Beltway Insider: Trump/Saudi’s/Khashoggi; UK/EU Finalize Brexit; Tear Gas Greets Immigrants; Stan Lee Memorial

President Trump, who has reluctantly been drawn into the investigation of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, has finally released the definitive White House statement on the "horrible" crime and the United States relationship with the Saudi's.

According to Gallup, President Trump's job approval, over the past week, increased by five percentage points to 43% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as President decreased three percentage points to 53%.

UK/EU Finalize Brexit

With less than four months before the official exit date, the UK and the EU have finally come to a tentatively accepted deal that received approval from the 27 members of the EU in under one hour of discussion after beginning negotiations approximately 20 months ago.

Even as the world's media is blasting the UK and European Union's divorce decree is final in actuality the accepted terms are now headed to the British Parliament, where British Prime Minister Theresa May, has announced from Brussels, she "will make a case for this deal with all her heart." She also added "the British people do not want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit."

"The UK Parliament is expected to vote on the deal 12 December, but it's far from guaranteed. Labour, the Lib Dems, the DNP, the DUP and many conservative MP's are set to vote against. Mrs. May said that although it involved compromises, it is a good deal that unlocks a bright future for the UK. The agreement would end freedom of movement in full and once and for all; protect the constitutional integrity of the UK and ensure a return to laws being made in our country by democratically elected politicians interpreted and enforced by British courts," reported the BBC.


Beltway Insider: Trump/CA Wildfires, Pence/Asia, G20; Immigration Caravan; Argentina Sub; CIA/Khashoggi; CNN; Thanksgiving


While the global media embarks on a finalization campaign, the EU members have indicated it essentially is a "sad day" and "no one should be raising champagne glasses."

With so many loose ends left to shore up it remains questionable if the terms reached today will be standing in two weeks. The UK is set to exit the EU March 29, 2019.

Jamal Khashoggi Murder Dismissed by Trump

President Donald Trump sent shock waves through the White House press corps and indeed reporters around the world by dismissing the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi as "terrible and one that our country does not condone."

"We have taken strong action against those already known to have participated in the murder. We have already sanctioned 17 Saudis known to have been involved in the murder of Mr. Khashoggi, and the disposal of his body. Representatives of Saudi Arabia say that Jamal Khashoggi was an "enemy of the state" and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, but my decision is in no way based on that – this is an unacceptable and horrible crime. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman vigorously deny any knowledge of the planning or execution of the murder of Mr. Khashoggi," Trump said in a pre-released statement.

With the President just passing the mid-term mark, and his approval ratings have yet to cross 50%, as well as the fact that he has yet to convince the GOP that he is the candidate to beat and endorse in 2020, Trump will not make any decision or take any steps toward any decision that may look like he is backing down from his original campaign promises.

He promised voter's American First and that is his game plan. When asked by White House Press corps reporter before he left for the Thanksgiving Holiday, "why are you siding with the Saudis over your own intelligence community?"

"They're paying us $400 billion to purchase and invest in our country.  That's probably the largest amount ever paid to the United States.  It means hundreds of thousands of jobs, billions in investment and product. It's about "Make America Great Again."  It's about "America First."  We're going to stay with Saudi Arabia. The other thing: Saudi Arabia is probably the second-biggest oil producer.  They've worked well with us.  We've kept oil prices down.  If you want to see oil prices go to $150 a barrel, like Russia would, all we need to do is break our relationship with Saudi Arabia," President Trump said.

In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran. The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region. It is our paramount goal to fully eliminate the threat of terrorism throughout the world!

Immigrant Caravan Greeted by Tear Gas

In response to the thousands of immigrants from South and Central America, who have spent the last three months or more walking, toward the United States, the Trump Administration have deployed US Troops to ensure immigration policy is upheld.

As the push from the immigrants intensifies, and efforts are made to cross the border, the troops have been forced to deter any forward movement. Tear gas canisters were fired from the border stations forcing some, even those who were not attempting to cross and had toddlers, to retreat.

With deployment at the U.S.-Mexican border looking more permanent through the holiday season, President Trump responded to reporters who questioned the decision which kept servicemen from their families this Thanksgiving.


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 "Don't worry about Thanksgiving, these are tough people.  They're proud to be representing our country on the border where, if you look at what's happening, in Mexico the people from Tijuana are saying, "Wow, these are tough people.  They're fighting us."  Now I understand they have 500 people that have been designated as criminals.  And these are the people that are coming in?  No.  As far as the troops they're proud to be defending our nation.  And we're not letting people in.  It's called "catch and detain."  It's not called "catch and release," like it has been for many years," the President said. 

Those who looked upon the United States as the land that produces a magical a horn of plenty, the gateway to political freedom, economic advancement and reunification are possibly having a difficult time as they witness not only a closed border, but, military building walls and barriers for the sole purpose to keep them out.

Those who expected the borders to open for them, by sheer mass, a belief that would by looking out at the numbers be moved by the determined effort that it took to walk the thousands of miles to reach a border and allow them entrance.

Unfortunately, the current administration would never allow emotions to rule the day. The law, his campaign promises and now his reelection are the primary goals in the forefront of his mind. Stepping back on one, creates a cascade of all.

Federal Courts Respond to Trump Executive Order

President Trump, who attempted to redirect and separate the caravan of immigrants with his recent policy that suspended entry for limited period of time. Reiterating the policy, Trump indicated as with his Republican predecessors, he was acting to suspend the entry of certain aliens in order to address the problems of large numbers of aliens traveling through Mexico to enter the country unlawfully or without proper documentation.

He also indicated those asylum seekers must present themselves at a valid port of entry, not at any opening along the southern border.

The ninth Circuit Court overruled his plan to accept only those aliens who present themselves at specific ports of entry which set off a firestorm with the president responding via the micro messaging platform twitter.

Trump tweeted, "Justice Roberts can say whatever he wants but the 9th Circuit is a complete & [and] total disaster. It is out of control, has a horrible reputation, is overturned more than any Circuit in the country 79% & [and] is used to get an almost guaranteed result Judges must not legislate Security and Safety at the Border, or anywhere else. They know nothing about it and are making our country unsafe. Our great law enforcement professional as MUST BE ALLOWED TO DO THEIR JOB! If not there will be only bedlam, chaos, injury and death. We want the Constitution as written."

While all the legal wrangling is beginning as of Sunday, a large group of aliens charged the border crossing at the California port of entry in San Ysidro.

"US Customs and Border Protection indicated some demonstrators attempted to illegally enter the U.S. through both the northbound and southbound vehicle lanes at the port of entry itself. Those persons were stopped and turned back to Mexico," Fox News reported.

Trump and Time Magazine Person of the Year

With media building its annual year end lists, the most coveted being Time Magazines Person of the Year, as expected when President Trump was asked whom he felt best embodied the "Person of the Year" his response was classic.

"That's up to Time Magazine.  I've been there before.  I can't imagine anybody else other than Trump.  Can you imagine anybody other than Trump?  Huh?" the President said.

Yemen – Famine Worst in Decades

Yemen, bordered by Saudi Arabia, the Arabian ocean and Omen to northeast, is experiencing one of the worst famines in decades, with no end in sight, the civil war has taken a toll leaving the nations' most vulnerable dying.

A recent article by the New York Time reported 85,000 children may have died due to starvation and will quite possibly intensify as the only port of call under siege by the Houthi rebels blocking all goods.

The Civil War that is just now making the headlines, due to the intensity of the famine which is not only effecting the more than 3 million children but also the elderly. The famine is worse than anyone has seen since Darfur and even then the squeeze the Saudi's have put on the nation.

"On the other hand, Saudi Arabia would gladly withdraw from Yemen if the Iranians would agree to leave. They would immediately provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has agreed to spend billions of dollars in leading the fight against Radical Islamic Terrorism, Trump said.

The innocent and vulnerable of war are caught in between the Saudi's and the Houthi rebels. In order for Humanitarian Aid, medical and food to arrive and more importantly to remain until the crisis has passed, which would be at minimum two years, the political situation needs to change.


The Islamic State and The Façade of Civility


With Human Rights of Journalists dismissed when it involved the Saudi's quite possibly the people of the region, those who are barely alive yet will fall at the hand of the Saudi government the weak, vulnerable, the disenfranchised possibly the President will drop a morsel of hope from his larger than life deal with the Saudi's and provide humanitarian aid to those starving right across the southern border in Yemen.  

Hollywood Plans Stan Lee Memorial

Stan Lee, the famed creator of Spider Man, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, The Hulk, Black Panther and countless other superheroes recently passed away from respiratory failure caused by a recent illness. He was 95.

Beloved by millions, just when most are thinking of retirement Hollywood called, and brought the creator of Spider Man from the canyons of Manhattan to the hills of Hollywood. The later third of his life became the most creative and lucrative.

Married to his beloved Joan, the two remained strong throughout the glam, glitz and glitter of the successes his flawed but steadfast, loyal and dedicated superhero's earned him.

Surrounded his entire life with media, newspapers, and finally as a comic artist, he began working in Timely Comics, a family owned business that was eventually evolved in Marvel Comics. He was always encouraged to draw the characters he wanted to see and apparently a Spider Man swinging through the concrete jungles of Manhattan was just the ticket.

Memorials to the famed larger than life creator have popped up throughout Los Angeles with a mural appearing on 48th and Saint Andrews, in South Los Angeles. A webpage dedicated to Lee became a global online posting community with fans from everywhere including the Netherlands, France, Russia and Japan posting of the beloved Stan Lee and the countless hours of enjoyment his characters have brought them.

His company, POW! Entertainment is planning a public memorial. As further details become available they will be posted.

For more information on President Barack Trump: www.whitehouse.gov

Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Wikipedia.com,

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