SYRIA UPDATE

Christmas Tree lit up in Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=153463

Ministry of Industry issues decision on establishing Board of Directors of Federation of Syrian chambers of Industry

The Board of Director includes Heads of Damascus and its Countryside Chamber of Industry Samer al-Debs, Aleppo Chamber of Industry Fares al-Shihabi, Homs Chamber of Industry Mohammed Labib al-Ikhwan, and Hama Chamber of Industry and the Secretaries of Damascus and its countryside , Aleppo Chamber of Industry , in addition to representatives from Damascus and its countryside, Aleppo, Homs and Hama Chambers of Industry, according to the decision which SANA received a copy of it.

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=153451

Pentagon Says Any Military Action Into SDF-Held Area Is “Unacceptable”

In its first response to Turkey’s plan to launch a military operation against the Syrian Democratic Force (SDF), the Pentagon said that any military action into northeastern Syria will be “unacceptable” and a source of concern.

“Unilateral military action into northeast Syria by any party, particularly as U.S. personnel may be present or in the vicinity, is of grave concern. We would find any such actions unacceptable,” Commander Sean Robertson, a Pentagon spokesman, said at the early hours of December 13.

Robertson added that dialogue between the SDF and the Turkish government is the only way to secure the Syrian-Turkish border without clarifying if the U.S. will work to facilitate such solution.

“We believe this dialogue is the only way to secure the border area in a sustainable manner, and believe that uncoordinated military operations will undermine that shared interest,” CNN quoted Robertson as saying.

https://southfront.org/pentagon-says-any-military-action-into-sdf-held-area-is-unacceptable/

Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham And Jaysh Al-Izza Launch New Attacks In Northern Hama

On December 13, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) [the former branch of al-Qaeda in Syria] shelled several positions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) around the town of Taybat al-Imam in the northern Hama countryside. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said that the army responded and struck several positions of the radical group in the town of al-Buwaydah.

“The strikes destroyed several artillery positions and killed many terrorists,” the SANA’s reporter in Hama said.

Later, the SAA foiled an attempt by Jaysh al-Izza, a key ally of HTS, to launch an attack from the demilitarized zone in the northern Hama countryside. According to the SANA, the SAA stuck fortifications, weapons and equipment of the radical group around the town of Maarkaba.

https://southfront.org/hayat-tahrir-al-sham-and-jaysh-al-izza-launch-new-attacks-in-northern-hama/

More Than 15,000 FSA Fighters Will Participate In Upcoming Turkish Attack On Northeaster Syria

The NSA leader had said the Turkish attack will be limited to the border city of Tell Abyad. However, according to Hamoud the northern cities of Manbij and Ras al-Ayn are among the targets of the upcoming attack.

“The battle will be launched simultaneously from several fronts … It will be in Manbij and Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ayn,” Reuters quoted Hamoud as saying.

Hamoud said that the attack will likely begin from the Turkey territory. Later, the attack may be develop to include fronts in the Turkish-occupied areas in northern Syrian.

https://southfront.org/more-than-15000-fsa-fighters-will-participate-in-upcoming-turkish-attack-on-northeaster-syria/

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Russia Established New Base Near Al-Tanaf – Report

More weapons, including heavy rocket launchers, are expected to arrive in the base in the upcoming few days.

Earlier this month, the US-led coalition launched several rockets from its base in al-Tanaf at positions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the nearby al-Ghurab mount. The attack didn’t result in any casualties and the coalition never acknowledge it.

Few days after the incident, the Ministry of Defense of Russia revealed that it had suggested the idea of jointly operating the al-Tanaf base in order to avoid any conflict in the area. However, the U.S. was not interested.

The increased activity of Russian forces around al-Tanaf is aimed at deterring and pressuring the US-led coalition, according to local observers, who believe these steps may eventually force Washington to withdraw its troops from the strategic border area.

https://southfront.org/russia-established-new-base-near-al-tanaf-report/

Syrian War Report – Dec. 13, 2018: Turkey Threatens US-backed Kurdish Forces With New Operation

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-dec-13-2018-turkey-threatens-us-backed-kurdish-forces-with-new-operation/

Russia: Imposing Israeli laws on occupied Syrian Golan rejected

Zakharova said that “Russia takes a principled stance on the issue of Syria’s ownership of the Golan Heights. That was confirmed by the 1981 UN Security Council Resolution 497. Our approach to Israel’s illegal decision to extend its sovereignty to the Golan Heights has remained unchanged. Changing the Golan Heights’ status bypassing the Security Council is a direct violation of UN decisions.”

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=153439

raq, The Rebuilding of a Nation In the Wake of Sixteen Years of US Sponsored Terrorism and Destruction

An Interview with the Norwegian Refugee Council

Iraq, which in the years of Saddam Hussein (1979-2003) lived a long period of prosperity and social stability, then recognized by the UN as one of the Arab countries that most respected religious diversity, has now become one of the most devastated nations in the world since the 1991 Gulf War, followed by the criminal US-imposed economic embargo which among many other catastrophes resulted in the death of more 200,000 children.

The second US invasion and occupation in 2003 was illegal, based on proven lies, undertaken without a UN mandate and in violation of international law and the UN Charter, not to mention the US Constitution.

If all this were not enough for Iraq, after the second invasion by those who promised the Arab nation freedom and security, Iraq was subjected to the attacks of US sponsored terrorist groups including Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) for almost four years, from 2014 to 2017, not to mention Obama’s bombing raids against civilian infrastructure, implemented as part of a fake counterterrorism mandate. The unspoken objective was to destroy.

Since 2003, more than one million Iraqis have been killed. Both Al Qaeda and ISIS-Daesh are supported covertly by the US, funded by Saudi Arabia.

The underlying objective was to destroy Iraq, destabilize and divide the Middle East, which encompasses more than 60 percent of the World’s reserves of crude oil.

Tom Peyre-Costa, a spokesperson and activist at the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), details in the following interview the work of his organization especially in Iraq, and discusses the challenges of the Arab country to get out of a quagmire that seems endless – which the American regime historically best does in foreign lands.

“Displaced Iraqis feel abandoned one year after the announced defeat of IS,” Peyre regrets acknowledging the Iraqi government’s effort, while pointing out weaknesses and neglect of Baghdad to some degree, at this stage of Iraqi reconstruction. “Displaced Iraqis feel abandoned one year after the announced defeat of IS.”

The NRC is present today in 31 countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali and Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Colombia, Honduras, Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, Greece, Ukraine, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Norway, Switzerland, USA, United Kingdom.

As a non-profit NGO, the NRC is funded by voluntary donors – the main ones are Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union Humanitarian Aid, UN Refugee Agency, UKAID, and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

https://www.globalresearch.ca/iraq-the-rebuilding-of-a-nation-in-the-wake-of-sixteen-years-of-us-sponsored-terrorism-and-destruction/5662779

Zionist regime’s disturbed dreams will never come true: Iran

The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman has described the Zionist regime of Israel as the main cause of instability in the region, noting that its bad dreams about Iran will never come true.

Bahram Qassemi made the remarks on Thursday in reaction to earlier statements by the Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who had noted on Wednesday that Israel was prepared to launch attacks inside Iran if its survival was at stake.

“Our red line is our survival,” Netanyahu was quoted by AFP as saying at a meeting with foreign media where he was asked what his “red line” was for attacking Iranian territory, instead of Iran’s allies in Syria and Lebanon.

In reaction to Netanyahu’s ranting, Qassemi said, “Although the corrupt and aggressive Zionist regime, which is symbol of delusions, grudge and hatred, will never dare to take such a step, but uttering such outrageous and shameful words out of ignorance or delusion by the prime minister of an aggressive regime, knowingly or unknowingly, amounts to threatening a big and historical country with military action, which will be certainly followed up on in legal and international forums and institutions.”

The Iranian official noted that although the Zionist regime has been the main disturber of stability and security during past decades, but “expresses false concern about stability in the region in a ridiculous way and with no shame.”

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/12/13/582851/Iran-Israel-Qassemi-Ntanyahu

Pilot Seriously Injured After Military Jet Crash off Hawaii

HONOLULU – A Hawaii Air National Guard civilian contractor was in serious condition Wednesday after his plane crashed off the coast of Honolulu during a military exercise, authorities said.

The pilot of the Hawker Hunter jet ejected safely from the plane, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam said in a statement. He was initially rescued by a private sailboat and then transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Honolulu Emergency Services spokesman Dustin Malama said the 47-year-old appeared to have traumatic injuries and was taken to a hospital.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said a Hawker Hunter jet went down in the ocean around 2:25 p.m. after taking off from Honolulu's airport.

The pilot was rescued about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) south of Oahu near Honolulu's Sand Island, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The pilot had been participating in a military exercise called Sentry Aloha, which was temporarily suspended after the crash. The Hawaii Air National Guard was hosting the exercise, which involved about 800 personnel and 30 aircraft from nine states.

The cause of the crash was under investigation, the military said.

Departing flights from the Honolulu airport were held as a precaution for about 20 minutes, said Tim Sakahara, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

The Hawker Hunter is a British jet developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s, said the website of defense contractor BAE Systems.

Initially, a single-seat version was used as a maneuverable fighter aircraft. It was later used as both a fighter and bomber and for reconnaissance missions.

The British navy and air force continued to use a two-seat version into the early 1990s.

Britain exported the plane, and it was also used by the air forces of 21 other nations.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/12/12/pilot-seriously-injured-after-military-jet-crash-hawaii.html

Beloved Fox TV meteorologist and mother-of-two, 35, kills herself a month after telling fans she was struggling to recover from laser eye surgery which she got to finally be able to stop wearing contact lenses

Jessica Starr's death was announced by her Fox 2 colleagues on Thursday morning

The 35-year-old meteorologist was married and had two young children

She was still recovering from Lasik eye surgery when she died

In November, she asked fans for their prayers, saying she was finding it 'challenging' getting back to work and her normal life

She underwent Lasik eye surgery the previous month after wearing contact lenses for years

It is unclear if the young mother was taking pain medication to help her recover

Starr underwent Lasik SMILE surgery which corrects short-sightedness

The procedure was approved by the FDA in 2016 and is carried out by doctors across the country

It is unclear where Starr underwent her procedure in Detroit

A well-known TV Michigan meteorologist and mother-of-two has taken her own life a month after telling fans she was struggling to recover from laser eye surgery that she got so she could finally stop wearing her contact lenses.

Jessica Starr, 35, worked for WJBK Fox 2 since 2011. On Thursday morning, her colleagues cried as they announced her death on the air.

Starr, whose married name was Rose, had two young children. She leaves them behind along with her husband of eight years, Daniel.

In a statement issued on its website and read aloud by her colleagues on Thursday morning, Fox 2 said: 'Last night we were informed of the heartbreaking news that our friend and colleague, meteorologist Jessica Starr took her life.

'All of us here at FOX 2 are in deep shock and cannot believe that such a wonderful, bright and intelligent individual will no longer be with us.

More

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6492233/Fox-meteorologist-mother-two-35-kills-herself.html

This guy is a kiddy fucker for sure taking this line!

Cybill Shepherd says Les Moonves cancelled her sitcom when she refused to have sex with him after he told the actress that his 'wife and mistress did not turn him on'

Cybil Shepherd said in an interview on Thursday that Les Moonves ended her show when she refused his sexual advances

The actress appeared on SiriusXM's The Michelle Collins Show and said that Moonves propositioned her during a dinner meeting

'He was telling me his wife didn't turn him on, some mistress didn't turn him on,' said Shepherd, who said Moonves then asked to take her home

Shortly after she said that Moonves became overly critical of the show and soon after it was cancelled, even though it was supposed to run five more years

The show was abruptly pulled in its fourth season without airing a finale despite strong ratings and having received 12 Emmy nominations

Like many actress who have shared their #MeToo stories, Shepherd was branded in the press as notoriously difficult during the show's run

Cybill Shepherd is claiming that her eponymous sitcom was cancelled by Les Moonves after she rejected his sexual advances.

In an interview on SiriusXM's The Michelle Collins Show, Shepherd told the host that her show would have run for five more seasons until she upset her boss.

'Well, he did, uh his assistant and my assistant made a dinner date and we went to it and he was, well he was telling me his wife didn't turn him on, some mistress didn't turn him on,' said Shepherd.

'And I'm watching him drink alcohol and I'm going, he says, well, you know, why don't you let me take you home? I said, no, I've got a ride and I had my car outside with a good friend of mine who is an off duty LAPD officer.'

Shepherd said after that night the show suddenly began getting notes about what her character could and could not do and shortly after was cancelled by the network.

Moonves was married to his first wife Nancy at the time.

More:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6492449/Cybill-Shepherd-says-Les-Moonves-cancelled-sitcom-refused-sex-him.html

TABLES TURNED: Judge Orders Special Counsel Robert Mueller To Hand Over Documents

In a new twist, a U.S. District Court judge has ordered special counsel Robert Mueller to hand over all secret documents related to the questioning of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Flynn's legal team claims the Federal Bureau of Investigation urged the retired United States Army lieutenant general not to bring a lawyer to an interview with agents at the White House in January 2017. Flynn has since pleaded guilty to one count of lying to prosecutors and is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan on Wednesday ordered Mueller to turn over all documents and "memoranda" related to Flynn's questioning by 3 p.m. Friday. Sullivan is the same judge who overturned a 2008 conviction of former Sen. Ted Stevens after government misconduct was revealed.

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe set up the White House interview with Flynn, suggesting he not have a lawyer present. "I explained that I thought the quickest way to get this done was to have a conversation between [Flynn] and the agents only," McCabe wrote, according to newly filed court documents.

"I further stated that if LTG Flynn wished to include anyone else in the meeting, like the White House counsel for instance, that I would need to involve the Department of Justice. [Flynn] stated that this would not be necessary and agreed to meet with the agents without any additional participants."

FBI officials also decided not to warn Flynn that there he could face perjury charges if he made false statements during what appeared to be an informal interview.

In his ruling, Judge Sullivan also ordered the Flynn team "to turn over the documents backing up its assertions. The judge could determine why the FBI apparently took a significantly more aggressive tack in handling the Flynn interview than it did during other similar matters, including the agency's sit-downs with Hillary Clinton and ex-Trump adviser George Papadopoulos," Fox News reported.

Mueller's team recently filed court documents that say Flynn provided "substantial assistance" to Mueller's investigation and as a result, the special counsel asked that Flynn serve no jail time for making false statements to the FBI. The filing states:

The defendant deserves credit for accepting responsibility in a timely fashion and substantially assisting the government. As described in the Addendum, shortly after the SCO reached out to the defendant to seek his cooperation, the defendant accepted responsibility for his unlawful conduct and began cooperating with the government.

"Given the defendant’s substantial assistance and other considerations set forth below, a sentence at the low end of the guideline range — including a sentence that does not impose a term of incarceration — is appropriate and warranted," attorney Brandon L. Van Grack, who works on Mueller’s team, wrote in the documents.

The filing says that Flynn sat for 19 interviews with the special counsel and the Department of Justice during the investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential election.

https://www.dailywire.com/news/39326/tables-turned-judge-order-special-counsel-robert-joseph-curl

Macron out? French government faces no confidence vote as the country is in crisis

Macron’s Government is set for a no confidence vote as French lawmakers have put together a joint statement filing a motion of no confidence against Macron’s government, AFP reports.

Leaders André Chassaigne, of the French Communist Party; Olivier Faure, from the Socialist Party; and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, founder of France Unbowed (La France Insoumise) movement joined 59 members of the National Assembly said in a statement that the placative measures announced on Monday by Macron, including a minimum wage increase, tax-free overtime pay and end of the year bonuses, were “neither fair nor responsible” and “are not likely to respond to the anger and demands of the French”.

“Yellow Vests” spokesman Benjamin Cauchy was quoted by French news BFM saying that the movement wasn’t satisfied with Macron’s tax cuts and wage rises: “The French don’t want crumbs, they want a baguette.”

The French Constitution in Article 49 states that a no-confidence motion must be voted upon at least 48 hours after filing with the absolute majority of MPs required to bring down the government. Macron’s La République En Marche! party, however, holds 309 seats of 577 so there is a strong chance that won’t occur.

It has, however, forced a response from Prime Minister Edouard Philippe who has stated he will detail his 2019 budget plans before the vote, which possibly could be postponed due to the terror attack on the Christmas Market in Strasbourg which killed three and injured 13 others.

https://voiceofeurope.com/2018/12/macron-out-french-government-faces-no-confidence-vote-as-the-country-is-in-crisis/

Finnish MP compares the European Union to fascist Germany in the 40s

During a parliamentary debate, Finnish MP Ville Tavio of the nationalist Finns party, has asserted as reported by Finnish national broadcaster Yle: “Federalists are threatening the people of Europe and the nation state. They create a new kind of Soviet Union, they create a new Nazi Germany”.

He’s received criticism from fellow politicians, as well as from the Prime Minister Juha Sipilä. The Finns, Ville’s party, are not disavowing the statement about the “fascist” likeness of European globalism, calling it a “new form of fascism”.

He explains that he believes that the Finns were unaware of the globalist agenda when they voted to join the EU in the 1990s. The 34-year-old politician’s statement has sparked a major debate with politicians on both the left and the right having a strong response.

The Finns, who used to be called True Finns and still is their name in both of Finland’s official languages of Swedish and Finnish, are the Finnish right-wing nationalists and EU-sceptic party.

They have stood with Ville regarding the comment, the group chairperson Leena Meri stating: “I understood it in the way that Tavio was aiming at the EU’s megalomania, that nothing is ever enough. He didn’t offend any person in particular, but criticised the entire institution as such”.

https://voiceofeurope.com/2018/12/finnish-mp-compares-the-european-union-to-fascist-germany-in-the-40s/

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Suicides need to be noted

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Fuck this guy