NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT TUESDAY 10/29/2019

(LIMITED SERVICE THROUGH LATE TUESDAY NIGHT)

The political drama in Washington and we now know the details of a resolution House Democrats will pass Thursday regarding the "impeachment process".    Open hearings unlike the current closed door ones are envisioned down the road next month.

The Democrats have not given the Republicans absolute authority to call witnesses for the hearings which they will hold for themselves.

The White House issuing a statement this evening saying among other things that the resolution confirms that the impeachment effort is an "illegitimate sham".

The full statement at the link.......HERE

The protests in Iraq with reports that as many as 20 people have been killed in the city of Karbala when protesters were attacked by masked gunmen.

Karbala is a city of religious significance in Shia Islam and the incident could provide a trigger for further violence.

But local officials there say video circulated online is fake and that no such incident occurred.

Iraq appears to be going through the same kind of conditions that led to the civil wars in Libya and Syria in 2011 promoted by outside governments and forces.

Similar conditions seem also to be developing in Lebanon where after some nearly two weeks of demonstrations, Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned today.

He said:

"It has become necessary for us to make a great shock to fix the crisis"

A protest camp was attacked in Beirut today with claims that the attackers dressed in black were supporters of the Iranian backed Hezbollah movement.  Video is at the link......HERE

Here is live video from "Ruptly" of a protest in Beirut as of early evening local time......LINK......

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling for a "stable" government in Lebanon with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian urging authorities in the country to "guarantee the stability of the institutions and the unity of Lebanon".

US TREASURY SECRETARY STEPHEN MNUCHIN AMONG THE DIGNITARIES IN SAUDI ARABIA FOR A MAJOR INVESTMENT MEETING.   THIS ONE BROUGHT IN PEOPLE WHO STAYED AWAY FROM A SIMILAR MEETING LAST YEAR OVER THE MURDER OF JOURNALIST JAMAL KHASHOGGI AT THE SAUDI CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY.

Russia announcing the completion of the withdrawal of Kurdish forces from the "safe zone" in northeastern Syria today.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an anti-government organization funded by foreign governments, claims clashes between Syrian and Turkish forces in northeastern Syria today.

Kurdish media also reporting an incident where pro-Turkish jihadists-extremists attacked Russian military police, but Syrian government sources say there was no such incident.

And from Russia a flat out denial that such an incident occurred.   More from Tass....LINK

Yesterday the Turks said one of their soldiers was killed, five wounded in a fight with Kurdish forces in Ras Al-Ayn, Syria on the Syria-Turkey border.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson successfully maneuvered today to set a December 12th General Election with polls putting his party in a favorable position going in.

Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn threw his support behind the legislation to allow an early election with the European Union's extension of the Brexit deadline. 

It passed 438 to 20 and now goes to the House of Lords for final approval.

Mr. Johnson is welcoming 10 Conservative MP's back into the party who want to Remain in the European Union.    They were kicked out earlier for opposing a No-Deal Clean Break Brexit from the EU.     

605-thousand customers in 29 California counties having their power shut off beginning this morning.   Its the third round of power cuts this week.   Pacific Gas and Electric implementing power shut offs after it was held responsible for a deadly fire in northern California last year.

PG and E acting in the face of tinderbox conditions in California that many believe are the result of failure to properly manage trees and brush in the name of protecting the environment.

And for now that's the way it really is for Tuesday October 29th, 2019.