N Korea
“Sources” at the White House indicate that an ICBM/long range missile launch would constitute crossing the red line. Just like Kim is holding his cards close, so too is the President on any kind of a response.
Other sources indicate that both China and Russia have indicated to NK that they would look the other way if NK launches an ICBM. They draw the line at further nuclear tests. Both countries have been assisting NK circumvent sanctions.
OSINT military aircraft observers are noting more surveillance aircraft enroute to SK/Japan. They also note a lot of assets are currently flying in the region.
Libya
The UN backed GNA government has called for Turkey to intervene militarily in the civil war. This following the opposition LNA airstrike on Turkish weapons and munitions storage facilities in the Tripoli area. LNA has issued a demand that militias supporting the GNA have 3 days to pull out.
The battle for Tripoli has been going on for about 8 months now and the national politics is quite entwined - particularly that of Russia and Turkey. In Libya, Russia is supporting the LNA while Turkey backs GNA. In Syria, Russia and Turkey are striving for some kind of more friendly relationship. This is making strange bedfellows
Israel
Hamas launched some rockets, IAF blow stuff up. Pretty standard activity.
Diplomatic relations with Jordan are on the down swing. This is likely reflecting the rise in a more radical, Islamic presence in Jordan which is forcing the king to be more aggressive towards Israel.
US CW2
With the House shutting down for the remainder of the year and not forwarding the articles of impeachment to the senate, expect partisan rhetoric to continue to be high on both sides. But also expect that republicans will continue to be more aggressive towards democrat representatives at their town hall meetings. Several were disrupted prior to the impeachment vote. This could lead to localized violence.
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Exclusive: ‘A Piece of Meat’ - How Muslim Men See White Women: Past and present, little has changed
[snip]
What explains this ongoing exploitation of European women by Muslim men—which exists well beyond the UK and has become epidemic in Germany Sweden, and elsewhere?
The answer begins by understanding that, although these sordid accounts are routinely dismissed as the activities of “criminals,” they are in fact reflective of nearly fourteen centuries of Muslim views on and treatment of European women.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3802495/posts
N Korea
Wednesday the U.N. condemned NK for human rights abuses. Overnight the US redesignated NK as a violator of religious freedom and imposed additional sanctions. NK said sanctions would further aggravate the situation between NK and the world.
Meanwhile the watch is on for what NK may do for its “present”. Additional surveillance aircraft are in the sky’s and yesterday Japan deployed two Aegis equipped warships into the area between the two countries.
Unnamed sources report US intelligence doesn’t see a long range missile test until next year and currently assess another short range or engine test as being more likely.
The unusual NK party plenum begins today (Dec 21) and there is a lot of speculation as to what may come out of it. What is expected is a major policy (s) change such as resumption of nuclear testing, cancellations of inter Korean accords etc. It is possible that the gift may be linked to the results of this meeting.