National and international media news & headlines compiled by CLG

U.S. set to strike Iraq and Syria over multiple days in response to Jordan drone strike that killed three troops –Biden administration approves plans to target Iranian personnel | 1 Feb 2024 | The United States is poised to launch strikes in Iraq and Syria against targets that include Iranian personnel and facilities, according to senior U.S. officials. Joe Biden said Tuesday he had made up his mind on how to respond to the drone strike in northeastern Jordan near the Syrian border that killed three American soldiers and wounded more than 40. The U.S. blamed the drone attack on Iran-backed militants. On Thursday, CBS News reported that plans for days of strikes had been approved. Biden’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said on Monday the U.S. response “could be multi-leveled, come in stages, and be sustained over time.”

Israel accepts ceasefire deal – Al Jazeera –Qatari negotiators are awaiting a final response from Hamas officials, who have seemingly welcomed the plan | 1 Feb 2024 | Israel has agreed to a ceasefire proposal that would halt its war with Hamas, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday, citing the Qatari Foreign Ministry. Hamas has reportedly given the plan a “positive” response. The ceasefire plan was hashed out in Paris over the weekend, with Qatari and Egyptian diplomats mediating between Israel and the Palestinian militant group. Delegations from West Jerusalem and Gaza left the French capital promising to study the proposal and negotiate further this week, and by Thursday evening, a deal was apparently within reach. “Israel agreed to the ceasefire proposal and we have initial positive confirmation from Hamas,” a spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry said on Thursday evening, according to Al Jazeera. “We are awaiting their response,” the spokesman added.

U.S. has built up military stash for potential Taiwan war – Reuters –Washington has stored hundreds of vehicles in Australia to boost logistics in the region – report | 1 Feb 2024 | The U.S. used last year’s largest-ever joint drills with Australia to create new stockpiles of equipment in the country, in preparation for a potential conflict with China over Taiwan, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources. According to U.S. officials interviewed by the agency, the war materiel was stashed during the Talisman Sabre exercises last July and August. The drills, which were held in and around Australia, involved more than 34,000 troops from 13 nations and focused on boosting combat readiness and logistical capabilities. The equipment from the exercises included 330 vehicles and trailers and 130 containers stored in the southeastern part of Australia, Reuters reported.

New long-range U.S. bombs headed for Ukraine – media –Testing for the weapon was only recently concluded, and it has yet to reach Washington’s own inventories | 31 Jan 2024 | The US military is planning to provide Ukraine with its first shipment of a new, longer-range munition recently developed by Boeing, according to Reuters and Politico, which reported that the bombs could arrive in the country as soon as this week. With the Pentagon recently wrapping up final tests for the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), the U.S. is preparing a maiden transfer to Kiev, Politico reported, citing two officials and two others familiar with the discussions. The bombs can achieve a maximum range of 90 miles (145km), and will be “a significant capability for Ukraine,” one of the officials said. Citing several unnamed sources, the outlet added that testing on the GLSDB was completed on January 16 and saw six rockets fired over the Gulf of Mexico.

U.S. fighter jet crashes near South Korea | 30 Jan 2024 | An American F-16 fighter jet has crashed in waters near South Korea, the U.S. military has confirmed. The incident marks the third time a U.S. war plane has gone down in the region in less than a year. A fighter pilot was forced to abandon the jet and ejected from the aircraft early Wednesday morning, with the F-16 falling into waters off the coast of Gunsan, South Korea, near Washington’s Kunsan Air Base, Yonhap reported. “Information on the cause of the in-flight emergency will not be made available until the conclusion of thorough safety and accident investigations,” said Col. Matthew C. Gaetke, 8th Fighter Wing commander.

Drone attack update: 34 U.S. service members injured, 8 evacuated from Jordan | 29 Jan 2024 | The number of injured continues to climb after Iran-backed militias killed three U.S. service members and injured dozens more in an overnight attack on a military base in northeast Jordan. By late Sunday, the number of injured had climbed to 34 service members. This included at least eight personnel whose injuries warranted an evacuation from Jordan to higher-level care, though they were believed to be in stable condition. The number of injured was expected to fluctuate.

Oregon Supreme Court stops 10 GOP lawmakers from running for re-election, siding with Democrat’s ballot ban | 1 Feb 2024 | The Oregon Supreme Court on Thursday decided that 10 Republican state senators who participated in a record-long boycott last summer to block bills extending access to abortion for minors, transgender procedures and medical intervention, as well as another measure on ghost guns, cannot seek re-election this year. The Oregon Senate Republican Caucus charged that the “Democrat-stacked supreme court sides with Democrats and union cronies on Measure 113 despite plain language of Constitution.” The caucus stressed that the state high court’s decision is “effectively ending the service of 10 Republican senators, who represent one-third of the Oregon Senate.” The ruling upholds Democratic Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade’s announcement last August to disqualify the 10 lawmakers from the ballot under a measure aimed at stopping such boycotts.

Trucker warns over impact of EVs: failure of technology could be ‘catastrophic’ | 31 Jan 2024 | As Joe Biden pushes green energy policies, trucking companies have warned of new challenges facing not only the industry but also the overall economy. During an interview on FOX Business’s The Big M-ney Show, JKC Trucking co-owner Mike Kucharski explained that while he supports the integration of green energy, new EPA regulations are “extremely frustrating” and cautioned that technology could come at a “catastrophic” price. He warned that the trucking industry is particularly susceptible to the consequences of pushing electric vehicles “too fast with little testing and data.”

Trump administration official Mike Gill is critically ill after being shot during carjacking by suspect who killed another car owner | 31 Jan 2024 | A Trump administration official is critically ill after being shot during a carjacking in crime-ridden Washington, D.C., whose perpetrator then killed another victim. The heavily liberal-leaning city has seen carjackings skyrocket of late, with 953 in 2023 alone, nearly nine times as many as there were in 2018. Mike Gill, a married father of three, was blasted by the unnamed suspect on K Street NW around 5:45pm Monday. He was collecting his wife, an education lawyer, at the time of the incident and was inside the car when he was struck. Gill served as chief operating officer of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during Donald Trump’s time in the White House.

Mayorkas impeachment articles approved by committee, setting up full House vote | 31 Jan 2024 | The House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday approved, down party lines, two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas — teeing up a floor vote as early as next week to impeach the embattled Biden official. The committee voted down party lines to approve the two impeachment articles, which accuse Mayorkas of having “repeatedly violated laws enacted by Congress regarding immigration and border security” and of having “made false statements to Congress” that the border is secure and closed and that DHS is in operational control of the border. The articles will now go to the House where they will be voted on the House floor.

House panel approves impeachment articles against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas | 31 Jan 2024 | A Republican-led House panel approved articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas early Wednesday for having “willfully and systematically” flouted federal immigration laws and breached the public trust. The House Homeland Security Committee voted 18-15 along party lines for the two articles of impeachment, affirming that Mayorkas failed to detain migrants crossing the border before deciding whether to grant asylum. The articles also state that the secretary ignored records requests from the committee and misled Congress about having “operational control” of the US border and maintaining that it is “secure.”

FBI luminaries starkly warn Congress that U.S. being invaded at border: ‘Alarming and perilous’ | 25 Jan 2024 | Some of the FBI’s most famous retired executives are issuing a stark warning to Congress that Joe Biden’s border policies have unleashed an “invasion” of military-aged male foreigners who pose “one of the most pernicious ever” threats to American security. Ten former FBI executives — some who oversaw the bureau’s intelligence, counterterrorism, criminal and training operations — expressed their alarm in a letter dated Jan. 17 to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and the chairmen of the House and Senate committees that preside over the U.S. intelligence and Homeland Security apparatus. Their language affirms that of both current FBI Director Christopher Wray, who testified the nation’s security lights are “blinking red,” and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who alleges Biden’s loosening of border security has allowed an “invasion” of America by foreigners with troubling origins and attributes.

90,000 criminals caught at border under Biden, former CBP chief Mark Morgan says | 1 Feb 2024 | Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan said Thursday that over the past three years, law enforcement apprehended tens of thousands of criminals crossing the southern border. “The last 36 months for example, CBP has apprehended over 90,000 criminals trying to come into our country,” Morgan said on the Just the News, No Noise TV show. “Ninety thousand, including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, aggravated felons and gang members. That’s who they apprehended.” The Homeland Security Department revealed last year that the backlog of tracking and vetting illegal aliens inside the U.S. had nearly doubled under Biden, to over six million, while arrests of suspected terrorists and violent offenders also exploded.

Fifth migrant accused of attacking NYPD cops in Times Square walks free from court –Police fear his four accomplices have fled to California amid calls for them to be deported | 2 Feb 2024 | A fifth migrant accused of attacking NYPD officers in Times Square has left court on bail. The five suspects were arrested and charged with Robbery and Felony Assault following a vicious attack on NYPD officers in Times Square on Saturday. Four of those believed to have been involved were released without bail are now feared to have fled by bus to California using a church-affiliated migrant charity, the New York Post reported. Yohenry Brito, 24, was arraigned in Manhattan criminal court on Thursday and is the only one of the suspects being held on bail.

Cops allegedly beaten by rowdy migrant mob near Times Square – with suspects later freed without bail | 30 Jan 2024 | Shocking video captured the moment a migrant mob pounded a pair of cops near Times Square over the weekend – but the busted suspects were still released back on the street without bail, sources say. The footage shows an NYPD officer and lieutenant initially telling the migrants to move along around 8:30 p.m. Saturday on West 42nd Street in Manhattan – before things quickly get rowdy as a scuffle breaks out between the cops and a suspect who is wrestled to the ground. Police initially busted four of the asylum-seeking thugs, identified by sources as Darwin Andres Gomez Izquiel, 19, Kelvin Servat Arocha, 19, Juarez Wilson, 21, and Yorman Reveron, 24. All four were charged with assault and released without bail, sources said. A fifth suspect, Jhoan Boada, 22, was arrested Monday night and charged with attempted assault of a police officer, according to police sources.

NYC inks another set of emergency hotel contracts to house migrants – at $137M price tag | 1 Feb 2024 | Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has signed another series of emergency hotel deals — with a total 137 million cost — to house the thousands of migrants heading to NYC each week, The Post has learned. Eight hotels in Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan will add more than 750 rooms for asylum-seeker families with kids, according to city records about the latest batch of contracts, inked over the last two weeks… Just last week, City Hall inked another deal with the Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC) to provide “last resort” shelter to migrant families for more than 75 million.

Outrage as Massachusetts Dem governor closes cherished sports center in majority-black Boston suburb for FOUR MONTHS so it can be used to house migrants –Governor gave less than 48 hours’ notice that the popular Roxbury rec center would be turned over to 125 migrant families | 31 Jan 2024 | A deprived Boston community has been left “on fire” after the governor of Massachusetts requisitioned a vital rec center to house the surge of migrants arriving in the city. Democrat Maura Healey was accused of treating the Roxbury neighborhood “like garbage” after she locked residents out of the Melnea A. Cass Recreational Complex with less than 48 hours’ notice. She insisted it was needed to house the new arrivals, dozens of whom have been sleeping rough in the city’s airport for months. The neglected facility will receive a makeover worth 500,000 to make it fit for the 125 migrant families that are expected to move in, State Senator Liz Miranda told the Boston Globe.