General James Mattis is anticipated to deliver his first Pentagon briefing since becoming Secretary of Defense. Mattis is anticipated to discuss Syria, Russia, North Korea and China and the U.S. military contingencies toward that end. Anticipated start time 3:30pm ET
Update: Full Video Added
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…”I think what we have to look at here is a policy decision by the United States. There is a limit to what we can do. And when you look at what happened with this chemical attack we knew that we could not stand passive on this. But it was not a statement that we could enter full-fledged, full-bore, into the most complex civil war – probably waging on the planet, at this time.”
~ Defense Secretary James Mattis
Live Stream Link – Alternate Live Stream
I sense a lot more camaraderie and chemistry between Trump and Mattis vs. Trump and McMaster. This should be riveting.
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I went out and found some of the funniest memes about the dear leader and put them together in this video post:
https://jennyhatch.com/2017/04/11/kim-jong-un-statesman-altruist-and-all-around-good-egg-the-best-memes/
Jenny Hatch
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I don’t trust McMaster (Petreaus is behind him)
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I see two chairs. Is somebody joining Mattis? Dunford, perhaps?
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General Votel
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US Central Command
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I love a man in uniform as much as any woman, but that is just overboard! NOT impressive.
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Too much jewelry, Investing?
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Dang. It stopped
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Refresh, HBD!
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I am completely avoiding all the sites I used to enjoy going to before the Syria strike because of all the overreaction BS going on.
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You will find in-depth research, sound analysis, and truth here, AM77 – no need to venture far from this site – commenters here keep abreast of the misinformation elsewhere as well – Welcome to the Treehouse, AM7!
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I know!
The treehouse of common sense. It’s funny how situations put pressure on people like a science experiment designed to break and expose human natural responses etc. The ones that fail it are surprisingly no different with behaviour than the looney left. Just waiting for autistic screeching. Lets see on the build up to Kim’s grandfather’s birthday.
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So true, Macho! Unfortunately, many are too quick to judge before all of the evidence is in – how many times have you shaken your head in disbelief – for me, it has been too many times – Melania was correct – as a family, the Trumps are strong – what they have endured while campaigning shouldn’t have happened to anyone – and yet, they were stalwart in their resolve – Thank God!
The belligerence is constant – the ignorance is unconscionable – and the idiocy is unbelievable – Sean Spicer sees it every day at the Press Conference – and he has the patience of a saint – so glad God is in control – and He has heard our prayers – because we sure need His help!
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I agree, too much disinformation and too much REEEEEEEing on other sites. Sundance and his team actually engage in real journalism.
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Yep! I know how you feel Am77. But I even started weeks BEFORE this ordeal. You can always tell your true friends when times get tough. The tough get going and the whimps whine and place blame.
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Even though Sundance Explained to us how Trump’s strike on Syria was a warning to all side not to use chemical weapons, which I respect. The Problem is that the most likely explanation is now coming out. The US was informed of an upcoming strike on an ISIS weapons depot by the Russians, Syria hit that depot with a conventional strike. Basically the one thing all the experts are in agreement with, which is something I pointed out the day after was that it wasn’t Sarin or the First Responders in the video would also be dead because they were not wearing protective anything while handling the victims! More will come out, but this is pretty conclusive from former weapons Inspectors:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-04-11/intelligence-and-military-sources-who-warned-about-wmd-lies-iraq-war-now-say-assad-d
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No comment on whether or not Russia was complicit in the Chemical Weapons Attack – referred only to Assad with respect to past and present behavior/actions –
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Mattis refers to USS Carl Vinson as she. A military man
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And a Marine in particular.
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Lol, Mattis answer, NO.
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Press is behaving itself and asking relevant questions.
This is a different group than the Numpty Heads that attend Spicers PCs, right?
Cuz they seem waaaay smarter.
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That is my impression too. Relevant questions, professional behavior.
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The alt news sites are creating a void that maybe msm reporters see as a chance to redeem. Oh the irony!
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Maybe they are just smart enough to be intimidated by alpha male Mattis as opposed to mere civilians.
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I was thinking the same thing. Definitely not the clown show Spicer gets to deal with at his presser. There were a lot of thoughtful questions asked in a respectful manner. I’m shocked I tell you.
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Mattis is amazing. We are in great hands. No question the chemical attacks had to be stopped. We have troops embedded and it posed a huge threat as we destroy ISIS, provide safezones, and weaken Assad, a bad dude. Lots a moving parts, we have great leadership and we can thank Trump for this. American exceptionalism is back.
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I just loved the way SecDef Mattis started this news briefing –
“I come in peace. I didn’t bring my sidearm. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you make fake news out of what I’m saying, I’ll kill you all.”
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He is definitely a man who does not mince words, Carl! lol
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That’s exactly how it went, lol.
The presstitutes suddenly remembered they are supposed to ask relevant questions and act as adults because REPUTATION.
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Great to hear from the horse’s mouth… looks like people got their panties in a wad for no reason whatsoever. This is what they call a “one off” like my husband said. Thanks for posting the videos.
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Mattis: Chemical weapons or a barrel bomb
Still crosses a “real red line”
Such a refreshing change from “leading from behind”
Leading from the front…big difference!
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is there some evidence I can check out?
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Sure . . . as soon as you get the same high-level clearance for intel as the president has!!!
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Would you believe the evidence if he provided it?
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Of course I would. I voted for Trump. MAGA
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http://www.lifezette.com/polizette/white-house-lays-evidence-chemical-attack/?utm_content=bufferf18b6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=laura_ingraham_buffer
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here is a quote from that site: “In that context, you can see that the chemical weapons attack could fit within the flow of a punch-counterpunch, operational punch-counterpunch.” Get real, This thing was somewhat publicly started by ivanka. Wasn’t she complaining about the attack on dailymail the day before trump condemned it?
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Just remember that the intelligence community operating in Syria has been in coordination with John McCain (and others like Evan McMullin – former CIA). There is a lot of evidence that US backed “rebels” are actually Al-Qaeda and there are images of John McCain and McMullin (then working with the CIA) posing for a picture with militants who ended up being part of ISIS in Syria. They’re also pictured with Muslim Brotherhood figures.
Just remember the facts:
* Assad condemned the chemical attack after it occurred.
* Putin is asking the UN to investigate the chemical attack
* Putin and Assad are inviting investigators to visit the airfield targeted by US missile strikes to verify that no chemical weapons are/were stored there.
* Strategically, Assad had NOTHING to gain by causing an international incident by using chemical weapons – the Syrian Gov’t is currently winning the Syrian civil war
* Putin cited his own intelligence sources by noting that the attack appears to be a “False Flag” attack and that more attacks are coming.
IF (big *IF*) Syrian regime change is the strategy and investment with the western world, and *IF* the CIA and other agencies are responsible or tasked with achieving this goal, then it is *LIKELY* that the intelligence community would feed the Pentagon and White House false or manipulated information in order to pigeon-hole the White House into a predictable response. In other words, regardless of who actually conducted the chemical attack, the IC can manipulate the response by manipulating information about *WHO* conducted the attack.
Just note that a chemical attack attributed to Assad – whether or not that is actually the case – requires Trump to respond with force. To do nothing would cause beaucoup problems for Trump. Keep in mind that the chemical attack occurred only days after the Trump administration indicated that the Syrian people would be responsible for determining a replacement for Syria – a major policy change favorable to Assad. Note that Assad is actually popular with the Syrian people (generally).
Note that the Trump response (highly targeted attacks against infrastructure and equipment) suggests that the US does not want to directly escalate against the Syrian regime. Mattis noted that the goal is still the destruction of ISIS in Syria.
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I realize that some of the facts listed above require us to trust foreign, and sometimes adversarial, intelligence. I am not naive.
However, before discounting this intelligence, keep in mind that our OWN intelligence community has recommended, quite spectacularly falsely, that Trump may have colluded with the Russians and that the Russians’ interference in our election is the reason why Trump is President.
We should be quite careful to disbelieve this obviously false information but then implicitly believe their information coming out of Syria about Assad’s role in the chemical attack.
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Links supporting your facts?
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Sure:
Iran condemns the chemical attacks (which is significant):
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/5/iran-condemns-chemical-attack-wont-blame-assad/
Assad/Syria denies it used chemical weapons and condemns the chemical attack:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-04-06/syria-denies-condemns-use-chemical-weapons
Putin calls the attack a “False Flag” attack and indicates that more attacks will be coming – Syria indicates willingness to have inspectors to verify that no weapons were stored at the airbase:
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/04/11/putin-syria-chemical-attack-was-false-flag-more-provocations-are-coming/
http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/news/national/latest-spicer-ivanka-trump-weighed-syria-article-1.3042746
Here is a photo of John McCain with ISIS leaders in Syria several years ago:
http://www.groundreport.com/mccain-blasts-obama-for-half-hearted-bombing-campaign-against-isis-terrorists-urges-president-to-arm-so-called-moderate-opposition-fighters-in-syria/
You don’t need many facts to know that this whole situation stinks to high heaven. All you need to ask yourself is the following:
What STRATEGIC advantage did Assad gain in causing an international incident by attacking his own people with chemical weapons? Why would Assad seek to gain this strategic advantage only days after the US signaled that regime change is no-longer official US policy toward Syria?
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Iran has had its belly full of chemical weapon attacks by Saddam Hussein. I don’t see Iran and Russia as supporting any such stock pile. Assad has no reason to use such weapons given all the allies set against ISIS.
Not for one minute do I buy the US intel story. A plane dropping a bomb, gas subsequently released does not constitute proof.
I hope this whole business will be cleared up. And I don’t trust our intel agencies. Sorry. Zero trust.
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100%
I believe Trump acted on intelligence from the same intelligence community that is accusing him of being elected due to hacking from Russia, and has been leaking all sorts of anti-Trump intel, and has been surveiling him since 2015.
Everybody needs to think about that LONG AND HARD.
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The problem is…..(And I still can’t seem to get this across to some of our Congress-criminals……..) Just because, by all rights you should be able to trust that info that is being presented to you, because it’s from the leader in some experienced group, you can’t always…….some have their own agenda. Gotta weed those out. It’s a long process.
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My position is it does not matter who used chemical weapons. Sundance position is it does not matter who used them.
My opinion is that it was not Assad. Many others have come out saying for Assad to use chemical weapons does not make sense.
Trump got a free shot and used it. We are better off for it. It will probably come out later that it was not Assad. Trump can produce a briefing saying it was and he acted on best information available.
Truth does not matter at this point because you cannot put the 59 missiles back in the frigates. Trump is not going to be impeached over it.
Proving it was not Assad is a waste of time.
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General Mattis might take a page out of General Dempsey’s handling of the September 19, 2013 Chemical attack, in a suburb of Damascus called Ghouta, which generated comparable pressure on President Obama to retaliate against Bashir Assad.
Now General Dempsey had a stroke of luck, but one which could be duplicated by General Mattis with little difficulty. The United Nations / Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( UN / OPCW ) had arrived in Syria shortly before the Damascus attack. These chemical specialists collected site soil samples, that were then examined by the British Government’s Defense Science Laboratory at Porton Down, Wiltshire. The tests revealed that the chemical used did not possess the “signature” of known Syrian or (old) Iraqi stockpiles shipped to Syria in 2003, creating a question about who had really launched the horrific attack?
Rather than attempt to assign blame, a hopeless endeavor, General Dempsey worked with President Obama to convert a default reaction of bombing Syria into a brokered international agreement whereby Syria transferred stockpiles of lethal chemical weapons to the US Navy and our other partners for destruction.
We are approaching 1 week since the recent chemical attack in Idlib province. Thanks to an agreement between the US – Russia – Syria, General Mattis is aware that Syria intended to bomb an old-quarry / now rebel depot near Khan Shaykhun. Syria also provided the US with their airplane’s flight path. But General Mattis has still not stated what was actually dropped that morning.
General Mattis should invite the UN / OPCW to collect soil samples in the old-quarry and Khan Shaykhun, for shipment to the British Defense Science Laboratory at Porton Down.
Of all weeks in the year, Christians will re-witness this week the condemnation, torture and crucifixion of LOVE — based on false statements. An opportune moment and challenge to check the veracity of statements made in the past week.
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Excellent presentation. Also the Q’s fanning the BIG WAR mode were tamped down. The work to defeat ISIS remains unchanged, the strike on the AF base was separate and done simply b/c use of chemical warfare has been banned for 100 years. Notably, even in WWII and the Korean War, gasses were NOT used on the battlefield.
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Do you ever get the feeling that BIG MEDIA always seems to pray and push BIG WAR because it’s good for sales, clicks, and ratings?
I’ve had that feeling since the 1991 Gulf War.
People worry about the Military Industrial Intelligence Complex pushing for more war for profit and power. I say they Media Propaganda Complex is just as greedy for blood money.
It’s all quite disheartening at times.
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But… but… but… muh invasion?!
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The words of Mad Dog Mattis should hopefully convince all the concern trolls that our President has no intention of involving this country into the quagmire of the Middle East. But the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated by our President. I stand with our President and his policy.
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The Defense and National Security journalists actually seem to know stuff and have some understanding of tactics, strategy and defense policy. Unlike the ideological, agenda journalists covering the White House and Congress.
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“Mad Dog” = “Sane Honey Badger” in fact.
And even if he was teddy bonkers or an active tool of sinister forces, the King of the Jungle is still president. 🙂
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I’m sure the soldier in the picture above is just following protocol. The bling on US General officer’s uniforms gets more embarrassing every month. The old style US Cavalry fore and aft shoulder patches are pure Hollywood and the sleeve marks potentially could end up meeting the patches, I guess. The only thing missing is some fluro chrome racing stripes.
Check out an Israeli General, hardly even a uniform tie to be seen.
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Soooo…how will Assad be ousted?
Gently into the night?
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It’s entirely up to him. The use of chem weapons should make him a leper to the world, but I’m sure he’d be welcomed in Iran.
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This as Sec. Tillerson said is about defeating ISIS, Stabilizing country and then using the local and international community to affect a political settlement…It doesn’t make sense to take out Assad immediately, it will be a calculated process to the extent possible…
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Via Putin.
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But But Ingraham,Coulter,Savage,Jones and a bunch of other cheap talkers say it ain’t so…
Nicely done General…We are in seasoned hands. A ton of thought went into this action, unlike the folks who open their yaps and will never admit they are wrong about all this…
MAGA
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Add Lou Dobbs to this list as well. He was atrocious last night – ranting and raving and being very rude to his guests.
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I usually like Lou a lot, but yesterday was embarrassing. He kept repeating that we attacked a defenseless airfield. Ummm… it was an airfield from which planes carrying chemical weapons took off. That’s offensive. We destroyed, I heard, 20 planes. That’s the message to Assad. He can’t afford to lose 20 planes. That’ll make him think twice before he uses chem weapons again. Next time, we could target most of his air fleet, if we chose to. Our military keeps track of things like that.
Pres Trump has access to data that is a lot less subjective than some might think. He’s not just reading words on a page. Trust him to make these calls and trust Mattis and TRex to leverage the message delivered by those missiles to bring Russia around.
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http://www.lifezette.com/polizette/white-house-lays-evidence-chemical-attack/?utm_content=bufferf18b6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=laura_ingraham_buffer
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I have deep respect for General Mattis. And zero respect for the mainstream media who ask stupid questions at every press conference. So thankful we get to hear the information directly from the Secretary directly.
Thanks, Sundance. This is a banner day of a banner year, and I learn so much from the articles posted here. The comments, too.
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Please go to 12:30 in the first video: at 12:47 Mattis is showing a couple of tells that he’s not telling the truth regarding knowing that Assad was the culprit.
This “reading body language” of course is NOT a scientific field, and I have no qualification to speak of, but still, it’s interesting…
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