US News
- As Chicago and New York police officers cut back on proactive policing, the crime rate fell. [Link]
- The number of substantiated claims of sexual and personal misconduct in the Army increased over the past year. [Link]
- At a private fundraising dinner in Florida, Trump had two war criminals he pardoned as special guests. [Link]
- 175 Saudi flight training in the US has been grounded. [Link]
2020 NDAA
- The 2020 NDAA will increase defense spending by $30 billion. The bill gives a 3% raise to soldiers and 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees. Earlier versions of the bill defunded US assistance to Saudi Arabia’s war in Yemen and prevented air to ground weapon sales to Saudi. [Link]
- The 2020 NDAA includes making the Space Force the 6th branch of the US armed forces. The NDAA gives the space force $74 million to set up new headquarters. [Link]
FBI IG Report
- The FBI IG report identified 51 cases procedure violations on the FISA applications and made nine false assertions to the FISA court. [Link]
- The US Attorney for Connecticut – who is also investigating the origins of Russiagate – says his report disagrees with some parts of the FBI IG report. [Link]
Israel
- The US House votes in favor of a resolution that condemns Israel’s annexation of the West Bank. [Link]
- Israel’s two largest political parties agree to hold new elections on March 3rd. Israel has had two elections in the past year, with neither party getting enough votes for a ruling coalition. [Link]
- Netanyahu repeats his plan to annex the Jordan Valley. The valley makes up 25% of the West Bank. [Link]
Middle East
- Iran’s foreign minister says his country is ready for a full prisoner swap with the US. [Link]
- Rockets hit an Iraqi base that houses US troops. Six Iraqi soldiers were injured in the attack. [Link]
- Russian forces have entered Raqqa, Syria. Raqqa was the capital of the Islamic State before being liberated by the American and Syrian Kurdish forces. [Link]
- A deal between the Saudi backed government of Yemen and a southern separatist group expires without the sides forming a joint government. The lack of a deal could lead to new fighting in southern Yemen. [Link]
- Turkey says a recent agreement signed with Libya will allow joint exploration operations in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Turkey plans news drilling operations as well. [Link]
