Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 23, 2019


A map showing the area that will be patrolled by Russian and Turkish forces under the agreement struck between Putin and Erdogan

Daily Mail: Donald Trump claims 'big success on the Turkey/Syria border' and says 'ceasefire is holding' despite RUSSIAN troops now patrolling former Kurdish territory and Erdogan threatening to 'neutralize' his enemies

* WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
* While bloodshed continues in northern Syria, Trump insists ceasefire is holding
* President claims 'Kurds are safe' and 'combat missions have ended'
* Turkey claims it has halted its military offensive against Kurdish fighters in Syria
* Vladimir Putin's spokesman warned Turkey would 'maul' any remaining Kurds
* Russian and Syrian troops will help them evacuate
* But Syrians suffered burns on their faces and bodies and a young girl was wounded

Donald Trump said Wednesday that the ceasefire his administration negotiated last week on the Turkish-Syrian border is intact, and promised a public statement providing details in the late morning.

'Big success on the Turkey/Syria Border. Safe Zone created! Ceasefire has held and combat missions have ended,' the president announced on Twitter.

'Kurds are safe and have worked very nicely with us. Captured ISIS prisoners secured. I will be making a statement at 11:00 A.M. from the White House. Thank you!'

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 23, 2019

Russian troops enter Turkey-Syria border area -- The National

Russia urges Kurdish fighters to withdraw from Syria's border -- Al Jazeera

This is how Putin and Erdogan have redrawn northeastern Syria -- NBC

Russia, Turkey seal power in northeast Syria with accord after American troops withdraw -- AP

Iraq official: US troops from Syria to leave Iraq in 4 weeks -- AP

Exclusive: Defense secretary says troops in Syria will 'temporarily' go to Iraq before returning to US -- CNN

Pence on Syria: 'Our troops are coming home' -- The Hill

NATO head says he is encouraged by Turkey ceasefire in Syria -- UPI

Defense secretary says he was on the call with Trump, Erdoğan -- The Hill

US military struggles to find a strategy amid sudden policy changes in CENTCOM region -- Military Times

US Air Force Withholds Funding on Boeing's Ballistic Missile Development Programme -- Sputnik

First anti-drone laser delivered to Air Force for year-long test deployment -- UPI

Top Army modernization priorities are 'on track,' says Army Vice Chief of Staff -- FOX News

Robo-tank? Army picks contenders for robotic combat vehicle competition -- Ars Technica

Carrier Ford May Not Deploy Until 2024, 3rd Weapons Elevator Certified -- USNI News

Pentagon chief recusing himself from $10B 'war cloud' contract -- The Hill

Pentagon Falling Behind in Using Artificial Intelligence on the Battlefield -- USNI News

Musk's satellite project testing encrypted internet with military planes -- Reuters

How many Marines does it take to make an expeditionary base? -- Marine Times

Exclusive: Documents Show U.S. Military Allowed To Shoot At Moving Vehicles At U.S.-Mexico Ports Of Entry -- Newsweek

Missing West Point Cadet Found Dead After Dayslong Search -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes

US Senate votes for North Macedonia to join NATO -- The Hill

Elite sniper training, gruelling exercises and moving memorial scene are among pictures capturing the lives of British soldiers and veterans in Army's annual photo competition -- Daily Mail

Turkey launches homemade submarine program -- Defense News

British-made hypersonic engine passes key milestone at Colorado test site -- Defense News


Russia's Military Has One Key Feature That Makes It A Force to Fear
-- National Interest

Russia, Niger Sign Deal for Delivery of 12 MI-35 Attack Helicopters -- Sputnik

Attack on Saudi Refineries May Boost Interest in Russian Air Defences Among Gulf States -- Sputnik

After informant’s death, IDF to probe military police’s recruitment methods -- Times of Israel

Military Drone Fell in Lebanon During Routine Operations, Israeli Army Says -- Haaretz

North Korea’s military sells coal to pay for uniforms -- Daily NK

1 comment:

Anonymous said...



NEW YORK — Even if President Donald Trump shot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue, New York authorities could not punish him while he is in office, the president's lawyers argued Wednesday.

Attorneys for Trump made the claim while arguing before a federal appeals court in their suit against Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, who has subpoenaed Trump’s tax returns.

Trump is fighting the subpoena on the grounds that as president, he has absolute immunity from criminal indictment or investigation. His attorney said that would block Trump from being arrested and charged even if he followed through on his campaign trail claim: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and wouldn’t lose any voters, okay?”

Attorney William Consovoy argued that New York authorities would have to wait until the president was out of office to arrest and charge him for that crime. The DA's office argued the claim was a fabrication.

“Once a president is removed from office, any local authority” could prosecute him, Consovoy told a panel of three judges from the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. “This is not a permanent immunity.”

Judge Denny Chin pressed him on how the crime would be handled while Trump remained in office. “Nothing could be done, that’s your position?” he said.

“That is correct,” Consovoy replied.

The Manhattan DA subpoenaed eight years of Trump’s tax returns from his accounting firm, Mazars USA, as part of a probe into hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.

Federal Judge Victor Marrero threw out Trump’s suit seeking to block the subpoena, finding his “extraordinary” claim to be immune from criminal investigation was not supported by the law.