‘AS A LAST RESORT, YES’: As he did in Tokyo two months ago, President Joe Biden, in a short, extemporaneous response to a reporter’s question, appeared to commit the U.S. to the use of military force in circumstances that could result in all-out war.
In Japan, the question was whether the U.S. would defend Taiwan militarily, and Biden’s one word answer was “yes.”
In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 recorded in Washington Wednesday, just before he departed for Jerusalem, Biden was asked by the network’s anchor Yonit Levi if the U.S. would “act forcefully against Iran” to ensure it does not acquire nuclear weapons.
“As a last resort, yes,” Biden replied. Asked if the U.S. and Israel would “work together” on military action, Biden replied, “I’m not going to discuss that,” saying only that “Iran must not have nuclear weapons.”
“The only thing worse than the Iran that exists now is an Iran with nuclear weapons,” he said.
BIDEN SAYS US WOULD USE FORCE AS ‘LAST RESORT’ TO STOP IRANIAN NUCLEAR WEAPON
A NEW JOINT DECLARATION: Biden arrived in Israel declaring the U.S.-Israeli relationship “deeper and stronger … than it’s ever been.”
“The connection between the Israeli people and the American people is bone deep. It’s bone deep,” Biden said in his arrival remarks at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.
Biden’s been meeting today with Israel’s interim Prime Minister Yair Lapid, and the two leaders are scheduled to appear at a joint press conference at 7 a.m. Washington time, after signing a new joint declaration “reaffirming the unbreakable bonds” and “expanding on the longstanding security relationship” between the two allies.
“This declaration is pretty significant, and it includes a commitment to never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon and to address Iran’s destabilizing activities, particularly threats to Israel,” a senior administration official told reporters in a conference call.
“We will discuss the need to renew a strong global coalition that will stop the Iranian nuclear program,” said Lapid, when he greeted Biden at the airport.
Asked in the Channel 12 interview if Biden had any assurances that Israel would not act militarily without first consulting Washington, Biden replied, “I’m not going to discuss that.”
‘A GIGANTIC MISTAKE’: One area where Biden is at odds with the Israelis is over U.S. efforts to bring Iran back into compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, better known as the Iran nuclear deal.
In his Channel 12 interview, Biden called former President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the agreement in 2018 “a gigantic mistake,” arguing, “They’re closer to a nuclear weapon now than they were before.”
At least publicly, Biden still expresses hope that Iran will return to compliance with the 2015 deal, but he also told Channel 12 that he will not remove Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, even if that was a deal-breaker.
‘A LOST CAUSE’: Most observers think the deal is dead, and that includes Obama-era Director of National Intelligence retired Gen. James Clapper, one of the deal’s earliest supporters.
“The reason I was a big fan of it was because of the unprecedented access that we had to the Iranian nuclear infrastructure in terms of surveillance and monitoring, and all that coupled with our considerable intelligence capabilities certainly gave me a pretty high level of confidence that we would know what the Iranians were doing,” Clapper told the podcast Carnegie Connects this week.
But Clapper says the Iranians have made too many advances in their nuclear program to reinstate the agreement now. “I personally am not convinced, don’t believe that that deal can be salvaged.”
“I think they’ve done too many things that will be very difficult to undo if we’re going to go back to the original 2015 agreement. So, I’m of the mind now that that’s a lost cause,” he said. “If there’s to be any agreement with Iran, it has to be on a much more comprehensive basis, which won’t happen with the Iranians.”
AS WINDOW CLOSES ON REVIVING IRAN DEAL, DOOR OPENS ON MILITARY OPTIONS
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 Victor I. Nava. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. 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 parade of foreign defense ministers visiting the Pentagon continues this morning as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomes Italian MOD Lorenzo Guerini in a ceremony on the River Entrance steps at 9 a.m.
Yesterday, Austin hosted Netherlands Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren, who he thanked for the country’s contributions to Ukraine. “The Netherlands has heeded Ukraine’s calls for defensive and lethal equipment, especially in high-priority areas such as artillery and coastal defense.”
And in the afternoon, Austin met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Richard Marles, who Austin also thanked for supporting Ukraine and working with the U.S. “to advance the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.”
IRON DOME/IRON BEAM: One of the first things President Joe Biden did upon arriving in Israel was get a briefing on Israel’s Iron Dome defense system, which has proven highly effective at shooting down the hundreds of short-range rockets fired by Hamas from the Gaza Strip, as well a new version that uses lasers instead of expensive interceptor missiles to get the job done.
The U.S. has $1 billion to help replenish Israel’s depleted stocks of Tamir interceptor missiles fired by the Iron Dome, which cost $50,000 apiece.
“Rafael’s laser system is a strategic game-changer for the State of Israel and the world as well, a system that already today knows how to shoot down mortar rounds, UAVs and rockets,” said former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett when he toured the Israeli company that makes Iron Beam back in May.
“Pretty impressive technology,” said a senior Biden administration official briefing reporters last night. “The president had a chance to actually see it up close and personal outside the briefing room, and had a chance to talk to the men and women from both armed forces who are working to develop this technology and advance this particular defensive capability.”
WHOSE HAND IS HE AVOIDING? The White House insists there is no ban on handshakes for the Biden Mideast trip, but that stricter protocols are in place due to the surge in coronavirus cases fueled by the latest highly transmissible BA.5 variant.
Reporters traveling with Biden were told that he would be “seeking to reduce contact and to increase masking” on the trip, and they immediately began to suspect the new protocols were a sneaky way to avoid an awkward and embarrassing handshake with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who Biden promised to make a “pariah.”
“We never put out guidance that nobody would shake hands or anything else,” a senior official told reporters later in the day when they saw Biden begin with fist bumps at first, but then shaking hands with a number of people, including former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The president today, I think, did a combination, as President Biden often does, of different sorts of greetings,” the official said. “The president is going to be meeting a host of leaders over the course of these three days … So I think there will be a lot of meetings, and we will follow the protocols in every capital where we are.”
A TOUCHY SUBJECT: BIDEN STRUGGLES WITH NEW NO-HANDSHAKE RULE IN MIDDLE EAST
The Rundown
Washington Examiner: Biden says US would use force as ‘last resort’ to stop Iranian nuclear weapon
Washington Examiner: A touchy subject: Biden struggles with new no-handshake rule in Middle East
Washington Examiner: Secret Service agent sent home following ‘physical encounter’ in Israel
Washington Examiner: Blinken declares Russian deportations and detentions in Ukraine ‘a war crime’
Washington Examiner: Ukraine needs $9 billion in foreign aid per month, top Zelensky adviser says
Washington Examiner: House passes measure to identify neo-Nazis in military and law enforcement
Washington Examiner: ‘Wake-up call’: IS will continue to attempt prison breaks, US officials warn
Washington Examiner: US and China dispute warship interaction near South China Sea islands
Washington Examiner: Navy releases identity of sailor who died aboard USS Carl Vinson
Washington Examiner: Last surviving WWII Medal of Honor recipient to lie at Capitol this week
Washington Examiner: Opinion: From Kaliningrad with pathetic weakness: EU bows to Russia, betrays Lithuania and Biden
AP: Russia jails opposition figure for criticizing its military
New York Times: Israel Works With Arab Allies to Down Drones, in Sign of Growing Ties
New York Times: House Backs Veterans’ Burn Pit Coverage
AP: Dems stress national security as computer chips bill stalls
New York Times: Ukraine Split Exposes A Widening Chasm In U.S.-China Relations
AP: Harris Vows U.S. Will Strengthen Its Pacific Islands Relations
Washington Post: House Tries To Avoid Messy Political Battles Over Pentagon Policy Bill
Defense One: Tampons and Tulips? Lawmakers Pitch 650 Amendments to Annual Defense Bill
Fox News: Mexico to contribute $1.5 billion for infrastructure at US southern border
Defense One: Elaine Luria Wants To Fight For A Stronger Navy — But First She Has To Get Reelected
Air Force Magazine: Ukraine Flies ‘Suicide Missions’ With MiGs, Awaits U.S. Decision on F-16 Training
Air Force Magazine: House Begins Debate on NDAA, With Amendments to Slow Air Force Retirements of F-15s, RC-26s
Air Force Magazine: Hypersonic ARRW Flies Successfully for Second Time, Completing Booster Tests
19fortyfive.com: LANCE: The Air Force’s New Laser Weapon That Could Break All the Rules?
19fortyfive.com: Belgorod: Russia’s Plan for an Underwater Drone ‘Aircraft Carrier’?
19fortyfive.com: 19fortyfive.com: Could ISIS Make A Comeback?
19fortyfive.com: Opinion: Joe Biden Doubles Down on Afghanistan Betrayal
19fortyfive.com: Watch: Russia Strikes Residential Buildings with MLRS Artillery In Ukraine
Calendar
THURSDAY | JULY 14
9 a.m. — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomes Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini to the Pentagon
9 a.m. S.W. corner of Constitution Ave. and 23rd St. N.W. — The National Desert Storm Memorial Association will ceremoniously break ground on the future National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial, with Kuwaiti Ambassador to the U.S. Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; Sen. John Boozman (R-AK); retired Air Force Gen. Chuck Horner; retired Army Brig. Gen. Rhonda Cornum; and Matthew “Fritz” Mihelcic, national commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Livestream: https://www.ndswm.org/live
10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. — Center for Strategic and International Studies conference on “Homeland Cruise Missile Defense,” with Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerk, commander of the U.S. Northern Command; Air Force Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command; and Navy Adm. Charles Richard, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command https://www.csis.org/events/homeland-cruise-missile-defense
10 a.m. 310 Cannon — House Homeland Security Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee hearing: “Taking the Helm: The Commandant’s Vision for the U.S. Coast Guard,” with testimony from Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Pagan http://homeland.house.gov
10 a.m. — Arab Center virtual discussion: “Biden’s Trip to the Middle East: Objectives and Potential Outcomes,” with Cinzia Bianco, Gulf research fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations; Zaha Hasan, fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Middle East Program; Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft; Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now; and Khalil Jahshan, executive director of the Arab Center https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
10 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Xi’s New Global Security Initiative,” with Manoj Kewalramani, chair of the Indo-Pacific research program at the Takshashila Institution; Sheena Chestnut Greitens, associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Public Affairs; and Taylor Fravel, professor of political science and director at MIT’s Security Studies Program https://www.csis.org/events/xis-new-global-security-initiative
12 p.m. — Hudson Institute virtual event: “Regaining the High Ground against China,” with Diana Maurer, director, defense capabilities and management, Government Accountability Office; Derek Trunkey, principal analyst, Congressional Budget Office; Mark Gunzinger, director, future concepts and capability assessments, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies; Bryan Clark, senior fellow and director, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute; and Timothy Walton, senior fellow, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-event-regaining-the-high-ground
2 p.m. — Brookings Institution discussion on “The National Defense Strategy and great power competition,” with former Defense Secretary Mark Esper; and Michael O’Hanlon, co-director of the Brookings Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology https://www.brookings.edu/events/the-national-defense-strategy
2:30 p.m. 1200 16th St., N.W. — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group conversation with Richard Marles, deputy prime minister and defense minister of Australia https://nationalsecuritymedia.gwu.edu
TUESDAY | JULY 19
Aspen Meadows Resort, Colorado — Aspen Strategy Group three-day (19-22) Aspen Security Forum with White House national security adviser, Jake Sullivan; Air Force Chief of Staff Charles Q. Brown; CIA Director William Burns; Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay” Raymond; U.S. Northern Commander Gen. Glen VanHerck; former Defense Secretary Robert Gates; former Defense Secretary Mark Esper; Army Gen. Richard Clarke, commander U.S. Special Operations Command; Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va.; former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; Kay Bailey Hutchison, former U.S. ambassador to NATO; and others. https://www.aspensecurityforum.org
WEDNESDAY | JULY 27
Fort Bragg, North Carolina — Association of the U.S. Army two-day, in-person “Warfighter Summit and Exposition,” with Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville; Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston; Alejandro Villanueva, former Army Ranger and former offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens; as well as leaders from Army Forces Command, the XVIII Airborne Corps and the 82nd Airborne Division. Register at https://meetings.ausa.org/warfighter/index.cfm
THURSDAY | JULY 28
1:30 p.m. — Center for a New American Security virtual fireside chat with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr.; and Stacie Pettyjohn, senior fellow, director, CNAS Defense Program. https://www.cnas.org/events/virtual-fireside-chat
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“As a last resort, yes.”
President Joe Biden’s answer in an interview with Israel’s Channel 12 to the question of whether the U.S. would use force to ensure Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.
