economics .
Figures like Iraq ’ s President Barham Saleh , who was seen as one of the most senior officials with close ties to Washington , would likely see their influence dwindle .
“ If last night was the theatre of retaliation , what today brings is political consolidation and domination of the pro-Iran factions , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political arm , the Fatah bloc , has already seized on anti-US sentiment over the last week to push for a total ouster of foreign troops from Iraqi territory .
Some 5,200 American troops and hundreds more British , French , Canadian and other forces are based in Iraq to help local forces defeat jihadist sleeper cells .
On Wednesday , Iraqis ’ reactions to Iran ’ s strikes were much tamer than the anger expressed at the US last week .
“ Baghdad condemns the US publicly , but not Iran , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Iraq expert .
While appearing to be pro-Washington in the current climate carries a political cost , some political figures may be busy behind the scenes trying to salvage Iraq ’ s relationship with the US and restore some stability , however fragile .
But , Mardini warned , “ if the crisis escalates , Baghdad ’ s space for manoeuvering will shrink .
They ’ ll be forced to pick a side — and it won ’ t be the US .
”


rawstory--2020-01-09--Christ’s bodyguards: the men protecting the Philippines’ revered Catholic icon

Frenzied crowds , exhaustion and blazing heat were dangers bearing down on the cadre of guards who shield one of the Philippines ’ most revered Catholic icons from the believers desperate to touch it .
The protectors served as human shields on Thursday , as they do every year , during the procession through Manila of the historic statue of Jesus Christ that believers say grants miracles to those who touch it .
“ Our safety is at risk here .
Some of the devotees are very aggressive , ” Steve Celestino , one of the Black Nazarene icon ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a warm-up procession .
The dangers are not theoretical : during the day-long procession temperatures hover at around 32 degrees Celsius ( 90 Fahrenheit ) and hundreds of thousands of believers clamber over one another to reach the statue .
In 2015 a guard belonging to one of the groups collectively called “ hijos ” ( sons ) suffered a fatal heart attack surrounded by sweaty devotees .
Miracles attributed to the Black Nazarene have made it powerfully revered in Asia ’ s bastion of Catholicism , and also engendered a class of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are two types of faithful : one is a devotee and another is a fanatic , ” guard Romy Roxas , who said he had been protecting the Nazarene from the latter for 30 years , told AFP on Tuesday .
Fanatics , he said , clamber up the metal float carrying the life-size statue hoping to snatch a strand of its hair or a piece of its maroon cloak in the belief that it has healing powers .
Guards have to push off the unruly , including those who cling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long and risk damaging the several hundred year old wooden statue .
It is a trying job for the hundreds of volunteers , who are stationed on the float a few dozen at a time and for a couple of hours at most due to the brutal conditions .
They are not necessarily security professionals , but rather Catholics in good standing with the Church who offer to help and attend preparatory meetings .
In exchange for the pain , they play a privileged role by catching and then wiping the statue with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the crowd .
For believers , those swathes of cloth are just as good as touching the effigy itself , and bear healing or blessing effects .
Jongco , 73 , is one of the oldest members of the group and attributed his well-being to his service to the Black Nazarene .
“ If you are not in good health , you will faint doing this because of the massive crowd , ” he said .
“ But I ’ ll do it as long as I can .
”


rawstory--2020-01-09--China confirms negotiator to sign trade deal in US next week

China said Thursday that Vice Premier Liu He will travel to Washington next week to sign the “ phase one ” deal with the United States that has lowered trade tensions between the world ’ s two biggest economies .
The signing will cap a nearly two-year spat that threatened to throttle the global economy as the two countries exchanged tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of two-way trade .
Liu , China ’ s top negotiator in the trade conflict , will be in the US capital from Monday to Wednesday to sign the deal , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week that the two countries would sign the mini agreement — the first part of a wider pact between the two — on January 15 , but Beijing had yet to confirm the trip .
“ At the invitation of the US , Liu He will be leading a delegation to Washington from January 13 to January 15 to sign the phase one deal , ” commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng said at a weekly news briefing .
“ Both parties are in close communication regarding the detailed arrangement of the signing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more details .
US and Chinese officials have said the agreement includes protections for intellectual property , food and farm goods , financial services and foreign exchange , and a provision for dispute resolution .
Trump also cancelled plans to impose tariffs on $ 160 billion in Chinese merchandise in mid-December — including hot consumer items such as mobile phones — but punishing tariffs remain on about $ 250 billion-worth of goods , including machinery and many electronic items .
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has said China committed to a minimum of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next two years from US manufacturers , farmers , energy producers and service providers .
But Gao refused to confirm the figure at Thursday ’ s news conference .
Trump said last week that he would travel to Beijing for negotiations on the next part of the wider deal “ at a later date ” , but Gao said he had “ no further information on phase two ” of the negotiations .
Observers say the trade war , which has also had ramifications for other economies globally , may have ushered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the two economic powerhouses .
The truce also partially removes a thorn in the side of Chinese President Xi Jinping , who has to deal with a slowing economy and pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong .


rawstory--2020-01-09--British lawmakers poised to seal Brexit deal

After years of bitter arguments , British MPs will on Thursday finally approve the terms of Brexit , paving the way for the UK to leave the EU on January 31 .
The House of Commons will complete its scrutiny of a bill ratifying Prime Minister Boris Johnson ‘ s European Union divorce deal , drawing a line under an extraordinary period of political chaos .
For much of the time since the 2016 Brexit referendum , MPs have been deadlocked over how , when and even if Britain should end almost half a century of European integration .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s general election brought an abrupt end to the turmoil , giving his Conservatives a parliamentary majority with which to push Brexit through .
MPs gave their initial approval to the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill before Christmas , and the government set aside three days this week for detailed scrutiny .
But few MPs even bothered to turn up on Tuesday and Wednesday , while the government easily saw off opposition attempts to amend the text .
In a striking contrast to much of last year , when every Brexit vote risked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did , Commons approval on Thursday is now a done deal .
The Brexit bill must still be passed by the unelected House of Lords and the European Parliament , but this is expected before January 31 .
All eyes are now on another major challenge : the negotiation of a new relationship between Britain and the EU , its largest trading partner .
The Brexit deal covers separation issues such as EU citizens ’ rights and Britain ’ s financial settlement , and sets out an 11-month transition period in which to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current deadline of December 31 is extremely tight , and has given London the option to ask for more time .
But Johnson insists there will be no extension of the transition period , saying that Britain must be free of EU rules as soon as possible .
Ahead of talks with Johnson on Wednesday , European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it would be “ basically impossible ” to agree everything within London ’ s timeframe .
“ We will have to prioritise , ” she said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university , warning of “ tough talks ahead ” .
In response , Johnson ’ s office indicated that it could accept a partial trade deal .
London did not want the EU ’ s long-standing policy that “ nothing is agreed until everything is agreed ” — intended to stop one side cherry-picking bits of a deal they like — to define the coming negotiations , a spokesman said .
“ We are very clear we want to get on in terms of negotiating a deal , ” he said .


rawstory--2020-01-09--White supremacist Richard Spencer says he ‘deeply’ regrets voting for Trump amid Iran crisis

“ I deeply regret voting for and promoting Donald Trump in 2016 , ” Spencer tweeted Tuesday night .
He later added , “ To the people of Iran , there are millions of Americans who do not want war , who do not hate you , and who respect your nation and its history .
After our traitorous elite is brought to justice , we hope to achieve peace , reconciliation , and forgiveness.
” Spencer has opposed previous military action by Trump .
In 2017 , he led a protest against the president ’ s strike against a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ We want walls , not war !
” One also held a sign , which read : “ No more wars 4 Israel.
” At that time , Spencer added a Syrian flag to his Twitter profile to express his protest .
On this occasion , he dded an Iranian flag to his profile .
Spencer was invited on CNN in July to discuss Trump ’ s racist tweets targeting Democratic members of Congress of color , prompting widespread criticism that the network had given a platform to a “ horrendous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticized Trump ’ s words as insufficiently racist .
“ Many white nationalists will eat up this red meat that Donald Trump is throwing out there .
I am not one of them , ” Spencer told CNN .
“ I recognize the con game that is going on.
” He later added , “ He gives us nothing outside of racist tweets .
And by racist tweets , I mean tweets that are meaningless and cheap and express the kind of sentiments you might hear from your drunk uncle while he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many took to Twitter , where Spencer ’ s appearance became a trending topic , to rebuke CNN ’ s controversial decision .
“ Between Richard Spencer and this , not CNN ’ s best day , ” wrote Charles P. Pierce of the Politics Blog .
The Hill columnist Joe Concha wrote , “ Providing Richard Spencer ample national airtime is a travesty and is rightly receiving the universal condemnation it deserves .
”


rawstory--2020-01-09--A former Trump aide actually welcomed Iran’s attacks on US troops: ‘This president will unleash holy

A former Trump aide actually welcomed Iran’s attacks on US troops: ‘This president will unleash holy hell’

Sebastian Gorka , who served in the Trump administration over a seven month period in 2017 , vowed that America would unleash “ holy hell ” against Iran for retaliating against the ordered killing of Qassem Soleimani .
“ They chose the wrong time with the wrong president , ” Gorka said while appearing on “ Lou Dobbs Tonight ” on the Fox Business Network .
“ This president will unleash holy hell on that regime — not against the people of Persia but against the murderous mullahs that have created a theocratic dictatorship that is a pariah and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world today.
” He later added that “ now everyone who is alive , breathing and has a pulse should know what Iran is and how it has to be dealt with — and that ’ s exactly what Donald Trump , the 45th commander in chief of the United States , will do.
” Earlier in the interview , Gorka described Iran ’ s retaliation as “ a massive miscalculation by the Iranian regime.
” He argued that Americans should nonetheless “ welcome what they have decided to do , because now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have been doing against us and our friends for decades in the asymmetric warfare domain.
” According to Gorka , Iran has “ used proxies because they are cowards .
They have slunk around six continents of the world using terrorist weapons , bombs against innocent people , IEDs against our service men and women.
” The former Trump adviser concluded , “ Now there can be no question that Iran is a threat to American national security .
You don ’ t have to be an expert in terrorism or irregular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imminent danger to our country , to our citizens , to our servicemen and women.
” Gorka ’ s words were similar to those of Fox News host Sean Hannity , who on Tuesday said that Iran is “ going to get hit hard .
Their hostility will now be met with the full force of the greatest , most advanced , most sophisticated military this world has ever seen .
As a former CIA station chief Dan Hoffman pointed out : Any hostile action by Iran would be regime suicide.
” Gorka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Islam in the past , despite lacking expertise .
When he began teaching at Marine Corps University in 2014 , it was revealed that his academic chair was funded by a major Republican Party donor and Heritage Foundation chairman to whom he was related by marriage .
( That donor , Thomas Saunders III , claimed he did not advocate for Gorka . )
Gorka ’ s lectures were controversial , because he reportedly “ made a difficult and complex situation simple and confirmed the officers ’ prejudices and assumptions.
” Around this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking head for Fox News and was eventually offered a job at Breitbart by Steve Bannon .
The former Trump adviser has courted controversy because of his connection to Vitézi Rend , a Hungarian far-right group that is sympathetic to Nazi goals .
Gorka has sworn a lifetime loyalty oath to the group and has other connections to Hungarian far-right and nationalist organizations , including some with avowedly anti-Semitic and racist beliefs .
You can watch more below via Twitter :


rawstory--2020-01-09--Senate impeachment trial to begin next week declares Lindsey Graham — despite not having articles ye

Senate impeachment trial to begin next week declares Lindsey Graham — despite not having articles yet

Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) announced the Senate ’ s impeachment trial of President Donald Trump will begin next week .
That may be a challenge .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has yet to convey the House ’ s Articles of Impeachment to the Senate and is under no legal or time requirements to do so .
“ Hats off to Mitch McConnell for playing this very well .
We ’ ll take the trial up next week , ” Sen. Graham told Fox News ’ Sean Hannity Wednesday night , as The Hill reports .
Graham also took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You said it was urgent , ” Graham said , as if he were speaking to her directly .
“ If you believe it to be urgent , send it to the Senate for disposition.
” “ She ’ s losing Democrats in the Senate , ” he claimed .
“ The impeachment dam of Nancy Pelosi is about to crack.
” Pelosi has been holding the Articles in order to obtain a fair and impartial trial , and conviction , of President Trump .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been @ @ @ @ @ @

David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement


rawstory--2020-01-09--Trump’s severe mental impairments are now unleashing global catastrophes: psychiatrists

As predicted by leading mental health professionals several years ago , Donald Trump ’ s emotional and psychological collapse continues unabated .
In his third year in office , the president has demonstrated through his public and private behavior that he is mentally unwell .
The pressures of the impeachment process have only worsened Trump ’ s condition .
There will be no bottom .
Trump ’ s mental decompensation and associated downward spiral will only get worse .
This is both a national and global crisis .
This article was originally published at Salon The newest low point in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday when he ordered the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
The Trump administration claims that Soleimani was planning imminent attacks against the United States and therefore that killing him was an urgent necessity .
Trump ’ s followers , most notably Vice President Mike Pence , have falsely tried to claim that Iran poses a dire threat to the U.S. and was somehow involved in the 9/11 attacks .
These pretexts are either verifiably untrue or implausible .
Donald Trump apparently ordered the assassination of Soleimani — and the escalation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Iran and the U.S. — because he was afraid of looking “ weak ” .
The assassination of Soleimani is also a distraction from Trump ’ s impeachment and the ongoing torrent of incriminating information about the Ukraine scandal .
Trump continues to behave in a manner that would previously have been considered impossible for an American president .
Over the course of several days , he has publicly threatened to commit war crimes by destroying Iranian cultural sites .
Trump has also — via Twitter , as usual — threatened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a practical matter , he is threatening to order intentional large-scale attacks on civilian populations .
That too would be a war crime .
Iran has retaliated for the killing of Soleimani by launching ballistic missiles at two airbases in Iraq where U.S. troops are stationed .
At this writing , the number of American and Iraqi casualties , if any , is not known .
The Iranians also issued a series of statements on Tuesday evening including one suggesting that they are willing to de-escalate and the missile attacks were a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack , Trump made the following announcement on Twitter : Trump has again shown that he lacks the maturity , temperament and intelligence , as well as the emotional and mental stability to lead the United States in a time of crisis .
In an effort to gain more insight into the Iran crisis , I asked a panel of the country ’ s leading mental health experts for their thoughts about what Trump ’ s recent behavior reveals about his psychological and emotional health .
Their responses have been edited for clarity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-founder of the Duty to Warn PAC and co-editor of “ Rocket Man : Nuclear Madness and the Mind of Donald Trump ” So this is where we are .
America , once the good guy , may drag the world into war , maybe even world war , to quell the anxiety and rage of our mad king .
In February 2018 , at a conference chaired by Tom Steyer at the National Press Club about President Trump ’ s psychological fitness to serve as commander in chief , a panel of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that under the stress of investigations into his misconduct , it was probable that Trump would make an impulsive catastrophic error on the world stage that could lead to war .
That moment has arrived with the assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
Why did we see it as almost inevitable ?
As a malignant narcissist , when threatened , Trump must reassert his dominance over the world at all costs .
And to a sadistic psychopath ( one component of malignant narcissism ) , the collateral damage is not a cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 : It ’ s not just a political “ wag the dog ” scenario but a psychological one , meant to reverse his narcissistic panic in response to a fear of looking weak , exposed , damaged and disgraced by turning the tables , so he now seems newly powerful and frightening .
In Donald Trump ’ s paranoia , he believes he is being persecuted by bad people , so killing some other bad people makes him feel better .
And really isn ’ t that all that counts ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dock , now he is a toxic avenger — a hero !
Dr. David Reiss , psychiatrist , expert in mental fitness evaluations and contributor to “ The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump ” I and a significant number of other experienced mental health professionals have written at length ( for over two years ) addressing the fact that Trump ’ s public behaviors are fully consistent with the presence of a severe personality disorder ( malignant narcissism ) .
Others have speculated regarding Trump ’ s cognitive state and possible deterioration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to determine if there is an applicable diagnosis .
However , at the current time , psychiatric and neurological diagnoses are irrelevant .
The urgent issue is that we have a POTUS whose impaired decision-making , judgment and ethics have put our nation in grave danger — including , most recently , tweeting public threats to commit war crimes .
We have seen a consistent pattern of Trump beginning with a statement ( or tweet ) regarding his perception of a situation ( a perception often inconsistent with verifiable facts ) after which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ necessary ” course of action — yet there is no explication of any fact-based , logical analysis or thought processes that led from point A to point B. Trump does not appear to seek advice from “ advisers ” but only information regarding available reactive options , then unilaterally ( ignoring the advice of experts ) choosing a response without any indication of understanding , consideration or care regarding legality , ethics or consequences .
The irrationality of Trump ’ s immature , ego-driven and severely sadistic manner of impulsively choosing courses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our democracy , our Constitution , our country and our national security .
Dr. Lance Dodes , assistant clinical professor of psychiatry ( retired ) , Harvard Medical School , currently training and supervising analyst emeritus at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute .
He is also a contributor to “ The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump ” Assassinating the Iranian general is the Reichstag incident many of us have predicted Trump would create when under pressure .
Like Hitler and other dictators , he needs to create the conditions for a war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack on the country — to rally his base and try to use support for an attacked America as a reason to support him personally .
Psychologically , the important point is that this act demonstrates , once again , that Donald Trump ’ s single goal is to benefit himself and his hold on power , regardless of the disastrous risks to follow for many Americans and other .
Trump has no conscience about those other people .
Indeed , if Trump does not succeed in causing a war this time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is highly likely that he will try again before the 2020 election .
Those Republicans who have supported him up to this point are now faced with the moral imperative to remove him from office because of the fatal risks to America and the world that Donald Trump now presents because of his predicted incapacity to function safely under stress .
Dr. Steven Buser , former U.S. Air Force psychiatrist who was tasked with conducting fitness for duty evaluations for airmen , especially those responsible for nuclear weapons .
For four years now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning anyone who will listen that Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to the United States and indeed the world .
His bizarre and reckless behaviors have been so numerous it is difficult to know where to begin anymore .
He has shown unmistakable evidence of severe narcissism , sociopathy , hypomania and possibly even early cognitive decline .
His decision to assassinate Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani is an even more egregious example of recklessness and a bizarre thought process .
There appears to be little to no thoughtful consideration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress or world leaders .
Unfortunately , most of us have become habituated to Trump ’ s constant barrage of impulsive and aggressive attacks towards others .
They happen so frequently that we barely notice them anymore .
While his bullying on Twitter can appear comical at times , an impulsive assassination of an Iranian leader has escalated his impulsivity to an entirely new level .
What is deeply unsettling about this impulsive attack against Iran is how serious the implications could be .
There is a real chance that Trump is unleashing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a catastrophic conventional or nuclear exchange .
I understand that many Americans would rather keep their heads in the sand rather than acknowledge the grave situation in which President Trump has again put us , yet it is now more crucial than ever that we stand up to this bully before he inflicts catastrophic damage .
Dr. Justin Frank , former clinical professor of psychiatry at the George Washington University Medical Center , and author of “ Trump on the Couch : Inside the Mind of the President.
” At this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s again essential to illuminate the president ’ s character structure .
Donald Trump has never left his either/or mentality , which has been how he functioned his entire life .
You are bad or good , period .
He was told since childhood by his father , a domestic tyrant in his own right , to be a “ killer.
” And Trump is a tortured sadist — a tortured torturer .
A breaker of things .
Trump is dominated by fear .
He is also dominated by paranoid anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the high crimes and misdemeanors that led to his impeachment .
Fear , more than anything , is “ the thrust behind the knife , the fist , the blow to the head.
” Fear of being found out to be lacking or small also plays a part in Trump ’ s lying .
Thus he is driven by a need to recreate the feeling of infantile omnipotence .
He tries desperately to get others to believe him , so they can share his feeling of being all-powerful .
But with impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others or even to assert himself .
His lies about the reasons behind the assassination to distract us from his impending Senate trial : Trump lies now to survive .
My second point is that Trump the builder is at heart Trump the destroyer .
His loyalty to America is limited .
Just ask Putin !
His loyalty to the Constitution doesn ’ t exist ; he has already been impeached .
He has tweeted that he was giving notice to Congress that if Iran retaliates , the U.S. will strike back “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t ask Congress ; he gives notice to a weak handmaiden .
With one tweet , Trump swept away any remnant of the separation of powers .
Since he has no loyalty to America , he feels he has nothing to lose by starting a war .
Tragically , he answers the question I raised in my chapter on his malignant narcissism when I wrote , “ Which prospect is likely more frightening to Donald Trump — revealing his tax returns or starting a nuclear war ?
”

As predicted by leading mental health professionals several years ago, Donald Trump’s emotional and psychological collapse continues unabated. In his third year in office, the president has demonstrated through his public and private behavior that he is mentally unwell. The pressures of the impeachment process have only worsened Trump's condition. There will be no bottom. Trump’s mental decompensation and associated downward spiral will only get worse. This is both a national and global crisis.
This article was originally published at Salon
The newest low point in Donald Trump’s behavior arrived last Friday when he ordered the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani. The Trump administration claims that Soleimani was planning imminent attacks against the United States and therefore that killing him was an urgent necessity. Trump's followers, most notably Vice President Mike Pence, have falsely tried to claim that Iran poses a dire threat to the U.S. and was somehow involved in the 9/11 attacks.
These pretexts are either verifiably untrue or implausible. Donald Trump apparently ordered the assassination of Soleimani — and the escalation to a de facto state of war between Iran and the U.S. — because he was afraid of looking “weak”.
The assassination of Soleimani is also a distraction from Trump’s impeachment and the ongoing torrent of incriminating information about the Ukraine scandal.
Trump continues to behave in a manner that would previously have been considered impossible for an American president. Over the course of several days, he has publicly threatened to commit war crimes by destroying Iranian cultural sites. Trump has also — via Twitter, as usual — threatened to attack Iran with “disproportionate force.” As a practical matter, he is threatening to order intentional large-scale attacks on civilian populations. That too would be a war crime.
Iran has retaliated for the killing of Soleimani by launching ballistic missiles at two airbases in Iraq where U.S. troops are stationed. At this writing, the number of American and Iraqi casualties, if any, is not known. The Iranians also issued a series of statements on Tuesday evening including one suggesting that they are willing to de-escalate and the missile attacks were a one-off response.
After Iran's attack, Trump made the following announcement on Twitter:
All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.
Trump has again shown that he lacks the maturity, temperament and intelligence, as well as the emotional and mental stability to lead the United States in a time of crisis.
In an effort to gain more insight into the Iran crisis, I asked a panel of the country’s leading mental health experts for their thoughts about what Trump’s recent behavior reveals about his psychological and emotional health. Their responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Dr. John Gartner, co-founder of the Duty to Warn PAC and co-editor of "Rocket Man: Nuclear Madness and the Mind of Donald Trump"
So this is where we are. America, once the good guy, may drag the world into war, maybe even world war, to quell the anxiety and rage of our mad king.
In February 2018, at a conference chaired by Tom Steyer at the National Press Club about President Trump’s psychological fitness to serve as commander in chief, a panel of mental health professionals (including myself) warned that under the stress of investigations into his misconduct, it was probable that Trump would make an impulsive catastrophic error on the world stage that could lead to war. That moment has arrived with the assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Why did we see it as almost inevitable?
As a malignant narcissist, when threatened, Trump must reassert his dominance over the world at all costs. And to a sadistic psychopath (one component of malignant narcissism), the collateral damage is not a cost but a bonus. As I said in 2018:
He has no empathy or concern for anybody but himself and so he will not care about the destruction that it will cause other people. In fact, because of his sadism, there's a part of him that perversely seems to revel in causing chaos and destruction and making us all frightened all the time, but even more importantly, it will be irresistible for him because it will transform him from feeling like a hunted victim of this witch hunt to feeling like an omnipotently destructive victor.
It’s not just a political “wag the dog” scenario but a psychological one, meant to reverse his narcissistic panic in response to a fear of looking weak, exposed, damaged and disgraced by turning the tables, so he now seems newly powerful and frightening. In Donald Trump’s paranoia, he believes he is being persecuted by bad people, so killing some other bad people makes him feel better. And really isn't that all that counts? Instead of being the defendant in the dock, now he is a toxic avenger — a hero!
Dr. David Reiss, psychiatrist, expert in mental fitness evaluations and contributor to “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump”
I and a significant number of other experienced mental health professionals have written at length (for over two years) addressing the fact that Trump’s public behaviors are fully consistent with the presence of a severe personality disorder (malignant narcissism). Others have speculated regarding Trump’s cognitive state and possible deterioration, which requires formal neurological and neuro-psychological testing to determine if there is an applicable diagnosis.
However, at the current time, psychiatric and neurological diagnoses are irrelevant. The urgent issue is that we have a POTUS whose impaired decision-making, judgment and ethics have put our nation in grave danger — including, most recently, tweeting public threats to commit war crimes.
We have seen a consistent pattern of Trump beginning with a statement (or tweet) regarding his perception of a situation (a perception often inconsistent with verifiable facts) after which he proceeds to proposing and/or implementing a “necessary” course of action — yet there is no explication of any fact-based, logical analysis or thought processes that led from point A to point B. Trump does not appear to seek advice from “advisers” but only information regarding available reactive options, then unilaterally (ignoring the advice of experts) choosing a response without any indication of understanding, consideration or care regarding legality, ethics or consequences.
The irrationality of Trump’s immature, ego-driven and severely sadistic manner of impulsively choosing courses of action is an existential threat to our democracy, our Constitution, our country and our national security.
Dr. Lance Dodes, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry (retired), Harvard Medical School, currently training and supervising analyst emeritus at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. He is also a contributor to “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump”
Assassinating the Iranian general is the Reichstag incident many of us have predicted Trump would create when under pressure. Like Hitler and other dictators, he needs to create the conditions for a war — in this case via a reprisal attack on the country — to rally his base and try to use support for an attacked America as a reason to support him personally.
Psychologically, the important point is that this act demonstrates, once again, that Donald Trump’s single goal is to benefit himself and his hold on power, regardless of the disastrous risks to follow for many Americans and other. Trump has no conscience about those other people. Indeed, if Trump does not succeed in causing a war this time, in the case of Iran, it is highly likely that he will try again before the 2020 election.
Those Republicans who have supported him up to this point are now faced with the moral imperative to remove him from office because of the fatal risks to America and the world that Donald Trump now presents because of his predicted incapacity to function safely under stress.
Dr. Steven Buser, former U.S. Air Force psychiatrist who was tasked with conducting fitness for duty evaluations for airmen, especially those responsible for nuclear weapons.
For four years now, my colleagues and I have been warning anyone who will listen that Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to the United States and indeed the world. His bizarre and reckless behaviors have been so numerous it is difficult to know where to begin anymore. He has shown unmistakable evidence of severe narcissism, sociopathy, hypomania and possibly even early cognitive decline. His decision to assassinate Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani is an even more egregious example of recklessness and a bizarre thought process.
There appears to be little to no thoughtful consideration of consequences, planning or reasonable consultation with Congress or world leaders. Unfortunately, most of us have become habituated to Trump’s constant barrage of impulsive and aggressive attacks towards others. They happen so frequently that we barely notice them anymore. While his bullying on Twitter can appear comical at times, an impulsive assassination of an Iranian leader has escalated his impulsivity to an entirely new level.
What is deeply unsettling about this impulsive attack against Iran is how serious the implications could be. There is a real chance that Trump is unleashing a massive attack/revenge/counterattack sequence that could end in a catastrophic conventional or nuclear exchange. I understand that many Americans would rather keep their heads in the sand rather than acknowledge the grave situation in which President Trump has again put us, yet it is now more crucial than ever that we stand up to this bully before he inflicts catastrophic damage.
Dr. Justin Frank, former clinical professor of psychiatry at the George Washington University Medical Center, and author of “Trump on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President.”
At this point in our impending crisis with Iran, it’s again essential to illuminate the president’s character structure. Donald Trump has never left his either/or mentality, which has been how he functioned his entire life. You are bad or good, period. He was told since childhood by his father, a domestic tyrant in his own right, to be a “killer." And Trump is a tortured sadist — a tortured torturer. A breaker of things.
Trump is dominated by fear. He is also dominated by paranoid anxiety about being convicted in the U.S. Senate for the high crimes and misdemeanors that led to his impeachment. Fear, more than anything, is “the thrust behind the knife, the fist, the blow to the head.” Fear of being found out to be lacking or small also plays a part in Trump's lying. Thus he is driven by a need to recreate the feeling of infantile omnipotence. He tries desperately to get others to believe him, so they can share his feeling of being all-powerful. But with impeachment, Trump no longer lies to impress others or even to assert himself. His lies about the reasons behind the assassination to distract us from his impending Senate trial: Trump lies now to survive.
My second point is that Trump the builder is at heart Trump the destroyer. His loyalty to America is limited. Just ask Putin! His loyalty to the Constitution doesn’t exist; he has already been impeached. He has tweeted that he was giving notice to Congress that if Iran retaliates, the U.S. will strike back “perhaps in a disproportionate manner.” He doesn’t ask Congress; he gives notice to a weak handmaiden. With one tweet, Trump swept away any remnant of the separation of powers.
Since he has no loyalty to America, he feels he has nothing to lose by starting a war. Tragically, he answers the question I raised in my chapter on his malignant narcissism when I wrote, “Which prospect is likely more frightening to Donald Trump — revealing his tax returns or starting a nuclear war?"


rawstory--2020-01-09--‘Are you for a real trial or a fake trial’: MSNBC panel tells locals to demand answers from Senators

President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate is being paused as Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) refuses to allow for any witnesses to be called .
But in an MSNBC panel Wednesday , the panel agreed that one way to fix the problem is by local reporters and constituents probing endangered Republican Senators to answer whether they would support a fair trial or a fake trial .
Host Lawerence O ’ Donnell said that it ’ s clear McConnell has no intention of negotiating with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has the votes to proceed without any witnesses .
Even Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) agreed that he supports a fake trial without witness , claiming he supports the “ Bill Clinton rules , ” where a slate of witnesses had already testified in the House under oath .
The Senate then voted whether to hear them again .
As Sen. Chris Van Hollen ( D-MD ) said Wednesday , if Romney wants that model then he should support Trump ’ s staff being called to testify as soon as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unknown how many Republicans will be willing to support witnesses .
Still , it is in the best interest of the so-called “ endangered Republicans ” to support witnesses and a legitimate trial .
Currently , Sens.Corey Gardner ( R-SC ) , Martha McSally ( R-AZ ) , Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) and Susan Collins ( R-ME ) aren ’ t looking good in 2020 .
“ The vulnerable senators up for re-election need to make decisions because you ’ re not going to get re-elected in Colorado rubber-stamping a fake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went on to say that McConnell thinks he holds all of the cards , but “ he ’ s really quite foolish.
” O ’ Donnell asked if Pelosi should be asking reporters in Maine to demand Sen. Collins answer whether she supports a real trial or a fake one .
See the full video below :


rawstory--2020-01-10--Columnist rips GOP’s ‘ugly rhetoric’: Hostilities with Iran have ‘brought out the worst’ in Trump su

Columnist rips GOP’s ‘ugly rhetoric’: Hostilities with Iran have ‘brought out the worst’ in Trump supporters

It is entirely possible to express negative views about the late Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani yet believe that killing him was a terrible move on the part of the Trump Administration : for example , former National Security Adviser Susan Rice told NBC News ’ Andrea Mitchell on Wednesday that one of the negative consequences of Soleimani ’ s death is the U.S. having to suspend its military campaign against the terrorist organization ISIS ( Islamic State , Iraq and Syria ) .
But some Trump supporters have been conflating opposition to the killing with loving the repressive Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a Washington Post op-ed that such rhetoric underscores the contempt Republicans have for the majority of Americans .
“ Perhaps it ’ s no surprise that the possibility of yet another war in the Middle East has brought out the worst in so many conservative supporters of President Trump , ” Waldman asserts .
“ But even if that prospect seems to have been put off for now , it ’ s likely that the ugly impulses that have surfaced will emerge again and again as we approach the elections in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ type of things Republican Trumpistas have been saying about opponents of the Soleimani killing .
Rep. Douglas A. Collins of Georgia asserted that Democrats are “ in love with terrorists .
We see that they mourn Soleimani more than they mourn our Gold Star families.
” Former South Carolina Gov .
Nikki Haley claimed , “ The only ones that are mourning the loss of Soleimani are our Democrat leadership , ” while White House Senior Adviser Kellyanne Conway insisted , “ The alarmists and apologists show skepticism about our own intelligence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) smeared Nancy Pelosi , saying : “ I never thought that there would be a moment in time when the speaker of the House of Representatives would actually be defending Suleimani.
” Waldman writes , “ Republicans are quite certain not only that the American public shares their belief that the Soleimani assassination was the right thing to do , but that anyone who disagrees must love terrorists.
” The journalist goes on to note that according to a USA Today polls , 55 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death makes them less safe .
“ America , it seems , is a nation of ayatollah-sympathizing , terrorist-loving Soleimani-mourners , ” Waldman asserts .
“ Or maybe , most people just don ’ t buy the proposition that unless you support every decision Donald Trump makes , you ’ re a traitor.
” Ugly rhetoric from Republicans , Waldman stresses , will only increase between now and the November election — and Democrats will need to call them out .
“ As we get closer to the election and the possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Waldman warns , “ Republicans will get more extreme in their words .
Their predictions of cataclysm — the governor of Mississippi , Phil Bryant , recently said that if Democrats win the Senate , ‘ we will take that first step into 1000 years of darkness ’ — will regularly bleed over into accusations that if you don ’ t support Trump , then you wish for the apocalypse and therefore , hate America .
That kind of rancid bile shouldn ’ t go unchallenged for a second .
”


rawstory--2020-01-10--WATCH LIVE: Trump rallies his supporters in Toledo as he campaigns for re-election after being impea

WATCH LIVE: Trump rallies his supporters in Toledo as he campaigns for re-election after being impeached

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rawstory--2020-01-09--Florida man arrested after threatening to avenge Suleimani by killing Trump and ‘blowing up’ Broward

Florida man arrested after threatening to avenge Suleimani by killing Trump and ‘blowing up’ Broward County: report

On Thursday , The Daily Beast reported that Chauncy Lump , a 26-year-old security guard in South Florida , has @ @ @ @ @ threatening the president and making a false bomb threat .
Lump , who is employed @ @ @ @ @ issued a seven-minute broadcast on Facebook Live , referring to the slain Iranian military general @ @ @ @ @ leader , ” and threatening to kill President Donald Trump and to “ blow up @ @ @ @ @ the broadcast , according to the Secret Service , Lump reportedly wore a towel wrapped @ @ @ @ @ a turban ” and clutched a loaded AK-47 , while playing music that appeared “ @ @ @ @ @ East.
” Facebook forwarded the threatening video to the Broward County Sheriff ’ s Office @ @ @ @ @ Lump was arrested by federal authorities .
He claims that the whole thing was a @ @


rawstory--2020-01-09--Has nothing been learned since 2003? Corporate media welcome back Iraq war hawks to make case for Ir

Has nothing been learned since 2003? Corporate media welcome back Iraq war hawks to make case for Iran

“ No voices calling for peace .
No voices critical of empire .
Just establishment media and current and former Pentagon officials who feed off the trillion dollar war machine.
” As President Donald Trump spent the early days of 2020 instigating and then backing down from a potentially catastrophic confrontation with Iran , corporate media in the U.S. turned to the very same people who promoted the country ’ s worst foreign policy disaster in a generation to advocate for repeating the mistakes of two decades ago .
The decision of networks and cable news outlets like CNN , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a stream of past advocates for and architects of the 2003 invasion of Iraq was panned by progressives who watched in horror and frustration as the same arguments were deployed in service of all-out war with Iran .
“ It ’ s War Inc. all over again , ” tweeted The Nation ‘ s Dave Zirin .
Trump ’ s ordered assassination of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani on January 3 proved the catalyst for escalated tensions between the U.S. and Iran .
It also opened the door for news outlets to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war cheerleaders .
“ In a sane and just society , the architects of the nearly 17-year-old war in Iraq—which is still ongoing and has left an estimated half-million people dead—would face war crimes charges and those who cheered them on would be thoroughly discredited.
” —Jessica Schulberg , HuffPost The more things change , the more they stay the same , wrote Rolling Stone ‘ s Tim Dickinson .
“ The Trump administration ’ s sudden , violent confrontation with Iran stands in contrast to the methodical march to war with Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cabinet in 2003 , ” Dickinson wrote .
“ But the rhetoric around the two conflicts has been strikingly similar—as has the reliance on ‘ razor thin ’ evidence of an imminent threat to establish a cause for war.
” Soleimani ’ s death by drone strike was celebrated in real time by former Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer , who spent the run-up to the Iraq War selling the public on the necessity of the conflict .
“ I think it is entirely possible that this is going to be a catalyst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of Soleimani , ” Fleischer told Fox in the hours after Soleimani ’ s killing , flanked by Bush administration advisor Karl Rove .
In contrast to Fleischer ’ s prediction , Soleimani ’ s funeral and remembrance ceremonies over the weekend turned out mourners enraged at the assassination across Iran in the millions .
Former Vice President Dick Cheney ’ s similar claim in 2002 that U.S. troops in Iraq would be “ welcomed as liberators ” was equally true .
Fleischer was nonetheless welcomed back to Fox on Tuesday and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict and attack Democrats for questioning the rush to war .
“ It ’ s concerning , to say the least , to see some of the biggest backers of the Iraq War—an abject failure that , coupled with the ongoing war in Afghanistan , has cost the United States trillions of dollars and thousands of lives—are publicly ( and in some instances , gleefully ) opining about the potential impact of war with Iran , in some cases even using the same rhetorical stylings to do so , ” said Vox ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rhetoric .
On MSNBC , which bills itself as a liberal alternative to right-wing behemoth Fox , host Ari Melber on January 7 in the wake of Iranian retaliation for the assassination spoke to former General Barry McCaffrey , who called for a devastating response against Iran .
“ Our only good response at this point is an overwhelming dominance of air and naval power that can be employed against the Iranian homeland , ” said McCaffrey .
Unmentioned in the segment was McCaffrey ’ s position on the board of Raytheon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next day , Melber hosted former Sen. Joe Lieberman , a one-time Democrat whose embrace of the Bush administration ’ s push for war across the Middle East led to an unofficial expulsion from the Democratic Party in 2006 , though Lieberman was re-elected as an independent .
Left unmentioned by Melber ?
The fact that Lieberman works for Israel Aerospace Industries , a defense company with $ 1 billion in sales in the U.S. Melber did not respond to a request for comment at press time .
As Popular Information ‘ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and McCaffrey are hardly alone in advocating for war in the media without disclosing their financial interests in the conflict .
Legum lists nine former government officials with ties to the defense industry who are being presented to the American people as experts without noting their connections to the military industrial complex .
One of the people profiled by Legum is Michael Chertoff , the former Bush-era secretary of Homeland Security .
On CNN , Chertoff claimed Trump has unilateral power to attack Iran and start a war .
But , Legum pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those remarks left unmentioned : Print media was not immune to the lack of disclosure .
On January 5 , the Washington Post ran a piece by former Bush administration national security advisor Stephen Hadley saluting the assassination of Soleimani and calling for war if necessary .
That Hadley is on the board of Raytheon alongside MSNBC ‘ s McCaffrey did not receive a mention .
The onus on disclosure , wrote Eyes on the Ties reporter Rob Galbraith , is on the Post ‘ s editor Fred Hiatt : “ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feels like it , ” wrote HuffPost ‘ s Jessica Schulberg in a piece detailing a number of the Bush administration officials and varied Iraq War boosters brought on by the corporate media to discuss the push for war .
“ In a sane and just society , the architects of the nearly 17-year-old war in Iraq—which is still ongoing and has left an estimated half-million people dead—would face war crimes charges and those who cheered them on would be thoroughly discredited , ” Schulberg continued .
“ Instead , they are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision to assassinate top Iranian military commander Gen. Qasem Soleimani and offering the public insight on the way forward with Iran .
”


rawstory--2020-01-09--Peru to plant one million trees around Machu Picchu

Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra launched a campaign on Thursday to reforest the Machu Picchu archeological site in order to protect it from mud slides and forest fires .
Vizcarra has pledged to plant one million trees in the 35,000-hectare protected archeological complex that features the stunning Inca citadel .
“ We ’ re here to begin the planting of a million trees in the protected zone around the Machu Picchu sanctuary , ” said Vizcarra .
The Machu Picchu estate — which includes three distinct areas for agriculture , accommodation and religious ceremonies — is the most iconic site from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swathe of western South America for 100 years before the Spanish conquest in the 16th century .
Vizcarra said the ambitious target of one million trees is “ a commitment from the government , the region , the municipality and all the citizens who want to protect this world wonder.
” Environment ministry specialists evoked the need to plant trees to protect not only the sanctuary but also the protected ecological area ’ s fauna and flora .
The area is at risk of mudslides due to heavy rainfall in winter and forest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second such measure taken in the last eight months to protect Peru ’ s most popular tourist destination .
In May , Peru announced a restriction to three key areas of the site to prevent greater degradation : the Temple of the Sun , the Temple of the Condor and the Intihuatana Stone .
Back in 2017 , Peru limited visitor numbers to just under 6,000 a day in two waves .
Machu Picchu , which means “ old mountain ” in the Quechua language indigenous to the area , is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was built during the reign of the Inca emperor Pachacuti ( 1438-1471 ) .
It lies around 100 kilometers ( 60 miles ) from the Andean city of Cusco , the old Inca capital in southeastern Peru .
It was rediscovered in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham .
UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1983 .


rawstory--2020-01-09--Republicans join with Democrats in historic vote to rein in Trump and stop his war with Iran

Congress voted to check President Donald Trump ’ s war powers Thursday afternoon and members of both parties agreed to the measure .
Eight Democrats voted against the measure and three Republicans and one Independent voted for it .
The final vote county was 224 in favor and 194 against and 13 members not voting .
Much to Trump ’ s chagrin , Republicans said that the claim of an “ imminent threat ” was specious at best .
There have been many questions about whether the president was being truthful about the threat .
In a press conference Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Suleimani was about to bomb the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad .
But according to Sen. Tom Udall ( D-NM ) , those briefing Senators never mentioned it .
Sens .
Mike Lee ( R-UT ) and Rand Paul ( R-KY ) both opposed the recent attack that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Suleimani .
Lee , specifically , was bothered by Trump officials dismissing questions and saying that they couldn ’ t answer questions and officials should just trust them .
“ The fact that there was nothing but a refusal to answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upsetting thing to me in that meeting , ” Lee said .
Rep. Matt Gaetz , a fierce defender of the presidents , also said that he would vote for the Democratic measure , saying that he doesn ’ t support endless wars .


rawstory--2020-01-09--Trump seeks support in Iran crisis but Europe skeptical

With tensions soaring after he ordered the killing of a top Iranian general , US President Donald Trump publicly urged all other powers to abandon a 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran .
Within hours , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson , one of Trump ’ s closest international allies , was on the phone with Iran ’ s president .
His message ?
That , according to Downing Street , the nuclear deal remains “ the best arrangement currently available.
” The January 3 drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani , Iran ’ s most powerful general and a longtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the United States and Europe in a showdown that has turned into a crisis .
But the episode could paradoxically offer a new chance for the Europeans to attempt what they have sought for three years — to broker peace between Iran and Trump .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , in a startlingly frank statement about allies for the top US diplomat , told Fox News after Soleimani ’ s killing that Europeans “ haven ’ t been as helpful as I wish that they could be.
” Trump and Pompeo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vandalism of the US embassy in Baghdad and rocket fire on bases housing US troops .
They said Soleimani was planning imminent attacks on Americans — a finding disputed by Democratic lawmakers after a classified briefing .
Tensions have steadily mounted since Trump in May 2018 withdrew from the denuclearization accord brokered by his predecessor Barack Obama and instead launched a sweeping campaign to cripple Iran , including seeking to bar all its oil exports .
Rachel Rizzo , an expert on trans-Atlantic security at the Center for a New American Security , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nuclear deal after seeing the flare-up in violence , which included Iranian reprisals on Iraqi bases home to US troops .
“ It ’ s pretty unfathomable to me that European allies are going to jump and follow Trump into this abyss that he seems to be sending us in , ” Rizzo said .
With the goals of Washington and the Europeans sharply at odds , “ I think there is going to be increased tension between the two sides and it ’ s going to get worse before it gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for NATO to take a greater role , later even coining the mission “ NATOME , ” a neologism for NATO and the Middle East that he called “ beautiful.
” Trump has repeatedly questioned the value of NATO , using the Western alliance ’ s 70th anniversary last month to press for greater funding by Europeans whom he has cast as freeloaders .
Julie Smith , an expert at the German Marshall Fund of the United States and former advisor to vice president Joe Biden , said it was unclear what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Afghanistan-style NATO deployment of tens of thousands of troops .
The Europeans likely “ appreciate the irony of a president who has repeatedly criticized the NATO alliance and individual NATO allies and then turns to them in a crisis , ” Smith said .
But Smith said the Europeans also saw no reason to antagonize the United States , pointing out that they did not criticize the US strike or mourn Soleimani — the head of the powerful Revolutionary Guards ’ Qods unit that has backed Shiite paramilitary groups across the Middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel like they ’ re stuck between a rock and a hard place , ” she said .
France and Germany have also tried to engage Iran as has close US ally Japan , which welcomed President Hassan Rouhani for a visit days before the US strike on Soleimani .
Benjamin Haddad , a French analyst who heads the Future Europe Initiative at the Washington-based Atlantic Council , said that the prospects for diplomacy were higher now than in September , when French President Emmanuel Macron unsuccessfully tried to broker talks between Rouhani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran has described its reprisal , which did not kill any Americans , as proportional , and Trump viewed it as a sign of de-escalation .
In a rare statement for an administration fiercely opposed to Iran , Trump also acknowledged the Shiite clerical regime ’ s role in fighting the Islamic State group — a campaign that Europeans consider the top priority in the Middle East .
Trump ’ s speech “ opens a small diplomatic window over the common interest with Iran against Daesh , ” Haddad said , using an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as ISIS .
“ There may not be a more than 50 percent chance of success , but I have the impression that paradoxically there is a larger , more interesting opening than in September , ” he said .
Smith , however , saw the Europeans ’ chances as “ pretty low ” considering the deep gaps between Washington and Tehran , and European leaders ’ preoccupation with domestic problems .
“ The Europeans want to believe that they can play a strong diplomatic role right now .
But whether or not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s a real window to do that despite the current climate , is an open question , ” she said .


rawstory--2020-01-09--Canadian PM says Iranian missile brought down airliner

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday “ multiple ” intelligence sources indicate that Iran shot down a Ukrainian airliner after it took off from Tehran , killing all 176 on board , including 63 Canadians .
Trudeau ’ s comments came as images posted on social media increasingly pointed to a catastrophic mistake by Tehran ’ s air defense batteries bringing the down Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 in flames Wednesday .
Citing information from allies as well as Canada ’ s own intelligence , the prime minister said the plane appeared to have been hit by an Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We know this may have been unintentional .
Canadians have questions , and they deserve answers , ” Trudeau told reporters .
AFP / – Rescue teams work amid debris after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital Tehran early Wednesday The prime minister was backed by other Western leaders , including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who said mounting evidence supported a missile strike , which “ may well have been unintentional.
” US President Donald Trump indicated that Washington officials believed the Kiev-bound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more Iranian missiles before it ditched and exploded outside Tehran .
Flight PS752 went down just minutes after takeoff from Tehran airport in the dark early Wednesday , with no radio message from the pilot to indicate distress , according to the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization .
It was carrying 82 Iranians , 63 Canadians , 11 Ukrainians , 10 Swedes , four Afghans , three Germans and three Britons .
The disaster unfolded amid worries of a possible war between the United States and Iran , just hours after Tehran launched ballistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in retaliation for the January 3 US drone strike in Baghdad that killed a top Iranian general .
The Iranian government said the missile strike scenario made “ no sense , ” however , arguing that several internal and international flights had been sharing approximately the same airspace .
Tehran later asked Ottawa to share its information with Iranian investigators .
Trudeau said Canada was working with allies to ensure a credible probe takes place .
“ It is vital that there should be an immediate and respectful repatriation of those who ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families to grieve properly , ” the British leader said .
“ The UK continues to call on all sides urgently to deescalate to reduce tensions in the region.
” Trump would not directly confirm what US intelligence was saying privately .
“ I have my suspicions , ” Trump said .
“ It was flying in a pretty rough neighborhood and somebody could have made a mistake.
” ABC News reported that an unnamed official said it was “ highly likely ” the plane was brought down by two SAMs .
Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broad investigation , and sent 45 crash investigators to Tehran to take part in the inquiry led by Iranian authorities .
Investigators are pursuing several possibilities , including engine failure , a missile strike or an act of terror .
ISNA/AFP / Borna GHASSEMI A child ’ s shoe found at the scene of a Ukrainian airliner that crashed shortly after take-off near Imam Khomeini airport in the Iranian capital , killing all 176 aboard “ If any country has information that can help conduct a transparent and objective investigation into the tragedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cooperate in further verification , ” the Ukraine presidency said in an English-language statement .
Ali Abedzadeh , head of Iran ’ s civil aviation organization and deputy transport minister , said Iran and Ukraine were “ downloading information ” from the aircraft ’ s black boxes retrieved from the crash site .
“ But if more specialized work is required to extract and analyze the data , we can do it in France or another country , ” he said .
Analysts were examining photographs posted online of the wreckage and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight when it was struck for evidence that it was downed by a missile .
The New York Times said it had verified the video showing a small explosion apparently when a missile struck the aircraft .
“ I think this has a very good possibility of being accurate , ” John Goglia , a former US aviation safety expert on the National Transportation Safety Board , said of the missile theory .
“ Airplanes that have just taken off and have made a climb to 8,000 feet , that ’ s entering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight .
So even an engine failure at that altitude should not cause the type of event we ’ ve just observed , ” he told AFP .
The Ukrainian airline crash brought back memories of another tragedy involving a US military error .
In 1988 , an Iran Air flight was shot down over the Gulf by a surface-to-air missile fired from the US warship USS Vincennes .
All 290 people aboard , most of them Iranians , were killed , sparking outrage across the country .
The US Navy had mistaken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .


rawstory--2020-01-09--Rudy Giuliani calls for Supreme Court to rule impeachment unconstitutional in deranged column

On Thursday , President Donald Trump ’ s attorney Rudy Giuliani penned a bizarre column in the right-wing Daily Caller , urging the Supreme Court to step in and rule impeachment “ unconstitutional.
” “ House Democrats have put our constitutional government in grave danger by attempting to rewrite the carefully calibrated separation of powers under our Constitution and usurping powers not granted to the House , ” wrote Giuliani .
“ They have brought Alexander Hamilton ’ s nightmare of an entirely partisan impeachment to fruition and are making a mockery of fair proceedings.
” Giuliani went on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obstruction of Congress are not crimes of any kind , high or low , ” and that by claiming that his and Trump ’ s scheme to extort Ukraine with military aid is abuse of power is an attempt “ to undermine the president in exercising his constitutional power and duty to conduct the foreign policy of the United States and derives from a disagreement by the House Democrats in how this administration conducted foreign policy.
” All of these claims are false .
Trump is actually accused of trying to withhold military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not U.S. foreign policy .
Additionally , Trump ’ s conduct does raise the possibility he committed several federal crimes , and even if he hadn ’ t , the Constitution does not require impeachable offenses to be crimes .
But all of this , Giuliani argued , somehow provided grounds for the Supreme Court to nullify the whole thing .
“ The Constitution is silent on the Supreme Court ’ s role in an impeachment except to provide that it is presided over by the chief justice , ” admitted Giuliani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also silent on the court ’ s power to declare federal and state laws and government action unconstitutional … If this impeachment is not declared illegal it would remove the constitutional limitation of crimes on the power to impeach .
It would allow the House to impeach for policy differences or political leverage .
It would prevent a future president to raise any challenge to the most illegal , overbroad subpoena from any of the multitude of congressional committees and sub-committees .
Congress would also create for itself a veto over a president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anytime it disagrees , it could charge abuse of power.
” “ Although there would be an immense amount of political benefit for Trump if there were to be a lengthy Senate trial , proving the vast crimes committed by Democrats during this baseless inquiry , it would be far better for the Supreme Court to reestablish the 229-year constitutional balance between our branches of government , ” concluded Giuliani .
“ Then , once again , we can be a government of laws .
”


rawstory--2020-01-09--Trump declares the 1973 War Powers Act unconstitutional in a tweet — because John Bolton said so

President Donald Trump on Thursday declared the 1973 War Powers Act was unconstitutional and called for it to be repealed @ @ @ @ @ v. Madison opinion , it is the Judicial Branch , not the Executive Branch , @ @ @ @ @ declare laws passed by the Executive Branch to be unconstitutional .
Former Trump National Security @ @ @ @ @ law to be unconstitutional .
“ It reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of how the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ the President and Congress , ” he continued .
“ The Resolution should be repealed @ @ @ @ @


rawstory--2020-01-09--Matt Gaetz says he will vote with Democrats on House’s war powers resolution

Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) , a close ally of President Donald Trump ’ s , will vote against @ @ @ @ @ go to war without Congress .
“ Killing Soleimani was the right decision , ” @ @ @ @ @ a Bloomberg reporter .
However , he doesn ’ t agree with getting into a @ @ @ @ @ East .
It ’ s a sentiment that Trump once shared when running for president @ @ @ @ @ is the “ wrong decision.
” Gaetz joins many other Republicans who have spoken out @ @ @ @ @ power to attack Iran at will .
Sens .
Rand Paul ( R-KY ) and @ @ @ @ @ have been two of the loudest Republicans supporting the Democrats ’ bill .
Gaetz sent @ @ @ @ @ the matter :


rawstory--2020-01-09--‘This president can’t be trusted’: ex-FBI official explains War Powers vote is like Congress discipl

‘This president can’t be trusted’: ex-FBI official explains War Powers vote is like Congress disciplining a child

President Donald Trump has worsened his relationship with Congress — including some Republicans — with the administration ’ s shifting justifications for assassinating Iranian Gen. Qassim Suleimani , a former top official at the Federal Bureau of Investigation explained on MSNBC .
Frank Figliuzzi , who served as the assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI , was interviewed as the House of Representatives debated a War Powers resolution authored by Rep. Elissa Slotkin ( D-MN ) .
The host played clips showing conflict justifications offered by Defense Secretary Mark Esper , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can no longer trust this white house even when the consequences are as grave as potential war to tell us anything approximating the truth.
” “ And what ’ s really offensive to someone like me , that ’ s been an intelligence professional , is they ’ re trying to put the imprimatur — the good face of our intelligence services — on this , ‘ we have great intel.
’ No , you didn ’ t have that intel , you ’ re lying about it.
” Figliuzzi then offered insight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be raised by FBI agents .
“ You know , Nicolle , I used to tell my kids , my two boys , when they were teenagers and they ’ d been out with the car for the night .
The next day , I ’ d say , “ Hey , how ’ d your evening go ?
Where were you ?
What did you do ?
’ And if their account of it wasn ’ t matching with my intel , with my sources and methods , I ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ' ” he explained .
“ That ’ s what we ’ re talking about in Congress right now with the War Powers discussion .
this president can ’ t be trusted with the keys to the car , to make good decisions , ” he explained .
“ This White House can ’ t make good decisions , the president is hanging out with the wrong people .
That ’ s why you hear Nancy Pelosi talking about war powers authority.
” Wallace , who worked in the George W. Bush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of harsh interrogation techniques , said she wanted to do a whole show I Figliuzzi ’ s parenting tips so she could use them on her eight-year-old son .


rawstory--2020-01-09--Trump has alienated the very elite whose respect he so clearly seeks: Washington Post editor

In an op-ed for The Washington Post this Thursday , Marc Fisher argues that when it comes to foreign policy , money , not strategy , is President Trump ’ s main motivating factor .
“ Donald Trump , like Obama , campaigned on a pledge to get the United States ‘ out of the nation-building business , ' ” Fisher writes .
“ But when Iraqi leaders demanded that U.S. forces withdraw after Trump ordered the killing in Iraq of a top Iranian military commander , the president ’ s instinct was to describe the crisis in purely mercenary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of money in Iraq , ’ he said .
‘ We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that ’ s there .
It cost billions of dollars to build .
.
.
.
We ’ re not leaving unless they pay us back for it . '
” According to Fisher , Trump sees deals , not relationships , as the bottom line , “ not long-term goals or foundational principles ” — a bottom line that “ permeates his approach to governing.
” We can look no further for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current stance against Baghdad .
“ The decision to kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani without any apparent plan for managing Iran ’ s inevitable retaliation is typical of how Trump has always operated , ” writes Fisher .
“ He takes pride in acting swiftly and decisively , in the moment .
He does not want to hear about antedecents that might inform his decision-making or about how today ’ s decision might alter future options.
” Read the full piece over at The Washington Post .