RUSSIA REBUKED: Top Pentagon officials convened a videoconference with their counterparts in the Russian Defense Ministry over the weekend to formally express Washington’s displeasure with Russia’s repeated bombing runs against U.S.-backed troops in Syria. Last week’s airstrikes infuriated Defense Secretary Ash Carter, according to aides, because the bombing continues even after urgent, angry hotline calls to halt. In what was called “an extraordinary session,” the Pentagon officials “expressed strong concerns,” which they said “would be addressed through ongoing diplomatic discussions on the cessation of hostilities.”
Russia offered no apologies, instead blaming the U.S. for failing to provide the location of the ground forces. A spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said the area targeted in the strike was more than 180 miles away from locations earlier designated by the U.S. as controlled by legitimate opposition forces.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin says he welcomes some of Donald Trump’s overtures to Moscow. “Mr. Trump says he’s ready to restore full-fledged Russian-American relations. What can be bad about it?” Putin said at a panel at the 20th International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Putin also qualified previous remarks which, according some translations, had him praising Trump as “brilliant.” Trump was downgraded to “bright,” in Putin’s clarification. “I only said he was a bright person. Isn’t he bright?” Putin explained. “I did not say anything else about him.”
And then there is theory from the American Conservative that the Pentagon is hyping the threat from Russia in a thinly-veiled effort to boost the Defense Department’s budget.
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OKINAWA PROTESTS: Tens of thousands of Japanese protesters yesterday called for the closure of all U.S. military bases on Okinawa. According to USA Today a crowd estimated at 65,000 rallied in sweltering conditions at an outdoor sports stadium, holding signs reading, “Marines, Withdraw” and “Our anger has reached the limit.” The Washington Post says the Pentagon is planning to move many of the Marines from Japan to Guam, which is a U.S. territory. Not that everyone is happy about that, either.
FALLUJAH CRISIS: The Iraqi government has declared victory over the Islamic State in Fallujah on Friday, but as the fighting continues in parts of the city, international aid workers are warning of a humanitarian crisis. “Aid groups were sounding the alarm over a massive wave of Fallujah residents fleeing the city as Iraqi forces push in, saying there are urgent needs for tents, food, water and medicine,” reports the Wall Street Journal.
RACE FOR RAQQA: In Syria, the AP reports Syrian government forces have advanced to within six miles of the Islamic State-occupied Tabqa air base in the northern part of the country, as they push to try to unseat the extremist group from its de facto capital, Raqqa. U.S. backed forces remain to the north.
UNDER THE SHADOW OF VETO: It’s an $18-billion dollar dispute as the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act head to conference committee. And hanging over the process is a threat of a presidential veto. “It’s not the best way to run a railroad, no question,” says House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry. Money is the big issue of course, but there are lots of policy issues have to be brought into agreement as well.
CORKER’S DEADLINE: Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker last week sent a letter to the president urging him to make a decision on the number of U.S. troops that would remain in Afghanistan through 2017 by the NATO Warsaw Summit in early July. “Warsaw represents the best opportunity to generate the essential continued support of each of our allies in this endeavor. You can foster this by delivering a clear message about U.S. leadership and commitment in the effort to secure a stable and democratic Afghanistan,” Corker wrote.
AFGHANISTAN ATTACKS: A recent surge of violence underscores the challenge faced by Afghanistan as the U.S. slowly draws down its remaining troops despite a persistent insurgency, reports Reuters. More than 20 people were killed in separate bomb attacks in Afghanistan today including at least 14 when a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying Nepalese security contractors in Kabul.
WELCOME CRITICISM: The official line from both the White House and State Department is that the internal memo from 50 diplomats questioning the wisdom of President Obama’s decision not to conduct airstrikes against the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria is “welcome.” Susan Crabtree reports the White House says Secretary of State John Kerry “looks forward” to reading it, but a spokesperson had no idea if Obama would.
Former U.S. ambassador to Syria Robert Ford writes in the Daily Beast that the dissident diplomats have it about right.
FANNING TAKES OVER: The first openly gay person to lead one of the military services, Army Secretary Eric Fanning, is officially installed with a ceremony at Summerall Field at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall near the Pentagon. Carter and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley do the honors at 1:30 p.m. Live-streamed on defense.gov.
MEATLESS MONDAYS? Nebraska Republican Rep. Adrian Smith spoke on the House floor last week in support of an amendment, which passed, to block any plans the U.S. military might have for “Meatless Mondays.” “I rise to ensure that our men and women in uniform have options on their menu when they seek nutrition in the cafeteria as they serve. Ideologically-motivated activists are working to take meat off the menu in institutions across the country. There’s plenty of evidence of this and I hope that we can limit these efforts to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the choices of nutrition at their ready.” Smith said. The Pentagon denies there’s any war on hamburgers, and there’s no Senate version of the amendment.
WHY PIZZA, BUT NOT UBER? For years, troops who live on military bases have puzzled over why the pizza guy can breeze through the gate, while ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are often blocked. One bipartisan amendment to the NDAA, backed by Sens. Joni Ernst and Joe Donnelly would require the DoD to establish clear policy to allow rideshare firms easier access to U.S. bases. One argument: making Uber access easier could help cut down on DUIs.
COOL A-10 VIDEO: The 74th and 75th AMU collaborated to make this YouTube video for the Hawg Smoke 2016 crew chief launch competition.
THE RUNDOWN
Reuters: U.S. Navy chief warns of costlier Boeing jets if no foreign sales
Washington Post: Robots, swarming drones and ‘Iron Man’: Welcome to the new arms race
UPI: Serco gets $38 million missile radar contract
Air Force Times: Congress urges faster replacement of Hueys at nuke bases
Washington Post: Law enforcement searching for former Guantanamo detainee in South America
New York Times: Decades Later, Sickness Among Airmen After a Hydrogen Bomb Accident
Military Times: The Pentagon’s controversial plan to hire military leaders off the street
Breaking Defense: Offensive Cyber In The Street Fight
MSNBC: ISIS media outlet releases new video
Defense One: How to Stop the Next Viral Jihadi Video
Military.com: CIA Has Disciplined Agents for Abuses During Interrogations: Director
CNN: US Navy’s newest stealth destroyer christened
Air Force Times: Thunderbirds return to sky for first time since crash
Task and Purpose: This Is Your Brain On War
Calendar
MONDAY | JUNE 20
All day, JW Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The Center for a New American Security hosts its annual conference in D.C. conference.cnas.org. At 11, Defense Secretary Ash Carter gives the keynote address, and at noon, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson speak. Live-streamed on defense.gov.
10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. CSIS hosts a discussion on anticipating moves and countermoves in the South China Sea. csis.org
1: 30 p.m., Summerall Field, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Arlington, Virginia. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley provide remarks at a welcome ceremony for new Army Secretary Eric Fanning. Live-streamed on defense.gov.
1 p.m. Los Angeles. The Atlantic Council hosts Dr. Gregory Treverton, chairman of the U.S. National Intelligence Council, to discuss long-range global trends for the next president. atlanticcouncil.org
2 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. The Brookings Institution hosts Robert McDonald, secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to talk about departmental reforms. brookings.edu
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. 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
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
