Blog Heap of Links for the day 19 December 2015

A former propaganda ‘mastermind’ for Islamic State says the terrorist group has plans for a “series of coordinated attacks across European cities” to replicate the bloody Paris attacks on other streets.… “They want something that happens everywhere at the same time. All you need is to take a big knife, and go down to the streets and slaughter every infidel you encounter.” …

…Having just won reelection to his Senate seat for a sixth term in 2014, Mitch McConnell is back to making comments such as the one he made last year about his plans for “crushing” the TEA Party.

This time, McConnell is announcing that he will ensure that no GOP candidate who “can’t win” will be allowed to run for the U. S. Senate.…

…Dubbed Rapid Attack Detection, Isolation and Characterization (RADICS), its goal is to develop automated systems to deal with a loss of power. They say these systems should help utilities engineers restore power within seven days of an attack.…

…One local leader criticized the President for meeting only with relatives of the victims who lost heir lives in the attacks and accused him of 'politicizing' the tragedy in the weeks afterwards. … San Bernardino Supervisor Curt Hagman said it wasn't enough, arguing that the first responders and the 22 who were injured in the attack 'also deserve the president's time'. …

Texas Governor Greg Abbott addressed a graduating class of 102 new Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers Friday morning… told the new troopers they will be the first part of what will become the “new permanent border shield.” He explained, “You will stand against threats known from the drug cartels, transnational gangs, human smuggling and trafficking operations, and threats unknown from those who seek to wage war against our freedoms and our liberty.”…

Enrique Marquez, a friend of the San Bernardino terrorists, was arrested today and charged with plotting with Syed Rizwan Farook to commit a terror attack. Mr. Marquez is the man who allegedly bought the weapons used by the jihadi couple in their massacre.

In other news, between 800 and 1,000 migrants tried to storm the entrance to the Channel Tunnel near Calais in an attempt to get to Britain. French police resorted to the use of tear gas to drive them away. …

…On this day in 1998 President Bill Clinton was impeached by the United States House of Representatives, becoming the second President of the United States to be impeached.…