This is the second terrorist attack within hours following the recapturing of Aleppo Syria from the control of ISIS and Islamic extremists.
Initial reports from Berlin Germany state at least nine people killed and more than 50 injured after a semi-truck ploughed into a crowd of shoppers at a busy Christmas market. According to European Media German police at the scene indicate the incident is “likely to be a terrorist attack”.
The truck is reported to have originated in Poland.  The attack is similar to the earlier terrorist attack in Niece France.  The jihadist drove into the large crowd at approximately 8pm local time (2pm New York).

(Via Daily Mail) […]  The vehicle sped through a crowd of shoppers at the Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz Square near the Kurfuerstendamm Avenue in west Berlin.
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According to almost every media report, President-elect Donald Trump has selected Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as the nominee for Secretary of State.  The announcement is anticipated to take place this morning.  Here’s our previous outline anticipating T-Rex:
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Just a quick note to point out amid the insufferable MSM ‘splodey head chatter about Trump’s adult children participating in the transition team conversation.
Has anyone noted the media doesn’t project that same ridiculous narrative toward Karen Pence’s elegant and eloquent support?

Frankly, the entire banter about the families of the incoming administration participating in the transition is beyond silly, it’s laughable.   Obviously the challenges of structuring and running an executive administration require an all consuming 24/7/365 effort.
It’s not an issue for any administration, including Michelle and President Obama or Jill and VP Biden, to be involved and provide personal advice/counsel on any issue.  Period.
Exactly the opposite is true; we should all be thankful for the support network around of our nation’s executive leadership, and to see their family participating in that regard should be applauded.  There is every reason to see, sense and feel more confidence in this approach; not silly controversy.

Prayers for the people of Tennessee as they deal with a horrific dry season.  The tourist site and historic town of Gatlinburg is currently under serious threat.  Things are really bad.  There’s a video below showing two guys and a dog escaping –  watch it and you’ll see just how bad it is:

GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Hillbilly Golf, Arrowmont Arts and Crafts School, major hotels, a good portion of Regan Drive and countless other businesses and homes have been destroyed in a blaze that has firefighters continuing their efforts overnight in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

“The center of Gatlinburg looks good for now,” said Newmansville Volunteer Fire Department Lt. Bobby Balding. “It’s the apocalypse on both sides (of downtown).”
An estimated 40 to 50 fire units from volunteer agencies across East and Middle Tennessee were helping fight the fires, with a command center set up at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School. (more…)

After failing to get over 50% of the vote in last weeks Republican party primary, the top two candidates Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe had a runoff election today.  Fillon has won, and will now head into next years French Presidential race against Marine Le Pen (French Nationalist Party, FNP) and the liberal/socialist party candidate most likely to be current President Francios Hollande.
(Via Reuters) Francois Fillon, a socially conservative free-marketeer, won France’s center-right presidential primaries on Sunday, setting up a likely showdown next year with far-right leader Marine Le Pen that the pollsters expect him to win.
With votes from four-fifths of 10,228 polling stations counted, Fillon, who went into Sunday’s second-round run-off as firm favorite, had won over 67 percent of the vote in a head-to-head battle with another ex-prime minister, Alain Juppe.  “I must now convince the whole country our project is the only one that can lift us up,” a visibly moved Fillon said at his campaign headquarters after Juppe conceded defeat. (more…)

A very interesting and insightful interview with King Abdullah II of Jordan.  The discussion includes perspectives on the incoming Donald Trump presidency, the Syrian and Mid-East conflict and the larger issues of radical Islamic extremism.
Well worth watching, especially if you have followed the evolutionary relationship between Jordan, Egypt and Russia. If you don’t have time for the full interview watch the first 7-8 minutes:

The school bus driver was employed by an outside contracting agency for the district. This tragedy appears destined to end up in the ‘killed by cultural marxism’ file folder.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (CBS News/AP) – A school bus driver charged with vehicular homicide in a crash in Tennessee asked the children if they were ready to die, according to the mother of three kids who were aboard the bus. One of her children was among the five dead.

“My daughter said right before the bus flipped that he was speeding around the curve and asked them ‘Are y’all ready to die,’”Jasmine Mateen told CBS News correspondent Mark Strassman. Mateen’s 6-year-old daughter was killed.
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There is no doubt the genuine secular leaders in the mid-East, those who value freedom and minority protections like Fattah el-Sisi (Egypt) and King Abdullah (Jordan), will find a more consistent and stable ally with President Donald Trump.

“I believe that President Trump will be vigorously engaged with the issues in the region,” el-Sisi said. “As a matter of fact, Trump has shown deep and great understanding of what is taking place in the region as a whole and Egypt in particular. I am looking forward and expecting more support and reinforcement of our bilateral relations.”  (link)

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi has praised U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump, saying that his inflammatory statements from the campaign trail do not necessarily reflect the actions he will take as president.
El-Sissi, in an interview with Portuguese news agency LUSA released on Saturday, said, “let’s not jump into conclusions or worry” about future U.S. actions or policies in the Middle East. The army chief-turned-president was interviewed prior to his upcoming Nov. 21 visit to Portugal.  El-Sisi was among the very first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump’s on his presidential victory.
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An angel on our shoulders !

Backstory HERE and HERE
PORTLAND, Ore. –  The leaders of an armed group who seized a national wildlife refuge in rural Oregon were acquitted Thursday in the 41-day standoff that brought new attention to a long-running dispute over control of federal lands in the U.S. West.

A jury found brothers Ammon and Ryan Bundy not guilty a firearm in a federal facility and conspiring to impede federal workers from their jobs at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, 300 miles southeast of Portland where the trial took place. Five co-defendants also were tried one or both of the charges. (more…)