NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT WEDNESDAY 12/18/2019

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY)

Its official tonight.     President Donald Trump has been impeached by the House of Representatives.   He is the third US President impeached.

Two articles approved one called "abuse of power" 230-197 the other "obstruction of Congress" 229-198 with Democrat Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii votng "present" both times.

Tonight's vote came as the President campaigned in Battle Creek, Michigan.    He told thousands of supporters:

"The Democrats are declaring their deep hatred and disdain for the American voter"

Back in Washington the Democrats adding drama to tonight's vote as they are suggesting that an impeachment trial in the Republican controlled US Senate might not be a fair one.

The notion being spread by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer with idea of the impeachment not being passed onto the Senate for trial being dangled.

Tonight in Barcelona, Spain Catalan independence supporters clashing with police following a soccer game.    During the game thousands holding up banners urging talks between the Spanish government and Catalonia to discuss independence.

The BBC has more....LINK

AN ARREST WARRANT FOR THE FORMER BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT EVO MORALES ISSUED TODAY BY THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN THE COUNTRY.

MORALES, WHO'S IN EXILE IN NEIGHBORING ARGENTINA, IS WANTED FOR SEDITION AND TERRORISM.

There's talk of US troops leaving Afghanistan this week before Christmas but there's concern that Islamic State elements are relocating there.

That concern coming out of a joint meeting between Russian and Iranian security officials in Tehran today.

They say that ISIS elements, called "Daesh" in the Middle Eastern countries, are on the move to Afghanistan from former strongholds in Iraq and Syria and from there they could attack both targets in Afghanistan and neighboring countries including Iran.

More on this story from "Press TV" in Iran.......LINK

A SAUDI STUDENT WILL REMAIN IN FEDERAL CUSTODY IN NEW MEXICO AFTER ILLEGALLY OBTAINING A FIREARM AND HAVING WHAT IS SAID TO BE A MENTAL "HIT LIST"....MORE FROM 'THE NW ARAB'......LINK

A rebuke from the secret federal court that approves surveillance of suspected terrorists and foreign spies on Tuesday.

The FISA court ordering the FBI to respond with its plans to correct the errors found in the Justice Department Inspector General's report on the origins of the Russia collusion probe against President Trump and his campaign in 2016.

The presiding judge of the court, Rosemary Collyer, wants a response from the FBI by January 10th saying in part that the IG report:

"calls into question whether information contained in other FBI applications is reliable"

In France today union leaders meeting with Premier Edouard Philippe to discuss the ongoing strike action against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform plan.

Philippe Martinez, head of the CGT trade union, says he is still not convinced by what the Premier said to him today about changing the pension reform scheme.

President Macron signaling through his administration to the media two messages today.

One, the government wants to "improve" the pension reform with flexibility on the new age of 64 set to phase in in 2027 under the current plan.

Two, there should be a break in the strike for Christmas.

The notion of the strike going on during the Christmas season has been a major talking point in France's mainstream media for days.

The strike has had a major impact on railroads in France and some on education but now power cuts are reported and they are expected to continue in the days ahead.

A new high commissioner for pensions in France announced.   National Assembly member Laurent Pietrazewski stepping in to replace the disgraced Jean-Paul Delevoye.     Delevoye resigned after he  disclosed previously hidden outside activities to an ethics office of the French government late last Friday.

IN LEBANON TODAY SAAD AL-HARIRI SAYING HE WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER.    LEBANON LOOKING FOR A NEW PM AFTER HE RESIGNED AMIDST NATIONWIDE PROTESTS AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL ELITE.

CONSULTATIONS WITH LEBANON'S PRESIDENT ON PICKING A NEW PRIME MINISTER SET TO BEGIN TOMORROW.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says a delegation of Turkish officials will soon visit Moscow to discuss Libya and Syria with Russian officials.

Turkey supporting the UN recognized Government of National Accord in Libya and Russia supporting the Libyan National Army.   In Syria both Russia and Turkey are join guarantors of a cease-fire in the northestern region in and around Idlib province that has repeatedly broken down with attack launched by jihadists including some backed by Turkey.

The Turks and Russians operating joint military patrols in northeastern Syria to maintain peace after the Turkish intervention in the Kurdish region.

And for now that's the way it really is Wednesday December 18th, 2019.