NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT FRIDAY 2/7/2020 NEWSDUMP FRIDAY

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE WITH MAJOR POSTING LATE FRIDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY)

A debate between some of the Democrats running for President tonight who met qualifying criteria.

Bernie Sanders, who won the popular vote in the Iowa caucuses, came under intense criticism as well as the candidate who won the most Iowa state convention delegates, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

More from "France 24".....LINK....and this video link that includes the debate and some commentary from the You Tube poster Anthony Brian Logan....VIDEO LINK

The Russian Defense Ministry says that the Israeli military endangered an airliner with 172 passengers on board by launching an early Thursday morning air attack on Damascus using the airliner as a shield.

The airliner made an emergency landing at the Russian military base in Hmeimim, Syria.

More from "Russia Today"......LINK  and from "Tass"...LINK

Turkey says it will respond to any attack on its military forces in northwestern Syria's Idlib.   That word today from a Turkish military spokesman.   Turkey has increased its presence at "observation posts" and increased their number in recent days in an apparent attempt to obstruct the Syrian government's offensive against Al-Qaeda movement jihadists and other anti-government forces backed by Turkey.....TURKISH NEWS AGENCY REPORT

The Turks also reported constructing a "military base" at an air base near the town of Taftanaz in northwestern Syria.

Due east of Taftanaz is the town of Al Eis which is the next target of the Syrian government advance.   Both Syrian government units and Lebanese Hezbollah forces advanced in the direction of that town late today.....SOUTHFRONT REPORT

Official word of the death of an Al-Qaeda leader in a US military operation.    President Trump and other officials had hinted late last week that Qasim al-Raymi of Al Qaeda In The Arabian Peninsula was dead.    Now a new statement confirming his death from the White House.

An audio recording of al-Raymi was released recently with Al-Qaeda claiming responsibility for the December 6th terrorist attack at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida carried out by a Saudi Air Force lieutenant.     That attack killed three sailors and wounded eight others.

(WARNING: OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE IN THIS STORY)

The French teenager who blasted Islam online then went into hiding amidst a torrent of threats is set to go back to school next week in a new more safer setting.

The 16 year old named Mila from Isere, France will be able to go back to school after education officials worked with her family to find a solution.

Her video led to threats of rape and death in the thousands.

She said in part:

"Islam is shi*...your religion is shi*, your God, I put a finger in my a**hole..."

Interviewed earlier this week by French media outlet TMC she clarified her remarks to say:

"I apologize a little for the people I could hurt, who practice their religion in peace, and I never wanted targeting human beings, I wanted to blaspheme, I wanted to talk about a religion, to say what I thought about it."

(This story obtained by Google translation from BFM-TV)

The polling for Israel's March 2nd election continues to show a lead for the Blue and White Party of Benny Gantz.   Blue and White slated to win 35 seats in the 120 seat parliament according to latest poll for Israel's Channel 13.   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud at 33 seats with the Joint Arab List at 14 seats.   Hopes for a boost for Likud based on the "Deal of the Century" proposal of President Trump have not materialized in the polling data.

"Israel National News" reports......LINK

WILL ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU BE MEETING THE SAUDI CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN BEFORE ISRAEL'S MARCH 2ND ELECTION?

 A HEBREW LANGUAGE PUBLICATION IN ISRAEL CALLED "ISRAEL DEFENSE" IS  SAYING THAT INTENSE EFFORTS ARE UNDER WAY TO MAKE SUCH A MEETING HAPPEN.

MORE ON THIS STORY......PRESS TV STORY

In Iraq two militia commanders in the forces of Shia Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's movement assassinated in recent days.   Speculation that foreign intelligence agencies are behind the attacks by unknown gunmen.

A claim also being made the United States and Israel were plotting to kill al-Sadr himself...SOUTHFRONT STORY

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who testified against President Trump in the House Democrat impeachment inquiry, fired today from his National Security Council job and escorted from the White House.    Media reporting this morning was that Vindman was expecting to leave his National Security Council post in the coming weeks to return to the Defense Department.

  

Also leaving his post today was US Ambaasador to the European Union,  Gordon Sondlund.    Sondlund also offered testimony at the House Democrat impeachment inquiry. 

The FBI rating which foreign country poses the greatest threat to the nation's security.   Their estimation is that China does.

In New York today the defense presenting its case at the rape and sexual assault trial of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.    A memory expert taking the witness stand to discredit testimony by women who said they were victimized by Weinstein.    More from the New York Post's Page Six......LINK

90 FEDERAL "HATE CRIMES" CHARGES FOR THE MAN WHO'S ACCUSED IN THE MASS MURDER ATTACK AT AN EL PASO WALMART LAST AUGUST.

PATRICK CRUSIUS ALREADY FACING STATE MURDER CHARGES CARRYING THE DEATH PENALTY IN TEXAS FOR THE ATTACK THAT KILLED 22 PEOPLE.

THE US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ALLEGING THAT CRUSIUS WAS TARGETING AN ENTIRE ETHNIC GROUP, HISPANICS, IN HIS ATTACK.   FOR THAT HE COULD ALSO FACE A FEDERAL DEATH PENALTY.

The US unemployment figures out today the first Friday of the month.    For January a slight increase to 3.6 percent but 225-thousand new jobs added last month painting an overall positive picture.

Edward Snowden, who leaked espionage secrets including US government spying on foreign leaders, wants to stay in Russia where he fled to avoid prosecution.   Snowden's lawyer in Russia says he's seeking to extend his residency permit which expires in April.....TASS NEWS STORY

Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting today with the authoritarian ruler of a country neighboring Russia, Belarus.    The meeting follows last weekend's visit there by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Pompeo appeared to be trying to pry Belarus away from its close relationship with Russia offering to sell US oil at competitive prices. 

Russian  Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Venezuela today supporting the regime of Nicolas Maduro and denouncing US policy on Venezuela.    His visit follows on the heels of the Washington visit by Venezuela's Interim President Juan Guaido.   Guaido met President Trump at the White House and was in the audience at the State of the Union message.    Guaido recognized as the country's president by the US and over 50 other nations.

Coronavirus statistics released Saturday morning in China show some 722 deaths in the country with all but five in Hubei province where the disease originated.    The total number of cases in China now stands at 34,500.

The US pledging 100 million dollars to help fight the coronavirus in China.....

300 Americans arrived from Wuhan, China today headed for a 14 day quarantine at military bases...

That's the way it really is Friday February 7th, 2020.