STATE OF CABINET-MAKING: Despite Vice President-Elect Mike Pence’s tantalizing tease that “a number of very important announcements” are on tap for this morning, the signs seem to point to no decision yet on the key post of secretary of state. The lobby of Trump Tower in New York is the heart of the guessing game of whose stock is rising or falling at any particular moment. Retired Army Gen. David Petraeus met with President-elect Trump yesterday and afterward said Trump demonstrated a “great grasp” of foreign affairs, Sarah Westwood writes,. “I was with him for about an hour. He basically walked us around the world. Showed a great grasp of a variety of the challenges that are out there and some of the opportunities as well.”
Trump hopped on twitter to praise the former CIA director, who was forced to resign after lying to the FBI about sharing classified information with his biographer/mistress. “Just met with General Petraeus–was very impressed!” Trump tweeted. Petraeus is thought to be under consideration for state, but Mitt Romney appears to also still be in the running despite being publicly disparaged by key Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. Romney is scheduled to have dinner with the president-elect in New York tonight. Trump is also said to still be considering former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee for State.
DEFENDING ROMNEY: Amid all the attacks from Trump loyalists, it’s worth noting some Republicans are willing to overlook Romney’s highly personal attack on Trump this year. Utah GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch is arguing that Romney would be “loyal” if he is selected to serve as secretary of state. Hatch told CNN Monday that he was happy that Trump invited Romney back for a second meeting, calling the 2012 GOP nominee “one of the great people in this country.” “I was glad to see them invite Mitt back,” Hatch said. “I know one thing about Mitt Romney — if he says he’s going to come into the administration, invite him in. He’s going to be loyal, and he’s going to be someone to carry the ball for them.”
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul says he’s looking for a secretary of state who agrees with Trump’s non-interventionist views on the Middle East, unlike several high-profile possibilities under consideration, Laura Castro writes. “What I want is somebody who understands that the Iraq war was a mistake, that nation-building has been a mistake and that regime change has been a mistake,” the Kentucky senator said Monday on CNN. “These are things that Donald Trump has expressed and I believe and agree with completely.
It could be that today’s big announcement will merely confirm the reports last night that Trump has tapped House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Tom Price to serve as Health and Human Services Secretary. More here on what’s Price’s role will likely be in overhauling Obamacare. Stay tuned.
Good Tuesday 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.
Want to learn more about Daily on Defense? See our introductory video here. And be sure to watch our weekly briefing, where we talk about the secretary of state race and fiscal 2017 budget negotiations here.
CHIEF INNOVATOR FOR THE PENTAGON: Defense News is reporting that, as part of the compromise National Defense Authorization Act, lawmakers are planning to create a chief technology officer for the Pentagon. “The compromise plan would refashion the Pentagon office for acquisition, technology and logistics (AT&L) into an office of acquisition and sustainment (AT&S), and create a new undersecretary for research and engineering (R&E), with implementation of the new positions deferred until February 2018.”
HAPPENING TODAY: U.S. Air Forces Central Command is releasing the findings of its investigation of a coalition air attack in Syria that mistakenly killed Syrian government troops, instead of Islamic State fighters. Brig. Gen. Richard “Tex” Coe, the lead investigating officer, will outline what went wrong at 10 a.m. The Sept. 17 airstrike in Dayr az Zawr was immediately halted after coalition officials were informed by Russia that it was possible the personnel and vehicles targeted were part of the Syrian military. Initial reports said 62 Syrian soldiers were killed, more than 100 wounded, but subsequent reports put the death toll higher.
ASSAD WINNING? With reports of the Syrian government solidifying its gains in Aleppo, and rebels moving to areas controlled by Kurdish forces, it looks as though Syrian President Bashar Assad could hold onto power. But the New York Times writes this morning it could be just the beginning of a long dark chapter for Assad. “Mr. Assad’s victory, if he should achieve it, may well be Pyrrhic: He would rule over an economic wasteland hampered by a low-level insurgency with no end in sight, diplomats and experts in the Middle East and elsewhere say.” The Times analysis says Syria is beginning to look like Lebanon.
IRAN’S GUNBOAT PROVOCATION: A small Iranian boat pointed its weapons at a U.S. Navy helo over the weekend in the Strait of Hormuz, a defense official said on Monday. While the official emphasized the crew of the helicopter did not feel unsafe or threatened, they did return to the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower, which is operating in the region.
TOWNSEND ON IRAQI TURNAROUND: Speaking on C-SPAN, Lt. Gen Stephen Townsend, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, has words of praise for the Iraqi Army, now conducting the siege of Mosul. “I think that the operation in Mosul — the Iraqi security forces’ operation in Mosul is going pretty well. If you think about where this army was 18 months ago, two years ago, it was a defeated army, barricading the gates of Baghdad to keep ISIL out. In the last two years, they have recovered their footing, retrained their army, thrown ISIL back, liberated about half of the ISIL-controlled territory in Iraq. And they have now attacked to liberate Mosul, the largest city held by ISIL in Iraq or anywhere. And that city is 300 or 400 kilometers from their capital here in Baghdad. So petty remarkable turnaround.”
LEAK PROBE: Hours after Petraeus met with PEOTUS, the Associated Press reported that the Defense Department is conducting a leaks investigation related to the sex scandal that eventually led to Petraeus’ resignation as CIA director. A U.S. official said that investigators are trying to determine who leaked personal information about Paula Broadwell, the woman whose affair with Petraeus revealed his mishandling of classified journals and his resignation. The information concerned the status of her security clearance, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name.
BAY OF TWEETS: Trump threatened to reinstate sanctions on Cuba lifted by President Obama if the Caribbean country won’t make “a better deal” for its citizens and the United States, Kyle Feldscher writes. “If Cuba is unwilling to make a better deal for the Cuban people, the Cuban/American people and the U.S. as a whole, I will terminate deal,” Trump said in a Monday morning tweet.
That one got a response from the White House. Gabby Morrongiello writes that terminating diplomatic relations with Cuba would “deal a significant economic blow” to its people, the White House has advised Trump. “It’s just not as simple as one tweet would make it seem,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Monday. “There are significant diplomatic, economic, [and] cultural costs that will have to be accounted for if this policy is rolled back.”
COAST GUARD UPDATE: Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft speaks at 11 a.m. at the Brookings Institution about challenges the life-saving service faces in the Western Hemisphere. Look for the conversation, which will not be livestreamed, to touch on drug busts in South America, cyber threats and priorities in the polar regions, showcasing the diverse mission of the service as it tries to operate under a tight budget.
The Senate Armed Services Committee also holds a hearing this morning — its first since Sept. 22 — on Defense Department voluntary education programs.
TERN MILESTONE: Northrop Grumman is on track to deliver the Tern capability to the Navy by 2018 as planned, according to a release from the company. The Tern is an unmanned aircraft that will conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions while flying both vertically and horizontally. It is being developed together with DARPA and the Office of Naval Research. Watch a progress report video here.
SPACE: THE FINAL FRONTIER, FOR WAR: CNN airs a documentary tonight on the idea that war in space is just a matter of time. It looks at a nightmare scenario in which a massive cyber attack is launched on key infrastructure that disables and destroy satellites in space. Televisions go blank, mobile networks fall silent, and the Internet would slow and then stop. CNN’s chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto talks to some heavyweights including STRATCOM commander Gen. John Hyten, who at the time was commander of Air Force Space Command. “What surprised me is how advanced the threats already are,” Sciutto told us. “This is not the war of the future but of today. And the US military is clearly concerned.” War in Space: The Next Battlefield airs tonight at 9 p.m.
THE RUNDOWN
New York Times: Donald Trump Faces Obstacles to Resuming Waterboarding
Defense One: Trump Should Halt US Missile-Defense Plans in Europe
Defense News: Mixed Signs for Foreign Military Sales Under Trump
Bloomberg: War Game Confirms Major Gaps in U.S. Army’s Cyber Capabilities
UPI: Israel to buy 17 additional F-35 fighters
USNI News: Norway To Buy 5 P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft
CNN: Rand Paul casts doubt on support of a Petraeus pick
Defense One: Breaking Down US-Russian Distrust With Time, Talk, and Meals
Defense News: NDAA to Create New Pentagon Chief Innovator Job, Keep AT&L in Compromise
Military Times: 25 years on, why it’s time for a national Desert Storm memorial
Military.com: Bomb Technicians Face Higher Risk in Iraq, Syria: Commander
Calendar
TUESDAY | NOVEMBER 29
9:30 a.m. Dirksen G-50. The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing titled “Department of Defense Actions Concerning Voluntary Education Programs.” armed-services.senate.gov
9:30 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. A panel of experts discusses how to handle Russia’s increasing involvement in the Middle East. atlanticcouncil.org
11 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft provides remarks at the Brookings Institution. brookings.edu
2:30 p.m. Dirksen 419. A panel of think tank analysts testifies at a Senate hearing on countering Iranian proxies. foreign.senate.gov
WEDNESDAY | NOVEMBER 30
12 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speaks about a new approach for the Middle East. atlanticcouncil.org
THURSDAY | DECEMBER 1
8 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Rep. Mac Thornberry kick off a day-long Global Security Forum. csis.org
9:30 a.m. Dirksen G-50. Sean Stackley, the Navy’s assistant secretary for research, development and acquisition, is among those testifying at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the littoral combat ship. armed-services.senate.gov
10 a.m. Rayburn 2118. The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations holds a hearing on force management levels in Iraq and Afghanistan. armedservices.house.gov
11 a.m. Dirksen 419. Two analysts testify at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the future of counterterrorism strategy. foreign.senate.gov
3 p.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. The Heritage Foundation hosts an event on U.S. alliances with Japan and the United Kingdom. heritage.org
3:30 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW. The Stimson Center holds an event on the U.S. drone program. stimson.org
FRIDAY | DECEMBER 2
12 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. A panel of experts discuss how President-elect Trump’s vision for the U.S. relationship with Asia may differ from the Obama administration’s plans. atlanticcouncil.org
SATURDAY | DECEMBER 3
7:30 a.m. Simi Valley, Calif. The annual Reagan National Defense Forum includes panels with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Joseph Dunford and Defense Secretary Ash Carter. reaganfoundation.org
MONDAY | DECEMBER 5
9 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Korean and American officials talk about what the relationship between the two countries will look like in the next administration. csis.org
2 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Robert Work, the deputy defense secretary, will speak about investing in the future of U.S. defense during a time of transition. brookings.edu
TUESDAY | DECEMBER 6
7:30 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. Defense One hosts an event on what helicopters will look like in 2030. defenseone.com
9:30 a.m. 1789 Massachusetts Ave. NW. The architect of the CIA’s enhanced interrogation programs will talk about his interrogations of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. aei.org
