POLAND STEPS UP: Poland is deploying 60 special operations forces to Iraq, and four F-16s to Kuwait to bolster its contribution to defeating the Islamic State. The F-16s will be doing recon, not attacks. Still, Poland has turned out to be one of the few NATO nations punching above its weight. Of the 28 NATO countries that have committed to spending at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense, as well as 20 percent of that on major equipment and weapons, only three have met the goal: the U.S., the U.K. and, that’s right, Poland!
New Zealand, which is not a NATO member, also pledged to do more, promising to keep its 143 trainers in Iraq another year, extending the current training mission until November 2018, and to also provide additional training of Iraqi Security Forces at a second location.
Last night, Defense Secretary Ash Carter thanked both allies. “The lasting defeat of ISIL must be a global undertaking, because ISIL is a global threat,” Carter said in a statement. “Expanding the resources dedicated to the fight allows us to further accelerate the campaign.”
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NOT POKING CHINA: “We’re not out there to increase tensions,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson told the Center for a New American Security yesterday. Richardson says most interactions with China’s ships are routine and professional. China is bracing for a possible unfavorable ruling by a U.N. arbitration court in The Hague over disputed islands in the South China Sea that could come as soon as next week. Beijing insists the U.N. has no jurisdiction in the case, and has refused to take part in the proceedings.
DOING RIGHT BY OUR TRANSLATORS: One former Marine said Monday that Congress should act to increase the number of visas available for Afghan interpreters to come to the U.S. “I do not think we can turn our back on our allies like that, especially concerning American interests in the future. How will we hold allies in the future?” Joe Jenkins said during an event for World Refugee Day hosted by Human Rights First. Neither the House nor the Senate authorization acts increase the number of visas, which are set to run out this year.
ANOTHER TRANSCRIPT SNAFU: The FBI released transcripts from Orlando shooter Omar Mateen’s 911 calls during the shooting, Kelly Cohen reports, but redacted specifically who Mateen pledged allegiance to. “What we’re not going to do is further proclaim this individual’s pledges of allegiance to terrorist groups and further his propaganda,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said. After reaction from House Speaker Paul Ryan and others, the Justice Department released the full transcript.
BIDEN ON TRUMP’S MUSLIM BAN: “If we make the religion the enemy, where the hell do you think we’re going to get the cooperation?” Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview with Charlie Rose. Biden slapdown of Donald Trump’s idea of a temporary ban on Muslim refugees and immigrants came after he expressed similar sentiments in a speech before the Center for a New American Security.
THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY? “An assortment of Iraqi forces will drive Islamic State from Fallujah. Then the real trouble will start,” writes former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan Ryan Crocker in the Cypherbrief. Crocker argues that the U.S. accepts the presence of extremist Shia militias, controlled by Iran, at its own peril. For Sunni Iraqis, Crocker says, “it is truly the choice from hell – Islamic state vs. Shia militia who have a long, brutal record of murdering Sunnis.” Crocker argues similar tactics against Soviets in Afghanistan showed that ignoring the means to the end can result in consequences that are likely to be worse.
VERY GOOD THEN: At the State Department yesterday, spokesman John Kirby struggled to explain what Secretary John Kerry meant when he responded to a reporter’s question about whether he had read the so-called “dissent cable.” Kerry said, “Yes. It’s very good. I’m going to meet with them. Thank you.” Does ‘it’s very good” mean that Kerry is prepared to make those same arguments, Kirby was asked at yesterday’s briefing. “No I’m not prepared to say that.” Kirby said, explaining at another point, “I mean obviously he read the memo and found it to be a well-crafted argument. Well enough that he feels it’s worth meeting with the authors.” Meanwhile Nicole Duran writes the memo is not expected to change anything.
PARTISAN DIVIDE: Republican voters are more than twice as likely as Democrats to consider national security their top issue Gabby Morrongiello writes. While national security is not a top priority for Democrats, the overall percentage of voters who put national security at the top of their list is up 10 percent since the Orlando massacre.
PERIPATETIC CARTER: Carter departs Washington today for another quick trip around the country to promote his “Force of the Future” pet project. Carter makes five stops in four states over three days, visiting troops and touring military facilities in New York, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. He’s back Thursday.
A SINGLE STANDARD: New physical standards established so women can compete for combat posts in the Marine Corps have weeded out many of the female hopefuls. But they’re also disqualifying some men, according to data obtained by The Associated Press.
CONFIRMATION TESTIMONY: The Senate Armed Services hears from the a pair of three-stars nominated to head U.S. Africa Command and National Guard Bureau. Marine Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser is up for AFRICOM, while Air Force Lt. Gen. Joseph Lengyel, the current vice chief, is up for the Guard spot on the JCS. The 9:30 a.m. hearing will streamed live on www.defense.gov.
DREAMLINERS TO IRAN: The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that Boeing has signed a tentative agreement to sell a variety of jetliners to Iran, in what would be one of the Islamic Republic’s biggest deals with a U.S. manufacturer since trade sanctions on Tehran were eased. The deal is reportedly worth as much as $25 billion.
ISRAEL GETS ITS FIRST F-35: Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman travels to Lockheed Martin’s plant in Fort Worth, Texas, tomorrow to watch the first F-35 joint strike fighter destined for Israel roll off the production line. Israel plans to buy at least 33 of the fifth generation fighter planes. Delivery is set for December. Lieberman met with Carter yesterday. According to Haaretz, Carter put a Defense Department plane at Lieberman’s disposal for use during his visit to the U.S.
NEW VP: The National Defense Industrial Association announced on Monday that it had named Frank Michael as its senior vice president for program development, where he’ll be tasked with building relationships with both industry and government officials. He previously served in the Navy as the chief of OPNAV’s Navy strategy branch.
OPINION: UPGRADED GPS NEEDED: Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Slim Marlar argues in the Washington Examiner that the military’s GPS technology is 20 years out of date. The Air Force has been creating a new system but Congress is now considering cutting funding for its development.
USS TRUMAN VIDEO: If you were ever curious about how sailors move all those jets around on an aircraft carrier, the U.S. Navy has provided this helpful video taken aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) while deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
THE RUNDOWN
The Daily Beast: Obama Will Finally Own Up to Drone War Dead
AP: Iraqi forces battle IS in Fallujah days after city’s fall
Bloomberg News: Pentagon’s Renewed Vow To Build 2,443 F-35s Depends On Budgets
Breaking Defense: Don’t Retire U-2, Again! Sen. Feinstein, Rep. Schiff Urge Air Force To Postpone
Defense News: Palantir Unleashes Its Lawyers Over US Army’s Intelligence Software
UPI: Northrop Grumman gets DARPA Tern contract
Defense News: Ensuring Naval Dominance in Trying Times
Military Times: Amid attacks, Trump promises new focus on vets issues
Fox News: NASA reveals the X-57, its electric plane project
Defense News: Prototypes For Marine Corps’ New Amphibious Combat Vehicle Coming Together
Wall Street Journal: Afghan War Rules Leave U.S. Troops Wondering When It’s OK to Shoot
CNN: Is Bangladesh the next ISIS hotspot?
Defense One: Inside Obama’s Syria Choices (A Guide for Dissenting Diplomats)
Reuters: Islamic State launches counter-attacks on U.S.-backed forces, Syrian army
War on the Rocks: Can the U.S. Coast Guard take on the South China Sea?
U.S. Naval Institute News: U.S., Partners Should Prepare For Chinese Reaction To Impending Territorial Dispute Arbitration
Reuters: Japan Military On Alert For Possible North Korean Ballistic Missile Launch
Calendar
TUESDAY | JUNE 21
9 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. The Atlantic Council hosts a discussion with the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson to discuss regional affairs in light of the Taliban and death of Mullah Mansour. atlanticcouncil.org
9:30 a.m. Dirksen G50. Senate Armed Services Committee considers nominations of Marine Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser to lead U.S. Africa Command, and Air Force Lt. Gen. Joseph Lengyel to lead National Guard Bureau. Live on www.defense.gov.
9:30 a.m. 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, Va. Randall Walden, director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, talks about acquiring capabilities more quickly. mitchellaerospacepower.org
10 a.m. Dirksen 342. Senate Homeland Security Committee will discuss the ideology of ISIS. hsgac.senate.gov
12 p.m. SVC 208-209. Lexington Institute hosts a Capitol Hill Forum on the National Guard’s role in cybersecurity for the U.S. power grid. lexingtoninstitute.org
12 p.m. 1150 17th St. NW. The Armed Service Committee staff members discuss challenges facing the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. aei.org
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 22
3 p.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Wilson Center hosts a panel to discuss the geopolitics of oil in the Gulf region in light of the Iran nuclear deal. wilsoncenter.org
3:30 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. CSIS hosts a panel of experts to discuss the future of U.S. Army missile defense. csis.org
THURSDAY | JUNE 23
7 a.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and Booz Allen host a daylong summit on the future of directed energy with a classified afternoon portion. csbaonline.org
9 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Gen. Mark Milley, the Army chief of staff, speaks about the U.S. military strategy. csis.org
9:30 a.m. Cannon 311. House Homeland Security committee discuss the readiness of Homeland Security for insider threats and counterintelligence. homeland.house.gov
10 a.m. Dirksen 419. Senate Foreign Relations committee will review the NATO Warsaw Summit agenda and possible outcomes. foreign.senate.gov
10 a.m. Rayburn 2172. House Foreign Affairs committee hold a hearing on how to counter the Islamic State’s virtual caliphate. foreignaffairs.house.gov
12:30 p.m. 1777 F St. NW. The Council on Foreign Relations host Sen. Christopher Coons to discuss the Iran nuclear deal. cfr.org
2 p.m. Rayburn 2154. House Oversight subcommittees on National Security and Government Operations hold a hearing on terrorist radicalization in the U.S. oversight.house.gov
FRIDAY | JUNE 24
10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. CSIS and the U.S. Naval Institute discuss challenges facing the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. usni.org
