SYRIA UPDATE

French delegation discusses with Syrian businessmen means of invigorating economic ties

Mariani, for his part, said the majority of French people want to restore bilateral relations with Syria, calling for establishing a French-Syrian association to revive economic ties.

Mariani said Syria has jump-started the reconstruction stage as security and stability had returned to many areas, adding France aspires to establish cultural ties involving Syria’s heritage.

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=153901

US starts pulling forces out of Syria

"We have started returning United States troops home as we transition to the next phase of this campaign," Sanders said in a statement.

http://tass.com/world/1036844

After Ghaddafi Murder, Weapons Shipped To Syria Via al-Qaeda, Qatar, US

While the United States continues to deny providing support to terrorists in Syria in terms of money, training, or weapons without the “rebels” first being “moderate,” the truth is that it has been proven time and time again that the US did indeed arm jihadists in Syria from the very beginning and even before the alleged “protests” began in 2011.

Even taking the admitted 2013 arming of terrorists out of the equation – the infamous initiative that took place after the Obama administration cooked up an accusation that the Syrian government used “chemical weapons” on civilians in Ghouta that year – the evidence is clear that the United States had been arming fighters before that time. This is clearly seen when anyone follows the trail of weapons that found their way into Syria early on.

10 min read very detailed use link

https://www.activistpost.com/2018/12/after-ghaddafi-murder-weapons-shipped-to-syria-via-al-qaeda-qatar-us.html

Moscow: the US started to recognize that its rejection of Astana efforts harms its interests

“The US decision to withdraw its troops from Syria opens new horizons for the political settlement in the country,” RT quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement commenting on Washington announcement the start of withdrawing its troops from Syria.

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=153909

Jaysh Al-Izza Kills Around Dozen Syrian Service Members In Fresh Attack In Northern Hama

“After spying on the communication coming from Assad’s gangs’ operations [room] and with help from our soldiers behind the enemy’s lines, we received information that the regime is planning to advance on an axis in the northern Hama countryside,” the group claimed in a short press release.

A source in the SAA told SouthFront that Jaysh al-Izza didn’t ambush any unit of the SAA, but launched a large attack on the checkpoint of the army near the town of Masasneh. As a result, eleven soldiers and officers of the SAA’s 87th Brigade were killed and many others were injured.

“They took advantage of the fog and infiltrated the position,” the source said.

https://southfront.org/jaysh-al-izza-kills-around-dozen-syrian-service-members-in-fresh-attack-in-northern-hama/

Military Situation In Syria On December 19, 2018 (Map Update)

The security situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone is deteriorating. Militant groups have expanded their attacks on government forces in norhern Latakia and northern Hama;

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are reportedly clashing with ISIS members in the Hajin area;

The Turkish Armed Forces and pro-Turkish proxies remain prepared for a possible attack on Kurdish armed groups in northern Syria.

https://southfront.org/military-situation-in-syria-on-december-19-2018-map-update/

NOTE: Really hope this means peace for Syria!.

Houston man sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for trafficking children for commercial sex

HOUSTON – A Houston man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison Tuesday for trafficking children for commercial sex.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston, and the United Kingdom Border Force.

Jason Daniel Gandy, 41, received the 30-year sentence following his July 23 conviction on four counts of sex trafficking minors, one count of transporting minors, one count of sexually exploiting a child, and one count of transporting child pornography.

Following his incarceration, Gandy was also ordered to supervised release for the rest of his life, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He must also register as a sex offender.

Gandy initially came on law enforcement’s radar when immigration officers from the United Kingdom Border Force stopped him in July 2012 after he and a minor male child arrived in London on a flight originating in Houston. Sensing something was wrong about a man of Gandy’s age traveling with an unrelated 15-year-old boy, the U.K. refused them entry and returned them to Houston on separate flights.

Once they arrived in Houston, HSI Houston launched an investigation which revealed Gandy ran a massage business out of his home and was using the young boy to give massages to clients. During these massages, paying customers were allowed to fondle the child. The boy was also required to sexually gratify customers by masturbating them.

Gandy paid for the trip to London and the child’s passport fees. Gandy intended that the child perform massages in London during the 2012 Olympics. This investigation also revealed Gandy molested the child on more than one occasion and intended to continue doing so.

After authorities had detained Gandy on the original charge of transporting a minor, further investigation revealed there were multiple young men whom Gandy had victimized, some as minors and some as adults. During trial, four of the identified victims – who were all minors when they were exploited – testified how Gandy manipulated them into performing massages on men which culminated in sexually gratifying the client.

Following the sentencing, Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson, HSI Houston, credited the partnerships that HSI has under Operation Predator for the successful investigation that led to the conviction and sentencing.

“Thanks to the outstanding partnership that we have with the U.K. Border Force under Operation Predator, we have sent a resounding message that the global law enforcement community is united in our mission to bring to justice those who victimize children.”

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/houston-man-sentenced-30-years-federal-prison-trafficking-children-commercial-sex

Judge orders NXIVM lawyers to reveal all donors to the Defense trust – by noon tomorrow

Another Order From Judge Garaufis = Another Bad Day For NXIVM

Right from the outset, it seems that Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis has understood just what Keith Raniere is all about.

One of the first things he did is order that Raniere be detained because he found that the prosecution had submitted credible testimony that there were no conditions that would reasonably assure Raniere’s appearance at trial or the safety of the community.

And it’s been pretty much downhill for Raniere from there.

Judge Garaufis has also had a very keen understanding of the woman that financed most of the illegal actions that were undertaken by Raniere and other members of the NXIVM cult: Clare Bronfman.

And yesterday, Judge Garaufis launched another torpedo that will help to sink both Raniere and Bronfman.

In another “sua sponte” Order that he issued yesterday, the judge has directed the defense attorneys to provide him with the names of everyone who has contributed to the Defense Trust Fund that Bronfman set up shortly before she was indicted.

Here’s the Order:

ORDER: Defendants are DIRECTED to submit to the court the names of any and all contributors to the Trust by no later than 12:00 P.M. on December 20, 2018. (See generally Gov’t Nov. 30, 2018 Letter (Dkt. [210]) at 2-3 (stating that an irrevocable trust, to which Defendant Clare Bronfman is the primary contributor, is paying the legal fees of the other Defendants and certain witnesses).) Having these names will help the court conduct the anticipated Curcio hearings properly. Defendants may submit these names ex parte and under seal. If Defendants are unable to ascertain and submit these names, they are to provide an explanation; the court will then take such further steps as are necessary to identify them. Ordered by Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis on 12/18/2018.

https://frankreport.com/2018/12/19/another-order-from-judge-garaufis-another-bad-day-for-nxivm/

Democrats to block end-of-year judges package

Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.), under pressure from groups on the left, will not agree to a customary year-end package of judicial nominees, according to a Senate Democratic aide.

Schumer and his Democratic colleagues are in no mood to agree to a year-end deal after a federal judge in Texas struck down the entire Affordable Care Act last week, including protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

The judge, Reed O’Conner, was a George W. Bush appointee confirmed by the Senate in a voice vote in 2007 — when Democrats held the majority.

Schumer brushed off questions about if letting O'Connor clear by a voice vote in 2007 was a "bad deal," telling NBC's Chuck Todd on Sunday that senators couldn't predict how a district judge would rule more than a decade after his nomination was before the Senate.

"There was no deal, I don't think, on this judge. He was a nominee to the district court. No one brought up anything. No one knew how he'd rule in the future. And you know, it's an awful ruling. Let's make no mistake about it," Schumer said on "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

Senate Democrats are also upset over Republicans not respecting the Senate’s blue-slip tradition, which gives both senators from a judicial nominee’s home state power to hold up his or her nomination.

Senate leaders usually agree to a package of judicial and executive nominees before major holiday recess. Judicial nominees, in particular, have been a top priority of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who views them as the party’s best chance to shape the political leaning of the country for decades.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/422085-democrats-to-block-end-of-year-judges-package

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The US presence was the thorn stopping the Russia Syria SAA from liberating Idlib. Turkey is now on their own in support of the so called rebels there

FED CHAIR SCREWS AMERICA: Announces New Rate Hike — DOW PLUNGES 350 Points in 10 Minutes

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/12/fed-chair-screws-america-announces-new-rate-hike-dow-plunges-350-points-in-10-minutes/