| ZELENSKY'S COMPLAINT: As he was leaving Kyiv for the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky got word of the language NATO was putting into its final communique on the status of Ukraine's membership aspirations, and he was livid. "It's unprecedented and absurd when timeframe is not set, neither for the invitation nor for Ukraine's membership, while at the same time vague wording about 'conditions' is added even for inviting Ukraine," he tweeted. Hours later, the communique was released, and in Article 11, it indicated that Ukraine has yet to qualify for an invitation to join the alliance, stating that while its "future is in NATO," more progress is needed in the areas of interoperability, as well as "democratic and security sector reforms." "The alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path towards future membership," the communique said. "We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met." Zelensky will meet with President Joe Biden as the NATO summit wraps up, where he'll have a chance to both thank the U.S. president for America's support and press his case that Ukraine has proven it deserves to get an invitation to join the alliance, even if ratification would have to wait until the war with Russia is over. "NATO will give Ukraine security. Ukraine will make the alliance stronger," Zelensky tweeted. This morning, in a news conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Zelensky declared the results of the summit "good," but said an invitation would have been "optimum." ZELENSKY FUMES AS NATO HESITATES TO SHOW UKRAINE 'LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL' ZELENSKY IS RIGHT: NATO operates on consensus, which means for Ukraine to be formally invited to join NATO, all 31 members must agree, and Biden says there simply is no unanimity about inviting Ukraine in the middle of a war. But supporters argue that an invitation is not the same as joining the alliance and enjoying Article 5 protections. As the accession of Finland and Sweden demonstrates, any member can stall the final approval indefinitely. But an invitation would send a strong symbolic message. "Zelensky is completely right," former national security adviser John Bolton said on CNN. "The administration is about to make a mess of the whole Ukrainian relationship with NATO." "And Zelensky has a historical memory. George W. Bush proposed bringing Ukraine into NATO, along with Georgia in April of 2008, rejected by Germany and France, but with a NATO promise that ultimately Ukraine would be part of NATO," said Bolton. "Ukraine is fully qualified to be in NATO. It was in 2008 when Bush first proposed it. It was just as qualified as the Central and Eastern European countries that came in, in the 1990s and early 2000s." AMBIGUOUS NATO STATEMENT ON UKRAINE FUELS CRIES OF 'APPEASEMENT' ZELENSKY IS WRONG: "I think, actually, it's the right call. I would not be in favor of bringing Ukraine into NATO right now," Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) said later on CNN. "I'm not in favor of expanding NATO any further beyond Finland and Sweden, who, by the way, both contribute more than 2% to their national defense, until the rest of NATO gets its act together. I mean, right now, we are sitting at nine out of the 32, including the two new members, only nine out of the 32 contribute 2% of their GDP, which they all pledged to do a decade ago." "You know, every member has to be able to contribute to the collective defense of all others. And, obviously, Ukraine is not able to do that right now," Waltz added. "They are not able to contribute to the defense of others. So, I think it's the right call." "At the end of the day, the U.S. taxpayer cannot continue to subsidize European defense. They are having their cake and eating it too. The U.S. is paying for defense, they are paying for their social programs." OPINION: WHY ZELENSKY'S NATO MEMBERSHIP COMPLAINT IS UNREASONABLE 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 Conrad Hoyt. 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. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE Subscribe today to the Washington Examiner magazine and get Washington Briefing: politics and policy stories that will keep you up to date with what's going on in Washington. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Just $1.00 an issue! HAPPENING TODAY: President Joe Biden's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, is set for 9:45 a.m. Washington time, and it will be followed with an evening address by the president at 1:45 p.m. in which Biden will make the case that the "United States, alongside our allies and partners, are supporting Ukraine, defending democratic values, and taking action to address global challenges," according to the White House. ALSO TODAY: The Senate Armed Services Committee continues its constitutional duty to consider the qualifications of military officers to assume key assignments with a hearing this morning for Army Vice chief of staff Gen. Randy George to be promoted to chief of staff and take a seat on the Joint Chiefs. George's hearing comes one day after Air Force chief of staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Biden's nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs, appeared before the panel. That hearing was dominated by questions about the effect the blockade of all senior military promotions imposed by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is having on morale and readiness. Brown said Tuberville's hold on promotions is having a ripple effect, especially on junior officers who are not able to move up and who may decide it's not worth it to stick around. "Whether it's school, whether it's employment, whether it's the fact that they already sold their home because they thought they were going to move and are now living in temporary quarters, that creates a challenge … We will lose talent," said Brown, who added it's also delaying retirement for senior officers. "The spouse network is alive and well, and the spouses will compare notes … The member may want to serve, but the spouses and the families get a huge vote." Tuberville is coming under increasing criticism for using his power to block military promotions as leverage in his fight with the Pentagon over a policy that reimburses military members who need to travel to obtain an abortion. "We marked up the National Defense Authorization Act in this committee two weeks ago, and there were some things that I wanted in the act that I did not get in. I was disappointed there were some things that got added to the act that I oppose, disappointed," said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA). "But I'm not taking my disappointment out of people who have volunteered to wear the uniform of this country and even risked their lives in doing so." JOINT CHIEFS NOMINEE CLAIMS TUBERVILLE 'CHALLENGES' COULD HAVE LASTING IMPACTS ON MILITARY SENATE PANEL ADVANCES NDAA: The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved an $877 billion National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2024 on a bipartisan vote of 24-1. It now goes to the Senate floor for consideration and a possible amendment. "This year's defense bill includes many key provisions to maintain deterrence and modernize our armed forces," said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), the top Republican on the committee. "I am hopeful that the Senate will consider other improvements, including a topline increase for the Department of Defense. Adequate funding of our security needs would be a powerful show of resolve to our adversaries." CENTRIST REPUBLICANS LOOK TO AVOID FLOOR FIGHT OVER NDAA BUDGET HEADWINDS: Meanwhile, on the House side, trouble is brewing for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who is facing another revolt by members of the Freedom Caucus and other hardliners who are vowing to force cuts in spending below the line McCarthy and Biden agreed to in May. In a Monday letter to McCarthy, 21 House Republicans wrote that they "cannot support appropriations bills that will produce a topline discretionary spending level barely below the bloated FY 2023 level." "We plan to vote against any appropriations bill designed to achieve the approximately $1.586 trillion top-line spending level — roughly equal to the spending caps agreed to with President Biden in the debt ceiling deal and representing a mere 1% reduction from Democrats' egregious post-COVID spending level," they said. They also urged McCarthy to reject any omnibus bill that would combine the 12 individual spending bills into one big bill, as has been done in past years, and to reject any supplemental appropriations for Ukraine or other defense spending. "We intend to keep the promises we made to the American people to cut federal spending, reduce the size and scope of the woke and weaponized federal bureaucracy, and ensure their security," the 21 GOP members wrote. FREEDOM CAUCUS MEMBERS OPPOSE VOTING ON NDAA THIS WEEK: 'WHAT'S THE RUSH?' NORTH KOREA FIRES ICBM: Days after accusing the U.S. of violating its airspace with a spy plane, North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile off its east coast today, according to South Korea's Yonhap news service. "The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from an area in or around Pyongyang at about 10 a.m., and the missile, fired at a lofted angle, flew around 1,000 kilometers before splashing into the water," Yonhap reported, citing a text message sent to reporters. The latest provocation comes as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is in Lithuania for the NATO summit, where he vowed to use the summit to call for strong international solidarity to confront recent threats. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The Rundown Washington Examiner: Ambiguous NATO statement on Ukraine fuels cries of 'appeasement' Washington Examiner: Zelensky fumes as NATO hesitates to show Ukraine 'light at the end of the tunnel' Washington Examiner: Opinion: Why Zelensky's NATO membership complaint is unreasonable Washington Examiner: Senate Republicans want answers on Pentagon's multibillion-dollar Ukraine accounting error Washington Examiner: McConnell drops opposition to sale of F-16s to Turkey after NATO breakthrough Washington Examiner: Anna Paulina Luna says aid to Ukraine is 'not our problem' because it didn't join NATO Washington Examiner: Freedom Caucus members oppose voting on NDAA this week: 'What's the rush?' Washington Examiner: Centrist Republicans look to avoid floor fight over NDAA Washington Examiner: Joint Chiefs nominee claims Tuberville 'challenges' could have lasting impacts on military Washington Examiner: Tuberville's military hold dominates Joint Chiefs chairman hearings Washington Examiner: Opinion: US sanctions Nikolai Patrushev's Serbian pet Washington Examiner: Opinion: John Bolton: NATO summit must focus on Moldova's frozen conflict New York Times: Chinese Hackers Breached Government Email Accounts, Microsoft Says CNN: China And Taiwan Loom Large Behind Ukraine At NATO Summit NBC News: Blinken Says Ukraine Would Be 'Defenseless' Without Cluster Munitions Breaking Defense: NATO Won't Offer Ukraine Alliance Membership Timeline, But Promises Greater Interoperability New York Times: U.S. Wary Of Giving Kyiv Long-Range Missiles, Even As Allies Provide Them 19fortyfive.com: Sweden Joining NATO Makes the Alliance Even Deadlier Reuters: Russian ex-submarine officer on Ukraine blacklist gunned down on morning run Reuters: Cuba Calls U.S. Nuclear Submarine In Guantanamo Bay 'Provocative Escalation' Wall Street Journal: US Clears Path for F-16 Sales to Turkey Amid NATO Expansion Politico: F-16s for Turkey Aren't a Done Deal Until These Lawmakers Say It's OK. And They're Not Sold Yet. Bloomberg: Nearly 40% of US Attack Submarines Are Out of Commission for Repairs 19fortyfive.com: The U.S. Navy Wants 12 Aircraft Carriers Reuters: US House hardliners step up spending pressure as showdown looms The Hill: Schumer: Tuberville is 'wrong, wrong, wrong' on white nationalist comments Air & Space Forces Magazine: Brown Stresses the 'Value of Airpower,' China and Russia Threats in CJCS Confirmation Hearing DefenseScoop: In Major Reorg, Pentagon Forms New Force Development and Emerging Capabilities Office Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Asks Congress to Shift Money for Bonuses and PCS Moves Air Force Times: Pilot Error Blamed for July 2022 Crash of Air Force Reaper in Romania Defense One: Proposed Marijuana Waivers Acknowledge Blunt Recruiting Truths Air & Space Forces Magazine: Here's the Full List of USAF Jobs Losing Their Special Duty Pay Calendar WEDNESDAY | JULY 12 9 a.m. Vilnius, Lithuania — Atlantic Council virtual NATO public forum, panel discussions: "Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Strategic Advantage"; "Beyond the Blueprint: NATO's Strategic Concept in Practice"; and "Bridging the Atlantic: Priorities for NATO's Future from Vilnius to Washington D.C." https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/2023-nato-public-forum/ 9:30 a.m. G50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to consider the nomination of Army Gen. Randy George to be chief of staff of the Army https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings 10 a.m. 2301 Constitution Ave. NW — U.S. Institute of Peace discussion: "Afghanistan's Dire Humanitarian Situation: How Can the International Community Alleviate the Crisis and Protect Afghan Livelihoods?" with Samira Sayed-Rahman, director of policy, advocacy and communications at the International Rescue Committee; Melissa Cornet, humanitarian advocacy adviser at CARE Afghanistan; and William Byrd, USIP senior expert for Afghanistan https://www.usip.org/events/afghanistans-dire-humanitarian-situation 10:30 a.m. 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discussion: "The NATO Vilnius Summit," with Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova; and French Ambassador to the U.S. Laurent Bili https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/07/12/nato-vilnius-summit 11 a.m. 1819 L St. NW — East-West Center in Washington discussion: "New War in the South China Sea: Framing China's Unrestricted Warfare and the Role of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy," with Rhisan Mae Morales, assistant professor at Ateneo de Davao University; Rommel Banlaoi, president of the Philippine Society for Intelligence and Security Studies; and Satu Limaye, vice president of the East-West Center https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-war-in-the-south-china-sea 11 a.m. — Hudson Institute China Center presentation: "China Prepares for War: A Timeline," with Kyle Bass, founder and chief investment officer, Hayman Capital Management, and member, China Center Advisory Board; Miles Yu, senior fellow and director, China Center; and Paula Dobriansky, senior fellow, Future of Diplomacy Project, Harvard University, and member, China Center Advisory Board https://www.eventbrite.com/e/china-prepares-for-war-a-timeline 1:30 p.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discussion on a new report: "How Climate Change Challenges the U.S. Nuclear Deterrent," with author Jamie Kwong, fellow at the CEIP Nuclear Policy Program; and Tom Ellison, deputy director of the Council on Strategic Risks' Center for Climate and Security https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/07/12/climate-change-challenges 2 p.m. 310 Cannon — House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement hearing: "Protecting the U.S. Homeland: Fighting the Flow of Fentanyl from the Southwest Border" https://www.youtube.com/channel 2:30 p.m. 216 Hart — Senate Intelligence Committee hearing to consider the nomination of Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh to lead the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command and Michael Casey to be director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/hearings 3:30 p.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE — Heritage Foundation in-person and virtual discussion: "Securing the Border and the Homeland," with House Homeland Security Chairman Rep. Mark Green (R-TN); and Derrick Morgan, executive vice president of the Heritage Foundation https://www.heritage.org/immigration/event/securing-the-border THURSDAY | JULY 13 10 a.m. 2154 Rayburn — House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing: "Beyond the Budget: Addressing Financial Accountability in the Department of Defense" https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/beyond-the-budget 12 p.m. 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md. — Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and the Intelligence and National Security Alliance Intelligence and National Security Summit, with Deputy FBI Director Paul Abbate; George Barnes, deputy director of the National Security Agency; Deputy CIA Director David Cohen; John Kirchhofer, chief of staff of the Defense Intelligence Agency; Troy Meink, principal deputy director of the National Reconnaissance Office; Tonya Wilkerson, deputy director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; Senate Intelligence Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA); Senate Intelligence Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL); Scott Bray, deputy director of naval intelligence and director of Naval Intelligence Activity; Lt. Gen. Leah Lauderback, deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and cyber effects operations at the Air Force Headquarters; and Joseph Rouge, deputy director of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance at the Space Force https://www.insaonline.org/detail-pages/event 7 p.m. 390 Cannon — House select committee on the Chinese Communist Party hearing: "Risky Business: Growing Peril for American Companies in China," with testimony from Piper Lounsbury, chief research and development officer, Strategy Risks; Shehzad Qazi, chief operating officer and managing director, China Beige Book International; and Desmond Shum, author of Red Roulette: An Insider's story of Wealth, Power, Corruption and Vengeance in Today's China https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/committee-activity/live TUESDAY | JULY 18 2 p.m. HVC-210 — House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe hearing: "Stability and Security in the Western Balkans: Assessing U.S. Policy," with testimony from Gabriel Escobar, deputy assistant secretary, State Department Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/stability-and-security-in-the-western-balkans FRIDAY | JULY 21 9 a.m. 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Md. — Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and the Intelligence and National Security Alliance Intelligence and National Security Summit, with Julian Gewirtz, deputy coordinator for China global affairs at the State Department; Rear Adm. Thomas Henderschedt, intelligence director, J2, at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; Lt. Gen. Robert "Bob" Ashley Jr., CEO of Ashley Global Leadership and Security and former deputy chief of staff for intelligence, G2, at the Army; Aastha Verma, chief of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Cybersecurity Division; Rachel Grunspan, AI lead for the intelligence community in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; Lakshmi Raman, CIA director of artificial intelligence innovation; and Jason Wang, technical director of the National Security Agency's Computer and Analytic Sciences Research Group; and Jon Finer, deputy national security adviser https://www.insaonline.org/detail-pages/event 10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies in-person and virtual event: "Acquisition for Decision Advantage: The Role of the CDAO in Scaling Software Solutions," with Margie Palmieri, deputy chief digital and artificial intelligence officer, Department of Defense; and Cynthia Cook, director, Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group, and senior fellow, International Security Program https://www.csis.org/events/acquisition-decision-advantage | | | "What I do know is that one of two things is happening here. Either they're telling the truth, which obviously would be the biggest story in human history, or we have people in really important positions in government who are crazy, and who are out there making up stories … We've got to figure out which one of these [is true], because the second one in particular would be very troubling."
| Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) on recent claims that the U.S. government is hiding evidence of alien technology found on Earth.
|
|
| | 
Megyn Kelly -> Pete Hegseth responds to 2017 rape accusation. 🔥 vol. 3, issue 13 | December 6, 2024 Quick Hits All the news you need in...
No comments: