FBI/JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/SYRIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “President Donald Trump this week stepped up preparations to counter political and military challenges that could reshape his presidency, girding for a strike against Syria and pushing a campaign to discredit the Justice Department. Several aides described Mr. Trump seething over an FBI raid of his personal attorney’s files and expressing horror at pictures of lifeless Syrian children following a suspected chemical attack. The combination tested Mr. Trump’s ability to focus on—and compartmentalize—issues as few others have since his presidency began. It also made for another tumultuous week in the West Wing…Though he had taken no decisive action by Thursday [4-12-18], Mr. Trump had set out new, tougher approaches to the two issues. Talking to Pentagon officials after the apparent gas attack, Mr. Trump called for a more sweeping retaliatory response than the military advised, one White House official said. He asked to consider options that would punish not only the Syrian regime but also two of its sponsors—Russia and Iran. ‘He’s pressed back’ on suggestions from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis that the response should be more limited in scope, the official said.”
– Peter Nicholas, Michael C. Bender and Rebecca Ballhaus,” Trump Forced to Juggle Syria Response, Rage Over Mueller Probe,” The Wall Street Journal, April 13, 2018 5:30 am