| NETANYAHU: IRAN 'FIRST AND FOREMOST' ON HIS AGENDA: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with President Donald Trump at the White House this morning, where he is expected to urge Trump to take a hard line with the Iranian regime, which is at its weakest point in decades. "In this trip, we will discuss a series of topics: Gaza, the region, but of course, first and foremost in negotiations with Iran," Netanyahu said before departing Israel for what will be his seventh visit with Trump in his second term. Netanyahu appears to be concerned that Trump might make a deal that doesn't require Tehran to reduce its ballistic missile arsenal, which Israel considers an existential threat, and could require it to go to war again with Iran. "I will present to the president our perceptions of the negotiation principles, the important principles, and in my eyes, they are important not only to Israel, but to everyone in the world who wants peace and security in the Middle East." In his comments to reporters on Air Force One last week, Trump was asked if "a deal that only covers nuclear, would be acceptable," and he seemed to indicate it might. "There's a deal that would be acceptable, but the one thing right up front, no nuclear weapons," he said. "If we could have made that deal two years ago, we would have made that deal, but they weren't willing to do that. Now they are willing to do it." TRUMP: "IT'S GOT TO BE A GOOD DEAL': In a sit-down interview on the Fox Business Network, Trump told Larry Kudlow, who was director of Trump's National Economic Council during his first term, that he won't settle for anything less than a comprehensive agreement with Iran. "It's got to be a good deal, no nuclear weapons, no missiles, no this, no that, all the different things that you want," he said. "I know one thing. They want to make a deal. They wouldn't talk to anybody else, but they're talking to me." "As you know, we have a massive flotilla right now going over to Iran. We will see what happens. I think they want to make a deal. I think they'd be foolish if they didn't," Trump said. "We took out their nuclear power last time, and we will have to see if we take out more this time." When Kudlow expressed skepticism that any deal would "stick," Trump conceded that it's always a possibility. "It's a good question. A lot of people say no. And I would say that I'd rather make a deal." AXIOS: A SECOND AIRCRAFT CARRIER: In an interview with Axios, Trump said he expects the second round of U.S.-Iran talks to take place next week, and suggested he might ratchet up the pressure on Tehran by dispatching a second aircraft carrier strike group to the region. "Either we will make a deal, or we will have to do something very tough like last time," Trump told Axios's Barak Ravid, adding that he's "thinking" about sending another aircraft carrier strike group if negotiations with Iran fail. But he also expressed confidence that since Iran experienced the capability of U.S. stealth bombers to strike deep into Iran with impunity, they are much more amenable to serious negotiations. "Last time they didn't believe I would do it," Trump said. "They overplayed their hand." This time the talks are "very different," he said. Trump and Netanyahu meet in the Oval Office at 11 a.m. IRAN COMMEMORATES 1979 REVOLUTION AS NATION IS SQUEEZED BY ANGER OVER CRACKDOWN AND TENSIONS WITH US 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 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. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE NOTE TO READERS: Daily on Defense will not publish Monday, February 16 as we observe the Presidents Day federal holiday. HAPPENING TODAY: 'TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS FOR SECURITY REASONS': In the early hours of the morning, the Federal Aviation Administration announced a mysterious flight restriction that closed the airspace around El Paso International Airport and a part of neighboring New Mexico for 10 days. No explanation was given except for a cryptic reference to "special security reasons." A few hours later, a similar flight restriction was issued for New Orleans from Feb. 13 to 18. Again, as they say, this is a developing story. We'll have updates on our website. FAA RESTRICTS FLIGHTS OVER NEW ORLEANS AND EL PASO AIRPORT FOR 'SECURITY REASONS' ALSO TODAY: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte holds a press conference at NATO headquarters at 9 a.m. EST ahead of tomorrow's meeting of defense ministers, at which the U.S. will be represented by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's undersecretary for policy, generally regarded as the number three position at the Defense Department. While Pete Hegseth is the putative head of the rebranded War Department, he has been largely relegated to a domestic mission of reinvigorating the national defense industrial base, while key foreign engagements have been assigned to Colby and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. The NATO meeting comes as the alliance has resorganized its command structure to put European officers in senior positions, including a British commander of the Joint Force Command, based in Norfolk, Virginia. While Italy takes command of the Joint Force Command in Naples. Both had previously been led by U.S. commanders. American Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich retains the position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe, the top NATO commander. NATO RESHUFFLES TOP LEADERSHIP SPOTS BUT US RETAINS TOP MILITARY POST SCORE ONE FOR THE NOT-SO-SEDIOUS SIX: The old saw that a prosecutor can "indict a ham sandwich" because grand juries hear very one-sided presentation of evidence and an indictment doesn't require a unanimous verdict, took another beating in Federal District Court in Washington, when a grand jury rejected an indictment of six members of Congress for alleged seditious comments. The prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office argued that the so-called "seditious six" — in stating that military law requires servicemembers to refuse illegal orders — were in fact trying to influence troops to disobey legal orders from the chain of command. The grand jury didn't buy it, marking the latest case in which grand jurors in Washington declined to sign off on charges that usually are routinely accepted. "Today, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro attempted to persuade a Grand Jury to indict me," Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) posted on X. "This was in response to me organizing a 90-second video that simply quoted the law. Pirro did this at the direction of President Trump, who said repeatedly that I should be investigated, arrested, and hanged for sedition." "Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed. Hopefully, this ends this politicized investigation for good," Slotkin said. "No matter what President Trump and Pirro continue to do with this case, tonight we can score one for the Constitution, our freedom of speech, and the rule of law." "This is an outrageous abuse of power by Donald Trump and his lackies (sic)." Kelly posted on X. "It wasn't enough for Pete Hegseth to censure me and threaten to demote me, now it appears they tried to have me charged with a crime — all because of something I said that they didn't like. That's not the way things work in America." In a Nov. 20 post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "It's called SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL. Their words cannot be allowed to stand – We won't have a Country anymore!!! An example MUST BE SET." GRAND JURY REJECTS DOJ ATTEMPT TO INDICT 'SEDITIOUS SIX' LAWMAKERS THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: China threatens to 'strike' against 'separatist forces' in Taiwan Washington Examiner: China panics after Takaichi declares intention to remilitarize Japan Washington Examiner: NATO reshuffles top leadership spots but US retains top military post Washington Examiner: Trump's views on NATO could spark Russian opportunities in Europe Washington Examiner: Hegseth admits Pentagon has been 'bad customer' as he aims to revitalize manufacturing relationship Washington Examiner: ICE leader Todd Lyons declines to defend Kristi Noem amid calls for her resignation Washington Examiner: House fails to extend ban on Trump tariff repeal votes in major blow to Johnson Washington Examiner: Grand jury rejects DOJ attempt to indict 'Seditious Six' lawmakers Washington Examiner: Trump says Reagan 'folded' to Japan, brags about raising Swiss tariffs after 'aggressive' call Washington Examiner: How many Russians and Ukrainians have died in the Russia-Ukraine War? Axios: Trump says he might send second carrier to strike Iran if talks fail AP: Iran commemorates 1979 revolution as nation is squeezed by anger over crackdown and tensions with US AP: Several ICE agents have been arrested in recent months, showing risk of misconduct Wall Street Journal: Life in Cuba Is Grinding to a Halt Under U.S. Oil Blockade Breaking Defense: Navy Advances Plans to Reshuffle Traditional Carrier Strike Group Model Defense News: Russian Stealth Jets Have Arrived in North Africa, as Filmed by Algerian Potato Farmer The War Zone: China 'Just Not There Yet' on H-20 Stealth Bomber: Global Strike Command's Top General Air & Space Forces Magazine: ULA's Interim Leader Focused on Increasing Launch Rate in 2026 Breaking Defense: C-130J Deliveries Paused due to Technical Issues, Air Force Says Air & Space Forces Magazine: L3Harris Pitches Cruise Missiles for SOCOM's Air Tractor The Guardian: 'Wake-Up Call' for Greece as Air Force Officer Accused of Spying for China Defense One: The US Military Is Taking Control of More Texas Borderland DefenseScoop: Military Warns EOD Techs Against Uploading 'Highly Sensitive' Bomb Disposal Data into Generative AI Systems AP: Grieving Mother Demands Answers Nearly 2 Years After Florida Deputy Fatally Shot Airman Air & Space Forces Magazine: F-16 Pilot Becomes First Air Guardsman to Win Prestigious Shine Award New York Times: Lost Soviet Moon Lander May Have Been Found The Atlantic: John Bolton: A Foreign Policy Worse Than Regime Change Air & Space Forces Magazine: Editorial: Deterring Now Costs Less than Winning Later THE CALENDAR: WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 11 8:30 a.m. 14th and F Sts. NW — We Think Big discussion: "How Acquisition Reform Will Reshape U.S. Power," with Michael Duffey, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment; Mackenzie Eaglen, American Enterprise Institute senior fellow; Carlton Haelig, fellow, Center for a New American Security' Defense Program; and Lewis Muller, CEO, We Think Big https://www.press.org/events/how-acquisition-reform-will-reshape-us-power 9 a.m. EST Brussels, Belgium — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte holds press conference at NATO headquarters ahead of Thursday meeting of defense ministers https://www.nato.int/en/news-and-events 10 a.m. 2362-A Rayburn — House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing: "Potential DHS Shutdown Impacts," with testimony from Adm. Thomas Allan, acting vice commandant of the Coast Guard; Madhu Gottumukkala, acting director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; Ha Nguyen McNeill, acting administrator, Transportation Security Administration; Matthew Quinn, deputy director, U.S. Secret Service; and Keith Turri, acting associate administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Office of Response and Recovery http://appropriations.house.gov 10 a.m. 141 Rayburn — House Judiciary Committee hearing: "Oversight of the Department of Justice," with testimony from Attorney General Pam Bondi http://judiciary.house.gov 10 a.m. 2172 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing: "Restoring Mission Focus at the State Department: Authority, Accountability, and the Role of the Foreign Service" with testimony from Jason Evans, undersecretary of state for management http://foreignaffairs.house.gov 10 a.m. 1310 Longworth — House Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party Committee hearing: "Lies, Lawfare, and Leverage: The CCP Gaslighting and Manipulation to Marginalize Taiwan," with testimony from Julian Ku, professor, constitutional law, Hofstra University; Shirley Kan, independent specialist in Indo-Pacific security affairs; and Mira Rapp-Hooper, partner, Asia Group https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov 10 a.m. Munich, Germany — Politico virtual discussion: "What to Expect at this Year's Munich Security Conference," with Paul McLeary, Politico Pentagon reporter; Laura Kayali, Politico defense correspondent; Jacopo Barigazzi, Politico senior defense correspondent; Felicia Schwartz, Politico diplomatic correspondent; and Jack Detsch, Politico defense reporter https://www.politico.eu/munich-security-conference-2026 10 a.m. — National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations virtual discussion: "The Outlook for Peace or Conflict in the Gulf," with Nawaf bin Mubarak Al Thani, president of the Council on International mediation; Joseph Kechichian, senior research fellow, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies' Office of the Chairman; Kenneth Katzman, Soufan Center senior fellow; Abbas Kadhim, director, Arab Gulf States Institute Iraq Program; and Amin Tarzi, adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Policy and Government https://www.youtube.com/watch? 11 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: "The National and Economic Security Implications of Fusion Energy." https://www.hudson.org/events/national-economic-security-implications-fusion-energy 2 p.m. 2172 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee hearing: "South Asia: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Region," with testimony from S. Paul Kapur, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs http://foreignaffairs.house.gov 3 p.m. 222 Russell — Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee hearing: "Senior Enlisted Leaders on Servicemember and Family Quality of Life," with testimony from Fleet Master Chief David Isom, senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer; Master Chief Petty Officer John Perryman; Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz; Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Wolfe; and Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna http://www.armed-services.senate.gov 3:30 p.m. 2168 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats hearing: "Trump Betrayal of America Afghan Allies," with Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), ranking member, House Foreign Affairs Committee South and Central Asia Subcommittee; Zia Ghafoori, co-founder and CEO of the Interpreting Freedom Foundation, interpreter and cultural adviser for the U.S. Special Forces and former Special Immigrant Visa recipient; retired Navy Cmdr. Catalina Gasper, former Navy special duty information warfare and intelligence officer; Jessica Bradley Rushing, chief of staff at AfghanEvac and former deputy director for communications and engagement at the State Department Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts; and retired Marine Corps Maj. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America https://democrats-foreignaffairs.house.gov/2026/2/trump-s-betraya 6:30 p.m. 1307 L St. NW — New York University, Washington, D.C. film screening and discussion: "Maduro: The Indestructible," with Nick Spicer, NPR Europe editor; Rodrigo Diamanti, Venezuelan human rights activist, director and president of Un Mundo Sin Mordaza and secretary of the Organization of American States Independent Expert Panel; Claire Meynial, U.S. correspondent for Le Point; and Laura Ospina, senior program officer at Justice for All for the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies at NYU Center on International Cooperation https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/democracy-on-screen FRIDAY | FEBRUARY 13 Munich, Germany — The 62nd Munich Security Conference at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof and Rosewood Munich, with nearly 50 heads of state and government attending. The conference runs through Sunday, February 15 https://securityconference.org/en/msc-2026/ 10 a.m. — Georgetown University Center for Jewish Civilization virtual discussion: "Israel and the Middle East: Understanding a Changing Strategic Landscape," with Ksenia Svetlava, executive director, Regional Organization for Peace, Economics and Security; and Hesham Youssef, senior adviser, European Institute of Peace https://events.georgetown.edu/event/37574-israel-and-the-middle-east 3:30 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: "Golden Dome One Year In," with Melissa Dalton, nonresident senior adviser, CSIS Aerospace Security Project; Daniel Karbler, nonresident senior adviser, CSIS Missile Defense Project; Kari Bingen, director, CSIS Aerospace Security Project; and Tom Karako, director, CSIS Missile Defense Project https://www.csis.org/events/golden-dome-one-year WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 18 10 a.m. — Center for European Policy Analysis Zoom press briefing discussing two reports, "Ukraine 2036: How Today Investments Will Shape Tomorrow Security" and "Wartime Assistance to Ukraine." with Marianna Fakhurdinova, coordinator, EU–Ukraine Partnership Program, Transatlantic Dialogue Center; Uliana Movchan, Ax:son Johnson Fellow, Center for European Policy Analysis; Kseniya Sotnikova, Ax:son Johnson Fellow, Center for European Policy Analysis; and moderator: Elina Beketova, fellow, Democratic Resilience, Center for European Policy Analysis https://cepa.rsvpify.com/cepapressbriefingukraine TUESDAY | MARCH 3 226 Dirksen — Senate Judiciary Committee hearing: "Oversight of the Homeland Security Department," with testimony from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem http://judiciary.senate.gov WEDNESDAY | MARCH 4 10 a.m. 2154 Rayburn — House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing: "Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part II," with testimony from Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) http://oversight.house.gov | | | | "Today wasn't just an embarrassing day for the Administration. It was another sad day for our country. Because whether or not Pirro succeeded is not the point. It's that President Trump continues to weaponize our justice system against his perceived enemies. It's the kind of thing you see in a foreign country, not in the United States we know and love." | | Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), in a post on X, after U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro failed to secure an indictment against six lawmakers accused of sedition by President Trump |
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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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