Breaking: Saudis Admit To Killing Khashoggi: Said It Was An Accident

Ken AshfordMiddle East, Trump & Administration, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

It looks like the Saudi prince is trying to clear his name by throwing certain operatives under a bus. Source tells NYT the Saudis are preparing to describe a scenario that would protect MBS from blame. The source said the royal court would soon put out a narrative that an official within the kingdom's intel services carried out the killing … Read More

Van Slams Into Toronto Pedestrians; Possible Terrorist Attack

Ken AshfordMental Health, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Police have arrested a suspect after a white van mounted the curb and struck numerous pedestrians in Toronto. The incident happened on Yonge Street south of Finch Avenue around 1:30 p.m. today. A suspect was arrested beside the van on Poyntz Avenue off of Yonge, just south of Sheppard Avenue West. The van is marked as belonging to the rental … Read More

National Threat Assessment

Ken AshfordCybersecurity, Foreign Affairs, Russia, Trump & Administration, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

It may not be in the news much today, but there is an important open hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where the directors of the all the intelligence agencies testify: Director Daniel R. Coats – Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Director Michael Pompeo – Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Admiral Michael Rogers – Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) Director Lieutenant General Robert Ashley – Director of … Read More

Failed Terrorist Attempt In Manhattan Port Authority

Ken AshfordBreaking News, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Police were called to a reported explosion at 7:20 a.m. ET in a below-ground walkway that connects two subway lines at 42nd Street. Responding units found an injured 27-year-old male, identified him as Akayed Ullah. He had burns and wounds to his body. Ullah was from Bangladesh & was doing it “in the name of ISIS” Preliminary investigation at the scene indicates that … Read More

We Know Now Why We Were In Niger

Ken AshfordAfrica, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

CNN: The US Army team that was ambushed in Niger was gathering intelligence on a terrorist leader operating in the area when it was attacked, two military officials told CNN on Tuesday. The officials said the unit was not under orders to conduct a kill or capture mission on the leader, since such missions are typically reserved for other elite … Read More

9/11 Plus 16 — What If Trump Was President?

Ken AshfordDisasters, History, Trump & Administration, War on Terrorism/Torture, WeatherLeave a Comment

Each year as 9/11 comes and goes, there is less added to the perspective. An entire generation is now politically aware, who cannot remember that horrible day.  Bizarre, to me. We forget that Bush, like Trump, was in the infancy of his presidency. I remember thinking that he was over his head — partly because it was unprecedented, and partly … Read More

Another Terrorist Attack In London

Ken AshfordBreaking News, Rightwing Extremism/Violence, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Last night, a van with three people drove into a crowd of worshipers in Finsbury Park, a district in North London. One person was killed, ten were injured. It was a terrorist attack, but not a typical one that garnishes worldwide press attention. Because this time, the terrorists were white and the targets were Muslim. Here’s what is known so … Read More

Trump’s Tweets Today Are The Most Unhinged And SELF-Destructive (And It’s Only 10:00 AM)

Ken AshfordConstitution, Courts/Law, Immigration and Xenophobia, Trump & Administration, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

God knows why they just don’t take his phone away. Or give him a fake phone with a fake Twitter account. This is how bad it has gotten: Trump’s own advisers have gone on television and stated that Trump’s tweets are not his policy.  Well, who knows? How can we tell? Would Trump agree with that? Even this morning, Kellyanne … Read More

Breaking: Apparent Terrorist Attack At Parliament/Westminster Bridge

Ken AshfordBreaking News, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Police say attack at UK Parliament being treated as “terrorist incident until we know otherwise”https://t.co/WG8yXWpPVV pic.twitter.com/gaUKNRFJwN — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 22, 2017 Crowds being moved out of Parliament Square, policeman tells BBC, suspect vehicle outside UK Parliament. Latest: https://t.co/WG8yXW8f4n pic.twitter.com/umfHcz3Fs1 — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 22, 2017 Woman dies & a number are hurt, some with “catastrophic” … Read More

Things Fall Apart

Ken AshfordTrump & Administration, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

Look, things in war don’t always go as planned.  I will be the first to say that. No mission is every 100% fool-proof.  But there are many aspects about the Yemeni mission, and Trump’s involvement in it, that are worrisome. In case you haven’t followed this story, in the first week of his presidency, Donald Trump approved a raid on … Read More

The Kinda Crazy, Somewhat Uplifting, Complete Unprecedented Weekend Of Trump

Ken AshfordImmigration and Xenophobia, Trump & Administration, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order that bans some refugees and immigrants from entering the US. It hits ‘pause’ on Syrian refugees coming into the US. And also temporarily shuts the door on citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Initially, the ban even applied to people with valid visas or green cards. Over the weekend, … Read More