The confirmation hearings for General James Mattis (Sec of Defense), Dr. Ben Carson (HUD Sec), and Representative Mike Pompeo (CIA Director), are scheduled for today.

The confirmation hearing for retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, is at 9:30 am ET. PBS NewsHour is providing a live stream of the hearing (embed below):
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Politically engaged Americans (writ large) will, most likely, soon discover why it became so intensely important to outline the internal fight between ‘black hat‘ and ‘white hat‘ operatives within the intelligence community as it related to the 2016 U.S. election.  One example of the “shadow fight” within the administration is outlined here.
A PBS interview with CIA Director John Brennan highlights the scope of professional obfuscation needed when intelligence agents decide to politicize intelligence.   The Obama administration is in the process of attempting to re-write their own history.
As you watch this interview it is critical to remind yourself of the background within the names espoused by Brennan; specifically James Clapper and Jeh Johnson.   Additionally, against the recent sunlight we have provided, I would strongly highlight the discussion toward the end of the interview surrounding Syria.

♦ Prior to the administration of President Obama beginning, John Brennan, a career CIA official himself, was directly tied to the hacking of the U.S. State Department and the passport records of then candidate Senator Barack Obama, in March 2008.
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Yesterday North Korea made the claim they were close to development of an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM).   As you look at the tweet reply from Donald Trump about this claim, it’s worth remembering two very important details:

1. This issue came up in one of the February 2016 GOP debates.
2. The sequencing of the two tweets below.

This declaratory tweet message was immediately followed up with the following:
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There are moments within investigative research when your jaw can stand agape as you recognize the scope of what you are reading or hearing.  A brutally down-played audio of Secretary John Kerry is just such an occasion.

♦ In August of 2014 President Obama (wearing a tan business suit) gave a press conference where he stated he “did not have a strategy” against ISIS. –Video Link–

♦ Two months later, in October of 2014, Josh Earnest gave a press conference where he stated:  “Our ISIS strategy is dependent on something that does not yet exist” –Video Link–

However, on September 30th 2016 the New York Times quietly released a leaked audio recording of Secretary John Kerry meeting with multiple factions associated within Syria.
When you listen to the audio recording (embed below) it becomes immediately obvious what was going on when both of those 2014 statements were made by the White House.  In addition, you discover why this jaw-dropping 2016 leak/story was buried by the U.S. media and how it connects to over 5 years of perplexing U.S. mid-east policy.
This evidence within this single story would/should forever remove any credibility toward the U.S. foreign policy under President Obama.  It also destroys the credibility of a large number of well known republicans.  What the recording reveals is substantive:

♦ First, only regime change, the removal of Bashir Assad, in Syria was the goal for President Obama. This is admitted and outlined by Secretary John Kerry.

♦ Secondly, in order to accomplish this primary goal, the White House was willing to watch the rise of ISIS by placing their bet that ISIS’s success would force Syrian President Bashir Assad to acquiesce toward Obama’s terms and step down.

♦ Thirdly, in order to facilitate the two objectives, Obama and Kerry intentionally gave arms to ISIS and even, arguably, attacked a Syrian government military convoy to stop a strategic attack upon the Islamic extremists killing 80 Syrian soldiers.

Pause for a moment and consider those three points carefully before continuing.  Because this audio (below), along with accompanying research now surfacing, not only exposes these three points as truth – but also provides the specific evidence toward them.
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When you accept how intensely sensitive a visit to Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Prime Minister is… When you pause and think about the scope of trepidation that follows such a tenuously emotional diplomatic mission… It is proper to give credit where it is deserved.

President Obama and Prime Minister Shinzu Abe together delivered a moving, historic and stunning moment of thoughtful condolence.
Speaking to the gathered audience in Pearl Harbor Hawaii, Prime Minister Shinzu Abe delivered an eloquent and honorable tribute. The first six and a half minutes of his speech below is remarkable in its historic value. (more…)

Smart pick.  Tom Bossert brings a 21st century cybersecurity profile to Trump’s inner National Security team.  Bossert has deep knowledge of cybersecurity from both a Homeland Defense (infrastructure), and a counterterrorism perspective…
(Palm Beach, FL) – President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced his selection of Thomas P. Bossert to serve as Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. In this position, Mr. Bossert will advise the President on issues related to homeland security, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity, and coordinate the Cabinet’s process for formulating and executing policy in these matters.

The role, performed by a deputy national security advisor in the previous Administration, is being elevated and restored to its independent status alongside the National Security Advisor, a decision that reflects the unwavering commitment President-elect Trump has to the safety and security of the Nation, its people and territory.
Mr. Bossert will focus on domestic and transnational security priorities as General Michael Flynn remains steadfastly focused on international security challenges.
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Thank you to those who serve our nation and are unable to be home with family this Christmas. We appreciate you, we are thankful for you, and we send our prayers to you and your families who we recognize also sacrifice on our behalf.

We also remember those who have given the fullest measure of devotion, and those families who cope with the void in all holiday’s to come. (more…)

Media and the professional left have been jaw-agape, pearl-clutching amid their discussion of the appropriateness for Donald Trump to directly confront corporate CEO’s about their business models.
Initially their angst was simply because Donald Trump had the audacity to begin staking a pro-worker, “America First” jobs position with Carrier Inc.  The workers won.
President Trump then shifted slightly and spoke toward government contractors such as Boeing (Air Force One Contract) and Lockheed Martin… challenging their costs:

President-elect Trump took stewardship to an entire new level when tasking two competitors, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, for comparative bids and lower costs.  The approach is brilliant.
According to their own report, the F-35 program is Lockheed Martin’s largest program, generating 59% of Aeronautics’ net sales in 2015. (link) Lockheed receives 78% of their $46.1 billion in net sales from the U.S. Government.
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Ok, I admit.. this “winning” is almost way too much fun.  A few hours ago, key defense contractors and their government agency counterparts assembled for the first time with President-elect Donald Trump.
It cannot be overstated how fundamentally different this is for all parties involved. For the first time in their history, both sides are facing a President-elect without a single IOU on his desk from their large networked lobbying groups.  For them, both sides, the concept of prudent financial interest is at the forefront of the discussion.

For the first time in modern history the proverbial governmental trough has a gatekeeper…. His name is Donald J Trump.  Just pause for a moment and think about the scope of their collective new reality.
Better still, imagine yourself as a white hat inside the acquisition program and assigned to deliver the best “bidding process”,  and now you actually have Donald Trump on your side of the negotiation table.
OK, now smile, read and watch: (more…)

(Via The Daily Mail) A Chinese warship has captured an underwater US Navy drone right in front of the eyes of the crew of an American ship in the South China sea, prompting a government official to say, ‘they stole it’.

The incident has triggered a formal demarche from the United States and a demand for its return, a US defense official told Reuters on Friday.

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