NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT THURSDAY 6/20-FRIDAY 6/21/2019

(WORK IN PROGRESS, ADDITIONS, EDITING, UPDATES POSSIBLE THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY)

(THE 'NEW YORK TIMES' REPORTED LATE THURSDAY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD APPROVED MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN AND HAD PULLED BACK FROM THE DECISION.   THE REPORTING GOING SO FAR AS TO SAY PLANES WERE IN THE AIR AND SHIPS IN POSITION WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PULL BACK FROM AN ATTACK)

(REUTERS CITED IRANIAN SOURCES SAYING THAT A WARNING OF AN IMMINENT ATTACK WAS GIVEN TO IRAN VIA THE NATION OF OMAN)

Congressional leadership attended a closed door briefing at the White House Thursday with Democrats telling the media that military action or "war" against Iran was something requiring Congressional approval.

Republicans speaking of the need for a "measured response".

"Iran made a very big mistake!"

That's how President Trump sees Iran's shooting down of an American drone via Twitter.

Without commenting in depth when asked what will be done in response to the attack Trump told the media:

"You'll soon find out"

Both the US and Iran confirmed the shoot down of the American drone.

The Iranians were the first to announce the downing of the drone saying it was shot down when it entered Iranian airspace.    Iran also said the drone turned off its transponder for the flight.

Iran has released a video of the shoot down.....IRANIAN SHOOT DOWN VIDEO

The Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif says that sections of the plane have been retrieved in "Iranian territorial waters".

(IRAN DISPLAYED THOSE PARTS OF THE DRONE THAT IT RECOVERED ON FRIDAY)

The US denied the Iranian announcement at first but later confirmed the shoot down saying it happened over the Strait of Hormuz at around 735 pm Eastern US time Wednesday.

The US Central Command said again Thursday that the drone was not in Iranian airspace.

The "Southfront" website says that the type of drone downed was the MQ-4C Triton, a craft that can operate some 60,000 feet in the air.     Speculation from that website about how Iran brought down the drone.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday evening that Iran has "intesnified" its aggression and urged other nations to support the United States against Iran.     More from "Israel National News"....LINK

India has sent two warships to the Persian Gulf region to conduct maritime safety patrols.    More from "Almasdar News" in Lebanaon......LINK

The Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency warning for aircraft to avoid the Persian Gulf region Thursday evening.

Iranian forces in Syria are reported to be in a heightened state of alert also according to "Al Masdar News" in Lebanon.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that 108 airstrikes have been carried out in northwestern Syria by Russian and Syrian aircraft in the 24 hour period ending Thursday.

Speculation that the airstrikes are a prelude to a major ground offensive in the area by Syrian government forces.

We are now down to the final two candidates to be the next Conservative Party leader and British Prime Minister.

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt will face off for a vote from some 160-thousand members of the Conservative Party.

The final round vote by Conservative MP's to determine the top two was Boris Johnson 160, Jeremy Hunt 77, and Michael Gove 75.

In the first of two elimination rounds of voting Thursday among Conservative MP's Boris Johnson at 157 votes, a clear majority of the 313 House of Commons Tories.    Michael Gove was at 61 votes with Jeremy Hunt at 59 and Home Secretary Sajid Javid eliminated only getting 34 votes.

In Alabama Judge Roy Moore is in the race for US Senate in 2020.   Moore launching his candidacy for with a fundraising appeal stressing that it's "obvious" that he was the first Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Judge Moore says he was targeted by the Left, the Democrats, the Media and even some Republicans with 'wrap and smear' allegations.

Moore seeking 200-thousand dollars in financial support to fuel his fight against the political establishment.   Moore hopes to get past the GOP challengers so he can face off again with Democrat Doug Jones, who narrowly defeated him in the Special Election in December 2018 amid sexual allegations leveled against him.

The US Supreme Court ruling Thursday that a 40 foot cross can remain on public land at an intersection in Bladensburg, Maryland, just outside Washington DC.   The highest court reversing a federal appeals court decision to remove the cross.

The cross was erected to remember those who lost their lives in World War I.

The court decision in favor was 7-2 with Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor in the minority.

From Hong Kong Friday word that thousands have surrounded police headquarters calling for the bill that would extradite Hong Kong residents to mainland China for prosecution to be withdrawn.

Under the pressure of last weekend's massive protest, the Hong Kong government said it was "suspending" the legislation, not withdrawing it.

In the Republic of Georgia, thousands tried to storm the country's parliament building.    The mass protest against the appearance of a Russian delegation in the country.   Police contained the demonstrators in the end.

Russian parliament member Sergei Gavrilov addressing a meeting of parliament members from Orthodox Christian countries inside the parliament building.

The protesters angry over Russia's military actions against Georgia during the border dispute of 2008 calling Russia an "occupier".

Social media censorship takes on a new dimension in Spain with You Tube taking down the Spanish political party "Vox".

Vox, which opposes mass immigration into Spain and separatist movements in various Spanish regions, recently won seats in Spain's parliament and the European parliament.

Instead of de-platforming  an individual, this action is seen as an escalation to the de-platforming of a political party.

More from the "Kipper Central" website.....LINK

And that's the way it really is as we come into Friday morning June 21st, 2019.