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THE DEBATE GETS REAL: President Trump upped the ante in his bid to convince Congress to sign off on a separate U.S. Space Force yesterday by dispatching his vice president to the Pentagon extol the idea with lofty language and dire warnings of inaction. “While too often previous administrations all but neglected the growing security threats emerging in space, President Trump stated clearly and forcefully that space is, in his words, a warfighting domain just like land and air and sea,” Vice President Mike Pence said in a speech in a Pentagon auditorium packed with uniformed military personnel. “Just as in the past, when we created the Air Force, establishing the Space Force is an idea whose time has come,” he said. “The space environment has fundamentally changed in the last generation. What was once peaceful and uncontested is now crowded and adversarial. Today, other nations are seeking to disrupt our space-based systems and challenge American supremacy in space as never before.” While acknowledging that “creating a new branch of the military is not a simple process,” Pence nevertheless announced an ambitious goal of launching the proposed U.S. Department of the Space Force by 2020. “Now the time has come to write the next great chapter in the history of our armed forces, to prepare for the next battlefield where America’s best and bravest will be called to deter and defeat a new generation of threats to our people, to our nation.” PROTECTING SATELLITES: There is no debate in the Pentagon over the need to protect the more than 89 military satellites that are increasingly vulnerable as adversaries China and Russia develop the capability to destroy or disable them. “In 2007, China launched a missile that tracked and destroyed one of its own satellites, a highly-provocative demonstration of China’s growing capability to militarize space,” Pence said. “Russia’s been designing an airborne laser to disrupt our space-based system, and it claims to be developing missiles that can be launched from an aircraft mid-flight to destroy American satellites.” The anti-satellite threat is real, and in time of war could interfere with vital communications, affect GPS-guided weapons, and disrupt every aspect of American life including something as basic as withdrawing money from an ATM. But there is deep skepticism about whether creating a complicated and expensive sixth new branch of the armed forces is necessary. Pence yesterday talked about the creation of Space Force as though it was a done deal, only mentioning near the end that the president can’t create a new branch of the military all by himself. “Ultimately, Congress must act to establish this new department,” Pence said. “Our administration’s already working with leaders of the Congress to do just that.” SPACE FORCE BILL COMING IN JANUARY: Rep. Mike Rogers said Thursday he plans to introduce a stand-alone bill in January that would give the Pentagon the authority it needs to create Trump’s new Space Force military service. The bill will be based on a legislative proposal expected from the military this fall, as well as input from Pence and House lawmakers on the Armed Services Committee, said Rogers, who is a subcommittee chairman. Pence and the Pentagon will need Congress to pass legislation before Space Force can become a reality. Rogers has spearheaded the space service effort with Rep. Jim Cooper, the Democratic ranking member on his subcommittee, for about two years. “Our plan is to have a freestanding bill in January that we can introduce that would give the Defense Department the authorities that it needs to complete this separate process,” Rogers said. “We intend to roll that bill into the [National Defense Authorization Act], which is a vehicle that we know will become law.” WILL COST ‘BILLIONS’: The Pentagon will work up its legislative Space Force proposal to Congress by November and will immediately start building four main components of the future military service branch — a Space Development Agency, Space Operations Force, Space Command, and services and support. One big question mark remains the Space Force price tag. Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan said an estimate of the cost will not be completed until November. “We have not done the cost estimation yet,” Shanahan said. “I would assume it is billions.” Rogers said concerns over a price tag are a “red herring” but opponents might try to use them to sink the legislative effort, and that the Armed Services Committee leadership including Rep. Mac Thornberry are focused on deflecting such attacks. “As far as when we’ve got this separate service stood up, I would expect the number of personnel that work in the Space Force would equate pretty doggone close to the number of personnel, active duty and civilian, that are currently working on that mission,” Rogers said. “So, I don’t see a lot of additional cost after this is over with.” ON THE HILL, CRICKETS: Pence’s historic announcement of a sixth branch of the military elicited a muted response from Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are on summer recess. But it did draw some sniping from a couple of Democrats. Sen. Brian Schatz suggested Republicans were quiet because they were not willing to confront Trump. “The VP just announced a new military branch – a ‘Space Force,’ because no R is willing to tell POTUS it’s a dumb idea,” Schatz tweeted. “Although ‘Space Force’ won’t happen, it’s dangerous to have a leader who cannot be talked out of crazy ideas. Elect D’s to check POTUS power.” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, tweeted out a news story about Pence’s Space Force announcement and wrote: “So, more money for defense contractors. Meanwhile, Flint still does not have clean water. Puerto Rico is still struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria. Infrastructure across the country is failing. People are going homeless because they can’t afford rent & more. Priorities?” Good Friday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and National Security Writer Travis J. Tritten (@travis_tritten). David Brown is out this week. 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. |
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NORTH KOREA’S NOT HAPPY: North Korea is threatening to end the “hard-won atmosphere of stability on the Korean Peninsula,” in response to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s hardline efforts to maintain tough economic sanctions against the regime. The North Korean foreign ministry warned yesterday that the sanctions pressure could derail talks, in a message carried by state-run KCNA. “Some high-level officials within the U.S. administration are making baseless allegations against us and making desperate attempts at intensifying the international sanctions and pressure,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. “The international society is struck by this shameless and impertinent behavior of the U.S., and we also closely follow the U.S. behavior with high vigilance against their intentions.” Pompeo and other U.S. officials don’t want any international sanctions eased until North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un takes substantial steps to roll back his nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program. Kim’s diplomats have taken offense at this position, which the Trump administration believes is necessary to prevent North Korea from backsliding as the regime has in previous talks, and lashed out with a renewal of insulting rhetoric. CYBER WARFARE CONTINUES: The North Korean government may have planted malicious software in U.S. cyberspace following the June 12 meeting between Trump and Kim. The Department of Homeland Security and FBI have concluded it found dangerous North Korea-linked malware that had the potential to do damage to U.S. entities, but shared little information about who it would have affected and the extent of the attempted attack. “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have identified a Trojan malware variant—referred to as KEYMARBLE—used by the North Korean government. The U.S. Government refers to malicious cyber activity by the North Korean government as HIDDEN COBRA,” the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team said in a statement. MATTIS HEADS SOUTH: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis leaves this weekend on his first trip to South America as secretary, visiting in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia. The White House has declared 2018 the “Year of the Americas,” and the Pentagon says the secretary’s trip “underscores the department’s strong defense ties” with the four countries, adding that the “relationships are critical to a collaborative, prosperous and secure Western Hemisphere.” His first stop is Brazil, where Mattis will give a speech at the Escola Superior de Guerra, the country’s war college, and visit the national monument to Brazilian service members killed in World War II. HITTING PAUSE BUTTON: Under criticism for unfairly discharging immigrant recruits who enlisted under the promise of getting a path to citizenship, the U.S. Army has temporarily halted the discharges. “On July 20, 2018, the Army temporarily suspended processing involuntary separations of individuals recruited through the Department of Defense Military Accessions Vital to National Interests (MAVNI) pilot program in order to conduct a review of the administrative separation process,” Lt. Col. Nina Hill, U.S. Army spokesperson, said in an email. The Army insists there has been no targeting of immigrants, and that the discharges are the normal result of required security and background checks, which can take time to complete, especially if records from the recruits home country are unavailable. “This in no way reflects a change in the Army’s compliance with DoD’s MAVNI program,” Hill said. “We continue to abide by all requirements to include completing a thorough background investigation on all MAVNI applicants.” MISSILES TO MEXICO: The State Department has approved the possible $41 million sale to Mexico of six Evolved Seasparrow tactical missiles and two Evolved Seasparrow telemetry missiles. “Mexico intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and expand its existing naval and maritime support of national security requirements,” according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. DROPPING THE X-FACTOR: The Pentagon says its Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx) is no longer an experiment, so it’s dropping the lower case “x” from the initials. “Removing ‘experimental’ reflects DIU’s permanence within the DoD,” writes Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan in an Aug. 3 memo. “Though DIU will continue to experiment with new ways of delivering capability to the warfighter, the organization itself is no longer an experiment. DIU remains vital to fostering innovation across the Department and transforming the way DoD builds a more lethal force.” The Defense Innovation Unit Experimental was the brainchild of former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, and while Secretary Mattis voiced support for the effort to increase ties with high-tech silicon valley firms. Shanahan says the program “has generated meaningful outcomes,” and “is a proven, valuable asset.” “As a testament to my commitment to the importance of its mission, effective immediately, DIUx will be redesignated as the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).” SPACE FORCE MERCH: Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign celebrated the prospect of a new Space Force military branch by asking supporters to vote on a potential logo for campaign-associated merchandise. “President Trump wants a SPACE FORCE — a groundbreaking endeavor for the future of America and the final frontier,” campaign manager Brad Parscale wrote Thursday in an email. “As a way to celebrate President Trump’s huge announcement, our campaign will be selling a new line of gear… But first we have to make a final decision on the design we will use to commemorate President Trump’s new Space Force — and he wants YOU to have a say.” You can see some of the designs here. THE RUNDOWN Defense News: Think Space Force is a joke? Here are four major space threats to take seriously Daily Beast: Russia Looks to Hurt U.S. in Space After New Sanctions AFP: US sanctions on Russia cause ruble to plunge AP: Officials: Taliban try to take Afghan city, kill at least 14 DoD Buzz: Army Secretary Wants to Boost Active-Duty End Strength Above 500,000 New York Times: Saudi Coalition Bombs School Bus in Yemen, Killing Dozens Reuters: U.N. chief calls for probe into Saudi-led coalition air strike in Yemen Defense One: DIUx Drops the X, Becomes Permanent Air Force Times: Turkish lawyers want to raid İncirlik Air Base and arrest U.S. Air Force officers Business Insider: ‘Mars Awaits’: Trump campaign asks supporters to vote for a ‘Space Force’ logo Breaking Defense: Stop Wasting Time So We Can Beat China: DoD R&D Boss, Griffin Marine Corps Times: Pentagon triples military spending in Philippines |
CalendarFRIDAY | AUG. 10 8 a.m. 300 1st St. SE. Nuclear Deterrence, Missile Defense, and Space: Paths Forward with Gen. Paul Selva, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. mitchellaerospacepower.org 10 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Japan: America’s Neglected Ally? heritage.org TUESDAY | AUG. 14 7 a.m. 5701 Marinelli Rd. Global Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Symposium and Exhibition. ndia.org 6 p.m. 529 14th St. NW. “Austin Tice: Children of Syria” photo exhibit. press.org WEDNESDAY | AUG. 15 11 a.m. 46870 Tate Rd. NDIA Patuxent River Speaker Series. ndia.org 12 noon. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Iran: Protests, Sanctions, and Regime Viability. hudson.org
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ADVERTISEMENT: NDIA invites you to attend the Army Science and Technology Symposium and Showcase August twenty first through twenty third at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in DC. Register today at http://www.ndia.org/ArmyScience |
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