SALUTING SMARTLY, BUT RELUCTANTLY ON SYRIA: Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook tried to put the best face on the Syrian cease-fire deal negotiated with the Russians by Secretary of State John Kerry, which will require the U.S. military to join forces with the Russian Air Force to bomb terrorists. It’s an open secret the U.S. military thinks that Russia’s sloppy targeting borders on a war crime, and that Defense Secretary Ash Carter harbors deep reservations about Moscow’s trustworthiness. Cook says on that score, Carter’s views haven’t changed. “He has expressed that skepticism in the past, and now the test is up to the Russians.”
Pentagon officials are still unhappy that the Kerry deal lowered the bar on the definition of “cessation of hostilities” to be a sustained period of reduced violence. A sign of the reluctance to move forward with the Russians, the Pentagon has not yet begun planning for the “JIC,” the Joint Implementation Center, where the Russians and Americans would coordinate airstrikes, nor has it approached Congress about a waiver to reestablish military-to-military cooperation with Moscow that was cut off after Russia annexed Crimea.
TRUMP ON PUTIN: Cooperating with Russia is a cornerstone of Donald Trump’s counterterrorism strategy, but appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon, Trump pulled back a bit on his unbridled praise for the strong leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Well, look, I don’t know him, and I know nothing about him, really. I just think if we got along with Russia, that’s not a bad thing,” Trump told Fallon. “The Democrats try to say I like him somehow. I don’t like him. I don’t dislike him. I don’t have any feelings one way or the other. And it’s not going to matter what he says about me. If he says good things or bad things about me, I’m going to make great deals for our country.” He added, “They make it like he’s my best friend, I don’t know him.”
But the highlight was when Fallon asked the possible future commander in chief, “Can I mess your hair up?” If you missed it, watch it here.
Good Friday 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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THE THREAT FROM WITHIN: The four service chiefs whose job is to train and equip the U.S. military to defeat future threats and defend the nation all agreed yesterday that one of those threats is “sequestration,” the mandatory spending caps imposed in 2011, and scheduled to run for five more years. At a Senate Armed Service Committee hearing, Chairman Sen. John McCain put the shortfall over that time at $250 billion. Sen. Lindsey Graham got the chiefs to agree with him that House plan to shift money from the warfighting account was not a good answer, and to admit that despite the dire circumstances that force all the services to mortgage future readiness to meet today’s deployments, none of the leaders has discussed the problem with President Obama, who has promised a veto of increased defense spending if it doesn’t including matching domestic increases.
Be sure to watch the exchange between Graham and the service chiefs, where he asks how many ships Congress is sinking, how many brigades it’s wiping out, and whether the president is a threat to the military.
NO PARDON FOR SNOWDEN: The House Intelligence Committee released a report on former National Security Agency contractor and WikiLeaker Edward Snowden, laying out the case why Snowden does not qualify as a whistleblower, and how his data dump caused “tremendous damage” to U.S. national security. Rudy Takala writes that the report came as Snowden made public plea for a presidential pardon, a cause backed by the ACLU. The White House says Obama’s opinion of Snowden’s criminal actions hasn’t changed, Susan Crabtree reports.
SPEAKING OF WIKILEAKS: A Swedish appeals court has ruled that founder Julian Assange must still face charges over a rape accusation. Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, arguing that would just result in his eventual handover to U.S. authorities. The charges result from a complaint in 2010 from two women who accused Assange of sexual assault and rape.
GITMO BILL HEADS TO THE SENATE: The House on Thursday passed a bill from Rep. Jackie Walorski that would prohibit Obama from transferring any more detainees out of Guantanamo Bay for the remainder of his presidency. Ahead of the 244-174 vote, Walorski told the Washington Examiner that reports that two more former detainees have reengaged in terrorism are the “exclamation point” on why this legislation is needed now. The bill now heads to the Senate, where Sen. Steve Daines will lead the charge to passage.
UNACCEPTABLE: Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller told senators on Thursday that readiness among Marine aircraft is “below an acceptable level.” “In the aggregate, it’s improving, but it’s not where we need to to be,” Neller said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing alongside the three other service chiefs.
McCAIN WANTS FBI PROBE: The senator, who is in a competitive race for reelection, is calling on the the FBI to investigate an attempted cyberattack on an Arizona voter database. In a letter to FBI Director James Comey, McCain says the bureau needs to look further into a breach of the state’s voter registration website last June, according to campaign press release, which cites news reports that Russian hackers shut the website down for nine days.
FULL HONORS FOR POW/MIA RECOGNITION: If you’re near the Pentagon around 10 a.m., look up. There will be flyover of the Pentagon River Terrace Parade field by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, as the Department of Defense marks National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The Speakers include Sen. John Cornyn, whose father was a POW, and retired Navy Capt. Gerald “Jerry” Coffee, who was a POW during the Vietnam war. The football field-size parade field doesn’t get much of a workout these days, but today will be the exception, with a musical review by the full U.S. Army Band and a march in review with service honor guard units from the national capital region. Carter and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Paul Selva also give remarks.
COAST GUARD CONTRACT: The Coast Guard awarded a $110 million contract to Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc., for the first offshore patrol cutter, with more than $2 billion in options if the service purchases up to eight additional cutters. The first will be delivered in 2021.
A NEWSWORTHY PARTNER: Huntington Ingalls Industries officials reportedly visited China last month to find a company to build a new dry dock for U.S. Navy ships. Sen. Thad Cochran, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, also reportedly helped the shipbuilder, which is based in his home state, set up a meeting with U.S. officials in China.
KEEPING AN EYE ON IT: The White House said yesterday it was confident in the Marine Corps’ ability to investigate instances of abuse at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, where a Muslim recruit killed himself after vicious hazing, Nicole Duran writes.
THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH: The Navy has determined that a Blue Angels pilot who crashed in June was flying too fast and too low during his maneuver, Anna Giaritelli writes. The maneuver has been banned.
COOK TIMER: It may soon be time to think about retiring the Cook Timer and just conceed that when it comes to the start of Peter Cook’s Pentagon briefings, “Cook Time” is basically start time + 7 to 15 minutes. Yesterday’s 1:45 p.m. briefing began at 1:53 p.m.
THE RUNDOWN
Defense News: Corker: Gulf Fighter Sales Will Follow Israeli Aid Deal
UPI: DARPA announces Aerial Dragnet drone monitoring program
Defense News: Boeing Begins Legal Challenge Against Denmark For Fighter Evaluation
Breaking Defense: Killer Robots? ‘Never,’ Defense Secretary Carter Says
Army Times: After review, Army could upgrade dozens of discharges for soldiers with PTSD, TBI
Military.com: Christie Signs Bill Approving the Use of Medical Marijuana for PTSD
USNI News: Opinion: Connecting the Dots on Recent Incidents with Iranian and Russian Forces
Task and Purpose: New Vehicles Will Deliver SEALs With More Stealth Than Ever
Reuters: Japan to boost South China Sea role with training patrols with U.S.: minister
Associated Press: U.S. plans to shift military assets to Syria in Russia deal
CNN: Syrian airstrikes kill 23; Russia, US allege violations
Wall Street Journal: Behind Boko Haram’s Split: A Leader Too Radical for Islamic State
Military Times: DoD unfazed by Philippine president’s call for end of U.S. military operations
Calendar
FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 16
8 a.m. 1777 F St. NW. Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs, talks about a new Council on Foreign Relations report about North Korean aggression. cfr.org
9 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. The Atlantic Council hosts an event on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s new terrorism laws in Russia. Atlanticcouncil.org
10 a.m. Pentagon River Terrace Parade Field. Department of Defense’s National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony. Sen. John Cornyn, and son of a former prisoner of war, is the keynote speaker, retired Navy Capt. Gerald “Jerry” Coffee is guest speaker. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Gen. Paul Selva also give remarks.
SATURDAY | SEPTEMBER 17
7:30 a.m. National Harbor, Md. The Air Force Association’s two-day national convention begins. afa.org
MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 19
5 p.m. Senate Visitors Center 217. Jesse Karotin, the deputy national intelligence manager for East Asia, gives a closed briefing on recent North Korea nuclear missile tests. foreign.senate.gov
TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 20
9:30 a.m. Hart 216. The Senate Armed Services Committee considers the nomination of Gen. John Hyten to be the commander of U.S. Strategic Command. armed-services.senate.gov
4 p.m. 1789 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, speaks about winning the war against Islamic terrorism, including stopping lone wolf attacks at home. aei.org
WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 21
9:30 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. A panel of experts discusses the future of the Army. atlanticcouncil.org
10 a.m. Rayburn 2118. Former officials and experts testify on the state of the fight against Islamic terrorism 15 years after 9/11. armedservices.house.gov
10 a.m. Rayburn 2172. Analysts testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the consequences of giving cash to Iran. foreignaffairs.house.gov
12 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. A panel of academic experts talk about a smarter strategy for countering violent extremists like the Islamic State. atlanticcouncil.org
2 p.m. Rayburn 2212. Analysts testify about U.S. seapower and projection forces in the South China Sea. armedservices.house.gov
6 p.m. Livestream. Vice President Joe Biden speaks about the future of U.S. foreign policy. cfr.org
THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 22
10 a.m. Cannon 311. The House Homeland Security Committee holds a hearing on identifying and defeating the threat from Islamic radical terrorists. homeland.house.gov
12:30 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW. Rep. Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, speaks at a luncheon hosted by the Stimson Center. stimson.org
