The Dossier: Trump shuts down PLO "embassy"; Iran threatens US troops

Trump admin to shut down PLO’s Washington “embassy”

National security adviser John Bolton is expected to announce later today that the Trump administration is officially shutting down the D.C. diplomatic facility of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Contrary to the opinions of the bureaucrats in the State Department and the bipartisan foreign policy elite, the PLO is today, and always has been, more representative of a terrorist organization than a group that aspires to be a functioning state.

Since its creation, the PLO has been committed to the “liberation of Palestine” (meaning the destruction of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian state). The PLO was established to counter Zionism. Since its founding, the PLO has been labeled responsible for thousands of terrorist attacks, which have occurred not just in Israel and the Palestinian territories, but worldwide. The PLO was once a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, but that label was temporarily removed when former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat agreed to recognize Israel. However, shortly thereafter, he launched an “intifada” (armed struggle) against Israel.

The PLO innovated terrorist attacks of the types seen today from members of terror groups like ISIS and al Qaeda, such as vehicle ramming and plane hijacking.

Moreover, the PLO is responsible for the “Munich Massacre,” when several Palestinian jihadis murdered 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. The PLO also launched the First and Second Intifadas, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of Israelis and Palestinians. During the '60s and '70s, PLO-sponsored Palestinian hijackers took over several airliners in an effort to wage terror against innocent Israelis.

U.S. to assert sovereignty against International Criminal Court (ICC)

In his Monday speech, national security adviser John Bolton is also expected to announce that the Trump administration is considering sanctioning the International Criminal Court, should the ICC conduct an investigation into U.S. activities in Afghanistan.

“The United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court," NSA Bolton will state, according to a transcript of the speech reviewed by Reuters.

“We will consider taking steps in the U.N. Security Council to constrain the court's sweeping powers, including to ensure that the ICC does not exercise jurisdiction over Americans and the nationals of our allies,” the statement continues.

Trump expected to declassify Carter Page, Bruce Ohr docs

President Trump will imminently declassify and publicly release documents related to the Obama administration’s unprecedented spying scandal, which took place mostly during the 2016 presidential campaign and during the transition period.

“President Trump is expected to declassify, as early as this week, documents covering the U.S. government's surveillance of Trump campaign adviser Carter Page and the investigative activities of senior Justice Department lawyer Bruce Ohr, according to allies of the president,” Axios reports.

China pledges to retaliate against U.S. tariffs

Chinese officials warned the U.S. Monday that Beijing is prepared for a trade war, should the Trump administration impose further tariffs on their products.

President Trump said Friday that he was prepared to hit China with another $267 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods.

“If the United States insists on imposing another round of tariffs on Chinese products, China will definitely take countermeasures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told the media Monday.

Iranian regime threatens U.S. forces in the Middle East

High-ranking Tehran regime officials have issued continuous threats against U.S. forces operating in the Middle East.

On Sunday, an Iranian official openly announced that Iran is prepared to arm forces fighting the U.S. in Syria with “military support.”

The move comes just days after U.S. sailors intercepted a massive Iranian arms shipment that was believed to be intended for delivery to Houthi terrorists fighting the civil war in Yemen.

Remembering 9/11

Take a moment tomorrow to remember the thousands of innocent American lives that were lost in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States and to honor the heroes (many of whom paid the ultimate price) who emerged that day to make sure thousands more were saved and able to come home to their families.

It’s also a good time to reflect on our struggle against the radical Islamic ideology that motivated the attacks, what we’ve accomplished in those “long wars,” and the policies the U.S. has implemented since 9/11 — both the good and the bad — to safeguard the nation.

Author’s note: This post originally appeared in CRTV’s The Dossier newsletter. For foreign policy news and views delivered to your inbox twice a week, subscribe here or use the form below!

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