January 1, Getting Ready for War with Iran

This Day in History | 2007

Nancy Pelosi becomes the first female Speaker of the House.

Good morning middle Americans.

I spoke at length yesterday to one of my most trusted sources. He is a former CIA case officer with decades of experience working in the Middle East. He told me “effectively we are now in a hot war with Iran”.   After the US strike on Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, Iran will have no choice but to respond.  The questions are how, and when not if. 

Also Congressional Democrats are miffed they didn’t get a heads up before the strike, and they are now suddenly interested in Congressional approval for these kinds of strikes.  In case you forgot, they were not as concerned about this type of stuff when President Obama was the commander in chief. 

Finally today, a tragic story out of South Carolina. A father and daughter were both shot dead, mistaken for deer.  

Read all about it.

– Fraser Dixon

US to Deploy Thousands of Additional Troops to Middle East Following Soleimani Killing

(CNN) – The US will deploy thousands of additional troops to the Middle East as tensions with Iran mount following the airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani, a US defense official told CNN.

The additional troops will come from the Immediate Response Force of the 82nd Airborne Division. CNN has previously reported that these forces had been placed on prepare-to-deploy orders and would be sent to the region if the situation merited it.

Following the disturbance at the US embassy in Baghdad, the US deployed 750 troops from the same unit and said that additional deployments were possible.

Read more here

Trump Briefed Graham on Airstrike, but Kept Dems in the Dark

(TPM) – While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) rails against President Donald Trump for approving a fatal attack on Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani without consulting Congress, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said that he got a special early briefing while golfing with Trump in Florida.

“I was briefed about the potential operation when I was down in Florida,” Graham said Friday morning on “Fox and Friends.” “I appreciate being brought into the orbit. I really appreciate President Trump letting the world know you cannot kill an American without  (sic) impunity.”

Graham was spotted golfing with Trump earlier this week at the President’s West Palm Beach golf club.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), a member of the Gang of Eight, was not briefed on the attack before it happened, according to HuffPost. Pelosi is demanding a full congressional briefing before the administration makes any more moves.

Find out more here

Father and Daughter Mistaken for Deer; Shot Dead

(WBTW) – A man and his 9-year-old daughter were hunting Wednesday when they were mistaken for deer and killed, South Carolina authorities said.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating the death of the two hunters following the hunting accident on New Year’s Day.

According to DNR, four hunters were attempting to move deer, also known as driving deer, on Barracada Road in Walterboro when two hunters were shot after being mistaken for a deer.

Both hunters died at the scene from injuries sustained in the shooting.

Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey later identified the victims as 9-year-old Lauren Drawdy and 30-year-old Kim Drawdy.

Find out more here