Trump Rejects Neocon Turncoats – Russia Launches Aleppo Campaign

November 15, 2016

… co-founded the Project for the New American Century (PNAC), which was a center for prominent neoconservatives. He has been a member of the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee, a committee of civilians and retired military officers that the U.S. Secretary of Defense may call upon for advice, that was instituted during the administration of President George W. Bush. He was put on the board after acquaintance Richard Perle put forward his name. Cohen has referred to the War on Terrorism as “World War IV”. In the run-up to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, he was a member of Committee for the Liberation of Iraq, a group of prominent persons who pressed for an invasion.

Cohen in WaPo May 3 2016:

It’s over. Donald Trump, a man utterly unfit for the position by temperament, values and policy preferences, will be the Republican nominee for president. He will run against Hillary Clinton, who is easily the lesser evil …

Cohen in the NYT on May 17 2016:

Mr. Trump’s temperament, his proclivity for insult and deceit and his advocacy of unpredictability would make him a presidential disaster — especially in the conduct of foreign policy, where clarity and consistency matter.
…
Hillary Clinton is far better: She believes in the old consensus and will take tough lines on China and, increasingly, Russia.

Cohen in The American Interest on November 10 2016 (immediately after Trump won):

Trump may be better than we think. He does not have strong principles about much, which means he can shift. He is clearly willing to delegate legislation to Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell. And even abroad, his instincts incline him to increase U.S. strength—and to push back even against Russia if, as will surely happen, Putin double-crosses him. My guess is that sequester gets rolled back, as do lots of stupid regulations, and experiments in nudging and nagging Americans to behave the way progressives think they should.

Cohen on Twitter November 15 2016

Eliot A Cohen @EliotACohen

After exchange w Trump transition team, changed my recommendation: stay away. They're angry, arrogant, screaming "you LOST!" Will be ugly.

Retweets 3,719 Likes 3,204
5:07 AM – 15 Nov 2016

I find the above very funny. How could that turncoat think he would be greeted by the Trump organization with anything but derision? Cohen believed he and his ilk would be welcome with candies and roses after insulting Trump in all major media? Who is the arrogant one in the above?

Oh, by the way. Here is a headline from October 2013: President Obama to Republicans: I won. Deal with it. I do not remember Cohen, or anyone else, calling that "arrogant".

While the papers are full of (badly) informed rumors about who will get this or that position in a Trump administration let's keep in mind that 90% of such rumors are just self promotions by people like Cohen who shill for the rumored job. That is why I will not write about John Bolton or Rudy Giuliani as coming Secretary of State. Both are possible (unqualified) candidates. But others are just as likely to get that position. We will only know who it is after the official release.

Meanwhile Trump yesterday had a phonecall with the Russian President Putin. They discussed bilateral relations, Syria and fighting terrorism. Today the Russian and Syrian military started the long expected big campaign against the "moderate" al-Qaeda in east-Aleppo city and Idleb governate. Air strikes on east-Aleppo had been held back for 28 days. Today missiles and cruise missiles were launched against fixed targets and dozens of carrier and land launched airplanes attacked Nusra position on the various front and in its rear. Long range bombers flown from Russia joined the campaign. Trump seems to have voiced no objections to this offensive.

The Russian military has upped its air defense in Syria. Additional to the S-400 system around its airport in Latakia seven S-300 systems were deployed as a screen against U.S. cruise missile attacks. These are joined by rehabilitated Syrian S-200 system and Pantsyr S-1 short range systems for point defense. This should be enough to deter any stupid idea the Pentagon hawks, or dumb neocons like Eliot Cohen, might have.

Posted by b on November 15, 2016 at 17:13 UTC | Permalink

Comments

Some S-300 were moved to Allepo, Al-Safirah to be exact.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russia-redeploys-anti-aircraft-missiles-aleppo/
Interesting, neocons and NATO must be wetting their pants. I guess Trumps-Putins talks were productive.

Posted by: Harry | Nov 15 2016 17:23 utc | 1

“This should be enough to deter any stupid idea the Pentagon hawks, or dumb neocons like Eliot Cohen, might have.”
Or the zionazi squatters in occupied Palestine, mind you. Increasingly cornered by Russia, they can also face a very real NFZ from north to south on a 5 minutes notice should they attack SAA again.

Posted by: mokha | Nov 15 2016 17:30 utc | 2

Well, I will say this about President-Elect Trump, so far so good. Media justifiably discredited, neocons sucking air, Democratic Party doubling down on the stupid and self-destructing by selling out to Soros, what’s not to like?
A lot sure to come, no doubt. But for now, go Donald!

Posted by: kafkananda | Nov 15 2016 17:30 utc | 3

I’ve never known a president-elect to have such an effect right after an election. It’s like a house of cards falling.
Hell, at this rate, Trump may be able to declare ‘mission accomplished’ before even taking office!!! j/k 🙂

Posted by: woogs | Nov 15 2016 17:36 utc | 4

Thank you for this summary. Trump will be a mixed bag especially in domestic politics. I was happy to hear that the old liberal Trump still exists. He may appoint an openly gay man to a Cabinet position (I do not know if this is tokenism or not). If his appointments follow policy then I think a lot of Clinton crybabies in the streets will have a harder time gaining traction with the social justice warriors.
I sometimes used Cohen’s WWIV statement to see how strongly a person held their neo-conservative positions. Only a few knew what I was talking about during the 2nd Iraq War. I’m glad that is he gone. I hope Trump can pull in some realists but I do not know where these people exist anymore. People like that are typically weeded out at lower levels.
I still have not heard any rumors about Lt. Gen. Flynn. I am very interested to know where he is assigned. I thought he would have 2nd pick after Sessions so either DoD, CIA or Head of the NSC.

Posted by: AnEducatedFool | Nov 15 2016 17:39 utc | 5

Ironic, shifting the balance of power over Syria means denial of both a successful coalition air campaign as well as opportunity for stupid bait operation to create pretext for retaliation. Queen against wall of pawns.

Posted by: stumpy | Nov 15 2016 17:43 utc | 6

1
Timelines are the most valuable tool of all in outing ponderous idiots. Thanks, b.
Here’s one for idiot Paul Krugman.
Nov09 (day after election) – PK: The markets are in free-fall, the recession has begun, it will “never” end.
Reality: the markets were going thought the roof. Dow Jones went straight up and past it’s previous high.
Nov11 – PK: I have rethought what I said on Nov09 and there’s a chance the markets will take the elections results well.
Nov14 – PK: After giving my Nov09 prediction some thought, I “quickly” retracted it.
Yeah, you moran. You retracted it after seeing it was 180 degrees wrong and everyone can now see that your fear-mongering about markets was just more of your bullshit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2
b: “That is why I will not write about John Bolton or Rudy Giuliani as coming Secretary of State. Both are possible (unqualified) candidates. “
You just did.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.
b: “Today the Russian and Syrian military started the long expected big campaign against the “moderate” al-Qaeda in east-Aleppo city and Idleb governate.”
I don’t know about Aleppo. Here’s RT earlier today:

“ The Russian military has launched a large-scale operation against terrorists stationed in Homs and Idlib provinces of Syria, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday.”
/snip
“Journalists asked presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov about the possibility of the operation which started on Tuesday to be expanded to include Aleppo. ‘Aleppo has not been mentioned in the report of the defense minister; it concerned other areas – Homs and Idlib [provinces],’ Peskov told the press.
/snip
“Russian jets have not been in the vicinity of Aleppo for the last 28 days”

Posted by: Denis | Nov 15 2016 17:46 utc | 7

You just can’t make this stuff up. The tantrum Cohen threw on Twitter was just amazing.
Anyway, I look forward to the time when we, in America, stop providing such crazy entertainment for the world world.
We’re exhausted.

Posted by: Joanne Leon | Nov 15 2016 18:05 utc | 8

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-aleppo-idUSKBN13A16O
Intense air strikes resumed in rebel-held districts of eastern Aleppo after a weeks-long pause on Tuesday, killing at least three people, residents and a war monitor said.
Syrian state television said the Damascus government’s air force took part in strikes against “terrorist strongholds” in Aleppo’s Old City while Russia said it had struck Islamic State and former Nusra Front sites elsewhere in Syria, without mentioning Aleppo.
The bombardment appeared to mark the end of a pause in strikes on targets inside the city declared by Syria’s government and Russia on Oct 18.
~~~
On Monday and early Tuesday, air strikes hit hospitals in three towns and villages in rebel-held areas to the west of Aleppo, putting them all out of action. Damascus and Moscow both deny targeting hospitals.
Other strikes, including some by suspected Russian cruise missiles, hit Saraqeb in Idlib, a province near Aleppo where many of the rebel factions have a large presence.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday Russia had launched attacks in Idlib and Homs provinces using missiles and jets from the country’s only aircraft carrier, which recently arrived in the eastern Mediterranean.

Posted by: okie farmer | Nov 15 2016 18:07 utc | 9

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-russia-mideast-idUSKBN13A2CN?il=0
Russia has long-term ambitions in the Middle East: Israeli official
By Luke Baker | JERUSALEM
Israel should be concerned about the deepening disconnect between Russia’s aims in the Middle East and its own goals, according to a senior Israeli official who held high-level meetings in Moscow last week.
Avi Dichter, chairman of Israel’s foreign affairs and defense committee and the former head of the Shin Bet intelligence agency, said Russia’s views on Iran, Syria’s Bashar al-Assad and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah were in sharp contrast to Israel’s and a growing source of potential conflict.
While he said Moscow appreciates the good ties it has with Israel and takes the diplomatic relationship seriously, it won’t hesitate to impose actions that serve its interests on any countries in the Middle East, including Israel.
“The gap between us and them is large and disturbing,” Dichter said in summing up discussions with senior members of Russia’s upper and lower houses of parliament, the deputy defense minister and the deputy head of national security.
“Russia thinks and acts as a superpower and as such it often ignores Israeli interest when it doesn’t coincide with the Russian interest,” he said.

Posted by: okie farmer | Nov 15 2016 18:13 utc | 10

Wow, more insightful analysis about the US!!!! FAIL.
Um, James Woolsey of PNAC was Trump’s advisor. He was also financially backed by Adelson who is one of the people who FUNDS the neocons or are we not going to talk about the neocon’s Zionist roots?
Gee, b, could the neocons have everyone in their pocket or do thoughts like that get in the way of your devotion to this fascist girl-raping piece of garbage, Trump?
I can’t remember, did Berlusconi send a shiver down your spine as well, b?

Posted by: Ron Showalter | Nov 15 2016 18:19 utc | 11

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-mosul-idUSKBN13A133
Islamic State kills civilians in Mosul to deter support for army
By Dominic Evans and John Davison | BAGHDAD/QAYYARA, Iraq
Islamic State has summarily killed 21 civilians in Mosul it accused of collaborating with U.S.-backed security forces, which said their offensive to recapture the city from the jihadists had made further advances.
The killings, reported on Tuesday by a medical source, indicate that the ultra-hardline group has maintained its ability to police Mosul, more than four weeks after the start of the offensive on the northern Iraqi city.
The campaign that began on Oct. 17 is the biggest military operation in Iraq in more than a decade of turmoil unleashed by the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Counter terrorism forces breached Islamic State defenses in the east of the city two weeks ago but have faced resistance from the militants who have deployed suicide car bombs, snipers and waves of counter-attacks.
They have been fighting in a dozen of the roughly 50 neighborhoods on the eastern side of the city, which is divided in two by the Tigris river running through the center.

Posted by: okie farmer | Nov 15 2016 18:19 utc | 12

Trump also gave his first interview as POTUS-elect to Adelson’s Israeli newspaper.
But I guess that means he probably doesn’t see eye to eye w/ the Zionist neocons, right?
Or does this type of thinking also interfere w/ all of MoA’s love of the fascist, girl-raping piece of garbage that is Trump?

Posted by: Ron Showalter | Nov 15 2016 18:21 utc | 13

Does this mean that Victoria Nuland will be fired? Actually, can she be fired? or at at least transferred to the embassy in Outer Mongolia?

Posted by: Erelis | Nov 15 2016 18:28 utc | 14

Judging solely by the evident hysterical efforts to undermine Trump since the election, I’d say b is very correct in his assessment.
It appears that the Democrats and neocons have learned nothing (as I warned). They will double-down on bullshit and spite.

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Nov 15 2016 18:29 utc | 15

Here is another example of folks trying get in front of the Trump train and turn it into a parade.
“Trump has pledged to change things in Washington — about draining the swamp. He is going to need some people to help guide him through the swamp — how do you get in and how do you get out? We are prepared to help do that.”
—former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, speaking on behalf of Squire Patton Boggs, the lobbying firm he works for

Posted by: psychohistorian | Nov 15 2016 18:54 utc | 16

@ 13 Erelis
Nuland has managed to “burrow” herself – convert their political slot to permanent one at Foggy Bottom since Strobe Talbot after Bill Clinton’s terms.
There are quite a few Israel firsters like her: Jeffrey Feltman is another one.

Posted by: Yul | Nov 15 2016 18:54 utc | 17

Bhadhra
http://blogs.rediff.com/mkbhadrakumar/2016/11/14/trump-effect-divides-european-opinion/
Today a French NGO is lodging a complain against Ciments Lafarge, who has kept operating in the region between Raqqa and Manbij in 2013-2014 and made direct payments to IS. We have politicians who try to block a law against the possibility of companies to operate in these kinds of theaters.
http://en.rfi.fr/france/20161115-french-company-lafarge-sued-over-alleged-ties-terror-group

Posted by: Mina | Nov 15 2016 18:58 utc | 18

This picture is enough to remove Giuliani, Bolton and Newt as prospects for Secretary of State:
http://irananders.de/uploads/pics/PaMEK.jpg

Posted by: Yul | Nov 15 2016 19:01 utc | 19

What have the poor people of Outer Mongolia ever done to deserve this: “Does this mean that Victoria Nuland will be fired? Actually, can she be fired? or at at least transferred to the embassy in Outer Mongolia?” I think all of the neo-cons should replace current prisoners at Gitmo, along with BOTH Clintons, Obama, G W Bush, Cheney, et al. Then subjected to all sorts of ‘information gathering techniques’ …
I mean, fair is fair.

Posted by: rg the lg | Nov 15 2016 19:13 utc | 20

Ha ha.
Obama has called a press conference to deliver a lecture about the consequences of a descent into ‘tribalism’.
One hopes that Bibi and the pro-“Israel” crowd are paying attention…

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Nov 15 2016 19:19 utc | 21

Let’s hope that all the radical rabbinical right-wing fascists like Cohen and Nuland and Bolton can be pressed to death with stones at Foggy Bottom Swamp.
Very tiny stones, lol. Like Death of 3,035,795,900,000 Cuts they impose on US.
I did some math on Mil.Gov.Fed. There are 6,800 banks in the US, and an average bank robbery in the US nets ~$10,000. If every bank in the US was robbed every 10 minutes, of every day, throughout every month, for the entire year, that would equal the yearly depredation of our last life savings by OneParty of Mil.Gov.Fed.
That’s 6,800 211A police bank robbery calls, every 10 minutes, forever, and that doesn’t include $T a year interest-only forever payments on their odious ‘debt’.
Maybe pressed to death with damp pig dung would be more appropriate for them.

Posted by: chipnik | Nov 15 2016 19:22 utc | 22

@rg the lg. Perhaps you should be part of Trump’s cabinet. That is a brilliant solution. Then close Gitmo down while they are still in it. Oh and try away the key. That would definitely make the world a safer place.

Posted by: Ike | Nov 15 2016 19:25 utc | 23

@AnEducatedFool
“Thank you for this summary. Trump will be a mixed bag especially in domestic politics. I was happy to hear that the old liberal Trump still exists. He may appoint an openly gay man to a Cabinet position (I do not know if this is tokenism or not). If his appointments follow policy then I think a lot of Clinton crybabies in the streets will have a harder time gaining traction with the social justice warriors.”
Yes.
As a lifelong liberal who voted for Trump primarily to keep to the warmongering wackjob Clinton out of power the early moves by Trump are promising.
As someone who lived lived through the 1980s I remember how telling people how concerned and fearful you were of nuclear war was most something you did in an attempt to make yourself look ‘deep’.
This past six month have been the first time in my life where I was found myself really being afraid. Sitting in my safe home that has never been touched by war it has been a sobering shock of just how close the frantic push for all out war with Russia by Clinton and her army of neocon cronies infesting the US government came to killing tens or hundreds of millions of people.
It is going to be a painful four years for a large number of liberal issues but the avoidance of the horror of an actual all out war between two nuclear powers is worth the pain on many social and environmental issues.

Posted by: Stevens | Nov 15 2016 19:31 utc | 24

Oh the hypocrisy of the “Never Trump” advocates. LMAO.
There is a long list of Neocons who are now playing nice hoping to muscle into the Trump camp.
In the top 5 is neocon Bill Kristol.
In May he mounted a fierce campaign: “There Will Be An Independent Candidate” To Sabotage Donald Trump
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-05-31/neocon-kristol-announces-there-will-be-independent-candidate-sabotage-donald-trump
and here he was on Sunday ABC’s This Week
Whatever One Thinks About Donald Trump, His Accomplishments Are ‘Pretty Impressive’
[because he did away with two dynasties; Bush and Clinton]
http://www.breitbart.com/video/2016/11/13/bill-kristol-whatever-one-thinks-donald-trump-accomplishments-pretty-impressive/

Posted by: likklemore | Nov 15 2016 19:38 utc | 25

@23
“It is going to be a painful four years for a large number of liberal issues but the avoidance of the horror of an actual all out war between two nuclear powers is worth the pain on many social and environmental issues.”
Or maybe the MSM and blogs like this scared you SOOOOOO much about the farcical idea that HRC was actually going to start a global thermonuclear war that you p!ssed yourself and voted against your very own survival by giving the reins of power to those right-wing fanactics who indeed will take away your Medicare and leave you on the street to die.
No, really, you look like a sucker. Because you let them scare you.

Posted by: Ron Showalter | Nov 15 2016 19:38 utc | 26

@Ron Showalter
LOL.
You think I get my world news from the MSM…

Posted by: Stevens | Nov 15 2016 19:44 utc | 27

So zero mention that Bannon – an outright fascist, is Trump’s chief strategist.
That gets zero mention from b.
Whats A bigger story, b’s exposures of a little weasel how has hypocrisy blood pole climbing designs , or a fascist as trumps right hand man ?

Posted by: tom | Nov 15 2016 19:50 utc | 28

…
I hope Trump can pull in some realists but I do not know where these people exist anymore. People like that are typically weeded out at lower levels.
…
Posted by: AnEducatedFool | Nov 15, 2016 12:39:17 PM | 4
Don’t fret. Trump is a gifted personnel picker with a flair for innovation.
In 1980 he (very unfashionably) appointed a woman as the construction project manager for Trump Tower, a task she performed with remarkable expertise.

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Nov 15 2016 19:51 utc | 29

Bacevich for Secretary of State!
Or at least Secretary of Defense.
Would be great to see Chas Freeman nominated for Sec/State but
GOP/Neocons/Zionists blocked him from lesser post under Obama.

Posted by: mauisurfer | Nov 15 2016 19:54 utc | 30

Here we have a Zionist neocon think tank where both Woolsey, senior advisor to Trump since September, and Cohen are both on the Board.
http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/about/board-of-advisors/
Here we have Woolsey quoting and adopting Cohen’s WWIV theory (I wonder who they think the parties will be for WWIII) and Woolsey has even referred to Cohen as my friend just this month!
I have adopted Eliot Cohen’s formulation, distinguished professor at Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies, that we are in World War IV, World War III having been the Cold War. And I think Eliot’s formulation fits the circumstances really better than describing this as a war on terrorism.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/2002/021116-ww4.htm
His friend:
http://www.defenddemocracy.org/media-hit/james-woolsey-discusses-cias-role-in-fighting-terrorism/
But hey, keep on dreaming that Trump isn’t all in with the Zionist/Neocon gang.

Posted by: Circe | Nov 15 2016 19:58 utc | 31

You need to block the IP address of the moron-troll rufusmagister — he/she will destroy your blog with that shit.
Showalter, is a pissed off iJew disappointed that Bibi’s goy-to girl, Hilton, isn’t going to be there to tag-team with other Yisrael-firsters like Schumer and Schultz. Probably better to let Showalter babel on for a while out of respect to the 1st Amend.
“The dogs bark; the caravan moves on.”

Posted by: Denis | Nov 15 2016 19:58 utc | 32

b,
Can you delete #24?

Posted by: Jack Smith | Nov 15 2016 19:58 utc | 33

Yes, I do think you get your news from the MSM and what is worse is that you actually believe it just like b.
Gee, do you think that having all of the neocons tell the MSM – and thus you – that they really support HRC had anything to do with how much you, b and the other bedwetters p!ssed themselves about OMG!1!! WWIII!!1!!1 especially as those announcements came out in March – now listen closely – when HRC WAS RUNNING AGAINST BS?
Why, that sure was fuel to the fire for Bernie-bros, huh?
By deception thou shall wage war, huh?
Gee, I can’t think of a worse poison pill for a fake-left Democratic candidate than to have the endorsements of the neocons, can you? Why, that might even sway some easily fooled MSM-imbibers as to whose string the neocons might end up pulling in the end, huh?
Why, maybe do ya think they might sway even more people by PUBLICLY tweeting about just HOW MUCH they still hate that dastardly Trump, y’know, the same guy who was backed by the world’s richest Zionist Jew and who was advised by James Woosley throughout his campaign?
No one – but especially Israeli-backing neocons – would never think to use subterfuge to get their way, huh?
But you and b and all the rest here don’t pay attention to the MSM, huh? You all just happened to have been parroting the “neocons love HRC” line that was first found in the MSM, huh?
Does not compute, scaredy cat.

Posted by: Ron Showalter | Nov 15 2016 20:00 utc | 34

yul @ 18
Prime candidates for a Washington beautification project called…..10,000 Lampposts.
rufusmagister @ 24
Spamming like that deserves consideration for beautification project. 🙂

Posted by: kafkananda | Nov 15 2016 20:02 utc | 35

Trump got 5million campaign money from Sheldon Anderson.. maybe he’s just paying dues.. http://fortune.com/2016/09/20/donald-trump-donation/

Posted by: fintor | Nov 15 2016 20:02 utc | 36

@31
Um, do you know who Sheldon Adelson is?
Do you know where POTUS-elect Trump gave his first post-stolen-election interview?
But that’s ok, projection is so Zionist traitor sexy like.

Posted by: Ron Showalter | Nov 15 2016 20:03 utc | 37

Oh yeah, they pretend WWIII was the Cold War….LOLOLOL! But you know and I know that’s not the real definition of a World War.
The best way to throw the enemy off is with a decoy as in trap…Syria, anyone? WWIII never happened but it will; it surely will the way things are going.

Posted by: Circe | Nov 15 2016 20:04 utc | 38

@ Posted by: rufusmagister | Nov 15, 2016 2:34:26 PM | 24
And exactly your point is ? ? ? ?

Posted by: RayB | Nov 15 2016 20:08 utc | 39

Sabotage from rufusmag Showalter oder was? Moon of Alabama is an important blog.

Posted by: AttaTroll | Nov 15 2016 20:08 utc | 40

Names have been floated for this and that positions in the Trump Administration but I haven’t seen Pat Buchanan been named for anything; or have I skipped too much comments? I rather think much of Buchanan’s world views are in line with Trump’s, and he should make a sensible Secretary of State.

Posted by: OleImmigrant | Nov 15 2016 20:23 utc | 41

thanks b..
help the thread out by removing the poster posing as rufus in post @24.. thanks.
ron showalter… this ain’t facebook.. you sound more suited to fb, given your tone here…
otherwise thanks to the posters that are saying some fun and educational things here. it is an interesting disconnect developing over russias attitude towards israel, verses the usa’s… perhaps cohen and his friends need to transport to russia at this point?

Posted by: james | Nov 15 2016 20:30 utc | 42

Posted by: rufusmagister | Nov 15, 2016 2:34:26 PM | 24
If anyone had any doubts that you are a total asshole – you’ve cleared up that point.

Posted by: DM | Nov 15 2016 20:41 utc | 43

Norm MacDonald the Canadian humorist was fired from Saturday Night Live in 1998 for allegedly telling to many O.J. Simpson jokes. This 25 minute compilation video illustrates that the real reason was most likely that Norm made fun of the Clinton’s life of crime by actually stating their crime spree facts disguised as humor?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnw8JRpXdAc

Posted by: ALberto | Nov 15 2016 20:46 utc | 44

Maybe Puton told Trump “the sooner we (Russia, Syria, etc. clear out Al Qaeda, the sooner we deal with ISIS”. An offer Trump would be an idiot to refuse, not that I think he’s an idiot. Hopefully, the moronic BS we had to put up with from Obama, Cameron, Hollande, The Grauniad, New York Times, etc. about how Russia, Syria, weren’t attacking ISIS but were attacking “moderate” Al Qaeda will soon go away.

Posted by: Ghostship | Nov 15 2016 21:14 utc | 45

#24, & #45; What a total waste of bandwidth and serious posters time just scrolling past the crap.
Can the author be permanently banned and the posts deleted, b?

Posted by: juannie | Nov 15 2016 21:22 utc | 46

“Vice President-elect Mike Pence is the best person to shape the transition effort, with the president-elect’s input, Trump spokesman Jason Miller said.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-11-15/trump-transition-stalls-as-kushner-said-to-oust-christie-allies

Posted by: B2 | Nov 15 2016 21:31 utc | 47

Looks like some still want a no-fly zone:

The War Child charity said the US election had distracted attention from the suffering in the city and called on the British prime minister, Theresa May, to put more pressure on Syria and Russia to halt the bombing.
“She must consider implementing targeted sanctions against those who commit war crimes, the introduction of a no-fly zone to end helicopter attacks on civilian areas, and a no-bombing zone, in which the regime’s military infrastructure would be targeted in response to any further attacks on civilians,” it said in a statement.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/15/aleppo-airstrikes-resume-as-russia-announces-major-syria-offensive

Posted by: Thirdeye | Nov 15 2016 21:43 utc | 48

@ Thirdeye #49
May be Therese May should concentrate on Yemen where her country is helping the Saudis to commit genocide.

Posted by: Yul | Nov 15 2016 21:55 utc | 49

Someone suggested that I be part of Trump’s cabinet … done tongue in cheek for sure. I haven’t any interest in so doing … obviously … because I am hoping the anti-Trump revolts backfire and we end up with a real blood in the streets revolution … one which has one much hoped for outcome: the total and complete elimination of the oligarchs and the idiots of the deep state that blindly (and stupidly) support them.
Frankly, unless and until, the stable is cleaned, the swamp drained, and the politicos who have betrayed humanity by being eliminated or consigned to Gitmo (or worse … one of our famously infamous black sites) the earth will cleanse the environment of the virus: humanity/homo sapiens …
And the Llano Estacado is still here, still dry and still very self-destructively pumping water from the Ogallala Aquifer.

Posted by: rg the lg | Nov 15 2016 21:57 utc | 50

It looks like Roofus Minister has finally snapped, lost his mind and is now Lorem Ipsuming MoA.
Trumpolution is already claiming its first mental health victims.
Couldn’t happen to a better Blairite/Trotskyist.

Posted by: Quadriad | Nov 15 2016 22:02 utc | 51

Last week:
* The ‘real’ Kurdish-and-some-Arab-tribes SDF lost the biggest Arab-tribes component who objected to either Kurds or Turkish FSA being part of the Raqqa operation
* Ar Raqqa isn’t in the claimed borders of Rojava and is a predominantly Arab city. Still confused why the YPG/YPJ would even want to die to liberate Raqqa when Turkey is about to take back much of Rojava.
* Dunford backpeadals on Kurd/SDF participation in the ar Raqqa campaign, claiming they were only going to liberate the little villages to the North, East and West of ar Raqqa. The Arab SDF militias (the largest of which already quit) would be the ones entering the city – except their numbers even before the split made this quite impossible.
* In the mean time, word of yet another U.S. air base being prepared in Hasakah. We are apparently turning Rojava into a land-based U.S. aircraft carrier and anti-Assad head-chopper supply hub.
Al Bab move this weekend:
* Apparently, Dunford didn’t object to his Turkish counterpart, Gen. Akar, rolling the anti-Assad Turkish FSA head-choppers plus armor and artillery on al Bab
* Turkish and U.S. coalition aircraft provided air support in Syrian airspace for the move on Sunday despite the previous ‘ban’.
* Some of the villiages along the way were just ‘given’ to Turks/FSA – no fighting, just like Jarabulus. A few exceptions. Al Bab itself is offering resistance (so far)
* Turkish SF (and I imagine U.S. SF) are a component of the head-chopper forces
* Turkish armor and artillery (or Turkish ‘gifts’ to the anti-Assad FSA) are present in significant quantities and have been shelling al Bab. There are likely a great number of civilian casualties being kept from the public.
* Al Bab has had many ISIS families living there plus the several hundred that relocated there after Manbij fell. They are not forced to stay as human shields – they wan to stay there.
* Russia has been silent about the FSA/Turkish incursion. Nothing about Turkish aircraft operating in Syria again even though they would be easy targets for Russian/Syrian air defense.
Ar Raqqa liberation free-for-all:
* Dunford says no SDF Kurds for the campaign on the city, itself. Arab tribes inadequate. Time to bring in the UAE mercs and GCC SF masquerading as ar Raqqa Arab locals? If so, the Turks/FSA are out. They are mortal enemies of each other.
* Dunford counting on Turkish head-choppers to march from al Bab? That will infuriate the Kurds, who are also likely to lose everything west of the Euphrates per Erdogan’s repeated warnings.
* Turkish FSA head-choppers moving on ar Raqqa will also infuriate the GCC who still want their anti-Assad head-choppers in Syria and see ar Raqqa as an ‘Arab’ city (and a good base for further anti-Assad mischief).
* Townsend said his 101st Airborne boys (now in Iraq) are ready to ‘help’ in ar Raqqa and the U.S. seems eager to keep building bases on Syrian soil. Putin/Trump sentiment about fighting common enemy. So some kind of joint operation? Who else – Turk FSA or GCC mercs?
* The U.S. still has a little-known brigade or two of so-called Syrian Peshmerga trained by Barzani’s secret police. YPG won’t let them come back into Syria (they are mostly Syrian) because they are anti-Assad, but can the YPG stop them if the U.S. transports them by air? Would those Pesherga then morph into some kind of Kurdish FSA after taking ar Raqqa? They are essentially Kurdish mercs paid for by Barzani/US/Israel that chose NOT to be in the YPG.

Posted by: PavewayIV | Nov 15 2016 22:04 utc | 52

The child Rufus is spamming other posting comment sections on MoA as well.
Rufus, there is help for you. Go read a book titled Restoring the Brain and get yourself some neurofeedback please and thank you.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Nov 15 2016 22:15 utc | 53

Looks like the bromance between Bundestag and Erdo is at an end. Wonder how the Washerwoman and the Ottoman Caliph end up?
Massive special op against Islamists carried out in 10 German federal states, 60 cities
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2016/11/15/too-little-too-late-for-merkel-germany-begins-roundup-of-erdogan-terror-cells/

Posted by: ALberto | Nov 15 2016 22:19 utc | 54

@Mina
Interesting post. But would “pay for passes issued by IS… and… buy a number of raw materials, including oil and pozzolana, in areas under IS control” amount to supporting them? After all, Bashar says he still sends salaries and materials into Daesh areas too. Also, keeping Syrian employees at work (even if needing to cross IS checkpoints) is arguably a good thing right?
On the other hand, Lafarge’s wiki says Ms Clinton was a former board member…

Posted by: B2 | Nov 15 2016 22:20 utc | 55

The interesting appointment is Steve Bannon. Trump will have expected flak for that (and got it) but he needs someone like Bannon to act as a counterweight to the neocons. Despite his baggage, he seems to be a good strategist.
@9 I have been waiting for Israel to change its tune vis-a-vis Russia, now that Trump has started conversations with Putin. While Israel had the rabid dog neocons in full power in Washington it could pretend to cosy up with Russia. But a US/Russia Syria campaign will not be to Israel’s liking. So it will try to use the influence it obviously has over the Trump team to muddy the waters. Bannon is unusual among the alt right for being very pro-Israel.

Posted by: Lochearn | Nov 15 2016 22:20 utc | 56

dear lord… there has been lots of faking real visitors lately…
I’d think of a fake Rufus, anyway, just the admin can tell that
pretty low disruptive technique, to post thousands of characters…
b, does your platform allow PHP form sanitization?
Neocons just went wild on our bar, some kicking is in order

Posted by: Mad Marx | Nov 15 2016 22:35 utc | 57

RE Rufusmagister | Nov 15, 2016 2:34:26 PM | 24 and 45
I kind of enjoyed the first few paragraphs . . . but really, this is not the place to post page after page of Gibbon. Get your own website.

Posted by: Perimetr | Nov 15 2016 22:53 utc | 58

Given what’s actually happening within Syria, it appears the plan is to destroy all terrorists West of the desert, then once done to turn the full might of the SAA and its allies to routing all foreign forces from the country in tandem with a similar Iraqi move.
Neocons of one sort or another have always inhabited areas of the executive branch since the days of George Washington, so eradicating them completely is likely an impossible task. I just hope Trump isn’t as aloof as Eisenhower.

Posted by: karlof1 | Nov 15 2016 22:53 utc | 59

Off topic, but there’s a greater than usual disconnect re Aleppo atm. The main media are slavishly reporting airstrikes on East Aleppo but the Russians and Syrians are denying it.
Can anyone explain?

Posted by: Mr Toad | Nov 15 2016 22:54 utc | 60

I support all calls to get Rufus Magister outed as a troll and barred from commenting on this blog. This person is disrupting this comments thread by copying and pasting such long excerpts from a book that this blog could get into trouble over copyright infringement.

Posted by: Jen | Nov 15 2016 22:59 utc | 61

Re Mr Toad | Nov 15, 2016 5:54:09 PM | 61
The Russians aren’t denying it . . .
https://www.rt.com/news/366995-anti-terrorist-operation-carrier/
Russian carrier takes part in massive strikes on terrorists in Syria’s Idlib & Homs provinces – MoD
Published time: 15 Nov, 2016 11:35

Posted by: Perimetr | Nov 15 2016 23:05 utc | 62

b, 10 is so offensive, can we just remove his tripe. his opinion is one thing but his presentation and his treatment of you violate roberts rules of order. t’ro da bum out

Posted by: Ruben Chandler | Nov 15 2016 23:10 utc | 63

“Russia thinks and acts as a superpower and as such it often ignores Israeli interest when it doesn’t coincide with the Russian interest,” he said.
What a wonderful sentence. It shows that some people think that everyone should put the state of Israel before their own interests. Why exactly? I care as much about Peru as Israel. (not much in either case)
Why should I care about Israel?

Posted by: Mark Stoval | Nov 15 2016 23:16 utc | 64

The Russians are deploying everything. They have deployed a unit of the Bastion Complex, normally a shore based anti-ship system, but reassigned to attack ground targets. They have also deployed the awesome Mig-31 Mach 3+ high altitude interceptor armed with R-33 air-to-air missiles.
https://z5h64q92x9.net/proxy_u/ru-en.en/colonelcassad.livejournal.com/3070853.html

Posted by: Yonatan | Nov 15 2016 23:20 utc | 65

Neocons faking Blairite-Trotskyists??
Aren’t neocons essentially Trotskyists/Bolsheviks in plausibly looking conservative all-American attire?
Ie. why would anyone, let alone a reasonably intelligent average internet troll, bother to emulate to discredit someone already as ****ed in the head as Roofus?

Posted by: Quadriad | Nov 15 2016 23:27 utc | 66

The Zionist Organization of America has come to the defense of Steve Bannon and he and Trump’s Israel advisers are all invited to ZOA’s 2016 Annual Gala Dinner.
http://israelforeignaffairs.com/israeli-news/1/2016/11/haaretz-trump-adviser-steve-bannon-to-attend-zoa-gala/
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/zoa-head-wants-adls-greenblatt-to-apologize-to-bannon/2016/11/15/
Trump’s all in with Zionist Neocons.
I rest my case.

Posted by: Circe | Nov 15 2016 23:38 utc | 67

@rufus I generally stay out of the weird & crazy attacks around here, I have tried to avoid getting into any of the attacks about whether or not you are a zionist asshole because there was a time when you posted reasonable points of view and 2) arguments are better when confined to the issues; what you have done on this page completely negates any neutrality you may have deserved.
I have no doubt that most of those interested in Gibbon’s outmoded take on Rome have as I do a copy of decline and fall so we can dive in and out as we choose. The two huge shits you have made on the rug in here are worthy of a ban IMO. b who is far more tolerant of these things than I am, prolly doesn’t agree – but I do hafta ask what sick motive has led you to imagine you have the right to inflict your rank smelling excrement on all the rest of us – most of whom haven’t indulged in poking the crazy man?
Act like an adult if MoA pisses you off – stay away – don’t be throwing the sort of attention seeking tantrums best suited to a screwed up three year old.

Posted by: Debsisdead | Nov 15 2016 23:39 utc | 68

Haha, Rufus. What an embarrassing brain melt. It’s like he’s giving MofA a virtual reenactment of the hillbot riots on the street…except…of course, Rufus probably isn’t getting Soros’ $35/hr…oh no…Rufie is whoring for free no doubt.
If you’re a Brit Jihadi, your problems just multiplied if this story has any weight. It would appear you are not coming home.
US, British ‘Clean House’ to Delete Syria Terror Links
http://m.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/11/14/us-british-clean-house-delete-syria-terror-links.html

Posted by: MadMax2 | Nov 15 2016 23:40 utc | 69

Most of my degrees are in Classics and Ancient History, but I couldn’t be bothered reading Rufus’s long posts. What I saw of them suggested to me that he was repeatedly posting one long block of text. Which would certainly qualify as spamming.

Posted by: lysias | Nov 15 2016 23:44 utc | 70

The Zionist organization of America invites Steve Bannon and Trump’s Israel advisers to its 2016 Annual Gala Dinner and comes to Steve Bannon’s defense.
http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/u-s-election-2016/1.753413
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/zoa-head-wants-adls-greenblatt-to-apologize-to-bannon/2016/11/15/
Trump’s all in with Zionist Neocons. I rest my case.

Posted by: Circe | Nov 15 2016 23:46 utc | 71

Et tu, Rufus.

Posted by: stumpy | Nov 15 2016 23:57 utc | 72

Kinda sad to see that after all the madness of that surreal prez beauty contest so many are still in the usual good/bad left/right dem/rethug binary mode.
Instead of getting so invested in what trump is gonna do based on individual bias filters it makes more sense to analyse the likely events and their outcomes by objectively applying what we know about the bloke.
Trump is a politician yeah I know he denies it but, the fact he confined his campaign to 15 states which he believed were in play is more than enough to conclude his campaign was just another swipe for the brass ring using whatever ploys and distortions it takes.
That means like all pols he will never stop campaigning – at least not in his first term.
If trump is focussed on making sure he is still viable in 2020 it means that just like every prez before him foreign policy objectives will always be sacrificed ahead of domestic issues.
If trump wants to get anything done he is going to have to have sufficient legislators onside.
Now I dunno if they are gonna be republican or dem but since both cohorts are owned by the same gang of corporate lobbyists,I really don’t see that is a relevant issue.
If trump actually does want to get gigs for all his backers from the shadows of the construction industry by kicking off much needed refurbishment of amerika’s infrastructure, he is gonna have to get congress on side to get the budget to do that.
Some of em will be up for meeting construction industry sponsors no doubt about it. That industry hasn’t had many really high profile lobbyists in washington for a long while mostly they have been content grabbing the usual cyclical maintenence contracts plus whatever capital works come up but what trump appears to be proposing is much, much more than that.
The problem is that the defense & ‘security’ industries hold markers on the vast majority of DC legislators. Those blokes cannot just walk away saying “sorry bro that was last week, the new mob is in town N I’m goin with them”.
The only way trump will get the dough so he can claim he is “making amerika great again” will be if he tosses some big juicy bones in the direction of the defense & security industries.
There is no way around that. Maybe he has come up with a plan for doing that which doesn’t involve amerikan stickakybeaks thrusting their pus encrusted snouts into the rest of the world’s affairs, but I cannot see it as it is only the foreign contracts which allow really big boondoggles free of accounting office interference where the sort of profits these industries expect can be achieved – and equally importantly corporations get away with much more if they can claim to accountants, media assholes and joe citizen ‘honesty is important’ types to “man up & be a patriot there’s a war going on”.
I wanna be wrong on this but I’ve been watching the antics of amerikan prez’s for far too long to believe the trump era will not play out roughly as I have described.

Posted by: Debsisdead | Nov 16 2016 0:23 utc | 73

@23 showalter. why don’t you start your own blog? your gifted hate speech could have it’s own audience like you clearly don’t have here. you make some valid points that would be easier to digest without the pseudo online bully bravado. you have a point but no one can see it when you wear a hat

Posted by: Ruben Chandler | Nov 16 2016 0:38 utc | 74

Re#70 It’s tough to tell if Klein means what he says or is just doin the old hasbara build bridges with whoever holds the power, but it is worth noting that the bannon cunt was a senior managing partner at Goldman Sachs before he retired & kicked of his breitbart ‘hobby’ I cannot conceive that a bloke who is overtly judeophobic would get a seat at the Goldman top table no matter how much money he brought into that particular colony of leeches.

Posted by: Debsisdead | Nov 16 2016 0:41 utc | 75

Much too soon to get worked up.
rm, IF, that’s REALLY you. YOU SUCK!

Posted by: ben | Nov 16 2016 0:53 utc | 76

#24, & #45; What a total waste of bandwidth and serious posters time just scrolling past the crap.
Can the author be permanently banned and the posts deleted, b?
Posted by: juannie | Nov 15, 2016 4:22:37 PM | 47
that was an epic trolling by rufus in more than one sense!

Posted by: brian | Nov 16 2016 1:08 utc | 77

Jeez, Rufus. Did you have the post the whole volume? And just what was your point? Some of us have limited bandwidth.

Posted by: Morongobill | Nov 16 2016 1:08 utc | 78

@#66

Aren’t neocons essentially Trotskyists/Bolsheviks in plausibly looking conservative all-American attire?

No.

Posted by: Thirdeye | Nov 16 2016 1:19 utc | 79

2015 profile of Bannon, worth a look:
https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/graphics/2015-steve-bannon/

Posted by: Jay M | Nov 16 2016 1:25 utc | 80

okie farmer | Nov 15, 2016 1:13:45 PM | 9
The arrogance quite took my breath away – some much so that I had to clean my keyboard.
“Russia thinks and acts as a superpower and as such it often ignores Israeli interest when it doesn’t coincide with the Russian interest,” he said.
It must be a massive shock when a “superpower” ignores Israel’s interests – you never know, the USG might grow some cojones and do the same – perhaps Trump should recoup the $38 billion promised to Israel over the next ten years and spend some of it on restoring infrastructure.

Posted by: Ghostship | Nov 16 2016 1:28 utc | 81

Wow RM precis of Roman History. All good stories if you have the time.

Posted by: Jay M | Nov 16 2016 1:29 utc | 82

Trump-led US could become Syria’s ‘natural ally’ if it fights terrorism – Assad
From RT:
https://www.rt.com/news/367068-assad-trump-ally-terrorism/
I’m not a Trumpite, but this, if it happens, is good news..

Posted by: ben | Nov 16 2016 1:39 utc | 83

@ 79 Good stuff, thanks for the link.

Posted by: Lochearn | Nov 16 2016 1:47 utc | 84

>>Posted by: Mr Toad | Nov 15, 2016 5:54:09 PM | 61

Off topic, but there’s a greater than usual disconnect re Aleppo atm. The main media are slavishly reporting airstrikes on East Aleppo but the Russians and Syrians are denying it.

>>Posted by: Perimetr | Nov 15, 2016 6:05:04 PM | 62

The Russians aren’t denying it . . .
https://www.rt.com/news/366995-anti-terrorist-operation-carrier/
Russian carrier takes part in massive strikes on terrorists in Syria’s Idlib & Homs provinces – MoD

The Russians (RuAF) are denying it and say that they’re only hitting targets in Homs and Idlib Governorates. They’re leaving it up to the Syrians (SAAF) to further soften up East Aleppo which is in Aleppo Governorate.

Posted by: Ghostship | Nov 16 2016 1:48 utc | 85

And of course our good friend McCain: There will be no reset with Russia…..

Posted by: georgeg | Nov 16 2016 1:48 utc | 86

I hope: “At least one Republican on Senate Foreign Relations would vote against Bolton confirmation for Secretary of State. That could help sink him.” – Gareth Porter

Posted by: Tom Murphy | Nov 16 2016 1:53 utc | 87

David Friedman, Trump’s adviser on Israel is more right-wing and radical than Benjamin Netanyahu.:
http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/u-s-election-2016/.premium-1.752378
@86
Regarding Trump’s cabinet picks: Rand Paul said he’ll oppose both potential choices John Bolton and Rudy Giuliani for Secretary of State. Paul said: I mean really, you want a diplomat in charge of diplomacy. You don’t want a bomb-thrower.
Whomever Trump picks of the circle surrounding him is unacceptable, and will prove that he blatantly lied about opposing the war in Iraq and regime change in the Middle East. I can’t think of anyone surrounding him that isn’t a Neocon.
Rand Paul makes 100 times more sense than Trump ever will. I like Ron Paul better than his son though; more integrity.

Posted by: Circe | Nov 16 2016 2:16 utc | 88

re: rufusmagister | Nov 15, 2016 2:34:26 PM | 24
re: rufusmagister | Nov 15, 2016 4:04:21 PM | 45
Because of the rampant identity theft going on here, it’s hard to tell if the real rufusmagister is behind the two vomitous copy/paste volumes that are choking this thread.
Very clearly, a solution must be found.

Posted by: blues | Nov 16 2016 2:31 utc | 89

Yonatan | Nov 15, 2016 6:20:11 PM | 65

The Russians are deploying everything. They have deployed a unit of the Bastion Complex, normally a shore based anti-ship system, but reassigned to attack ground targets.

Even though they are costly, but given the nature of the targets, it makes sense to use everything they have to hit as many targets as possible simultaneously, as hard as possible, and with as little warning as possible:

“The main targets of the strikes are warehouses with ammunition, [terrorist] gatherings and terrorist training centers, as well as plants for the production of various kinds of weapons of mass destruction of the population, (Russian Defense Minister Sergey) Shoigu detailed.”

https://www.rt.com/news/366995-anti-terrorist-operation-carrier/
It takes a couple of years to train a machinist so killing the machinists in these factories will be very effective is shutting down production.

Posted by: Ghostship | Nov 16 2016 2:34 utc | 90

Trump seems to have voiced no objections to this offensive.
If Putin is doubling down in Syria now before Trump takes office; what does that tell you: that he trusts Trump or that he doesn’t?

Posted by: Circe | Nov 16 2016 2:45 utc | 91

Re 41:
What Russian Behemoth says is important to Israel nowadays. Anglo Leviathan, not so much.
Celebrate. The high water mark for Zionist power is now past. As the tide continues to recede Israel knows it will be a long time before it comes back; and so they are adjusting.
I bet Jews voted for Trump, by a large number, sick and tired, as they are, of being scapegoats for Zionist criminality.

Posted by: C I eh? | Nov 16 2016 2:49 utc | 92

The question for Trump watchers is how much of a lesser evil than HRC he is. Any neoclown in his cabinet would be bad for us whether Cohen or Bolton. It’s a strange situation wondering how those influencing Trump will steer him. But to date, each time we’ve hoped that the new boss will not be the same or worse than the old boss. Our track record isn’t good in this.
b, as one has pointed out, timelines can be informative as people can miss bits and pieces on the way to the current situation and wonder how they got there.

Posted by: Curtis | Nov 16 2016 2:50 utc | 93

@79: Yep, good article. Thanks.

Posted by: ben | Nov 16 2016 3:04 utc | 94

@ ben and others that read the Bloomberg article about Bannon
I encourage you to read this one from Mother Jones
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/08/stephen-bannon-donald-trump-alt-right-breitbart-news

Posted by: psychohistorian | Nov 16 2016 3:53 utc | 95

Who is fourth candidate for secretary of State if Giulani, Newt, Bolton are rejected by Ron Paul?

Posted by: virgile | Nov 16 2016 4:13 utc | 96

There is this short list of Trump cabinet position folks from Reuters but it is odd that Ted Cruz is mentioned in another Reuters article as being considered for AG but he is not on this list
Below are people mentioned as contenders for senior roles.
TREASURY SECRETARY
Leading the list:
* Steven Mnuchin, former Goldman Sachs Group Inc executive and Trump’s campaign finance chairman
Under consideration:
* Jeb Hensarling, Texas representative and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee
* Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase & Co chief executive officer
* Tom Barrack, founder and chairman of Colony Capital Inc
SECRETARY OF STATE
* Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City
* John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush
* Bob Corker, Tennessee senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
* Newt Gingrich, former U.S. House Speaker
* Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. ambassador to Iraq
DEFENSE SECRETARY
* Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency
* Jeff Sessions, senator from Alabama and early Trump supporter, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee
* Stephen Hadley, former national security adviser under President George W. Bush
* Jon Kyl, former senator from Arizona
* Duncan Hunter, representative from California and early Trump supporter, member of House Armed Services Committee
* Jim Talent, former senator from Missouri who was on the Senate Armed Services Committee
* Kelly Ayotte, outgoing senator from New Hampshire and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee
ATTORNEY GENERAL
* Rudy Giuliani
* Jeff Sessions, senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who takes a hard line on immigration
* Kris Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State, who advises Trump on immigration issues
* Pam Bondi, Florida Attorney General
* Trey Gowdy, representative from South Carolina who headed the House committee that investigated the 2012 attacks on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya
* Chris Christie, New Jersey governor
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY
* Newt Gingrich
* Tom Price, representative from Georgia who is an orthopedic surgeon
* Rich Bagger, former pharmaceutical executive and former top aide to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
* Bobby Jindal, former Louisiana governor
HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY
* Michael McCaul, representative from Texas and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee
* David Clarke, Milwaukee county sheriff and vocal Trump supporter
* Joe Arpaio, outgoing Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff who campaigned for Trump
HEAD OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
* Jeff Holmstead, energy lawyer, former EPA official during George W. Bush administration
* Mike Catanzaro, energy lobbyist, former EPA official during George W. Bush administration
* Robert Grady, venture capitalist, partner in private equity firm Gryphon Investors
* Leslie Rutledge, Arkansas attorney general
* Carol Comer, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management
ENERGY SECRETARY
* Harold Hamm, Oklahoma oil and gas mogul, CEO of Continental Resources Inc
* U.S. Representative Kevin Cramer of North Dakota
* Robert Grady
* Larry Nichols, co-founder of Devon Energy Corp
* James Connaughton, CEO of Nautilus Data Technologies and a former environmental adviser to President George W. Bush
INTERIOR SECRETARY
* Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor who ran for vice president in 2008
* Jan Brewer, former Arizona governor
* Forrest Lucas, founder of oil products company Lucas Oil
* Harold Hamm
* Robert Grady
COMMERCE SECRETARY
* Wilbur Ross, billionaire investor, chairman of Invesco Ltd subsidiary WL Ross & Co
* Linda McMahon, former world Wrestling Entertainment executive and two-time Senate candidate
DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
* Lieutenant General Ronald Burgess, former Defense Intelligence Agency chief
* Robert Cardillo, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
* Pete Hoekstra, former representative from Michigan
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DIRECTOR
* Lieutenant General Michael Flynn
* Pete Hoekstra
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER
* Lieutenant General Michael Flynn
* Stephen Hadley
UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR
* Kelly Ayotte
* Richard Grenell, former spokesman for the United States at the United Nations
* Peter King, representative from New York
U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
* Dan DiMicco, former chief executive of steel producer Nucor Corp
VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY
* Jeff Miller, retiring representative from Florida and chairman of the Veterans Affairs committee

Posted by: psychohistorian | Nov 16 2016 5:25 utc | 97

@94
Meh. Shapiro et al were butthurt that Breitbart didn’t fall in with their culturally authoritarian line and Ted Cruz. If they find greener pastures with the neocons that’s no great loss.

Posted by: Thirdeye | Nov 16 2016 5:29 utc | 98

@53 PW
Thanks for trying to keep us up to date while b is hitting his Trump hooka.

Posted by: jfl | Nov 16 2016 5:32 utc | 99

Can anyone please provide a good link or 2 (blog, twitter feed, etc) keeping up-to-date info on this pseudo color revolution Soros et al are attempting? Txs.

Posted by: Lozion | Nov 16 2016 5:38 utc | 100

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