U.K. Defense Minister Suggest Using Paintballs To Scare Spanish Ships Away From Gibraltar

A map showing the area of Gibraltar territorial waters (The SUN)

Yahoo News: Defence secretary Gavin Williamson suggests scaring Spanish ships away from Gibraltar with paintballs

Military chiefs have been left stunned after the defence secretary suggested the Royal Navy fire PAINTBALLS at Spanish ships that stray into Gibraltar’s waters, according to reports.

According to the Sun, Gavin Williamson made the claims during a meeting with senior Ministry of Defence officials during which he reportedly suggested sending a Type 45 destroyer to the Spanish territory of Ceuta, on the Moroccan coast.

Its claimed Mr Williamson has been dubbed ‘Private Pike’ after the hapless Dad’s Army character, and the 42-year-old is claimed to have made the shock proposals during his regular Monday afternoon meeting with top brass in December.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I think he is serious.

Dutch Prime Minister: 'White Wine Sipping Elites In Amsterdam' Are Not Giving U.S. President Trump A Fair Chance

Rutte has been criticised for controversial remarks twice in a week [Chris Kleponis/Reuters]

Al Jazeera: Dutch PM: 'White wine sipping elites' don't give Trump fair shake

Mark Rutte said 'white wine sipping elites in Amsterdam' are not giving US President Trump a fair chance.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte faced criticism on Sunday after making comments about what he called "white wine sipping elites in Amsterdam" who are not giving US President Donald Trump a fair chance.

Rutte made the comments during an appearance on Buitenhof, a weekly TV show focused on Dutch politics that aired on Sunday.

"In this world, international structures are absolutely necessary, but sometimes it p***** me off when I hear white wine sipping elites in Amsterdam saying 'well, Trump, he is so wrong'," Rutte said.

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WNU Editor: He is right. But I do not think President Trump cares.

A Ground Report On The Protests In France

Paul Brian

Paul Brian, American Conservative: What I Saw at a Yellow Vest Protest in France

Tear gas, anger over the cost of living—the demonstrations that rocked Paris are still going strong.

ROUEN, FRANCE – A large plastic garbage can ignites with a whoosh in front of the Church of Saint Joan of Arc in Rouen, Normandy. The smell of acrid plastic and waste fills the air, mixed with the odor of tear gas and pepper spray.

Joan of Arc was burned at the stake here in 1431; now this site and much of downtown Rouen is beset by furious protesters demanding the ouster of President Emmanuel Macron, lighting fires in the streets and hurling insults. “Your grandmother was a whore!” shouts one young man in his 20s, shaking his fist at a long line of police standing across the avenue in full riot gear.

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WNU Editor: All my contacts in France are saying the same thing.

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 14, 2019

Reuters

Alireza Ahmadi, National Interest: What Should We Learn from 40 Years of U.S. Intervention in the Middle East?

The presence of America’s vaunted military cannot necessarily shape the political orientation and structure of societies.

With the surprise announcement of the withdrawal of U.S. forces in Syria, and to a lesser extent, the announcement of a drawdown of 7,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan, many interventionist critics who had tolerated Donald Trump’s ineffectual strikes against Assad and peace talks with the Taliban seem to have reached a boiling point. But even after Trump defended his position and said Iran “can do what they want there” in Syria, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton have undercut the clarity of what seemed like a presidential decree mandating a withdrawal.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 14, 2019

Trump’s evolving foreign policy challenges top US diplomat -- Matthew Lee, AP

America's resurgence is reshaping the world -- Conrad Black, National Post

The Many Problems with Erdogan's Plan for Syria -- Adam Lammon, National Interest

U.S. should review its approach to Syria's Assad -- James Dobbins, Reuters

Persistent political infighting is risking Iraq’s hard-won gains -- Mina Al-Oraibi, The National

Why Vietnam may be ideal venue for a second meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un -- Lee Jeong-ho, SCMP

China’s Perilous Taiwan Policy -- Minxin Pei, Project Syndicate

Kenya's new security conundrum after ousting al-Shabab -- Zein Basravi, Al Jazeera

Why Africa’s ageing leaders are keeping a close watch on DRC power struggle -- Jason Burke, The Guardian

The Yellow Vests and French State Security -- Ronald Tiersky, RCW

Forgotten France rises up -- Serge Halimi, Le Monde diplomatique

No, Brexit Britain doesn’t want its empire back -- John Lloyd, Reuters

In search of lost Brexit: how the UK repeatedly weakened its own negotiating position -- Charles Grant, New Statesman

The threat of a Brexit coup in Parliament is real – and terrifying -- Nikki da Costa, The Spectator

We Need to Pay Attention to Chaos in Venezuela -- Jason Marczak, RCW

World News Briefs -- January 14, 2019 (Evening Edition)

Reuters: Take a second look, May urges MPs before Brexit vote

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May urged MPs on Monday to take a “second look” at her deal to leave the European Union, a last-ditch effort to win over a parliament that looks set to reject the agreement.

The fate of the United Kingdom’s March 29 exit from the EU is in the balance before Tuesday when parliament is widely expected to vote against May’s deal, opening up outcomes ranging from a disorderly divorce to reversing Brexit.

In the deepest crisis in British politics for at least half a century, May and EU leaders exchanged letters giving assurances on her withdrawal agreement, though there was little sign of a change of heart among rebel MPs.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Trump: US to 'devastate Turkey economically' if it attacks Syrian Kurds. US warns Turkey of economic 'devastation' if it hits Kurd forces.

US 'a highly unreliable' partner to Ankara: Turkish official. Turkey dismisses Trump threat to economy over Syrian Kurds.

Pompeo confident of US deal with Turkey to protect Kurds.

Pompeo in Middle East reassures allies about US role in region, pushes for ‘Arab NATO’.

Saudi prince criticises US over planned withdrawal of troops from Syria.

Houthis threaten more drone strikes after Yemen airbase attack.

Several Houthis killed in clashes with Yemeni army.

Pompeo says Yemen rebels not complying with truce deal.

Senior US official vows to counter Iran on Lebanon visit.

ASIA

Millions in India gather for world's largest religious event.

Fatal blast rocks Afghan capital Kabul. Four killed, more than 90 wounded in Kabul car bomb attack.

Journalist killed in Afghanistan, the first of 2019.

China economy: A gloomy start to 2019.

Thailand: biggest democracy protests in years held as military junta delays elections.

Vietnam's parliamentary chairwoman confirms commitment on North Korea.

Russia and Japan negotiate World War II peace plan. Moscow says Japan must recognise all Kurils as Russian.

Indonesian divers find crashed Lion Air jet's second black box.

Heavy smog, worsened by weather, raises alarm across Asia.

AFRICA

New tensions, worries mark Tunisia’s revolution anniversary.

Roadside bomb hits police convoy in Egypt’s Sinai, kills 1.

Libya to boycott Arab summit over attacks on flag.

Ethiopia army executing airstrikes against OLF in western Oromia.

Sudan's Bashir says protests will fail to change government.

South Sudan peace partners to launch pilot project for unified army.

Zimbabwe police fire live rounds during general strike protests.

Powerful union calls for strike as Tunisia marks revolt anniversary.

Regional body SADC calls for DR Congo election vote recount.

Senegal court bars 2 opposition leaders from presidential vote.

UN refugee agency seeks more resources for African refugees.

EUROPE

Doubts greet Macron letter to quell French yellow vest anger.

UK leader in frantic final push to win Brexit deal backing.

EU lawmakers urge Britain to call off Brexit.

'It's going to be soon': Corbyn hints he could launch bid to oust May THIS WEEK as he demands an election - but refuses to say if Labour would pledge to deliver Brexit and suggests free movement rules would STAY.

Macron responds to 'yellow vests' with call for national 'debate'.

Poland mayor dies after stabbing on stage at fundraiser. Poles unite in grief over assassination of Gdansk mayor.

Italy jails former activist for homicides after 38-year search.

Death toll in Paris gas blast rises to four after body found. Mayor of Gdansk dies of stab wounds after attack.

Chechnya: two dead and dozens held in LGBT purge, say activists.

AMERICAS

Trump’s AG nominee: Mueller should be allowed to finish work.

Trump praises Brazil's 'Donald Trump' leader.

'Bolsonaro is Hitler!' Venezuela's Maduro exclaims amid Brazil spat.

Trump: 'I never worked for Russia'.

Transcripts detail how FBI debated whether Trump was 'following directions' of Russia.

The shutdown today: Trump urged to reopen government.

Fresh-faced Venezuelan lawmaker emerges as Maduro’s rival.

Colombia: Missing Farc leader Iván Márquez re-appears on video.

Trudeau reshuffles cabinet ahead of election.

China says detained Canadian lacks diplomatic immunity.

Justin Trudeau vows to ‘intercede’ as Canadian Robert Schellenberg is sentenced to death in China for drug trafficking.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Al-Qaeda's shadow still hangs over Syria's Idlib: analysts.

Jihadist group consolidates control in northwestern Syria.

US-backed forces in Syria say ISIS is in ‘final moments’.

Mosul demolishes iconic building used by IS for 'gay' killings.

Second German deported from Egypt over suspected 'IS' links.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Another sign of weakness in China weighs on US stocks.

China logs record trade surplus with US in 2018.

Huawei’s Poland spying case threatens China’s efforts to win over Eastern and Central Europe.

US wildfires push energy firm PG&E to bankruptcy protection.

French President Macron Wants A National Debate Over The Yellow Jacket Protests

Lettre aux Françaishttps://t.co/GInvgaQrhe

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 13, 2019

France 24: Yellow Vest protests: Macron launches national debate with open letter to the French

President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday kicked off a three-month national debate he hopes can quell the "yellow vest" unrest with a letter to the French in which he pledged to listen to new ideas but stuck to his core economic reform agenda.

Macron's initiative comes after nine weeks of protests by the Yellow Vests" – named after the high-visibility jackets they wear. The disparate anti-government uprising has wreaked havoc in Paris and French cities, shaken the economy and challenged his authority.

"For me, there is no banned issue. We won't agree on everything, which is normal in a democracy. But at least we'll show we're a people which is not afraid of talking, exchanging, debating," Macron wrote in the letter published by his office.

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Update: With 2,300-word letter, Macron launches debate to quell 'yellow vest' unrest (Reuters)

WNU Editor: This is not creating the environment to have a civil national debate .... French riot police are now using semi-automatic weapons with live ammunition against Yellow Vest protestors as Macron's law and order crisis spirals (Daily Mail).

U.S. And Chinese Navy Chiefs Discuss Naval Operations

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson meets with senior Chinese defense officials at the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) (PLA(N)) headquarters in Beijing. US Navy Photo

USNI News: Richardson, Chinese Navy Chief Discuss Maritime Operations In Beijing

The heads of the U.S. and Chinese navies discussed safe interactions and maritime operations during a meeting in Beijing on Monday.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and his counterpart, the commander of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA(N), Vice Adm. Shen Jinlong, addressed adhering to internationally accepted rules governing maritime operations and reducing the risks associated with interactions between the two navies at sea, according to a Navy release detailing the meeting. This is Richardson’s second trip to Beijing as CNO.

Read more ....

Update: US Navy commander hails ‘constructive and candid’ talks with Chinese counterparts (SCMP)

WNU Editor: The Chinese are praising this meeting .... US admiral visit a chance for dialogue (Global Times). More here .... Top U.S. Navy commander in Beijing to reduce risk (CGTN)

Here Is The Secret USS Fitzgerald Probe The US Navy Doesn’t Want You To Read

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald, damaged by colliding with a Philippine-flagged merchant vessel, is towed by a tugboat upon its arrival at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, Japan June 17, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Navy Times: Worse than you thought: inside the secret Fitzgerald probe the Navy doesn’t want you to read

A scathing internal Navy probe into the 2017 collision that drowned seven sailors on the guided-missile destroyer Fitzgerald details a far longer list of problems plaguing the vessel, its crew and superior commands than the service has publicly admitted.

Obtained by Navy Times, the “dual-purpose investigation” was overseen by Rear Adm. Brian Fort and completed 11 days after the June 17, 2017, tragedy.

It was kept secret from the public in part because it was designed to prep the Navy for potential lawsuits in the aftermath of the accident.

Unsparingly, Fort and his team of investigators outlined critical lapses by bridge watchstanders on the night of the collision with the Philippine-flagged container vessel ACX Crystal in a bustling maritime corridor off the coast of Japan.

Their report documents the routine, almost casual, violations of standing orders on a Fitz bridge that often lacked skippers and executive officers, even during potentially dangerous voyages at night through busy waterways.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: My must read post for today.

More News On The U.S. Navy's Second Probe On the USS Fitzgerald Disaster

The situation aboard the USS Fitzgerald before a deadly collision killed 7 American sailors was so much worse than previously thought -- Business Insider
The Navy's Secret Investigation Into The USS Fitzgerald Collision Details A Disaster That Was Just Waiting To Happen -- Task & Purpose
Ship owners to pay U.S. government for Fitzgerald collision -- Navy Times

Chinese Court Sentences A Canadian To Death For Drug Smuggling

Reuters: Chinese court sentences Canadian to death as diplomatic row deepens

BEIJING/OTTAWA (Reuters) - A Chinese court on Monday sentenced a Canadian man to be executed for drug smuggling, prompting Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to accuse China of using the death penalty arbitrarily.

The ruling, and Trudeau’s reaction, could aggravate already sour relations between Beijing and Ottawa following the arrest of a senior Chinese executive in Canada and China’s subsequent detention of two Canadians.

The Dalian Intermediate People’s Court in China’s northeast province of Liaoning re-tried Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, who had appealed his original 15-year prison sentence, and decided on execution, the court said in a statement.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: When it comes to importing narcotics into China, Chinese law is not forgiving. I expect the sentence to be carried out very soon. This sentencing also has nothing to do with current tensions over the Canadian detainment of a Huawei executive in Canada, even though many in the Canadian press are right now inferring that it is.

More News On A Chinese Court Sentencing A Canadian To Death For Drug Smuggling

Justin Trudeau vows to ‘intercede’ as Canadian Robert Schellenberg is sentenced to death in China for drug trafficking -- SCMP
China sentences Canadian to death, raises diplomatic tension -- AP
Chinese court sentences Canadian drug suspect to death -- AFP
Canadian sentenced to death in China for drug smuggling amid tensions between countries -- FOX News
China sentences Canadian to death for drug smuggling -- CNN
China sentenced a Canadian man to death in the latest escalation of the countries' feud over Huawei -- Business Insider
Trudeau accuses China of 'arbitrarily' sentencing Canadian man to death -- The Hill
Canadian sentenced to DEATH in China after being found guilty of drug smuggling -- RT

The U.S. Army's New Humvee Replacement Is Here

#HappeningNow

Raider Soldiers are about to get their hands on the Army's new Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), and the first vehicles are arriving today at Fort Stewart. #ROTM #3ID pic.twitter.com/exc9IUKALC

— Raider Brigade (@1ABCT_3ID) January 14, 2019

Task & Purpose: A Few Lucky Soldiers Are Finally Getting Their Hands On The Army's New Humvee Replacement

Nearly four years after the Army settled on Oshkosh to produce a next-generation replacement for the troubled Humvee, a few lucky soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division are finally going to get their paws on the much-hyped Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

On Monday, the Raider Brigaide's official Twitter account posted photos of flatbed trucks hauling the new JLTV rolling up at Fort Stewart in Georgia.

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WNU Editor: I give it a week before we know what the soldiers think of this new vehicle.