Notations On Our World: On #CanadaElections

The New Canadian Prime Minister Designate is hard at work.   He will be announcing his new Cabinet on November 4 as he is starting his moves to transform Canada.    

One very interesting developoment is the threatened withdrawal from the F-35 Stealth Fighter program.     We just received this:

Pentagon expects USD1 million unit price increase if Canada leaves F-35 programme

Canada's threatened departure from the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft programme could raise the price of the stealthy jets for the remaining customers, according to US Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, the Pentagon's F-35 programme manager.

READ FULL ARTICLE... 

We will continue to assess the on-going changes in Canada.

Notations From the Grid: Can We See Such a Day?

As the Israel Palestine Inferno continues, our team was "on the grid" as it ran across this beautiful and telling scene:

Palestine before 1948
Posted by Celebrating Palestine on Wednesday, October 21, 2015

We could not help but wonder if we could truly see such a day.

Notations On Our World: Thoughts on the #BenghaziHearing

(Updated 10/23/2015 w/insights from the Heritage Foundation's "The Daily Signal")

We here @ #Outsiders were monitoring the Benghazi Hearing that Hillary Rodham Clinton was the star witness.      Here is an excerpt of her opening testmony:

The terrorist attacks at our diplomatic compound and later, at the CIA post in Benghazi, Libya on September 11, 2012 took the lives of four brave Americans: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Tyrone Woods.

I am here to honor the service of those four men, the courage of the Diplomatic Security agency and the CIA officers who risked their lives that night, and the work their colleagues do every single day all over the world...

I was the one who asked Chris to go to Libya as our envoy. I was the one who recommended him to be our Ambassador to to the President. After the attacks, I stood next to President Obama as Marines carried his casket and those of the other three Americans off the plane at Andrews Air Force Base. I took responsibility. And, as part of that, before I left office, I launched reforms to better protect our people in the field and help reduce the chance of another tragedy happening in the future...

We need leadership at home to match our leadership abroad. Leadership that puts national security ahead of politics and ideology. Our nation has a long history of bipartisan cooperation on foreign policy and national security. Not that we always agree -- far from it -- but we do come together when it counts.

As Secretary of State, I worked with the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to pass a landmark nuclear arms control treaty with Russia. I worked with Republican Leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, to open up Burma, now Myanmar, to find democratic change. I know it’s possible to find common ground, because I have done it.

We should debate on the basis of fact, not fear. We should resist denigrating the patriotism or loyalty of those with who we disagree. So I am here. Despite all the previous investigations and all the talk about partisan agendas, I am here to honor those we lost, and to do what I can to aid those who serve us still.

And my challenge to you, members of this Committee, is the same challenge I put to myself.

Let’s be worthy of the trust the American people have bestowed upon us. They expect us to lead. To learn the right lessons. To rise above partisanship and to reach for statesmanship. That’s what I tried to do every day as Secretary of State. And it’s what I hope we all strive for here today and into the future. 

  From our standpoint, our view was that there was "nothing there" as the Former Secretary of State and leading Presidential Candidate for the Democratic Party sat through 11 hours of testimony and one of the many faces as reported by the Guardian of London--and noted on our Twitter Feed curatoin said it all: 

On #Americas Watch w/The many, many faces of Hillary Clinton at the #Benghazi hearing https://t.co/6deatI8LBg

— The Daily Outsider (@DailyOutsider) October 22, 2015

It concluded with a handshake:

Mrs. Clinton Shakes Hands w/Congressman Gowdy

The Democrats were in fighting form as they spared with the Republicans.   This was epitomized by this sent out under Senator Barbara Boxer of California's name:

MIke -- 11 hours. For 11 hours to‌day, we saw all the qualities that will make Hillary Clinton an extraordinary president. For 11 hours, we heard Republicans on the Benghazi Committee subject Hillary to recycled conspiracy theories, false attacks, interruptions, and innuendos. But what didn't we hear? Not one new fact, not one new insight, nothing. There have now been 8 investigations, 11 reports, 32 hearings, and 800 pages of findings. This select committee has now lasted 17 months, longer than congressional investigations into Watergate, Iran-Contra, and Hurricane Katrina. Enough. It is time -- it is long past time -- to disband the Benghazi Committee and end this sham. Tell the GOP: It's time to shut down their sham Benghazi Committee right now. Benghazi was a tragedy, not a scandal centered on Hillary Clinton. The real scandal is the $4.7 million of taxpayer funds that the GOP has misused in a political witch hunt with one goal: to stop Hillary Clinton from becoming president. But don't take my word for it. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy made clear that the Benghazi committee was all about driving down Hillary Clinton's poll numbers. Congressman Richard Hanna agreed. A fired Republican whistleblower made the same claim. It is time for the Republican National Committee to reimburse the American taxpayers. It is time to disband the Benghazi Committee and stop this political hit job once and for all. Join my colleagues and me in telling the GOP to end their political sham and shut down their Benghazi Committee. In Friendship, Barbara Boxer U.S. Senator

The Hillary Clinton Campaign and Marco Rubio Campaigns have been fundraising of this as Marco Rubio continues attackig Hillary Clinton.      Our team understood the political nature of it as noted in this we received from the Heritage Foundation's "Daily Signal"

6 Key Exchanges From Hillary Clinton's Benghazi Testimony

In the much-anticipated hearing, Clinton testified about her role as secretary of state during the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attacks. We watched the 11-hour hearing and identified the most important moments.

Read More

However, we found it extremely disturbing that this email was sent out in an effort to effectively  "monetize" a clearly politically charged matter that we found to be unfortunate:  

w Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before a special House committee Oct. 22 about events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Questions posed by the Gowdy Commission went to such areas as the need for speartip diplomacy in chaotic environments like Libya, Mrs. Clinton's connections and treatment of various intelligence sources and previous statements attributing the attack to mob violence. Regardless of whether you think the hearings are political theater for its own sake or a meaningful way to unearth hidden facts, the questions at their core go to deep issues revolving around geopolitics and security. And that's why people who want clear-eyed analysis -- without politics or spin -- turn to Stratfor. Our analyst team brings a deep understanding of world cultures, history, tactical security and intelligence processes and combines that with a cross-disciplnary approach to produce analysis that explains not onlywhy events happen, but what's likely to come next. Deepen your own understanding of the world: Subscribe to Stratfor.com for 1 year for only $99 and get unlimited access to our globa affairs analysis and forecasts -- and we'll also give you the Kindle version ofUnder Fire: The Untold Story of Benghazi, the best-selling book by Stratfor's own security expert Fred Burton, as a gift. But act fast -- this offer is good for 48 hours only! You can also listen to Fred Burton discuss matters related to Hillary Clinton's intelligence sources in the August issue of our monthly podcast, Stratfor Talks. Listen here for free!  *This offer is valid only for new Stratfor subscribers. These prices cannot be applied to returning or new Stratfor accounts. Subscriptions cannot be purchased to replace other, higher-priced subscriptions. Other exclusions or limitations may apply.

MIke --

11 hours. For 11 hours to‌day, we saw all the qualities that will make Hillary Clinton an extraordinary president.

For 11 hours, we heard Republicans on the Benghazi Committee subject Hillary to recycled conspiracy theories, false attacks, interruptions, and innuendos.

But what didn't we hear? Not one new fact, not one new insight, nothing.

There have now been 8 investigations, 11 reports, 32 hearings, and 800 pages of findings.

This select committee has now lasted 17 months, longer than congressional investigations into Watergate, Iran-Contra, and Hurricane Katrina.

Enough. It is time -- it is long past time -- to disband the Benghazi Committee and end this sham.

Tell the GOP: It's time to shut down their sham Benghazi Committee right now.

Benghazi was a tragedy, not a scandal centered on Hillary Clinton.

The real scandal is the $4.7 million of taxpayer funds that the GOP has misused in a political witch hunt with one goal: to stop Hillary Clinton from becoming president. But don't take my word for it.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy made clear that the Benghazi committee was all about driving down Hillary Clinton's poll numbers. Congressman Richard Hanna agreed. A fired Republican whistleblower made the same claim.

It is time for the Republican National Committee to reimburse the American taxpayers.

It is time to disband the Benghazi Committee and stop this political hit job once and for all.

Join my colleagues and me in telling the GOP to end their political sham and shut down their Benghazi Committee.

In Friendship,

Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator

w

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before a special House committee Oct. 22 about events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Questions posed by the Gowdy Commission went to such areas as the need for speartip diplomacy in chaotic environments like Libya, Mrs. Clinton's connections and treatment of various intelligence sources and previous statements attributing the attack to mob violence. Regardless of whether you think the hearings are political theater for its own sake or a meaningful way to unearth hidden facts, the questions at their core go to deep issues revolving around geopolitics and security. And that's why people who want clear-eyed analysis -- without politics or spin -- turn to Stratfor. Our analyst team brings a deep understanding of world cultures, history, tactical security and intelligence processes and combines that with a cross-disciplnary approach to produce analysis that explains not onlywhy events happen, but what's likely to come next. Deepen your own understanding of the world: Subscribe to Stratfor.com for 1 year for only $99 and get unlimited access to our globa affairs analysis and forecasts -- and we'll also give you the Kindle version ofUnder Fire: The Untold Story of Benghazi, the best-selling book by Stratfor's own security expert Fred Burton, as a gift. But act fast -- this offer is good for 48 hours only! You can also listen to Fred Burton discuss matters related to Hillary Clinton's intelligence sources in the August issue of our monthly podcast, Stratfor Talks. Listen here for free!  *This offer is valid only for new Stratfor subscribers. These prices cannot be applied to returning or new Stratfor accounts. Subscriptions cannot be purchased to replace other, higher-priced subscriptions. Other exclusions or limitations may apply.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before a special House committee Oct. 22 about events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Questions posed by the Gowdy Commission went to such areas as the need for speartip diplomacy in chaotic environments like Libya, Mrs. Clinton's connections and treatment of various intelligence sources and previous statements attributing the attack to mob violence. Regardless of whether you think the hearings are political theater for its own sake or a meaningful way to unearth hidden facts, the questions at their core go to deep issues revolving around geopolitics and security. And that's why people who want clear-eyed analysis -- without politics or spin -- turn to Stratfor. Our analyst team brings a deep understanding of world cultures, history, tactical security and intelligence processes and combines that with a cross-disciplnary approach to produce analysis that explains not onlywhy events happen, but what's likely to come next. Deepen your own understanding of the world: Subscribe to Stratfor.com for 1 year for only $99 and get unlimited access to our globa affairs analysis and forecasts -- and we'll also give you the Kindle version ofUnder Fire: The Untold Story of Benghazi, the best-selling book by Stratfor's own security expert Fred Burton, as a gift. But act fast -- this offer is good for 48 hours only! You can also listen to Fred Burton discuss matters related to Hillary Clinton's intelligence sources in the August issue of our monthly podcast, Stratfor Talks. Listen here for free!  *This offer is valid only for new Stratfor subscribers. These prices cannot be applied to returning or new Stratfor accounts. Subscriptions cannot be purchased to replace other, higher-priced subscriptions. Other exclusions or limitations may apply.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before a special House committee Oct. 22 about events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Questions posed by the Gowdy Commission went to such areas as the need for speartip diplomacy in chaotic environments like Libya, Mrs. Clinton's connections and treatment of various intelligence sources and previous statements attributing the attack to mob violence. Regardless of whether you think the hearings are political theater for its own sake or a meaningful way to unearth hidden facts, the questions at their core go to deep issues revolving around geopolitics and security. And that's why people who want clear-eyed analysis -- without politics or spin -- turn to Stratfor. Our analyst team brings a deep understanding of world cultures, history, tactical security and intelligence processes and combines that with a cross-disciplnary approach to produce analysis that explains not onlywhy events happen, but what's likely to come next. Deepen your own understanding of the world: Subscribe to Stratfor.com for 1 year for only $99 and get unlimited access to our globa affairs analysis and forecasts -- and we'll also give you the Kindle version ofUnder Fire: The Untold Story of Benghazi, the best-selling book by Stratfor's own security expert Fred Burton, as a gift. But act fast -- this offer is good for 48 hours only! You can also listen to Fred Burton discuss matters related to Hillary Clinton's intelligence sources in the August issue of our monthly podcast, Stratfor Talks. Listen here for free!

*This offer is valid only for new Stratfor subscribers. These prices cannot be applied to returning or new Stratfor accounts. Subscriptions cannot be purchased to replace other, higher-priced subscriptions. Other exclusions or limitations may apply.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before a special House committee Oct. 22 about events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Questions posed by the Gowdy Commission went to such areas as the need for speartip diplomacy in chaotic environments like Libya, Mrs. Clinton's connections and treatment of various intelligence sources and previous statements attributing the attack to mob violence. Regardless of whether you think the hearings are political theater for its own sake or a meaningful way to unearth hidden facts, the questions at their core go to deep issues revolving around geopolitics and security. And that's why people who want clear-eyed analysis -- without politics or spin -- turn to Stratfor. Our analyst team brings a deep understanding of world cultures, history, tactical security and intelligence processes and combines that with a cross-disciplnary approach to produce analysis that explains not onlywhy events happen, but what's likely to come next. Deepen your own understanding of the world: Subscribe to Stratfor.com for 1 year for only $99 and get unlimited access to our globa affairs analysis and forecasts -- and we'll also give you the Kindle version ofUnder Fire: The Untold Story of Benghazi, the best-selling book by Stratfor's own security expert Fred Burton, as a gift. But act fast -- this offer is good for 48 hours only! You can also listen to Fred Burton discuss matters related to Hillary Clinton's intelligence sources in the August issue of our monthly podcast, Stratfor Talks. Listen here for free!

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before a special House committee Oct. 22 about events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Questions posed by the Gowdy Commission went to such areas as the need for speartip diplomacy in chaotic environments like Libya, Mrs. Clinton's connections and treatment of various intelligence sources and previous statements attributing the attack to mob violence. Regardless of whether you think the hearings are political theater for its own sake or a meaningful way to unearth hidden facts, the questions at their core go to deep issues revolving around geopolitics and security. And that's why people who want clear-eyed analysis -- without politics or spin -- turn to Stratfor. Our analyst team brings a deep understanding of world cultures, history, tactical security and intelligence processes and combines that with a cross-disciplnary approach to produce analysis that explains not onlywhy events happen, but what's likely to come next. Deepen your own understanding of the world: Subscribe to Stratfor.com for 1 year for only $99 and get unlimited access to our globa affairs analysis and forecasts -- and we'll also give you the Kindle version ofUnder Fire: The Untold Story of Benghazi, the best-selling book by Stratfor's own security expert Fred Burton, as a gift. But act fast -- this offer is good for 48 hours only! You can also listen to Fred Burton discuss matters related to Hillary Clinton's intelligence sources in the August issue of our monthly podcast, Stratfor Talks. Listen here for free!

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before a special House committee Oct. 22 about events surrounding the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.

Questions posed by the Gowdy Commission went to such areas as the need for speartip diplomacy in chaotic environments like Libya, Mrs. Clinton's connections and treatment of various intelligence sources and previous statements attributing the attack to mob violence.

Regardless of whether you think the hearings are political theater for its own sake or a meaningful way to unearth hidden facts, the questions at their core go to deep issues revolving around geopolitics and security. And that's why people who want clear-eyed analysis -- without politics or spin -- turn to Stratfor.

Our analyst team brings a deep understanding of world cultures, history, tactical security and intelligence processes and combines that with a cross-disciplnary approach to produce analysis that explains not onlywhy events happen, but what's likely to come next.

Deepen your own understanding of the world: Subscribe to Stratfor.com for 1 year for only $99 and get unlimited access to our globa affairs analysis and forecasts -- and we'll also give you the Kindle version ofUnder Fire: The Untold Story of Benghazi, the best-selling book by Stratfor's own security expert Fred Burton, as a gift. But act fast -- this offer is good for 48 hours only!

You can also listen to Fred Burton discuss matters related to Hillary Clinton's intelligence sources in the August issue of our monthly podcast, Stratfor Talks. Listen here for free! 

*This offer is valid only for new Stratfor subscribers. These prices cannot be applied to returning or new Stratfor accounts. Subscriptions cannot be purchased to replace other, higher-priced subscriptions. Other exclusions or limitations may apply.

*This offer is valid only for new Stratfor subscribers. These prices cannot be applied to returning or new Stratfor accounts. Subscriptions cannot be purchased to replace other, higher-priced subscriptions. Other exclusions or limitations may apply.

*This offer is valid only for new Stratfor subscribers. These prices cannot be applied to returning or new Stratfor accounts. Subscriptions cannot be purchased to replace other, higher-priced subscriptions. Other exclusions or limitations may apply.

*This offer is valid only for new Stratfor subscribers. These prices cannot be applied to returning or new Stratfor accounts. Subscriptions cannot be purchased to replace other, higher-priced subscriptions. Other exclusions or limitations may apply.

Notations On Our World: On #Iran & #humanrights

As we went to press, we received reports earlier that President Rouhani of Iran will be going to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis.   It signifies the continued emergence of Iran from the years of isolation despite the continued pressures that the conservatives continue to exert as signified by Ayatollah Khameini's letter ascending to the nuclear agreement earlier this week.

Despite the incremental openings, Human Rights continue to be a profound challenge in Iran.   We have been continuing to follow the case of the Washington Post' Jason Rezayian as he continues to languish in an Iranian Prison on charges of espionage and sedition.    As we went to press here, we are yet to get any indication of his situation and if there is a prospect of him being released.   We have seen no reports on progress on the other three Americans currently missing in Iran.

One further indication of the profound challenges to Freedom of Expression is the case of the 30-Year Iranian Filmaker Keyvan Karimi.   He has been accused of  insulting the cultural norms because he depicted a kissing scene in one of his films.    Recent reports we received indicates that although he's currently free, he will be subject to arrest at any time after his conviction.    He has been sentenced to 6 years prison and 323 lashes.     It was a welcome development as we saw French Filmakers issue a statement of support for him.    

We will continue to monitor his case.    

Keyvan Karimi @ Work

On the Latest From Washington: An #Outsider Newsflash (Evening Edition)

Earlier today, Vice President Biden announced that he will not be seeking the Democratic Nomination for President.   It ends months and months of speculation on it.    It has been interesting to have seen the deliberations in the mainstream media on it.  


Beyond the quest for the Presidency, though, there is the continued leadership challenge in the US House as Congressman Ryan has laid out his five conditions as this just got released courtesy of the Huffington Post:

BREAKING NEWS

Wednesday October 21, 2015

House Conservatives Support Paul Ryan For Speaker, But Won't Formally Endorse Him

Rep. Paul Ryan, R- Wis., speaks at a news conference following a House GOP meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ryan told GOP lawmakers that he will run for speaker, but only if they embrace him by week's end as their consensus candidate, an ambitious bid to impose unity on a disordered and divided House. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

It will be an interesting few days especially as this interesting take on Congressman Ryan's views was received at our Virtual Studios:

Paul Ryan Wants to Shut Down the Government, Permanently by Dean Baker Following Ryan's plan, in 35 years we would have nothing left over after paying for the military.

 

Notations On Our World: A "Virtual Sweep" On #uselectionwatch; #Iran; #Syria (w/an Update on @VP)

As we went to press, we have been assessing the overnight polls on the US political scene.   It is quite startling that Donald Trump continues to top the polls with 100 Days until the New Hampshire Primary.   Jeb Bush continues to suffer mightly in the Polls.      There is a conceivable path that Donald Trump may make it to the nomination as the so-called establishment candidates continue to suffer.   This is as Hillary Clinton continues to dominate the Polls on the Democratic Side.   Here is the latest on the @RealClear Politics "Polls of Polls":

Battle for the White HouseRCP Poll Averages

National	Iowa	New Hampshire
Trump27.2	Trump22.3	Trump28.0
Carson21.3	Carson16.7	Carson14.3
Rubio9.0	Fiorina10.3	Bush9.0
Cruz8.0	Cruz8.3	Rubio8.5
Bush7.0	Rubio7.7	Fiorina8.0

National	Iowa	New Hampshire
Clinton47.0	Clinton38.7	Clinton36.4
Sanders25.4	Sanders27.0	Sanders36.2
Biden17.3	Biden17.0	Biden12.0

General Election Match-Ups

• Biden45.8

  Rubio41.5

  Biden+4.3

  Clinton46.5

  Paul42.5

  Clinton+4.0

  Clinton49.0

  Huckabee41.5

  Clinton+7.5

• Clinton45.7

  Trump43.2

  Clinton+2.5

  Bush44.8

  Clinton43.2

  Bush+1.6

  Carson48.2

  Clinton43.4

  Carson+4.

Mr Ryan has also stepped up with a willingness to serve as Speaker.  He has laid out five conditions--one of them being a Party of Proposition vs. a Party of Opposition.   It will be an interesting few days in the US House.  

(Update:  The House Freedom caucus has yet to endorse Mr. Ryan.    The Vice President decided not to run.     This is as we saw this which needs to be analyzed and will be one of the number of upcoming projects:

On #uselection watch w/this view: Democrats are in denial. Their party is actually in deep trouble. https://t.co/TRQpnrs6su via @voxdotcom

— The Daily Outsider (@DailyOutsider) October 22, 2015

Beyond the US Political scene, there is a startling development that occurred overnight:




Bashar Assad has met Vladimir Putin in Moscow.    This is quite startling as Russia has increased its' signficant support and the war continues with no end in sight.    This is as Canada has withdrawn from the Anti-Daesh Coailition.     

 It was also of keen interest as we reviewed reports out of Iran on this as Khameini visited the Family of General Hamedani who was killed which we reported on earlier:



 It is also of note that Ayatollah Khameini, Iran's Supreme Guide (Also known as Supreme Leader in the West), issued a directive to the  Government to get the deal implemented now that the Majlis approved and the Guadian Council ascended.  The Website of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, underscored the "important" nature of the directive in its' headline.

Our team has also been  continuing to assess the increased violence in Israel.  The stabbings are continuing and as we went to press, A Female Israeli Soldier was stabbed and the assailant was shot dead.    This is as the war of words continues between the Israeli Prime Minister and the Palestine President continues--also epiotmized by the claim by the Israeli Prime Minister that the Grand Mufti of Jeruselaum planted the idea of the Holocaust in the maniac Hitler's head.

Challenging days as we continue our work in #Outsiders.....

Notations on Our World: An #Outsider Newsflash On the Latest in the Middle East

Palestinians Protesting in Gaza (Source: The Guardian of London/AFP) 

The UN Secretary General has made a surprise visit to Israel to try and calm the violence that seems to have no end in sight.   Israel has authorized shoot-to-kill orders as Palestinians continue the demonstrations.   In the meantime, the blame game is continuing as Israel's Prime Minister came out and noted how it is all the Palestinian's fault even though Israel is the occupying power.

As Israel and Palestine continue their defacto war, there is Egypt.   We have been monitoring the situation in Egypt as Egpytians have gone to the Poll for the long-delayed Parliamentary Elections.   There is no oppostion and the turn-around is evident.   The Prime Minister gave civil servants time off so that turnout can increase.      We're also assessing Libya as the much heralded peace plan has fallen apart.     The Yemen Inferno continues to burn ever more as the Saudi-Led Coailition continues its' relentless bombing campaign while the controvesy over the hajj stampede continues as unofficial figures complied by the Associated Press recently noted over 2100 had perished.  Iran had the highest with over 400.

We have also been assessing Syria.   We found it a welcome development that US and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on conduct over Syrian Airspace.    Forces of Bashar Assad have been advancing on Aleppo to help secure vital strategic areas with Russian Support.  As we went to press, though, we received reports of Russian Soldiers being killed on the battle field.  This is as at least one more Senior Iranian General had also died on the front.    

There seems to be no end in sight to any of the wars in the Middle East--which is shown as the flow of migrats to Europe continues.   The number of refugees arriving by sea to Greece has hit over 500,000 alone.   Such faces are becoming too common especially as we saw live reports on the situation in Slovenia and Austria: