December 14th, 2023: Cash for Hamas, Gaza Tunnels Flooded, & South Korea's Warning
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00:24You talking to me?Kayak, got that right.It's Thursday, December 14th.Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage.Let's get briefed. We'll lead off today's program with a report from the New York Times, which claims thatfor several years, the Israeli government actively helped to prop up Hamas in Gaza by encouragingmillions of dollars in cash payments to the group. Later in the program, we'll take a look at howIsrael's military has begun pumping seawater into Hamas's tunnels below Gaza as part of an effort
01:16to destroy the underground infrastructure. Plus, South Korea's defense minister issued a stern warning toNorth Korea, telling the hermit kingdom it faces, quote, the hell of destruction after abandoning a2018 key military agreement. Finally, in today's back of the brief, a new twist in the Hunter Biden sagaas the president's son tells Congress to take a hike.But first up, the PDB spotlight.Over the past two months, we've watched as Israel has exacted retribution against Hamasfollowing the brutal October 7th attacks.But what if before October 7th, the Israeli government was actively helping to prop up Hamas
02:04in Gaza?Well, there's a chance, as strange as it sounds,that that's what was happening.I want to bring your attention to a report by the New York Timesthat claims the Israeli government was actually working to prop upand essentially buy the cooperation of Hamas for the past decade.The in-depth report brings in light a long-standing policydescribed by critics of Prime Minister Netanyahu as, quote,
02:32buying quiet.This approach involved Israel not only toleratingbut actively encouraging the Qatari government to send millions of dollars monthly into the Gaza Strip.These payments came in the form of suitcases filled with cash that were at times escorted to theirfinal destination by Israeli intelligence officers. The rationale behind the strategy, which wasreportedly implemented for a decade or so, was a high-stakes gamble by Prime Minister Netanyahu.The belief was that a steady cash flow would maintain peace in Gaza, focusing Hamas ongovernance rather than military engagement and terrorist actions.
03:15The money from Qatar was supposed to go toward keeping the Gaza government running andhumanitarian efforts, things like paying government salaries and buying fuel to keep a power plantrunning.Israel's domestic security service, Shembet, was tasked with monitoring the cash recipients to preventthe money from falling into the hands of Hamas' military wing, the Al-Kasamburgades.Now, despite these measures, Israeli intelligence now believes, according to the Times report,that this money, at least indirectly, contributed to the 7th October attacks.They suspect that Hamas was skimming the cash disbursements, and since money's fungible,
03:55the donations allowed Hamas to divert some of its own budget toward military operations.While Israel was allowing these suitcases of cash to enter into Gaza,Gutter was also allegedly directly funding Hamas' military wing through other means,something that Israel allegedly knew about.Obviously, this whole arrangement has drawn criticism from Netanyahu's own cabinet and security establishment,with some viewing it as a form of appeasement or bribery.According to the report, the Netanyahu government simply didn't,believe that Hamas was a major threat and certainly not capable of the action that took place on
04:37October 7th. Instead, they were focusing on broader regional concerns like Iran's nuclear programand Iranian proxies like Hezbollah. This policy of containment was aimed at keeping Hamas in checkwhile Israel addressed these larger strategic issues. Now, at the same time, Hamas, under thetutelage of the Iranian regime's IRGC, was engaged in what was essentially a covert action campaign,creating the impression within the Israeli government that Hamas, as an organization, was notinterested in further military conflict with Israel. It was a disinformation effort, designed to lullIsrael into a false sense of peace, to believe that Hamas was becoming more interested in a long-termcessation of hostilities. Now that, obviously,
05:28was a massive smoke screen designed to hide their true intentionsand their extensive planning for the slaughter of 7 October.All right, when we come back, Israel's military begins destroying the tunnels below Gaza,and South Korea issues a stark warning to Kim Jong-un.I'll be right back.Olivia Rodriguez, the Unravel Tour, North America with special guests.Get tickets Thursday, May 7th at Olivia Rodrigo.com.This episode is brought to you by Redfin.
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06:36Israel has reportedly begun an operation to pump seawater into the vast tunnel networks underneath Gazain an effort to flood out Hamas fighters and to prevent future use of the tunnels by the terrorist organization.The effort is still in its early stages and it's expected to take weeks,according to an exclusive report from the Wall Street Journal.U.S. officials briefed on the operation on Monday, stressed that the flooding so far is minimal,encompassing only a limited number of tunnels. The IDF is reportedly experimenting with the tacticto determine its effectiveness when compared to other possible eradication methods,including air strikes, drones, targeted explosives, and even robots. The IDF has been increasingly
07:24concerned about sending troops into the tunnels, citing the risk of booby-tracks.traps. Israeli officials have declined to elaborate on their strategy regarding the tunnels,which have been critical to Hamas's ability to avoid IDF military strikes and to move weapons,fighters, and hostages taken during the 7 October attacks. While Israel has establishedcontrol of roughly 40% of Gaza above ground, the tunnels remain a significant hurdle to theirability to defeat Hamas and to recover the remaining 140.hostages. Israel has reportedly installed seven pumps to date, which will flood water from the Mediterraneaninto the tunnels. They're an estimated 300 miles of tunnels crisscrossing Gaza in what is known as the
08:14Gaza Metro. U.S. officials appear conflicted on the operation. While the Biden administration concedes thatthe tactic will likely destroy at least portions of the tunnel network, they fear it could alsoendanger Gaza's fresh water supply, adding to the humanitarian crisis in the region. Of course,there would be a much more robust and efficient water system in Gaza if Hamas hadn'tdiverted humanitarian funds over many years for their own purposes. It's worth mentioning alsothat the Egyptian government has used this same flooding technique several times over the yearsin an effort to curb smuggling into the Sinai Peninsula.As an example in 2013 and 2015, Egypt pumped sewage and seawater into tunnels being used by
09:03militants in Gaza, ultimately destroying nearly two dozen tunnels.Of course, there are also fears regarding the remaining hostages in Gaza, who may be beingheld inside the tunnel network.In audio leaked last week, the families of hostages were heard angrily telling us.killing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that they feared the flooding tactic risked killing thosestill being held by Hamas. Israel is facing increasing international pressure over their operationsto root out Hamas and Gaza, including from the U.S. As we discussed yesterday on the PDB,President Biden openly criticized Israel on Tuesday while speaking to Democratic donors in Washington,
09:47D.C., saying that Netanyahu's hardline response is causing international support for Israel to erode.All right, let's turn our attention to the Korean Peninsula, where tensions are quickly mountingfollowing the collapse of an inter-Korean military pact last month.South Korea's defense minister issued a strong warning on Wednesday, saying, quote,North Korea has only two choices, peace or destruction. If North Korea makes reckless actions thatharm peace, only a hell of destruction awaits them, end quote. The defense minister was speakingat a meeting of top commanders who were engaging in military preparations to guard against anypotential provocations or attacks from the north. These discussions included drawing up
10:38preemptive strike plans against North Korea. As a reminder,reminder, both North and South Korea pulled out of a 2018 comprehensive military agreement in lateNovember of this year, following a series of escalations by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.On November 21st of this year, North Korea set off international alarm bells when they usedan ICBM to launch their first spy satellite into orbit. Following the launch, South Korea announcedthey would be suspending aspects of the 2018 inter-Korean agreement.and would resume reconnaissance and surveillance operations along their border with North Korea.Officials in North Korea responded by voiding the entire agreement.
11:25Their forces have since been seen reoccupying numerous abandoned guardposts along the borderand moving heavy weaponry into the area.Adding to the concerns, North Korean defectors in the South have recently stated their intent to resume a campaign in the springto send leaflet carrying balloons across the border into North Koreawith messages speaking out against Kim Jong-un and his repressive regime.Now, North Korean officials have condemned such activity as psychological warfareand just last month threatened to, quote,pour a shower of shells on South Korea if such activity resumed.
12:04Analysts say that it's highly likely that North Korea will fire anti-aircraft guns at the balloons,which would likely force a resumed.response from South Korea, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. Without the 2018agreement in place to help foster a diplomatic solution, analysts have said it could serve as thespark that sets off a wider conflict. Observers who have called the 2018 Inter-Korean Pacta safety pin for peace are increasingly anxious that the already fragile situation will continueto deteriorate. Now, officials in North Korea,have, and here's no surprise, blamed the U.S. in South Korea for aggravating the regional tension.
12:49After the 2018 Inter-Korean agreement collapsed last month, North Korea said that Seoul would be,quote, wholly accountable in case an irretrievable clash breaks out.All right, coming up in the back of the brief, Hunter Biden strikes a defiant tone,openly refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena.I'll be right back.You tell yourself, no one wants your college-era band teas,but on Deepop, people are searching for exactly what you've got.You once paid a small fortune for them at merch stands.
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14:05Okay yeah that's goodThat's close enoughCar selling without a catchSo your car today onCarvanaPick up fees may apply.In today's back of the brief, a surprising twist in the congressional investigation into Hunter Bidenand his overseas business dealings.
14:22The president's son openly defied a congressional subpoena yesterday, labeling the Republicans'investigation into his family as illegitimate.This defiance came just hours before a GOP-led House vote to formally launch an impeachment probeinto his father, President Biden.addressing the media in front of the Capitol building, Hunter Biden said, quote,Let me state as clearly as I can. My father was not financially involved in my business, end quote.Despite refusing to comply with the House Republicans' demand for a closed-door testimony,Biden did express his willingness to testify publicly.
15:02Now, the focus of congressional and legal scrutiny has been on Hunter Biden's overseas business activities and allegationsof tax evasion. Republicans are attempting to establish a connection between Hunter's dealingsand his father's influence. Just last week, the U.S. Justice Department brought charges againstHunter Biden, including three felony and six misdemeanor tax offenses, alleging that Hunterskipped out on paying $1.4 million in federal taxes. Now, obviously, Congressional Republicansaren't particularly happy with Hunter's defiance.Jim Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee,announced on Wednesday that they would initiate contempt of Congress proceedings
15:47against Hunter Biden.It's worth noting that Steve Bannon was charged with contempt to Congressfor the very same thing, defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating January 6th.Bannon was found guilty on two counts of contempt and sentenced to four months in prison.Now, not to boast, but I'm not a lawyer. However, let's revisit that particular statement fromHunter Biden while standing in front of the Capitol building. Again, he said,let me state as clearly as I can. My father was not financially involved in my business.A couple of points to note here. First, there is no way that the White House, or the president's
16:32legal team or Hunter's legal team would have said, hey, Hunter, show up on the Capitol steps andmake a statement. Yeah, say whatever you want. Just wing it. His statement would have beenlawyered to debt and reviewed by the White House counsel and others. So every word has beenconsidered and agreed upon. The second point is the word financially. Hunter stated thathis dad was not financially involved in his business. You'll recall that we startedthis entire escapade, with the president clearly stating he had no involvement or knowledge whatsoeverof Hunter's various business dealings and activities. Now, that has obviously changed,as we've seen evidence of the president meeting with business associates, taking phone calls,
17:18and generally being engaged as his son and family used the Biden name and position to extractmoney from various overseas business enterprises. So the story now will be that the president wasinvolved, but not in the financial side of the business. Look, transparency at the top levels ofgovernment should be a concern whether you're a Democrat or Republican. If you're spun up about Trumpand are demanding answers in clarity, then you should feel the same way about your team and the needfor accountability and answers to questions about potentially questionable dealings. Obviously,that's not how it plays out in the real world. Democrats who have chased Trump for years now,claiming various levels of malfeasance and shenanigans,
18:04now refuse to even consider that there's been pay-for-playor improper use of power for enrichment purposeson the part of the president and his family.In fact, they're completely dismissiveand declare it a witch-hunt,and they do that without any sense of irony or self-awarenessafter having spent years chasing the Russia collusion story.Now, I've spent enough time in Washington, D.C.,
18:27to know that Hunter and the Biden family were making hands,off the president's position. It's not rocket science to understand that. It's the age-old DC game.The question is, did the president financially benefit from his family's business dealings using hisposition, and did that have any impact on U.S. government actions, decisions, or behavior?Just as with the Trump investigations and various inquiries there, the public has a right to know,if you don't apply the rules the same way for both sides, you might as well turn the line.lights out and watch the sunset on this amazing republic of ours.And that, my friends, is the President's Daily Brief for Thursday, 14 December.
19:10If you have any questions or comments, reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com.I'm Mike Baker. I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin.Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.Not loving your AT&T or T-Mobile bill.Yeah, we've been hearing that.a lot. Good news. Bring your AT&T or T mobile bill to Verizon and we'll give you a betterdeal. So get away from that unfortunate phone bill and get to Verizon. Run, ride, canoe. Whateverit takes, we'll be here. Bring your AT&T or T mobile bill to a Verizon store today and we'll
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