|
4 DEAD, 3 WOUNDED: Yesterday’s attack by a lone ISIS suicide bomber in the Northern Syrian city of Manbij killed 19 people, including four Americans. Initially, the U.S. military said the troops were on routine patrol when the bomb went off in a restaurant on a busy Manbij street. But later the Pentagon said the Americans were in a group that was “conducting a local engagement,” a usual description for meeting with locals. The U.S. casualties were described as two servicemembers, one Department of Defense civilian and one contractor supporting DoD. Under the Pentagon’s policy, their names will be released today, 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete. THE CASE FOR STAYING: As soon as the deaths were announced, opponents of President Trump’s decision to withdraw all U.S. ground forces from Syria began renewing pleas for the president to reconsider — or at least slow down the pullout. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who said he thinks he met with Kurd and Arabs in the same restaurant when he visited Manbij last summer, called for Trump to “look long and hard about what we’re doing in Syria.” “My concern about the statements made by President Trump is that you’ve set in motion enthusiasm by the enemy we’re fighting,” the South Carolina Republican said while chairing a hearing on confirmation of William Barr as attorney general. “You make people we’re trying to help wonder about us. And as they get bolder the people we’re trying to help are going to get more uncertain. I saw this in Iraq and I’m now seeing it in Syria,” Later in a statement, Graham said, “When it comes to Syria policy — go slow, be deliberate.” THE CASE FOR GOING: But at the same time, the loss of U.S. lives in this kind of terrorist attack that is almost impossible to prevent. It also provides grist for the president’s case that it’s time to bring U.S. troops home and let others do more. The deaths mark the heaviest casualties sustained by the U.S. in Syria since the start of the campaign to eliminate ISIS began under President Barack Obama in 2014. Trump White House officials say there will be no change in the withdrawal plans. In a statement yesterday after the attack, Vice President Mike Pence reiterated the administration’s argument that ISIS has been largely defeated, and that the U.S. will continue to target the group, just not with boots on the ground in Syria. “Thanks to the courage of our Armed Forces, we have crushed the ISIS caliphate and devastated its capabilities,” Pence said “As we begin to bring our troops home, the American people can be assured, for the sake of our soldiers, their families, and our nation, we will never allow the remnants of ISIS to reestablish their evil and murderous caliphate – not now, not ever.” ISIS NOT DEFEATED: Military veterans in Congress were quick to point out that the deadly Manbij attack shows that while ISIS has been seriously degraded, it has not been defeated. “I think the message from this is we may have liberated territory that ISIS held, but ISIS and terrorism and radical jihadism is an idea that if you retreat from it, it will grow,” said Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., an Air Force guardsman who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. “You have to stay on the offense militarily.” Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, a former Air Force pilot said he disagreed with Lindsey Graham that yesterday’s attack may have been inspired by Trump’s withdrawal announcement, but agreed the move is risky. “I just don’t think that we have any indication that that’s true at this point. And we don’t set our policy based on one day, one tragedy, one bombing. It has to be more broad-based than this,” Stewart said on CNN. “I actually agree with him that we should be looking at a drawdown in Afghanistan … But I disagree with the president on Syria. I think we have had an enormously positive outcome there with a very — a relatively small number of people, about 2,000 soldiers that are there. And it worries me.” “I think we need to move very, very carefully in that drawdown and recognize that we’re going to lose some very strategic interests if we do it, or do it poorly,” Stewart said. Freshman Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, cautioned yesterday that withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria could give the Islamic State a “vacuum of power” and would jeopardize U.S. allies like the Kurds. “If you give them [ISIS] space, if you leave a vacuum of power, then they feel relaxed — like they can wake up the next day and start planning attacks on the homeland,” Crenshaw told Fox News’ Dana Perino. Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said yesterday’s “deadly bombing targeting our troops in Syria is a reminder that ISIS still has the capacity to carry out attacks.” “I strongly urge the president to forcefully respond and ensure we do not withdraw our troops until ISIS is completely destroyed,” McCaul said. CURIOUSLY QUIET: While Pence issued a statement of condolence in the name of both the president and himself, Trump was curiously absent from Twitter most of the day. “Our hearts are with the loved ones of the fallen. We honor their memory and we will never forget their service and sacrifice,” Pence said. The president did meet with a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House yesterday to discuss the budget showdown that’s left parts of the federal government closed for going on a month — an event that included seven House Democrats. Afterward, Sen. Rand Paul tweeted, “I have never been prouder of President Donald Trump. In today’s meeting, he stood up for a strong America and steadfastly opposed foreign wars. Putting America First means declaring victory in Afghanistan and Syria. President Trump is delivering on his promises.” Good Thursday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by David Mark (@DavidMarkDC). 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 — TRUMP UNVEILS MISSILE DEFENSE REVIEW: President Trump heads to the Pentagon this morning to formally release the long-delayed Missile Defense Review, the first overhaul of U.S. missile defense doctrine in nearly a decade. The document was supposed to be released last year, but it’s been under constant review and rewrite, to keep up with the changing realities of the missile threat posed by North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran. One significant change is in the name. The previous strategy drafted in 2010 was called the Ballistic Missile Defense Review. “We’re expanding the scope of what we’re postured to defend against with this new review,” said a senior administration official in a conference call previewing the policy for reporters yesterday. It’s “not just ballistic missile threats,” the official said, “but also cruise missile threats and novel types of weapons like hypersonics.” The new strategy also seeks to put more sensors in space, so that hostile missile launches can be detected sooner, and possibly shot down in the boost phase — or even in space. “Space-based capabilities are a significant point of emphasis, it’s something that we want to invest in, and we think that’s very important for going beyond the current types of capabilities we have,” the official said. “A space-based layer of sensors is something that we are looking at to help get early warning tracking and discrimination of missiles when they’re launched.” After the president announces the new strategy, an off-camera briefing will follow at 12:30 p.m. by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Michael Griffin, and Missile Defense Agency Director Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves. EASING RUSSIAN SANCTIONS: Senate Democrats expressed frustration yesterday as they sought, unsuccessfully, to block President Trump from easing sanctions against Russian companies controlled by billionaire Oleg Deripaska, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. Despite the support of 11 Republicans, including Sens. Marco Rubio, Fla., Josh Hawley, Mo., and Ben Sasse, Neb., the measure failed by three votes to achieve a filibuster-proof majority. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, N.Y., railed against the lifting of restrictions against Deripaska in remarks on the Senate floor. “This resolution is about a very simple thing: do you believe America should take a tough line on Putin, or do you think we should go easy on Putin and his cronies? From where I’m standing, that’s an easy choice.” “It seems that acquiescence to the president; a fear of breaking with the president; has held back too many of my Republican colleagues from supporting this resolution,” Schumer said. “And if Putin thinks he can manipulate our country and manipulate the president, and too many of my colleagues who have been strong against Russia go along, what is he going to do next? What is he going to ask President Trump to do next? And what will President Trump do?” WHERE ARE THE RECORDS? Sens. Bob Menendez D-N.J. and Jack Reed D-R.I., ranking members of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, respectively, want to know what has become of any records of communications between President’s Trump and Putin. They also want Congress to interview the interpreters present at President Trump’s meetings with Putin. “Your insistence on secrecy related to these interactions, even with your own staff, is alarming, unprecedented, and could be in violation of the Presidential Records Act and Federal Records Act,” the senators wrote in a letter to Trump. “We believe it to be in the national security interests of the United States that any record of these conversations be preserved and immediately provided to Congress … Moreover, it is critical that the American people, through their representatives, understand what has transpired during your interactions with Vladimir Putin.” NEVER SAID THE CAMPAIGN DIDN’T COLLUDE: In a CNN interview last night, the president’s attorney Rudolph Giuliani argued that President Trump never personally colluded with Russia during the 2016 election. But in direct contradiction to what Trump has said innumerable times, Giuliani insisted he never said the same for Trump campaign. “I never said there was no collusion between the campaign or between people in the campaign, Giuliani said in an interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo. “Yes, you have,” Cuomo interjected. “I have not,” Giuliani replied. “I said the president of the United States. There is not a single bit of evidence the president of the United States committed the only crime you could commit here, conspired with the Russians to hack the DNC.” SHUTDOWN DAY 27: While there’s still no breakthrough in the standoff over the Trump’s border wall and the partial government shutdown, the president did sign a bill to ensure furloughed workers will be paid in full after the government eventually reopen. The measure includes both federal workers who have had to stay on the job without pay, and those who have not been allowed to work. The law’s wording also appears to apply to future shutdowns. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 “requires the compensation of government employees for wages lost, work performed, or leave used during a lapse in appropriations that begins on or after December 22, 2018, and entitles excepted employees to use leave during a lapse in appropriations.” NORTH KOREAN EN ROUTE: Speculation is running high that President Trump could soon announce a second summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong Un. That comes amid reports in South Korean media that three North Korean officials, led by Kim Yong-chol, are on their way to Washington for a secret meeting tomorrow with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Kim Yong-chol was spotted in Beijing yesterday boarding United Airlines flight UA808, accompanied by Kim Song-hye and Choe Kang-il, according to the South Korean Yonhap News Agency. The flight arrives tonight at Dulles International Airport outside Washington. TURKEY SEEKS KANTER ARREST: It turns out New York Knicks basketball player Enes Kanter’s fears about traveling closer his home country were well-founded. Kanter, a Turkish national and outspoken opponent of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, decided not to travel with his team to London for today’s game against the Washington Wizards. Media reports in Turkey said Erdogan is seeking a “red notice” through Interpol, requesting Kanter be arrested and turned over to Turkish authorities. In a tweet yesterday, Kanter said: “Turkish Government can NOT present any single piece of evidence of my wrongdoing. “I don’t even have a parking ticket in the US (True) “I have always been a law-abiding resident.” SPACE REPORT: The Air Force has released a new report, Competing in Space, which is heavy on infographics to explain “developing trends in the space domain and the growing challenges posed by foreign space assets.” The 28-page unclassified report was created at the request of Air Force senior leaders to serve as a discussion tool for the public. SPACE FARCE: Netflix announced yesterday it’s producing a new comedy series, starring Steve Carell that will parody the effort by the Pentagon to fulfill President Trump’s request to create a “separate by equal” Space Force. Netflix released a teaser trailer for the new series, which gave no details about when the show would debut, and contained this language: “On June 18, 2018, the federal government announced the creation of a 6th major division of the United States armed forces,” the trailer reads with an image of the sun rising over the earth. “The goal of the new branch is ‘to defend satellites from attack,’ and ‘perform other space-related tasks. Or something. This is the story of the men and women who have to figure it out.” THE RUNDOWN AP: Putin Blasts US, West Over NATO Before Serbia Visit New York Times: Pence Says North Korea Is Stalling On Weapons USNI News: SECNAV: Adversaries Remain But Expect Defense Budget Increases To Disappear Federal News Network: Readiness Is Nearly Restored, Top Military Officials Say The Daily Beast: How the U.S. Is Quietly Winning the Hypersonic Arms Race Reuters: Russia, U.S. Fail To Save Missile Treaty, Washington To Pull Out Navy Times: Second Fleet Is Becoming Operational — What Does That Mean For You? Reuters: Boeing-Lockheed’s Vulcan rocket design ‘nearly fully mature’ Washington Post: Pentagon developing plan to scrutinize recruits with green cards and other foreign ties, memos show Defense News: How the US and China collaborated to get nuclear material out of Nigeria — and away from terrorist groups The Diplomat: South Korea To Receive First Two F-35A Stealth Fighters By The End Of March American Military News: Secret plot to kill George Washington revealed in new book by Brad Meltzer |
CalendarTHURSDAY | JANUARY 17 9:30 a.m. 1211 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 8th Floor. “India and Nuclear Asia: Forces, Doctrine, and Danger.” www.stimson.org FRIDAY | JANUARY 18 9:30 a.m. 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington. Future of the Air Force, with Undersecretary of the Air Force Matt Donovan. http://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org 10:30 a.m. 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW. “Yes, America Can Still Lead the World: Jake Sullivan and Jeffrey Goldberg in Conversation.” carnegieendowment.org TUESDAY | JANUARY 22 9:45 a.m. 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW. “Japan in 2019: A Look at the Year Ahead.” carnegieendowment.org WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 23 10:30 a.m. 1211 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 8th Floor. “US Coercive Diplomacy in Iran and Iraq: A Conversation with Ken Pollack.” www.stimson.org TUESDAY | JANUARY 29 12:30 p.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Suite 400. “Revitalizing Nuclear Security in an Era of Uncertainty.” www.hudson.org THURSDAY | JANUARY 31 9 a.m. 1030 15th Street NW. “The Belarus Dilemma: For Minsk and the West.” www.atlanticcouncil.org THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 7 11:30 a.m. 1667 K Street, NW. “Regaining the High Ground at Sea: Transforming the U.S. Navy’s Carrier Air Wing for Great Power Competition” https://csbaonline.org |
|
