NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT WEDNESDAY 2/19/2020

(LIMITED SERVICE WHEN ABLE THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY)

In Germany tonight two attacks at shisha bars in Hanau, some 15 miles east of Frankfurt.   Nine are dead and others wounded with police now saying the suspect in the shooting attacks is dead.

The alleged attacker found dead in an apartment with another person found dead there according to ARD German television.

"Shisha Bars" are popular among Turkish people in Germany a place for socializing and using tobacco.   They are also called "hookah bars" or "hookah lounges".

Police in Germany made mass arrests last Friday of "far-right" extremists said to be planning attacks on Muslims in the country.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today that talks with Russia have failed to make progress and that it's just a "matter of time" until Turkey launches a full military offensive in the Greater Idlib region of northwestern Syria.

Erdgoan said that Turkey would secure Idlib "no matter the cost".

Talks with Russia are continuing.

More from "Haaretz" in Israel.......LINK

"Let us not expect the worst scenario to become a reality"

Reaction today from the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov to a possible Turkish military operation in northwestern Syria......TASS NEWS AGENCY

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today Russia supports the Syrian military's actions in Idlib.....TASS NEWS STORY

TONIGHT A DRONE-ROCKET ATTACK ON THE RUSSIAN AIR BASE IN HMEIMIM WAS FOILED BY RUSSIAN AND SYRIAN AIR DEFENSES.  THE ATTACK SAID TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN THE GREATER IDLIB AREA.

Turkey and Russia are also involved in Libya's conflict with Russia supportive of the Libyan National Army and Turkey supporting the Government of National Accord.    Russia's Defense Ministry said today that Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has met the LNA commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.....TASS NEWS STORY

Libya's United Nations recognized Government of National Accord pulling out of cease-fire talks after the Libyan National Army staged an attack on the port of Tripoli......PRESS TV IRAN NEWS STORY

Debris apparently left by workers has been found inside the fuel tanks of Boeing 737 airliners that have been manufactured but left in storage undelivered.   More from the BBC.....LINK

In Canada the indigenous blockades continue with a new blockade set up in the western part of Edmonton, Alberta.   The blockade torn down following a court injunction.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urging patience in resolving the dispute over construction of a natural gas pipeline on native land in British Columbia but the province of Saskatchewan calling for a meeting of provincial leaders to discuss the issue....More details on the new blockade that was torn down later in the day today....CBC NEWS STORY

BOTH THE WHITE HOUSE AND FORMER CONGRESSMAN DANA ROHRABACHER ARE DENYING A STORY FROM A LAWYER FOR JAILED WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE.

THE LAWYER SAYS THAT ROHRABACHER OFFERED ASSANGE A PARDON ON INSTRUCTIONS FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP IN 2017 IF HE WOULD SAY THAT THE RUSSIANS WERE NOT INVOLVED IN LEAKING EMAILS DURING THE 2016 CAMPAIGN.

ROHRABACHER SAID THAT HE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT ASSANGE SAYING THE RUSSIANS WERE INVOLVED IN THE LEAKS BUT THAT HE WAS NOT ACTING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.    THE FORMER CONGRESSMAN SAID HE TOLD ASSANGE THAT HE WOULD GO TO THE PRESIDENT TO RECOMMEND A PARDON IF ASSANGE COULD PROVIDE EVIDENCE ON WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE DNC EMAIL LEAKS.

The mainstream media giving free promotion to the billionaire who's already spent hundreds of millions in all media to influence public opinion, Michael Bloomberg.   His presidential campaign building up enough support in an opinion poll to qualify for tonight's candidate debate.

But there's still Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders standing in the way and this week he's touted his Jewish heritage, but he's also been critical of Israel's current government calling it "right-wing" and "racist" in a town hall meeting.

Regarding Saudi Arabia Sanders says:  "the people who run that country are murderous thugs".   Sanders comments reported on by "Middle East Eye" and picked up by Iran's "Press TV".....LINK

That "Middle East Eye" publication has revealed British government involvement in recruiting and paying "citizen journalists" in Syria to paint a negative picture of that country's government during its fight with jihadist opposition forces.....MIDDLE EAST EYE STORY

Politics tonight the Democrats debate in Las Vegas at least the six presidential candidates that "qualified" for it.

And President Trump holds a campaign rally in Phoenix.

In brief that's the way it really is Wednesday February 19th, 2020.