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A recap of December 19 though 30 what Trump was up to before this mess we're dealing with now.
I, myself like having all this information in one place where I can find it easy. These are all from the GD. I hope this helps everyone see a clearer picture; how this all looks to the rest of the world. We have an insane man for our President. God help us!
December 19:
Heads of All Military Branches including Southcom Northcom & Nuclear Force Replaced since July 2019
In response to “5 Pentagon officials have resigned in the last week”. All military brass has been replaced since July 2019!
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212799775#post25
Many Commanders have a four (4) year term so perhaps this is just a huge coincidence.
With great sadness, we have to acknowledge a window of doubt about loyalties created by reports of Trump’s demands for loyalty.
You can read about each new Head and their start dates at the links beneath each stated branch.
Army
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army
Navy
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_the_Navy
Air Force
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_the_Air_Force
Marines
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandant_of_the_Marine_Corps
Northcom
https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/07/11/groundbreaking-female-general-in-command-of-us-army-north/
Southcom
https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/1905866/us-army-south-welcomes-new-commander/
Commander in Charge of Nuclear Forces
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2019/11/heres-the-new-commander-in-charge-of-us-nuclear-forces/
We can hope these new leaders have to report activities to The House of Representatives and/or Senators.
Big changes are underway in the branches
The Marines' new commandant has set the bar for real military reform
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-marines-have-set-the-bar-for-reform-can-the-rest-of-the-military-follow/2019/08/08/21b47d5e-ba1c-11e9-b3b4-2bb69e8c4e39_story.html
Remarks by Acting Secretary of the Army Hon. Ryan D. McCarthy at U.S. Army Change of Responsibility
https://www.army.mil/article/225609/remarks_by_acting_secretary_of_the_army_hon_ryan_d_mccarthy_at_us_army_change_of_responsibility
We might want to keep up with Military news. Each branch has a website.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212800748
In response to “5 Pentagon officials have resigned in the last week”. All military brass has been replaced since July 2019!
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212799775#post25
Many Commanders have a four (4) year term so perhaps this is just a huge coincidence.
With great sadness, we have to acknowledge a window of doubt about loyalties created by reports of Trump’s demands for loyalty.
You can read about each new Head and their start dates at the links beneath each stated branch.
Army
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army
Navy
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_the_Navy
Air Force
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secretary_of_the_Air_Force
Marines
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandant_of_the_Marine_Corps
Northcom
https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/07/11/groundbreaking-female-general-in-command-of-us-army-north/
Southcom
https://www.southcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/Article/1905866/us-army-south-welcomes-new-commander/
Commander in Charge of Nuclear Forces
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2019/11/heres-the-new-commander-in-charge-of-us-nuclear-forces/
We can hope these new leaders have to report activities to The House of Representatives and/or Senators.
Big changes are underway in the branches
The Marines' new commandant has set the bar for real military reform
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-marines-have-set-the-bar-for-reform-can-the-rest-of-the-military-follow/2019/08/08/21b47d5e-ba1c-11e9-b3b4-2bb69e8c4e39_story.html
Remarks by Acting Secretary of the Army Hon. Ryan D. McCarthy at U.S. Army Change of Responsibility
https://www.army.mil/article/225609/remarks_by_acting_secretary_of_the_army_hon_ryan_d_mccarthy_at_us_army_change_of_responsibility
We might want to keep up with Military news. Each branch has a website.
December 26:
Trump tells Russia, "killing, or on their way to killing," not to kill. Er...MAGA?
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212816666
China, Russia and Iran to hold joint naval drills (Reuters)
12/26/19 @ 4:20am
BEIJING (Reuters) - China, Iran and Russia will hold joint naval drills starting on Friday in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman, China’s defense ministry said on Thursday, amid heightened tension in the region between Iran and the United States.
China will send the Xining, a guided missile destroyer, to the drills, which will last until Monday and are meant to deepen cooperation between the three countries’ navies, ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing.
The drill was a “normal military exchange” between the three armed forces and was in line with international law and practices, Wu said.
... Friction has increased since last year when U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six nations and re-imposed sanctions on the country, crippling its economy... China has close diplomatic, trade and energy ties with Iran.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212817085
12/26/19 @ 4:20am
BEIJING (Reuters) - China, Iran and Russia will hold joint naval drills starting on Friday in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman, China’s defense ministry said on Thursday, amid heightened tension in the region between Iran and the United States.
China will send the Xining, a guided missile destroyer, to the drills, which will last until Monday and are meant to deepen cooperation between the three countries’ navies, ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing.
The drill was a “normal military exchange” between the three armed forces and was in line with international law and practices, Wu said.
... Friction has increased since last year when U.S. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six nations and re-imposed sanctions on the country, crippling its economy... China has close diplomatic, trade and energy ties with Iran.
Pelosi Impeachment Gambit Enrages Trump
I should say from the outset that I was not a fan of the idea, popularized by legal scholar Laurence Tribe, that Democrats should withhold the impeachment articles of President Donald Trump from the Senate to force Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to force him to hold a fair trial. While I’m concerned as anyone that McConnell just wants a sham acquittal, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi objectively has no leverage over him. McConnell doesn’t want to hold a trial of the president at all, and a later trial isn’t necessarily worse for him, so the delay wouldn’t seem to give Democrats any advantage.
But the tactic is having at least one effect Democrats might welcome: It’s infuriating the president to no end.
It’s not even really clear how far Pelosi is willing to deploy this tactic. She hasn’t explicitly said she’s delaying sending the articles to the Senate. She just said that she has to see what the Senate trial will look like before she formulates a strategy for selecting impeachment managers and officially passing on the charges. And this all happened right before the House was dismissed for its winter break, and the Senate wasn’t expected to convene during the holidays either, so the “delay” could just end up being much ado about nothing.
And yet, Trump can’t stand it.
more...
https://www.nationalmemo.com/pelosi-impeachment-gambit-enrages-trump/?fbclid=IwAR1XWD5G3q7caUhdguSIaqpbCDsRRmyreYvhtSf0KjMmqrKWMJW1adZ2BAM&cn-reloaded=1
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212818076
I should say from the outset that I was not a fan of the idea, popularized by legal scholar Laurence Tribe, that Democrats should withhold the impeachment articles of President Donald Trump from the Senate to force Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to force him to hold a fair trial. While I’m concerned as anyone that McConnell just wants a sham acquittal, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi objectively has no leverage over him. McConnell doesn’t want to hold a trial of the president at all, and a later trial isn’t necessarily worse for him, so the delay wouldn’t seem to give Democrats any advantage.
But the tactic is having at least one effect Democrats might welcome: It’s infuriating the president to no end.
It’s not even really clear how far Pelosi is willing to deploy this tactic. She hasn’t explicitly said she’s delaying sending the articles to the Senate. She just said that she has to see what the Senate trial will look like before she formulates a strategy for selecting impeachment managers and officially passing on the charges. And this all happened right before the House was dismissed for its winter break, and the Senate wasn’t expected to convene during the holidays either, so the “delay” could just end up being much ado about nothing.
And yet, Trump can’t stand it.
more...
https://www.nationalmemo.com/pelosi-impeachment-gambit-enrages-trump/?fbclid=IwAR1XWD5G3q7caUhdguSIaqpbCDsRRmyreYvhtSf0KjMmqrKWMJW1adZ2BAM&cn-reloaded=1
December 27:
New Russian weapon can travel 27 times the speed of sound
MOSCOW — A new intercontinental weapon that can fly 27 times the speed of sound became operational Friday, Russia's defense minister reported to President Vladimir Putin, bolstering the country's nuclear strike capability.
Putin has described the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle as a technological breakthrough comparable to the 1957 Soviet launch of the first satellite. The new Russian weapon and a similar system being developed by China have troubled the United States, which has pondered defense strategies.
The Avangard is launched atop an intercontinental ballistic missile, but unlike a regular missile warhead that follows a predictable path after separation it can make sharp maneuvers in the atmosphere en route to target, making it much harder to intercept.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed Putin that the first missile unit equipped with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle entered combat duty.
"I congratulate you on this landmark event for the military and the entire nation," Shoigu said later during a conference call with top military leaders.
The Strategic Missile Forces chief, Gen. Sergei Karakayev, said during the call that the Avangard was put on duty with a unit in the Orenburg region in the southern Ural Mountains.
Putin unveiled the Avangard among other prospective weapons systems in his state-of-the-nation address in March 2018, noting that its ability to make sharp maneuvers on its way to a target will render missile defense useless.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212818895
MOSCOW — A new intercontinental weapon that can fly 27 times the speed of sound became operational Friday, Russia's defense minister reported to President Vladimir Putin, bolstering the country's nuclear strike capability.
Putin has described the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle as a technological breakthrough comparable to the 1957 Soviet launch of the first satellite. The new Russian weapon and a similar system being developed by China have troubled the United States, which has pondered defense strategies.
The Avangard is launched atop an intercontinental ballistic missile, but unlike a regular missile warhead that follows a predictable path after separation it can make sharp maneuvers in the atmosphere en route to target, making it much harder to intercept.
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed Putin that the first missile unit equipped with the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle entered combat duty.
"I congratulate you on this landmark event for the military and the entire nation," Shoigu said later during a conference call with top military leaders.
The Strategic Missile Forces chief, Gen. Sergei Karakayev, said during the call that the Avangard was put on duty with a unit in the Orenburg region in the southern Ural Mountains.
Putin unveiled the Avangard among other prospective weapons systems in his state-of-the-nation address in March 2018, noting that its ability to make sharp maneuvers on its way to a target will render missile defense useless.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212820054
CIA on collision course with Bill Barr after he sics his Trump conspiracy investigator on the CIA
CIA’s Gina Haspel on collision course with Bill Barr after he sics his Trump conspiracy investigator on her agency and her agents.
John Durham, the prosecutor appointed by Attorney General Bill Barr to investigate the probe, has been focusing much of his attention on the CIA, which Trump’s allies have blamed for the start of a counterintelligence investigation into the 2016 campaign, reported Politico.
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/12/cias-gina-haspel-on-collision-course-with-bill-barr-after-he-sics-his-trump-conspiracy-investigator-on-her-agency/#.XgXyoqFbF_8.link
The CIA has noted that this is a Putin construct explained to Donald Trump in one of Trump's "closed door" meetings with Putin.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212818500
CIA’s Gina Haspel on collision course with Bill Barr after he sics his Trump conspiracy investigator on her agency and her agents.
John Durham, the prosecutor appointed by Attorney General Bill Barr to investigate the probe, has been focusing much of his attention on the CIA, which Trump’s allies have blamed for the start of a counterintelligence investigation into the 2016 campaign, reported Politico.
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/12/cias-gina-haspel-on-collision-course-with-bill-barr-after-he-sics-his-trump-conspiracy-investigator-on-her-agency/#.XgXyoqFbF_8.link
The CIA has noted that this is a Putin construct explained to Donald Trump in one of Trump's "closed door" meetings with Putin.
December 28:
Chinese national arrested after authorities said he was taking photos of Navy base
A Chinese man was arrested at a Navy base in Florida and charged with taking photos of the base’s facilities.
Witnesses said they saw 27-year-old Lyuyou Liao taking photos around the perimeter of the Naval Air Station in Key West, according to the Associated Press. Those witnesses warned Liao that he was entering a restricted part of the base called the Truman Annex.
Military police called federal agents, who searched the phone Liao was allegedly using to take the photographs. Liao told a Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent that he was just trying to take a picture of the sunrise, but officials said his phone contained images of the Truman Annex.
The Chinese national was charged with entering naval property with the purpose of photographing defense installations.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/chinese-national-arrested-after-authorities-said-he-was-taking-photos-of-navy-base/ar-BBYqrby?li=BBnbcA1
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212822406
A Chinese man was arrested at a Navy base in Florida and charged with taking photos of the base’s facilities.
Witnesses said they saw 27-year-old Lyuyou Liao taking photos around the perimeter of the Naval Air Station in Key West, according to the Associated Press. Those witnesses warned Liao that he was entering a restricted part of the base called the Truman Annex.
Military police called federal agents, who searched the phone Liao was allegedly using to take the photographs. Liao told a Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent that he was just trying to take a picture of the sunrise, but officials said his phone contained images of the Truman Annex.
The Chinese national was charged with entering naval property with the purpose of photographing defense installations.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/chinese-national-arrested-after-authorities-said-he-was-taking-photos-of-navy-base/ar-BBYqrby?li=BBnbcA1
So....Donald Trump Is Completely Melting Down On Twitter
Donald Trump seems to be handling impeachment very well, and by "very well," I mean REALLY badly.
By Red Painter
Politics 12/28/19 7:22am
Read time: 1 minute
Why has no one in Donald Trump's orbit taken away his twitter and brought in a psychiatrist to talk to him??? Since being impeached, he has been degrading at a rapid pace. The last 24 hours have brought an alarming rise in tweets and retweets from extremely disturbing accounts, most of which are straight up conspiracy theories and Qanon-based bots and trolls.
Twitter has taken notice.
https://crooksandliars.com/2019/12/sodonald-trump-completely-melting-down
December 29:
Someone is REALLY desperate for attention
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212822696
Russia says first hypersonic missiles enter service
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212823144
Trump Hosted Convicted Navy SEAL at Mar-a-Lago Who Was Described as 'Evil' and 'Toxic'
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212822442
Putin Thanked Trump In Phone Call
Putin Thanked Trump In Phone Call
December 29, 2019 at 1:22 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 58 Comments
https://politicalwire.com/2019/12/29/putin-thanked-trump-in-phone-call/
"SNIP....
Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked President Trump in a phone call for passing on an information which helped prevent “acts of terrorism” in Russia, Reuters reports.
.....SNIP"
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212823645
Putin Thanked Trump In Phone Call
December 29, 2019 at 1:22 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 58 Comments
https://politicalwire.com/2019/12/29/putin-thanked-trump-in-phone-call/
"SNIP....
Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked President Trump in a phone call for passing on an information which helped prevent “acts of terrorism” in Russia, Reuters reports.
.....SNIP"
Kremlin announces another Putin (initiated) and Trump phone call.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212823603
Rep Eric Swalwell We Must Hold Trump Accountable For Embracing Anti-Semitism
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212823702
Breaking - US strikes 5 facilities in Iraq and Syria linked to Iranian-backed militia
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/29/politics/us-strikes-iran-backed-militia-facilities-in-iraq-syria/index.html
<snip>
US forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against five facilities the Pentagon says are tied to an Iranian-backed militia blamed for a series of attacks on joint US-Iraq military facilities housing American forces.
The strikes occurred at about 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. They stand as the first significant military response in retaliation for attacks by the Shia militia group, known as Kataib Hezbollah, that have injured numerous American military personnel, according to US officials.
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman described the strikes against the group as "precision defensive strikes" that "will degrade" the group's ability to conduct future attacks against coalition forces.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper briefed President Donald Trump Saturday before carrying them out with the President's approval, according to a US official familiar with the strikes.
-------------------
Let me add that I don't know if the facilities are linked to Iran - that's CNNs headline
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212823492
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/29/politics/us-strikes-iran-backed-militia-facilities-in-iraq-syria/index.html
<snip>
US forces conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against five facilities the Pentagon says are tied to an Iranian-backed militia blamed for a series of attacks on joint US-Iraq military facilities housing American forces.
The strikes occurred at about 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. They stand as the first significant military response in retaliation for attacks by the Shia militia group, known as Kataib Hezbollah, that have injured numerous American military personnel, according to US officials.
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman described the strikes against the group as "precision defensive strikes" that "will degrade" the group's ability to conduct future attacks against coalition forces.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper briefed President Donald Trump Saturday before carrying them out with the President's approval, according to a US official familiar with the strikes.
-------------------
Let me add that I don't know if the facilities are linked to Iran - that's CNNs headline
Trump Retweets Meme That Jesus Likes Him Better Than Obama
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212823166
December 30:
"Trump's Personal Pathology is America's Foreign Policy"
An absolutely brutal dissection of Trump's psyche and the dangers of his Presidency.
A few snippets, it's long...
The Mayo Clinic describes narcissistic personality disorder as “a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others.” Mayo further explains that “beneath this mask of extreme confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to the slightest criticism.”
Does any of that sound familiar?
Then compare Mayo’s list of symptoms to the multi- faceted demands of democratic leadership in a dangerous and complex world. Those afflicted with NPD “have an exaggerated sense of self-importance”; “have a sense of entitlement”; and “require constant, excessive admiration.” They “expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it.”
a little more...
As a result, he entered office unable to appreciate America’s objective strengths in conducting our foreign relations. These matchless blessings included friendly neighbors; peerless economic vitality; our leadership of important global institutions; the strength of our alliances and multilateral relationships; and a reputation, for all our faults, as a democracy which embraces political freedom and human rights. Encased in his feral inner landscape, Trump saw these assets as vulnerabilities.
Long and comprehensive takedown...
https://thebulwark.com/trumps-personal-pathology-is-americas-foreign-policy/
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212824604
An absolutely brutal dissection of Trump's psyche and the dangers of his Presidency.
A few snippets, it's long...
The Mayo Clinic describes narcissistic personality disorder as “a mental condition in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for excessive attention and admiration, troubled relationships, and a lack of empathy for others.” Mayo further explains that “beneath this mask of extreme confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to the slightest criticism.”
Does any of that sound familiar?
Then compare Mayo’s list of symptoms to the multi- faceted demands of democratic leadership in a dangerous and complex world. Those afflicted with NPD “have an exaggerated sense of self-importance”; “have a sense of entitlement”; and “require constant, excessive admiration.” They “expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it.”
a little more...
As a result, he entered office unable to appreciate America’s objective strengths in conducting our foreign relations. These matchless blessings included friendly neighbors; peerless economic vitality; our leadership of important global institutions; the strength of our alliances and multilateral relationships; and a reputation, for all our faults, as a democracy which embraces political freedom and human rights. Encased in his feral inner landscape, Trump saw these assets as vulnerabilities.
Long and comprehensive takedown...
https://thebulwark.com/trumps-personal-pathology-is-americas-foreign-policy/
17 replies
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= new reply since forum marked as read
Many thanks for putting this almanac together for us, your great effort is appreciated!!
Thanks. 
because the whistleblower is really weird and unreliable?
