Afternoon - early morning hours in Syria
BLUF - chess pieces still moving, looks like no immediate strikes as both US and Russia seem to be cooling the rhetoric, but something will eventually be done.
News reports Trump in contact with UK and France on actions to take. Also report no decision has been made. RUMINT of Bolton and Mattis butting heads (but considering MSM sources I would n’t be too sure). Ryan states Trump does not need congressional approval for a strike. Mattis canceled a trip to NYC tonight to stay in DC
Russia toning down rhetoric but their news is telling russians to prepare for nuclear war and how to do it.
UK cabinet has approved potential actions against syria.
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another day and tension continues in the middle east
BLUF: More posturing and chess piece maneuvering. Current trend suggests that things may remain at a simmer until the USS Truman task force can arrive on scene. Unless something unexpected happens, expect relatively ‘calm’ weekend.
Speaking of the Truman - Left port on the 11th with 5 support ship. It is suspected that it will link up with four other surface vessels plus two boomers equipped with cruse missiles - a 12 vessel unit. Add to this French and UK units. Approximate date on station - April 20th
Russian commentators are reported to have remarked that their flotilla of 11 ships would not last long if they were to engage the US fleet.
WATCH THE UNDERCARD - Israel and Iran have kept up a series of volatile warnings. While it is rumored that Russia has tried to get Israel to simmer down towards Iranian forces in Syria, Iran has kept the rhetoric up. Israel’s strike on T4 last Sunday displayed that the Russians are not up to speed to defend against Israeli countermeasures.
Other Chess pieces:
Observers noted an unusually high number of air tanker sortes in the Med/European area
Observers also noted a significant increase in intelligence recon flights off the coast of Syria.