DETERRENCE, NOT WAR: The United States is preparing options to keep the vital Strait of Hormuz open to international shipping traffic while deterring Iran from carrying out more attacks against oil tankers — all while stopping short of offensive military action.
“President Trump has said very clearly he doesn’t want to go to war,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Sunday on CBS’ “Face The Nation.” Pompeo further asserted the U.S. has every right to defend itself and its interests.
“Remember, they now have attacked U.S. aircraft,” Pompeo said, confirming that Iran fired a surface-to-air-missile that missed an American MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drone, and a citing separate incident in which a Reaper was shot down. “On June 6, there was a missile fired from Yemen that we assess had Iranian assistance that took down an MQ-9 aircraft.”
EVIDENCE ‘INDISPUTABLE’: When host Margaret Brennan suggest the video released by the U.S. Central Command Thursday “purported” to show an Iranian IRGC patrol boat removing an unexploded mine, Pompeo objected. “We don’t just ‘purport.’ That’s what that video is,” Pompeo said. “This was taken from an American camera. This is the real data.”
Pompeo said the U.S. has already shared the video and other intelligence with allies, as he works to build an international consensus to counter Iran. “I will concede there are countries that just wish this would go away, and they want to act in a way that is counterfactual,” he said, but he said the evidence is clear. “I’m confident that, as we continue to develop the fact pattern, countries around the world will not only accept the basic facts, which I think are indisputable, but will come to understand that this is an important mission for the world.”
‘IT WAS THEM THAT DID IT’: “Iran did do it. And you know they did it because you saw the boat,” President Trump said on Friday when he called in to “Fox and Friends.” “I guess one of the mines didn’t explode and it’s probably got essentially Iran written all over it. And you saw the boat at night trying to take the mine off and successfully took the mine off the boat.”
Trump insisted there was absolutely no doubt about what the video showed. “They didn’t want the evidence left behind. I guess they don’t know that we have things that we can detect in the dark that work very well. So we have that. And I know you put it on. So, no, it was them that did it.”
BRITS ON BOARD: Later Friday, the British government released a statement concurring with the U.S. assessment. “It is almost certain that a branch of the Iranian military — the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — attacked the two tankers on 13 June. No other state or non-state actor could plausibly have been responsible,” the statement said.
It also blamed Iran for four previous attacks on May 12. “The Emirati-led investigation of the 12 May attack on four oil tankers near the port of Fujairah concluded that it was conducted by a sophisticated state actor,” the statement said. “We are confident that Iran bears responsibility for that attack.”
SHANAHAN’S FOCUS: In a brief interchange with reporters at the Pentagon Friday, acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he is focused on making sure that the U.S. Central Command Gen. Frank McKenzie has all the resources he needs in the Persian Gulf region and that the Pentagon is set the conditions for diplomacy. “The focus for myself and Amb. [John] Bolton and Secretary Pompeo is to build international consensus to this international problem.”
Shanahan said the U.S. is considering whether to send additional forces to the region in the event the threat from Iran worsens.
“When you look at the situation, a Norwegian ship, a Japanese ship, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the [United Arab Emirates] — 15% of the world’s oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz,” Shanahan said. “So we obviously need to make contingency plans should the situation deteriorate.”
IRAN’S LATEST THREAT: Iran has announced will begin to break a key provision of the 2015 nuclear deal by increasing uranium enrichment levels beyond the limits of the treaty, in response to the U.S. pulling out of the deal an imposing crippling economic sanctions.
“Think about that,” Pompeo said on CBS. “Iran is now announcing that, in a matter of days, they can begin to spin up their nuclear program. This tells you how flawed the deal was, right? Tells you that the deal had no capacity to actually stop them.”
Good Monday 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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SHANAHAN PROFILE: Patrick Shanahan granted an interview to Politico for a long profile that examines the acting secretary’s influence, or lack thereof, on the nation’s foreign policy. The article paints a largely unflattering a picture of Shanahan as being outmaneuvered by national security adviser John Bolton described as “a security hawk and experienced bureaucratic gunslinger.”
“Defense Department officials with direct knowledge of Shanahan’s operations said, he has tolerated a practice by Bolton and the National Security Council staff of calling Pentagon underlings and inserting themselves deep into the chain of command. That means the people who work for Shanahan are unprotected from interference by White House staff, who are not in the military’s chain of authority,” Politico reports.
Shanahan pushes back against the characterization that he’s a weak leader, arguing he’s figured out who to work with a mercurial and impulsive president. “You have to know how to hit a curveball,” Shanahan tells Politico. “What I’ve found with the president is he has a lot of new ideas and you have to work with him … It’s not about going in and telling him no, but that doesn’t mean you go in and tell him yes.”
Trump, says Shanahan, is a big picture guy. “He doesn’t want to be involved in the figuring-out part,” Shanahan said. “He wants to have me come back and say what are the options in order to achieve these things.”
NO NOMINATION YET: Despite President Trump’s announcing his intent to nominate Shanahan to succeed Jim Mattis as defense secretary, the White House has yet to forward his nomination to the Senate.
In his recent phone interview with “Fox and Friends,” Trump gave Shanahan a less than ringing endorsement. “Look, he’s been recommended. Now he has to be approved by Congress. So we’re going to see. We’re going to see,” he said.
‘A VIRTUAL ACT OF TREASON’: President Trump lashed out Saturday night at a New York Times report that quoted current and former government officials as saying the U.S. was using new authorities to step up digital incursions into Russia’s electric power grid in a warning to President Vladimir Putin.
What caught a lot of people’s attention was this paragraph buried in the story: “Two administration officials said they believed Mr. Trump had not been briefed in any detail about the steps to place “implants” — software code that can be used for surveillance or attack — inside the Russian grid. Pentagon and intelligence officials described broad hesitation to go into detail with Mr. Trump about operations against Russia for concern over his reaction — and the possibility that he might countermand it or discuss it with foreign officials, as he did in 2017 when he mentioned a sensitive operation in Syria to the Russian foreign minister.”
In a pair of tweets, Trump called the report “a virtual act of Treason by a once great paper so desperate for a story,” adding “ALSO, NOT TRUE!”
“Anything goes with our Corrupt News Media today. They will do, or say, whatever it takes, with not even the slightest thought of consequence! These are true cowards and without doubt, THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!,” he said.
THE TIMES REPONDS: “Accusing the press of treason is dangerous,” the New York Times responded in a tweet. “We described the article to the government before publication. As our story notes, President Trump’s own national security officials said there were no concerns.”
“HISTORIC CHOICE’: Rear Adm. Shoshana Chatfield has been named the new president of the U.S. Naval War College. She will serve as the college’s first female president in its 135-year history. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer named Chatfield in a statement that followed the college’s graduation ceremony in which he called her a “historic choice.”
Chatfield, a helicopter pilot who commands Joint Region Marianas in Guam, was named just a few days after the departure of Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley, who was removed from his post and is under investigation for inappropriate conduct. Allegations against the former president include excessive spending, abusing his hiring authority, and various other incidences of erratic behavior including offering students “free hugs” and keeping a margarita machine in his office.
NEW EXPERT SOLDIER BADGE: To commemorate its 244th birthday, the Army has announced its new Expert Soldier Badge. The new badge, which features a frag grenade and combat knife inlaid on a silver bar, will be awarded to soldiers who pass a rigorous test that examines their physical fitness, marksmanship, and other soldier-related tasks.
The Army has aimed to improve the readiness of its soldiers in recent years, after nearly two decades of constant deployments across two wars have taken a toll on the force.
“The ESB will be an important component of increasing Soldier lethality and overall readiness to help achieve the vision for the Army of 2028,” said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey in a statement.
The Rundown
Reuters: Boeing crisis, trade tensions cast pall over air show
Washington Post: Obama’s defense secretary explains his big decisions and major frustrations
Defense One: Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter Talks Iran, China, and Trump’s Late-Night Tweets
Washington Examiner: New Yorker who tried to join ISIS sentenced to 20 years in prison
Military Times: With a new team of prosecutors, the Navy takes a final shot at SEAL Eddie Gallagher
Air Force Magazine: KC-46 Begins Initial Operational Test and Evaluation at McConnell
Washington Examiner: Raytheon takeover worries cost-conscious Trump
Calendar
MONDAY | JUNE 17
All Week. The 53rd International Paris Air Show takes place from June 17 to 23 at the Exhibition Center of Le Bourget, just north of Paris. The U.S. has the largest international presence with some 350 aerospace and defense manufacturers and suppliers displaying the world’s most advanced aircraft, materials, components, products, and services. www.siae.fr/en
12:30 p.m. 1777 F Street N.W. Council on Foreign Relations lecture on China’s strategy to control technologies of the future, including 5G and artificial intelligence, with Senate Intelligence Vice Chair Mark Warner, D-Va.; and Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor of “PBS NewsHour.” Open to media only. www.cfr.org
TUESDAY | JUNE 18
8 a.m. 2401 M Street N.W. Defense Writers Group breakfast with Air Force Gen. Paul Selva, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. nationalsecuritymedia.gwu.edu
8 a.m. 777 F Street N.W. Council on Foreign Relations discussion with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee on “Defense and Emerging Technology.” Open to media only. www.cfr.org
8:30 a.m. 300 First Street S.E. National Defense Industrial Association, the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, the Air Force Association and the Reserve Officers Association forum on “Keeping a National Consensus on Nuclear Policy.” Speaker: former Principal Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense John Harvey. http://www.afa.org/hbs
9:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Avenue N.W. Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion on “The Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy in Southeast Asia: A Status Report on Energy and Infrastructure Initiatives.” www.csis.org/events
12:30 p.m. 1111 19th Street N.W. Washington Institute for Near East Policy discussion on “Assad’s Thinking: How Did Syria Get Here, and Where Does the Regime Want to Go Now?” Speakers: Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford; and former French Ambassador to Syria Michel Duclos. www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy
1:30 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Avenue N.W. Center for Strategic and International Studies a discussion on “Implementing Innovation: The Army’s Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy,” with Deputy Assistant Army Secretary for Strategy and Acquisition Reform Alexis Lasselle Ross; and Andrew Philip Hunter, director of the CSIS Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group. www.csis.org
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 19
9:30 a.m. 1030 15th Street N.W. Atlantic Council East Asia Foundation Strategic Dialogue, with keynote remarks from State Department Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun; and Republic of Korea Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Do-hoon Lee. At 2 p.m. Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif.; and Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., participate in a discussion on “Charting Korea’s Role in U.S.-China Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific.” www.atlanticcouncil.org/events
9:45 a.m. 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor. Essye Miller, principal deputy chief information officer at the Defense Department, participates in a discussion on “Women in Leadership: Movers and Shakers, Ceiling Breakers, Ruckus Makers” at the Gartner Security and Risk Management Summit, which runs from June 17-20 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. www.gartner.com/en/conferences
10 a.m. 529 14th St. N.W. National Press Club Headliners Newsmaker event with House Intelligence Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. https://www.press.org/events
11 a.m. 303 Cannon. The Sustainable Defense Task Force releases its new report “A Sustainable Defense: More Security, Less Spending,” calling for $1.2 trillion in Pentagon budget cuts over the next decade. Speakers: Salih Booker, president, Center for International Policy; William Hartung, Center for International Policy; Mandy Smithberger, Project On Government Oversight; and Neta Crawford, Boston University. www.internationalpolicy.org
6:30 p.m. 1777 F Street, N.W. Council on Foreign Relations conversation with Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman, joint chiefs of staff. Moderator: David Rubenstein, chairman, Board of Directors, Council on Foreign Relations. www.cfr.org/event
THURSDAY | JUNE 20
8:30 a.m. 300 First Street S.E. The Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies holds a “Space Power to the Warfighter” seminar on “Space Superiority, with Air Force Col. Stephen Purdy, director of the Space Missile Systems Center’s Space Superiority Systems Directorate. www.afa.org/hbs
9 a.m. 1030 15th Street N.W. Atlantic Council discussion on “Russian Troops in Venezuela: What Should the United States Do?” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., delivers keynote remarks. Other speakers include: Former Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky; former Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Evelyn Farkas; Francisco Monaldi, director of the Atlantic Council’s Latin America Initiative; Konstantin Eggert, columnist for Deutsche Welle; Mark Simakovsky, senior fellow in the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center; and John Herbst, director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center. www.atlanticcouncil.org/events
10 a.m. 310 Cannon. House Homeland Security Committee hearing on DoD’s deployment to the U.S.-Mexican border. Witnesses: Carla Provost, chief, U.S. Border Patrol; Robert Salesses, deputy assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense; Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire, adjutant general for Arizona. homeland.house.gov/hearings
1:45 p.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Hudson Institute and NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division host an event to discuss the future of the NATO alliance. Speakers include Jamie Fly, German Marshall Fund; Amanda Sloat, Brookings Institution; and Nadia Schadlow, Hudson Institute. Hudson Fellow Peter Rough will moderate. www.hudson.org/events
MONDAY | JUNE 24
12:30 p.m. 529 14th St. N.W. National Press Club Headliners Luncheon with Army Secretary Mark Esper. https://www.press.org/events
WEDNESDAY | JUNE 26
All day. NATO Headquarters, Brussels. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan is expected to attend a two-day meeting NATO defense ministers Wednesday and Thursday. www.nato.int
11:30 a.m. 1667 K Street N.W. Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments discussion of the new book, “Revolution and Aftermath: Forging a New Strategy toward Iran,” with coauthors Eric Edelman and Ray Takeyh of CSBA. csbaonline.org/about/events
THURSDAY | JUNE 27
7:30 a.m. 555 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Defense One Tech Summit. Speakers include Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment; William Evanina, director of the national counterintelligence and security center, ODNI; Sue Gordon, principal deputy director of national intelligence, ODNI; Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio; and more. www.defenseone.com
“What I’ve found with the president is he has a lot of new ideas and you have to work with him … It’s not about going in and telling him no, but that doesn’t mean you go in and tell him yes.”
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, in an interview with Politico, defending him against the criticism that he overly subservient to President Trump.
