Theresa May calls for Internet crackdown after London attacks

While backing military action to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria, May also called for tougher measures at home. “To be frank,” she said “there is far too much tolerance of extremism in our country,” calling for an “increase the length of custodial sentences for terrorism-related offenses, even apparently less serious offenses.”

May’s comments just three days before snap elections in Britain, which May called originally in an attempt to pick up more seats in Parliament to strengthen her hand in negotiating the country’s Brexit from the European Union. Now May faces a closer contest with Labour Party candidate Jeremy Corbyn, and combatting terrorism is a much bigger issue. The elections are Thursday.

ISIS CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY: British counterterrorism police arrested a dozen people yesterday in a widening dragnet after the three terrorists emerged from a van wielding large knives, turning a balmy evening of nightlife into a bloodbath in the heart of London, the AP reported. ISIS has claimed responsibility. Although the three attackers were shot dead by police, and have been identified, authorities raced to determine whether they had accomplices. As of this morning seven people are dead and 48 wounded.

TRUMP REACTS: President Trump vowed to do everything he can to protect the United States and its allies “from a vile enemy that has waged war on innocent life.” Hours after facing criticism for his tweets on the London terror attack, Trump said the U.S. will do everything in its power to “bring those that are guilty to justice.”

“This bloodshed must end. This bloodshed will end. As president I will do what is necessary to prevent this threat from spreading to our shores,” Trump said during a speech last night at the Ford’s Theatre Annual Gala. “America sends our thoughts and prayers,” he added.

Trump criticized London Mayor Sadiq Khan earlier Sunday over his response to the attacks, warning that the attacks will “only get worse” if we don’t “stop being politically correct.”

“At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!'” Trump tweeted, taking the mayor’s BBC interview out of context. “We must stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people. If we don’t get smart it will only get worse,” he added.

TRAVEL BAN: MORE THAN EVER, OR NEVERMIND? On Saturday in the immediate after aftermath of the attack, the president renewed his call for the courts to uphold his controversial proposals for temporary entry restrictions and increased vetting from countries with links to terrorism, which now even Trump is calling a travel ban for short. “People, the lawyers and the courts can call it whatever they want, but I am calling it what we need and what it is, a TRAVEL BAN!,” Trump tweeted at 6:28 this morning, and in a follow-up second guessed his own administration. “The Justice Dept. should have stayed with the original Travel Ban, not the watered down, politically correct version they submitted to S.C.

“The Justice Dept. should ask for an expedited hearing of the watered down Travel Ban before the Supreme Court – & seek much tougher version!” he added. “In any event we are EXTREME VETTING people coming into the U.S. in order to help keep our country safe. The courts are slow and political!”

But on the Sunday shows there was a growing consensus that the time for the travel ban may have come and gone. “Christ, it’s been four — it’s been four months since I said they needed four months to put that in place. I think you can do that without a travel ban,” said Republican Sen. Roy Blunt on Fox News Sunday. “I’m not a lawyer. I think my view is the president does have certainly the right to put in place extreme vetting.”

Over on CBS, Sen. Mark Warner, top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, was making a similar argument, noting the original proposal was a 90-day moratorium to review vetting procedures. “I the president wanted 90 days to reexamine how individuals from certain countries would enter the United States, he has had more than 90 days,” Warner said on “Face The Nation.” “If there’s new procedures put in place, put those procedures in place. Don’t continue to call for this travel ban, which is, frankly, all of the leaders of the intelligence community have said would be, in effect, a slap in the face to Muslim Americans and others, and, in many ways, might actually incite more incidents.”

Good Monday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre), National Security Writer Travis J. Tritten (@travis_tritten) 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 add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter @dailyondefense.

HAPPENING TODAY: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are in Sydney, Australia, for the 27th annual Australia-U.S. Ministerial consultations, known as AUSMIN. “Relationships either get stronger or weaker, they don’t stay the same,” Mattis said in remarks at the opening of the conference. “We’re here as a commitment that we are going to strengthen further a relationship that’s in both our nation’s best interest.” While not referencing the London attack directly, Mattis noted, “We are united … in our resolve, even against an enemy that thinks that by hurting us, they can scare us. Well, we don’t scare.”

ISOLATING QATAR: Speaking in Australia today, Mattis said he believes the diplomatic rift between Qatar and four Gulf states will “resolve itself.” Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain all severed diplomatic relations with Qatar today, over accusations that Qatar is supporting Iranian-backed terrorists. “[Qatar] embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS and al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly,” Saudi state news agency SPA said, according to Reuters.

The U.S. runs much of the war against ISIS from the sprawling Al Udeid air base in Doha, Qatar’s capital. The AP reports the four Arab countries are withdrawing their diplomatic staff from Doha and regional airlines have announced they will suspend service to Doha. “I do not expect that this will have any significant impact, if any impact at all, on the unified – the unified – fight against terrorism in the region or globally,” Tillerson said after meetings with the Australians.

MATTIS, TILLERSON ON NORTH KOREA: On Saturday in Singapore, Mattis warned North Korea’s ramped-up efforts to develop a missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons that pose a danger to the U.S. and its allies represents a “clear and present danger.” “North Korea’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them is not new, but the regime has increased the pace and scope of its efforts,” Mattis said at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the international security conference in Singapore.

Today in Sydney, Tillerson said China must do more to bring North Korea to heel. Calling China “a significant economic and trading power,” Tillerson said, “We cannot allow China to use its economic power to buy its way out of other problems, whether it’s militarizing islands in the South China Sea or failure to put appropriate pressure on North Korea.”

PUTIN DEFLECTS: Russian President Vladimir Putin sounded a little like Trump when critiquing the American press during his sit-down interview with NBC News’ Megyn Kelly that aired Sunday. Kelly pressed the Russian leader on his knowledge of any meetings the Russian ambassador to the U.S., Sergei Kislyak, had with members of Trump’s team. Notably, Kelly asked about meetings last year with then-Sen. Jeff Sessions, which Sessions failed to disclose during the attorney general confirmation process. She also questioned Putin on what he knows about a meeting that reportedly took place between Kislyak and Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, in which Kushner reportedly floated the idea of a secret backchannel with the Russians.

Putin claimed he knew nothing about these encounters, even saying he hardly speaks with Kislyak. He initially claimed there were no meetings between Kislyak and Sessions, who had been serving as an adviser to Trump’s campaign at the time. Asked again about communications between members of Trump’s campaign and Kislyak, Putin replied, “I have no idea. I’m being honest.” “Do you think I have time to talk to our ambassadors every day all over the world? Complete nonsense,” he said.

Here is more of what Putin told NBC, speaking through a translator.

On the election hacks: “IP addresses can be invented, a child can do that! Your underage daughter could do that. That is not proof.” “We didn’t do this. Stop this!” “There is no specific evidence, no facts, just assumptions, allegations and conclusions based on those allegations nothing more.”

On alleged backchannel communication by Kushner: “I don’t know about this proposal. No proposal like that came to me.”

Election interference: “Put your finger anywhere on a map of the world, and everywhere you will hear complaints that American officials are interfering in internal electoral processes.”

On contact with former national security adviser Mike Flynn at a 2015 dinner in Moscow: “When I came to the event for our company, Russia Today, and sat down at the table, next to me there was a gentleman sitting on one side… I made my speech. Then we talked about some other stuff. And I got up and left. And then afterwards I was told, ‘You know there was an American gentleman. He was involved in some things. He used to be in the security services’ … that’s it. I didn’t even really talk to him… That’s the extent of my acquaintance with Mr. Flynn.”

On NATO: “NATO was established as a Cold War instrument in the fight against the Soviet Union … there is no longer any … Soviet Union but NATO is still there. The question is, what for?”

READY TO RUMBLE ON LEAKS: Republicans and Democrats will each get a chance this week to advance their favorite theories about Russia, hacking, leaks and the election, Todd Shepherd writes. Democrats are eager to take the testimony of former FBI Director James Comey before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, his first public remarks since being fired by Trump.

And the day before, Republicans will get a chance to ask questions about the implementation of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act laws, which may help them learn more about how names of Trump associates may have been unmasked and how classified surveillance documents were leaked to the press.

Comey’s testimony is expected to dominate the week, that is unless the Trump White House tries to block him from testifying, by invoking executive privilege. There’s been no definitive word on that, but on the Sunday shows, lawmakers from both parties urged the president not to be seen as stopping Comey from telling his story. “Clearly, it would be very, very troubling if the president of the United States is interfering in investigations that affect potentially the president and his closest associates,” Warner said.

SPENCER TO BE NOMINATED SECNAV: Trump will nominate a former Marine aviator, Richard V. Spencer, to be Navy secretary. The White House made the official announcement Friday evening, though it was speculated as far back as March that Spencer would be his pick after his first choice, Philip Bilden, withdrew from consideration over concerns that his overseas financial holdings did not conform with government ethics standards.

Spencer has spent more than a decade in the finance industry, most recently as managing partner for Fall Creek Management. He also was president of Crossroads Investment Management and moved on to become vice chairman and chief financial officer of Intercontinental Exchange. Spencer also served in the Marine Corps from 1976 to 1981, according to his bio. He served on the Defense Business Board from 2009 to 2015 and is on the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel.

THE RUNDOWN

Reuters: China Upset At Mattis’ “Irresponsible Remarks” On South China Sea

New York Times: How ISIS Got A Foothold In The Philippines

The Hill: NATO Head ‘Absolutely’ Believes Trump Is Committed To Alliance

Wall Street Journal: Low-tech terror attacks prove harder to thwart

The Diplomat: Russia’s Pacific Fleet To Upgrade 4 Subs With Supersonic Cruise Missiles

CNN: Jordanian soldier charged with killing 3 U.S. soldiers

New York Times: Trump, who pledged to overhaul nuclear arsenal, now faces increased costs

Daily Beast: Steve Bannon’s security council rival dies in darkness

Defense News: Global allies call for continued US patrols in South China Sea

New York Times: Trump’s off-the-cuff tweets strain foreign ties

Task and Purpose: What makes the F-22 and F-35 stealth? Proper skin care

Daily Beast: Two Marines arrested at a Confederate rally are back on duty

Navy Times: Fallen Navy SEAL Honored With Underwater Memorial

Washington Post: ‘None Of Them Came Back’: Remembering The Battle Of Midway, 75 Years Later

Calendar

MONDAY | JUNE 5

7:30 a.m. 300 1st St. SE. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson speaks at Air Force Association Breakfast Series seminar at Capitol Hill Club.

9 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. The stunning inside story of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida in flight. brookings.edu

3:30 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. All measures short of war: The contest for the 21st century and the future of American power. brookings.edu

5 p.m. Senate Visitor Center 217. Closed hearing on the Islamic State outside the Middle East. foreign.senate.gov

TUESDAY | JUNE 6

8:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. The 6th annual symposium on the European Union’s common security and defense policy. csis.org

9:30 a.m. Dirksen G-50. Posture of the Air Force with Secretary Heather Wilson and Gen. David Goldfein, chief of staff. armed-services.senate.gov

10 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. The growing threat from cyber weapons and what the United States needs to do to prepare. brookings.edu

10 a.m. Dirksen 342. Department of Homeland Security budget request for 2018. hsgac.senate.gov

12:30 p.m. 1777 F St. NW. Are there any steps forward in Syria? cfr.org

2 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. A new nuclear review for a new age. csis.org

2:30 p.m. Dirksen 124. Defense budget request for military construction and family housing. appropriations.senate.gov

2:30 p.m. Russell 232-A. Marine Corps ground modernization. armed-services.senate.gov

WEDNESDAY | JUNE 7

8 a.m. 300 1st St. SE. Nuclear deterrence series event on U.S. and allied nuclear and BMD initiatives. mitchellaerospacepower.org

8:30 a.m. 901 17 St. NW. The future of defense and deterrence in Europe with retired Gen. Philip Breedlove, former supreme allied commander of NATO, and the defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. atlanticcouncil.org

8:45 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. Energy security in central and eastern Europe. atlanticcouncil.org

9 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Meeting security challenges in a disordered world. csis.org

10 a.m. House Visitor Center 210. Secretary John Kelly testifies on the Trump administration’s priorities for the Department of Homeland Security. homeland.house.gov

10:30 a.m. Dirksen 192. Hearing to review the budget request for the Army with Gen. Mark Milley, chief of staff, and Robert Speer, acting Army secretary. appropriations.senate.gov

10:30 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. Regional perspectives on U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. atlanticcouncil.org

2 p.m. Rayburn 2212. Priorities and posture of missile defeat programs and activities for 2018 with Vice Adm. James Syring, director of the Missile Defense Agency. armedservices.house.gov

2:30 p.m. Russell 222. Defense Department nuclear acquisition programs and the nuclear doctrine with Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, and Vice Adm. Terry Benedict, director of Strategic Systems Programs. armed-services.senate.gov

3:30 p.m. Rayburn 2118. Combat aviation modernization programs and the fiscal 2018 budget request with Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps leaders. armedservices.house.gov

6 p.m. 1301 S. Joyce St. Networking Series event with Dana W. White, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs. militaryreporters.org

THURSDAY | JUNE 8

9:30 a.m. Dirksen G-50. Posture of the Navy with acting Secretary Sean Stackley, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller. armed-services.senate.gov

10 a.m. Hart 216. Former FBI Director James Comey testifies about his recent firing. intelligence.senate.gov

10:15 a.m. Dirksen 419. ISIS’ global reach beyond Iraq and Syria. foreign.senate.gov

12 p.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. A lecture by author Roger Kimball on populism and the future of democracy. heritage.org

12:30 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW. Nuclear weapons and coercive diplomacy. stimson.org

1 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. Development as a U.S. national security imperative with retired Adm. Mike Mullen, Gen. James Jones and Gen. Carter Ham. atlanticcouncil.org

2 p.m. House Visitor Center 210. Secret Service Director Randy Alles testifies on how he will reform and improve the agency. homeland.house.gov

MONDAY | JUNE 12

10:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. A daylong forum on religion and violence in Russia. csis.org