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© J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Email exchanges between CIA public affairs officers and Ken Dilanian, now an Associated Press intelligence reporter who previously covered the CIA for the Times, show that Dilanian enjoyed a closely collaborative relationship with the agency, explicitly promising positive news coverage and sometimes sending the press office entire story drafts for review prior to publication. In at least one instance, the CIA's reaction appears to have led to significant changes in the story that was eventually published in the Times.
"I'm working on a story about congressional oversight of drone strikes that can present a good opportunity for you guys," Dilanian wrote in one email to a CIA press officer, explaining that what he intended to report would be "reassuring to the public" about CIA drone strikes. In another, after a series of back-and-forth emails about a pending story on CIA operations in Yemen, he sent a full draft of an unpublished report along with the subject line, "does this look better?" In another, he directly asks the flack: "You wouldn't put out disinformation on this, would you?"
Megaphone Strategies, whose stated mission is to "use PR as a tool to diversify progressive movements," typically works with progressive causes like Black Lives Matter. The firm is representing the handful of "faithless electors" trying to keep President-elect Donald Trump from winning the Electoral College vote.
The firm was co-founded by Van Jones, the former green jobs czar in the Obama White House who later resigned after it was revealed he signed a statement questioning whether the Bush administration had a role in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Jones now works as a CNN commentator.
Molly Haigh, Megaphone's co-founder and president, worked for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Haigh blames the Republican party's "racist, misogynist, xenophobic fear mongering" for Trump's rise to power.
Comment: We live in 'interesting' times:
- 'Elite' coup is being orchestrated against president-elect Trump
- The Russian bear behind the keyboard: Russian hack claims are absurd
Worse yet, he will do it without the usual gaggle of reporters on the scene. He will therefore ignore and insult the "owners of the news" yet again.
He will pay zero attention to the State Department bureaucracy, which of course is dedicated to Globalism.
He will get on the phone with Putin, and this will happen:
Comment:
USA world domination map
Comment: Sounds like a bit of tongue in cheek humor there with closing line.
© Baz Ratner / Reuters
"The bond between Israel and the United States runs deep, and I will ensure there is no daylight between us when I'm President," said President-elect Trump in the announcement. "As the United States' Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman will maintain the special relationship between our two countries. He has been a long-time friend and trusted advisor to me. His strong relationships in Israel will form the foundation of his diplomatic mission and be a tremendous asset to our country as we strengthen the ties with our allies and strive for peace in the Middle East. Nothing is more critical than protecting the security of our citizens at home and abroad."
Comment: David Friedman is a proponent of moving the US Embassy in Israel:
Speaking shortly after Trump delivered his victory speech in New York, David Friedman, his Israel affairs adviser, told the Jerusalem Post "there is every intention" to keep the campaign promise and move the US Embassy to the city [Jerusalem].
© Rick Wilking / Reuters
A new report by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) says the US Department of Defense (DoD) is falling behind in capitalizing on the nation's "intellectual, financial, and institutional advantages sufficient to maintain its military-technical superiority."
"The erosion of U.S. military-technical advantages increases military risk, weakens the deterrent value of traditional capabilities, and undermines the DoD's ability to generate nuanced military options to address the growing range of policy contingencies faced by the nation," according to the report, Future Foundry: A New Strategic Approach to Military-Technical Advantage.
That's a lot of crashes. And there's a good chance the recent incidents are just the beginning of a dangerous new era for the dozens of American and allied squadrons flying the aged, overworked twin-engine fighters.
The Pentagon still possesses hundreds of the 1980s- and '90s-vintage "legacy" F/A-18s -- not to be confused with newer and more modern, second-generation Super Hornets. Besides Canada and Switzerland, US allies including Australia, Kuwait, Finland, Malaysia and Spain also operate old, first-gen F/A-18s.
The ancient city of Palmyra in Syria
More than anything else the attack was a serious blow aimed at Russia's international image, as the world associates her with Palmyra after Valery Gergiev conducted an unforgettable concert there last May.
Unfortunately, the Syrian General Staff did not attach much importance to the skirmishes near the hilltop of Qasr al-Halabat southwest of Palmyra, Jabal Hayan in the western suburbs, South Sawamea to the northeast, and the Hawaisis region to the northwest, which took place on Dec. 9 and 10, and as a result the fighting advanced to within four kilometers of the city's borders.
© PetoLocum
© Omar Sanadiki/ReutersLiberated Aleppo citizens celebrate
Following the mass surrender yesterday of Jihadi fighters and their evacuation under escort by the Russian military to Idlib, the Russian military has confirmed that the Syrian army is now in full control of Aleppo.
Confirmation has been provided by Lieutenant General Poznikhir, the First Deputy Head of the Main Operations Department of the Russian military's General Staff
'The militants have been driven out of all the quarters of Aleppo that remained under their control as a result of the Syrian troops' offensive. During the operation over 900 terrorists have been killed, dozens pieces of heavy weapons and other military equipment have been destroyed, 105 city quarters with a total area of 78.5 square kilometres have been liberated, a total of 3,033 militants have left Aleppo voluntarily, 1,524 of them have been amnestied and released, while the rest are checked.'
Poznikhir's last comment incidentaly confirms that not all the Jihadis in eastern Aleppo were covered by the withdrawal agreement reached by Putin and Erdogan. Jihadis as they surrender are being subjected to a screening process and those suspected of being ringleaders or who are thought to have committed crimes, are being detained by the Syrian authorities.
The 'Great Battle of Aleppo' is finally over. The Syrian army has won.
Comment: This is the same guy now saying that Putin was personally involved in the DNC/Podesta "hacks". And it looks like he's up to his same tricks: Puhleeze! Don't these guys realize no one buys their BS aside from the presstitutes like Dilanian they sell it to?