Trump plan to pullback US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan draws vigorous bipartisan pushback

“This is consistent with our established plans and strategic objectives; supported by the American people; and does not equate to a change in U.S. policy or objectives,” Miller asserted, refusing to take any questions from reporters.

NATO RATTLED, ‘PRICE COULD BE VERY HIGH’: Miller said one of his first calls was to Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who leads the NATO alliance, America’s partner in Afghanistan with some 12,000 troops from 30 nations, who all rely on the U.S. for logistical and combat support.

“No NATO ally wants to stay any longer than necessary. But at the same time, the price for leaving too soon or in an uncoordinated way could be very high,” warned Stoltenberg, who is usually highly-deferential to Trump. “Afghanistan risks becoming once again a platform for international terrorists to plan and organize attacks on our homelands,” he said in a statement. “And ISIS could rebuild in Afghanistan the terror caliphate it lost in Syria and Iraq.”

GENERALS SILENT: In a background briefing for reporters, a senior Pentagon official insisted the drawdown — which goes against the advice of the summarily fired former Defense Secretary Mark Esper — was supported by “the professionals of the military and civilian service,” who he said recommended the move to the president.

But none of the generals overseeing the Iraq and Afghanistan missions have made any statements in support of Trump’s order. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, U.S. Central Commander Gen. Frank Mckenzie, and U.S. Afghanistan Commander Gen. Scott Miller were all avoiding the press yesterday.

The military had insisted that the withdrawal of U.S. troops would be “conditions based” and hinge on whether the Taliban fulfilled its promises to reduce violence. The senior official briefing reporters yesterday repeatedly declined to answer questions about deteriorating conditions in Afghanistan where attacks are up 50%, and Secretary Miller made no mention of what conditions justified the drawdown in his statement.

Trump’s national security adviser Robert O’Brien spoke to reporters at the White House, noting he announced the planned troop reduction last month in remarks at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. O’Brien said the mission of the remaining troops would be to “defend our diplomats and deter our foes,” adding, “By May, it is President Trump’s hope that they will all come home safely, and in their entirety.” Like Miller, O’Brien took no questions.

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HAPPENING TODAY: At 10:30 a.m., House and Senate conferees will meet in closed session to work out differences on the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which is named for outgoing Republican Rep. William M. “Mac” Thornberry.

Among the outstanding issues to be hammered out are limits on U.S. troop reductions in Germany and South Korea, the renaming of Army bases that honor Confederate military leaders, and increased congressional oversight of the Pentagon.

PROS AND CONS OF TRUMP’S WITHDRAWAL ORDER: One of the most quoted aphorisms in Washington comes from the late Arizona Democratic Sen. Mo Udall, who once quipped at a ponderous committee hearing, “Everything has been said, but not everyone has said it.”

Here is but a sample of the torrent of reaction that followed yesterday’s announcement of U.S. troop reductions by lame-duck President Trump:

PRO:

“I have been assured by Acting Secretary of Defense Miller and the president’s national security adviser, Ambassador O’Brien, that they are consulting with our allies, and that, with their plan, we will be able to carry out our mission of protecting the American people from terrorist attacks originating in Afghanistan, safeguarding Afghan gains and supporting our partners and allies.” Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“I believe reducing our forward deployed footprint in Afghanistan down to 2,500 troops is the right policy decision … after nearly 20 years of armed conflict, Americans and Afghans alike are ready for the violence to end. It is clear that groups like ISIS-K and the Taliban will continue to fight and sow chaos, but ultimately it is up to the Afghans to find a sustainable path to peace.” Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

“Granted, the Trump administration’s withdrawal plan is less a plan than an aspiration. The logistical challenges in pulling out the remainder of U.S. forces by year’s end are daunting. But the only alternative offered by critics is to indefinitely hold our troops hostage to the outcome of a ‘peace agreement’ that Washington cannot control … If Trump succeeds in ending this particular ‘endless war,’ he will be doing Biden a favor.” Andrew Bacevich and Adam Weinstein, writing in Responsible Statecraft.

CON:

“I believe that these additional reductions of American troops from terrorist areas are a mistake. Further reductions in Afghanistan will also undercut negotiations there; the Taliban has done nothing — met no condition — that would justify this cut.” Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee.

“There’s a right way and a wrong way to do this. President Trump is once again choosing the wrong way and we can’t let U.S. national security and our relationships with steadfast partners become a casualty of President Trump’s wounded ego.” Sen. Jack Reed, D- R.I., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“Headlines about ‘bringing the boys home’ sound good, but that’s not what’s happening. After this retreat, there will still be American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan … I fear this weak retreat is not grounded in reality and will make the world a more dangerous place.” Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

“We all want our troops to be brought home safely, but this announcement is a mistake. At a time when we are finally seeing serious peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban, Donald Trump is unilaterally taking one of our best bargaining chips off the table — and getting nothing in return.” Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.

“I think it is extremely important here in the next couple of months not to have any earth-shaking changes with regard to defense and foreign policy. I think a precipitous drawdown in either Afghanistan or Iraq would be a mistake.” Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

“I don’t believe that this is an orderly drawdown. I think it’s an impulsive, rush, shoot-from-the-hip decision … There is a family in Illinois who has a brother and son, Mark Frerichs, who is a prisoner of al Qaeda. They believe that his only chance of survival is this negotiation that the president is withdrawing from and walking from. I hope they won’t. I hope we can save his life.” Minority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

“It’s astoundingly foolish, from a military, strategic, diplomatic, and political perspective … We’re kind of on the five-yard line here in terms of getting a peace deal. We have already done all the hard work. We have invested all the capital. We have had all the tragic casualties of this adventure, if you will. Now we have a chance to bring this home. It makes sense. Keep terrorism out. We won’t have to go back. Preserve gains. Keep Afghanistan as a democratic partner. There are a lot of very positive reasons to stay in there at relatively low cost.” Retired Adm. James Stavridis, former supreme NATO commander.

“You can have all the conditions-based outline that you want for the withdrawal. Donald Trump is not going to care about that when push comes to shove … As with so many Trump decisions, he’s now decided he wants out.” Former national security adviser John Bolton.

UNDER-HERALDED SUCCESS: Yesterday’s news release from the Missile Defense Agency about the successful shoot-down of a target missile by a U.S. Navy ship did call it “an incredible achievement” but underplayed its significance in the overall development of missile defense against the kind of threat posed by North Korea.

Riki Ellison, chairman of the independent Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, calls the technological feat “One of the most significant achievements in the history of missile defense operations,” marking “the first time an intercontinental ballistic missile was intercepted from a naval vessel in history.”

“This significant achievement is a game changer of enabling current capabilities that are cost-effective, efficient and effective in global deployment, making the world safer for the U.S. and its allies,” Ellison writes. “In a world of increasing tensions, the ability to defeat ICBMs and defend the United States homeland is vital.”

The destroyer USS John Finn, equipped with the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, intercepted and destroyed a “threat-representative” target ICBM designed to replicate a missile fired from North Korea, with a Standard Missile-3 Block IIA missile over the Pacific Ocean area northeast of Hawaii, Nov. 16.

KILLING THE MESSENGER: President Trump has dispatched via tweet the top cybersecurity official who oversaw election security and had refuted the president’s allegations of widespread election-related fraud in a statement which called the Nov. 3 election “the most secure in American history.”

“Chris Krebs has been terminated as Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency,” Trump tweeted last night, calling his statement “highly inaccurate.”

“There were massive improprieties and fraud — including dead people voting, Poll Watchers not allowed into polling locations, ‘glitches’ in the voting machines which changed,” Trump alleged.

“Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend Today, Secure [Tomorrow]. #Protect2020,” Krebs, a former Microsoft executive, tweeted from his personal Twitter account, which has this profile description: “Used to be the 1st Director @CISAgov. Now I’m going to reintroduce myself to my family, fire up the BGE, watch @UVa sports, and ride bikes.”

AL SHABAB TERRORISTS DESIGNATED: The State Department has designated two senior leaders of al Shabab, the Somalia-based al Qaeda affiliate, as “Specially Designated Global Terrorists.”

“Abdullahi Osman Mohamed, a senior al-Shabaab official also known as ‘Engineer Ismail,’ is the terrorist group’s senior explosives expert responsible for the overall management of al-Shabaab’s explosives operations and manufacturing,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement.

“Maalim Ayman is the leader of Jaysh Ayman, an al-Shabab unit conducting terrorist attacks and operations in Kenya and Somalia,” said Pompeo. “Ayman was responsible for preparing the January 2020 attack on Camp Simba in Manda Bay, Kenya, that killed one U.S. military service member and two American contractors.”

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA BACK ON: Arlington National Cemetery will hold its annual Wreaths Across America program after the event was initially canceled over coronavirus concerns.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy announced the reversal of the cancellation in a tweet.

“I have directed Arlington National Cemetery to safely host Wreaths Across America,” McCarthy said. “We appreciate the families and visitors who take time to honor and remember those who are laid to rest at our nation’s most hallowed ground.”

The event honors fallen soldiers by laying wreaths across the country and abroad.

The Rundown

Washington Examiner: Acting defense secretary confirms Trump move to draw down troops from Afghanistan and Iraq

Washington Examiner: Trump fires top US cyberofficial who refused to back election claims of fraud

Washington Examiner: Biden seeks out Stanley McChrystal and other national security experts as Trump blocks transition briefings

Washington Examiner: Army secretary reverses decision to cancel Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery

Washington Examiner: India rejects claim of Chinese microwave weapon attack: ‘It’s pure and poor psyops’

Washington Examiner: Senate Democrats seek Pentagon watchdog investigation into selection of Michael Ellis as top NSA lawyer

Washington Examiner: Four rockets strike Baghdad’s Green Zone following US troop pullout announcement

Washington Examiner: NATO ally gets rid of Soviet helicopters and buys $500M in US hardware

Stars and Stripes: Premature US Exit Could Embolden Terrorists, Afghans Warn

Defense News: German Defense Leaders Have ‘Feelers Out’ On Sudden US Withdrawal From Afghanistan

The Hill: Pentagon Watchdog: Taliban Has Conducted ‘Small Number’ Of Attacks On US-Led Coalition

New York Times: U.S. Troops Are Packing Up, Ready or Not

The Hill: Iran Warns Of ‘Crushing’ Response After Report Trump Mulled Military Strike

USNI News: SECNAV Braithwaite Calls for New U.S. 1st Fleet Near Indian, Pacific Oceans

Stars and Stripes: Electric Boat Workforce Contends With Rising Coronavirus Infections

Medical News Today: Investigating Asymptomatic SARS-Cov-2 Transmission Among Marines

Axios: State Department To Release Kennan-Style Paper On China

New York Times: Biden Wants to Rejoin Iran Nuclear Deal, but It Won’t Be Easy

Washington Post: Opinion: Trump’s latest summit no-shows are his final insult to America’s Asian allies

Calendar

WEDNESDAY | NOVEMBER 18

8 a.m. — Heritage Foundation webinar: “U.S.-Taiwan Partnership in Challenging Times,” with Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.; Republic of China Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chen Ming-tong; and Kay James, Heritage president. https://www.heritage.org/asia/event

10 a.m. — Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Nuclear Deterrence Forum with retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, a senior fellow at the RAND Corporation and former under secretary of energy for nuclear security. Video posted afterward at https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/aerospace-nation

10 a.m. — National Council on U.S. Arab Relations Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference, with Former Kuwait Finance Minister Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, cooperation council for the Arab States of the Gulf Secretary-General; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Joey Hood; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Gulf Affairs Timothy Lenderking; and Saudi Ambassador to the United States Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. https://ncusar.org/auspc/2020

11 a.m. — Senate Foreign Relations Chairman James Risch, R-Idaho, holds a virtual discussion on a new report, “The United States and Europe: A Concrete Agenda for Transatlantic Cooperation on China,” with Tom Tugendhat, chair of the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee; David McAllister, chair of the EU Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs; and Jamie Fly, senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. https://docs.google.com/forms

12 p.m. — Hudson Institute webinar: “The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Military Operations,” with Gen. Richard Clarke, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command; Richard Shultz, director of the Tufts University International Security Studies Program; Bryan Clark, director of the Hudson Center for Defense Concepts and Technology; and former Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategy Nadia Schadlow, senior fellow at Hudson. https://www.hudson.org/events

12 p.m. — Association of the U.S. Army “Noon Report” webinar on Army modernization, with Lt. Gen. James Pasquarette, the Army deputy chief of staff, G-8. Register at https://info.ausa.org

12 p.m. — Washington Post Live discussion with former national security adviser John Bolton, with national political reporter Robert Costa. https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live

12 p.m. — Naval Submarine League virtual symposium: “Enabling All-Domain Maneuver Warfare from the Undersea,” with Rear Adm. William Houston, director of Undersea Warfare. https://www.navalsubleague.org/events/annual-symposium

3 p.m. — Ploughshares Fund forum: “Transforming National Security: Nuclear Policy for a New Era,” with Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass.; House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash.; and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. https://www.ploughshares.org/issues-analysis

3 p.m. — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group conversation with Air Force Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, commander U.S. Pacific Air Forces. https://nationalsecuritymedia.gwu.edu/

THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 19

9:30 a.m. — Henry L. Stimson Center and the Center for Civilians in Conflict webinar: “Exceptions to the Rules: Civilian Harm and Accountability in the Shadow Wars,” focusing on CIA and Special Operations Forces rules on the lawful use of lethal force. https://www.stimson.org/event/exceptions-to-the-rules

10 a.m. — National Council on U.S. Arab Relations virtual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference, with Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander of the U.S. Central Command; U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia John Abizaid; Former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus, chairman of the KKR Global Institute. https://ncusar.org/auspc/2020

12 p.m. — Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies webinar: “Iran and the U.S. – A Critical Juncture,” with former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, director of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events

1:30 p.m. — Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies webinar, “China’s Increased Influence in Latin America: Is it a Threat to the Region and the U.S.?” with Army Lt. Col. Albert Marckwardt, Colombia country director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy and adjunct professor at SAIS. https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events

3:30 p.m. — U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Defense and Aerospace Export Council virtual discussion with former Defense Undersecretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall. https://www.uschamber.com/event

4:30 p.m. — Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies webinar: “U.S. Foreign Policy and Ukraine,” with former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor, vice president for strategic stability and security at the U.S. Institute of Peace. https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events

FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 20

9 a.m. 2118 Rayburn/Webex — House Armed Services Committee Committee hearing: “The US military mission in Afghanistan and implications of the peace process on US involvement,” with Ryan Crocker, nonresident senior fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Stephen Biddle, professor of international and public affairs, Columbia University; Seth Jones, Harold Brown, Center for Strategic and International Studies. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

TUESDAY | DECEMBER 1

All Day — NATO foreign ministers meet for two days via secure teleconference. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will brief reporters both days online. https://www.nato.int