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END OF ISIS CALIPHATE ‘IS AT HAND’: The last days of ISIS’ physical caliphate are desperate times for the remaining fighters who are being routed by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in the Middle Euphrates River valley. “ISIS is on the verge of collapse and the end of the physical caliphate is at hand,” said British Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika in a statement issued this morning, while cautioning the liberation of the last of the territory held by ISIS does not signal the end of this campaign. The U.S.-led coalition said ISIS fighters are trying to melt into the local population and mix in with civilians who have been fleeing the fighting. Some ISIS members were said to have shot their own wives to prevent them from escaping. “Amongst those arriving to be screened are the wives of ISIS fighters, some of whom sustained gunshot wounds while fleeing from ISIS,” said Ghika, a senior spokesman for the coalition. “These utterly despicable and ghastly acts further illustrate their barbaric nature and desperation as ISIS struggles to hold onto their remaining territory.” FIERCE FIGHTING: The latest summary of air and artillery strikes launched by the coalition is one measure of the level of fighting over the past two weeks. For the period between Jan. 27 and Feb. 9, the coalition conducted 199 strikes against 326 targets in both Syria and Iraq. In Syria, 179 strikes consisting of 303 engagements engaged 146 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 131 supply routes, 53 fighting positions, 31 staging areas, 14 vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, 13 pieces of engineering equipment, 11 explosive belts, 9 tankers for petroleum oil and lubricants, 8 tactical vehicles, 5 command and control nodes, 4 buildings, 3 aircraft operations areas, 3 tunnels, 2 petroleum oil and lubricant storage facilities, 2 manufacturing facilities for improvised explosive devices, 2 artilleries, 2 weapons caches, and 1 armored vehicle, according to the latest tally released by Operation Inherent Resolve. SYRIA WITHDRAWAL ON TRACK: The U.S. military is on track to withdraw all of its ground troops from Syria, notwithstanding that the final battle to liberate the country from ISIS is still raging and there is not yet a plan to protect America’s Kurdish allies once the U.S. departs, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told reporters traveling with him. Shanahan is in for two days of meetings at NATO headquarters, where he was expected to raise the issues of allies providing troops for a protection force to patrol a buffer zone in northeastern Syria, where U.S.-backed forces, including Kurdish militia, have been eliminating ISIS strongholds. “There have been a number of discussions prior to today about how, once the United States departs Syria, could we ensure stability and security? You know, what would be the mix of resources? Who would lead those efforts? And clearly, the coalition, with its resources and capabilities, is an option,” he said. SHANAHAN ‘WELL RECEIVED’: Upon his arrival at NATO Shanahan was welcomed by Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who said Shanahan “was very well received by all NATO Allies because it was a very strong and a very clear message about the U.S. ironclad commitment to NATO.” “The fact that he’s coming directly from Iraq and Afghanistan, where NATO has operations, where we train, assist, and advise the Iraqi forces and the Afghan forces, also made it very useful and something we very much welcome,” Stoltenberg said. “And we are really encouraged by his very strong message today on the commitment to NATO but also on the INF and the importance of NATO remaining united in the way we respond to the INF Treaty.” “I did have a really good trip to Afghanistan and Iraq. I was impressed by the strong NATO teams. I came away with a real understanding that there’s an opportunity for peace, and the work that the teams are doing give the diplomats real leverage for negotiations. I’m very, very encouraged,” Shanahan said before yesterday’s talks. YEMEN REBUKE: The House yesterday approved a resolution that would force the Trump administration to end U.S. support for the the war in Yemen and withdraw Americans troops within 30 days unless Congress authorizes a later withdrawal date, issues a declaration of war, or specifically authorizes the use of the Armed Forces. The rebuke of the president’s alliance with Saudi Arabia passed the House 248-177 and is headed to the Senate, where it also has support. The White House has threatened a veto. “Members of Congress — I was one — they get to vote the way they want to vote and pass resolutions that they want to pass. That’s certainly their right,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in an interview with PBS NewsHour last night. He said while he’s listening to Congress and “hears their voice with respect to Yemen,” at the same time he’s working with all parties to end the fighting there and insisted that Iran, not Saudi Arabia, was the major obstacle to peace. He noted Iran continues to fund the Houthi rebels. “It provides missiles to the Houthis that they launch into airports in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. These are the challenges in Yemen. These are the challenges that this administration is determined to push back against,” he said. “If you want to know who’s causing the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, you need look no further than the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Pompeo said U.S. troops in Yemen are fighting al Qaeda, not fighting in the civil war. 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 Kelly Jane Torrance (@kjtorrance). 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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HAPPENING TODAY: The United States is leading a first-ever conference on Middle East security in Warsaw, Poland. More than 60 countries are attending, although not France, Germany, Russia, or China. Secretary Pompeo is the conference’s co-host. This morning Vice President Mike Pence is addressing the conference and is also calling out Iran. Pompeo told PBS the problem is what he calls “the three Hs.” “This gathering is certainly about Middle East peace and stability. You can’t talk about that without talking about the threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran, whether it’s Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis — I call them the three Hs — whether it’s their work against the Iraqi government, trying to harm the independence and sovereignty of Iraq, whether it’s what they’re doing in Syria today.” ALSO TODAY: Congress is expected to pass the compromise spending bill that will prevent another partial government shutdown but lacks the $5.7 billion in funds for President Trump’s border wall, and he’s still being cagey about whether he’ll sign when it reaches his desk, probably tonight. “Well, we haven’t gotten it yet. We’ll be getting it. We’ll be looking for landmines — because you could have that, you know. It’s been known to happen before to people. But we have not gotten it yet. It’ll be sent to us at some point, and we’ll take a very serious look at it,” Trump said during a photo op with the president of Colombia. But Trump seems to be hinting he’ll sign the bill and declare victory, arguing that more wall is being built with funds authorized last year. “We’re building a lot of wall right now, with money that we already have. And when people see what we’re doing, I think they’ll be very surprised. We’re doing a lot of work, and we have planned to do a lot of work, but I have not seen it yet,” he said. SHANAHAN ON HIS ‘ACTING’ STATUS: Patrick Shanahan is trying not to feed into the speculation about whether President Trump will nominate him to formally be the next secretary of defense. “I’d be happy to serve the country in any capacity the president asks me to do,” Shanahan said when asked about his “acting” status by reporters traveling with him. “The Department of Defense is an amazing institution, and whether it’s ‘acting’ next to your name or not, it’s the same job. I’ll do the job the same way. It’s a pleasure to serve in this role and like I said before, I serve at the pleasure of the president and I’ll serve in any capacity he asks me to serve in.” WHAT DID INHOFE MEAN? The reporters’ question were prompted in part by a cryptic comment made by Senate Armed Services Committee chairman James Inhofe at a Defense Writers Group breakfast Tuesday morning, in which he seemed to be lukewarm on the prospects of Shanahan filling the shoes of Jim Mattis. “I have to tell you, I liked the last one,” he said referring to Mattis. “He is really a close friend, and he has a very rare talent called humility. I’d like to have that rub off on somebody else,” Inhofe said it what some saw as a slight against Shanahan. “I like him. He is a friend,” Inhofe said in a clarification to his comment, according to an audio recording provided by his office. “But anyone who has been there for a fairly long period of time as an ‘acting,’ it’s pretty good indication he is not going to be nominated for it,” he told reporters. Shanahan has been acting defense secretary for just six weeks. SHAMING THE SLUMLORDS: Inhofe chaired yesterday’s Armed Services Committee hearing into the failure of privatized military housing to provide decent living conditions for military families. “We privatized the system, putting our faith and trust in the private sector, to give our families a better quality of life while the contractors received fair compensation,” said Inhofe. “After hearing from service members and their families in Oklahoma and across the country, it is clear that isn’t happening everywhere.” “Military families understand that quality housing does not mean entitlement to elegant mansions,” Crystal Cornwall, a housing advocate and military spouse, told the committee. “We simply ask for homes free of mold, pests, lead, and other hazards. We expect homes free from the stressors of deployments, work-ups, trainings, and the day-to-day military service. As parents, we want safe places for our children to sleep at night.” Cornwall testified termites dropped from light fixtures into her family’s beds when they were stationed at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, but when she reported the problem to housing office staff at the base, she was told termites were to be expected, given the region. The hearing coincided with the release of a report from the Military Family Advisory Network, which found more than half of the 16,000 respondents held “negative” or “very negative” opinions of their living conditions on base. Phyllis Bayer, assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations, and environment, apologized to the families who have endured unhealthy conditions and offered a promise to them: “We’re responsible, and we’re going to fix it.” SEXUAL HARASSMENT NOT A ‘BLIP’ OR ‘ME TOO’ BUMP: Over in the House the subject was the Pentagon’s annual report on sexual harassment and violence at the military service academies. “The results show that after a decade-plus of concerted efforts to address sexual harassment and assault, the problem has only gotten worse,” said Rep. Jackie Speier. “The survey has been administered for over a decade with the same questions and an expert-approved measurement. Sixty-eight percent of students participated. This isn’t a blip, a ‘Me Too’ bump, or some accident. It’s a clear illustration of a destructive trend and systemic problem.” ALLEGED SPY FOR IRAN: The Department of Justice has charged a former Air Force intelligence specialist with spying on behalf of Iran, according to a grand jury indictment unsealed Wednesday. Monica Witt, who served in the Air Force until 2008, when she became a contractor for the Department of Defense, defected to Iran in 2013 after being recruited by the country at conferences. 5G WARNING: Retired Gen. Jim Jones, former Supreme NATO Commander and national security adviser, is out with a concise memo outlining the threat posed by 5G or fifth-generation wireless technology, which he argues is a “disruptive” technology because when used in its secure mode, it will transform our societies in ways that we are only starting to understand. Jones, who is now executive chairman emeritus of the Atlantic Council, makes a number of recommendations including:
SOMALIA STRIKE WATCH: The U.S. war against al Shabaab militants in Somalia continues apace. So far this year, the U.S. has conducted 16 airstrikes killing an estimated 145 al Shabaab militants, 42 just in February. DUTY CALLS FOR GOP LAWMAKER: Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., was deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border this week with members of his National Guard unit, his office announced yesterday. Kinzinger, who is a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, will remain in the U.S. for this mission as he has done with prior operations at the border while serving as an elected member of Congress. Kinzinger previously served as a pilot in the Air Force, where he participated in 120 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. THE RUNDOWN Washington Post: Hundreds streaming out of last ISIS stronghold as extremists face military defeat AP: Activists: More Than 200 IS Fighters Surrender In Eastern Syria Washington Examiner: Netanyahu holding rare public meetings with Arab leaders at Warsaw summit CNN.com: Top U.S. Admiral In Middle East Warns Of Growing Iranian Threat Reuters: U.S. To Meet Taliban In Islamabad On Feb. 18: Taliban Spokesman Forbes: Why 2019 Needs To Be The Year The U.S. Army Picks Up The Pace On A New Long-Range Assault Aircraft Task and Purpose: Navy keeps publicly scapegoating former USS Fitzgerald CO for deadly 2017 collision, his attorneys argue Defense News: The Pentagon’s National Military Strategy is done, and it’s unclear if the public will ever see it Fifth Domain: What The Pentagon’s New AI Strategy Means For Cybersecurity Breaking Defense: Artificial Intelligence: Will Special Operators Lead The Way? Navy Times: Why SECNAV Is Launching Naval University Washington Post: Pence and Cabinet officials seek to reassure NATO allies that Trump has their backs Washington Examiner: Benjamin Netanyahu hastily deletes tweet calling for ‘war with Iran’ Reuters: U.S. Senators To Try Again To Pass Russia Sanctions Bill USNI News: Navy: Ford’s Advanced Arresting Gear Will Be Ready For Fleet Super Hornets, Growlers By End Of Year |
CalendarWEEK AHEAD THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 14 9:30 a.m. Rayburn 2154. Impact of the Shutdown and Resource Constraints on the Coast Guard. www.oversight.house.gov 9:30 a.m. Dirksen SD-G50. United States Special Operations Command and United States Cyber Command. www.armed-services.senate.gov 11 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Avenue N.E. “Building an Effective Approach to Terrorism Prevention.” www.heritage.org 11 a.m. 1779 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. “The End of American World Order?” www.carnegieendowment.org FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 15 12 p.m. Rayburn 2075. “Dealing with North and South Korea: Can Washington Square the Circle?” www.cato.org TUESDAY | FEBRUARY 19 10 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. A conversation with General David L. Goldfein, chief of staff of the Air Force. www.brookings.edu WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 20 12:15 p.m. 740 15th St N.W. #900. “21st Century Proxy Warfare.” www.newamerica.org 12:30 p.m. 1619 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. “The ‘New Cold War’ Metaphor Makes No Sense.” www.sais-jhu.edu 2 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave, N.W. “Hope in an Age of Nuclear Weapons: The Realist Case for Elimination.” www.stimson.org THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 21 8:30 a.m. 2101 Wilson Blvd. “Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Roundtable Breakfast.” www.ndia.org 11 a.m. 1000 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. “Gullible Superpower: U.S. Support for Bogus Foreign Democratic Movements.” www.cato.org TUESDAY | FEBRUARY 26 7 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd. Breakfast with Ryan McCarthy, Under Secretary of the U.S. Army. www.ausa.org 12 p.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave N.E. “Modernizing the U.S. Sea-based Strategic Deterrent Force and the Need for 12 Columbia-class SSBNs.” www.heritage.org WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 27 11 a.m. 1700 Army Navy Drive. Expeditionary Warfare Division Annual Meeting. www.ndia.org THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 28 8 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W. “Strategic National Security Space: FY 2020 Budget and Policy Forum.” www.csis.org 8:30 a.m. 1789 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. Congress and the National Defense Strategy: A bipartisan conversation with congressional national security leaders. www.aei.org SUNDAY | MARCH 3 10:30 a.m. 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax. Breakfast discussion with rocket scientist behind Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, Dr. Ari Sacher. jnf.org/vabreakfast |
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