Photo, left: 
JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW
Co-host: Thaddeus McCotter, WJR, The Great Voice of the Great Lakes
Hour One
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 1, Block A: Tom Joscelyn, LongWarJournal.org & FDD ;Bill Roggio, LongWarJournal.org & FDD; in re:  Al Nusrah Front is straight-up al Qaeda; al-Julani gave a press conference, said again that he takes orders from  Ayman al-Zawahri.  He said that the Free Syrian Army doesn't exist as a single organization throughout Syria—some in the north are armed by the West under Jaish al-Fatah. The Obama Adm keeps promising to "decimate" [actual meaning: to kill one in ten; from Roman military] ISIS, but is continuing not to do anything that actually would destroy ISIS.  Its senior leaders are operational, it's got vast treasures of money, are running an effective campaign and have a lot of real estate. A new AQAP video features Ibrahim al Qosi, who was detained at Guantanamo from 2002 until 2012. He was released from Gitmo; transferred to Sudan in July 2012, is now a senior al Q leader in AQIP in Yemen, with Yemen being the home base of many senior al Q top honchos.  His dossier shows clearly that he was very close to and trusted by Osama bin Ladin.  Releasing him was obviously going to send him back to top al Q leadership The White House mumbled hat it can't confirm this – despite a global video al Q has released.
Qosi is now an AQAP leader and spokesman.  Abu Muhammad al Julani, who heads al Qaeda's Al Nusrah Front in Syria, gave an interview that was aired by Orient News TV on Dec. 12. Julani defended his organization's relationship with al Qaeda and discussed the Free Syrian Army, among other topics. http://www.longwarjournal.org
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 1, Block B: Tom Joscelyn, LongWarJournal.org & FDD ;Bill Roggio, LongWarJournal.org & FDD; in re: Taliban overruns district in southern Afghanistan / http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/12/taliban-overruns-district...
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 1, Block C: Gordon Chang, Forbes. com, in re: Why is cheap-labor China opting for expensive robots?  It almost has no choice because long-term manufacturing trends are no friend to Chinese factories.  http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonchang/2015/12/13/how-do-you-say-r2-d2-in-chinese/  ; http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1890626/chinese-rights-lawyer-pu-zhiqiang-stand-trial-social Pu being prosecuted for seven microblogs.
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The SCMP's George Chen, "Mr ShangKong" (Shanghai + Hong Kong), has written an extraordinary last column:
"MR. SHANGKONG" [Shanghai + Hong Kong],  by George Chen; Sunday, 13 December, 2015, South China Morning Post: Last but not least, let’s talk about freedom once again and why it makes a difference for Hong Kong.
This is my seventh year in Hong Kong. If you ask me what really makes Hong Kong different, compared with Shanghai where I was born or the rest of China, the first word which pops up in my mind to this question will be “freedom”.
Freedom is not just a concept but something that all of us can easily understand and experience. Whenever you walk across the border and step onto Shenzhen, Hong Kong’s closest neighbour, you know you need a bit of technical help to keep you connected and informed on your smartphone.
Freedom is not just about information. Freedom is about choice. Uber doesn’t kill traditional taxi business. It’s all about people’s choice.
It’s just like that some prefer coffee while others like to drink tea. Google won’t replace Baidu but you know where you can do better search in English, still the dominant language for information in the vast reaches of cyberspace, especially for our young students when they write their essays.
“I will also observe that if you are here in Hong Kong, and the Chinese government decides to change that, you will miss it. It’s important to stay right upfront. It’s an important aspect for real culture (in Hong Kong),” said Google chairman Eric Schmidt, alluding to the importance of freedom of speech and the Internet for both Hong Kong and Mainland China. That was from my 2013 interview with him when Schmidt visited Hong Kong.
Of course, as some of my readers will argue and I do agree that you can’t just keep writing about the importance of freedom in the hope that freedom can fix everything. No, it can’t.
What freedom can do is to help people to think, and think deeper for different ideas. The more ideas, the more solutions we will have to solve different problems. That’s why in Hong Kong we always welcome different kinds of debates and share many different views, no matter they are from a particular lens or not.
At the end of the day, it’s the people who should have their freedom to choose whatever they want to read or what kind of ideas they choose to believe.
On top of my other responsibilities at the century-old newspaper, I have published my columns “Mr. Shangkong” -- the combination of my two hometowns Shanghai and Hong Kong -- in the South China Morning Post every Monday since the summer of 2012.
Sometimes my columns did get me into trouble, but I have also made a lot of friends. As I publish my last Mr. Shangkong column in the Post today, I say thank-you to all my readers.
Freedom can’t immediately guarantee you what is right or wrong. But without freedom, you will never get closer to the truth. Shanghai or Shenzhen may someday overtake Hong Kong as the leading financial centre in terms of market size and dealing activities, but Hong Kong should know it is freedom not just the stock market that can continue to make a difference for Hong Kong.
If there is anything I can share with Alibaba, the new owner of the Post, as a part of my humble advice, I will say the real valuation of the Post is not in any price tag but freedom, a key part of Hong Kong’s core values shared by the majority of the society.
For Hong Kong, and anywhere in the world, I believe freedom is just priceless.
George Chen  <george.chen@scmp.com> ;  Twitter: @george_chen ; http://www.scmp.com/business/article/1890587/last-not-least-lets-talk-ab...
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 1, Block D: Debra Saunders, SF Chronicle, and Kevin Fagin, San Francisco Chronicle, in re: Here’s a blog with a video that shows the 20-needle starter kit I got from what used to be called “needle exchange" http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Complaints-skyrocket-over-syringes-on-streets-in-6663910.php  ; http://blog.sfgate.com/djsaunders/2015/12/01/my-starter-drug-needle-kit/
 
Hour Two
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 2, Block A:  David M Drucker, Washington Examiner, and John Fund, NRO, in re:  Will Trump attack Cruz on stage? Will Carson do anything to arrest his slide? Can Bush, Kasich, Fiorina, change the dynamic?  It's getting late . . . Watch Christie, too.  Trump started with a 92% name ID; only Bush and Clinton were as high as 50%.  Trump has a high floor but a low ceiling; he's plateauing in discussions on the issues as the others arise.  Cruz is quasi-establishment, meaning he has a chance to gain the nomination; this helps in putting together a coalition in Iowa.  Cruz's staff have seized control of the social media that Obama won in 2008; they've scouted all the mktg data sites, they kno0w a lot about you.   Rubio? on 1 to 10, Trump is 10.5. Cruz is 7.5, Rubio is 4.5 – bldg a base in Iowa of real supporters.  In Iowa, currently, it's Trump in front, Cruz and Rubio fighting for second place. / Rubio is so professional; Cruz is mastering the art.  http://www.nationalreview.com/article/428444/trump-loses-iowa-kryptonite... ; http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/fox-poll-cruz-over-trump-rubio-over-ca... ; http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/this-is-how-a-brokered-convention-woul...
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 2, Block B:  John Fund, NRO, in re: The Paris climate summit: great meals for two weeks, then the Obama Adm announces victory.  (Where?)  Fifteen years since the failed Kyoto Treaty, Obama can say, "We signed a terrific treaty; not our fault if no one adheres to it." Two hundred-odd govts have signed on, giving some the ability to bludgeon some others to undertake massive and expensive (and futile) programs India and China are not on board, so what use? Pew: the last on the list (No. 23) of interest to US voters: Climate change.  . . .   Mike Murphy, the genius who brought us Pres Romney and Pres McCain, manages Jeb Bush's superPAC money.  Looks as though Mr Bush, a truly admirable man, has waited till his time is past; the torch has passed to the next generation.  Ted Cruz's main advisor is his wife, Heidi. Cruz blds infrastructure that enables him to reach every voter in Iowa.
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 2, Block C:  Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents, in re:  Madura in Venezuela inherited Chavez's tyranny.  Argentina:  New govt voids pact with Iran on AMIA (a Jewish center) bombing (1993).  Pres Kushner signed a deal exculpating persons responsible for he bombings and deaths – put on Interpol red list; ne pres Macri cancels he agreement that would have exculpated the persons who did the killing. Mechanism is the new president did not appeal an Argentine court ruling. Now he can deal with he devastated economy, and renew close relations with Israel.  With the pact no longer binding, no realistic chance of extraditing anyone from Iran, but those IRGC and Basij agents will still have a spotlight on them. Note also the murder of Nisman [one supposes by Kushner's Iranian buds].  Renewed commitment to return to the Nisman investigation.    ISIS inside Israel.  The Sinai commander of ISIS visited Gaza; funds via Gaza to Islamic State in Sinai.  Discussed attacks on Egypt and Israel. Weapons still flow into Sinai.  Arrest of five Israeli Arabs in Nazareth "Inspired" by ISIS.  Controversy on comments on "inability to defeat ISIS by air; need significant ground troops."  Hezbollah troops and Syrian army troops are weary.  Iranian senior commanders spoke of US spending $2 bil vs Iranian Islamic Republic.  New terror tunnels from Gaza to Israel.  Israel: northern Gaza Brigade now uses territorial defense, not border patrols to respond fast to any surprise attack and prevent infiltration.   Tanks and artillery are hidden from view.
Oil prices sink below $35 as Iran fears mount The drop was fueled by concerns about a surge in Iranian oil production as soon as next ... ; Oil Sinks to Lowest in Almost 7 Years as Iran Vows More Supply ; Analysis: Is Iran really pulling out of Syria?
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 2, Block D: Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents, in re: Israel is repositioning its defensive perimeter to the Golan.   Saudis today announce 34 countries form a new mil alliance to fight terrorism, with operations center in Riyadh; Indonesia expresses support, Mali, Malaysia, Lebanon, Egypt – al have joined. ISIS, al Qaeda, and above all Iran scare the daylights out of them.    Iran was to have dismantled a large number of centrifuges by 3 Dec; have not; now it looks as thought that might, possibly occur in late 2016. Will Washington award the $100 bil to the ayatollahs anyway?  Any member of the P5+1 can exercise a sort of veto; very unlikely that the Euros will – they want the money to flow Clearly, so does Washington. "Snap-back"  [not only bogus, but physically impossible –ed.]   Russia has 25 long-range bombers flying into Syria; doubled naval force, and 5,000 people or so on the ground. Meanwhile, Russia expresses its prowess to be seen by the entire world.  Missiles launched more as a political than military statement. –A baby was among 14 injured in terror attack at entrance to Jerusalem East Jerusalem man rams his car into pedestrians, is shot dead; infant’s mother among those hurt; Jerusalem mayor: Be alert but maintain your routine, terror won’t win. PM orders barriers at bus stops across Jerusalem after attack. Jerusalem mayor’s NIS 2 million proposal would see protective posts installed at high-risk sites in the capital.
Hour Three
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 3, Block A: Gregory Copley, StrategicStudies director; GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs; & author, UnCivilization, in re: The Russia-Turkey Stand-Off: Russia and Turkey: Not War in the Offing, but Something Far More Important   It is now apparent that Russia can no longer ignore the reality that Turkey will remain the major impediment to Russia’s control over its strategic ability to escape the containment of geography as well as geopolitics. The question is: what can it do about it, and when? The answers are existential for Russia, but they also open the chance for Western powers to reconsider whether this is the time to bring Russia into the West, as Reagan and Thatcher envisioned.   The shooting down of a Russian Air Force Su-24 strike aircraft over northern Syria by Turkish Air Force F-16s on November 24, 2015, had an underlying strategic rationale, and has strategic consequences, which neither the Turkish Government — nor  the US Government, which supported it — have apparently fully considered.  (1 of 2)
Turkey says its patience with Russia 'has a limit' / Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says Russia has put itself in a 'ridiculous . . . Russia fires on Turkish ship to 'avoid collision' - CNN.com Russia, Turkey and a tit-for-tat tale
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 3, Block B: Gregory Copley, StrategicStudies director; GIS/Defense & Foreign Affairs; & author, UnCivilization; (2 of 2)
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 3, Block C: Mary Kissel, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board & host of Opinion Journal on WSJ Video; in re: Opinion Journal: The Paris Climate Pact; & Editorial Page Editor Paul Gigot on the agreement reached at the U.N. climate summit and President Obama’s political calculations.
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 3, Block D: by Carson Bruno via Fox and Hounds Daily (CA), and Hoover; in re: The United Nations Conference on Climate Change currently being held in Paris seemingly has everyone focused on this issue. Oddly enough, even though they can’t negotiate for the United States (nor are the U.S. negotiators likely to listen to them), California has a large delegation in France’s capital, including Governor Jerry Brown, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De León, and a host of legislators and business leaders. California Isn't Any Better at Reducing CO2 Emissions than Are the Rest of the U.S.
Hour Four
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 4, Block A:  Elbridge Colby, Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS); in re: Europe's Troubled Borders; Facing Russia: Conventional Defence and Deterrence in Europe /  It is not yet clear that NATO has either a serious strategy for responding to the Russian threat or the capabilities to back up such a strategy.http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/weJvFvMC5kP56DAGPJn6/full (1 of 2)
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 4, Block B: Elbridge Colby, Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS); in re: Europe's Troubled Borders; Facing Russia: Conventional Defence and Deterrence in Europe /  It is not yet clear that NATO has either a serious strategy for responding to the Russian threat or the capabilities to back up such a strategy.http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/weJvFvMC5kP56DAGPJn6/full (2 of 2)
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 4, Block C: Monte Reel and Jordan Robertson DATA DRIP: MEDICAL DEVICES CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE—OR STEAL YOUR IDENTITY
Monday 14 December 2015  / Hour 4, Block D:   Paul Gregory, Hoover, in re: http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2015/12/08/truckers-halt-moscow-traffic-as-putin-shifts-the-blame/2/