Trump’s plan to end endless wars: Just end them

“If you hate war like I hate war, if you want us to quit sending $50 billion every year to Afghanistan to build their roads and bridges instead of building them here at home, you need to support President Trump for another term,” said Paul. “He intends to end the war in Afghanistan. He’s bringing our men and women home.”

BIDEN ‘WILL CHOOSE WAR’: Paul coupled his endorsement of Trump with an attack on his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, who he said has “consistently called for more war.”

“Joe Biden voted for the Iraq war, which President Trump has long called the worst geopolitical mistake of our generation. I fear Biden will choose war again. He supported the war in Serbia, Syria, Libya,” he said. “Joe Biden will continue to spill our blood and treasure. President Trump will bring our heroes home.”

Under the withdrawal deal the Trump administration made with the Taliban on Feb. 29, all U.S. troops are to leave Afghanistan by next May, but the Pentagon has said the final departure will be conditions-based, and if Biden is elected, he would have the authority to halt the pullout plan.

GETTING OUT OF IRAQ: Last night, speakers made only passing references to Iraq, the other country where Trump is trying to bring all U.S. troops home.

In his taped remarks from Jerusalem, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cited the defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria as one of Trump’s crowning achievements. “Because of the president’s determination and leadership, the ISIS caliphate is wiped out. It’s gone,” Pompeo said. “Its evil leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, is dead, and our brave soldiers, they’re on their way home.”

Over at the State Department, officials were briefing reporters about the results of the latest U.S.-Iraq strategic dialogue with Iraq’s new leaders, aimed at transitioning American military forces into more of an advisory and training role, but could not say when troops might be leaving.

“Certainly, we all look forward to a day when the coalition’s forces are no longer required,” said David Copley, the department’s deputy assistant secretary for Iraq affairs. “The president has directed us to get our forces down to lower levels as quickly as possible, but as Secretary Pompeo noted the other day in the Oval Office, we’ll stay until the mission is complete.”

“Militarily, they have now one of the most capable counterterrorism forces in the region,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Joey Hood, a force he described as “able to take on and defeat, with our assistance, ISIS.”

Related: Fox News is reporting that after spending more than $4.3 billion over the last decade, Iraq’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s has fallen into disrepair and that of 20 planes, only seven are combat-ready.

“Some Iraqi pilots tell Fox News that there is little left of their investment and they fear few pilots are combat-ready to take on another ISIS wave or emerging threat,” the report said. The problem: “The issue is Lockheed withdrew its employees” one source told Fox. “However, all these planes need to be serviced and supervised.”

A pilot said, “Most planes are now grounded because they don’t know what they are doing re the upkeeping, which in turn means that the Iraqi pilots can’t do their certification flights every month [and] thus are rendered not combat-ready.”

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 Tyler Van Dyke. 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: Defense Secretary Mark Esper is in Hawaii, where he will deliver a speech on “Advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific” at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies at 5:30 p.m. Hawaii time, 11:30 p.m. Washington time.

Esper wrote an op-ed on the topic that was published in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, in which he accused Beijing of seeking to use it’s growing military might to “reshape the international order in ways that undermine globally accepted rules while normalizing authoritarianism, creating conditions to allow the Chinese Communist Party to coerce other countries and impede their sovereignty.”

TURKEY’S HAMAS MEETING RANKLES STATE DEPARTMENT: The State Department rebuked NATO ally Turkey on Tuesday for cozying up to Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union.

“The United States strongly objects to Turkish President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan hosting two Hamas leaders in Istanbul on August 22,” said spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus in a statement, noting that one of the individuals is suspected of involvement “in multiple terrorist attacks, hijackings, and kidnappings.”

“President Erdogan’s continued outreach to this terrorist organization only serves to isolate Turkey from the international community, harms the interests of the Palestinian people, and undercuts global efforts to prevent terrorist attacks launched from Gaza,” said Ortagus. “This is the second time President Erdogan has welcomed Hamas leadership to Turkey.”

VERY GOOD TO HIM: The sharp criticism of Erdogan came a day after Trump praised the Turkish leader on the first day of the Republican National Convention for freeing American pastor Andrew Brunson, who had been held since 2016.

“I was held in Turkey for two years, and you took unprecedented steps, actually, to secure my release, and your administration really fought for me. And I think if you hadn’t done that, I may still be in Turkey,” Brunson said in a recorded session with Trump and other freed hostages.

“I have to say that, to me, President Erdogan was very good,” Trump responded.

POMPEO’S PITCH: Brushing off criticism that his recorded remarks at last night’s GOP convection were a possible violation of rules against Senate-confirmed officials taking part in partisan political activities, Pompeo ticked off what he considered Trump’s major first-term accomplishments.

• China: “He’s pulled back the curtain on the predatory aggression of the Chinese Communist Party. The president has held China accountable for covering up the China virus and allowing it to spread death and economic destruction in America and around the world.”
• North Korea: “The president lowered the temperature and against all odds got the North Korean leadership to the table. No nuclear tests, no long-range missile tests. And Americans held captive in North Korea came home to their families, as did the precious remains of scores of heroes who fought in Korea.”
• NATO: “Because of President Trump, NATO is stronger. Ukraine has defensive weapon systems. And America left a harmful treaty so our nation can now build missiles to deter Russian aggression,” a reference to the now-defunct 1987 INF Treaty.
• Iran: “The president exited the U.S. from the disastrous nuclear deal with Iran and squeezed the ayatollah, Hezbollah, and Hamas.
• Israel and UAE: “The president, too, moved the U.S. Embassy to this very city of God, Jerusalem, the rightful capital of the Jewish homeland. And just two weeks ago, the president brokered a historic peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. This is a deal that our grandchildren will read about in their history books.”

PUTIN CRITIC POISONED: Pompeo also released a statement on Tuesday calling for “a comprehensive investigation” into whether Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny was poisoned, as German medical experts suspect.

“Mr. Navalny’s family and the Russian people deserve to see a full and transparent investigation carried out and for those involved to be held accountable,” Pompeo said. “If the reports prove accurate, the United States supports the EU’s call for a comprehensive investigation and stands ready to assist in that effort.”

TRUMP NOMINATES WOLF TO HEAD DHS: After more than a year without a Senate-confirmed leader, the Department Homeland Security will have a formal nominee to head the agency.

“I am pleased to inform the American Public that Acting Secretary Chad Wolf will be nominated to be the Secretary of Homeland Security,” President Trump tweeted Tuesday. “Chad has done an outstanding job and we greatly appreciate his service!”

Trump has had five DHS secretaries, but only John Kelly and Kirstjen Nielsen were ever confirmed by the Senate. Earlier this month, the Government Accountability Office rendered an opinion that Wolf was holding the job in violation of the Vacancies Reform Act.

It’s not clear if Wolf can actually get a vote before the November election.

The Rundown

Washington Examiner: Defense Department has invested $162 million to expand coronavirus testing capacity, but shortfalls remain

Washington Examiner: Pompeo compares Trump to Eisenhower as a leader who safeguards peace

Washington Examiner: Pompeo backs investigation into apparent poisoning of Putin critic

New York Times: U.S. Presses Other Muslim Nations To Establish Ties With Israel

Washington Examiner: John Ratcliffe: Unmatched ‘national security threat’ posed by China includes election interference

Washington Examiner: China accuses US of sending U-2 spy plane into Chinese no-fly zone

Washington Examiner: ‘Cooperate with us’: China’s Xi bypasses Trump in appeal to US state and local officials

Washington Examiner: ‘They are not alone’: Pompeo deputy meets Belarus opposition leader

Washington Examiner: ‘Historic’: Kushner and others to travel aboard first commercial flight from Israel to UAE

Wall Street Journal: U.N. Won’t Act On U.S. Effort To ‘Snapback’ Iran Sanctions, Citing Opposition From Security Council Members

Bloomberg: Iran Pledges To Expand Nuclear Cooperation After IAEA Rebuke

USNI News: Coast Guard Icebreaker Healy Suffers Fire On Arctic Mission; All Arctic Operations Cancelled

Forbes: Over And Under The Arctic Ice, U.S. Sub And Bombers Match Russian Moves

Air Force Magazine: Roper: ABMS Experiment to Highlight Complexity of Future Warfare

Breaking Defense: New START’s Demise Could Cost DoD $439B, Or Nothing: CBO

CNN: NATO Allies Are Facing Off In The Eastern Mediterranean. The Conflict Could Entangle The Entire Region

USNI News: New SWO Boss Eyeing Advanced Warfighting Training, Mainstreaming LCS

Breaking Defense: Navy Plans For Wartime Ship Surge; Looks To Small Commercial Yards

Forbes: Boeing’s Philly Rotorcraft Plant Faces A Difficult Decade As Army, Marines Shift To New Priorities

WCTI: Camp Lejeune: Last USMC Printed Newspaper To Fold

Stars and Stripes: Capt. Kirk To Space Force: Let’s Debate Rank Names

Defense News: Opinion: Guam needs Aegis Ashore

Calendar

WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 26

10 a.m. — Atlantic Council webinar: “U.S. Defense Strategy and Posture for an Era of Great Power Competition,” with Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio; former Defense Undersecretary for Policy Michele Flournoy, co-founder and managing partner of WestExec Advisers; and Barry Pavel, director of the Atlantic Council’s Center for Strategy and Security. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event

11 a.m. — National Defense Industrial Association webinar: “Transforming DoD’s Learning Infrastructure,” with Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary for Force Education and Training Fred Drummond; Lora Muchmore, director in the Office of the Defense Secretary’s Defense Business Systems Directorate; Jim Seacord, acting director in the Office of the Defense Undersecretary for Intelligence’s Human Capital Management Office; Amy Rogers, chief learning officer for the civilian workforce in the Office of the Assistant Defense Secretary for Personnel and Readiness; and Sae Schatz, director of the Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative. https://www.trainingsystems.org/events/2020/8/26/ntsa-august-webinar

12:30 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies webcast: “The Centrality of Germany to European Security and Defense,” with German Deputy Secretary of Defense Benedikt Zimmer; and retired Army Gen. Ben Hodges, former commanding general of U.S. Army Europe. https://www.csis.org/events/online-event

1 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies Defending Democratic Institutions Project virtual discussion on “Combating Malign Influence in 2020,” with Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen. https://www.csis.org/events/online-event

4:30 p.m. — Intelligence and National Security Alliance virtual discussion: “A View from the Hill: Insights into Congressional Priorities for the IC (intelligence community),” with Tara McFeely, majority budget director at the Senate (Select) Intelligence Committee; and Jon Rosenwasser, minority budget director at the Senate (Select) Intelligence Committee. https://www.insaonline.org/event/a-view-from-the-hill

9 p.m. 1301 Constitution Ave. N.W. — Day Three of the virtual Republican National Convention with the theme “Land of Opportunity,” featuring Vice President Mike Pence speaking from Fort McHenry National Monument, Baltimore. Other speakers include: Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas; Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y.; Gov. Kristi Noem, R-S.D.; White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows; Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Trump; Karen Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence; and Lara Trump, adviser at the Trump for President campaign. https://www.2020gopconvention.com

11:30 p.m. EDT 5:30 p.m. Local — Defense Secretary Mark Esper delivers keynote remarks on “Advancing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific” at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii. Livestream at https://apcss.org/event/daniel-k-inouye-speaker-series

THURSDAY | AUGUST 27

9 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion, on U.S. policy toward North Korea and inter-Korean relations, with Markus Garlauskas, nonresident senior fellow at Atlantic Council and former national intelligence officer for North Korea at the National Intelligence Council; Victor Cha, CSIS senior adviser and Korea chair; Mark Lippert, CSIS senior nonresident adviser and Korea chair; and Sue Mi Terry, CSIS senior fellow and Korea chair. https://www.csis.org/events/online-event

10 a.m. — Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute launches new Reagan Institute Center for Freedom and Democracy, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. https://www.reaganfoundation.org

3 p.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and the Advanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance Deterrence Center online forum: “Nuclear Nonproliferation and Strategic Nuclear Deterrence: Together Keeping America and our Global Partners Safe,” with Brent Park, deputy administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration. www.mitchellaerospacepower.org

9 p.m. 1301 Constitution Ave. N.W. — Day Four of the virtual Republican National Convention with the theme “Land of Greatness.” President Trump delivers remarks at 10 p.m. from White House South Lawn. https://www.2020gopconvention.com

FRIDAY | AUGUST 28

4 p.m. — Gen. James C. McConville, Army chief of staff addresses the National Guard Association of the United States two-day General Conference streamed live from Washington, D.C. Saturday speakers include: Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, the new chief of the National Guard Bureau at 1 p.m.; Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Air Force chief of staff at 2 p.m.; Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, the Space Force’s first chief of space operations at 2:30 p.m.; Lt. Gen. Jon A. Jensen, the new director of the Army National Guard at 3:40 p.m.; and Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, the new director of the Air National Guard at 4:10 p.m. www.ngaus.org/events/142nd-general-conference

TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 1

12 p.m. — Center for the National Interest webinar: “Will the Israel-UAE Agreement Bring Peace or Instability to the Middle East?” with Dennis Ross, former Middle East envoy to President Bill Clinton; Henri Barkey, former director of the Middle East Center at the Woodrow Wilson Center; Shai Feldman, president, Sapir Academic College, Israel; Geoffrey Kemp, Center for the National Interest. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register