GAME-CHANGING NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR BLAST: Seismic activity near a North Korea nuclear site is consistent with that country’s claim to have conducted its fifth nuclear test, the second this year, and with a recorded magnitude of 5.0, its most powerful blast yet. But Pyongyang is crowing not as much about how big the blast was, but about how small the warhead was. Its state-run media says the test “confirmed the structure and specific features of movement of [a] nuclear warhead that has been standardized to be able to be mounted on strategic ballistic rockets.” Translation: North Korea claims it now has a nuke small enough to put atop its medium-range ballistic missiles and can effectively threaten its neighbors. And as it increases its missile arsenal, eventually the United States.
South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye called the test an act of “fanatic recklessness.” President Obama, who already called for tighter sanctions against the North for its recent missile tests in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions, is expected to speak about the situation today. Defense Secretary Ash Carter is in Norway this morning, and is scheduled to have a news conference with his Norwegian counterpart before winging back to Joint Base Andrews. Spokesman Peter Cook said Carter has been fully briefed, adding “If this turns out to be a nuclear test, it would be yet another flagrant violation of UN resolutions.”
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KERRY, LAVROV AT IT AGAIN: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in Moscow to hammer out an agreement with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Lavrov to get a real ceasefire in Syria, allowing humanitarian aid to the long-suffering Syrian people. The effort has been a exercise in frustration for the U.S., which has serious doubts if Russia really wants to cooperate to defeat the Islamic State.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports an airstrike near Aleppo has killed the top commander of the militant group Jabhat Fateh al Sham, quoting both the group and rebel sources. Abu Hajer al Homsi, whose nom de guerre is Abu Omar Saraqeb, was reportedly killed in a rural area of Aleppo province, where the group was battling Syrian army troops and Iranian-backed Shiite militias in the gateway city of Aleppo.
TRUMP ON THE PUTIN PROPAGANDA NETWORK: Donald Trump says he had no idea the interview he did for a podcast for his old friend Larry King would be aired on Kremlin-owned Russia Today cable news channel. In the phone interview, Trump told King “It’s probably unlikely,” that Russia was behind the hack of the Democratic National Committee this year. “Maybe the Democrats are putting that out, who knows?” said Trump, who has come under sharp criticism for his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a strong leader. “If they are doing something, I hope that somebody is going to be able find out so they can end it, cause that would not be appropriate at all.” He seems to have changed his tune from late July, when he called on Russia to find Hillary Clinton’s deleted emails.
OBAMA’S MIND IS MADE UP: POTUS had this to say yesterday after Trump took at shot at him Wednesday night: “I don’t think the guy is qualified to be president of the United States and every time he speaks, that opinion is confirmed,” Obama said in his wrap-up of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders’ meeting in Laos Thursday, Nicole Duran writes. “I think the most important thing… is to just listen to what he says and follow up and ask questions about what appear to be either contradictory or uninformed or outright wacky ideas.”
ISIS ACCUSATIONS: The day after the Commander in Chief Forum saw its share of zingers and accusations about what was said the night before. Clinton said Trump had no plan to defeat ISIS, which made it scary. Then she said ISIS is rooting for Trump. Retired Marine Gen. John Allen, a Clinton supporter, followed up by saying he’s worried Trump’s rhetoric will radicalize our allies.
Trump hit back later in the day, saying Clinton is “totally trigger happy.” He then read from an article in Esquire magazine to prove that he’s been against the Iraq war from the beginning. Esquire editors then added a note to their original story, pointing out that the interview took place more than a year after the Iraq war began, knocking down his assertion that the article proves he was against the war before the invasion.
1.7 BILLION QUESTIONS: Actually, more like 13. That’s the number of questions Sen. James Lankford has for Obama following news that all of the $1.7 billion paid to Iran was done in secret and with cash, Kelly Cohen writes. “The American people rightly have questions about how this transfer took place and deserve to know the full extent of the relationship between the U.S. and Iran,” he said. Lankford wants Obama’s answers by Sept. 19.
ALEPP OH NO! You’ve no doubt heard about this by now, but if not: Libertarian Party candidate blanked on MSNBC yesterday morning when asked about his plan for Aleppo in Syria. “And what is Aleppo?” a clearly stumped Johnson asked Mike Barnicle. For response, just go anywhere on this website. Later on, this is what he had to say about it. And Clinton managed to sneak in a jab as well.
UNSUCCESSFUL RESCUE ATTEMPT: The Pentagon confirmed last night that a team of SEALs was unsuccessful in its attempt to rescue a U.S. and Australian civilian in Afghanistan in August. “In August, at the recommendation of [Defense Secretary Ash] Carter, President Obama authorized U.S. forces to conduct a mission in Afghanistan, aimed at recovering two civilian hostages,” Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the hostages were not at the location we suspected. During the mission, U.S. forces engaged and killed a number of hostile forces. No U.S. personnel or civilians were harmed.” The New York Times reports the Navy SEALs, backed by Army Rangers, “are believed to have missed the men by hours.”
LAST LEG: Carter is in Bodø on the last day of his four-day trip to the United Kingdom and Norway. He’ll visit some Norwegian military facilities this morning before heading to Oslo for a joint press conference today with Norwegian Minister of Defense Ine Eriksen Søreide.
In addition to being a NATO ally, Norway contributes to the fight against the Islamic State, Russian deterrence in Eastern Europe, and is a partner for the U.S. defense industry, including on Lockheed Martin’s F-35.
Yesterday in the United Kingdom, Carter announced that he had signed a new partnership agreement with Ukrainian Minister of Defense Stepan Poltorak that will enhance and lock in the types of assistance the U.S. is providing now, like training and help with organizational reform, for five years. In addition, retired Gen. John Abizaid, a former U.S. Central Command leader, will serve as the senior adviser to Poltorak.
Carter heads back to D.C. this afternoon, but doesn’t stay long — he’s on the road again on Monday to check on the progress of the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental hub in Silicon Valley. Jacqueline Klimas explains it all in our Daily on Defense podcast.
NOT SO FAST: The chief U.S. military spokesman in Iraq is pushing back on a published report that said the new American commander of the anti-Islamic State coalition predicted the battle to retake Mosul will begin early next month. Air Force Col. John Dorrian insists his boss, Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, did not tell the Wall Street Journal the move on Mosul would begin before early October. “I think there might be some clarification on that quote,” Dorrian said. “He didn’t say early October, I can tell you that.” Could be one of those “what the general meant to say” corrections.
SUING THE SAUDIS: The White House is threatening a veto if Congress passes a bill to allow families of those killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks to sue Saudi Arabia. The House is expected to take up the legislation today, and House Speaker Paul Ryan is predicting it will pass easily by a veto-proof margin. The Obama administration argues the law could open the U.S. up to lawsuits from other countries.
REMEMBERING 9/11: The Pentagon is marking the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks with a “remembrance ceremony” the Pentagon’s center courtyard at 10 a.m today. Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work and Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Gen. Paul Selva will speak. There will also be a private showing for the Pentagon press corps of a replay of the historic briefing held inside the still-burning building on that fateful Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. And on Sunday, the actual anniversary, Obama, Carter and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford will deliver remarks at a private remembrance at the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial for the family members of the 184 victims of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. and include a moment of silence at 9:37 a.m., when American Airlines flight 77 hit the Pentagon. The event is not open to the public.
THE RUNDOWN
Defense Daily: DoD Office Amassing Flight Tests Of Expendable Micro UAV
Defense News: Major Defense Budget Negotiations Off To Positive Start, McCain Says
Breaking Defense: Arsenal Plane Pick Still In The Air: SCO’s Roper
Defense Daily: Air Force Leader Stays Confident In SpaceX After Rocket Losses
Defense News: DARPA Challenges Industry To Make Adaptive Radios With Artificial Intelligence
Task and Purpose: How The US Military Invented The iPhone
Associated Press: Syrian government forces capture more areas in Aleppo
Wall Street Journal: U.S. Gets Ready to Assist Offensive to Retake Key Iraq City From Islamic State
Associated Press: Iranian faction among Kurds trained by US against militants
UPI: Russia orders new submarines for Pacific fleet
Wall Street Journal: Fragile Post-Summer Cease-Fire Holds in Ukraine Amid Tensions with Moscow
Defense One: U.S. Intel Chief: Climate Change Is Adding Fuel to the World’s Extremist Fires
USNI News: Officer in Charge of Sailors Captured By Iran Loses Appeal, Could Face Discharge
Fox News: Army pulls postgame football video after prayer complaints
Marine Corps Times: Marines find culture of hazing, abuse at boot camp after recruit’s death at Parris Island
Calendar
FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 9
7:30 a.m. Capitol Hill Club. Brig. Gen. Stephen Whiting, the director of integrated air, space, cyberspace and intelligence, speaks at a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies breakfast event. mitchellaerospacepower.org
1 p.m. Livestream. The Council on Foreign Relations hosts an event looking at President Obama’s foreign policy legacy. cfr.org
MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 12
9 a.m. 2301 Constitution Ave. NW. The Center for New American Security unveils a new report of foreign policy strategy advice for the next administration. cnas.org
TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 13
8 a.m. 1250 S. Hayes St., Arlington. Rear Adm. Bret Muilenburg, the commander of Navy Facilities and Engineering Command, speaks at a Navy League breakfast. navyleague.org
9 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. Marcel Lettre, the Defense Department’s undersecretary of intelligence, will speak at the Atlantic Council about the role of transparency in strengthening defense intelligence. atlanticcouncil.org
10 a.m. Dirksen 419. State and Treasury Department officials testify about what impact the Brexit will have on U.S.-U.K. relations. foreign.senate.gov
10 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. The Brookings Institution hosts a panel to talk about how creating jobs in the Middle East could boost security. brookings.edu
WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 14
10 a.m. Cannon 311. The House Homeland Security Committee holds a hearing looking at the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to track and stop foreign fighters trying to enter the U.S. homeland.house.gov
12 p.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Amber Smith, a former Army helicopter pilot, speaks at the Heritage Foundation about her new book on her service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Heritage.org
3:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn. Four Air Force generals testify before the House Armed Services Committee on next-generation air space control. armedservices.house.gov
THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 15
5 p.m. 1789 Massachusetts Ave. NW. The American Enterprise Institute hosts an event in its new building on tension between the U.S. commitment to religious freedom and the tools the government has to stop terrorists. aei.org
FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 16
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
