RESOLVE AT THE PENTAGON: Outwardly, nothing has changed at the Pentagon with the ouster of Mark Esper and the arrival of Chris Miller as acting defense secretary. Miller made his debut as Pentagon chief at a ceremony marking the grand opening of the National Museum of the U.S. Army, where the former Green Beret told his personal story of enlisting in the Army as a 17-year-old at Camp Dodge, Iowa, in the summer of 1983.
Miller was preceded by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, whose words took on added significance given the worries generated by President Trump’s moves to purge the Pentagon of civilian leaders who he deems insufficiently loyal.
“We are unique among militaries. We do not take an oath to a king or queen, a tyrant or dictator. We do not take an oath to an individual. No, we do not take an oath to a country, a tribe, or religion. We take an oath to the Constitution, and every soldier that is represented in this museum, every sailor, airman, marine, coast guard, each of us will protect and defend that document regardless of personal price,” Milley said. “That has been true across generations that are on display in this building, in this great museum, and allows all of us to connect to be forever tied to those who came before us. We will never turn our back on our duty to protect and defend the idea that is America, the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.”
When Miller took the stage, he gave Milley’s words his heartfelt endorsement. “Chairman. Thanks for setting the bar very high for the new guy to come in and make a few words,” he said. “I think all I would say to your statements is ‘amen, well done.’”
SMOOTH TRANSITION: The day before, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo raised concerns when he answered a reporter’s question about the transfer of power by saying, “There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration.”
Later, in an interview on Fox, Pompeo insisted that “whoever is in office at noon on January 20,” there will be a transition “deeply consistent with the American tradition.”
“I was part of a transition on the other side. I came into an administration, President Obama’s, when I was CIA director. We managed it. We did it very efficiently. It didn’t take as much time as some might be pretending that it’s going to take,” Pompeo said. “I’m very confident that all the things that need to be done will be done in an appropriate way, that we will deliver that.”
‘I’M CONCERNED’: Last night on Fox, former Trump national security adviser retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster said Trump’s moves were “adding more turbulence” to what is always “a dangerous time.”
“Our enemies, adversaries, rivals think it might be time to act out against us. So I think it’s really important for us to show a high degree of competence and a degree of stability, and a recognition that, hey, our democracy works, our institutions are strong,” McMaster told Fox News anchor Bret Baier. “If it is really 70 days left in a Trump administration, it’s tough to put together a positive agenda in 70 days. You can tear some things down. I just don’t know what the purpose is of this,” he said. “If it’s just general vindictiveness, right, OK, that’s one thing, and we can live with that. But I hope that there’s not like another reason behind this.”
IT’S DELUSIONAL: Over on CNN, another former Trump national security adviser, John Bolton, who has written a harshly critical book about his time in the White House, called Pompeo’s suggestion that Trump may have won the election “delusional.”
“I must say, I think he’s eviscerated his credibility internationally. Because I think there are very few people, and even in the U.S. government, who believe that’s the case. I don’t know why he had to have that briefing. And I don’t know why he felt he needed to make that statement, maybe other than to avoid being fired like others are being throughout the administration. But it is — it’s delusional,” Bolton told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
“Look, he’s running for president, the campaign for 2024 has already begun. Everybody’s going to make his or her own campaign choices. And I think he just made his.”
Good Thursday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Victor I. Nava. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter: @dailyondefense.
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HAPPENING TODAY: Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown hosts a promotion ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling for Lt. Gen. David Allvin, who becomes Air Force vice chief of staff. Livestream at 10 a.m. at https://www.af.mil/
THE ‘GUTTING’ OF THE PENTAGON: It’s not just the abrupt firing of Secretary Esper that has Rep. Adam Smith up in arms. The Democratic chairman of the House Armed Services Committee says Trump is “gutting” the Defense Department, purging all the top positions following the resignation of James Anderson, who was acting undersecretary of defense for policy, essentially the No. 3 job at the Pentagon.
Anderson is being replaced by retired Brig. Gen. Anthony Tata, a former Fox News commentator, who was serving in a lower position at the Pentagon because he lacked support for Senate confirmation because of inflammatory statements he made in the past about President Obama and members of Congress. “It is hard to overstate just how dangerous high-level turnover at the Department of Defense is during a period of presidential transition,” said Smith, who called Tata’s elevation “alarming.”
“If this is the beginning of a trend — the President either firing or forcing out national security professionals in order to replace them with people perceived as more loyal to him — then the next 70 days will be precarious at best and downright dangerous at worst,” said Smith. “This confirms what I have been saying for months: The president’s singular obsession with loyalty has severely undermined the competence of our government and made us less safe. It is an insult to the American people to hamstring government, particularly during a period of presidential transition.”
In addition to Tata, Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes, one of Trump’s most ardent supporters, has been named new chief of staff to acting Secretary Miller, Ezra Cohen-Watnick, a former deputy of Michael Flynn, is acting undersecretary for intelligence, and retired Army Col. Doug Macgregor, another Fox News regular, will now become a senior adviser to Miller.
INVASION OF THE ‘YES-MEN’: “And the last thing we should be doing in the last 10 weeks of a lame-duck presidency is sending a message to the world that we’re unstable and we’re losing focus in the Pentagon. It’s ridiculous,” said Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, who was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2016.
“The president should not have pushed Secretary Esper out. What the Pentagon needs is not more yes-people and Fox News commentators,” Kaine said on MSNBC. “This is a time of maximum peril with the coronavirus and with an unstable globe. And the president deciding he wants yes-men to run the Pentagon is extremely dangerous.”
“I mean, he’s done it because he’s mad at Esper. He’s letting his personal emotions, his personal pique against Esper, take precedence over the needs of the country.”
BIDEN CABINET TIMETABLE: Meanwhile, presumptive President-elect Joe Biden is moving to fill his Cabinet, choosing longtime aide Ron Klain to be his White House chief of staff and promising he’ll have more announcements in the coming weeks.
“Ron has been invaluable to me over the many years that we have worked together, including as we rescued the American economy from one of the worst downturns in our history in 2009 and later overcame a daunting public health emergency in 2014,” Biden said in a statement, referring to Klain’s time as White House’s Ebola response coordinator.
Biden says he’s confident he’ll be able to get his picks confirmed, even if Republicans retain control of the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has reportedly warned against sending “radical progressive” nominees to the Senate.
“I take McConnell at his word. I understand he said that he will make it clear who he’s prepared to support and not support,” Biden said Tuesday. “That’s a negotiation that I’m sure we’ll have.”
Biden says he’s close to naming a few of his nominees. “I hope we’re able to be in a position to let people know, at least a couple that we want before Thanksgiving, and we’ll just work this out.”
ODDS-ON FAVORITE: People keep talking about former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy as if she’s a lock to be Biden’s defense secretary.
Washington Examiner Defense Reporter Abraham Mahshie takes a look at what might change at the Pentagon and what might not, should Flournoy take the helm.
INDUSTRY WATCH: As expected, the State Department has approved the sale of up to 50 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates. Price tag: $23.37 billion.
Also approved, the sale of 18 General Atomics MQ-9B drones, valued at $2.97 billion; and a package of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, valued at $10 billion.
“The UAE’s historic agreement to normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to positively transform the region’s strategic landscape,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement. “The proposed sale will make the UAE even more capable and interoperable with U.S. partners in a manner fully consistent with America’s longstanding commitment to ensuring Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge.”
The Rundown
Washington Examiner: Michele Flournoy, in line to be first female defense secretary, may be forced by Biden to shrink DOD
Washington Examiner: Pentagon shake-up continues after Esper firing
Washington Examiner: Pentagon official resigns as dominoes begin to fall in wake of Esper firing
Washington Examiner: Acting defense secretary reportedly hires adviser who called for total withdrawal from Afghanistan ‘as soon as possible’
Washington Examiner: China jeopardizes shot at reset under Biden presidency with latest Hong Kong crackdown
Washington Examiner: TikTok claims ‘no clarity’ from Trump administration as possible ban looms this week
New York Times: China Purges Hong Kong’s Lawmakers As It Squelches Dissent
Military.com: Senate Committee Wants to Cut Marine Corps Even Smaller, Keeps 3% Troop Pay Raise
Air Force Magazine: Department of Air Force Funding Takes Hit in 2021 Spending Bill
AP: UN agency: Iran uranium stockpile still violates atomic deal
USNI News: CNO Gilday Ready to Act on Parts of Future Fleet Plan — As Long As It Doesn’t Hurt Readiness
Seapower Magazine: SECNAV Names Future Expeditionary Sea Base USS John L. Canley
USNI News: Pentagon ‘Ghost Fleet’ Ship Makes Record-Breaking Trip from Mobile to California
Stars and Stripes: Pentagon Refutes Reports That Marine Raiders Are Training Forces On Taiwan
Long War Journal: Veteran Al Qaeda leader killed in western Afghanistan
USA Today: Air Force general charged with sexually assaulting civilian, could be court-martialed
Washington Post: Opinion: John Bolton: Time is running out for Trump — and Republicans who coddle him
Calendar
THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 12
8 a.m. — Henry L. Stimson Center security brief: “Taiwan in 2020,” Eleanor Albert, Ph.D. in residence at the George Washington University International Security and Conflict Studies Program; Emily Chen, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Tokyo; and Pamela Kennedy, research analyst in the Stimson East Asia Program. https://www.stimson.org/event/taiwan
9 a.m. — Brookings Institution webcast: “U.S.-Taiwan Policy in 2021 and Beyond,” with Eric Sayers, adjunct senior fellow in the Center for a New American Security’s Asia-Pacific Security Program; Bonnie Glaser, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ China Power Project; Ryan Hass, fellow in the Brookings Center for East Asia Policy Studies; Richard Bush, nonresident senior fellow in the Brookings Center for East Asia Policy Studies; and Syaru Shirley Lin, nonresident senior fellow in the Brookings Center for East Asia Policy. https://www.brookings.edu/events
9 a.m. — Intelligence National Security Alliance webinar on “top priorities in the DOD’s acquisition and sustainment office,” with Katie Arrington, chief information security officer for the Defense Department’s Undersecretary of Acquisition and Sustainment. https://www.insaonline.org/event
9:30 a.m. — Atlantic Council webinar: “The French-American Defense Relationship and Post-COVID-19 Alliances,” with French Ambassador to the United States Philippe Etienne; former U.S. Naval Forces in Europe Commander Adm. James Foggo, fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis; Torrey Taussig, research director of the Harvard Kennedy School’s “Transatlantic Relations 2020”; Alice Guitton, director general for international relations and strategy at the French Ministry of the Armed Forces; Olivier-Remy Bel, visiting fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Future Europe Initiative; and Jeff Lightfoot, nonresident senior fellow in the Atlantic Council’s Center for Strategy and Security. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event
12 p.m. — Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronic Association webinar: “5G: Powering Military Smart Bases,” with Air Force CTO Frank Konieczny; Army 5G Program Lead Col. Schawn Branch; Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrice Melancon, executive director of the Tyndall Program Management Office; Lt. Col. Brandon Newell, director of the SoCal Tech Bridge at NavalX; and Daniel Massey, program lead of the Defense Department’s Operate Through 5G to NextG Initiative. https://dcevents.afceachapters.org/5G
1 p.m. — Government Executive Media Group webinar: “Artificial Intelligence and the Next Generation of Cybersecurity, with Christopher Cleary, chief information security officer for the Navy; Adam Cardinal-Stakenas, chief of the National Security Agency Research Directorate’s Data Science Research Division; Martin Stanley, senior adviser for artificial intelligence in Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; and Matt Turek, program manager in the DARPA Information Innovation Office. https://www.govexec.com/feature/ai
2 p.m. — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group conference call conversation with Vice Adm. William Galinis, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command. https://nationalsecuritymedia.gwu.edu/
FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 13
9 a.m. — Brookings Institution webcast: “Prospects for U.S.-South Korea Cooperation in an Era of U.S.-China Strategic Competition,” with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Korea and Japan Marc Knapper. https://www.brookings.edu/events
10 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the U.S. Naval Institute
10 a.m. — Middle East Institute webinar: “America’s Future in the Black Sea Region,” with Melinda Haring, deputy director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center; Iulia-Sabina Joja, senior fellow in the MEI Frontier Europe Initiative; Dimitar Bechev, senior fellow in the MEI Frontier Europe Initiative; and Gonul Tol, director of the MEI Turkey Program. https://www.mei.edu/events/americas-future-black-sea-region]
10 a.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace webinar: “The UN Nuclear Ban Treaty Enters Into Force in January. Then What?” with Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons; Zia Mian, co-director of Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security; Togzhan Kassenova, nonresident fellow in the CEIP Nuclear Policy Program; and George Perkovich, vice president for studies at CEIP. https://carnegieendowment.org
10 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies and the U.S. Naval Institute webcast: “Information Warfare: From a Supporting Role to a Leading Role,” with Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare and Director of Naval Intelligence Vice Adm. Jeffrey Trussler; and Brian Katz, fellow in the CSIS International Security Program. https://www.csis.org/events/online-event-maritime-security
TUESDAY | NOVEMBER 17
11 a.m. — The Heritage Foundation releases its 2021 Index of U.S. Military Strength, with Texas Rep. Mac Thornberry, ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. https://www.heritage.org/defense/event/virtual-event
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We will never turn our back on our duty to protect and defend the idea that is America, the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.”
Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, speaking at the dedication of the new National Museum of the U.S. Army.
