NEARING THE FINISH LINE: The House begins its second (and final) day of debate on the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act around noon today and is set to end by 7:30 tonight.
Lawmakers wrapped up yesterday’s debate around 7 p.m. Some amendments added to the bill include one from Rep. Mac Thornberry that would subject the president’s National Security Council to Senate oversight if it grows larger than 100 staff and one from Rep. Jackie Walorski that would require a written agreement between the U.S. and countries that take Gitmo detainee transfers. See our full rundown here.
The House also voted to strip language out of the bill that would have required women to register for the draft, which Rep. Pete Sessions included as part of the rule. Democrats slammed the move, which automatically passed the amendment when the rule for debate was approved, as a “dead-of-night attempt to take an important issue off the table.”
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LOSING GROUND: At this morning’s Pentagon brief, spokesman Col. Steve Warren will have the latest on the Islamic State’s shrinking self-proclaimed caliphate, detailing losses primarily in the Euphrates River Valley. Warren tells us he’ll explain why the anti-ISIS campaign has not stalled.
The Islamic State has, however, increased its level of bombings in and around Baghdad, a sign that the group may be “reverting to their roots” as a terrorist operation Gen. Joe Votel, head of Central Command, told reporters. The AP reports it may be an attempt to divert attention to their recent losses on the battlefield.
ANOTHER STEP FORWARD: The House Appropriations Committee advanced its fiscal 2017 defense spending bill to the full House on Tuesday by a unanimous voice vote. The bill funds U.S. troops’ operations overseas only through April since it borrows money from the war chest for base funding needs, the same funding method as the House policy bill that the White House has threatened to veto.
Democrats on the committee pushed back on the funding mechanism, even though they ultimately supported the bill, saying that it’s not the next Congress’ job to pass a supplemental funding bill for the last few months of fiscal 2017.
FANNING CONFIRMED: The Senate finally approved Eric Fanning to be Army secretary yesterday after Sen. Pat Roberts got the warm and fuzzy he needed from the Pentagon that Guantanamo Bay prisoners won’t be transferred to his home state, Susan Crabtree reports. Fanning becomes the highest ranking openly gay person in Pentagon history.
And just a few hours earlier, President Obama celebrated International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia by saying he took pride in his administration’s record on gay rights, Crabtree reports.
F-35 AS CAUTIONARY TALE: Defense Secretary Ash Carter gave his thumbs down to the Senate plan to split his top weapons buyer into two positions, one handling the business side and the other handling procurement. His reason? Look how bad the F-35 went. David Wilkes has the story.
“Separating research and engineering from manufacturing could introduce problems in the transition from the former to the latter, which is a frequent stumbling block for programs. One need only remember Joint Strike Fighter’s growing pains in moving from engineering and manufacturing design and low-rate initial production.”
STICK TO THE CEASE-FIRE: The International Syria Support Group, comprising countries and parties in support of a cease-fire in Syria is urging all the sides to comply with the deal, Pete Kasperowicz reports. The group issued the statement from Vienna, amid complaints from Syrian rebel groups that Russia is helping Syrian President Bashar Assad violate the agreement. “The statement instructs the United Nations to begin food drops to designated areas if it cannot get sufficient humanitarian access by June 1, and ‘calls on all parties to the cessation of hostilities to provide a secure environment for that program.’”
RHODES SHOW: It was a busy day for reporters covering Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, both for where he was and where he wasn’t. Susan Crabtree and Sarah Westwood covered developments throughout the day:
At a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Ranking Member Rep. Elijah Cummings defended Rhodes, who did not appear before the committee. Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz called Rhodes’ refusal to testify “mystifying,” especially since Rhodes had a public speaking engagement later in the day. The hearing went on without Rhodes, and members sparred over whether the administration misled the public and Congress about the Iran deal. And one of the people testifying said Rhodes is a perfect example as to why the National Security Council needs to be cut.
Rhodes did, however, speak at an event held by the Center for a New American Security, where he said he had no intention of leaving his post.
DESERTION TRIAL DELAYED: The court-martial of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has been delayed until February, David Wilkes reports. That puts the trial under the possible administration of Donald Trump, who has called Bergdahl “a no-good traitor, who should have been executed.”
FUTURE ISLANDS: Move over China … Vietnam is getting in on the fake island game. The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative is out with a report showing before-and-after pictures of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Check out the images here.
BURDENED, NOT BROKEN: Vice Adm. Joseph Rixey, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, defended the Pentagon’s foreign military sales program against congressional criticism on Tuesday, saying that the system is indeed slow, but it’s all in the name of ensuring all weapons sales are made responsibly and in the best national security interests of the U.S.
But Rep. Vicky Hartzler said the program can both be safe to American security and sped up — and that the National Security Council is partly to blame for its “opaque and bureaucratic deliberations.”
The head of foreign military sales for the State Department said Tuesday at the Sea-Air-Space conference that sales are growing because U.S. products are widely recognized as well-made, but that the process is more complicated, because each sale is an act of foreign policy and must be signed off on by multiple departments and Congress, USNI News reports.
REACHING OUT TO NORTH KOREA: Donald Trump said in an interview published yesterday he’d be willing to talk to Kim Jong-un, Gabby Morrongiello reports. “I would speak to him, I would have no problem speaking to him,” Trump told Reuters. “At the same time, I would put a lot of pressure on China, because economically we have tremendous power over China.”
KUNDUZ CONSPIRACY? While a U.S. military investigation ruled the crew of an AC-130 gunship had no idea they were attacking a Doctors without Borders hospital last October in Afghanistan, a long New York Times magazine piece suggests Afghan forces might have provided the target to the U.S. with full knowledge it was a medical facility. The report also provides more evidence of the combat role of “non-combat,” American troops.
THE RUNDOWN
Defense Tech: Battelle Fielding 100 Drone Zappers to Pentagon, Homeland Security
UPI: Navy to industry: it’s all about plug-and-play
Voice of America: US Military Looking at Sites for 2nd Africa Base
Navy Times: Navy gears up to extend the service of MH-60 helicopters
Air Force Times: Air Force looking at autonomous systems to aid war fighters
Defense One: Japan Shops Futuristic Sub-Hunter Plane
Washington Post: Who in Libya will the U.S. send weapons to? It’s complicated, says a top general.
Defense One: Federal Background Checks Will Soon Involve Your Life on Facebook
Task and Purpose: In His Run For Congress, This Iraq War Vet Isn’t Running From PTSD
Daily Beast: Baghdad Bombings Reveal ISIS’s New Plan: Tearing Iraq Apart
Defense News: How Swarming Drones Could Change the Face of Air Warfare
USNI News: UPDATED: Edward Lin Pleads Not Guilty to Espionage Charges
Washington Post: Pentagon recruitment advertising needs a few good ideas
Calendar
WEDNESDAY | MAY 18
10 a.m. Dirksen 342. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will discuss threats, vulnerabilities, and solutions to cyber-related infrastructure. hsgac.senate.gov
10:15 a.m. Defense Secretary Ash Carter welcomes Qatar’s Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah at a Pentagon honor cordon.
10:30 a.m. Dirksen 124. The Senate Subcommittee for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies will review the VA Electronic Health Record Network (VistA). appropriations.house.gov
11 a.m. 529 14th St. NW. Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will speak at a World War I Centennial Commission event. press.org
2 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Rebecca Hersman hosts a discussion on the accountability and deterrence of chemical weapons in the Middle East. csis.org
2:30 p.m. Rayburn 2172. The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations hosts two witness panels to discuss democracy support strategies in Africa. foreignaffairs.house.gov
4 p.m. 1000 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Analysts will discuss the social and economic long-term viability of the Islamic State. cato.org
THURSDAY | MAY 19
8 a.m. 300 1st St. SE. Rep. Jim Bridenstine speaks about Congress’ perspective on space national security. mitchellaerospacepower.org
MONDAY | MAY 23
9:30 a.m. Naval Station Norfolk. The House Armed Services Committee will hold an open hearing with four Navy captains on force structure and readiness. armedservices.house.gov
TUESDAY | MAY 24
8:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Sen. Tim Kaine speaks about cybersecurity after information sharing. csis.org
12:30 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. The Atlantic Council think tank will host the 10th annual Country of Georgia Defense and Security Conference. atlanticcouncil.org
1:15 p.m. Tampa Convention Center. Gen. Raymond Thomas, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, will speak at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference. Sofic.org
2:30 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW. Stimson releases its new report on the long-term foreign policy and budgetary implications of the overseas contingency operations fund. stimson.org
WEDNESDAY | MAY 25
10 a.m. Dirksen 419. The Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Africa, the Pacific, and International Cyber Security will hold a hearing to discuss cybersecurity deterrence and global cyber norms. foreign.senate.gov
