Lessons Learned in the Sandbox -- lessons most world leaders have forgotten

If we lose love and self respect for each other, this is how we finally die.
 Maya Angelou

SYRIA

U.S. expands presence in Syrian desert, rebels say 

UN: 'Staggering' loss of life reported from US-led air raids on ISIS-held Raqqa

U.S. aircraft shoots down a Syrian government jet over northern Syria, Pentagon says

Coalition Defends Partner Forces from Syrian Fighter Jet Attack

Russia Warns U.S after Downing of Syrian Warplane

Israel Gives Secret Aid to Syrian Rebels

Russian forces in Syria will start tracking Coalition aircraft west of Euphrates ‘as targets,’ following jet incident

NORTH KOREA

N. Korea launches another salvo of missiles, defying international condemnation   

South Korea finds apparent North Korean drone near border

Pentagon chief declares North Korea the new top threat to U.S. security

University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier, said to be in a coma, released from North Korea

READ

Becoming Bonnie FICTION 

Churchill and Orwell NONFICTION

The Frozen Hours: A Novel of the Korean War FICTION

FREE SPEECH

A Chinese student praised the ‘fresh air of free speech’ at a U.S. college. Then came the backlash. 

The tide turns toward an online and social media future for political advertising

Israeli University Chiefs Slam Naftali Bennett’s Plan To Muzzle Professors

Code Of Ethics Sparks Debate On Politics In Israeli Classrooms OPINION

GOP

Bipartisan support for spending complicates life for GOP 

Republicans’ Biggest Problem in Georgia Isn’t the Special Election OPINION

Shooter had professed deep disgust with GOP

TAXES

Business-backed group says proposed tax would chase away top earners 

Tax reform becomes Wall Street obsession

Ryan to give 'major' tax reform speech

State lawmakers approve tax on top earners for 2018 ballot

Tax overhaul in trouble as opposition to import tax grows

JEFF "SHIT GIBBON" SESSIONS

Wait, is Sessions invoking preemptive “executive privilege”? Here’s the problem with that. 

Jeff Sessions, in his own words OPINION

Too many Republicans help Sessions brush off questions OPINION

Jeff Sessions wants you to do what he wouldn’t — distinguish between his roles as senator and surrogate

Why Jeff Sessions Won’t Give a Straight Answer

Lobbyist for Russian interests says he attended dinners hosted by Sessions

Jeff Sessions: Being soft on sentencing means more violent crime. It’s time to get tough again. OPINION

Congress is considering a bill that would expand Jeff Sessions’s power to escalate the war on

TRAVEL BAN

Trump’s travel ban is useless. Terrorists mostly come from our own back yard. OPINION 

Appeals court refuses to reinstate Trump travel ban

Opponents of Trump’s travel ban must be tired of winning OPINION

Ninth Circuit upholds injunction against Trump’s revised travel ban

DOJ seeks to argue 9th Circuit travel ban decision

Trump changes travel ban expiration date ahead of high court decision

Supreme Court weighs fate of Trump travel ban order

Trump set for first U.S. Supreme Court visit as justices weigh travel

WHIMSEY

NORTH: An Illustrated Travelogue by Christoph Niemann

Threats to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are on the Political Horizon

Naval Academy historian says goodbye after 50 years

How Photographers Capture the Emotion of a Protest

NOTE: The news sources here vary.  Not all sources have the same credibility, but in an effort to share some different perspectives, they are included here.  This compendium itself cannot claim to be unbiased.  Please take into consideration where these different perspectives originate in assessing their value.  Thank you.