NEGOTIATIONS START: The Senate voted Thursday to kick off conference talks with the House on a final 2019 appropriations bill for the Pentagon. That moves the $675 billion legislation a step closer to being passed before the fiscal year deadline on Sept. 30. But pitfalls remain and lawmakers will have to strike a compromise on a final bill within the eight days that both the House and Senate will be in session this month.

HAPPENING TODAY — MATTIS, DUNFORD IN AFGHANISTAN: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joe Dunford made a surprise visit to Afghanistan today and met with new commander Gen. Scott Miller and President Ashraf Ghani, the AP reports.

RUSSIAN WARNING IN SYRIA: Russia has warned U.S. military officials repeatedly in the last week that it may launch an attack against suspected Islamic State fighters near where U.S. troops are stationed, CNN reported Thursday.

The prospect of a Russian assault, which would be aided by forces from Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, is “concerning” to U.S. defense officials because American personnel could be drawn into a conflict should Russian aircraft or warships based off the Mediterranean coast not be precise in a missile attack.

WE’RE STAYING LONGER: President Trump has approved a new strategy in Syria that will require U.S. troops to stay in the country, not only until ISIS is defeated, but also when Iranian military and proxy forces have left, the Washington Post reports. Trump had pushed for a quick exit once ISIS was defeated, but the new plan seeks an “enduring defeat” of the terror group.

“That means we are not in a hurry,” said James Jeffrey, the State Department’s representative for Syria engagement.

GENERAL DYNAMICS CONTRACT: General Dynamics won a $249 million contract on Thursday for modernization work on the USS Bonhomme Richard, the amphibious assault ship undergoing upgrades to carry the new F-35.

The work, which will be performed in San Diego, is expected to be completed by 2020, the Defense Department said in a statement.

MATTIS’ BORDER WALL: A group of House Democrats is urging Mattis to reject a request that he spend $450 million to build a 31-mile section of Trump’s border wall along the Air Force’s Barry M. Goldwater bombing range in Arizona.

“It is utterly irresponsible and appalling that President Trump wants to take away funding for military readiness and infrastructure in order to spend it on his border wall,” Rep. Adam Smith, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement. “We are trying to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the facilities and training they need to face serious dangers while defending our country. If Secretary Mattis follows through on this request, it would undermine those efforts.”

Smith and fellow Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee wrote a letter to Mattis saying the request from the Department of Homeland Security would drain Pentagon funds needed to rebuild the military services and fix aging military facilities.

KYL’S APPOINTMENTS: This week the Senate swore in Sen. Jon Kyl to fill the empty Arizona seat left by John McCain. Now, the Senate Armed Services Committee has appointed Kyl, its newest member, to three of its subcommittees: Airland, Seapower and Strategic Forces.

INDIA PACT SIGNED: Mattis’ trip to India with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has netted a pact to enhance military cooperation between Washington and New Delhi. The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, or COMCASA, allows the U.S. to put advanced technology on military systems sold to India, including the armed Sea Guardian drones.

“The landmark agreement deepens our military-to-military cooperation and our ability to share the most advanced defense technology, making us both stronger,” Mattis said during a “2+2” meeting with Pompeo and India’s foreign and defense ministers.

NO STRATEGY NEEDED: Bob Woodward’s new book includes interesting new details about a July 2017 classified discussion on Afghanistan between Trump, Mattis and other top officials in the Pentagon’s secure briefing room. It was the same meeting where former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reportedly called Trump a “fucking moron” (a detail Woodward confirms).

“When are we going to start winning some wars? We’ve got these charts. When are we going to win some wars? Why are you jamming this down my throat?” a frustrated Trump reportedly told Mattis, Tillerson and Dunford during the Afghanistan discussion. “You should be killing guys. You don’t need a strategy to kill people.”

The president also criticized the former U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson. “I don’t think he knows how to win. I don’t know if he’s a winner. There’s no victories,” Trump said according to a copy of Woodward’s book obtained by the Washington Examiner.

TRUMP’S CONDOLENCE CALLS: The book also chronicles how the president’s reactions to the deaths of U.S. service members early in his presidency struck members of his staff, who noted the “how much time and emotional energy” he spent comforting the families. “That’s a hard one,” Trump said after traveling to Dover, Del., to greet the body of fallen Navy SEAL Ryan Owens.

Staffers watched Trump, armed with service records, attempt to comfort Gold Star family members over the phone. “l’m looking at his picture — such a beautiful boy. Where did he grow up? Where did he go to school? Why did he join the service? ‘I’ve got the record here,” Trump reportedly said. “There are reports here that say how much he was loved. He was a great leader.”

The book goes on to note that others in the Oval Office had copies of the records. “None of what Trump cited was there,” the book says. “He was just making it up. He knew what the families wanted to hear.”

THANKS, KIM: Trump had some kind words for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after the dictator said he has “unwavering trust in Donald Trump” following talks with South Korea.

“Kim Jong Un of North Korea proclaims ‘unwavering faith in President Trump.’ Thank you to Chairman Kim. We will get it done together!” Trump tweeted Thursday.

RELEASE THE KRAKEN RFQ: FedBizOpps.gov, the online forum for government solicitations, doesn’t always make for exciting reading. But the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command has posted a head-turner: A request for quotes for a Kraken costume.

“Requirement is to design, create and execute a mascot costume representative of a Kraken,” it reads. The costume needs eight to 10 tentacles with “2 arms free for mobility purposes.” It also must be water-repellant, easy to clean, come with a cooling system and have no clothes.

Artwork included with the request depicts the mythical sea monster as the mascot of the 628th Force Support Squadron, including the words “Let’s Get Kraken.” The original synopsis was posted Aug. 24, but yesterday they extended the RFQ.

Thanks to Rachel Cohen of Inside Defense, who slogs through government procurement websites so you don’t have to.

THE RUNDOWN

Washington Examiner: North Korean spy charged for Sony, WannaCry hacks

The Hill: Lawmakers introduce resolution to back naming NATO headquarters after McCain

New York Times: ‘We Live Death’: A Chronicler of Afghan Loss Is Killed on Live TV

Task and Purpose: Mattis In Winter

Defense News: Fully autonomous ‘mobile intelligent entities’ coming to the battlefields of the future

Foreign Policy: Pompeo Eyes Fox News Reporter to Head Counterpropaganda Office

Defense One: It’s Now Possible To Telepathically Communicate with a Drone Swarm

DoD Buzz: Army’s Cold War-Era Apache Gunship Will Fly 30 More Years, General Says