This Week: Five Events You Need to Know (December 17)

This Week: Five Events You Need to Know (December 17)

The threats of debt, Iran’s fight for Jerusalem, Putin’s victory in Syria, and more

Here are five of the most important news stories this week, as well as relevant links to the full articles and videos here on theTrumpet.com.

The National Debt Is a Domestic Security Threat

America hasn’t been debt-free since 1835, and some economists conclude that the national debt isn’t a problem as long as the economy keeps growing. They are wrong.

Outgoing Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen recently testified before Congress that the nation’s current debt trajectory is “the type of thing that should keep people awake at night.” Well past $20 trillion since September, the United States national debt may actually be the most significant threat to America’s national security.

Will Donald Trump’s Tax Plan Lead to Trade War?

Spiegel Online reported on December 8 that Europe is worried about U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial tax reform plan, which passed a 51-49 Senate vote on December 2.

The tax plan marks the biggest change to U.S. tax policy in decades—and it could lead to an international trade war.

Iran Is Ready to Fight for Jerusalem

During a conference of senior Iranian military officials on December 11, Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami reportedly said that President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel “will hasten the destruction of [Israel] and will double unity among Muslims.”

That same day, Maj. Gen. Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Iranian Quds Force, telephoned Palestinian leaders of the armed wing of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad movement and pledged Iran’s “complete support for Palestinian Islamic resistance movements.”

Putin Celebrates Victory in Syria

On December 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unannounced visit to Syria for what commentators say was less of a regular state visit and more of an inspection of Russia’s latest military outpost.

Putin declared victory against the Islamic State and announced a partial withdrawal of troops from Syria. But he said that Russia’s two Syrian bases, Tartus and Hmeimim, would continue to operate! In other words, Putin said, Russia is in Syria to stay.

CSU Power Struggle: Time for Guttenberg?

Germany’s political earthquake hit the state of Bavaria on December 4 when longtime premier Horst Seehofer announced he would step down next year. He will be replaced by one of his biggest rivals: Markus Söder. But Seehofer said that he intended to maintain leadership of the Christian Social Union (csu). This means Söder’s appointment as state premier does not end the power struggle in the csu—it merely marks a “new chapter” as Süddeutsche Zeitung noted. It’s a chapter that could be dominated by Seehofer’s preferred successor: former Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.

“This Week” appears every Sunday. To get these same top stories in your inbox ahead of time every Friday afternoon, subscribe to the Trumpet Brief daily e-mail. Sign up by clicking here or by visiting theTrumpet.com home page.