PENCE SAYS HE AND TRUMP AGREE ON SYRIA: A day after Donald Trump voiced his disagreement with Mike Pence’s plan to use military force against the Assad regime if the humanitarian situation in Aleppo doesn’t change, Pence took to the morning shows to say they don’t disagree at all, Gabby Morrongiello reports. Instead, Pence accused moderator Martha Raddatz of mischaracterizing Pence’s original comments, and Trump was merely disagreeing with the mischaracterization. But in reality, Raddatz merely read sections of Pence’s quote to Trump.
Meanwhile, things got pretty awkward when former CIA director and current Trump national security adviser James Woolsey refused to characterize the Trump-Pence policy on Syria while appearing on CNN. When asked repeatedly to clarify the campaign’s position, he said that was up to the candidates, telling the questioners that their policy questions were all about politics.
Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre), National Security Writer Jacqueline Klimas (@jacqklimas) and Senior Editor David Brown (@dave_brown24). Email us here for tips, suggestions, calendar items and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll be sure to add you to our list.
Want to learn more about Daily on Defense? See our introductory video here.
PERMANENT RUSSIAN PRESENCE: A Russian Defense Ministry official told parliament that plans are underway to turn the Russian base at Tartus in Syria into a permanent naval facility. The naval base at the southern port city is where Russia most recently deployed an S-300 surface-to-air system, raising suspicions among U.S. officials that the Russians planned on targeting coalition aircraft, since the Islamic State does not have aircraft to shoot down. Those suspicions were basically confirmed last week when Russian officials said they would shoot down any aircraft that appear to be menacing Syrian government forces.
DON’T CHOP UP SYRIA: Middle East expert Fuad Suleiman is out with an op-ed in the Washington Examiner this morning warning against those who would divide up Syria. “Bloodshed would continue. Extremist groups would not be defeated, but would rule more territory. Militias would continue to mar the political landscape. American men and women would die in a plethora of battles involving U.S. clients, but U.S. prestige would not be enhanced. Furthermore, partition of Syria is not likely to advance other U.S. plans for the region, be it the creation of an economic market that transcends current boundaries or utilization of Syrian ports to export more of the region’s oil and gas to Europe.”
CARTER’S CALL: Defense Secretary Ash Carter spoke to his Colombian counterpart by phone on Monday, after Hurricane Matthew canceled his plans to visit the country this week. In addition to pledging $10 million to get rid of landmines in the country, Carter also invited Minister of Defense Luis Carlos Villegas to visit the Pentagon soon, according to a readout of the call. Tuesday finds Carter in Trinidad and Tobago for the 12th Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas.
WHY THE LOOSE LIPS?: Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution said Trump may have a point when he keeps asking why the Pentagon is broadcasting its battle plans and losing the element of surprise. “I think this is a rich debate with evidence on both sides of the argument. So on this one at least, while Trump’s disdain for those with other views is unbecoming and unfair, his own position is not unreasonable — or at least worthy of serious consideration,” O’Hanlon said.
McCAIN: GOP WILL NEED REPAIR: In his one and only televised debate in his race to hold on to his Arizona Senate seat, Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain expressed deep concern for the future of the GOP. “I worry about the future of the Republican Party,” McCain said, adding there will be a lot of work to do to rebuild the party when the presidential election is over. McCain is being challenged by Democrat Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, who criticized McCain for supporting Trump on more than five dozen occasions. “It’s not pleasant for me to renounce the nominee of my party.” McCain said in the debate. “When Mr. Trump attacks women … that is a point where I just have to part company.” McCain indicated he’s considering writing in a vote for his close friend and Armed Services Committee colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham.
McCain expressed concern at his debate that Republicans could lose the Senate. He’s not the only who fears the loss of GOP majorities. Party strategists are privately conceding the loss of at least three Senate seats this fall, with more than enough in jeopardy because of Trump to flip the chamber to the Democrats. The Democrats need to net five seats to win the majority, four if Clinton becomes president. The data crunching website fivethirtyeight.com puts the odds of the Democrats retaking the Senate at 52.6 to 47.4 percent.
IS THE U.S. REALLY BETTER? The United States military argues it is conducting the most careful bombing campaign in history, taking unprecedented care with the most accurate weapons to avoid killing innocent civilians. But warfare is never perfect. Watch my video explanation of how the U.S. picks its targets, and why it’s different from the way Russia has been bombing indiscriminately in Syria.
SPACE WAR: WILL ALIENS PERMIT IT? Among the more “out there” emails in Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta’s hacked account was one from the late Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell. Mitchell was very worried that “the war in space race is heating up,” and added this cryptic warning: “Remember, our nonviolent ETI [Extraterrestrial Intelligence] from the contiguous universe are helping us bring zero point energy to Earth,” Mitchell wrote. “They will not tolerate any forms of military violence on Earth or in space. We’re arguably closer than ever to war in space,” he added. Zero point energy, Rudy Takala writes, is a theoretical method of reaching a practical speed during space travel by “warping” space.”
THE RUNDOWN
Military.com: Army to Field New Radios in Wake of Pentagon Criticism
UPI: Raytheon developing interface for DARPA’s ground vehicle program
Army Times: Army wants to field better jungle boots in 2017
Military.com: Marine Grunts Will Train With F-35 Ahead of First Deployment
Defense News: Aeromedical Evacuation Crews Score Their First Flight Simulators
UPI: Changes in Russian military service law open possibility of short-term contracts
Associated Press: UN chief urges independent investigation of Yemen attacks
New York Times: ISIS Media Output Drops as Military Pressure Rises, Report Says
Air Force Times: Air contingent trains with Philippine troops, but will it be the last?
Task and Purpose: Why We Need To Stop Calling The Iraq War ‘A Mistake’
Fox News: Afghan Taliban launch large-scale attack on Helmand; suicide blast kills 14
War on the Rocks: What’s really at stake in the Syria debate
Navy Times: Iwo Jima racing to Haiti loaded with sailors, Marines and relief supplies
Calendar
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 11
8 a.m. 1919 N. Lynn St., Arlington. Defense One hosts an event on how the data the military collects can and will be used for future decision making. defenseone.com
11 a.m. Call in. Think tank analysts talk about what’s next for the U.S., Russia and Syria now that cease-fire talks have collapsed. wilsoncenter.org
Noon. Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel, 900 South Orme St., Arlington. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford speaks at the National Military Family Association’s Leadership Luncheon.
1:30 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW. The Stimson Center holds an event looking at Japan’s defense buildup and alliance with the U.S. stimson.org
WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 12
7 a.m. 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington. Lt. Gen. Gina Grosso, the deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, speaks at an Air Force Association breakfast event. afa.org
10:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Peter Lavoy, senior director for South Asia on the National Security Council, talks about security cooperation between the U.S. and India. csis.org
12:30 p.m. 529 14th St. NW. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus speaks at a National Press Club luncheon. press.org
MONDAY | OCTOBER 17
10:30 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Michael Doran, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, talks about his new book, Ike’s Gamble: America’s Rise to Dominance in the Middle East. brookings.edu
12 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. Officials will talk about remaining priorities for the U.S. while it holds rotating chairmanship of the Arctic Council. atlanticcouncil.org
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 18
8:30 a.m. 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Think tank experts discuss how the Pentagon can develop alternative defense strategies. csbaonline.org
8:30 a.m. Albuquerque, NM. CSIS hosts the second of a two-part Project on Nuclear Issues conference. All speakers and presentations are off-the-record. csis.org
9 a.m. 1789 Massachusetts Ave. NW. NSA Deputy National Manager for National Security Systems Curt Dukes gives an update on U.S. cyber defenses. aei.org
10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Adm. Kurt Tidd, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, talks about maritime security. csis.org
12 p.m. Rayburn 2212. Former B-2 bomber pilots speak about the importance of long-range strike capabilities on the 15th anniversary of the longest bombing run. mitchellaerospacepower.org
