Chat Away

President Obama and President Hollande of France embrace after making joint statements today (Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama Awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom

5:0: President Obama Awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Things just got real

Vladimir Putin’s Excellent Syrian Adventure was all fun and games so long as he was hitting Bashar al-Assad’s enemies (which rarely meant Daesh until that group downed a Russian airliner) and those enemies couldn’t fire back.

However, Russian pilots had the unfortunate habit of straying into Turkish airspace. This was understandable, as the air space in the war zone was rather tight. But the Turks warned Russia after the last incident that another violation of their airspace would bring about a response.

Today, a Russian jet again strayed into Turkish airspace. According to Turkey and the coalition command in Baghdad, Turkey warned the Russian plane ten times to leave its airspace. The Russians either didn’t hear the warnings, or ignored them, at which point Turkey downed the Russian jet. The pilots ejected, but didn’t survive. (The details of their deaths are still sketchy, but it seems that Syrian rebels shot them down.)

President Obama and President Hollande hold a news conference

11:30: President Obama and President Hollande hold a joint news conference

Rise and Shine

On This Day: The President and First Lady wait for Indian Prime Minister Singh’s motorcade to depart the White House at the conclusion of the first official state dinner for the Obama administration. Nov. 24, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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Today

11:30: President Obama and President Hollande hold a joint news conference

5:0: The President awards 17 Presidential Medals of Freedom (see list of recipients here)

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Early Bird Chat

On This Day: The President and First Lady await the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for a state dinner at the White House, 2009