What’s next after Comey firing

THE BIG QUESTION: How will Comey’s sudden departure affect the ongoing FBI investigation into possible links between the Trump campaign and Russia’s attempt to influence the U.S. presidential elections? The firing of the person overseeing an investigation of the president’s circle of associates left Democrats uniformly outraged, and calling for an independent counsel or prosecutor to take over the politically-sensitive probe. “If an independent special prosecutor is appointed, there can still be faith that we can get to the bottom of this. If not, everyone will suspect a cover-up,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate. “The need for a special prosecutor is now crystal clear,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

THEY WERE AGAINST HIM BEFORE THEY WERE FOR HIM: The irony is that the one thing on which both Democrats and Republicans agree is that Comey grossly mishandled the Hillary Clinton email investigation and violated the FBI’s own rules by publicly discussing the results of an investigation that did not result in charges, and offering his own opinion that Clinton’s use of a private server was “extremely careless,” but not criminal. It was Comey’s widely criticized conduct last year that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein cited as the basis for recommending Comey’s immediate dismissal. “I cannot defend the Director’s handling of the conclusion of the investigation of Secretary Clinton’s emails, and I do not understand his refusal to accept the nearly universal judgment that he was mistaken,” wrote Rosenstein in his memo to the president. “Almost everyone agrees that the Director made serious mistakes; it is one of the few issues that unites people of diverse perspectives.”

WHY NOW? Among the Democrats who agreed Comey was acting beyond his authority last Fall was Schumer, who in October said he had lost confidence in the FBI director. But Schumer, like many Democrats, asked why fire him now, months after the fact, and just as the investigation into possible collusion of Trump officials was heating up and subpoenas were going out. One explanation has to do with the recent confirmation of Rosenstein, who Comey reports to, since Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from the Russian probe. Rosenstein, a career prosecutor who served under President Obama as the U.S. Attorney for Maryland, was confirmed only two weeks ago and began his review of Comey’s actions. Rosenstein sent his recommendation to Sessions, who concurred and forwarded it to  the president who accepted it and fired Comey on the spot. “I agree with every word of the Rosenstein memo,” tweeted former Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon. “But in drafting it to provide a pretext for Comey firing, Rosenstein let himself be Trump’s patsy.”

THE NOT TOTALLY PARTISAN DIVIDE: The reaction did not break cleanly along partisan lines, and some Republicans expressed deep reservations, too. “I am troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey’s termination,” said Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr. “Comey has been more forthcoming with information than any FBI Director I can recall,” Burr said. Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain expressed disappointment. “I have long called for a special congressional committee to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 election,” McCain said in his statement. “The president’s decision to remove the FBI Director only confirms the need and the urgency of such a committee.” Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, who is up for re-election next year, tweeted, “I’ve spent the last several hours trying to find an acceptable rationale for the timing of Comey’s firing. I just can’t do it.”

TRUMP’S TWEET: Last night the president summed it up in a tweet, “Cryin’ Chuck Schumer stated recently, ‘I do not have confidence in him (James Comey) any longer.’ Then acts so indignant. #draintheswamp.”

Good Wednesday 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.

HAPPENING TODAY: Trump meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the White House, the highest in-person contact the president has had with a Russian official since he took office almost five months ago. Lavrov is also meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The agenda includes Ukraine, Syria and U.S.-Russian relations in general.

STICKING WITH THE KURDS, STICKING IT TO TURKEY: The Pentagon announced yesterday that Trump has decided the time has come to arm the Kurds as the day of reckoning approaches for the the ISIS fighters holed up in the Syrian city of Raqqa. The move comes over the strong objections of Turkey, which claims some of the Kurds backed by Washington have links to separatist terrorists. But the Pentagon statement made clear that the fighters from Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, which are part of a coalition dubbed the Syrian Democratic Forces are the best option to “ensure a clear victory” over ISIS. “The SDF, partnered with enabling support from U.S. and coalition forces, are the only force on the ground that can successfully seize Raqqa in the near future,” said a statement from chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana White. That leaves Turkey, which has insisted on a role in the liberation of Raqqa, fuming on the sidelines.

U.S. WITNESSED FRANCE HACK: The U.S. tipped off France that its election had been hacked by Russia. That was the news from Adm. Mike Rogers, the NSA director, when he appeared Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee to talk about cybersecurity. According to Rogers, the tip came before hacked emails from the winning campaign of center-left independent Emmanuel Macron were dumped online Saturday before the vote. “Look, we’re watching the Russians, we’re seeing them penetrate some of your infrastructure,” Rogers said the U.S. told its French allies.

STILL NO CYBER STRATEGY: The Russians appear to have conducted attacks in France similar to the tactics they used during the U.S. presidential election last year, and McCain used Rogers’ appearance in the Senate to scold the Trump administration for not releasing a promised new strategy to fight hacking and cyber attacks. “The check’s in the mail?” McCain asked Rogers after the admiral said it is still being worked out. Trump said in January he would complete the cybersecurity strategy in 90 days.

“The offensive side in general has the advantage over the defense,” Rogers testified, “which is why the ideas of deterrence are so important here; how do we shape and change opponent’s behavior?”

“In order to do that we would have to have a policy followed by a strategy, right?” McCain asked. “Yes, sir,” Rogers replied. McCain: “Do we have that now?” Rogers” “No, sir, but the new team is working on that.”

PROBE U.S. HACKTIVISTS? Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, whose campaign with Clinton was targeted by Moscow hackers, raised the possibility that Americans could be investigated by law enforcement or spy agencies over the Russian attack on the French election. Far-right American activists who supported nationalist candidate Marine Le Pen may have helped disseminate Macron’s hacked emails, according to the New York Times. Kaine said the activity was a concern and asked Rogers during his testimony if it should be handled by federal law enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security or the NSA. Rogers’ answer: Most likely the FBI.

MCMASTER QUESTIONED ON ISIS PLAN: The Trump administration’s new plan for defeating the Islamic State has been MIA since the president ordered the defense secretary to draft it in January. Sen. Bob Corker, the Foreign Relations chairman, said it is about time Congress gets a look and that he planned to press national security adviser H.R. McMaster on the administration’s intentions with the terror group during a closed-door meeting Wednesday. “I know that there was a 30-day review, but we’ve seen no evidence of any documents that have been produced,” Corker said.

The impatience from some lawmakers comes as Trump weighs another 3,000 troops for Afghanistan, where a new fight against the Islamic State has flared up in Nangarhar province in recent weeks and claimed the lives of U.S. troops. It is the same area where the Air Force dropped its “mother of all bombs.”

GET-TOUGH PENTAGON AUDIT: Officials have been struggling for years to audit the Defense Department, and on Tuesday David Norquist, the brother of long-time Republican tax foe Grover Norquist, vowed to finally get it done by getting tough. Norquist, who is Trump’s pick for DoD comptroller, told senators at his first confirmation hearing that he would “call out” employees who oversee problem areas. Norquist once served as the chief financial officer at the Department of Homeland Security, which unlike the Pentagon has been audited.

Norquist’s brother became famous and powerful in politics for convincing Republican candidates — sometimes strong-arming them — to sign pledges not to raise taxes once elected. Similar pressure might work on components in the Pentagon. Norquist said at his confirmation hearing, “If you see yourself called out, the answer is, well, can you fix the two problems within your control.” Getting the federal government’s biggest bureaucracy audited is a “matter of driving change inside a bureaucracy that may resist it,” Norquist said.

STILL AN EMERGENCY: Trump formally extended the national emergency declaration in Syria on Tuesday, continuing the U.S. policy toward the Syrian government that began in 2004 under President George W. Bush. “The president took these actions to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the actions of the Government of Syria in supporting terrorism, maintaining its then-existing occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining United States and international efforts with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq,” the White House said in an official notice of its intent to extend the national emergency declaration.

Former President Obama also extended the national security declaration in Syria in 2011 and 2012. The declaration has been used to levy sanctions against Syria for the Assad regime’s continued violence against civilians.

“THE PROCESS WORKED” White House spokesman Sean Spicer rejected Democratic charges that Trump waited too long before firing former national security adviser Mike Flynn, and said instead that administration officials “did what we were supposed to do.” Democrats have questioned why it took 18 days for the president to fire Flynn following acting Attorney General Sally Yates report to the White House that Flynn did not tell the truth about his meetings with Russian officials during the transition.

“Just because someone comes in and gives you a heads-up about something and says, ‘I want to share some information,’ doesn’t mean that you immediately jump the gun and go take an action,” Spicer told reporters. “I think if you flip this scenario and say, ‘What if we had just dismissed somebody because a political opponent of the president had made an utterance?’ you would argue that it was pretty irrational to act in that matter.”

COLLISION AT SEA: The cruiser USS Lake Champlain and a South Korean fishing boat collided in the East China Sea Tuesday during routine operations, according to a Navy statement. The 60-to-70-foot-long fishing vessel collided with the cruiser’s port side amidship at 11:50 a.m. local time, and no one was injured, according to the release from 7th Fleet. “Both ships were able to navigate under their own power.” The Navy and the South Korean Coast Guard are investigating the incident.

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THE RUNDOWN

Foreign Policy: The knives are out for Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster

Wall Street Journal: In Russia, leaked documents rattle the Kremlin

Navy Times: Trump wants to grow the Navy, but he doesn’t have his own Navy secretary to sell it

USA Today: Ukraine rebels roll out banned tanks on WWII Victory Day

Politico: Trump’s campaign pledges face collision in Afghanistan

DoD Buzz: Mattis OK with defense spending boost — for now

New York Times: Navy SEAL who died in Somalia was alongside, not behind, local forces

Defense One: Unprecedented: U.S. Air Force will let a defense company pick its next jamming plane

Fox News: The critical national security battle the media isn’t telling you about

Task and Purpose: Sig Sauer is getting sued for patent infringement over pistol the Army just bought

New York Times: Vladimir Putin, with few allies by his side, calls for alliance

Military Times: Rumored U.S. troop increase in Afghanistan draws praise, worry on Capitol Hill

Military.com: China says it tested new missile in northeastern sea

Calendar

WEDNESDAY | MAY 10

8 a.m. 2900 K St. NW. 16th U.S.-Sweden defense industry conference. ndia.org

9:30 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. The importance of the Mekong River and U.S. policy options. heritage.org

9:30 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW. The international politics of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. atlanticcouncil.org

10 a.m. Senate Visitors Center 217. Closed hearing on U.S. special operations capabilities to counter Russian influence and unconventional warfare operations in the “grey zone.” armed-services.senate.gov

10 a.m. Dirksen 342. An overview of cyber threats facing America. hsgac.senate.gov

10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Book launch for Insider Threats: A Worst Practice Guide to Preventing Leaks, Attacks, Theft, and Sabotage. csis.org

10 a.m. Dirksen 419. Emerging external influences in the Western hemisphere. foreign.senate.gov

3 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Aegis ashore and the future of European missile defense with Romanian Ambassador George Cristian Maior. csis.org

6 p.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Woodrow Wilson awards dinner with Sen. Mitch McConnell. wilsoncenter.org

THURSDAY | MAY 11

8 a.m. 300 First St. SE. Missile defense and NATO. mitchellaerospacepower.org

9 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. A fifth-generation Air Force with alliance structures and networked capabilities from an Australian perspective. csis.org

10 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Syria strikes, travel ban, refugees, and Muslims: American attitudes on Trump’s early policies. brookings.edu

10 a.m. Hart 216. Open hearing on worldwide threats. intelligence.senate.gov

11:30 a.m. Dirksen 124. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin testifies on what worked, what didn’t and what needs to happen next with the Veterans Choice program. appropriations.senate.gov

1 p.m. 1777 F St. NW. Terrorist attacks that have unsettled cities in Europe, and lessons to be learned to prevent future attacks around the world. cfr.org

1:30 p.m. 529 14th St. NW. New conference examining terrorism efforts. press.org

4 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Acting Navy Secretary Sean Stackley speaks at the annual meeting of the U.S. Naval Institute. usni.org

5:30 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. secretary of state, discusses democracy’s post-Cold War trajectory and the United States’ role in defending and promoting it. brookings.edu

FRIDAY | MAY 12

Seward Square. Team America rocketry challenge, rockets on the Hill. aia-aerospace.org

12 p.m. Dirksen G50. Forum on securing smart grid data. lexingtoninstitute.org

3 p.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Cold War series on the Six-Day War: The Breaking of the Middle East wilsoncenter.org

MONDAY | MAY 15

2 p.m. Hyatt Regency Reston. Forum to present, discuss and answer questions related to the tactical wheeled vehicle acquisition program. ndia.org

3 p.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. State manipulation of Islamic rituals and symbols as a means for managing society in Tatarstan, the North Caucasus and Turkmenistan. wilsoncenter.org

4 p.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. U.S. Cold War diplomacy and the formation of the Third World. wilsoncenter.org

TUESDAY | MAY 16

8 a.m. 300 First St. SE. A discussion of nuclear deterrents and missile defense realities with Jim Miller, president of Adaptive Strategies. mitchellaerospacepower.org

10 a.m. 1000 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Ambassador Wendy Sherman, a lead negotiator, discusses the Iran nuclear deal. cato.org

5 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW. The European perspective and the case for U.S. engagement in the Balkans. atlanticcouncil.org

WEDNESDAY | MAY 17

8 a.m. 300 First St. SE. A discussion with Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, on nuclear deterrent modernization. mitchellaerospacepower.org

10 a.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW. Is strategic competition in Southern Asia an arms race or modernization? stimson.org

10:30 a.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Drivers of insecurity and instability in the Middle East and South Asia. wilsoncenter.org

11 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. The rise of America’s special operations forces with scholar and author Mark Moyar. heritage.org

1 p.m. 1152 15th St. NW. How the Defense Department can evolve and adapt the force for an uncertain future. cnas.org

3:30 p.m. Russell 232-A. United States military small arms requirements. armed-services.senate.gov