INTRODUCING LLOYD AUSTIN: Later today, President-elect Joe Biden will introduce retired four-star Gen. Lloyd Austin as his nominee to be defense secretary at a 2:30 p.m. event in Wilmington, Delaware, noting his barrier-breaking military career, while insisting he picked Austin because of his experience and demeanor, not his race.
“He was the first African American general officer to lead an Army corps in combat and the first African American to command an entire theater of war; if confirmed, he will be the first African American to helm the Defense Department,” Biden wrote in the Atlantic. But Biden said his selection of Austin came from the relationship they developed during Biden’s time as vice president. “Above all, I chose Lloyd Austin as my nominee for secretary of defense because I know how he reacts under pressure.”
“I’ve spent countless hours with him, in the field and in the White House Situation Room. I’ve sought his advice, seen his command, and admired his calm and his character,” Biden said. “He and I share a commitment to empowering our diplomats and development experts to lead our foreign policy, using force only as our last resort.”
THE CASE FOR A WAIVER: Biden said Austin “is the person we need in this moment,” and appealed to Congress to waive the requirement that a military officer be out of uniform seven years before serving as defense secretary.
“I hope that Congress will grant a waiver to Secretary-designate Austin, just as Congress did for Secretary Jim Mattis,” he said, arguing that Austin has a deep respect for the bedrock American principle of civilian control of the military.
“Austin also knows that the secretary of defense has a different set of responsibilities than a general officer and that the civil-military dynamic has been under great stress these past four years. He will work tirelessly to get it back on track.”
‘JUST FEELS OFF’: Austin’s need for a waiver is putting some Democrats who would normally be thrilled to confirm the first black defense secretary in an uncomfortable position, especially those who voted against a waiver for Mattis or said it should be a one-time expectation, not to be repeated.
And while it will be up to the Senate to confirm Austin, the waiver needs to be passed by both houses of Congress.
Many Democrats took a wait-and-see attitude, such as Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and assistant secretary of defense. “Choosing another recently retired general to serve in a role that is designed for a civilian just feels off,” Slotkin said in a statement and on Twitter. “General Austin has had an incredible career — but I’ll need to understand what he and the Biden Administration plan to do to address these concerns before I can vote for his waiver.”
Among the Democrats who voted against the Mattis waiver in 2017 were Sens. Cory Booker, Tammy Duckworth, Dick Durbin, Chris Murphy, Richard Blumenthal, Jon Tester, Chris Van Hollen, Patty Murray, Tammy Baldwin, Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden, and Bernie Sanders.
Blumenthal, who sits on the Armed Services Committee, told reporters yesterday his position on waivers has not changed.
“I have a lot of respect and admiration for General Austin,” Blumenthal said, but added he opposes a waiver that he believes would undermine civilian control of the military. “That principle is essential to our democracy. That’s the reason for the statute which I think has to be applied, unfortunately, in this instance.”
Tester also indicated yesterday that he would vote against a waiver.
Sen. Jack Reed, who voted for the Mattis waiver, but said at the time he would not do it again, told reporters yesterday, “I feel, in all fairness, you have to give the opportunity to the nominee to explain himself or herself.” Meanwhile, Sen. Jim Inhofe, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said, “I always support waivers.”
Good Wednesday 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 House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel will hear testimony about the damning report from the independent review committee that investigated the shocking failures of leadership at Fort Hood, Texas, that prompted the Army secretary yesterday to fire or suspend 14 leaders at the base, including a pair of two-star generals.
The investigation was sparked by the murder of Specialist Vanessa Guillen last April and revealed “a command climate at Ford Hood that was permissive of sexual harassment and sexual assault,” according to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, who briefed reporters at the Pentagon yesterday.
“I’ve determined the issues at Fort Hood are directly related to leadership failures,” McCarthy said. “I am greatly disappointed that leaders failed to effectively create a climate that treated all soldiers with dignity and respect, and they failed to reinforce everyone’s obligation to prevent and properly respond to allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault.”
“I talked to Mrs. Guillen, Vanessa’s mother, and I told her that we’re going to fix these issues and change the culture that allowed them to happen,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville. “I told her we must and will provide a safe and secure environment for American sons and daughters that serve in the Army. As the secretary said, we are holding leaders accountable, and we will fix this.”
Review committee members Chris Swecker, Jonathan Harmon, Carrie Ricci, Queta Rodriguez, and Jack White will testify before the House subcommittee at 1 p.m.
CALL FOR MILITARY JUSTICE REFORM: “This is a complete indictment of the myth that commanders are the solution to the military’s sexual assault crisis,” said retired Air Force Col. Don Christensen, president of the advocacy group Protect Our Defenders. “From prevention to investigations to protection to accountability, this is a damning inside look at Ft. Hood’s callous disregard to its soldiers’ well being. As a result, soldiers fear reporting sexual assault and harassment. If they do report, they suffer severe retaliation.”
The group is calling for independent military prosecutors, instead of commanders, to handle sexual assault cases, a position it says President-elect Joe Biden supports. “This report should leave no doubt that it is time to finally act on fundamental reform of the military justice system,” Christensen said.
ALSO TODAY, VACCINE ROLLOUT: The Pentagon has scheduled a 10 a.m. briefing to outline the plan to begin distributing and administering COVID-19 vaccines. The briefers include Thomas McCaffery, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs; Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, director, Defense Health Agency; and Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman.
Once the FDA gives final approval, “We will have vaccines in people’s arms within 96 hours, if not a shorter time than that,” said Adm. Brett Giroir on CNN yesterday. “General [Gus] Perna has the logistics ready to go.”
“We think we will be able to vaccinate 20 million individuals, 20 million people by the end of this month, and up to 100 million total people by the end of February,” Giroir said. “The end of the pandemic is in sight. The vaccine will work. It will end the pandemic and return us to as near normal or normal as possible. But we have to do our part.”
“Wear a mask, please wear a mask when you’re in public and can’t physically distance. You’ve got to avoid the indoor crowded spaces because that is a prime area for transmission. Wash your hands,” he said. “Look, we don’t want to ruin Christmas or Thanksgiving, but if you can avoid travel, please avoid travel.”
NDAA PASSES BY VETO-PROOF MARGIN: As expected, the House overwhelmingly approved the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act yesterday by a veto-proof 335-78 margin, defying President Trump, who again tweeted a threat to kill the bill.
“I hope House Republicans will vote against the very weak National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which I will VETO,” Trump tweeted before the vote. “Must include a termination of Section 230 (for National Security purposes), preserve our National Monuments, & allow for 5G & troop reductions in foreign lands!”
“The House sent a strong, bipartisan message to the American people: Our service members and our national security are more important than politics,” said Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith in a statement. “By passing the FY21 NDAA conference report with a sweeping, veto-proof majority, the House has proven we are capable of legislating and reaching compromise that results in good policy outcomes.”
“It is my hope that the President signs the FY21 NDAA into law given how important passage is for our service members and their families,” Smith said. “However, I remain confident that Congress will exercise our authority to override a potential veto should he choose to put his ego first.”
FIREEYE: The cybersecurity firm FireEye revealed yesterday that it has been the victim of a cyberattack “by a nation with top-tier offensive capabilities.”
“The attackers tailored their world-class capabilities specifically to target and attack FireEye,” the company said in a blog post. “They are highly trained in operational security and executed with discipline and focus. They operated clandestinely, using methods that counter security tools and forensic examination. They used a novel combination of techniques not witnessed by us or our partners in the past.”
“It was a stunning theft, akin to bank robbers who, having cleaned out local vaults, then turned around and stole the F.B.I.’s investigative tools,” was the way it was described by the New York Times, which said all evidence pointed to the Russians.
“The hack of a premier cybersecurity firm demonstrates that even the most sophisticated companies are vulnerable to cyber-attacks,” said Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. “I applaud FireEye for quickly going public with this news, and I hope the company’s decision to disclose this intrusion serves as an example to others facing similar intrusions.”
“We have come to expect and demand that companies take real steps to secure their systems, but this case also shows the difficulty of stopping determined nation-state hackers,” Warner said. “As we have with critical infrastructure, we have to rethink the kind of cyber assistance the government provides to American companies in key sectors on which we all rely.”
INDUSTRY WATCH: Three companies will move on to flight experiments as part of the Air Force’s Skyborg drone program, according to a report in Air Force Magazine.
“Kratos earned $37.8 million, Boeing earned $25.7 million, and General Atomics earned $14.3 million to continue on in the program,” the report said. “Each contract will last two years.”
“The announcement indicates that Northrop Grumman did not make the cut after receiving a contract to become part of the vendor pool in July.”
The Rundown
Washington Examiner: Biden confirms Lloyd Austin as defense pick, but Democrats signal opposition
Washington Examiner: Senate rebellion brewing against post-Abraham Accord F-35 deal with UAE
Washington Examiner: Army fires or suspends 14 at Fort Hood over sexual harassment and violence
Washington Examiner: Michele Flournoy coronation was canceled by pressure to choose black defense secretary
Washington Examiner: Woman suspected of being Chinese spy targeted Eric Swalwell and other politicians
Washington Examiner: Judge dismisses Michael Flynn case following Trump pardon
Washington Examiner: FireEye cybersecurity firm’s ‘Red Team’ tools hacked in ‘state-sponsored attack’
CNN: Pentagon Planning To Prioritize Medical Personnel Then Senior Leaders In Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout
Reuters: While Seeking Credit For Vaccine, Trump Says He May Invoke Defense Production Act
Washington Post: Taliban Hasn’t Ended Its Deep Ties To Al-Qaeda In Afghanistan, Monitors Say
Wall Street Journal: China Aims to Outpace U.S. Militarily, American Commander Says
South China Morning Post: China’s First Ship-Borne Helicopter Drone Makes Maiden Flight
Reuters: Some Of Those Involved In Killing Of Iranian Nuclear Scientist Arrested, Official Says
Bloomberg: Costly Navy Frigate Cited by Lawmakers for ‘Significant’ Risks
The Drive: Two Navy Carriers Are About To Head Out On Grueling “Double Pump” Deployments
USNI News: President Macron Announces Start of New French Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Program
USNI News: CMC Berger Outlines How Marines Could Fight Submarines In The Future
AP: Pentagon Chief Announces Delivery Of Anti-Bomb, Snipers’ Equipment During Visit To Philippines
AP: Russia To Establish Navy Base In Sudan For At Least 25 Years
Washington Post: Democrats would need to twist themselves into pretzels to give Biden’s Defense pick a waiver
AP: US senator seeks update on contractor taken in Afghanistan
Forbes: Opinion: Why Lloyd Austin Is A Superior Pick To Run The Defense Department
Calendar
WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 9
8:30 a.m. — Atlantic Council virtual Free World Commission hearing on “A D-10 Strategy for China,” with Senate Foreign Relations Chairman James Risch, R-Idaho; Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the UK House Foreign Affairs Committee; Carl Gershman, president of the National Endowment for Democracy; former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell, chairman and CEO of the Asia Group; Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, senior fellow in the University of Ottawa’s Institute for Science, Society and Policy; and Boris Ruge, vice chairman of the Munich Security Conference https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event
9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual Project on Nuclear Issues Winter Conference discussion: “Nuclear Policy in Asia,” with Air Force Lt. Gen. Scott Kindsvater, deputy chairman of the NATO Military Committee. https://www.csis.org/events/online-event
10 a.m. North Avenue N.W., Atlanta, Ga. — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers remarks on “the China challenge to U.S. national security and academic freedom,” at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Livestream at https://www.state.gov/
10:15 a.m. — German Marshall Fund of the United States virtual discussion: “Turkey’s Foreign Policy, “ with Ibrahim Kalin, presidential spokesman and chief adviser to Turkish President Erdogan; and Ian Lesser, GMFUS vice president and executive director for Brussels. https://www.gmfus.org/events/turkeys-foreign-policy
11 a.m. — U.S. Nuclear Industry Council virtual summit: “New Nuclear Capital: Markets and Financing for Advanced Nuclear Energy,” with former Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Jack Keane, chairman of the Institute for the Study of War; Kimberly Reed, president and chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States; Aleshia Duncan, deputy assistant Energy secretary for international nuclear energy policy and cooperation. https://www.newnuclearcapital.org/
12 p.m. — Association of the U.S. Army “Noon Report” webinar, with Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew Lombardo, senior enlisted leader of the U.S. Army Reserve. Register at: https://info.ausa.org
12 p.m. — Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute virtual discussion: “America’s role in the world given the landscape of national security threats and challenges,” with House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. https://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/events
1 p.m. Rayburn 2118/WebEx — House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel hearing: “Fort Hood 2020: The Findings and Recommendations of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee,” with committee members Chris Swecker, Jonathan Harmon, Carrie Ricci, Queta Rodriguez, and Jack White. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings
4 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual debate: “Within the Next Five Years, China Will Use Significant Military Force Against a Country on its Periphery,” with Oriana Skylar Mastro, foreign and defense policy fellow at the American Enterprise Institute; and Taylor Fravel, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Security Studies Program. https://www.csis.org/events/online-event
THURSDAY | DECEMBER 10
9:30 a.m. — American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research virtual discussion: “Building transatlantic resilience: Why critical infrastructure is a matter of national security,” with Deputy NATO Secretary General Mircea Geoana; Czech Deputy Defence Minister for Industrial Cooperation Tomas Kopecny; Finland Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo; Kori Schake, AEI foreign and defense policy studies director; and Elisabeth Braw, AEI visiting fellow. http://www.american.com/watch/aei-livestream
7 p.m. — Aspen Security Forum webinar: “The View from Seoul: A Conversation with the Republic of Korea’s Foreign Minister,” with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, and Nicholas Burns, executive director, Aspen Strategy Group. https://aspeninst.zoom.us/webinar/register
FRIDAY | DECEMBER 11
9 a.m. — Atlantic Council Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative online discussion: “NATO 20/2020: 20 bold ideas to reimagine the Alliance after the 2020 U.S. election,” with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event
12 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies webcast: “Nuclear Modernization and Arms Control in 2021,” with House Armed Services Chairman Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash.; John Hamre, president and CEO of CSIS; and Rebecca Hersman, director of the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues. (Rescheduled from Tuesday) https://www.csis.org/events
1 p.m. — Heritage Foundation webinar: “The Navy’s Role in Great Power Competition,” with Geoffrey Gresh, professor of international security studies at National Defense University; Rockford Weitz, director of the Tufts University Maritime Studies Program; and Brent Sadler, senior fellow for naval warfare and advanced technology at Heritage. https://www.heritage.org/defense/event
1 p.m. — Woodrow Wilson Center Kennan Institute online discussion: “U.S.-Russia Relations in the Biden Administration,” with Victoria Zhuravleva, head of the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations’s Center for North American Studies; and Stacy Closson, global fellow and associate professor for Russia/Eurasia and polar security at the National Intelligence University. https://engage.wilsoncenter.org/a/us-russia
4 p.m. — Woodrow Wilson Center virtual discussion: “Arctic Security Dialogues: Toward a U.S. Army Arctic Strategy,” with Army Maj. Gen. Peter Andrysiak, commander of U.S. Army Alaska, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson; Canadian Brig. Gen. J.B.P. Carpentier, commander of Joint Task Force North; Iris Ferguson, senior adviser to the Air Force deputy chief of staff for strategy, integration and requirements; retired Army Lt. Gen. William Garrett, former deputy commander of the U.S. European Command; Army Maj. Gen. Bradley Gericke, director of strategy, plans and policy in the Office of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff; Sherri Goodman, senior fellow at the WWC Polar Institute and Environmental Change and Security Program and former deputy Defense undersecretary for environmental security; retired Army Lt. Gen. Mike Shields, senior vice president of advanced technology for mission adoption at CACI International Inc.; National Guard Brig. Gen. Randolph Staudenraus, director of strategy and plans for the National Guard Bureau (J5) and representative of the chief of the National Guard Bureau; and Jim Townsend, global fellow at the WWC Polar Institute and former deputy assistant Defense secretary for Europe and NATO https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/arctic-security
TUESDAY | DECEMBER 15
9 a.m. — Council on Foreign Relations Virtual Roundtable: “A Conversation With Gen. David Berger,” the 38th commandant of the Marine Corps, moderated by Max Boot, senior fellow for National Security Studies, Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/
10:30 a.m. — Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress virtual book discussion on The Shadow Commander: Soleimani, The U.S., and Iran’s Global Ambitions, with author Arash Azizi, journalist and historian, New York University; Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., incoming ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, and Glenn Nye, president and CEO, CSPC. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
12 p.m. — Heritage Foundation virtual event: “Deal or No Deal: The Iran Nuclear Challenge,” with Fred Fleitz, president and CEO, Center for Security Policy; David Albright, founder and president, Institute for Science and International Security; James Phillips, senior research fellow, The Heritage Foundation; and Luke Coffey, director, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy. https://www.heritage.org/arms-control/event
2 p.m. — The SETA Foundation at Washington D.C. webinar: “The Biden Administration’s Foreign Policy Priorities,” with Charles Kupchan, professor, Georgetown University; Shadi Hamid, senior fellow, Brookings Institution; and Kilic Kanat, research director, SETA Foundation. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
WEDNESDAY | DECEMBER 16
2 p.m. — Heritage Foundation virtual event: “Building Tomorrow’s Army Today: Modernizing with Science, Technology and Engineering,” with Maj. Gen. John George, commanding general, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command; and Thomas Spoehr, director, Center for National Defense. https://www.heritage.org/defense/event
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The end of the pandemic is in sight. The vaccine will work. It will end the pandemic and return us to as near normal or normal as possible. But we have to do our part.”
Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir, U.S. Public Health Service.
