The President's Daily Brief
December 2nd, 2024: Rebels in Syria Overrun Assad’s Stronghold & Zelensky’s Shocking Offer
Mon, 02 Dec 2024
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Major developments out of Syria as rebel forces seize control of Aleppo, the country’s second-largest city, and continue their advance. We’ll explore what this means for Bashar al-Assad's regime, Russia's role, and the future of the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announces for the first time his willingness to cede territory to Russia to end the ongoing war. We’ll unpack his remarks and the potential implications. In Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, thousands rally against the government’s decision to halt EU accession talks. We’ll discuss the protests and what’s at stake for Georgia's future. And in today’s Back of the Brief: Former President Donald Trump selects Kash Patel as his nominee for FBI Director, raising questions about his qualifications and future role. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Patriot Gold: Call 1-888-870-5457 for a free investor guide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chapter 1: What happened in Aleppo, Syria?
Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. Alright, let's get briefed. Today, we'll start things off with news out of Syria, where rebel forces have taken control of Aleppo, that's the country's second-largest city, and are continuing their advance.
We'll break down what this means for Assad's regime, Russia's involvement, and the future of this long and brutal conflict. Later in the show, Ukraine's President Zelensky, for the first time since the war began, said he is willing to cede Ukrainian territory to Russia to end the conflict. We'll break down his remarks.
Plus, in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, thousands of demonstrators protested the government's decision to halt EU, that's European Union, accession talks, leading to barricades, broken windows, and fireworks outside of the parliament. We'll explore what's at stake for Georgia's future.
And in today's Back of the Brief, former President Donald Trump names Kash Patel, a former defense official and federal prosecutor, as his pick to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. A major development in the Syrian civil war. Remember that? It's been going on for years. It's just been off our radar.
Rebel forces have captured Aleppo, Syria's second largest city. Now, this marks a significant and unexpected shift in a conflict that has devastated the country for over a decade. According to reports, more than 300 people have been killed since intense fighting erupted on Wednesday, including at least 20 civilians.
The Syrian opposition forces are now advancing south following their victory in Aleppo, with reports indicating that they've seized control of several towns in the countryside near Hama, Syria's fourth-largest city.
This push highlights the momentum of the rebel coalition led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Hasham, that's called HTS for short, because every militant group wants to use an acronym. Far from slowing down, the group seems focused on solidifying its gains and expanding its territorial control.
The Syrian military has reportedly rushed reinforcements to the region in an attempt to stall the insurgents' momentum. Now, for those of you who aren't familiar with HTS, it might be because the group began under a different name, Jabhat al-Nusra, commonly known in the West as Al-Nusra Front.
Now, established in 2012, they served as the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda before rebranding, yes, even terrorist groups rebrand, and distancing themselves from their original affiliation. However, the group remains a distinctly Islamist organization, a fact underscored this weekend when members of HTS were seen waving the flag of jihad in central Aleppo celebrating their victory.
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Chapter 2: What are the implications of Zelensky's remarks?
This proposal marks a notable departure from Kiev's long held policy of reclaiming all Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and the four regions annexed by Russia in 2022. Previously, Zelenskyy's administration maintained a firm stance against any compromise, vowing to fight until Ukraine's internationally recognized borders were restored.
Zelenskyy's remarks align with growing European support for a negotiated resolution. Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told The Telegraph last week that European troops, including British forces, could form a peacekeeping contingent to secure an 800-mile buffer zone between Ukrainian and Russian forces.
Johnson stressed that troops should not engage directly with Russia, but rather be a multinational peacekeeping force that could monitor the ceasefire line and bolster Ukraine's defenses, stating, quote, Western countries must ensure that any security guarantees prevent Russia from regrouping and reigniting hostilities, urging clarity on the terms of protection.
Zelensky echoed these concerns, warning that any ceasefire must provide lasting protection against renewed Russian aggression. Switching to English during his interview, he noted informal proposals for ceasefire agreements from other nations, but questioned their enforceability, stating, quote, The question is ceasefire where? We need NATO protection very much.
Otherwise, Putin will come back, end quote. Zelenskyy hinted that an arrangement involving individual security guarantees from NATO members, such as the U.S., Britain, France, and Germany, could be a viable alternative to full NATO membership.
Zelenskyy's proposal comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in January with promises to end the war on, quote, day one, as we've been tracking here on the PDB. Reports suggest that Trump's team is exploring a peace deal that would freeze the front lines, delay Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations for 20 years, and increase U.S.
military aid to deter further Russian aggression. Trump's plan reportedly includes deploying European and British forces to enforce the ceasefire, potentially creating a buffer zone between the Ukrainian and Russian troops. Zelensky's openness to temporary territorial concessions and security guarantees underscores Ukraine's recalibration in navigating a deeply challenging geopolitical landscape.
However, hurdles obviously remain. Questions linger over whether Russia would honor a ceasefire or use it as an opportunity to regroup. I don't know, do questions really linger over whether Putin would honor any agreement? As the clock ticks toward Trump's inauguration, international efforts to negotiate a sustainable resolution are gaining momentum.
Whether Zelensky's proposal will pave the way for peace or lead to further complications obviously remains uncertain. Okay, shifting to the nation of Georgia, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the capital, Tbilisi, and across the country after the government's decision to halt European Union accession talks for the next four years.
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Chapter 3: What protests occurred in Georgia regarding EU talks?
The State Department has since suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia, while the EU expressed deep regret over the move. During the unrest, Georgia's president, a pro-EU figure with limited ceremonial power, vowed to remain in office beyond her term, echoing the illegitimacy of the new parliament and frustration over the stalled EU talks.
Georgia's prime minister accused the pro-EU opposition leaders of attempting to incite revolution, drawing parallels to Ukraine's 2014 Maidan protests that ousted a pro-Russian president. The prime minister stated, quote, some people want a repeat of that scenario in Georgia, but there will be no Maidan in Georgia, end quote.
The Georgian Dream Party's decision to freeze EU talks caps months of deteriorating relations with the West and has fueled perceptions that Georgia is veering into Moscow's orbit. The protests have also brought attention to the heavy-handed tactics of Georgian authorities.
According to Reuters, over 100 demonstrators were detained in the capital, with reports of police brutality circulating widely. The country's ombudsman described the treatment of protesters as, quote, disturbing, while the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe expressed deep concern over the escalating unrest.
With the country's diplomatic ties unraveling and public dissent mounting, Georgia faces a critical crossroads. The protests signal a clear demand for accountability and alignment with European ideals, but the ruling party remains steadfast in resisting what it perceives as Western interference.
All right, coming up next in the back of the brief, President-elect Trump taps Kash Patel, a former defense official and prosecutor, as his pick to lead the FBI. I'll have the details when we come back.
In today's Back of the Brief, President-elect Trump has nominated Kash Patel, a staunch ally and outspoken critic of the FBI, as the bureau's next director, signaling a sharp pivot in the bureau's leadership.
Patel, widely known for his role in exposing the FBI's surveillance of Trump's 2016 campaign, is a seasoned federal prosecutor with a track record of combating terrorism and advocating for reform. His nomination comes with Trump's pledge to eliminate entrenched corruption within federal agencies.
Trump announced the decision on Truth Social on Saturday, calling Patel a, quote, brilliant lawyer, investigator, and America's first fighter, end quote. Patel's career spans key roles in national security, intelligence, and counterterrorism. As a federal prosecutor, he led prosecutions against Al-Qaeda and ISIS operatives.
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