AMERICA SPEAKS, TRUMP TRIUMPHS: In the end, Donald Trump’s narrow path to the 270 electoral votes needed to become president turned out to be more of a superhighway. Trump and his opponent Hillary Clinton had one belief in common, each convinced they would win. But Trump’s gut was right, and he proved not only his critics wrong, but the polls, the pundits on the Left and Right, and the data-crunching nerds whose computer models put Trump’s chances of losing as high as 90 percent. He is on track to garner more than 300 electoral votes, and his coattails were long enough to keep the Senate under Republican control, meaning Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, a veteran lawmaker with a deep knowledge of national security, will be there to help guide Trump’s vision for rebuilding America’s military, and repositioning its relationships with allies and adversaries alike. In his victory speech, McCain said. “I promise you, I will work as hard as I ever have, use all my knowledge and experience and relationships, and extend an open hand to our new president, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to solve our problems together as fellow Americans, who have more in common than we have differences.”
GRACIOUS IN VICTORY: In a 3 a.m. victory speech in New York, Trump sought to unite the divided country with some kind words for his vanquished opponent. “Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time, and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country,” Trump said after he got a phone call from Clinton congratulating him on his win. There was none of the bellicose rhetoric of the campaign and Trump struck a conciliatory tone, as he tried also to reassure other nations that America would continue to a reliable partner. “I want to tell the world community that while we will always put America’s interests first, we will deal fairly with everyone, with everyone — all people and all other nations. We will seek common ground, not hostility; partnership, not conflict.” And Trump pledged to “harness the creative talents of our people” and “call upon the best and brightest to leverage their tremendous talent for the benefit of all.”
SENATE STAYS REPUBLICAN: Senate Republicans Tuesday defied the odds and clung to their majority after a hard-fought election that many predicted would push them back into the minority after a brief two years controlling the gavel. The victory likely ensures the political survival of Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is expected to seek to maintain his post as majority. And GOP Senate control will put Republicans in a better position to fill the vacant Supreme Court seat with a conservative, given Trump’s victory.
AT THE PENTAGON: The day begins like any other, with the twin American flags flapping at the foot of the River Entrance Parade ground, with the 17 ½ miles of corridors teeming with some 24,000 uniformed and civilian personnel arriving by the dawn’s early light to carry out the myriad functions that keep our national security apparatus functioning. There will be no cries of joy, or tears of despair. The Pentagon prides itself on being a planning organization, and today planning will continue on options to present the new president on everything from defeating the Islamic State to countering the Russians in the Arctic. And unlike many other federal agencies where there is a mass exodus on inauguration day, the Pentagon’s senior military leaders, sworn to be apolitical, overlap the change of administrations, providing a measure of consistency and a bulwark against instability. But it’s also a time when power shifts from civilians to the military under what’s been dubbed “the oversight gap.”
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TRUMP’S CABINET: One of the names that keeps coming up to serve as Trump’s defense secretary is retired Lt. Gen Michael Flynn, but many who are speculating seem unaware that Title 10 of the federal code specifies that the defense secretary must be appointed “from civilian life” and can’t be a recently retired military officer. “A person may not be appointed as Secretary of Defense within seven years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force,” the provision says. Flynn would need a waiver from Congress. That would mean Flynn might be a better fit as national security adviser. Other names that have been mentioned for SecDef are Sen. Jeff Sessions and former Sen. Jim Talent. In his victory remarks, Trump praised Sessions as a “major, major politician,” who he said is “as smart as you get.” Some reports also suggest Newt Gingrich is under consideration for secretary of state, as well as Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Corker and former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton. Rudy Giuliani is seen as contender for attorney general. Politico has a long list of informed speculation of who might fill out the Trump Cabinet.
ON THE HILL: Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees came out of Election night largely unscathed. McCain will be returning to the Senate Armed Services Committee in 2017 after defeating a challenge from Democrat Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick. The fact that the Republican majority will allow McCain to retain his gavel could play into negotiations on the National Defense Authorization Act in the lame duck session, since the must-pass bill will no longer be McCain’s last shot to advance his priorities.
Other SASC committee members who also won re-election: Richard Blumenthal and Mike Lee. While in New Hampshire, Republican Kelly Ayotte is clinging to a razor thin lead over Gov. Maggie Hassan, a Democrat. In Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt won reelection over Democratic challenger Jason Kander, a former Army captain who served in Afghanistan.
Sen.-elect Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran who lost both legs when her helicopter was shot down in Iraq, will join the Senate after besting GOP Sen. Mark Kirk. While all committee assignments will be finalized next year, the former member of the House Armed Services Committee is likely going to be looking to continue her work on the Senate committee. She’ll be the Senate’s second female combat veteran, joining Sen. Joni Ernst.
Several members of the House Armed Services Committee won’t be returning because of retirements, lost primaries or runs for higher office, but the majority of those up for re-election will be return to D.C. in 2017. In Arizona, former A-10 squadron commander Rep. Martha McSally beat back her challenger to win reelection. Iraq war veteran Rep. Mike Coffman also prevailed in his reelection bid.
QUICK TAKES ON TRUMP’S PENTAGON: National security experts shared their with the Washington Examiner their initial thoughts about what Trump’s victory means for the future of defense.
Todd Harrison, Center for Strategic and International Studies: “I would not assume this means traditional single party control of government. Many Republicans did not support Trump, and there are significant policy difference within the Republican Party, especially when it comes to foreign policy and trade. Democrats will still have enough votes to block significant legislation in the Senate, and that is an important power. I think this outcome likely means continued or even worse gridlock and could actually make it harder to reach a budget deal, especially if Trump governs as he campaigned.”
Andrew Hunter, Center for Strategic and International Studies: “The new president has challenges to face and much damage to repair. From the caps imposed under the Budget Control Act which exacerbated a major readiness gap and created a debilitating shortfall in the pipeline of modern defense systems, to the undermining of our alliances and partnerships around the world caused by conflicts in Syria, the Ukraine, and the South China Sea and the overheated rhetoric of the campaign.”
James Jay Carafano, Heritage Foundation: “On defense, I suspect, a Trump Pentagon will deliver on the promise of peace through strength. I suspect a lot of foreign policy will look the opposite of Obama, but little like Bush. There will be a serious effort at a proactive foreign policy that in particular tries to regain momentum on European issues; bring stability to the Middle East, and manage competition with China.”
Bryan Clark, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments: “Donald Trump promised to grow the military – most specifically building the Navy to 350 ships – and end mandatory budget caps, but did not address other specific initiatives or how to pay for them. The most significant and pervasive institutional challenge DoD faces today is the budget caps associated with sequestration.
PUTIN’S CONGRATS: Russian President Vladimir Putin sent Trump a telegram of congratulations, reports the AP. In a brief statement Putin expressed “his hope to work together for removing Russian-American relations from their crisis state.” Putin also said he has “confidence that building a constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington that is based on principles of equality, mutual respect and a real accounting each other’s positions, in the interests of our peoples and the world community.”
EPI-PEN SCAM: A trio of bipartisan senators are calling on drug maker Mylan to pay back the Pentagon for overcharging for the allergy drug EpiPen. The senators said Mylan misclassified the EpiPen which “led the DoD to pay exorbitant rates for the drug at retail pharmacies,” according to a letter sent to Mylan CEO Heather Bresch on Monday. The company has seen outrage from Congress for price hikes for the life-saving drug, which now costs $600 for a two-pack. Mylan already agreed to pay the Department of Justice about $465 million to settle claims that it misclassified a drug and paid a lower rebate to Medicaid. Now the lawmakers want to know, “Where’s the Pentagon’s refund?”
FOREIGN SALES: The U.S. sold $33.6 billion worth of equipment and weapons to allies in fiscal 2016. While the previous year saw significantly more foreign military sales at $47 billion, Vice Adm. Joseph Rixey, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, cautioned against comparing trends year to year since when a particular contract is approved can impact yearly totals.
FIRST STRIKES: Russian-backed media is reporting that the Admiral Kuznetsov will launch its first strikes in Syria from the Mediterranean “in the nearest hours.” The ship has been plagued with repeated technical issues on previous deployments.
THE RUNDOWN
Reuters: Wall Street elite stunned at Trump triumph
Forbes: Republican Donald Trump Is Elected President Of United States And Global Markets Plunge
NBC: World Reacts to Trump’s Election Win: ‘It’s the End of an Era’
US News: How Vladimir Putin Won the U.S. Election
Breaking Defense: F-35B Weapons Bay Fire: No Fleet Or Unit Groundings
CNBC: Philippine Defense Min says Duterte scaling back, not ending, joint military activities
War on the Rocks: Five reasons Washington should rethink selling warplanes to Nigeria
Military.com: Afghan War Crimes Inquiry on Docket for Next US President
Defense One: The Next President Will Face a Cyber Crisis. Here’s How to Handle It
Breaking Defense: US Army Races To Build New Cyber Corps
Air Force Times: The Air Force just cut 15 ‘queep’ requirements and streamlined 16 more
Defense News: Interview: Jamie Morin, Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation
CNN: At least 295 civilians kidnapped by ISIS west of Mosul, UN says
Navy Times: Here are the new rules for sailors and Marines seeking gender-reassignment surgery
Army Times: Human testing begins on Zika virus vaccine developed by the Army
Calendar
WEDNESDAY | NOVEMBER 9
4:30 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. The Atlantic Council hosts an event with industry leaders titled, “Corporate-Venture Investing in Aerospace & Defense.” atlanticcouncil.org
THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 10
9:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Officials speak on a panel on preventing terrorists from getting chemical weapons. csis.org
10:30 a.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW. Think tank experts talk about security and insecurity in the relationship with Iran after the nuclear deal. stimson.org
5:30 pm. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. National Journal’s James Kitfield speaks about his new book, Twilight Warriors: The Soldiers, Spies, and Special Agents Who Are Revolutionizing the American Way of War. csis.org
MONDAY | NOVEMBER 14
1 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. A panel of think tank experts undertakes a pathgame where violence breaks out after mobile communications are cut. atlanticcouncil.org
TUESDAY | NOVEMBER 15
9:30 a.m. 600 New Hampshire Ave. NW. Adm. Harry Harris, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, talks about what’s next for his area of responsibility. defenseone.com
1 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta speaks at a CSIS invitation-only event on a new strategy for countering violent extremism. csis.org
5 p.m. 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments holds an event talking about the future of amphibious warfare. csbaonline.org
WEDNESDAY | NOVEMBER 16
7:15 a.m. 1250 S. Hayes St., Arlington, Va. Maj. Gen. Christopher Owens, the director of expeditionary warfare, speaks at a Navy League breakfast event. navyleague.org
9 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. The Heritage Foundation releases its annual 2017 Index of U.S. Military Strength, which includes a speech from Rep. Michael Turner. heritage.org
9 a.m. 1152 15th St. NW. Capitol Hill and Pentagon officials talk about how to make counterterrorism security assistance more effective. cnas.org
12 p.m. Rayburn B-369. Analysts from the Cato Institute discuss the state of world affairs and if funding shortfalls have hampered the U.S. military. cato.org
