OBAMA ADMITS FAILURE: President Obama is in Laos today, the first U.S. president to visit the Communist country the U.S. bombed during the secret war of the 1960s and 1970s, announcing a $90 million package to help clear Laos of unexploded bombs. But while in China for the G-20 summit Sunday, Obama admitted failure in Syria — not just in reaching an agreement with Russia over possible coordinated military efforts against ISIS — but also in the “cessation of hostilities” agreement ballyhooed back in February. “Initially, it did lessen some of the violence.” Obama said. “And then, slowly, it unwound and we’re back into a situation which Assad’s regime is bombing with impunity.”
After a 90-minute meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Obama cited “gaps of trust” as the main stumbling block. Obama has told Secretary of State John Kerry to keep at it. “My instructions to Sec. Kerry and Mr. Putin’s instructions to [Foreign Minister Sergey] Lavrov was to keep working at it over the next several days because the faster we can provide some relief to folks on the ground, the better off we’re going to be.”
Putin and Obama may have more to talk about. While cybersecurity was reportedly part of their conversation, reports surfaced on Monday that Russian hackers had been accessing the political process of countries around the world to sway public opinion in elections in a way that will benefit Russia.
WHEELS UP: Defense Secretary Ash Carter is off to London this morning, where he meets face-to-face with British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon for the first time since the U.K. voted to leave the European Union. Most of today will be spent traveling, but tomorrow Carter will give a speech at Oxford University, where he studied theoretical physics, followed by a press conference with Fallon.
While in London, Carter will also hold meetings with Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik and Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. President Obama met with Turkish President Tayyip Recep Erdogan on the sidelines of the G-20. Both leaders insisted the strained relationship to be just fine, thank you. Obama said Turkey remains a “strong NATO ally,” and Erdogan called the alliance “a model partnership.” But standing next to Obama, Erdogan denounced the Syrian Kurds known as the YPG, which the U.S is supports, as a terrorist organization, adding, “All forms of terrorism is evil.”
Later in the week, Carter will head to Norway, a partner in multiple defense industry projects like the F-35 as well as a contributor to the counter-Islamic State campaign. In Bodo, Carter will see Norwegian military capabilities, before traveling to Oslo for a press conference with Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide.
The Washington Examiner’s Jacqueline Klimas is on the plane with Carter, so stay with Daily on Defense for updates from overseas.
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.
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MORE NORTH KOREAN MISSILE TESTS, MORE SANCTIONS: Breaking this morning: The Associated Press is reporting that President Obama is vowing to tighten sanctions on North Korea after its latest missile launches. Yesterday, North Korea fired three medium-range missiles while world leaders were meeting at the Group of 20 economic summit in China. According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, all three missiles fell in Japan’s exclusive economic zone. It’s the latest in a series of missile firings that the U.S. says violates UN resolutions and undermines stability in the region. The UN Security Council has scheduled a closed emergency meeting on North Korea’s latest missile tests in violation of UN resolutions.
TRUMP WINS MILITARY BACKING: The New York Times reports this morning that Donald Trump’s campaign will release an open letter from about 88 retired generals and military officials endorsing his presidential campaign, urging a “long overdue course correction in our national security posture.” The letter of support comes on the eve of a national security forum hosted by NBC and MSNBC in which Trump and Hillary Clinton are scheduled to appear on the same stage, but not at the same time.
SOMEBODY LEAKED THE WAR PLANS: The Pentagon is known as a place that sometimes has a hard time keeping a secret, and Politico has obtained a bombshell leak in the form of a five-page document outlining a divide-and-conquer strategy against a dogged adversary. But the enemy in this battle is Congress, specifically House Speaker Paul Ryan’s plan to shift $18 billion from the warfighting fund to pay for programs the Pentagon didn’t request. Carter is on record calling the move a gimmick, and threatening to recommend a presidential veto. But what’s eye-opening is the unabashed hardball nature of his staff’s counteroffensive, which according to Politico calls for “pitting the House and Senate against each other, capitalizing on the ‘discomfort’ of one key Republican lawmaker and finding ways to undermine the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.” One can only imagine how Republicans will react to the memo, at a time when many GOP lawmakers hold Carter in “minimum high regard.”
THIRD TRY: In a series of votes starting at 5:30 this evening, the Senate will try for the third time to cut off debate in order to hold a vote on the fiscal 2017 defense spending bill. The bill has failed to get two-thirds support twice before over Democrats’ concern that Republicans will leave domestic spending on a continuing resolution once military spending is approved at a higher level. The betting on the Hill is that the issue may have to be resolved by a lame-duck Congress after the November elections.
FOLLOW THE MONEY: As the U.S. approaches the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, take a look at how defense spending has changed over the years. With the help of Mike Cadenazzi, solutions general manager of VisualDoD at McKinsey, we compiled the 10 budget categories that have seen the most growth since then. We also learned that $2 billion of the fiscal 2017 budget request would go to categories that didn’t even exist 15 years ago.
SYRIAN VIOLENCE: The Islamic State claimed credit for an attack in Hasakeh, Syria, one of a series of bombings around Syria on Monday that killed at least 43 people. The attacks came a day after Turkey declared it has now secured its entire border with Syria. The Turkish news Anadolu Agency says the 12-day Operation Euphrates Shield has now driven Islamic State militants from “all regions from Azaz to the west to Jarablus to the east.”
LIBYA UPDATE: Reports from the Libyan coastal city of Sirte say the final push is on to defeat the remaining Islamic State fighters. Forces loyal to Libya’s unity government now control almost all of the city, which ISIS took over last year.
TODAY’S COOL VIDEO: If push comes to shove in the Persian Gulf, Iranian patrol boats could end up on the business end of one the U.S. Navy’s big guns. U.S. Central Commander Gen. Joseph Votel has warned that if “rogue commanders” in the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy continue to make high-speed runs at U.S. warships, the Americans may be forced to defend themselves. Check out this video of how it might go down.
THE RUNDOWN
Military Times: Military Times’ Q&A with Gary Johnson: How he’d lead as commander in chief
Aviation Week: Minuteman III Replacement Moves Forward With Pentagon’s Blessing
Military Times: 5 questions for the next commander in chief
Task and Purpose: Boeing Collects $2 Billion In Bonuses For Missile Defense System That Doesn’t Work
UPI: Raytheon gets $24 million for Tomahawk radio and antenna
Defense News: Israel MoD Proposes Easing of Restrictions for Defense Exports
USNI News: Video: First Restart Arleigh Burke Destroyer Completes Builder’s Trials
Air Force Times: KC-135 celebrates 60 years in service
New York Times: Air Force, Running Low on Drone Pilots, Turns to Contractors in Terror Fight
Army Times: Army goes aerial in search for bio-chem threats
Associated Press: Twin bombings near Afghanistan’s defense ministry kill 24
Military.com: Suspected US Drone Strike Kills 9 Militants in Yemen
Daily Beast: Company That Had Convicts Build Defective Combat Helmets Got Off With a Small Fine
Task and Purpose: What Happens When A 4-Star General Is Accused Of Sexual Assault?
Calendar
TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 6
10 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Retired Marine Corps Gen. John Allen gives an assessment of progress and challenges that remain in Afghanistan. brookings.edu
4 p.m. 1050 15th St. NW. The Atlantic Council hosts an event on the art of cyberwar. atlanticcouncil.org
WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 7
8 a.m. Capital Hilton, 1001 16th St. NW. Aerospace Industries Association hosts the National Aerospace and Defense Workforce Summit. aia.aerospace.org
2 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. The Brookings Institution hosts a panel discussion on how to stop Islamic State recruitment. brookings.edu
2 p.m. Rayburn 2154. The House Oversight and Government Reform National Security Subcommittee holds a hearing on investigations into whistleblower reprisal. oversight.house.gov
2:30 p.m. Dirksen 419. Think tank experts testify on Capitol Hill about the UN proposal for a nuclear test ban treaty. foreign.senate.gov
3:30 p.m. Rayburn 2118. The House Armed Services Committee holds a hearing on the safety and mission risks of deferring maintenance on the nuclear enterprise. armedservices.house.gov
6:30 p.m. Livestream. Sen. Bob Casey speaks about financing terrorism at the Council on Foreign Relations. cfr.org
THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 8
10 a.m. 1152 15th St. NW. Michele Flournoy, the CEO of the Center for New American Security and widely speculated to be at the top of the list for a post in a Hillary Clinton administration, participates in a panel discussion on sanctions and the next administration. cnas.org
10 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. The Heritage Foundation hosts a panel looking at how threats how evolved in the 15 years since 9/11. heritage.org
FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 9
7:30 a.m. Capitol Hill Club. Brig. Gen. Stephen Whiting, the director of integrated air, space, cyberspace and intelligence, speaks at a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies breakfast event. mitchellaerospacepower.org
1 p.m. Livestream. The Council on Foreign Relations hosts an event looking at President Obama’s foreign policy legacy. cfr.org
MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 12
9 a.m. 2301 Constitution Ave. NW. The Center for New American Security unveils a new report of foreign policy strategy advice for the next administration. cnas.org
