Trump says US troops in Iraq ‘fighting like never before’

The president’s upbeat remarks (a turnaround from previous comments calling the Mosul operation a “disaster”) come as the number of civilians dying in U.S.-led airstrikes is drawing increased scrutiny, and putting U.S. commanders on the defensive, as they try to explain why what’s touted as the most precise bombing campaign in the history of modern warfare still has days when things go wrong. Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend’s frustration seemed to boil over at the end of a 45-minute session with Pentagon reporters yesterday, as he tried to make the case that while there is “a fair chance” a U.S.-led coalition airstrike may have contributed to the deaths of more than 100 Iraqi civilians trapped in a building in Mosul, it was ISIS, not the U.S. who is to blame. The investigation of the Mosul deaths will take some weeks, but Townsend said evidence suggests the victims of the March 17 incident may have been forced to stay as hostages in a building rigged with explosives. “I would say this — that it sure looks like they were,” Townsend said in an audio briefing from Baghdad. “I know this: I’m not targeting civilians; ISIS is. And so we will do the best job we absolutely can to prevent this unnecessary loss of life.”

HAPPENING TODAY: We will a get a big picture update on the effort to defeat ISIS this morning when U.S. Central Commander Army Gen. Joseph Votel testifies before the House Armed Services Committee at 10. Votel’s area of responsibility includes Afghanistan, where the Taliban has been attempting a comeback. The U.S. ground commander there has requested more troops to shore up the Afghan army and police. Last week, Afghan forces abandoned a position in Sangin, in opium-rich Helmand province. The U.S. military insisted it was not a defeat, but rather a smart tactical retreat. “The ANDSF defended the district center for two months and left on their terms,” a statement said. “The only thing they left to the Taliban is rubble and dirt.”

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 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 be sure to add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter @dailyondefense.

MORE BUDGET GRIDLOCK: While there is a general consensus among many lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the Pentagon needs an infusion of funds to address readiness problems caused by years of congressionally-imposed spending caps, there appears to be no agreement yet on approving the DoD’s $30 billion supplemental request for this budget year, which is almost halfway over. Several reports, including one in the Washington Post, suggest Congress is heading toward approving another stopgap measure to keep the government running past April 28. The would push negotiations over defense spending, and proposed cuts in domestic programs, until later in the year. One problem is an additional $3 billion requested to begin work on the president’s proposed border wall, which Democrats oppose. The government will face a partial shutdown if some sort of the short-term bill is not passed in the next 30 days.  

FIGHTER SHORTFALL: Meanwhile, under questioning in the House, the Navy acknowledged it’s facing a potential shortfall of as many as 100 strike fighter aircraft. Rear Adm. Chip Miller, director of the Air Warfare Division, said calculating the exact number of needed new Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters is difficult, but dozens of its existing strike fighters are being lost to attrition each year. Rep. Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican and House Armed Services subcommittee chair, persisted in pressing Miller on the 100 figure, following recent revelations that about half of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft are not ready to fly. “Yes, you could argue that 100 is the number,” Miller offered.

NEW F-35, AF1 PROGRAM CHIEFS: Air Force Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, generally credited with pulling the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program out a nose dive, is retiring and will be replaced by his deputy Navy Rear Adm. Mat Winter, who is being nominated for a third star, the Pentagon has announced. At the same time, the Pentagon is appointing Maj. Gen. Duke Richardson to oversee the Air Force One program. Both programs have been criticized as too expensive by Trump, and are now under his good graces after Lockheed and Boeing execs have promised to lower costs.

MONTENEGRO — 27 DOWN, 1 TO GO: The Senate has approved a treaty adding the U.S. to 26 other NATO nations endorsing Montenegro’s accession to the alliance, Joel Gehrke writes. Yesterday’s vote was 97-2, with Sens. Mike Lee and Rand Paul opposed. They were alone in arguing that letting the Balkan country into NATO would not strengthen the alliance, and in fact, would impose more of a potential burden on the U.S.

The Senate vote was never much in doubt, and while the tiny country brings little in the way of military might to the alliance, its entry will help prevent Russia from gaining a warm-water port that would provide access to the Mediterranean, and is a poke in the eye to Russia’s president, said Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain in hailing the vote. “Today’s vote sends a strong message that Russia’s malign influence in the region will not be tolerated, and that Vladimir Putin will not have veto power over the democratic aspirations of free peoples.” Montenegro now needs only approval from Spain to take a seat at NATO’s May summit as a full alliance member.

MORE U.S. TROOP TO EUROPE: NATO’s top commander, U.S. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, who is “dual-hatted” as head of U.S. European Command, told Congress yesterday it may be time to permanently station more U.S. troops in Europe as a counterweight to Russia’s increasingly aggressive moves, and attempts to intimidate countries along its periphery, including some nervous NATO allies. “We need a greater force there,” Scaparrotti testified before the House Armed Services Committee. “I think potentially, in the land component either rotational or rotational enduring footprint of an armored division, for instance.” Scaparrotti said Putin is not only rebuilding and modernizing his nuclear arsenal, but the Russians are also incorporating nuclear weapons into their strategy to intimidate other European countries. “They have made the statement openly that they see a use for nuclear tactical capability within what we would consider a conventional conflict, which is very alarming,” Scaparrotti testified. “One of the things you see that is disturbing is the fact that they are using weapon systems that can either be conventional or nuclear, which then makes it difficult for us to clearly understand what they’ve employed.”

Scaparrotti also called for providing lethal defensive weapons for Ukraine. “They’re fighting a very lethal, tough enemy, it’s a Russian proxy, really, and the Russians provide some of their newest equipment there in order to test it,” Scaparrotti said. “We need to continue to support them … to have the appropriate weapons to defend Ukraine.”

STAY STRONG AGAINST RUSSIA: U.S. lawmakers are alarmed that Russian efforts to weaken or lift economic sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine could be bearing fruit following a high-level meeting with Italy’s top diplomat. “For sanctions to be effective, it is critical for the United States and its European allies to maintain a united front,” Sen. Rob Portman, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee that focuses on European and Russian policy issues, told Joel Gehrke.

Portman offered that exhortation after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hosted Angelino Alfano, his Italian counterpart, at a meeting in Moscow to discuss political ties between the two countries. Although reversing “the unprecedented growth of international terrorism” was a major agenda item, Lavrov emphasized most of all the potential for renewed trade between the two countries — a potentially significant diplomatic victory for the Russians, who want Western powers to overlook the 2014 annexation of Crimea and ongoing violence in eastern Ukraine.

INTEL COMMITTEE AT AN IMPASSE: Republicans charged Tuesday that Democrats are blocking the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russia from moving forward by refusing to sign a letter that would officially invite FBI Director James Comey and NSA Director Adm. MIke Rogers back before the committee for closed-door testimony, Todd Shepherd writes.

Republicans said they want that testimony before hearing from others, and that it will allow the committee to be as informed as possible when interviewing future witnesses. Committee member Rep. Peter King verified the information about the letter that was described to the Washington Examiner by a source close to the committee who requested anonymity.

“My understanding is that [Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes] or the general counsel for the Republican side prepared a letter to Director Comey and Director Rogers asking them to testify at a closed session, and that thus far, the Democrats have not signed it,” King said. A Democratic committee aide replied by accusing Republicans of trying to eliminate the open hearing entirely.

ABOUT THOSE SOURCES: Nunes also said he will “never” reveal to his fellow committee members the source of the raw intelligence information that he claims allowed him to know that members of the Trump transition team had been “incidentally” caught and identified in conversations during routine surveillance of foreign agents. Nunes was asked in an interview with Fox News if he would share the source with committee members, and he replied, “We will never reveal those sources and methods.”

The reporter pressed, asking, “Even to other members of the committee?” “Nope. Never.” Nunes replied.

MATTIS’ SHORT TRIP: Mattis departs today for New York to consult on defense issues with the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and at the Council on Foreign Relations and then continues on to London, where he will consult with his British counterpart, Sir Michael Fallon and take part in a joint news conference tomorrow morning.

WELCOME BACK, CARTER: Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter is rejoining faculty at Harvard University as professor of technology and global affairs and will serve as director of the Belfer Center. In a statement, Carter said returning to Harvard as a professor will allow him to continue to follow a passion for technological innovation. “When I left the Pentagon two months ago as Secretary of Defense, I realized that I had the chance to do many things, or even nothing at all. And yet, I was also eager to continue to work with technology and young people because they will determine our future.” Carter said he hopes to continue the outreach to the nation’s tech community that he began at the Pentagon. “In this new phase, I will focus beyond national security to how innovation affects a wider range of issues, including all that autonomy, artificial intelligence, biotech, and other advances will mean for our economy, our society, and other areas of public policy.”

NEW SPOKESMAN: The Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General has a new spokesman, Bruce Anderson. He most recently served as the press secretary and director of media relations with the Transportation Security Administration. He also served as a spokesman with U.S. Army Europe, and is a 22-year Army veteran. Anderson’s official title is chief of public affairs in the Office of Legislative Affairs and Communications.

THE RUNDOWN

Wall Street Journal: North Korea May Be Preparing Fresh Nuclear Test

Stars and Stripes: Iraqi Forces Grateful For U.S. Support In Islamic State Fight, Even As Battle Turns Messy

Air Force Times: With 500 bombs a week, Mosul airstrikes mark ‘the most kinetic’ phase of ISIS air war so far

Associated Press: U.S. denies loosening rules for avoiding civilian casualties

Reuters: Afghans Plan To Double Special Forces From 17,000 As Threats Grow – Sources

Associated Press: McConnell criticizes Iran nuke deal as ‘windfall’ for Tehran

Reuters: Iran says Russia can use its military bases ‘on case by case basis’

Wall Street Journal: Tensions Rise Over Planned Russia Drills

The Hill: Pentagon puts Trump’s cost cutting promises to work

AFP: Saudi Shoots Down ‘Smuggled’ Yemen Rebel Missiles

Washington Post: Under pressure, Jim Webb declines to be recognized as a distinguished Naval Academy graduate

Washington Post: Asia analyst forced to withdraw from position heading Pentagon-funded think tank for earlier Trump criticism

Fox News: US Army set for new lightweight combat helmet

Defense Tech: These Foreign Tanks Now Match the M1 Abrams, US General Says

Roll Call: Senior Democrats Want Audit of Nuclear Warhead Plan

New York Times: Can Programs That Help the Military Save the Federal Arts Agencies?

Calendar

WEDNESDAY | MARCH 29

10 a.m. Rayburn 2118. Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, testifies on security challenges in the Middle East. armedservices.house.gov

10 a.m. Russell 222. Think tank experts discuss the Russian influence in Ukraine. armed-services.senate.gov

10 a.m. HVC 210. The House Homeland Security Committee holds a hearing on terrorism in North Africa. homeland.house.gov

2 p.m. HVC 210. Retired officers discuss “Threats to Space Assets and Implications for Homeland Security.” armedservices.house.gov

2 p.m. Rayburn 2118. Personnel chiefs from all four services testify on pilot shortages. armedservices.house.gov

2 p.m. 2172 Rayburn. Three experts discuss Iran’s provocative actions and its ballistic missile program. foreignaffairs.house.gov

2:15 p.m. Dirksen 419. Former Rep. Randy Forbes and Georgetown University’s Robert Gallucci testify on Asia-Pacific security issues. foreign.senate.gov

2:15 p.m. Russell 232-A. Systems command senior leaders from the four services testify on the defense industrial base. armed-services.senate.gov

3:30 p.m. Russell 222. Three Air Force generals testify on Air Force modernization. armed-services.senate.gov

THURSDAY | MARCH 30

9 a.m. Rayburn 2118. Gen. Darren McDew, head of U.S. Transportation Command, testifies on the current state of his command. armedservices.house.gov

9:30 a.m. Dirksen G50. The Senate Armed Services Committee considers the nomination of former Rep. Heather Wilson to be Air Force secretary. armed-services.senate.gov

10 a.m. Dirksen 106. Experts discuss Russian influence campaigns in an open hearing, and will hold a second hearing at 2 p.m. intelligence.senate.gov

10:30 a.m. Rayburn 2172. Three former officials discuss Russia’s violation of the INF Treaty. armedservices.house.gov

10:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. Sen. Ron Johnson speaks at the launch for a report, “Recalibrating U.S. Strategy toward Russia: A New Time for Choosing.” csis.org

FRIDAY | MARCH 31

9 a.m. 1000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Gen. John Hyten, head of U.S. Strategic Command, speaks at the Military Reporters & Editors Conference. militaryreporters.org

MONDAY | APRIL 3

8:45 a.m. Gaylord National Convention Center. The Navy League’s three-day Sea-Air-Space Exposition gets underway. seaairspace.org

TUESDAY | APRIL 4

9:30 a.m. Dirksen G50. Gen. John Hyten, head of U.S. Strategic Command, testifies about the programs under his command. armed-services.senate.gov

9 a.m. 1030 15th ST NW, 12th Floor. A forum on the progress, opportunities and challenges in Ukraine. atlanticcouncil.org

10 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. N.E. Experts gather to discuss the many issues surrounding U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. heritage.org

12:15 a.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Ambassador Richard Olson examines the U.S. strategy and policy options in Afghanistan. stimson.org

6:30 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. A conversation with Rep. Martha McSally about border security, threats and the global war against terrorism. csis.org

WEDNESDAY | APRIL 5

9 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. An in-depth discussion about foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria and the threats they pose. csis.org

10:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. The launch of a report and a discussion on the prospects for defense acquisition in the Trump administration. csis.org

Noon. Willard Intercontinental Hotel. A panel discussion with Michèle Flournoy about women in national security. cnas.org

1 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. N.W. Experts gather to discuss the policy options for dealing with the imminent threat of North Korea. www.stimson.org