SYRIA RETAINS CHEMICAL WEAPONS: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is in Israel today, where he said “there can be no doubt” Syria still has a stockpile of chemical weapons, in violation of the agreement made in 2013 to get rid of all of them. “I can say authoritatively they have retained some,” Mattis said at a news conference in Tel Aviv. “It’s a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions. It’s going to have to be taken up diplomatically and they would be ill-advised to try to use any again. We made that very clear with our strike,” he said. Mattis also confirmed that Syria has dispersed its air force in an apparent attempt to protect its remaining planes against any follow-up attack by the United States
The Associated Press quotes Israeli defense officials as saying this week that Syria still has up to three tons of chemical weapons in its possession.
MATTIS REJECTS BODY COUNTS: In refusing to discuss the results of last week’s use of the “mother of all bombs,” against ISIS in Afghanistan, Mattis invoked one of the hard-learned lessons of the Vietnam War, namely that body counts are not a good metric to measure success.
“We stay away from BDA [battle damage assessment] in terms of number of enemy killed,” Mattis said, speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv. “For many years we have not been calculating the results of warfare by simply quantifying the number of enemy killed. You all know of the corrosive effect of that sort of metric back in the Vietnam War,” Mattis said. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military briefers routinely cited the number of North Vietnamese killed as evidence that the U.S.-backed South was winning. But Mattis, a military history scholar, said body counts are not what matters. “If you were to look at World War II and consider that if there’s a lot of casualties, then the war must be going terribly, then the last three months of World War II would have been the worst days of the American war because of what was going on.”
Afghan authorities have said the massive 22,000-pound air blast bomb killed more than 90 fighters from the ISIS-Khorasan affiliate, and collapsed three of the tunnels they were using to move back and forth across the border with Pakistan. Mattis said to get an accurate death toll, the U.S would have to excavate the tunnels. “Frankly digging into tunnels to count dead bodies is probably not a good use of our troops’ time when they’re chasing down the enemy that’s still capable,” Mattis said.
ON WHOSE AUTHORITY? Mattis also refused to confirm reports that U.S. Afghanistan commander Gen. John “Mick” Nicholson ordered the use of the the MOAB — the largest conventional bomb the U.S. has ever employed in combat — without consulting Mattis or informing him ahead of time. “We give parameters to our subordinate commanders in the field. When you’re in a conflict situation, you have got to leave initiative in the hands, delegate initiative to those that you consider competent to do so, to carry out authorities that you’re giving them,” Mattis said. “I will not get into what authorities are delegated, because those are the specific things that allow for the urgency and the speed of operations in the field.” But Mattis said he was well aware of the pitched battle that was going on between ISIS and the U.S. special operations forces and their Afghan partners. “I was kept informed, sometimes on a daily basis, of how the fight was going, of what the options were,” Mattis said.
WIKILEAKS MOST WANTED: It appears Julian Assange is now squarely in the crosshairs of the Justice Department, which is considering bringing criminal charges against the WikiLeaks founder, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for the past five years.
Federal prosecutors are said to be looking into the 2010 WikiLeaks dump of diplomatic and military communications as well as the group’s recent leak of documents about the CIA’s secret hacking program. Officials say a memo is in the draft stage and may include charges of conspiracy, theft of government property or violating the Espionage Act.
PARIS ATTACK: ISIS was quick to claim responsibility for yesterday’s attack on the French capital’s most famous boulevard. Police shot and killed a lone gunman after he opened fire on a police van, killing one police officer on the Champs-Elysees. The AP reports that the man was was previously detained by French authorities in February for allegedly threatening police, but was then released for lack of evidence. He was convicted in 2003 of attempted homicide in the shootings of two police officers. The attack comes as the first round of voting in a two-stage presidential election gets underway on Sunday. France says its security forces are fully mobilized as voters head to the polls.
Asked about the attack yesterday afternoon as the news was first breaking, President Trump called it “a very, very terrible thing.” “What can you say? It just never ends. We have to be strong and we have to be vigilant, and I’ve been saying it for a long time,” Trump said at a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Paulo Gentiloni. Trump followed up this morning on Twitter: “Another terrorist attack in Paris. The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!”
Good Friday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre), National Security Writer Travis J. Tritten (@travis_tritten) and Senior Editor David Brown (@dave_brown24). 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.
NOMINEE UNDER FIRE — AGAIN: Trump’s pick for Army secretary was already facing opposition from two transgender and gay advocacy groups, along with a Muslim rights group that has charged him with Islamophobia. Now, a fourth civil rights group has come out in opposition to Tennessee state Sen. Mark Green. GLAAD, a media monitoring group, is criticizing comments Green made during a radio interview last year. Speaking about transgender bathroom rights, the former special operations flight surgeon and son of a Baptist pastor said it would unleash sexual predators on millions of women already traumatized by past sexual assaults and he would fight to make sure those “people who do wrong are crushed, evil is crushed.” Green said, “Whoever wants to stand up and take me on on that, I’m ready to fight.” He might still get that fight when his nomination heads to the Senate. GLAAD said the comments should “disqualify anyone seeking to be in charge of the United States Army, which includes many out and proud soldiers.”
SMARTING OVER THE IRAN DEAL: Trump is blasting Iran for failing to uphold what he called the “spirit” of a nuclear agreement spearheaded by the Obama administration, even as his State Department certified to Congress this week that Iran is in compliance with the letter of the deal. “It was a terrible agreement. It shouldn’t have been signed. It shouldn’t have been negotiated the way it was negotiated,” Trump said during yesterday’s press conference with Italy’s prime minister.
“I’m all for agreements, but that was a bad one, as bad as I’ve ever seen negotiated,” Trump continued. “They are not living up to the spirit of the agreement, I can tell you that, and we’re analyzing it very, very carefully and will have something to say about it in the not-too-distant future, but Iran has not lived up to the spirit of the agreement, and they have to do that.”
NATO FUNDING: At the same news conference, the president once again glossed over the nuances of NATO funding. When John Roberts of Fox News asked Italian Prime Minister Paulo Gentiloni if Italy would commit to contributing 2 percent of its GDP to NATO, Trump cheered him on. “I love the question you asked the prime minister. I look forward to his answer,” Trump said. “Because I’m going to be asking him that same question very soon.” Gentiloni had a ready answer, of course, because Roberts’ question was based on a flawed premise and an apparent lack of awareness of pledges made at NATO’s 2014 Wales summit.
Alliance nations have already committed to spend 2 percent on their own defense (not to contribute it to NATO) and they were given 10 years, until 2024, to boost their individual defense budgets to meet the goal. “As far as the question is concerned, the commitment has been made. It was made during a NATO summit, and we are used to respecting our commitments,” Gentiloni said. “We know that this will be a gradual process. It has already begun.”
LIBYA ROLE NIXED: At that news conference, Gentiloni made a public plea for the U.S. to take part in a coalition to stabilize Libya and end its migrant crisis. “We need a stable and unified Libya,” Gentiloni said, standing next to Trump. “A divided country and in conflict would make civility worse. The U.S. role in this is very critical.”
No sooner were the words out of the mouth of Gentiloni’s translator, than Trump dismissed the idea out of hand. “I do not see a role in Libya. I think the United States has right now enough roles. We’re in a role everywhere. So I do not see that,” Trump said. “I do see a role in getting rid of ISIS. We’re being very effective in that regard.”
MATTIS MAKES TIME’S 100: Mattis is listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People for 2017. “Mattis is a worthy successor to the only previous general officer to serve as Secretary of Defense, General George C. Marshall,” writes former Defense Secretary Robert Gates. “Mattis shares Marshall’s deep knowledge of history, his strategic vision, his appreciation of both America’s national interests and its values, his tough-mindedness about policies and people, and his integrity,” Gates said. “Like Marshall, Mattis is also unafraid to speak truth to power.”
Also making the list are Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who are listed under the category “pioneers.” The Trump family members share the annual honor with Pope Francis, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iran’s notorious Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Of course, Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un are all there, too. The complete list is here.
PRAISE FOR COMEY: Sen. John McCain is praising FBI Director James Comey for his “independence” while investigating politicians on both sides of the political spectrum and for not kowtowing to political pressure during the 2016 presidential campaign. McCain wrote the commentary as part of the Time 100 Most Influential People list.
The Arizona Republican referred to Comey’s “integrity” and argued that it “never wavered” over the past year, despite the presidential campaign that made him a household name. “Integrity is a word that doesn’t get used a lot in Washington anymore. But that is the quality that has defined James Comey’s service to our nation,” McCain wrote, pointing to Comey’s career prior to joining the FBI before touching on his decisions over the past year.
THE RUNDOWN
CNN: Sources: Mattis tells Hill Trump budget won’t fully rebuild military
Bloomberg: Northrop’s War-Planning Network Halts After Congress Balks
Reuters: South Korea on heightened alert as North readies for army celebration
The Daily Beast: ISIS terror attack in Paris could put far-right Le Pen in power
New York Times: Trump unleashes the generals. They don’t always see the big picture
Reuters: Experts say automated accounts sharing fake news ahead of French election
Defense One: Hawaii’s renewed jitters about nukes
CNN: U.S. Official: With Eye On North Korea, China Puts Bombers On ‘High Alert’
Associated Press: Iran approves six to run for president, but Ahmadinejad is out
Stars and Stripes: Two Air Force Crosses awarded for heroism in Afghanistan
Defense Tech: US, South Korea finally agree on land deal for THAAD placement
Associated Press: In Wake Of Tense Trump Call, Pence Aims To Soothe Australia
Task and Purpose: The Pentagon’s ‘National High Five Day’ video is extremely awkward
Calendar
FRIDAY | APRIL 21
2 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. The French and German elections and post-election America. brookings.edu
MONDAY | APRIL 24
9 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Reflecting on President Trump’s first 100 days. brookings.edu
10:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. China’s growing interests in the Middle East, and the United States’ enduring interests in the Middle East. csis.org
12:30 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Afghanistan Ambassador H.E. Hamdullah Mohib discusses the long war in Afghanistan and the Trump administration. brookings.edu
1 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. Ending the war on civilians: A discussion with Syria’s White Helmets. atlanticcouncil.org
4 p.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Gen. George C. Marshall and the atomic bomb. wilsoncenter.org
TUESDAY | APRIL 25
9:30 a.m. Dirksen G50. Policy and strategy in the Asia-Pacific. armed-services.senate.gov
9:45 a.m. Dirksen 419. The next steps for the crisis in Libya and U.S. Policy options. foreign.senate.gov
12 p.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. South Caucasus: The threats and challenges for the Trump administration. heritage.org
2:15 p.m. Dirksen 124. Hearing to review United States assistance for Egypt. appropriations.senate.gov
2:15 p.m. Hart 219. Closed intelligence hearing. intelligence.senate.gov
5 p.m. 12900 Federal Systems Park Dr. Evening reception to open the following two-day meeting of the Integrated Program Management Division. ndia.org
WEDNESDAY | APRIL 26
10 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. 100 down, 265 days to go on President Trump’s first year. heritage.org
10 a.m. Rayburn 2118. Adm. Harry Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, gives his military assessment of the security challenges in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. armedservices.house.gov
10 a.m. Dirksen 106. Nomination of Courtney Simmons Elwood to be general counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency. intelligence.senate.gov
1:30 p.m. House 140. Adm. Harry Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, testifies in a closed session. appropriations.house.gov
2 p.m. Rayburn 2118. Former defense officials testify on information technology management and acquisition in a rapidly changing landscape. armedservices.house.gov
2:30 p.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Ready or not: A strategy for an effective U.S. military with Sen. John Cornyn. wilsoncenter.org
3 p.m. 1800 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Rebalance, reassurance, and resolve in the U.S.-China strategic relationship. brookings.edu
THURSDAY | APRIL 27
8 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. A discussion with Adm. John Richardson, chief of naval operations, on how to maintain a ready fleet. brookings.edu
9 a.m. Capitol Visitor Center 217. All-day conference on a fundamental change in nuclear weapons policy. sgi-usa-washingtondc.org
9:30 a.m. Dirksen G50. Adm. Harry Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, testifies on the Pacific region and U.S. Forces Korea. armed-services.senate.gov
10 a.m. Rayburn 2118. Lawmakers speak on various defense issues for member day. armedservices.house.gov
2 p.m. Rayburn 2118. Defense health officials testify on post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury treatments. armedservices.house.gov
2 p.m. Hart 219. Closed intelligence hearing. intelligence.senate.gov
2:30 p.m. Russell 222. Experts discuss cyber-enabled information operations. armed-services.senate.gov
THURSDAY | APRIL 27
10 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Key Congressional staff members examine the big questions in U.S.-Asia policy. heritage.org
