Following the launch of the "largest ever" US-South Korean aerial military drills, and Pyongyang's latest, most impressive, missile test, the Russian foreign ministry issued a warning that "the situation on the Korean Peninsula is on the brink of war," adding that "Kim seeks to raise the stakes before any talks."
Walking Into Armageddon
Paul Craig Roberts
Dear Readers: It is December and time for my quarterly call for your support of your site. I do this site for you. I have no ego reasons for the website. In fact, it uses up my retirement years when I could otherwise relax.
After warning that he could officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital by the end of the week - an announcement that drew vociferous objections from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, who both warned that such a declaration would irreparably damage US ties with the Muslim world - Palestinian sources are reporting that President Donald Trump told Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas that the US intends to eventually move its embassy to Jerusalem - a contested city that is claimed as a capital by both Israel and the Palestinian territories.
In an announcement that will provide some measure of relief for T-bill traders and others who are skeptical about Republican lawmakers' ability to compromise with their Democratic colleagues, the Republican House leadership said Tuesday they would bring a stopgap bill to extend funding at its current levels - and preserve funding for a popular child health-care program - until Dec. 22. Otherwise, the current continuing resolution would expire on Friday, tilting the federal government into its first shutdown since 2013.
Careful to explain to those that care, Michigan Democrat Congressman John Conyers says he will "retire" from Congress today, and is "not resigning," following a growing list of sexual misconduct allegations. Conyers is endorsing his son, John Conyers III, to replace him in Congress.
“He is not resigning. He is going to retire,” Ian Conyers told the newspaper. “His doctor advised him that the rigor of another campaign would be too much for him just in terms of his health.”