Stories We’re Watching

White House considers extraditing Fethullah Gulen to ease pressure on Saudis as Bipartisan Senate bill targets Saudis for Khashoggi & Yemen

The White House is considering the extradition of Fethullah Gulen to allay Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s daily assault on Saudi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the Khashoggi murder and coverup. Gulen is a Turkish spiritual leader, US Green Card holder, and former Erdogan ally. President Erdogan has sought his extradition since their relationship soured over the 2013 Gezi Park Protests and has blamed Gulen for the failed coup in 2016. Meanwhile, in the US Senate, six senators have introduced a bill that does the just the opposite of an extradition. The bill seeks to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for their actions in Yemen and in the Khashoggi case.

• NBC: To Ease Turkish Pressure on Saudis Over Killing, White House Weighs Expelling Erdogan Foe
• Business Insider: Trump administration’s reported effort to ‘barter’ a US resident to
• Middle East Eye: Trump weighs Gulen extradition to ease Turkish pressure on Riyadh
• Axios: Bipartisan Senate bill targets Saudis for Khashoggi and Yemen
• Menendez Senate Website: Menendez, Young, Reed, Graham, Shaheen, Collins Introduce Comprehensive Saudi Arabia Accountability and Yemen Act

Prime Minister Theresa May’s Government Likely to Face a No Confidence Vote

After suffering numerous setbacks since Wednesday’s announcement of a draft Brexit deal, PM Theresa May now faces calls for a vote of no confidence and market turbulence. Yesterday, as Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and other ministers resigned over the deal, the pound sterling fell nearly 2% against the US dollar and euro–the most volatile swing since the Brexit referendum in June 2016. The 500+ page draft deal is yet to pass the House of Commons, and many speculate that it may never do so given the vague customs zone terms. The draft allows for the UK to remain in the EU’s customs union indefinitely, which Brexiteers are unlikely to back.

• Wall Street Journal: UK’s Theresa May Musters Some Support Despite Deeper Division
• The Guardian: Rebel Tory MPs press for vote of no confidence in Theresa May
• The Telegraph: Brexit deal latest: Theresa May appoints Stephen Barclay as Brexit
• CNN: Draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom… official, full text

Bolsonaro appoints climate change denier Ernesto Araújo as foreign minister

Brazil’s president-elect Bolsonaro has announced via twitter the appointment of Ernesto Araújo, far-right politician and blogger, as Brazil’s foreign minister—the country’s top post. Bolsonaro’s campaign pledges to rollback rainforest and indigenous rights protections have alarmed environmentalists and indigenous communities living in the Amazon rainforest. The appointment of a climate change denier has stoked those criticisms. Residents fear that such policies will bring unrest to the Amazon region. Bolsonaro’s other appointees have no less controversial; two weeks ago he appointed Sergio Moro as Minister of justice.

• Voice of America: Pro-Trump Diplomat to Become Brazil’s Foreign Minister
• The Guardian: Brazil’s new foreign minister believes climate change is a Marxist plot
• BuzzFeed: Brazil’s New Foreign Minister Has A Pro-Trump Blog
• The Brazilian Report: Who is the future head of Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs?

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US Hits Back at China’s Espionage Operations with DoJ’s ‘China Initiative’

After indicting several Chinese firms over alleged economic espionage, the US Department of Justice plans to launch a ‘China Initiative’. Citing rapid increases in the already-rampant theft of American intellectual property, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions vowed to “Develop an enforcement strategy concerning non-traditional collectors (e.g., researchers in labs, universities, and the defense industrial base) that are being coopted into transferring technology contrary to U.S. interests.” In the official DoJ release, Assistant Attorney for National Security, John C. Demers, added: “China wants the fruits of America’s brainpower to harvest the seeds of its planned economic dominance.”

• Lexology: US Justice Department Announces China Trade Secret Initiative
• Real Clear Politics: America’s Overt Payback for China’s Covert Espionage
• Dept. of Justice: Attorney General Jeff Session’s China Initiative Fact Sheet
• Voice of America: US Launches Initiative to Fight Chinese Economic Espionage

Too Little Too Late: Finally a Khmer Rouge Genocide Verdict

Earlier today, in a UN-backed, international tribunal, two former leaders of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime were convicted of genocide. To date, these are the only verdicts delivered in relation to the Khmer Rouge’s 1970’s genocide of Cambodians. Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime is responsible for the slaughter of millions of ‘intellectuals’ in an attempt to create an idealized agrarian society. Conservative estimates put the number of killed at just over two million. Regional experts highlight disruptive effects and challenges to trust building which stem directly from failing to hold Khmer Rouge leadership accountable.

• BBC: Khmer Rouge verdict: ‘I live next to my torturer’
• NPR: Verdict On Khmer Rouge Leaders Is First To Officially Acknowledge …
• BBC: Khmer Rouge leaders found guilty of Cambodia genocide
• The Phnom Penh Post: ‘Historic’ Khmer Rouge tribunal Case 002/2 verdict to be delivered
• Khmer Times: Khmer Rouge Tribunal to announce verdict today

Botched Israeli Undercover Mission Fallout: Israel headed for early elections

On Sunday Israel will set a date for early elections following a series of events triggered by Sunday’s botched Israeli undercover mission in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu faces increased criticism over his handling of the Gaza events. On Wednesday, Israel Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned over the Gaza ceasefire, leaving PM Netanyahu with a one seat lead in Israel’s Knesset Assembly. Since then, PM Netanyahu’s coalition partners have called for early elections, which analysts say he is likely to win.

• The Guardian: Israel set for early elections after cabinet breaks up, source says
• Haaretz: ‘Historic Mistake’: Netanyahu Warns Against Early Elections
• New York Times: If Gaza Brings Down Netanyahu’s Government, Can He Rise Again?
• The Jerusalem Post: Early election inevitable – but Netanyahu denying it

From Deep State Radio

BLOG: TODAY’S ROBBER BARONS WEAR SNEAKERS

No one who has worked for any length of time in or around Silicon Valley was under the illusion tech companies were somehow more enlightened than old school corporations, ping pong tables and lap pools aside. But it is clear. Greed and surpassing arrogance have long run rampant. Continue

DEEPTECH: GENETIC TESTING IS A TERRIBLE IDEA; HERE’S WHY

Genetic tests and databases are increasingly under fire for privacy violations and racial biases. Researchers lament that some disease-risk tests don’t work at all on Asians, Hispanics, or Black Americans. Others have accused companies like 23andMe of fueling and profiteering off tests to ‘prove’ racial supremacy. A new tech startup, Nebula Genomics, will give away free genome reports if users answer…  CONTINUE IN THIS WEEK’S *NEW* DEEPTECH

FP INTERRUPTED: WOMEN & WAR, PEACE, AND SECURITY

So, about that trope that national security and defense is a “man’s” issue (we see you GQ 👀). Last week’s midterms in the U.S. blew that out of the water. Among the record number of women coming into Congress this January, many also happen to be national security and defense experts. READ MORE

Consider helping Jeff and his family, who lost everything in the Woolsey fire.  Click here to visit their GoFundMe page.