DIRECT TALKS WITH NORTH KOREA: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says he’s open to the U.S. negotiating directly with North Korea over its nuclear weapons, which would mark a shift in Washington’s diplomatic efforts. “Obviously that will be the way we would like to solve this,” he told NPR in an interview. “But North Korea has to decide they’re ready to talk to us about the right agenda and the right agenda is not simply stopping where they are for a few more months or a few more years and then resuming things. That’s been the agenda for the last 20 years.” The last round of talks began in 2003, known as the Six Party Talks, and North Korea walked away in 2009.
“MAJOR, MAJOR CONFLICT”: President Trump raised the prospect of war with North Korea over the issue in an interview with Reuters. “There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely,” adding that he’s exploring any number of options to get an agreement with the regime.
“We’d love to solve things diplomatically but it’s very difficult,” he said.
TILLERSON TO THE UN: All this as Tillerson heads a special meeting of the U.N. Security Council to discuss North Korea today. While the North’s weapons are the focus, part of the meeting will involve enforcing U.N. measures already taken.
“It is incumbent on every member of the U.N. to carry out or to enforce those sanctions to the utmost,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. “That is something we have been conveying to allies and partners in the region. That is something that we have obviously been conveying to China.”
CHINA IS HELPING: Tillerson, in an interview with Fox News, said China is doing its part to put pressure on North Korea, threatening sanctions if Pyongyang won’t end its nuclear tests and give up its weapons. “We know that China is in communications with the regime in Pyongyang,” Tillerson said. “They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test.” China, however, declined to confirm Tillerson’s assertion.
NEW WRINKLE WITH THE SOUTH: Trump, in his Reuters interview, complicated matters with South Korea (South, not North) by saying Seoul should pay for the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense system, key parts of which the U.S. set up in South Korea this week.
“I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid. It’s a billion-dollar system,” Trump said. “It’s phenomenal, shoots missiles right out of the sky.”
South Korea’s Defense Ministry told Reuters the original deal, in which the U.S. would pay for the costs of the Lockheed Martin system’s deployment, isn’t changing. A former State Department official told the news service that the cost is probably around $1.2 billion, and that the U.S. won’t be selling the missile system to Seoul. “We want to retain THAAD in our arsenal, consistent with all other U.S. weapons systems deployed on the Korean peninsula. We own them. We retain them. We have the right to redeploy them,” the former official said.
OH YEAH, THAT: Amid all the North Korea news, it’s also the final day of Congress’ continuing resolution, which froze federal spending at last year’s levels until lawmakers can reach a deal for the year. If they can’t do so by midnight tonight, a partial government shutdown will begin. Lawmakers are widely expected to agree to an extension lasting several days as they continue to negotiate funding for the rest of this fiscal year.
Susan Ferrechio writes that the thought of another placeholder bill earned a weary sigh from lawmakers in both parties who are sick of the whole thing. “Please tell me we are close,” Rep. Tom Cole said to the House Appropriation chairman and ranking Democrat during a Thursday meeting to set the rules for debating the week-long bill.
Some lawmakers are so fed up with continuing resolutions they are threatening to vote against any CR longer than a week. “I will not support an extended CR,” said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain. “I will not vote for it. And I don’t think a number of my colleagues will, either.” Sen. David Perdue called the stopgap funding habit practiced by Congress “professional malpractice.”
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 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.
HALEY ACCUSES RUSSIA: U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Thursday rejected Russia’s argument that it was working for peace in Syria, and told the U.N. Security Council that they all need to put more pressure on Russia. “I listened to my Russian colleague, and he talked about task forces, and diplomacy, and less criticism of the Syrian regime,” Haley said after the Russian ambassador spoke. “Where has that gotten us? It hasn’t gotten us anywhere.”
“And then, the times where we could actually do something as a Security Council, who’s the one member state that continues to protect the regime that’s keeping this humanitarian assistance from going through?” she said, referring to Russia.
MEETIN’ WITH PUTIN? Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to start working on arranging a meeting with Trump, according to the Kremlin. “We are ready to discuss different options, but no concrete agreements have been reached so far,” Putin aide Yuri Ushakov told TASS, a Russian state-run news agency. Another Russian diplomat told TASS that the “meeting is being coordinated.”
Putin’s primary spokesman tapped the brakes on the reports, saying it’s “wishful thinking” to expect the meeting to take place in the next month. Still, that’s a softer tone than Russian officials have taken in recent weeks. After initially hoping that Trump’s inauguration would produce a raft of policy concessions to Russia, Putin’s team talked down the prospects of a meeting and routinely accused the United States of making aggressive efforts to maintain global hegemony. “The dialogue continues and the foreign policy chiefs have already met, and surely more than one telephone talk has been held,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday. “But, in my mind, there are all possibilities of all the sides to expedite this work by several times. On our part, there are no problems.”
BAD FOR FLYNN: Retired Army general and former national security adviser Mike Flynn was explicitly warned not to accept payments from foreign sources without approval, according to new documents released by the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee on Thursday, Todd Shepherd writes. “These documents raise grave questions about why General Flynn concealed the payments he received from foreign sources after he was warned explicitly by the Pentagon,” Cummings said in a release.
He also confirmed that the Inspector General for the Department of Defense is launching an internal investigation. Cummings released a letter from December, 2014 from the Defense Intelligence Agency that was written in direct response to a request by Flynn, “regarding the ethics restrictions that apply to you after your retirement from the United States Army.”
The letter outlined the numerous restrictions Flynn faced for doing outside work or receiving payments from foreign governments, and explicitly warned him, “if you are ever in a position where you would receive and emolument from a foreign government, be sure to obtain advance approval from the Army prior to acceptance.”
CHAFFETZ WANTS AN ANSWER: House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz is asking the Army to make a “final determination” on whether retired Flynn violated federal law by accepting payments from foreign government-controlled entities without registering as a lobbyist for those interests, Daniel Chaitin writes.
In a letter addressed to Acting Army Secretary Patrick Murphy, Chaffetz asked that the “appropriate entity” investigate the matter. Chaffetz also asked, if necessary, that a plan for repayment of the money be initiated, and requested a written explanation if the probe finds that Flynn did not violate DoD policies or guidelines.
SPICER’S NEW LINE: White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Thursday downplayed the scandal by saying Flynn’s security clearance was approved in 2016 by the Obama administration, and that the incoming Trump administration accepted his clearance and others that were approved by Trump’s predecessor. “Gen. Flynn was a career military officer who maintained a high-level security clearance throughout his career in the military,” Spicer said in the press briefing. “His clearance was last re-issued by the Obama administration in 2016 with full knowledge of his activities that occurred in 2015.”
“So the issue is, you know, he was issued a security clearance under the Obama administration in the spring of 2016,” he said.
So how does all that work? Read this tweetstorm by Bradley Moss, an attorney specializing in security clearance law.
FLASHBACK: Spicer wasn’t always so trusting of security clearances. In 2013 he tweeted a link to a CNN story detailing fraud in security clearance vetting. “You can’t make this up,” he wrote.
TRUMP AND RUSSIA: Trump dismissed the investigation into his campaign’s alleged collusion with Russians last year as a “faux story,” reprising his argument that Democrats had invented the narrative to compensate for their candidate’s defeat. “The Russia is a faux story. It’s made up,” Trump said Wednesday in an interview with the Washington Examiner’s Sarah Westwood. “[Democrats] lost an election, and they use the Russia story as a way — as best they can — as a way of justifying how they lost the election. It’s a fake story. The fake media keeps putting it on. The same media, it’s all the same media, that keep putting it on. And frankly they should be ashamed of themselves.”
TRUMP’S PLAN TO SLASH FOREIGN AID: The president released his blueprint for a 2018 “America First” budget last month and it has since drawn widespread criticism for slashing spending on diplomacy and aid in favor of beefing up the military. A group of 43 senators, including six Republicans, wrote a letter to Senate budget officials and appropriators saying the move would undermine U.S. national security and economic interests. The group, led by Sen. Dick Durbin and freshman Sen. Todd Young, includes members of the foreign relations and armed services committees. Other key Republicans have previously rejected the budget plan. Trump has proposed cutting the State Department budget by 28 percent as part of the effort to cut foreign aid spending and boost defense by $54 billion in 2018.
2 KIA IN AFGHANISTAN: Two U.S. service members were killed on Thursday after coming under attack during a raid in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Thursday, and another service member has been wounded.
The raid took place in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan while U.S. forces were fighting alongside Afghan forces against the ISIS-Khorasan group. These mark the second and third U.S. combat deaths in Afghanistan this year.
IN THE ROTATION: The Army said Thursday it will deploy 1,700 soldiers to Afghanistan and 4,000 to Europe as part of its normal troop rotations. About 1,500 soldiers from Fort Bragg, N.C., and 200 soldiers from Fort Stewart, Ga., will relieve troops who are training and advising Afghan security forces.
Meanwhile, the troops rotating into Europe will come from the 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kan., as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, the U.S. effort to reassure allies there who are worried about Russian aggression.
EMBATTLED ARMY NOMINEE: Attacks on Tennessee state Sen. Mark Green, who Trump has picked to be the next Army secretary, are escalating from liberal groups to lawmakers. Now, a group of 31 House Democrats is charging the conservative Christian lawmaker with having a “history of homophobia and transphobia.” They wrote a letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee asking it to reject Green’s nomination. The House has no formal role in confirming presidential nominations.
Green, who is a CEO and former Army special operations flight surgeon, shot back at accusations earlier this week, saying liberals are twisting his words and targeting him because of his religious faith. But the criticism has been piling up — transgender reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner joined four liberal civil rights advocacy groups in blasting him. In various videos posted on the Internet, Green discusses his deep faith, opposition to gay marriage and transgender bathroom rights, and concerns that Tennessee students are being indoctrinated with Islam.
ALLRED VS. THE CHAIRMAN: When one of Trump’s sexual harassment accusers came forward during the election last year, she was flanked by self-proclaimed feminist attorney Gloria Allred. Now, the attorney known for controversial high-profile cases is taking on Rep. Mac Thornberry, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, over the Marines United nude photo-sharing scandal. Allred represents alleged victims in the case and on Thursday called a press conference in California to accuse Thornberry and his committee of covering up the scope of the online abuse.
Allred wants victims to publicly testify, but the committee has been wary about testimony that might taint military investigations or be viewed as unlawful command influence. The Marine commandant recently briefed members about the scandal behind closed doors. Still, weeks before the press conference Thursday, Thornberry had written to Allred saying the committee was working to schedule a hearing with a panel of victims, all with fully adjudicated cases, and a spokesman confirmed to the Washington Examiner it might still occur as early as next week.
WHEN WE SHOULD ATTACK NORTH KOREA: According to McCain, it’s when Pyongyang points its nukes at us. McCain was briefed on North Korea by the White House Wednesday evening, and when asked on CBS whether he thinks a U.S. military strike against North Korea is imminent, after being briefed on the situation at the White he said, “No.”
“If it were up to me … I would probably say a missile on the launch pad that we knew for sure had a nuclear weapon on it,” he said. “I don’t think we could wait til launch. We do have defensive capabilities that can intercept missiles, but to count on that alone I think would be very risky business.”
NOW THAT’S LOOKING ON THE POSITIVE SIDE: In his interview with Reuters, Trump spoke about Kim himself, and offered a somewhat sympathetic, but not supportive, view of his situation. “He’s 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age. I’m not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I’m just saying that’s a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he’s rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he’s rational,” he said.
RAYTHEON’S EARNINGS: Missile maker Raytheon reported net sales of $6 billion for the first quarter, up from $5.8 billion a year ago. First quarter earnings per share were also up: $1.73, compared to $1.43 in the first quarter of last year. “Solid revenue growth and margin expansion drove strong earnings per share performance in the first quarter, with all of our businesses meeting or exceeding expectations,” said Thomas Kennedy, Raytheon chairman and CEO.
METAL CONCERNS: Trump on Thursday signed a memorandum that finds low-priced imported aluminum is a threat to U.S. national security, and encouraged the Commerce Department to prioritize an investigation that could lead to new import restrictions. “The artificially low prices caused by excess capacity and unfairly traded imports suppress profits in the American aluminum industry, which discourages long-term investment in the industry and hinders efforts by American aluminum producers to research and develop new and better grades of aluminum,” Trump’s memo said.
“If the present situation continues, it may place the American aluminum industry at risk by undermining the ability of American aluminum producers to continue investment, research, and development, and by reducing or eliminating the jobs needed to maintain a pool of skilled workers essential for the continued development of advanced aluminum manufacturing,” it added. Just before signing the memo, Trump said aluminum is a critical national security issue as it is a major component of U.S. naval ships, fighter jets and other military products.
MOAB VIDEO: The Defense Department yesterday released video showing the destruction of the “mother of all bombs” in Achin, Afghanistan. Check it out here. Key takeaway: rubble.
THE RUNDOWN
Washington Post: North Korea puts out new video showing the White House in crosshairs and carriers exploding
Reuters: Risk of deeper involvement as U.S. weighs its options in Afghanistan
New York Times: Syria blames Israel for attack on Damascus airport
Fox News: Poll: 53 percent favor military action to stop North Korea nukes program
Wall Street Journal: Russian military ship sinks in Black Sea after collision with freighter
USNI News: PACOM: U.S. should renegotiate INF missile treaty to better compete with China
Military.com: U.S. Army to search for new 7.62mm rifle
UPI Security News: U.S. Air Force seeks hackers to test the security of its web portals
Reuters: U.S. House may vote within days on tighter North Korea sanctions
New York Times: State Department wants to clear what Nikki Haley has to say
Calendar
FRIDAY | APRIL 28
10 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Key Congressional staff members examine the big questions in U.S.-Asia policy. heritage.org
SATURDAY | APRIL 29
2:30 p.m. 1777 F St. NW. Discussion of the world’s hotspots for the Trump administration with Elliott Abrams, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and other experts. cfr.org
MONDAY | MAY 1
10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Three former Japan defense ministers discuss the country’s strategy toward the Trump administration. csis.org
12 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. Trump’s first 100 days and what is next. atlanticcouncil.org
12:30 p.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Sen. Todd Young discusses whether it is time for Congress to pass an ISIS-specific AUMF. heritage.org
TUESDAY | MAY 2
8 a.m. 300 First St. SE. A discussion with Vice Adm. Charles Richard, vice commander of U.S. Strategic Command, about nuclear deterrence.
8:30 a.m. 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. Sasakawa USA’s fourth annual security forum with former Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Itsunori Onodera, former Japan minister of defense. spfusa.org
10 a.m. Dirksen 419. Consideration of the nomination of Terry Branstad to be ambassador to China. foreign.senate.gov
11 a.m. Rayburn building foyer. Missile Defense Day exhibit. ndia.org
11 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. The future of U.S. seapower with Rep. Rob Wittman and Rep. Joe Courtney. csis.org
3:30 p.m. Rayburn. 2118. Overview of the annual report on sexual harassment and violence at the military service academies from superintendents. armedservices.house.gov
WEDNESDAY | MAY 3
8:30 a.m. 1201 M St. SE. Systems engineering division meeting. ndia.org
9:30 a.m. 1307 L St. NW. Nicholas Rasmussen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and others discuss new terrorism threats and counterterrorism strategies. cnas.org
11 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. On America’s Arctic frontline: A conversation with Adm. Paul Zukunft, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. csis.org
3:30 p.m. Rayburn 2118. Rear Adm. John P. Neagley, program executive officer for Navy littoral combat ships, and Rear Adm. Ronald Boxxall, director of Navy surface warfare, testify about littoral combat ships and the transition to frigate class. armedservices.house.gov
THURSDAY | MAY 4
9 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. John Negroponte, former secretary of state, discusses a new strategy for U.S. engagement in Central America. atlanticcouncil.org
9:30 a.m. 901 17th St. NW. A conversation with Gen. Mark Milley, Army chief of staff. atlanticcouncil.org
9:30 a.m. Dirksen G50. Testimony by Gen. Raymond Thomas III, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, and Theresa Whelan, acting assistant secretary of defense for special operations. armed-services.senate.gov
1 p.m. House Visitors Center 304. Closed hearing on ongoing intelligence activities. intelligence.house.gov
2:30 p.m. Russell 232-A. Testimony by Vice Adm. James Syring, director of the Missile Defense Agency, and Gen. James Dickinson, commander of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. armed-services.senate.gov
