| DRUGS OR OIL?: President Donald Trump's own words in a Truth Social post and comments by his chief of staff Susie Wiles, as quoted by Vanity Fair, have muddied the waters about the true objective of what the Pentagon has dubbed "Operation Southern Spear." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Defense Secretary Marco Rubio, in briefing lawmakers this week, insisted the naval blockade of Venezuela and the lethal targeting of suspected drug boats is solely aimed at stemming the flow of illegal drugs, in particular deadly fentanyl, into the U.S., which Trump asserts saves 25,000 American lives with every boat destroyed. "He views those as lives saved, not people killed," Wiles said of the boat strikes that have, to date, killed 104 U.S.-designated "narco-terrorists" in 28 separate strikes. "He wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries 'uncle,'" Wiles said, indicating that forcing Nicolas Maduro from power was the overall objective. In his Tuesday social media post, Trump mentioned "oil" six times as he explained why he was ordering a "total and complete blockade" of Venezuela, until the "illegitimate Maduro regime" returns the "oil, land, and other assets," he said were previously "stolen" from the United States. Here, Trump seems to be referring to a time almost 50 years ago, when American oil companies, including Exxon, Mobil, and Gulf, operated freely in Venezuela, before the government nationalized its oil industry in 1976. Those assets, Trump demanded "must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY." RUSSIA WARNS OF 'UNPREDICTABLE CONSEQUENCES' TO US OPERATIONS IN VENEZUELA: 'FATAL MISTAKE' QUESTIONING THE DRUG RATIONALE: Since the campaign against drug boats began in early September, Democrats have been arguing that, as a counterdrug strategy, targeting low-level drug mules with small loads of what is suspected to be cocaine, not fentanyl, makes little sense. "It started out, they were talking about fentanyl. And then we pointed out that no fentanyl comes out of Venezuela," said Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. "One thing we know for sure about these boat strikes is none of them had anything to do with fentanyl, just given where they're at. And then we start hearing talk about regime change in Venezuela." "The vast majority [of drug trafficking] is actually in the Eastern Pacific, yet most of the strikes have been in the Caribbean," said Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) "This is all cocaine. This is not fentanyl." "Drug dealers are awful. We need to do all we can to stop them," Warner said Sunday on CBS's Face the Nation. "But the president, when he puts American forces potentially in harm's way, needs to come and explain to the American people what the goal is here." "If this is about oil, just say so," said Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), "be up front with the American people." "You know, their oil fields were nationalized in 1976, 49 years ago. I don't think the average American woke up and said, 'This is something I feel passionately about,'" Slotkin said on CNN Wednesday. "And certainly, you know, whether you're a Democrat or Republican, I don't know a single person who's looking to get into another armed conflict, another potential endless war where you break it, you buy it." MASSIE: 'THIS IS ABOUT OIL AND REGIME CHANGE': It's not just Democrats who are pounding the oil drum. Some Republicans are sounding the alarm about getting into another war on flawed pretenses with unpredictable consequences, notably a pair of lawmakers from Kentucky, Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Thomas Massie. Massie took to the House floor this week to deliver a ringing rebuke of Trump's apparent march to war. "Previous presidents told us to go to war over WMDs that did not exist. Now it's the same playbook. Except we're told that drugs are the WMDs. If it were about drugs, we'd bomb Mexico or China or Colombia. And the president would not have pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez," Massie said, referring to the former president of Honduras who had been serving a 45-year sentence for facilitating the movement of hundreds of tons of cocaine into the U.S. "This is about oil and regime change," Massie said in his fiery floor speech. "If the president believes military action against Venezuela is justified and needed, he should make the case, and Congress should vote — before American lives and treasure are spent on regime change in South America." "Let's be honest about likely outcomes," Massie continued, "Do we truly believe that Nicolás Maduro will be replaced by a modern-day George Washington? How did that work out? In Cuba, Libya, Iraq, or Syria?" "The framers understood a simple truth. To the extent that war-making power devolves to one person, liberty dissolves," Massie said. In speaking to reporters at the White House yesterday, Trump indicated that if he orders attacks on Venezuelan territory, he might inform Congress, but only as a courtesy. "I wouldn't mind telling them, but you know, it's not a big deal. I don't have to tell them, it's been proven." But, he added, "I wouldn't mind at all. I just hope they wouldn't leak it. You know, people leak it. They are politicians, and they leak like a sieve." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Good Friday 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 Christopher Tremoglie. 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 me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre. TOM ROGAN OPINION: THE OBJECTIVE OF TRUMP'S DRIP-DRIP VENEZUELA STRATEGY NOTE TO READERS: Daily on Defense will be on holiday break beginning the week of Monday, Dec. 22, and continuing through Jan. 1, 2026. We'll be back in the new year. HAPPENING TODAY: TRUMP REBUKES CONGRESS: President Donald Trump signed the $901 billion National Defense Authorization Act into law last night but, in challenge to the authority of the legislative branch, informed Congress he has no intention of abiding by the restrictions on his authority as commander in chief, especially when it comes to providing "sensitive national security information," or disclosing "the deliberative processes of the executive branch," which he said in a statement "could impair foreign relations, national security." In the statement, Trump seemed to flatly reject a provision of the annual policy bill that would limit his ability to draw down U.S. forces in Europe, as Trump wants to shift priorities to the Western Hemisphere, as indicated in his recently released National Security Strategy. The NDAA prohibits the DOD from reducing U.S. force structure in the region below 76,000 troops until it has provided an assessment on the potential security impacts to Congress. "While I share the objectives of the Congress with respect to maintaining the strength and security of the United States, my Administration will implement these provisions consistent with the President's authority as Commander in Chief," Trump said, describing his authority as exercising control of "personnel and materiel the President believes to be necessary or advisable for the successful conduct of military missions." NEW NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY A THROWBACK TO 1823 TURNS OUT THOSE 'WARRIOR CHECKS' ARE COMING OUT OF HOUSING: In his 18-minute televised remarks Wednesday night, President Trump announced he was sending the brave men and women of America's armed forces a holiday bonus, checks for the symbolic amount of $1,776 in honor of America's upcoming 250th anniversary. Trump said the "warrior checks" would be funded because "We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs, along with a little help from the just-passed One Big Beautiful Bill." However, with the check due to arrive as soon as this weekend, we learned that the money — $2.6 billion for 1.45 million servicemembers — will just about wipe out a $2.9 billion appropriation on the One Big Beautiful Bill for military housing stipends. The Wall Street Journal reported on military families who were grateful for the holiday cash infusion, seeing it as a lifeline in tough economic times. "One Army staff sergeant said he planned on putting his $1,776 check from the federal government into his retirement fund. A longtime infantryman said he would invest the money in the stock market. A military spouse said she intends to pay down credit-card debt her family has incurred from basic expenses like food and baby supplies." "It may not seem like a lot to normal Americans, but it's like getting an extra paycheck for us," Meghan Holliday, wife of an Army staff sergeant, told the Journal. "Especially during the holidays, it gives us a sense of relief. We won't have to stretch as much as we usually have to." But some Democrats on Capitol Hill bristled at Trump's usurping of the Congress's power of the purse to reward what he sees as one of his core constituencies. "This is a classic campaign stunt that does not serve our warfighters, our Constitution, or our republic well," said Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), according to the Washington Post. "Read the Constitution! You can't just sprinkle the country with checks just because you came up with it late at night." Coons said Congress approves pay for the troops, in an appropriations bill which has not yet passed. "That's how we do this, not game-show checks. Not last-minute whimsy by a president." Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) was quoted as saying the raid on the housing funds could affect plans for maintenance and improvement in military housing. "I think they could find a better source for the funds." TRUMP'S $1,776 'WARRIOR DIVIDEND' FOR TROOPS COMING FROM CONGRESSIONAL HOUSING SUBSIDY ONE MORE CHRISTMAS PRESENT: Because Christmas falls on a Thursday this year, President Trump — in a break from the past — is giving most federal employees both the day before and the day after off as a paid holiday. "All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and Friday, December 26, 2025, the day before and the day following Christmas Day, respectively," an executive order signed by Trump yesterday read. The order applies to most military and civilian workers, except those whose supervisors have deemed to be essential for "reasons of national security, defense, or other public need." Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and I'll see you next year. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Wicker now on board with Trump administration's operations in Caribbean: 'I am satisfied' Washington Examiner: US announces two more strikes on suspected drug boats in Operation Southern Spear Washington Examiner: Russia warns of 'unpredictable consequences' to US operations in Venezuela: 'Fatal mistake' Washington Examiner: Tom Rogan Opinion: The objective of Trump's drip-drip Venezuela strategy Washington Examiner: Trump's $1,776 'warrior dividend' for troops coming from congressional housing subsidy Washington Examiner: Beijing bares teeth over Panama Canal as US operations further threaten China's hold in region Washington Examiner: DOJ struggles to build cases against anti-ICE protesters in liberal cities Washington Examiner: Tom Rogan Opinion: Germany, Poland, and the Baltics prepare for war; the UK, France, and others pretend to prepare Washington Examiner: Opinion: Questions of sovereignty, not neutrality, drive Russia's war on Ukraine Washington Examiner: Alan Dershowitz says Constitution unclear about possibility for Trump third term Washington Examiner: Government admits fault in Reagan National Airport crash: 'Wholly avoidable tragedy' Washington Examiner: US announces largest weapons sale to Taiwan in its history Washington Examiner: MAGA influencers have jumped in the new Pentagon press pool feet-first Wall Street Journal: Military Welcomes $1,776 'Warrior Dividends' New York Times: U.S. Accuses Venezuelan of Masterminding Tren de Aragua's Expansion Newsweek: Iran's Supreme Leader Shakes Up Air Force The War Zone: Canadian NORAD Commander's View on Future F-35 Fighter Force Defense News: Navy Launches Suicide Drone from Ship at Sea for First Time Breaking Defense: No THAADs 'til 2027: Missile Defense Experts Warn of Interceptor 'Gap' Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Shakes Up Acquisition Leadership Aviation Week: Anduril, Boeing Team Up for New US Army Interceptor Defense One: Pentagon Will Cough Up Summaries of Three Years of Safety Investigations, per NDAA Air & Space Forces Magazine: 2026 NDAA: 5 Highlights for Airmen and Guardians Defense Scoop: The Era of GenAI.mil Is Here. Users Have Mixed Reactions and Many Questions. Air & Space Forces Magazine: Space Acquisition Leaders Concerned SBIR Lapse Could Hurt Innovation Pipeline Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Cuts Inspections for Airmen to One a Year: 'Heard Your Feedback' Foreign Affairs: Commentary: America's Drone Delusion THE CALENDAR: FRIDAY | DECEMBER 19 8 a.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: "U.S.-Taiwan AI Cooperation and Challenges," with Jeremy Chang, CEO, Research Institute for Democracy, Society, and Emerging Technology; Ethan Tu, founder, Taiwan AI Labs; Jason Hsu, Hudson senior fellow; and Riley Walters, Hudson senior fellow https://www.hudson.org/events/us-taiwan-ai-cooperation-challenges 9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: "What to Expect from the Two Koreas in 2026," with Andrew Yeo, professor of politics, Catholic University; Victor Cha, CSIS Korea chair; Sydney Seiler, CSIS nonresident senior adviser; and Mark Lippert, CSIS nonresident senior adviser https://www.csis.org/events/what-expect-two-koreas-2026-capital-cable-126 10 a.m. — Atlantic Council Europe Center virtual discussion: "Can Europe Meet the Geopolitical Moment?," with Frances Burwell, McLarty Associates senior director; Jorn Fleck, senior director, Atlantic Council Europe Center; Margaritis Schinas, fellow, Atlantic Council Europe Center; Charles Lichfield, director, Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center; and Tyson Barker, nonresident senior fellow, Atlantic Council Europe Center https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/can-europe-meet-the-geopolitical-moment/ 10 a.m. — National Institute for Deterrence Studies virtual seminar: "Strategic Perspective on Nuclear Modernization," with Dave Hoagland, acting National Nuclear Security Administration administrator for defense programs https://thinkdeterrence.com/events/strategic-perspective-on-nuclear-modernization | | | | QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I wouldn't mind telling them, but you know, it's not a big deal. I don't have to tell them, it's been proven, but I wouldn't mind at all. I just hope they wouldn't leak it. You know, people leak it. They are politicians and they leak like a sieve." | | President Donald Trump telling reporters at the White House Thursday that he doesn't need authorization from Congress to start bombing Venezuela if he wants to. |
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Megyn Kelly -> Pete Hegseth responds to 2017 rape accusation. 🔥 vol. 3, issue 13 | December 6, 2024 Quick Hits All the news you need in...
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