NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT SUNDAY 12/8/2019  THE PENSACOLA ATTACK UPDATE

The Pensacola attack that killed three US sailors and wounded eight others including two members of law enforcement is still not being called an "act of terrorism" by either President Trump or Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien also not flat out saying there was a terrorist attack but telling CBS:

"To me it appears to be a terrorist attack"

A Saudi military officer who was an aviation student at the Pensacola Naval Air Station opened fire Friday morning.     The attack called an "act of terrorism" by local Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz.

While Mr. Esper is not talking terrorism he said on "Fox News Sunday" that he is ordering a review of the screening process for foreign nationals undergoing military training in the United States.   He also said he ordered officials to look into security measures at military bases.

Information is leaking out in the investigation of the attack now firmly in the hands of FBI.

The FBI is saying it is operating:

"with the presumption that this was an act of terrorism"

according to FBI Special Agent In Charge Rachel Rojas from the FBI's Jacksonville office who's leading the investigation speaking at news conference today.

But she says that presumption is normal in "active shooter" incidents and is helpful to investigators.

Rojas also said this regarding Saudi Arabia:

"I thank the kingdom for their pledge of full and complete cooperation"

Among the information the dinner party that Mohammed Saeed Alshamrami hosted to watch mass shooting videos and his social media posting which is said to have echoed the views of Osama bin Laden.

Also being probed the filming of the attack by Saudi trainees at the scene.    Other Saudis at the base reportedly detained for questioning.

At the news conference on the attack today when asked if this was an act of terrorism Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said:  

 "Absolutely, yes"

More on the story from Pensacola as published by "Middle East Monitor".....LINK

Getting back to President Trump in his torrent of Twitter posts Saturday the President retweeted someone else's post that praised Congressman Gaetz for calling the attack an "act of terrorism".

As reported and commented on in the "Nextrush Unplugged" post Saturday night.....LINK.....the federal government does not work towards justice and addressing the facts of criminal cases when they involve Saudi cititzens.

The "Pro-Publica" journalism website discussed the issue earlier this year in a story entitled...

"Saudi Fugutives Accused of Serious Crimes Get Help to Flee While U.S. Officials Look the Other Way"

More from "Pro-Publica"........LINK

Organizers say some 800,000 people took to the streets of Hong Kong Sunday in a pro-democracy demonstration.      The police estimated the crowd at 183-thousand.

The authorities in Hong Kong decided to allow the protest.

More on the protest from the BBC......LINK

In France President Emmanuel Macron, Premier Edouard Philippe and cabinet ministers holding meetings Sunday evening to consider the government's response to the general strike that began Thursday.

CGT union president Philippe Martinez says the strike is on until the government drops pension reform plans that are expected to cut pension benefits for millions of French citizens.

The government's message in recent hours is that if something is not done to deal with pensions now more severe measures will have to be taken later.

BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT FROM NEW ZEALAND WHERE ITS MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH A VOLCANIC ERUPTION ON WHITE ISLAND.

THE SUDDEN ERUPTION HAPPENED WITH TOURISTS ON THE ISLAND AND CASUALTIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT TO SHORE FROM THE DISASTER.

SOME 100 PEOPLE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ON ISLAND WHEN THE ERUPTION OCCURRED.  

MORE FROM "TV ONE" IN NEW ZEALAND.....LINK

IN LEBANON THE LEADING CANDIDATE TO BE THE COUNTRY'S NEXT PRIME MINISTER PULLING OUT OF CONSIDERATION.

SAMIR KHATIB SAYING THAT SUNNI MUSLIM LEADERS IN THE COUNTRY WANT PRIME MINISTER SAAD HARIRI TO CONTINUE AS PRIME MINISTER.

HARIRI RESIGNED HIS POST AMIDST MASS DEMONSTRATIONS RECENTLY DEMANDING REFORM IN THE COUNTRY.

IN RECENT PROTESTS IT HAS BEEN ALLEGED THAT KHATIB IS TOO CLOSE TO THE COUNTRY'S RULING ELITE. 

LATE WORD IS THAT MR. HARIRI IS NOW BACK IN THE RUNNING TO REMAIN AS THE COUNTRY'S PRIME MINISTER.

..

North Korea's United Nations ambassador says that denuclearizaion is off the table with the United States.

Ambassador Kim Song told Reuters that the talks sought by the United States were a "time saving trick" ahead of the 2020 election campaign.

He also said:

"We do not need to have lengthy talks with the US  now"

North Korea also conducted a test at its satellite facility believed to be the testing of a rocket engine.

President Trump on Twitter today with a message mentioning North Korea's ruler saying in part that:

"Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way.......

At least 43 are dead in a factory fire in India.   The fire broke out in the capital city of Delhi early Sunday morning.    Workers were sleeping inside the bag factory in the city's old quarter when the blaze broke out.      

  

"We are planning catch up"

Defense Secretary Mark Esper spoke at the Reagan National Defense Forum this weekend and was talking about hypersonic weapons which have become a major aspect of Russia's defense program.

The Russian News Agency Tass has more.......LINK

Iran planning to roll out new uranium enriching centrifuges.    That's the word from an Iranian official in the country's nuclear agency.     

"Israel National News" has more......LINK

And from Finland a new prime minister, the youngest ever.     The Social Democrats who lead a five party coalition government selected 34-year old Sanna Marin as their leader.    She replaces Antti Rinne who resigned last Tuesday.

More on this story from Turkey's "TRT World"......LINK

And for now that's the way it really is Sunday December 8th, 2019.