Daily on Defense: Ukraine aid debate, Gen. Eric Smith update, Tuberville defiant, more US troops deploy, Austin’s warning about civilian casualties

BY JAMIE MCINTYRE

THWARTING A SUPERMAJORITY: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken received a largely friendly reception from the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday as they made the case for President Joe Biden's $105 billion supplemental budget request for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and border security — that is if you don't count the multiple interruptions from vocal demonstrators protesting the high number of civilian deaths in Gaza.

Even before the testimony began, Chairwoman Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) noted the package enjoyed wide partisan support. "And let us be clear: huge supermajorities in the House and Senate favor more support for Ukraine, so getting this funding across the finish line should not be controversial."

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), the top Republican, also stated something that should be obvious: much of the money is staying in the United States. "The supplemental request includes more than $30 billion to replenish our military's weapons stockpiles and invests in and strengthens the U.S. defense industrial base in many states," Collins said. "None of this funding goes overseas or to another country. It makes America stronger by modernizing our arsenal of democracy right here in our country."

Blinken and Austin argued that any wavering support for Ukraine would send a dangerous message to allies and adversaries alike. "We now stand at a moment where many are again making the bet that we're too divided or too distracted at home to stay the course. That's what's at stake," Blinken testified.

"American leadership is what holds the world together, and if we fail to lead, the cost and threats to the United States will only grow," Austin warned. "We must not give our friends, our rivals, or our foes any reason to doubt America's resolve."

AUSTIN AND BLINKEN PUSH SENATE TO APPROVE AID TO ISRAEL AND UKRAINE

FRUSTRATION WITH JOHNSON: The urgent pleas come as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has derailed Ukraine aid by putting forth a stand-alone bill that provides $14 billion solely for Israel, with no promise of a vote on Ukraine aid. The bill also has a "poison pill" provision that would slash $14 billion from the IRS budget to offset the funding, something Democrats will not support.

"After weeks of dysfunction and delay caused by the chaos of choosing a new speaker, House Republicans only want to provide U.S. aid to Israel by weakening the IRS's ability to crack down on wealthy tax cheats. Their proposal abandons Ukraine and also eliminates humanitarian assistance," said Jack Reed (D-RI), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "Israel and Ukraine are in a fight for their very existence. This is an emergency supplemental bill, and it needs to be passed quickly with bipartisan support and without poison pills."

"The House GOP package is woefully inadequate, has the hard-Right's fingerprints all over it, making aid to Israel, who just faced the worst terrorist attack in history, contingent on poison pills that help ultra-wealthy tax cheats," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said he's waiting to see what bill actually emerges from the House, but he has said repeatedly in recent weeks that all the issues in the supplemental request are linked and should be handled together. "My own view, I just expressed, is that we need to try to treat all four of these areas, all four of them, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the border," McConnell said.

Johnson, in an appearance on Fox News yesterday, defended the proposed cuts to the IRS, which budget experts say would only add to the deficit. "If you put this to the American people and weigh the two needs, I think they will say standing with Israel and protecting the innocent is a more immediate need than IRS agents," he said.

SENATE HEARING ON AID TO ISRAEL AND UKRAINE DOMINATED BY PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTS

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MARINE COMMANDANT'S CONDITION UNDISCLOSED: The Marine Corps is being very tight-lipped about the condition of Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, who was rushed to the hospital Sunday night after apparently collapsing while jogging near the Marine Barracks at 8th and I streets in southeast Washington.

Officially, the Marine Corps has only said that Smith, 58, "experienced a medical emergency" and "has been hospitalized." But a spokesman for the D.C. Fire Department told the New York Times it responded to a call in the neighborhood, while not confirming it involved Smith.

"I can confirm that D.C. Fire and E.M.S. responded to reports of cardiac arrest in the vicinity of G Street and Seventh Street SE at 4:58 p.m. yesterday," Noah Gray, chief of communications for the department, told the newspaper. "Witnesses said that they saw an adult male running, then walk down the street and stumble, falling face-first on the sidewalk," Gray added. "At that time they called 911 and started chest compressions. Our crews arrived and provided CPR and transported the patient to a nearby hospital."

HECKL: 'I AM THE NEXT MARINE UP. THIS IS WHAT WE DO': Because there is no confirmed assistant commandant, leadership has fallen to three-star officer Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl.

"I have temporarily assumed the duties of commandant as General Smith recovers from a medical emergency," Heckl said in a statement released yesterday. "In typical Marine fashion, I am the next Marine up. This is what we do, as so many have done before us throughout the history of our Corps."

"My thoughts and prayers, as well as those of all our fellow Marines, both past and present, are with our Commandant and his family at this time," Heckl said. "All orders remain in effect as we await General Smith's recovery."

TUBERVILLE BLAMES SCHUMER: While Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) continues to be roasted by Democrats for blocking the confirmation and promotion of 378 senior officers — including two members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney, who is nominated to be the Marine Corps's No. 2 officer — Tuberville says it's Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) fault the key jobs remain vacant.

"I've got hold on these nominees, but they can push these nominees through one at a time. I've only got holds for groups of them at a time," Tuberville told Fox News on Monday. "I've got hold on every one of them, but they can bring them one at a time to the floor, but Chuck Schumer doesn't want to work."

"I'm not changing my mind," Tuberville said, adding that he is working to get floor votes for some nominees "because Chuck Schumer won't do it. If we got to do his job for him, that's fine."

Meanwhile, to preempt Tuberville, Schumer is preparing to get floor votes for Mahoney, as well as Adm. Lisa Franchetti to be chief of naval operations, and Gen. David Allvin as chief of staff of the Air Force.

Tuberville continues to insist that his holds are not affecting military readiness, even as there is no commander of the Fifth Fleet, no deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, and no deputy commanding general of Joint Special Operations Command while U.S. forces are deploying to the Middle East.

"The people that we need to be really worried about are colonels and majors and sergeants and privates; they're the people who get ready to fight wars. The people up here in the Pentagon, I don't know what they do every day, but they're more of giving advice."

Among people urging Tuberville to end his one-man battle against the Pentagon's abortion travel policy is Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). "I have been among those trying to convince Senator Tuberville to express his opposition some other way that people who actually make policy as opposed to our military heroes, who are sworn to stay out of politics."

"I don't work for Senator McConnell," was Tuberville's response. "You know, I like him. Fine. I work for the people of Alabama."

300 MORE US TROOPS DEPLOY: The Pentagon announced yesterday the deployment of 300 additional U.S. troops to the U.S. Central Command area of operations, in other words, the Middle East and Persian Gulf region.

"These additional troops will provide capabilities and explosive ordnance disposal, communications, and other support enablers for forces already in the region," said Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's chief spokesman. "They are not going to Israel … they are intended to support regional deterrence efforts and further bolster U.S. force protection capabilities."

The deployment comes as there have been more than two dozen strikes by Iranian-backed militia groups on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. "Since our self-defense strikes, there have been six additional, what I would consider, small-scale attacks: three in Iraq, three in Syria," Ryder confirmed.

PENTAGON TO DEPLOY 300 ADDITIONAL TROOPS TO MIDDLE EAST

IS IRAN GETTING THE MESSAGE? During yesterday's Senate testimony, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) grilled Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on why the U.S. hasn't explicitly put Iran on notice to stop the attacks by its proxy forces.

"Is it a redline for Iran to orchestrate an attack on our forces that kills an American in Syria or Iraq? Is that a redline? Can we tell the Iranians today, in case they're watching, 'If an American is killed by your proxies in Syria and Iraq, we're coming for you.'? Can you say that?" Graham asked.

"I think Iran should be held accountable for the activities," Austin responded before Graham cut him off.

"I wish you would be more clear," Graham said. "Because I'll tell you this: If one of these soldiers is killed, I'm going to say it and I hope other people will join me."

"If this doesn't stop, then we will respond," Austin said earlier in the hearing. "And so, we maintain the right to respond, we have the capability to do that, and we will respond at a time and place of our choosing."

LEW CONFIRMED 53-43: Graham was one of only two Republicans who voted to confirm Jack Lew to be U.S. ambassador to Israel. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was the other. The vote was 53-43.

"There are legitimate concerns about Mr. Lew," Graham said in a statement after the vote. "However, I know from my recent travel to Israel that it is imperative the United States immediately have an ambassador in place … The leaders I spoke with in the Israeli government both knew and were comfortable with Mr. Lew serving in this position. A vote for his confirmation was not something I took lightly, but given the circumstances, I believe it is the right call."

HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL ELEVATED TERROR RISK TO US TO 'A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL': FBI

ISRAEL LEVELS REFUGEE CAMP TO KILL HAMAS LEADER: There were scenes of utter destruction in northern Gaza as Israel airstrikes toppled apartment buildings in a refugee camp near Gaza City. Women and children could be seen being pulled from the rubble as anguished civilians looked on.

"There was a very senior Hamas commander in that area. Sadly, he was hiding, again, as they do, behind - within civilians," Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, told CNN.

Israel said it struck a Hamas command center and a network of tunnels underneath a house and that its planes targeted between the apartment buildings, not the buildings themselves.

During his Senate testimony, Austin was asked by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) if he was worried that the high number of civilian casualties in Gaza, now said to be over 8,000 with a third being children, could end up strengthening Hamas or other affiliated anti-Israel terrorist groups in the long run.

"A key lesson that we learned in the fights that we fought over the last 20 years or so [is that] the things that you do on the battlefield could, if you're not thoughtful about them, they could create a resistance to your effort that lasts for generations," Austin replied.

ISRAEL EXPECTED TO ASSASSINATE HAMAS LEADERS IN MIDDLE EAST

The Rundown

Washington Examiner: Israel kills Hamas commander in strike that hit Gaza

Washington Examiner: Israel expected to assassinate Hamas leaders in Middle East

Washington Examiner: Israeli military destroys house of senior Hamas leader in West Bank

Washington Examiner: Iran's nuclear envoy threatens Israel's annihilation after return from Hamas meeting in Russia

Washington Examiner: Austin and Blinken push Senate to approve aid to Israel and Ukraine

Washington Examiner: Senate hearing on aid to Israel and Ukraine dominated by pro-Palestinian protests

Washington Examiner: Hamas attack on Israel elevated terror risk to US to 'a whole other level': FBI

Washington Examiner: Pentagon to deploy 300 additional troops to Middle East

Washington Examiner: Hawley calls for Mayorkas 'to be impeached,' says terrorists have 'invitation' to come to US

Washington Examiner: Rubio says Biden administration is playing a 'word game' with border crisis

Washington Examiner: Cornell student arrested after allegedly making threats online to kill Jewish people

Washington Examiner: Army charges military doctor in sexual abuse case with nearly 40 alleged victims

Washington Examiner: White House confirms Biden-Xi meeting in San Francisco

Washington Examiner: DeSantis's China record scrutinized as he hits Haley for hers

Washington Examiner: Opinion: Putin ruins Netanyahu's years of diplomacy

Washington Post: Injured Palestinians cross from Gaza to Egypt as foreign nationals wait to enter

Defense News: US Seeks to Ramp Up Munitions Production for Ukraine, Israel

Politico: Ukraine pleads with the U.S. to ramp up support against Russia

Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Gives Lockheed $1 Billion to Build New Reentry Vehicle for Sentinel

DefenseScoop: US Military Still Fleshing Out SOF, Cyber, Space 'Triad' at the Joint Level

Air & Space Forces Magazine: Why the Military May Need Microgrids for Overseas Bases to Win a Near-Peer Fight

Air & Space Forces Magazine: Space Force Sets Date to Activate Its Europe and Africa Component in December

Breaking Defense: New Space Force Tech Accelerator Focused on Space Domain Awareness Software

SpaceNews: Space Force Assigns 21 National Security Missions to ULA and SpaceX

The War Zone: B-1B Bombers Just Made Historic Visit to Turkey

Air Force Times: Air Force Investigating Potential Brain Cancer Cluster at Cannon AFB

Military.com: An Air Force Academy Cadet Pleaded Guilty to Using Magic Mushrooms. Is DOD Ready for the Drug's Legal Rise?

Air & Space Forces Magazine: How Minot Leaders Are Tackling Quality-of-Life Challenges Amid the Cold and Isolation

Calendar

WEDNESDAY | NOVEMBER 1

9 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies second annual Pakistan Conference, with Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. Masood Khan; and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Horst https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/second-annual-pakistan-conference/

POSTPONED: 9:00 a.m. — Center for a New American Security virtual discussion of a report: "Campaign of Denial: Strengthening Simultaneous Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and Europe," with Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith; and Becca Wasser, senior fellow at the CNAS Defense Program https://www.cnas.org/events/the-challenge-ahead-campaigning-to-deter-global-threats

10 a.m. 2121 K St. NW — International Institute for Strategic Studies discussion: "President Emmanuel Macron: Interpreting his Vision for European Security," with Rym Momtaz, IISS consultant research fellow for European foreign policy and security, and Paul Fraioli, editor of IISS's "Strategic Comments" https://www.iiss.org/events/2023/11/president-emmanuel-macron-interpreting-his-vision

10:30 a.m. Pentagon River Entrance — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hosts an enhanced honor cordon to welcome Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman at the Pentagon

1:30 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: "Geostrategic challenges and how DIA is posturing to meet them," with Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier; Kari Bingen, director of the CSIS Aerospace Security Project; and Emily Harding, director of the CSIS Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program https://www.csis.org/events/fireside-chat-ltg-berrier

3:30 p.m. 418 Russell — Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing: "Foundation of Care: Examining Research at the Department of Veterans Affairs" https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2023/11/foundation-of-care-examining-research

THURSDAY | NOVEMBER 2

12 p.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: "The Israeli-Hamas War," with Khalil Shikaki, director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research; and Aaron David Miller, CEIP senior fellow https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/11/02/israeli-hamas-war

4:30 p.m. — Center for a New American Security discussion: "Artificial Intelligence Governance and National Security," with Lauren Khan, senior analyst at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology; Landon Heid, professional staff member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Community Party; Ainikki Riikonen, independent analyst; and Noah Greene, research assistant at the CNAS AI Safety and Stability Project https://www.cnas.org/events/make-room-study-session-ai-governance-and-national-security

FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 3

12 p.m. — American Security Project virtual discussion: "Combating the Military Obesity Crisis," with Courtney Manning, ASP national security research fellow https://www.americansecurityproject.org/event/combating-the-military-obesity-crisis

6 p.m. 14th and F Sts. NW — National Press Club film screening and discussion of "20 Days in Mariupol," focusing on the Russia-Ukraine war, with director Mstyslav Chernov and producer Raney Aronson-Rath. RSVP: cscottmartin@press.org