Trump’s National Security Aides to Meet on Possible Iran Options

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/world/middleeast/trump-iran-saudi-arabia.html

WASHINGTON — Senior national security officials from across the government are scheduled to meet Thursday to refine a list of potential targets to strike in Iran, should President Trump order a military retaliation for missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil fields last weekend, officials said.

Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are to present the updated options to Mr. Trump at a National Security Council meeting scheduled for Friday, a senior American official said.

In advance of being presented with the newest set of options, Mr. Trump has sent different signals on his intentions. He has threatened to order “the ultimate option” of a strike on Iran to punish the nation for its behavior, but also has made clear his continued opposition to ordering the United States into another war in the Middle East.

The Pentagon is advocating military strikes that one senior official described as at the lower end of options. The official said that any retaliation could focus on more clandestine operations — actions that military planners predict would not prompt an escalation by Iran.

Watchdog Refuses to Detail Whistle-Blower Complaint About Trump

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/us/politics/intelligence-whistle-blower-complaint-trump.html

WASHINGTON — The internal watchdog for American spy agencies declined repeatedly in a briefing on Thursday to disclose to lawmakers the content of a potentially explosive whistle-blower complaint that is said to involve a discussion between President Trump and a foreign leader, according to two people familiar with the briefing.

During a private session on Capitol Hill, Michael Atkinson, the inspector general of the intelligence community, told lawmakers he was unable to confirm or deny anything about the substance of the complaint, including whether it involved the president, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the closed-door conversation. The meeting was still underway.

The complaint, which prompted a standoff between Congress and Mr. Trump’s top intelligence official, involves a commitment that Mr. Trump made in a communication with another world leader, according to a person familiar with the complaint. The Washington Post first reported the nature of the discussion. The acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, has refused to give the complaint to Congress, as is generally required by law, the latest in a series of fights over information between the Democratic-led House and the White House.

Few details of the whistle-blower complaint are known, including the identity of the world leader. And it is not obvious how a communication between Mr. Trump and a foreign leader could meet the legal standards for a whistle-blower complaint that the inspector general would deem an “urgent concern.”

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
Another Fake News story out there - It never ends! Virtually anytime I speak on the phone to a foreign leader, I understand that there may be many people listening from various U.S. agencies, not to mention those from the other country itself. No problem!
10:47 AM · Sep 19, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
2.8K
Retweets

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1174696521310363649

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
....Knowing all of this, is anybody dumb enough to believe that I would say something inappropriate with a foreign leader while on such a potentially “heavily populated” call. I would only do what is right anyway, and only do good for the USA!
10:47 AM · Sep 19, 2019·Twitter for iPhone

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1174696521914339328

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump

Presidential Harassment!

10:51 AM · Sep 19, 2019·Twitter for iPhone

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1174697450948497408

Maggie Haberman
@maggieNYT

POTUS lawyers file suit, per Sekulow:
“In response to the subpoenas issued by the New York County District Attorney, we have filed a lawsuit this morning in Federal Court on behalf of the President in order to address the significant constitutional issues at stake in this case.“

10:23 AM · Sep 19, 2019·Twitter for iPhone

https://twitter.com/maggieNYT/status/1174690407764152321

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump

All Polls, and some brand new Polls, show very little support for impeachment. Such a waste of time, especially with sooo much good that could be done, including prescription drug price reduction, healthcare, infrastructure etc.

9:42 PM · Sep 18, 2019·Twitter for iPhone

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1174499065335144448

Read the memo from Brett Kavanaugh to Judge Starr

The National Archives on Monday released this memo written in 1998 by Brett Kavanaugh, now a nominee for the US Supreme Court, in which he laid out in explicit language the kind of questions that President Clinton should be asked by the Independent Counsel's office.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/politics/read-the-memo-from-brett-kavanaugh-to-judge-starr/2322/

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump

Terrence K. Williams, “You can’t impeach Trump for being a winner!”

8:21 AM · Sep 18, 2019·Twitter for iPhone

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1174297506986909697

Tony Posnanski
@tonyposnanski

Replying to @realDonaldTrump

Tony Posnanski, “Fuck you, fuck your oldest son, fuck Eric, fuck Ivanka, fuck Melania, fuck Mike Pence, fuck Doug Collins, and then go fuck yourselves again. And IMPEACH THE MOTHERFUCKER!”

8:23 AM · Sep 18, 2019·Twitter for iPhone

https://twitter.com/tonyposnanski/status/1174298006419595264

Thorsten
@Airvooocht
Replying to @realDonaldTrump

But you should impeach Trump for being a traitor, money launderer, obstructer, liar and un-American loser.

8:26 AM · Sep 18, 2019·Twitter Web App

https://twitter.com/Airvooocht/status/1174298738526949376

Lindsey Graham
@LindseyGrahamSC

Replying to @LindseyGrahamSC and @VP

The measured response by President @realDonaldTrump regarding the shooting down of an American drone was clearly seen by the Iranian regime as a sign of weakness.

3:58 PM · Sep 17, 2019·TweetDeck

https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1174049909558906880

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump

No Lindsey, it was a sign of strength that some people just don’t understand!

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1174112317782413317

“Mister Chairman, as you know I am counsel for Mr. Lewandowski—” began the attorney.

“You are not a witness and you should not be seated at that table,” cut in House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) sharply.

“I understand that,” said Lewandowski’s attorney. “I will leave after I register a formal protest based upon the debate that I heard. These seem to be unauthorized questions and I know you choose your words carefully—”

“Mr. Lewandowski will answer all questions,” said Nadler. “If he has a legitimate privilege to assert, he may of course assert the legitimate privilege, other than that he is under subpoena. He will answer all questions. This is being done pursuant to the committee’s rules and of his counsel doesn’t like it, you don’t interpret our rules, with all due respect.”

https://www.rawstory.com/2019/09/watch-lewandowskis-lawyer-freaks-out-tries-to-block-congress-from-asking-any-further-questions/