| 'PALESTINIANS ARE NOT HAMAS': In their public statements, Biden administration officials from the White House, the State Department, and the Pentagon all repeat the same talking point about the Israeli air campaign that has leveled large portions of Gaza and killed as many as 5,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including women and children. Israel has a right to protect itself after the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas, which slaughtered 1,400 Israelis, U.S. officials all say. It has a professional army that is expected to abide by the international law of armed conflict, which requires warring parties to "distinguish between the civilian population and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives and accordingly direct their operations only against military objectives." "We've made very clear that the Palestinians are not Hamas and that Hamas are not the Palestinians. And it is very, very unfortunate that we see a terrorist group who embeds themselves within a civilian population in order to protect and hide," Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said at yesterday's Pentagon briefing. "In our communications with the Israelis, again, we continue to encourage them to abide by the laws of war. We are both democracies. We are both professional militaries." ISRAEL ACCUSES UN CHIEF OF 'BLOOD LIBEL' AFTER CLASH AT SECURITY COUNCIL BLINKEN: 'A CIVILIAN IS A CIVILIAN IS A CIVILIAN': In his speech to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for the protection of Palestinian civilians. "That means Hamas must avoid using them as human shields … It means Israel must take all possible precautions to avoid harm to civilians. It means food, water, medicine, and other essential humanitarian assistance must be able to flow into Gaza and to the people who need them. It means civilians must be able to get out of harm's way. It means humanitarian pauses must be considered for these purposes." "America mourns the loss of every single innocent life in this crisis, including innocent Israeli and Palestinian men, women, children, elderly people, Muslims, Jews, Christians, people of all nationalities and faiths, including at least 35 U.N. staff members," Blinken said. "Our core belief is that every civilian life is equally valuable. There is no hierarchy when it comes to protecting civilian lives. A civilian is a civilian is a civilian, no matter his or her nationality, ethnicity, age, gender, faith." At the White House, NSC spokesman John Kirby said the safety of civilians is something President Joe Biden has expressed in every phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "We've been speaking to the Israelis, again, since the very early hours of this two weeks ago, that respect for human life, respect for the civilian population in Gaza, making sure that they can continue to get access to food, water, medicine, and electrical power remains critical." ISRAEL WAR: BLINKEN SAYS DEATH TOLL FOR AMERICANS IN ISRAEL HAS RISEN TO 33 QUEEN RANIA: 'A GLARING DOUBLE STANDARD': Jordan's Queen Rania, wife of King Abdullah, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, accused the Western world of a "glaring double standard" in how it reacted to Palestinian deaths compared to the compassion shown for Jews massacred by Hamas. "When October 7th happened, the world immediately and unequivocally stood by Israel and against the strike itself and condemned the attack that happened, but what we're seeing in the last couple of weeks, we're seeing silence in the world," Rania said in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "You know, are we being told that it is wrong to kill a family, an entire family at gunpoint but it's OK to shell them to death? I mean, there is a glaring double standard here. And it is just shocking to the Arab world." In response, Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., called the queen's remarks "deeply, deeply disappointing." "I think it said a lot about a certain viewpoint in the Arab world. And I understand it's difficult to see these images coming out of Gaza. I really do. I can empathize. We're in a terrible war. Israel has to strike back. It has no choice. No one would be able to live here," Oren said on CNN. "Want a ceasefire? Ceasefire means Hamas wins. That's all it means. Hamas literally gets away not with murder but with mass murder. And no one's going to agree to that." "Any Palestinian that is in that city and killed by Israeli bombing, because we have to prepare the ground for our ground troops to go in, is being used as a human shield by Hamas," Oren said. "We're trying our best to move that population away. It is difficult. It can be very, very heartbreaking to see these families being left out in the night, in the cold. But the alternative, believe me, is far, far worse." OPINION: THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TREATING CIVILIANS AS TARGETS AND TREATING THEM AS COLLATERAL DAMAGE 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 me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre 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 holds a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at 12:30 p.m., where the White House says the two leaders will announce a number of agreements aimed at deepening defense cooperation, including a trilateral agreement with Japan. "They're going to be announcing new advanced technology cooperation, particularly on artificial intelligence. You might have seen the prime minister inking a deal with Microsoft on a $3 billion investment for AI. We welcome that," said Kirby at yesterday's briefing. "This tech innovation piece will also be highlighting a new space agreement that will allow U.S. companies to launch into space from Australia." Also on the agenda for today's White House meeting: "Advancing connectivity across the Pacific through investments in undersea cable infrastructure and maritime infrastructure," and continuing to work to implement the new AUKUS alliance, the trilateral defense agreement between Great Britain, the United States, and Australia to provide Australia with a nuclear-powered, but conventionally-armed, submarine capability. SOUTH CHINA SEA CRISIS FLARES UP AS AUSTRALIAN LEADER HEADS TO WASHINGTON ALSO TODAY: HOUSE REPUBLICANS TRY, TRY AGAIN: The House convenes at 12 noon today to vote on the fourth Republican nominee for speaker, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), after Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) withdrew, citing a lack of support. Johnson will need almost every Republican vote to win, and as of this morning, it does not appear that he has the 217 votes necessary. "Unfortunately, we have members of the House Republican Conference who don't seem to be able to put the good of the Republican and conservative cause first. And what members have to realize is that electing a speaker of the House is not a personality contest," said Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) on CNN. "Frankly, the vast majority of Republicans in Congress are exasperated because we have a different handful of Republicans who can't take yes for an answer. And so we just move on to the next one, and the work of the American people doesn't get done." FOURTH TIME'S A CHARM? GOP SELECTS NEW HOUSE SPEAKER NOMINEE TIME FOR A COALITION WITH DEMOCRATS? The paralysis in the House continues to prompt a discussion about what it would take to get a few Democrats to vote for a consensus candidate to break that deadlock that's preventing passage of key legislation, including aid for Israel and Ukraine, as well as preventing a government shutdown before the Nov. 17 deadline. "We have been open to that for some time if the Republican leadership works with Democrats on issues that are important to us," Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, said on Fox yesterday. "We want some promises, if you will. We want some procedure, some legislative things to move forward." "Don't shut down the government, honor the appropriations deal, the bipartisan appropriations deal that we did last May … and give us a vote on a supplemental for Ukraine, for the border in Israel as well," Smith said. "If a Republican speaker candidate … would give us those things, then, yes, we would consider it. But we're not going to empower a Republican speaker who's just going to shut down the government and continue to not honor the appropriations deal." OPINION: DEMOCRATS SHOULDN'T HAVE VOTED FOR A SPEAKERLESS HOUSE US TROOPS UNDER ATTACK: The Pentagon confirmed yesterday that there have been more than a dozen drone and rocket attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria conducted by Iranian-backed proxy forces. "Between October 17th and the 24th, U.S. and coalition forces have been attacked at least 10 separate times in Iraq and three separate times in Syria via a mix of one-way attack drones and rockets," spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters. At least 24 troops were hurt in the attacks, including one incident that reportedly caused 20 "minor injuries." "One thing should be absolutely clear, we will always maintain the inherent right of self-defense, and we will take all necessary measures to protect our forces and our interests in the region," Ryder said in a later appearance on CNN. "I'm not going to telegraph or talk about any potential response or if we will take a response. If we do so, it would be at a time and place of our choosing." "Tehran has brushed aside the Biden administration's warnings and is testing the United States," wrote Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Center on Military and Political Power. "Washington should ensure our troops have both the means and the permission to defend themselves and make terrorists regret that they attacked U.S. forces. If not, we should not be surprised if Tehran escalates its aggression." IRAN-BACKED FORCES INJURE OVER 20 US MILITARY MEMBERS IN SYRIA AND IRAQ The Rundown Washington Examiner: Senate moves on spending bills as House stands still Washington Examiner: Fourth time's a charm? GOP selects new House speaker nominee Washington Examiner: Iran-backed forces injure over 20 US military members in Syria and Iraq Washington Examiner: Israel war: Blinken says death toll for Americans in Israel has risen to 33 Washington Examiner: UN chief rebukes Israel: 'The attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum' Washington Examiner: Israel accuses UN chief of 'blood libel' after clash at Security Council Washington Examiner: UN secretary-general Hamas comments 'disgusting and disqualifies him from leading': Haley Washington Examiner: Israel war: Hamas's release of hostages is 'psychological warfare,' IDF spokesman says Washington Examiner: Hamas hostage reveals horrific details about beatings Washington Examiner: Joe Manchin backs Lew for Israel ambassador Washington Examiner: South China Sea crisis flares up as Australian leader heads to Washington Washington Examiner: Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu removed from position following disappearance Reuters: China's Defence Ministry Blasts Pentagon's Annual Report Wall Street Journal: Finland Suspects Chinese Ship's Anchor Damaged Gas Pipeline Washington Examiner: Ramaswamy calls pulling out of NATO a 'reasonable idea' Washington Examiner: Meadows granted immunity in Trump DC election case Washington Examiner: Third Trump ally pleads guilty in RICO case Washington Examiner: Opinion: Israel war: Biden funds Hamas but turns his back on Nagorno-Karabakh Christians Washington Examiner: Opinion: In Israel's time of war, its economic bond with the US matters more than ever Washington Examiner: Opinion: Why the Navy's submarine tender program is vital to Pacific strategy Reuters: World Leaders Seek Pause To Israel-Hamas Fighting To Allow Aid Into Gaza AP: The US is sharing hard lessons from urban combat in Iraq and Syria as Israel prepares to invade Gaza Washington Post: In Israel, Macron Proposes Using Anti-ISIS Coalition Against Hamas USA Today: Blinken Urges 'Humanitarian Pauses' But US Won't Back Ceasefire In Gaza Breaking Defense: US Army Sending Iron Dome Batteries Back to Israel Air & Space Forces Magazine: More F-16s Arrive in Middle East as AFCENT Fighter Footprint Grows to 6 Squadrons Washington Post: Violent Videos and 'Brutal Voyeurism' Are Redefining Modern War Red Snow: As the man in the arena, Austin faces a ticking clock, wobbly allies, and a wallet needing refilled Air & Space Forces Magazine: Pentagon: China Working on Upgrades to Top Stealth Fighter, Manned-Unmanned Teaming Air & Space Forces Magazine: F-16s Deploy from Germany to Iceland for Air Policing Mission Stars and Stripes: Space Force Wants Ability to Refuel Military Satellites in Orbit Defense Scoop: US Cyber Command Sets Up Defensive Activity Aimed at Improving Concepts and Coordination Defense One: How X-Bow Plans to Break the Northrop-Aerojet 'Duopoly' on Rocket Motor Production Defense News: Companies Lobby Congress to Approve $1 Billion 'Hedge Portfolio' SpaceNews: Terran Orbital to Build 36 Satellite Buses for Lockheed Martin The Cipher Brief: Is Iran's 'Ring of Fire' Strategy Heating Up? The Cipher Brief: What an Emboldened Iran Means for the World The Cipher Brief: Training for a Combat Ready Force in Space Calendar WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 25 8:40 a.m. 929 Long Bridge Dr., Arlington, Virginia — IDEEA, Inc. 2023 ComDef Conference on "Forging Indo-Pacific Partnerships," with William LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, and Jedidiah Roya, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs https://ideea.com/comdef23/Registration.htm 10 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual event: "The Way Forward: A Conversation with H.E. Ayman Safadi, foreign minister of Jordan," moderated by Jon Alterman; director, CSIS Middle East Program https://www.csis.org/events/way-forward-conversation 10 a.m. 1763 N St. NW — Middle East Institute discussion: "The Critical Implications of Syria's Worsening Crisis: From Local to Global," with Yassin al Haj Saleh, Syrian writer and former political prisoner; Andrew Tabler, Washington Institute for Near East Policy senior fellow; Mona Yacoubian, U.S. Institute of Peace Middle East and North Africa Center vice president; and Charles Lister, MEI senior fellow https://www.mei.edu/events/critical-implications-syrias-worsening-crisis-local-global 11 a.m. — Washington Post Live virtual book discussion: Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine, including discussion of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the newly declared war between Israel and Hamas, with co-author and retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, former CIA director, and co-author Andrew Roberts https://conflictoct2023.splashthat.com/ 2 p.m. 419 Dirksen — Senate Foreign Relations Europe and Regional Security Cooperation Subcommittee hearing: "Assessing the Department of State's Strategy for Security in the Black Sea Region," with testimony from James O'Brien, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings 2:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn — House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee hearing: "The Submarine Industrial Base and Its Ability to Support the AUKUS Framework," with testimony from Mara Karlin, performing the duties of deputy undersecretary of defense for policy; Erik Raven, undersecretary of the Navy; and Vice Adm. William Houston, commander of Naval Submarine Forces https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings/spf-hearing-submarine-industrial-base 2 p.m. HVC-210, U.S. Capitol — House Foreign Affairs Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee hearing: "The Global Engagement Center: Helping or Hurting U.S. Foreign Policy," with testimony from Daniel Kimmage, principal deputy coordinator of the State Department's Global Engagement Center https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/the-global-engagement-center THURSDAY | OCTOBER 26 10 a.m. 2301 Constitution Ave. NW — National Endowment for Democracy, International Foundation for Electoral Systems, and the U.S. Institute of Peace discussion: "Expanding Ukraine's Democratic and Electoral Progress During War," with Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova; former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor, vice president of the USIP's Russia and Europe Center; Olga Aivazovska, board chairwoman at OPORA; Peter Erben, IFES global principal adviser and senior country director for Ukraine; and Damon Wilson, NED president and CEO https://www.usip.org/events/expanding-ukraines-democratic-and-electoral-progress 10:30 a.m. S-116 — "Pen and pad" briefing for reporters by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD) to discuss the recent Senate delegation travel to the Middle East and other foreign policy and national security priorities. Media can RSVP to Eric Harris at eric_harris@foreign.senate.gov 12 p.m. — Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft virtual discussion: "The Gaza War and U.S. Middle East Policy: Appraising the Biden Administration," with Dennis Ross, fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Emma Ashford, senior fellow at the Stimson Center; Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Steven Simon, senior research analyst at the Quincy Institute https://quincyinst.org/event/the-gaza-war-and-u-s-middle-east-policy FRIDAY | OCTOBER 27 9 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies in-person and virtual conference: "Transatlantic Defense in an Era of Strategic Competition" https://www.csis.org/events/transatlantic-defense-era-strategic-competition 10 a.m. — Fort Gordon, Georgia, will be officially renamed Fort Eisenhower at a ceremony attended by Army Secretary Christine Wormuth; retired Navy Adm. Michelle Howard, chairwoman, Congressional Naming Commission; and granddaughters of Army Gen. and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Susan and Mary Jean Eisenhower https://www.facebook.com/ArmyCyberCoE 2:45 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: "Indo-Pacific Strategy," with Camille Dawson, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/a-discussion | | | "My message to conservatives and Republicans all around this country, whatever kind of flavor you are, is that you owe it to your philosophy to win. And the dysfunction in the Republican Party right now seems to be saying, 'We want to lose.' That is crazy to me."
| | Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) on the failure of nominees to win enough votes in the Republican caucus to be elected speaker of the House. |
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