List of figures from left to right: Nikki Haley, James Mattis, Ben Carson, President Trump, Jeff Sessions, Mike Pence, Melania Trump, Mike Pompeo, Sarah Sanders, Ivanka Trump, John Bolton, Kellyanne Conway, John Kelly.
Yes, this is a bit overboard but I thought it would evoke a sharp response from my liberal friends.
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This is from a graduate of Savannah State who found my name through searching Google and who thought my business career matched his own ambitions. We met and I have been trying to move him in directions that will prove constructive. I have introduced him to those I know who will give of their time, experiences and advice.
I did not make it on my own. We all need others to help pave the way. Consequently, I get pleasure out of helping those coming along who, I deem, are worthy and deserving.
"Thanks so much, Mr. Berkowitz!! As I reflect on my journey, I'm so glad that I met you and your wonderful family. I’m grateful to be the mentee of Mr. Richard Berkowitz! I will make you proud.
I look forward to speaking with you Sunday and meeting Mr. James sometime in the future.
Sincerely,
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Russia's position regarding Iran and the threat to Israel. (See 1 below.)
And:
A series of articles on a variety of topic effecting The Middle East, Israel etc. (See 1a below.)
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Market analysis from Zack's V.P. (See 2 below.)
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Are government gum shoes hiding something? If not then they would be releasing and not black lining. Man ( read Brennan, Comey, Strzok, Clapper, Hillary Clinton, Schiff et. al) is flawed and seldom to be trusted when working for government. Cynical? Yes. Accurate? Yes. (See 3 below.)
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Dick
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1) Russian envoy: Israel's security 'high priority,' but Moscow can't boot Iran from Syria
Russia cannot force Iran to leave Syria following the end of the civil war in that country, Russian Ambassador Anatoly Viktorov told Israeli media on Monday.
In an interview with Hebrew-language Channel 10 on Monday, Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov said that Israel’s security was a “high priority” for Russia, and added that Moscow is committed to upholding the terms of the 1974 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria that ended the Yom Kippur War.
But he said that all Moscow will be able to do is to “try to convince” the Iranian leadership to evacuate troops from Syria on a permanent basis.
“We want to see every part of the separation of forces agreement upheld,” Viktorov said. “We agree that on the other side of the [Israel-Syria] border, there should only be regular Syrian army troops. Securing Israel’s security is very high up on our priority list. Israel’s security is not just an empty phrase for Russia’s foreign policy.”
However, asked about Iran’s role in Syria, both at the present time and looking forward, Victorov repeated Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s assertion that Tehran will continue to play a role in Syria for the foreseeable future.
“They have a very important role in our joint effort to wipe out terrorists in Syria. Therefore, at this stage we don’t think the demand to get all foreign fighters out of Syria is realistic. Iran’s presence in Syria is completely legitimate in accordance with UN resolutions and the UN charter. The government of Syria invited them.
“[Ultimately] we can talk to our Iranian partners honestly and openly and try to convince them to do or not to do something. We cannot force them,” Viktorov said.
Victorov’s comments are a stiff blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, both of whom have visited Russia repeatedly over the past year and hosted Russian officials here in order to plead Israel’s case for ensuring that Iranian forces leave Syria at the end of the war there.
Both have stressed the view that Iranian troops in Syria present an existential security threat to Israel, one that Israel will not accept under any circumstances.
Despite those efforts, however, Moscow has sent mixed signals over the past year about Iran’s role in post-war Syria.
Lavrov said in early July, “It would be absolutely unrealistic” to expect Iran to walk away from its interests in Syria and added a call for “all regional powers… to negotiate a compromise.”
Last week, Putin dispatched Lavrov and Russian military chief Valery Gerasimov to Jerusalem for “urgent diplomatic talks,” reportedly to push Netanyahu to accept an ongoing Iranian troop presence in Syria, to move no closer than 100 kilometers from the Israeli border.
On the other hand, Lavrov has hinted – but not said explicitly – in recent months that the Kremlin is sympathetic to Israel’s demand that Iranian forces leave Syrian territory following the conclusion of the civil war.
1a)
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2) Stocks Rebound On Trade Optimism And Strong Economic Reports
By Kevin Matras, Executive Vice President, Zacks Investment Research
Stocks were higher across the board yesterday with the small-cap Russell 2000 Index leading the way.
News that the US and China are trying to restart trade talks sent stocks up. Of course, just having talks is different than reaching an agreement. But just like the markets cheered the progress between the US and the EU, traders were clearly encouraged by this as well.
Nobody wants a trade war. Especially China, which is mired in a bear market.
In other news, yesterday's Personal Income and Outlays report showed income up 0.4% m/m with spending up the same. The PCE Index was up 0.1% m/m and 2.2% y/y. Analysts noted the 'easing inflation pressure' along with the 'healthy consumer'.
Retail sales, as reported by the Redbook numbers, showed same store sales growing at a clip of 4.2%, up from last month's pace of 3.8%.
The S&P Corelogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index was up 0.7% m/m and 6.5% y/y.
The Chicago Purchasing Managers Index jumped up to 65.5 vs. last month's 64.1 and views for 62.3, and characterized its continuing pace as 'torrid'.
Consumer Confidence was 'steady and strong', rising to 127.4 from last month's 126.4.
And the State Street Investor Confidence Index increased to 101.8 from last month's print of 101.7. The North American component edged lower by 0.9 points but finished at a solid 103.4. Europe increased 0.7 points to 91.5. And Asia rose by 0.5 points at 103.3. All in all, it shows the 'accumulation of equities by global institutional investors' continues, and bodes well for stocks.
We'll get more earnings reports today, and later in the afternoon we'll get the FOMC Meeting Announcement. The Fed is expected to keep rates steady. Nonetheless, the market is anticipating two more rate hikes by the end of the year. Just not today.
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3)
What Are the FBI and CIA Hiding?
The agency might have led the bureau down a rabbit hole in the 2016 Trump counterintelligence probe.
Did the Central Intelligence Agency lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation down a rabbit hole in the counterintelligence investigation of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign?
Although the FBI’s case officially began July 31, 2016, there had been investigative activity before that date. John Brennan’s CIA might have directed activity in Britain, which could be a problem because of longstanding agreements that the U.S. will not conduct intelligence operations there. It would explain why the FBI continues to stonewall Congress as to the inquiry’s origin.
Further, what we know about the case’s origin does not meet the threshold required by the attorney general guidelines for opening a counterintelligence case. That standard requires “predicate information,” or “articulable facts.”
From what has been made public, all that passes for predicate information in this matter originated in Britain. Stefan Halper, an American who ran the Center of International Studies at Cambridge, had been a CIA source in the past. Recent press reports describe him as an FBI informant. Joseph Mifsud, another U.K.-based academic with ties to Western intelligence, met with Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos on April 26, 2016. Mr. Mifsud reportedly mentioned “dirt” on Hillary Clinton. Then, on May 10, Mr. Papadopoulos met with Australian Ambassador Alexander Downer in London, to whom he relayed the claim about “dirt” on Mrs. Clinton.
Peter Strzok, the FBI’s deputy assistant director, went to London Aug. 2, 2016, two days after the case was opened, ostensibly to interview Mr. Downer about his conversation with Mr. Papadopoulos. But what about the earlier investigative activity? The FBI would not usually maintain an informant in England. It is far likelier that in the spring of 2016 Mr. Halper was providing information to British intelligence or directly to the CIA, where Mr. Brennan was already pushing the collusion narrative.
James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence, has acknowledged that “intelligence agencies” were looking into the collusion allegations in spring 2016. The Guardian, a British newspaper, reported that British intelligence had been suspicious about contacts between associates of Mr. Trump’s campaign and possible Russian agents. That prompted Robert Hannigan, then head of Britain’s Government Communications Headquarters, to pass information to Mr. Brennan. With only these suspicions, Mr. Brennan pressured the FBI into launching its counterintelligence probe.
The FBI lacked any real predicate. But in the post-9/11 world, a referral from the CIA would cause some in the FBI to believe they had to act—particularly as the agency’s information originated with America’s closest ally. Shortly after the case opened that summer, Mr. Brennan gave a briefing to then-Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, telling him that the CIA had referred the matter to the FBI—an obvious effort to pressure the bureau to get moving on the collusion case.
As the FBI’s investigation progressed, it would use a surveillance warrant against Carter Page, a former member of Mr. Trump’s campaign, who had been in contact with Mr. Halper. A dossier prepared for the Clinton campaign by Christopher Steele, formerly of Britain’s MI6, was used to obtain the warrant.
The existence of the investigation was withheld from the congressional “gang of eight” because of its “sensitivity,” former FBI Director James Comey later said. The FBI continues to withhold the full details of the origin story from Congress. Their rationale is the “protection of sources,” as the origin lies with our best international partner.
Although Mr. Brennan has exposed himself as a biased actor, the CIA has escaped criticism for using only thinly sourced information from British intelligence to snooker the FBI. Most damaging is the possibility that the CIA violated agreements with Britain by spying there rather than asking MI5 or MI6 to do so. And that may be what is really being withheld from Congress.
Mr. Baker is a retired FBI special agent and legal attaché.
10) Mark Felt – Deputy director of the FBI, aka “Deep Throat” during the Watergate scandal. This was the first public instance of a senior FBI officially directly interfering in America’s political affairs. Forerunner of James Comey, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page and Andrew McCabe.