BREXIT OR REGREXIT? Amid reports of widespread buyer’s remorse and “bregret” in the U.K. over last week’s historic referendum to leave the E.U, Secretary of State John Kerry today will be the first senior U.S. official to visit London, which is deep in political turmoil. Speaking in Rome, Kerry said. “I am absolutely convinced, President Obama is absolutely convinced that we will be able to work through this in a sensible, thoughtful way.”
National Security Adviser Susan Rice, speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colorado, yesterday, said there are “relatively few” immediate security concerns. “We will do all we can to ensure that the areas in which we are cooperating — counter-terrorism, you name it, will remain solid,” Rice was quoted by Reuters. Asked what President Obama said to British Prime Minister David Cameron when they first spoke Friday by phone, Rice replied: “Bummer.”
It also won’t impact nuclear sub collaboration between the two countries, USNI News reports.
While many analysts believe the U.K will have a much diminished ability to influence other European allies, one analyst said the decision to exit the EU is unlikely to have a major impact on U.S. defense industry in the long run, once the pound recovers. Richard Aboulafia, the vice president of analysis at Teal Group, said nationalistic moves like the Brexit often bring with them an increase in defense spending. “You talk to folks in Britain, and there really is an awareness that Britain needs to be its own power basically. There’s an implication there that, if anything, defense spending might go up,” he predicts.
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SOON, VERY SOON. The Pentagon is poised to lift the ban on transgender troops serving openly in the U.S. military, “very soon,” in the words of Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook. In fact, the DoD been poised for weeks to deliver Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s promise to issue new rules, resulting in a mix of reports predicting the announcement will definitely come next month, perhaps as soon as next week.
Meanwhile, Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley has been setting the tone for inclusiveness, both in his effusive praise of his civilian boss Eric Fanning, the first openly gay service secretary, and his remarks at the Army’s birthday celebration 10 days ago. “It doesn’t matter what your sexual identification is; it doesn’t matter whether your gender is male or female or something else; it doesn’t matter who the hell you are if you’re an American,” Milley said.
FALLUJAH FREED: At least according to one Iraqi commander, who says that the city has been completely cleared of Islamic State terrorists as of Sunday. The Pentagon has yet to confirm the city’s status, and there’s still a long way to go before the city is back to normal. Iraqi troops have begun to clear out the improvised explosive devices ISIS planted around the city, a process that took months in Ramadi.
WHAT COTTON WANTS: When asked what the U.S. should be doing to stop the spread of ISIS, Sen. Tom Cotton had one word: “More.”
“The president consistently puts arbitrary caps on troop levels. He consistently makes it hard for generals to make honest, even-handed requests for troops. The rules of engagement are too limiting, in my opinion,” he told Rudy Takala. “Some of the rules that our intelligence community has to follow are too limiting. So there are multiple changes that we need to make to take the fight to the Islamic State. I have great praise for the FBI and domestic law enforcement agencies, but we can’t keep our country safe, we can’t stop terrorist attacks on defense.”
ARMS AWRY: A joint investigation by the New York Times and Al Jazeera finds that weapons the CIA sent to Jordan for Syrian rebels were stolen by Jordanian intelligence operatives and then sold on the black market. “The theft, involving millions of dollars of weapons, highlights the messy, unplanned consequences of programs to arm and train rebels,” according to the report.
CANNED CAPTAIN: Capt. Kyle Moses, the commander in charge of the riverine boats that accidentally sailed into Iranian waters in January, was fired on Friday afternoon “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.” The firing came after the conclusion of the investigation, which reporters are expecting to get more details about on Thursday.
RELATIONS RESTORED: After wrapping up negotiations last night, Israel and Turkey are expected to announce today they will restore full diplomatic ties, after six years. An Israeli official tells the Wall Street Journal that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would announce the deal in Rome.
STILL NO THAAD: The Pentagon is still conferring with South Korea about deploying more advanced missile defenses to the Korean peninsula, as the North keeps firing off more and more threatening missiles. The U.S wants to deploy its Lockheed Martin-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system to Seoul, but there are worries over upsetting China, which is opposed to move. After a video conference Friday between the U.S., South Korea and Japan, Cook said THAAD is still on the table. “Those conversations continue,” the Pentagon spokesman said. “There are some logistical things that need to be worked out. But those conversations have progressed well.”
TALIBAN TARGETED: U.S. commanders exercised new authorities for the first time last week by ordering airstrikes against Taliban targets in southern Afghanistan. The Pentagon confirmed Friday the expanded rules of engagement allowed air attacks in southern Afghanistan that appeared to have been successful.
HUMVEES TO IRAQ: AM General won a $66 million contract to for 356 Humvees for Iraq, the Pentagon announced Friday.
ELECTION: Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, subject of VP speculation, will join Hillary Clinton for their first joint event at a rally in Cincinnati today. The event comes as the latest Washington Post-ABC poll has Clinton leading Trump 51 percent to 39 percent, Clinton’s largest lead in Post-ABC polling since last fall.
COOK TIMER: Peter Cook gets a pass for being late for his 2 p.m. briefing Friday. When the time was set, the Pentagon didn’t know President Obama would be speaking at the same time. If you’re a Pentagon spokesman, you don’t hold a briefing that competes with the commander in chief. That would be bad form.
COOL VIDEO: “FEAR THE LOCUST,” We checked out the Office of Naval Research technology display in the Pentagon courtyard Friday. No doubt you’ve heard about “swarming drones,” but check out our video to see how they actually work.
THE RUNDOWN
Defense News: Exclusive: USAF Weighing Replacement F-35 Ejection Seat
UPI: Raytheon upgrading Kuwait’s Patriot air defense system
Defense One: Why Do Brexit and Trump Still Shock National Security Elites?
Breaking Defense: Nuke Missile Collaboration Now Up To Air Force: Navy VADM Benedict
Defense News: Defense News TV: Gen. Mark A. Welsh USAF; Hacking Against India
Military Times: Legal loophole allows companies to fire military reservists who go to war
Air Force Times: Air Force has directed energy weapons; now comes the hard part
Army Times: Final deployment is underway for Army’s Kiowa helicopters
Politico: White House refuses Benghazi questions for Obama
Navy Times: Navy: Blue Angels will resume flight demonstrations July 2
Task and Purpose: This Robo-Dog Can Bring You A Beer And Won’t Poop On The Rug
Calendar
MONDAY | JUNE 27
10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. CSIS hosts a panel of experts to discuss Russia’s nuclear intentions as the world’s largest holder of nuclear weapons. csis.org
10:30 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. The Atlantic Council hosts a panel to discuss how to restore NATO’s power and purpose. atlanticcouncil.org
TUESDAY | JUNE 28
9:30 a.m. Hart 216. Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on strategic integration at the Pentagon. armed-services.senate.gov
9:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. CSIS hosts Assistant Attorney General John Carlin to discuss a whole-government approach to national security cyber threats. csis.org
10 a.m. Dirksen 419. Brett McGurk, Special Presidential Envoy for the global coalition to counter ISIL, testifies at the Senate Foreign Relations committee. foreign.senate.gov
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 29
10 a.m. 529 14th Street NW. Arab Center D.C. hosts a panel of think tank experts at the National Press Club to discuss the impact of the presidential elections on U.S. Middle East policy. arabcenterdc.org
11:45 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The Hudson Institute hosts a panel to discuss the future of North Africa in light of current unstable conditions. hudson.org
2 p.m. 1777 F St. NW. The Council on Foreign Relations hosts CIA Director John Brennan to discuss instability and transnational threats to global security. cfr.org
THURSDAY | JUNE 30
12:30 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW. Stimson hosts former Rep. Mike Rogers to discuss U.S. intelligence, foreign policy, and national security. stimson.org
2 p.m 1501 Lee Highway Arlington, VA. Maj. Gen. Jeff Harrigian, director of F-35 integration office, and Col. Max Marosko, deputy director of air & space operations, discuss maintaining the 5th generation joint force advantage. mitchellaerospacepower.org
