NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT SUNDAY 12/15/2019

OVER THE WEEKEND MORE EVIDENCE OF A MANIPULATION IN REPORTING BY THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS FOLLOWING AN ALLEGED CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK IN DOUMA, SYRIA IN APRIL 2018.

THE ATTACK LED TO US, UK AND FRENCH MILITARY ACTION AGAINST SYRIA AND PROMPTED PRESIDENT TRUMP TO CALL SYRIA'S RULER BASHAR ASSAD:

"Animal Assad"

The "Moon of Alabama" website discusses the latest from Wikileaks, journalist Peter Hitchens and others regarding the manipulation of OPCW reporting on the Douma attack.....LINK

More protests in Beirut Sunday mostly peaceful during the day with thousands around the country's parliament.

But later on security forces using tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets.

Protesters angered by what appears to be a decision coming Monday to reappoint Saad Hariri as the country's Prime Minister.

More on the protests from "The Times of Israel".......LINK

Protests in Hong Kong Sunday night ahead of the Monday meeting between the territory's leader Carrie Lam and officials in Beijing.

Police using tear gas on protesters and protesters throwing bricks and traffic cones at the police.

More from the Associated Press as published by Canada's Global News with embedded video.....LINK WITH VIDEO EMBEDDED

Two suspected Chinese spies were expelled from the United States after they drove onto a military base in Virginia three months ago.

The incident involving the Chinese diplomats and the expulsions kept a secret for three months notably while trade talks were going on between the US and China.

The "New York Times" reporting on the story and this summary of the story from "Business Insider"......LINK

Chinese state television cancelling broadcast of a soccer match between two British teams, Arsenal and Manchester City.    A player for the Arsenal team, who is a German of Turkish ancestry, had posted on social media about China's treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority.

The Arsenal team came out with a statement distancing itself from the views expressed by Mesut Ozil.

Human rights groups say that about a million Uighurs are being detained in high-security prison camps the Chinese government calls "vocational training centers".

Late Friday the pension "czar" of President Emmanuel Macron's government,  Jean-Paul Delevoye, disclosed more of his outside activities to a government ethics agency.

Delevoye revealed various business boards, think tanks, charities he is involved in along with the "open society" movement backed by controversial billionaire George Soros.

The pension reform proposed by the government has led to a national strike that has shut down most rail service in France.

A major rally against pension reform planned in Paris on Tuesday.

A THREAT TO CLOSE US BASES FROM THE TURKISH PRESIDENT OVER US SANCTIONS ON HIS COUNTRY FOR BUYING THE RUSSIAN S-400 AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM.

PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN TELLING TURKISH MEDIA OUTLET "A HABER" SUNDAY THAT THE INCIRLIK AND KURECIK BASES WILL BE CLOSED "IF NECESSARY".

MORE FROM 'DEUTSCHE WELLE'......LINK

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meeting with the leader of the UN-recognized government in Libya Sunday.

The meeting with Fayez al-Sarraj taking place at the presidential palace in Istanbul.

Turkey providing military support to the Government of National Accord which is locked in battle with the eastern Libyan forces called the Libyan National Army.   President Erdogan has been quoted as saying that Turkey will provide troops if asked to do so.    Qatar also supporting the GNA government.

Turkey's parliament moving towards approval of a formal agreement including a "quick reaction force" if needed for deployment to Libya.

The LNA is being supported by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi appearing on television Sunday saying that the GNA government which holds territory around Libya's capital city of Tripoli is "being held hostage" by "armed terrorist militias".

More from Turkey's Anadolu News Agency......LINK

More from the Associated Press on the Egyptian president's comments and background on the Libyan conflict......LINK

And for now that's the way it really is for Sunday December 15th. 2019.