Earlier today Senator Mike “H1B” Lee called the national security briefing “lame” and “inadequate”, saying the military and intelligence leaders ran from hard questions at the briefing. Well, Senator James Lankford calls those accusations by Senator Lee demonstrably false and untrue.
Senator Lankford noted the briefing included examples of 90 incidents of Iranian proxy attacks against the U.S. and coalition forces in the last month-and-a-half; ultimately leading to the killing of an American. It was after the final attack when POTUS Trump ordered the elimination of Qassim Soleimani.
….”I think it’s a tragedy for the world that instead of diplomacy, this administration has rushed to confrontation.”..
~ Biden Backr bin-Heinz.
Maura Barrett
✔@MauraBarrettNBC
Former Sec. of State @JohnKerry – who negotiated the Iran nuclear deal – on confirmed attacks on Iraqi military bases following the killing of General Soleimani: “I think it’s a tragedy for the world that instead of diplomacy, this administration has rushed to confrontation.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered some bad news to Speaker Pelosi from the floor of the upper-chamber:
…”There will be no haggling with the House over Senate procedure. We will not cede our authority to try this impeachment. The House Democrats’ turn is over. The Senate has made its decision.”…
…Now, go make me a sandwich.
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[Transcript] – MITCH MCCONNELL – ‘Late last year, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats sped through a slapdash impeachment of President Trump in 12 weeks. Because, they insisted, the need to undo the 2016 election was urgent. Urgent, they said.
‘Since then, the same people have spent three weeks dragging their heels and refusing to proceed to a Senate trial.
‘Supposedly, the explanation for this shameless game-playing is that Speaker Pelosi wanted “leverage” to reach into the Senate and dictate our trial proceedings to us. I’ve made clear from the beginning that no such “leverage” exists. It’s nonexistent. And yesterday we made it clear it will never exist.
‘A majority of the Senate has decided that the first phase of an impeachment trial should track closely with the unanimous bipartisan precedent that all 100 senators supported for the first phase of the Clinton trial back in 1999.
‘There will be no haggling with the House over Senate procedure. We will not cede our authority to try this impeachment. The House Democrats’ turn is over. The Senate has made its decision.
‘The 1999 precedent does not guarantee witnesses or foreclose witnesses. Let me say that again: it neither guarantees witnesses nor forecloses witnesses. It leaves those determinations until later in the trial where they belong.
‘I fully expect the parties will raise questions about witnesses at the appropriate time. I would remind my friends on the other side: I strongly suspect that not all the potential witnesses would be people the Democrats are eager to hear from.
‘So the Senate will address all these questions at the appropriate time. That is for the Senate, and the Senate only, to decide. Period.” (read more)
One of the key sectors gaining benefit from the USMCA trade agreement is the auto sector. Rules on steel and aluminum smelting/origination, and rules on part origination from North America are key aspects to the trade agreement that shifts focus from the import of Asian manufactured parts for assembly to manufacturing in North America.
Essentially, seventy-five percent of the component parts for the auto industry must be manufactured in North America. This shift directly puts U.S. auto-workers at the forefront for job gains & stops the process of using manufactured parts from China, Asia or the EU.
The goal of the agreement was/is to make manufacturing investment in North America the main consideration for auto-manufacturers who want access to the U.S. market. Today, as a direct result of future investment considerations, General Motors and Ford unexpectedly surprise 1,500 auto-workers with the announcement their jobs have gone from part-time to full-time status. Great news for these families:
DETROIT – General Motors’ worker Adarrey “Ace” Humphrey was blindsided Sunday. That’s when his life changed.
Humphrey, 27, has been a part-time temporary worker at GM’s Flint Assembly in Michigan for the last three years. On Sunday morning, he and about 250 of his co-workers crowded into UAW Local 598’s union hall. Most thought they were there for a routine meeting.
But when the local’s president stepped to the mic, the room listened in awed silence.
“He said, ‘As of tomorrow, you guys are full-time seniority employees of GM,’ ” Humphrey said. “There was a gasp in the room for a few seconds. Some of us thought he misspoke. Then, we had to say, ‘No, we heard him right!’ It was amazing.”
On Monday, GM made about 930 temporary workers permanent full-time employees at 30 of its 52 UAW-represented facilities in the United States. There are more to come in the months ahead, it said.
Ford Motor Co. also moved 592 temps to permanent full-time on Monday, the UAW said, and will do more conversions of temps next month. But Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is still working to implement its temporary worker conversions, said the UAW. (read more)
Promises made, and promises kept…
RULES OF ORIGIN AND ORIGIN PROCEDURES
The United States, Mexico, and Canada have concluded substantive discussions on new rules of origin and origin procedures, including product-specific rules for passenger vehicles, light trucks, and auto parts. This update to the rules of origin will provide greater incentives to source goods and materials in the United States and North America.
Key Achievement: Increasing Regional Value Content Rule
This deal encourages United States manufacturing and regional economic growth by requiring that 75 percent of auto content be made in North America.
The rules will:
Help to incentivize up to billions annually
Help to preserve and re-shore vehicle and parts production in the United States.
Transform supply chains to use more United States content, especially content that is key to future automobile production and high-paying jobs.
Close gaps in the current NAFTA agreement that incentivized low wages in automobile and parts production.
Key Achievement: Creating New Labor Value Content Rule
This deal uses trade rules to drive higher wages by requiring that 40-45 percent of auto content be made by workers earning at least $16 per hour.
The rules will:
Support better jobs for United States producers and workers by requiring that a significant portion of vehicle content be made with high-wage labor.
Ensure that United States producers and workers are able to compete on an even playing field, and incentivize new vehicle and parts investments in the United States.
Encourage more investment by auto companies in research and development in the region.
Key Achievement: Exceeding NAFTA 1.0 and TPP Standards with Stronger Rules of Origin and Enforcement
The United States, Mexico, and Canada have agreed to stronger rules of origin that exceed those of both NAFTA 1.0 and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), including for autos and automobile parts and other industrial products such as chemicals, steel-intensive products, glass, and optical fiber.
This deal exceeds NAFTA 1.0 and the TPP by establishing procedures that streamline certification and verification of rules of origin and that promote strong enforcement. This includes new cooperation and enforcement provisions that help to prevent duty evasion before it happens.
The new rules will help ensure that only producers using sufficient and significant North American parts and materials receive preferential tariff benefits. (USMCA Website)
Earlier today President Trump addressed the outcome and ramifications from last nights’ missile attack by Iran against two bases in Iraq. [Video and Transcript Below]
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[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: As long as I am President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.
Good morning. I’m pleased to inform you: The American people should be extremely grateful and happy no Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime. We suffered no casualties, all of our soldiers are safe, and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases.
Our great American forces are prepared for anything. Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world.
No American or Iraqi lives were lost because of the precautions taken, the dispersal of forces, and an early warning system that worked very well. I salute the incredible skill and courage of America’s men and women in uniform.
For far too long — all the way back to 1979, to be exact — nations have tolerated Iran’s destructive and destabilizing behavior in the Middle East and beyond. Those days are over. Iran has been the leading sponsor of terrorism, and their pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens the civilized world. We will never let that happen.
Last week, we took decisive action to stop a ruthless terrorist from threatening American lives. At my direction, the United States military eliminated the world’s top terrorist, Qasem Soleimani. As the head of the Quds Force, Soleimani was personally responsible for some of the absolutely worst atrocities.
He trained terrorist armies, including Hezbollah, launching terrorist strikes against civilian targets. He fueled bloody civil wars all across the region. He viciously wounded and murdered thousands of U.S. troops, including the planting of roadside bombs that maim and dismember their victims.
Soleimani directed the recent attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq that badly wounded four service members and killed one American, and he orchestrated the violent assault on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. In recent days, he was planning new attacks on American targets, but we stopped him.
Soleimani’s hands were drenched in both American and Iranian blood. He should have been terminated long ago. By removing Soleimani, we have sent a powerful message to terrorists: If you value your own life, you will not threaten the lives of our people.
As we continue to evaluate options in response to Iranian aggression, the United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime. These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior.
In recent months alone, Iran has seized ships in international waters, fired an unprovoked strike on Saudi Arabia, and shot down two U.S. drones.
Iran’s hostilities substantially increased after the foolish Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2013, and they were given $150 billion, not to mention $1.8 billion in cash. Instead of saying “thank you” to the United States, they chanted “death to America.” In fact, they chanted “death to America” the day the agreement was signed.
Then, Iran went on a terror spree, funded by the money from the deal, and created hell in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The missiles fired last night at us and our allies were paid for with the funds made available by the last administration. The regime also greatly tightened the reins on their own country, even recently killing 1,500 people at the many protests that are taking place all throughout Iran.
The very defective JCPOA expires shortly anyway, and gives Iran a clear and quick path to nuclear breakout. Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism. The time has come for the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, and China to recognize this reality.
They must now break away from the remnants of the Iran deal -– or JCPOA –- and we must all work together toward making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place. We must also make a deal that allows Iran to thrive and prosper, and take advantage of its enormous untapped potential. Iran can be a great country.
Peace and stability cannot prevail in the Middle East as long as Iran continues to foment violence, unrest, hatred, and war. The civilized world must send a clear and unified message to the Iranian regime: Your campaign of terror, murder, mayhem will not be tolerated any longer. It will not be allowed to go forward.
Today, I am going to ask NATO to become much more involved in the Middle East process. Over the last three years, under my leadership, our economy is stronger than ever before and America has achieved energy independence. These historic accomplishments changed our strategic priorities. These are accomplishments that nobody thought were possible. And options in the Middle East became available. We are now the number-one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. We are independent, and we do not need Middle East oil.
The American military has been completely rebuilt under my administration, at a cost of $2.5 trillion. U.S. Armed Forces are stronger than ever before. Our missiles are big, powerful, accurate, lethal, and fast. Under construction are many hypersonic missiles.
The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it. We do not want to use it. American strength, both military and economic, is the best deterrent.
Three months ago, after destroying 100 percent of ISIS and its territorial caliphate, we killed the savage leader of ISIS, al-Baghdadi, who was responsible for so much death, including the mass beheadings of Christians, Muslims, and all who stood in his way. He was a monster. Al-Baghdadi was trying again to rebuild the ISIS caliphate, and failed.
Tens of thousands of ISIS fighters have been killed or captured during my administration. ISIS is a natural enemy of Iran. The destruction of ISIS is good for Iran, and we should work together on this and other shared priorities.
Finally, to the people and leaders of Iran: We want you to have a future and a great future — one that you deserve, one of prosperity at home, and harmony with the nations of the world. The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.
I want to thank you, and God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.
A new ADP Payroll Report shows job gains of 202,000 from November to December 2019 far surpassing expectations. The increase was the largest gain since April ’19: “largest gain since April, driven mainly by professional and business services. Job creation was strong across companies of all sizes, led predominantly by mid-sized companies.”
(Reuters) – U.S. private payrolls increased by the most in eight months in December, pointing to sustained labor market strength though job gains last month were likely flattered by a seasonal quirk.
The ADP National Employment Report on Wednesday showed private payrolls jumped by 202,000 jobs last month, the largest gain since April, after an upwardly revised 124,000 rise in November.
[…] Economists polled by Reuters had forecast private payrolls advancing 160,000 last month following a previously reported 67,000 rise in November. (more)
The ADP National Employment Report® is a monthly measure of the change in total U.S. nonfarm private employment derived from actual, anonymous payroll data of client companies served by ADP®. The report measures nearly 24 million U.S. workers tracked by the ADP Research Institute® in collaboration with Moody’s Analytics, Inc.
The December jobs report from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics will be released on Friday January 10th.
Speaker of the House “Tehran Nancy” has announced her intention for a vote on Thursday in an effort to limit President Trump’s authority to defend against attacks by Iran, and increase the democrat effort to protect Iran’s ability to target Americans in the region.
“Mullah Bin Schumer and Tehran Nancy”
“Members of Congress have serious, urgent concerns about the Administration’s decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward. Our concerns were not addressed by the President’s insufficient War Powers Act notification and by the Administration’s briefing today,” Pelosi said in a statement.
As the war fear mongering escalates in the FAKE news and Social Media, we all need to re-read the President’s statement:
“We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war,” Trump said.
Unlike the endless wars of the Bushes and Obama, (War is A racket), the US does not have to just rely on sanctions or conventional war. Trump can simple take out their key facilities or leadership without risking American lives.
Tehran is economically feeble and out gunned. Iran’s people have been oppressed by the radical mullahs and yearn for freedom. Iran doesn’t want a real war and neither does the USA.
Trump has repeatedly said we are not looking for “regime change”.
To sum it up in layman’s terms… “Don’t Tread on me….Or else”
There is a big difference between “rockets” being fired, and ground based “missiles” being launched from inside Iran. Stay aware initial reports are often wrong or misleading.
Breaking Reports are confirming that several “short range” and/or “cruise” missiles are being fired into “multiple” U.S. bases in Iraq. U.S. officials are confirming missiles from Iran have targeted Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq (Western Anbar Desert), and U.S. forces in Erbil – northern Iraq.
CNN is reporting President Trump was briefed on the “rocket” attacks, according to White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham. “We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq. The President has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team,” Grisham said.
(VIA ABC) – Multiple missiles have been launched into Iraq from Iran targeting American bases.
“This morning, courageous fighters of the IRGC’s Air Force launched a successful operation called Operation Martyr Soleimani, with the code ‘Oh Zahra’ by firing tens of ground-to-ground missiles at the base of the terrorist and invasive US forces,” the country’s state-run news outlet ISNA reported.
A U.S. official confirms to ABC News that ballistic missiles have been fired from inside Iran at multiple U.S. military facilities inside Iraq on Wednesday morning local time. The facilities include Erbil in northern Iraq and Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq, the official said. (link)
Stephanie Grisham
✔@PressSec
We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq. The President has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team.
From senior US military source in Iraq:
“Under missile attack from Iran. These are either cruise missiles or short range ballistic missiles. All over the country.”
( VIA CNN ) At least 10 rockets hit al-Asad airbase in Iraq, which houses US forces, a Sunni commander of the paramilitary forces in a nearby town told CNN.
Qatri al-Obeidi, a commander in the nearby town of al-Baghdadi, said that the shelling has stopped for now. President Donald Trump visited the base in December 2018 to visit troops after Christmas. Vice President Mike Pence also visited the base in November 2019. The attack follows last week’s deadly US drone strike that Trump ordered to kill key Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.
Iranian state TV reported that the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, “has hit U.S. Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq with tens of missiles.” The IRGC warned the US of of more “crushing responses in case of new aggression,” according to state TV. The IRGC said it will target any regional state that becomes a platform for US aggression, a second banner on state TV read. (LINK)
Obviously the Iranian government is taking their lead from favorable U.S. media and Democrats in congress who will come to their defense. If Iran has launched ground-based missiles from inside their country, it would be a major escalation.
Stay frosty…. wait to see exactly what Iran has done. If they kill Americans, there will be a massive U.S. response that will likely be far more overwhelming than Iran would predict.
Earlier today President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania welcomed the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his wife Mrs. Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotakis to the White House. Prior to their bilateral meeting the two leaders held a press availability in the oval office. [Video and Transcript Below]
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[Transcript] – PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, thank you very much. On behalf of the First Lady and myself, it’s an honor to have the Prime Minister of Greece and First Lady of Greece with us. We really appreciate it. We have many things to discuss.
The relationship is extr- — really extraordinary, I would say. Right? It’s as good as it can get. We’re doing a lot of things together — military. We’re also doing big trade. A lot of trade. And Greece has made a tremendous comeback. We’ve worked with them very closely. And, really, the Prime Minister will have some interesting things to say. So you have to tell them one statistic, because it’s a great statistic. We’re very proud of Greece and the comeback that they’re making. And we will continue it forward. There’s no doubt about it. Thank you very much for being here.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. It’s a real privilege to be here at a very important time. You were right to point out that this relationship is the best it ever was. But it can become even better.
Both on the geopolitical side, we’re looking for your constant support, strengthening the strategic relationship.
On the defense side, we’ve made lots of progress in terms of making sure that you have a reliable and predictable ally in a complicated part of the world. But I also wants to stress the economic aspect of our relationship. The Greek economy has done extremely well over the past months. We have lowered taxes. We are deregulating. We’re following a recipe that has also worked here in the —
PRESIDENT TRUMP: (Laughs.) Yeah. That’s right.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: — in the United States. And the economy is reacting very positively. So we’ll also be looking to your support to convince American companies to invest more in Greece and help us grow the economy at a pace where people are really going to feel the difference.
So it’s a privilege to be here. You can always count on — the United States can always count on Greece as a reliable and predictable ally in our part of the world.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, we appreciate it. And again, congratulations. Really, one of the — percentage-wise, one of the biggest increases in the world. And that’s a big statement. And that’s a tremendous comeback. And you’ve done a fantastic job. You’ve really united the country.
So again, congratulations.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
Q Mr. President?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah.
Q A lot of questions are being asked in Washington and across America about what evidence you had that Qasem Soleimani was planning attacks against American targets. What can you tell us about what you knew prior to ordering the attack?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, number one, I knew the past. His past was horrible. He was a terrorist. He was a — so designated by President Obama, as you know. And he wasn’t even supposed to be outside of his own country; he was. So, right there.
But that’s, in a way, the least of it. We had an attack very recently that he was in charge of, where we had people horribly wounded, one dead. In fact, the number now, as of this morning, I believe is two dead. And that was his. He was traveling with the head of Hezbollah. They weren’t there to discuss a vacation. They weren’t there to go to a nice resort someplace in Baghdad. They were there to discuss bad business.
And we saved a lot of lives by terminating his life. A lot of lives were saved. They were planning something, and you’re going to be hearing about it, or at least various people in Congress are going to be hearing about it tomorrow.
Our Secretary of State covered it very well a little while ago. I saw him. I saw his new conference — Mike. And if you want to mention a couple of things in addition to what I’ve just said. But we had tremendous information. We’ve been following him for a long time. And we followed his path for those three days. And they were not good stops. We didn’t like where he was stopping. They were not good stops. We saved a lot of lives. Mike?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Mr. President, I’d only add we had deep intelligence indicating there was active plotting to put American lives at risk. And I’m confident, and I think the President is confident too, that the actions that the President took saved American lives, saved lives of Iraqi Muslims as well. It was the right thing to do. And our Department of Defense did an excellent job executing the mission.
Q And, Mr. President, can —
PRESIDENT TRUMP: And, as you know, he killed at least 608 Americans, but the number is much higher than that. He’s also very much — roadside bombs and all of the horrible explosives that you see, he was a big believer and sent them everywhere. He was somebody that we did ourselves and we did a lot of countries a big favor. And I’ve been — I’ve been hearing from countries. They were extremely happy with what we did. And if you look inside Iran itself, there were plenty of those leaders that were happy because they feared him and didn’t like him, in many cases.
Q Could you also clear up, Mr. President, whether Iranian cultural sites would be on any future target list?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, as I said yesterday, it was very interesting, they’re allowed to kill our people, they’re allowed to maim our people, they’re allowed to blow up everything that we have and there’s nothing that stops them, and we are — according to various laws — supposed to be very careful with their cultural heritage. And you know what? If that’s what the law is, I will — I like to obey the law.
But think of it: They kill our people, they blow up our people, and then we have to be very gentle with their cultural institutions. But I’m okay with it. It’s okay with me.
I will say this: If Iran does anything that they shouldn’t be doing, they’re going to be suffering the consequences, and very strongly.
All right. Steve?
Q Are there any signs of imminent retaliation from the Iranians? Any indications of imminent —
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, don’t forget: In our case, it was retaliation because they were there first. They killed — look, I don’t have to talk about him. For 18 to 20 years, he was a monster. But just in the very short period of time, two people dead, people badly injured, and then, before that, there were other attacks. And look at what he was planning.
So that’ll be discussed tomorrow morning. Right now, it’s classified. That’ll be discussed tomorrow with Mike Pompeo and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Q And is the U.S. prepared for an Iranian attack?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We’re prepared. We’re totally prepared. And likewise, we’re prepared to attack if we have to, as retribution.
Q Mr. President, Iran’s leaders say that any response to the Soleimani killing would be, quote, “proportionate.” What would the United States do in the event of any Iranian (inaudible)?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: So, again, John, if you look at what’s going on, ours was a — an attack based on what they did. We weren’t the first one out. He killed an American. Now two people are dead from the same attack, and some people very badly wounded. And that was one of his smaller endeavors.
If you look over his past, his past — he’s been called a “monster,” and he was a monster. And he’s no longer a monster; he’s dead. And that’s a good thing for a lot of countries. And he was planning a very big attack and a very bad attack for us and other people. And we stopped him.
And I don’t think anybody can complain about it. I don’t hear too many people — other than politicians who are trying to win the presidency. Those are the ones that are complaining. But I don’t hear anybody else complaining.
Go ahead.
Q Mr. President, you called him a “monster,” but your friend, Erdoğan, called him a “martyr.” What is your reaction?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I guess everybody — to each his own. I mean, I disagree 100 percent, and I’m sure he does too. But he has a public to take care of, and I guess that’s for his own reason. But I’m actually surprised to hear that, but that’s okay.
Q Are you willing to make a deal with Greece regarding F-35s, sir?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Say it?
Q Are you willing to make a deal with Greece regarding F-35?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: So Greece and I, and my people and — we have a whole group of people. And as you see, they brought a lot of great representatives from Greece that we’ve been dealing with. We have a tremendous Greek population — over 3 million people, as I understand it. That’s fantastic. I think I know — I really feel I know most of them. I think I know all of them, come to think of it. But it’s a great population in the United States.
We’re going to be meeting, we’re going to be talking, we’re going to be negotiating, and we’re going to be making a lot of deals.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Let me add something to that.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We have a really great relationship with Greece.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Let me add something to that: Greece is interested, Mr. President, in participating in the F-35 program. As you know, we are already upgrading our F-16s.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: And that program will be completed in 2023, 2024. So we’re very much interested in participating in the F-35 program after that. And I’m sure that the U.S. will take into consideration the fact that this country is coming out of an economic crisis, in terms of structuring the program in the best possible way for my country.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: That’s true. And, you know, they just signed a very big renovation of existing aircraft. They have great aircraft, but it’s gotten a little bit tired. And they’ve done a renovation that’s going to bring it up to brand new, and we look forward to doing that. A couple of our great companies are doing it. Okay?
Q Sir, in Iraq — in Iraq, how do you feel about the idea of the supposed withdrawal from Iraq being a possibility? Isn’t that something Soleimani actually wanted all these years?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, it’s something that I want, too. I mean, eventually, they have to be able to defend themselves and take care of themselves. And it’s something, ultimately, that I want to see. We don’t want to be there forever; we want to be able to get out.
I didn’t want to be there in first place, to be honest, and everybody knows that. That was when I was a civilian, I said it. But we were there, and they made a decision, and I disagreed with that decision very strongly. But we’re there now.
We’ve done a great job. We’ve gotten rid of the caliphate. A hundred percent of the caliphate is gone, and — which is ISIS. We have thousands of ISIS prisoners that we’re keeping, right now, under lock and key. And we want Europe to take many of these prisoners because they came from Germany, France, and other places — probably a few from Greece, in all fairness. We’ll have to talk to you about that.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: No, none. None — none from Greece —
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Good.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: — so far.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: You’re lucky. You’re lucky.
But we have a lot of — we have a lot of people right now in prison — ISIS fighters that are tough fighters — and they are where they should be.
So I think we’ve done a fantastic job, but eventually we want to be able to let Iraq run its own affairs. And that’s very important. So, at some point, we want to get out. But this isn’t the right point.
The other thing is, if we do get out, you know, we’ve spent a tremendous amount of money on building airports and building — it’s one of the largest embassies we have in the world, Mike, and we want to be reimbursed for the various costs that we have had. And they’re very significant. But we’ll work something out.
And I talk sanctions, but I’m only talking sanctions if we’re not treated with respect. We have to be treated with respect. We deserve — I’ll tell you what. I’ll tell you, with what we did —
(Cross-talk.)
Excuse me. Wait, wait, wait. One sec. With what we did with ISIS — and this was done during by my administration, because it was a mess before we got here — with what we did with ISIS, we’ve done the Middle East and we’ve done a lot of other countries a tremendous favor.
Yeah, go ahead.
Q Do you agree with — do you agree with Turkey’s provocations in Libya, in eastern Mediterranean, against Greece? And are you willing to talk to your friend, Erdoğan, to stop —
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We are talking to him and we’re talking to —
Q — to stop these provocations?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah. We’re talking to — when you’re talking about Libya, we’re discussing with President Erdoğan, we’re discussing many other countries. I just spoke with the Chancellor of Germany, with Angela, and we talked about that subject specifically — Libya and what’s going on. We’ll be talking to Russia; they’re involved. A lot of countries are involved with respect to Libya. And it’s, right now, a mess.
But there are a lot of countries, and they all want to know where we stand, and they do know where we stand. We have a very distinctive stand. And we have meetings set up, and we’re going to see if we can work out some kind of a plan for peace.
(Cross-talk.)
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: I think it’s important — just one — Mr. President, can I just make one point?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yes. Please, go ahead.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: One point. One second. One point on this issue. I think it is important to point out that the agreement signed between Turkey and Libya infringe upon Greece’s sovereign rights and essentially cause great concern and instability in a region which is already highly problematic.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: So we’ll be very much looking to your support to make sure that these types of provocative agreements are not being put into place. And I think we should refrain, in general, in the eastern Mediterranean, for any sort of activity that inflames passions and that doesn’t, you know, promote regional peace and security. So we’ll be very much looking forward to your support on this issue because it is a very important issue for my country.
Q Mr. President, the Iraqi government says it expects U.S. forces to leave the country after the letter that it received, General Mark Milley said, by mistake yesterday. What do you say to the Iraqi government about the possibility of U.S. forces leaving based on that letter?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I don’t know anything about that letter. That letter was sent, and I understand it was an unsigned letter. So I can maybe let Mike speak to it. I don’t know if that letter was a hoax or was it unsigned, or what?
SECRETARY POMPEO: That letter itself was a mistake. I think the Department of Defense has spoken that it was a mistake; it wasn’t intended.
Q But the Iraqi government is saying they’re taking you at your word and expect U.S. forces to leave.
SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I think it’s the worst thing that could happen to Iraq. If we leave, that would mean that Iran would have a much bigger foothold, and the people of Iraq do not want to see Iran running the country — that, I can tell you.
So we’ll see how it all works out. I know it’s going to work out well for us because, at some point, we want to be able to get out. We want to bring our soldiers back home.
I will say that we have had tremendous support from the people of Iraq appreciating what we’ve done. And they don’t want to see Iran go into Iraq. But they’re neighbors, and over a period of years, something will happen; we’ll see what that is.
But the — what was said yesterday, I didn’t know about. I really don’t know about it. What is that, Mike? What exactly was that?
SECRETARY POMPEO: I just know that there was a draft letter that was sent out by mistake.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: A draft, unsigned.
SECRETARY POMPEO: Unsigned letter that —
PRESIDENT TRUMP: The media knew that was (inaudible), but they don’t like to say that. Yeah.
SECRETARY POMPEO: They knew it. And the Iraqi people understand that we’re there to help them stand up their sovereignty.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: The Iraqi people were not happy when the suggestion was made yesterday that we were thinking about leaving at some point. They were not happy. But, at some point, we will want to leave.
Q Mr. President, you didn’t answer the question.
Q Mr. President —
PRESIDENT TRUMP: No — Steve, go ahead. Steve?
Q Are you ready for the Senate impeachment trial?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: What?
Q Are you ready for the Senate trial?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah, whatever it is. It’s a hoax. The impeachment is a big hoax. It’s a — it’s become a laughing stock all over the world. There was nothing done wrong. The two articles that were sent are not even serious. And, by the way, they’re not a crime.
The Republicans voted approximately 196 to nothing. This was not supposed to be partisan. It was never meant that way by, as they would say, the Founders. So it was — it’s turned out to be a totally partisan hoax, witch hunt. And, frankly, it’s been going on from before I came down the escalator with our great First Lady. I mean, it — this has gone on for three years, and probably longer than that.
And it will be very interesting when the final tabulation is set and when the facts are released, because a lot of people are working on those facts right now. It’s a big deal. It’s, in many ways, the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on our country. It’s one of the great hoaxes ever. It started with a — with an illegal document that turned out to be false. The fake document that you know so well, the dossier, as they call it. And it went on from there. It was set up by a bunch of dirty cops and others, working with the DNC, working with the Democrats.
And from the day I ran — from the day I was elected, and probably before that, substantially — not probably. If you look at the insurance policy, the insurance policy was long before that. So that means before I ever got elected, they were working on something that’s so illegal. So I assume that will be announced at some point into the future and hopefully not too far into the future.
And the impeachment story is — it’s just a continuation of the same — shame — it really is a shame that we can’t focus on all of the things. You know, we talked today about Iran. We talk about Iraq. We talk about economic development. We have the greatest stock market we’ve ever had in the history of our country. We have the greatest economy that we’ve ever had in the history of our country. We’re setting records. Unemployment records. Employment records also; we’re going to have almost 160 million people working.
And that we have to work on this partisan scam is really a shame. That we have to take time is a shame.
All right, that’s about it, I think.
Q Mr. President, one more on a different topic?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah, go ahead.
Q Will you be okay if John Bolton testifies? He indicated yesterday that he would if he is subpoenaed.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, that’s going to be up to the lawyers. It will be up the Senate. And we’ll see how they feel. He would know nothing about what we’re talking about, because if you know, the Ukrainian government came out with a very strong statement — no pressure, no anything. And that’s from the boss. That’s from the President of Ukraine. The Foreign Mistier came out with a statement that was equally as strong.
And, frankly, if you look at it and you look at everything, all they have to do is read the transcripts. You take a look not just at one — you take a look at two transcripts. They were absolutely perfect. There was absolutely nothing done wrong. There was no false statement. And it’s crazy that it’s gotten to a point where you — look, Ukraine — the President of Ukraine said there was no pressure whatsoever. There was no pressure on his country whatsoever.
And, by the way, in terms of the money, it got there two or three weeks ahead of schedule — long before it was supposed to be there. There was absolutely nothing done wrong.
The one thing I look at is corruption, and the other thing I look at is, why isn’t France and why isn’t Germany and maybe, I could say, why isn’t Greece — but why aren’t all of these countries — why aren’t they paying? Why is it always the United States that has to pay?
And I said that very strongly. In fact, it’s in the transcript, but the press doesn’t cover it. Why is it that the United States pays? And it affects Europe far more than it affects the United States. So why isn’t it that France, Germany, and all of those countries in Europe that are so strongly affected, why aren’t they paying? Why is it always us? That’s one question.
And the other question is always about corruption. We’re sending all of this money. Where is it going? Where is it going?
And the President, by the way, got elected on anti-corruption, and I think he’s going to do a great job. But I appreciated his statement; he’s made it many times: no pressure whatsoever.
Thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
PRIME MINISTER MITSOTAKIS: Greece is actually paying more than 2 percent in NATO.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Good. That’s true.
Q Do you agree with the DOJ recommending jail time for Michael Flynn?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I don’t know. I don’t know. I didn’t look at it. I — you’re just telling me for the first time. I don’t know. I’ll take a look at it.
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This is a library of News Events not reported by the Main Stream Media documenting & connecting the dots on How the Obama Marxist Liberal agenda is destroying America
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