Robert Gates on Trump: ‘At least he hasn’t started any new wars’

Now, after 3 1/2 years in office, Gates says he gives Trump mixed reviews. “Unlike his three predecessors, and I write about this in the book, at least he hasn’t started any new wars,” Gates told NBC’s Chuck Todd. “And he has robustly funded the military. I supported his outreach to North Korea. It hasn’t come to anything, but I thought that was a bold move — and everything else had failed in the previous 25 years. I thought his challenging China was about time.”

“But there are also the other side of the coin in terms of some of the things he says,” Gates said. “His treatment and words about military people and military heroes, like John McCain, that I admire a lot that are really troublesome.”

A QUESTION OF CHARACTER: Gates carefully avoided endorsing either Trump or his presumptive rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. In his 2014 book Duty, Gates wrote of Biden, “He has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”

But Gates thinks character will play a major role in who the voters choose in this year’s election. “I think the important thing is the quality of his character is important,” he said of Biden, whom he has called “a man of integrity.”

“I have a lot of policy disagreements, frankly, with the former vice president, but I think one of the things that people will be weighing this fall is probably the character of the two contestants,” he said.

‘WE ARE NOT THE POLICEMEN OF THE WORLD’: In his commencement address to cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Saturday, Trump underscored his vision of limiting the use of America’s military might to focus on defending against direct threats to the homeland:

“The job of the American soldier is not to rebuild foreign nations but defend, and defend strongly, our nation from foreign enemies,” Trump told the new Army second lieutenants who sat outside in folding chairs 6 feet apart.

“We are ending the era of endless wars. In its place is a renewed, clear-eyed focus on defending America’s vital interests. It is not the duty of U.S. troops to solve ancient conflicts in faraway lands that many people have never even heard of. We are not the policemen of the world,” Trump said. “But let our enemies be on notice: If our people are threatened, we will never, ever hesitate to act. And when we fight, from now on, we will fight only to win. As MacArthur said: ‘In war, there is no substitute for victory.’”

A SLIPPERY SLOPE: Many on social media took note of Trump’s slow and careful walk down a ramp as he exited the stage after his West Point address, some suggesting the president, who turned 74 Sunday, might be suffering some form of infirmity.

Trump felt compelled to respond on Twitter. “The ramp that I descended after my West Point Commencement speech was very long & steep, had no handrail and, most importantly, was very slippery,” he tweeted. “The last thing I was going to do is ‘fall’ for the Fake News to have fun with. Final ten feet I ran down to level ground. Momentum!”

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HAPPENING TODAY: The Pentagon is reopening Monday morning, easing some restrictions as more workers return to the building after almost three months away to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

As of Monday, more entrances of the building will be open, including the Metro entrance, and returning workers will face random temperature checks. Cloth face coverings are mandatory when 6-foot social distancing cannot be maintained.

The Pentagon’s chief management officer, Lisa Hershman, outlines the “Phase One” restrictions in a memo posted here.

LANKFORD FAVORS RENAMING BASES: Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford is among the Republicans who are on record in support of renaming Army bases that are currently named for Confederate military leaders.

Asked during an appearance on ABC’s This Week if it was time to stop having military bases named after Confederate generals like Braxton Bragg, Lankford replied, “I do, actually.”

“If you have a military base that is named after someone that actually rebelled against the United States government, then you would want to be able to go back and look at that name. That should be a pretty basic principle,” Lankford told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.

“I see it like schools. Every school has a name, and you want those children in that school to be able to learn about the founder of that school or the name — that person that school is named after and to be able to have them as a role model,” Lankford said. “I think the right way to be able to do this is to be able to look at, where did the name come from, what do we need to have to be able to take a serious look at it, and then to be able to transition.”

THORNBERRY OPPOSES U.S. DRAWDOWN FROM GERMANY: The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee has outlined his objections to the Trump administration’s proposed troop withdrawal from Germany in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal.

“Last week press reports surfaced of a proposal, backed by some in the administration, to withdraw a significant number of troops from Europe and tightly limit the number who could be present there in the future,” Mac Thornberry wrote. “Such restrictions would prevent crucial military training exercises. They would pose logistical challenges, as U.S. troops often stop over in Germany on their way to deployments around the world. As we saw during the Obama years, arbitrary troop caps often work to the detriment of the mission.”

A GIFT TO PUTIN: Thornberry argues that the Trump plan, which would reportedly pull 9,500 U.S. troops out of Germany and cap the number of forces there at 25,000, would play into the hands of America’s adversaries, in particular Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

“Russia and China want to replace the post-World War II arrangements with ones that are more to their liking,” he said. “Stepping back from NATO would encourage Russia to be more aggressive, and it would discourage Europeans from taking a stronger role in their own defense. We have seen repeatedly — in Afghanistan, Libya and Syria, for example — that European partners are willing to work side by side with the U.S. and are unwilling to take action without the U.S.”

TALIBAN DEMANDS SHARIA LAW IN AFGHANISTAN: Among the significant impediments to reaching a peace deal between the U.S.-backed Afghan government and the Taliban is the Taliban’s demand that women’s rights, the education system, and the Afghan military be shaped according to Islamic Sharia law.

The Taliban have said they will not accept the Western system of democracy and elections, according to the Middle East Media Research Institute, a group that tracks extremists and terrorists around the world.

According to Roznama Ummat, an Urdu-language daily newspaper, an unidentified member of the Taliban negotiating team said: “Our sacrifices of 19 years were not for any Western democracy [in Afghanistan]. If the Islamic Sharia doesn’t prevail in Afghanistan, our struggle has no benefit.”

NEW STRYKER BRIGADE: The Army’s 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, is marking its conversion to become the service’s newest Stryker Brigade with a virtual “redesignation” ceremony this morning.

“A Stryker Brigade Combat Team is an infantry-centric unit that fills a gap between the Army’s light and heavy force. It is capable of conducting missions across the range of military operations and provides commanders increased operational and tactical flexibility,” the Army said in a statement.

The Rundown

Washington Examiner: How the Pentagon defused Trump’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act

Washington Examiner: New US foreign investment agency counters China Belt and Road ‘colonialism’

Washington Examiner: UN: Missiles used in attacks on Saudi Arabia airport and oil facility came from Iran

AP: S Korea’s leader calls on North to stop raising tensions

Yonhap News Agency: Pentagon Reaffirms ‘Robust’ Defensive Posture After North Korea Threats

Washington Post: Sister of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un rises in prominence as threats replace outreach

CNN.com: Three U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers Are Patrolling The Pacific Ocean At The Same Time. And China’s Not Happy

AP: China’s new virus outbreak underscores continued threat

AP: Russia’s Low Virus Death Toll Still Raises Questions In West

New York Times: Putin Outlines ‘Deep Internal Crisis’ in U.S.

Washington Times: Vladimir Putin: Russia Will Soon Be Able To Counter Hypersonic Weapons

Washington Post: Trump puts military back on front lines of culture war

Air Force Magazine: Senators Continue Building Space Force with Caution

Defense News: Nuclear Modernization Speeding Up As Arms Control On The Brink: Report

Forbes: Why The Navy’s Latest Narco Submarine Seizure Is A Big Deal

Las Vegas Sun: Marine Veteran Arrested For Impersonating Federal Agent During Las Vegas Protest

Washington Post: Violence From ISIS Returnees Drops

AP: Report: Bullet that killed woman fired from airman’s rifle

Wall Street Journal: Opinion: Mac Thornberry: U.S. Retreat From Europe Would Be an Abdication

Washington Examiner: Opinion: North Korea’s week of escalation

Calendar

MONDAY | JUNE 15

10 a.m. — Association of the United States Army “Thought Leaders” livestream, with retired Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and author of No Time for Spectators: https://www.bigmarker.com/ausaorg.

10 a.m. — Brookings Institution webinar: “The Mental Health of America’s Veterans,” with Brian Dempsey, director of government relations at the Wounded Warrior Project; Michael Richardson, vice president of independence services and mental health at the Wounded Warrior Project; and Kayla Williams, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. https://www.brookings.edu/events

10 a.m. — New America webcast: “How to Hack D.C.: What is the Future of CyberSecurity and Cyberthreats?” with Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission; Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission; Nicole Perlroth, cybersecurity reporter for the New York Times; and Peter Singer, senior fellow at New America and author of Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution. https://www.newamerica.org/cybersecurity

1 p.m. — Stanford University’s Hoover Institution webcast: “Statecraft, Innovation and Leadership: Underwriting U.S. National Security With Economic Power,” with former national security advisor retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution; and David McCormick, CEO of Bridgewater Associates. https://www.hoover.org/events

3 p.m. — Jewish Institute for National Security of America conference call briefing: “Turkey’s Escalation in Libya: Implications and U.S. Policy Options,” with Svante Cornell, policy adviser at JINSA’s Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy; Alan Makovsky, member of JINSA’s Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy Eastern Mediterranean Policy Project; Jonathan Ruhe, director of foreign policy at JINSA’s Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy; and Michael Makovsky, president and CEO of JINSA. Contact [email protected] for call-in information.

TUESDAY | JUNE 16

5 a.m. EDT/11 a.m. CET — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg briefs reporters ahead of the meetings of the NATO Defense Ministers taking place via teleconference June 17-18. https://www.nato.int

11 a.m. — Government Executive Media Group aad Nextgov and Defense One 2020 Tech Summit webcast; “Genius Machines: Artificial Intelligence on the Battlefield,” with Greg Allen, chief of strategy and communications in the Defense Department’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center; and Brig. Gen. Matt Easley, director of artificial intelligence at Army Futures Command. https://www.defenseone.com/feature/genius-machines

12 p.m. — Hudson Institute webinar: “Reasserting U.S. Influence in the Arctic,” with U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands and Liselotte Odgaard, visiting senior fellow at Hudson. https://www.hudson.org/events

12 p.m. — Washington Post Live webcast: “Veterans: Frontline Concerns,” with Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee; Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif.; Jon Stewart, former host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show; Derek Fronabarger, government affairs director and TEAM community organizer at the Wounded Warrior Project; and David Ignatius, columnist at the Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com

12 p.m. Rayburn 2118 — Virtual House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel hearing: “Racial Disparity in the Military Justice System — How to Fix the Culture,” with retired Col. Don Christensen, president, Protect our Defenders; Brenda Farrell, U.S. Government Accountability Office; Lt. Gen. Charles Pede, Army judge advocate general; Vice Adm. John Hannink, Navy judge advocate general; Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Rockwell, Air Force judge advocate general; Maj. Gen. Daniel Lecce, staff judge advocate to the commandant of the Marine Corps. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

1 p.m. — Defense One 2020 Tech Summit webcast: “Linking Land, Air, Sea, and Space to Dominate the Battlefield of Tomorrow,” with Air Force Chief Architect Preston Dunlap; Tim Grayson, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Strategic Technology Office; Patrick Baker, director of the Army Research Laboratory’s Combat Capabilities Development Command; and Lisa Sanders, director of science and technology at the Special Operations Command. https://www.defenseone.com/feature/tech-summit

2 p.m. — The Mitchell Institute Aerospace Nation conversation with Shawn Barnes, performing the duties of assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration. Afterward, a recording will be posted at https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/aerospace-nation.

2 p.m. — Army Sgt. Maj. Michael Grinston Facebook Live discussion: “Army Combat Fitness Test.” with Maj. Gen. Maria Gervais, director of the Synthetic Training Environment Cross Functional Team; Maj. Gen. Lonnie Hibbard, commanding general of the Center for Initial Military Training; and Command Sgt. Maj. Jamila Smith of the Army Headquarters Command Battalion. https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast

2 p.m. — Center for a New American Security webinar: “Serious Games: How the Pentagon Uses Wargames to Develop Ideas and Inform Decisions,” with former Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work, senior counselor for defense at CNAS; Chris Dougherty, senior fellow in the CNAS Defense Program; Ed McGrady, adjunct senior fellow in the CNAS Defense Program; Becca Wasser, fellow in the CNAS Defense Program; Will Mackenzie, research fellow in the CNAS Defense Program; and Susanna Blume, director of the CNAS Defense Program. https://www.cnas.org/events/virtual-panel

3 p.m. — Middle East Institute webcast: “The future of U.S. defense strategy and posture in the Middle East in an era of great power competition,” with former Defense Undersecretary for Policy Michele Flournoy, co-founder and managing partner of WestExec Advisors and co-founder and CEO of the Center for a New American Security; and Bilal Saab, senior fellow and director of the MEI Defense and Security Program. https://www.mei.edu/events/mei-defense

WEDNESDAY | JUNE 17

8 a.m. — Defense One Tech Summit webcast, beginning , with Chris Lynch, CEO of Rebellion Defense; Christian Johnson, talent lead at the Defense Digital Service; and Tara Murphy Dougherty, CEO of Govini, participate in a discussion on “Bringing America’s Tech Talent into the Defense Department.” https://www.defenseone.com

9 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies webcast: “Latest developments in the U.S.-ROK alliance and on the Korean peninsula,” with retired Army Gen. Vincent Brooks, former commander of U.S. Forces Korea. https://www.csis.org/events/online

9 a.m. — National Defense Industrial Association webinar; “Biotechnology for Materiel and Defense,” with Steve Walker, CTO of Lockheed Martin; Ben Petro, human systems director at the Office of the Defense undersecretary for research and engineering; and Michelle Rozo, assistant biotechnology director in the Office of the Defense undersecretary for research and engineering. https://www.ndia.org/events

9 a.m. — National Defense Industrial Association Virtual Training and Simulation Industry Symposium, with Navy Capt. Tim Hill, commanding officer of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division and Naval Support Activity Orlando; and James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. https://www.trainingsystems.org/events

10 a.m. — Washington Institute for Near East Policy webinar: “Is Regime Collapse on Syria’s Horizon? Evaluating Assad’s Grip on Power,” with Sam Dagher, nonresident fellow at the Middle East Institute; and Oula Alrifai, fellow at WINEP. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis

11 a.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies “Space Power Forum” webcast with Lt. Gen. J.T. Thompson, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. A recording of the event will be posted afterward at: https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/aerospace-nation.

11:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies book discussion webcast on “Exercise of Power: American Failures, Successes, and a New Path Forward in the Post-Cold War World, with author and former Defense Secretary Robert Gates. https://www.csis.org/events/online

12 p.m. — American Society of International Law webinar, beginning at noon, on “The Impact of Emerging Technologies on the Law of Armed Conflict,” with Michael Meier, special assistant to the Army judge advocate general for law of war matters; Eric Talbot Jensen, law professor at the Brigham Young University Law School; Laurie Blank, clinical law professor and director of the Emory University School of Law International Humanitarian Law Clinic; and Laura Dickinson, research law professor at the George Washington University Law School. https://www.asil.org/event/online

12 p.m. — Hudson Institute webinar: “Maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific as Tensions Simmer,” with former national security adviser retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, Japan chair at Hudson; Tosh Minochara, professor at Kobe University; Yurika Ishii, associate professor at the National Defense Academy of Japan; and Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific security chair at Hudson. https://www.hudson.org/events

1:30 p.m. — Atlantic Council webinar: “Is U.S. Policy Toward Moscow Too Confrontational?” with George Beebe, vice president and director of the Center for the National Interest; Emma Ashford, research fellow at the Cato Institute; Susan Glasser, staff writer at the New Yorker; former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center; and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer, fellow at Stanford University’s Spogli Institute for International Studies. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event

2 p.m. — SETA Foundation webcast, “Shifting Dynamics: Toward a New Era in Libya?” with Muhittin Ataman, director, SETA Foundation Foreign Policy Program; Silvia Colombo, head of Italy’s foreign policy program at Istituto Affari Internazional; Tim Eaton, senior research fellow, Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register

THURSDAY | JUNE 18

9:30 a.m. G50, Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nominations of Lt. Gen. Daniel Hokanson, to be general and chief of the National Guard Bureau; and Army Gen. Gustave Perna, for reappointment to the grade of general and to be chief operating officer, Project Warp Speed. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings

11:30 a.m. — Heritage Foundation webinar: “Military Recruiting During COVID-19 and in a Changing America,” with Maj. Gen. Frank Muth, commander, U.S. Army Recruiting Command; Rear. Adm. Dennis Velez, commander, U.S. Navy Recruiting Command; and retired Cmdr. Shawn Skelly, commissioner, National Commission on Military, National and Public Service, and retired Army Lt. Gen. Thomas Spoehr, director, Center for National Defense, Heritage Foundation. https://www.heritage.org/defense/event/webinar