| 'WHAT I SAW MADE ME ASHAMED': On more than one instance in yesterday's joint Senate hearing into the failed assassination of former President Donald Trump, Republican senators showed flashes of anger as they demanded simple answers and got nuanced responses from acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe, who took charge of the agency last week after Kimberly Cheatle resigned. Typical was this sparring between Rowe and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Cruz: Is your testimony that President Trump had the same size detail that President Biden has? Rowe: On the day of, in Butler, the agents surrounding him, it is the same number of agents surrounding the president today. There is a difference between a sitting president who also not only — Cruz: You’re using “president” in a way that is not clear. Is it your testimony that in Butler, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump had the same number of agents protecting him that Joe Biden has at a comparable event? Rowe: I’m telling you the shift. The close protection shifts around. That’s what you asked me, Senator, and I’m trying to answer it. Cruz: You are not answering it. Is it the same number of agents or not? Rowe: Senator, there is a difference between the sitting president of the United States — Cruz: Then what’s the difference? 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x.? Rowe: National command authority to launch a nuclear strike. Sir, there are other assets that travel with the president — that the former president will get. But the number of Secret Service agents protecting him Cruz: Stop interrupting me. Rowe: Go ahead, sir. Cruz: You are refusing to answer clear and direct questions. Rowe: Senator, I will get you that number, so you can see it with your own eyes. While the hearing was contentious at times, in his opening statement Rowe made no excuses for the failure to secure the building that provided the sniper a clear shot at Trump. "One of my first actions as acting director was traveling to the Butler Farm Show site to better understand how our protection failed. I went to the roof of the AGR Building where the assailant fired shots and I laid in a prone position to evaluate his line of sight," Rowe testified. "What I saw made me ashamed. As a career Site Security Plan and a 25-year veteran with the Secret Service, I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured." In this exchange, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) demands to know why no one has been fired: Hawley: "What more do you need to investigate to know that there were critical enough failures that some individuals ought to be held accountable? I mean, what more do you need to know? Rowe: What I need to know is exactly what happened, and I need my investigators to do their job. And I can not — Hawley: A lot of people didn’t do their jobs. Rowe: I cannot put my thumb on the scale. Otherwise, the objective — you’re asking me Senator to completely make a rush to judgment about somebody failing. I acknowledge this was a failure of — Hawley: Is it not prima facie that somebody has failed? A former president was shot. Rowe: Sir, this could have been our Texas School Book Depository. I have lost sleep over that for the last 17 days. CONSPIRACY THEORIES GAIN TRACTION AFTER TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT 'THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE SECRET SERVICE': Besides failing to include the building in the inner security perimeter, Rowe admitted there was a significant communications breakdown between local law enforcement and the Secret Service team protecting Trump. “Based on what I know right now, neither the Secret Service Counter Sniper Teams nor members of the former president’s security detail had any knowledge that there was a man on the roof of the AGR Building with a firearm,” Rowe said. “It is my understanding that those personnel were not aware the assailant had a firearm until they heard gunshots. Prior to that, they were operating with the knowledge that local law enforcement was working on an issue of a suspicious individual prior to the shots being fired.” “To prevent similar lapses from occurring in the future, I directed our personnel to ensure every event site security plan is thoroughly vetted by multiple, experienced supervisors before it is implemented,” Rowe testified. “I have directed the expanded use of Unmanned Aerial Systems at protective sites to help detect threats on roofs and other elevated threats. I’ve also directed resources to facilitate our protective site communications particularly our communications with our state and local partners.” Rowe made no attempt to shift blame to local police. "This is a failure of the Secret Service," he said. SECRET SERVICE AGENTS DIDN'T SEE TRUMP SHOOTER 'UNTIL THEY HEARD GUNSHOTS': ACTING DIRECTOR WALTZ: ‘WE DIDN’T GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CORE ISSUE’: In a mid-hearing appearance on CNN, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) noted that Rowe struck a “completely different” tone from the former director Cheatle, who he said was “obtuse, frankly, smug.” But he said, “We didn’t get to the bottom of what I think is the core issue … Was President Trump denied resources? Obviously, he is not your average former president like a Jimmy Carter or a [George] W. Bush. “I want to emphasize that President Trump was given the same size detail for a former president that all other former presidents are given, that there were no additional considerations for the foreign threats, for the additional domestic threats,” Waltz said. “And the biggest piece was the number of rallies that he’s doing. And at least what these agents are telling me is kind of the tone from headquarters was, we’re not going to burn through our budget for all of these extra agents and all of this extra overtime and travel because the former president wants to have a lot of rallies.” KEY TAKEAWAYS: SECRET SERVICE HEARING HIGHLIGHTS COMMUNICATION FAILURES BETWEEN LOCAL AND FEDERAL AGENCIES 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 BREAKING THIS MORNING: We awoke to the news this morning that Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran after attending the inauguration of Iran's new president. There has been no claim of responsibility, but Israel, which killed one of Hezbollah's senior leaders in an airstrike in Beirut yesterday — immediately became a prime suspect. Haniyeh has been Hamas' political leader since 2017, and had been living in exile in Qatar, according to the Associated Press, which noted Israel has vowed to kill Haniyeh and other leaders of Hamas over the group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw some 250 others taken hostage. The Israeli strike in Lebanon targeted Fuad Shukr, a high-ranking Hezbollah leader, who Israel said played a role in last weekend's rocket attack that killed 12 young people in the Israel-controlled Golan Heights. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, traveling in Asia, said the U.S. supports Israel, while seeking diplomatic solutions that would avoid escalation to wider war. “I don’t think war is inevitable. I maintain that. I think there’s always room and opportunities for diplomacy, and I’d like to see parties pursue those opportunities,” Austin told reporters traveling with him, adding, “If Israel is attacked, we certainly will help defend Israel.” HAMAS CHIEF ISMAIL HANIYEH KILLED IN IRAN TRUMP: BIDEN DEPOSED IN A ‘COUP’: In a segment of Laura Ingraham’s interview with Donald Trump that aired last night on Fox, the former president promoted the theory that President Joe Biden was forced to step aside against his will. “I mean, look at what they just did. They just took over the presidency from a president. This was a coup. Biden is a very angry man right now. You know that. They took the presidency away. His wife didn’t want it to happen. They took the presidency away, like he was a child.” “Who’s making the decisions right now in the White House, do you think?” Ingraham asked. “A group of people that are fascists, communists, Marxists. They circle the beautiful Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.” “You’re saying Biden isn’t making any of the big decisions?” Ingraham asked. “I don’t think so, no. I don’t think he knows he’s alive,” Trump replied. RUBIO ALLEGEDLY VYING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE ROLE AFTER TRUMP HINTS BURGUM COULD GET CABINET PRIZE CARDIN TO MOSCOW: WHERE ARE THE PRISONERS?: Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, is calling Russian President Vladimir Putin to account for Russian political prisoners who have abruptly gone missing from their cells. "The Kremlin's secretive transfer of Russian political prisoners Lilia Chanysheva, Ksenia Fedeyeva, Sasha Skochilenko, Oleg Orlov, Ilya Yashin, and Kevin Lik is yet another brazen violation of human rights," Cardin said in a statement. "Covertly moving these patriots to unknown locations without cause and without notifying their family or legal counsel is unacceptable, and I call upon the Russian government to immediately disclose their whereabouts. "While Putin's reign will undoubtedly end, the heroism of these brave Russian citizens will continue to endure," Cardin said. "The United States stands strong with them today and every day." A LESSON IN OVERMATCHING RUSSIA OVER THE BLACK SEA WHAT GIVES? Meanwhile, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-ID) are increasingly frustrated that they are not getting any answers as to why the security clearance was suspended for the Biden administration’s Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley. “The Department’s failure to cooperate with our repeated inquiries dating back to June 2023 into the suspension of Mr. Robert Malley’s security clearance is deeply troubling,” McCaul and Risch wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Mr. Malley’s alleged misconduct is serious, and the Department’s lack of transparency and blatant disregard for the urgency of our requests is unacceptable.” “Please provide fulsome answers to our questions, with classified attachments as necessary, by no later than close of business on August 2, 2024,” the lawmakers requested, under threat of subpoena. “Should the Department miss this deadline, we will be compelled to pursue compulsory processes to secure any documents, materials, and testimony relevant to our investigations from key members of your team.” ONE STEP CLOSER: The Senate Armed Services Committee advanced a long list of military promotions and sent them to the floor for final confirmation. The voice vote approved 3,135 military nominations in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. The committee also advanced two following civilian nominations: Tonya Wilkerson to be undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security, and Michael Sulmeyer to be assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh killed in Iran Washington Examiner: Israel targets Hezbollah commander behind soccer attack with strike in Beirut Washington Examiner: Opinion: Israel's clever strategy in strike on Hezbollah leader Washington Examiner: Israel carries out strikes against Hezbollah targets amid concerns of escalation Washington Examiner: Trump assassination attempt task force to be led by Republican from Butler Washington Examiner: Secret Service agents didn't see Trump shooter 'until they heard gunshots': Acting director Washington Examiner: Key takeaways: Secret Service hearing highlights communication failures between local and federal agencies Washington Examiner: Conspiracy theories gain traction after Trump assassination attempt Washington Examiner: Social media account believed to be owned by Trump's shooter displayed antisemitic and anti-immigrant themes Washington Examiner: Controversial Venezuelan election could lead to US sanctions Washington Examiner: Venezuelan military high command throws support behind Maduro as loyalty of military brought into question Washington Examiner: Venezuelan opposition leader says Maduro's 'departure is irreversible' Washington Examiner: Trump's first anti-Harris ad pummels her border record: 'Dangerously liberal' Washington Examiner: US announces $500 million in funding for Philippines over China threat Washington Examiner: A lesson in overmatching Russia over the Black Sea Washington Examiner: Rubio allegedly vying for secretary of state role after Trump hints Burgum could get Cabinet prize Reuters: US Carries Out Strike in Iraq as Regional Tensions Worsen New York Times: Iraq Is Caught In Middle As U.S. And Iran Are Increasingly At Odds Washington Post: Hobbled Hamas Government Clings To Power Amid Collapse Of Law And Order Wall Street Journal: American Weapons To Boost Capability Of Ukraine F-16 Jets New York Times: Why Are There Fears Of War In The South China Sea? USNI News: Chinese, Russian Warships Sail Around Japanese Islands Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force 'Taking a Pause' on NGAD, Kendall Says Inside Defense: Kendall: The Next Air Force Tanker Could Be Part of an FY25 Quick-Start Breaking Defense: US Needs More Nuclear Subs, Mobile ICBMs, and Tactical Nukes: Heritage Report Air Force Times: Boeing's KC-46 Has a New Top-Tier Deficiency Air & Space Forces Magazine: F-16s Not a 'Golden Bullet' for Ukraine, But They Are an Upgrade, USAFE's Hecker Says Defense One: Quick Satellite Replacement Should Send a Message to China, Air Force No. 2 Says Stars and Stripes: PACAF Commander Tours US-Funded 'Power Projection Platforms' in Northern Australia Air & Space Forces Magazine: Rebuffing Beijing, US and Philippines Vow to Operate in South China Sea DefenseScoop: Marines Get Green Light To Be 'Phantoms' at Air Force's AI Accelerator Military.com: A Nearly $3 Billion Shortfall in VA Benefits Is Looming. The Senate Has Proposed a Fix, But Time Is Running Out. Politico: Trump Would 'Absolutely' Scrap Biden's Air Force One Colors, Adviser Says Air & Space Forces Magazine: Air Force Selects 78 Airmen for First Warrant Officer Class in 66 Years Stars and Stripes: Gen. Alfred Gray, 29th Commandant Of The Corps, Buried With Full Military Honors At Arlington Cemetery THE CALENDAR: WEDNESDAY | JULY 31 8:30 a.m. 1201 15th St. NW — Defense Strategies Institute DOD Energy and Power Summit, with Navy Operational Energy Director James Caley; and Puesh Kumar, director of the Energy Department Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response https://power.dsigroup.org/register/ 8:45 a.m. 137 National Plaza, Oxon Hill, Maryland — Defense Strategies Institute 2024 Joint Air Survivability Summit, with Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly, director of air warfare in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations https://airsurvivability.dsigroup.org/ 9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Rebuilding America’s Maritime Strength,” with Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL). https://www.csis.org/events/rebuilding-americas-maritime-strength 11 a.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Brookings Institution discussion: “The Future of Ukraine’s Economic Recovery,” with former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, special representative for Ukraine’s economic recovery, State Department; Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova; Constanze Stelzenmuller, director, Brookings Center on the U.S. and Europe; and Ben Harris, Brookings vice president and director of economic studies https://www.brookings.edu/events/the-future-of-ukraines-economic-recovery/ 1:30 p.m. — Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies “Aerospace Nation” webinar with Timothy Grayson, special assistant to the secretary of the Air Force https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/dr-tim-grayson-an/ THURSDAY | AUGUST 1 7:45 a.m. 1700 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, Virginia — National Defense Industrial Association Senior Defense Leaders Forum, with Defense Undersecretary for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu; and former Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist, NDIA president and CEO https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-aug-1-ndia 8:30 a.m. 1201 15th St. NW — Defense Strategies Institute DOD Energy and Power Summit, with Paul Farnan, principal deputy assistant Army secretary for installations, energy and environment https://power.dsigroup.org/register/ 8:45 a.m. 137 National Plaza Oxon Hill, Maryland — Defense Strategies Institute Joint Air Survivability Summit, with Arthur Huber, executive director of the Air Force Test Center https://airsurvivability.dsigroup.org/ 10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “Nuclear Threats and the Role of Allies,” with Acting Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Vipin Narang https://www.csis.org/events/nuclear-threats-and-role-allies 4 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies media conference call briefing: “Previewing the Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations,” with Charles Edel, CSIS Australia chair; Kathryn Paik, CSIS Australia chair; Cynthia Cook, director of the CSIS Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group; and Rory Medcalf, CSIS nonresident adjunct fellow RSVP: Sam Cestari at [email protected]. MONDAY | AUGUST 5 11 a.m. 2401 M St., NW — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group coffee-conversation with Elizabeth Allen, the undersecretary of state for public diplomacy RSVP: [email protected] WEDNESDAY | AUGUST 710 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW— Center for Strategic and International Studies International Security Program and U.S. Naval Institute in-person and virtual Maritime Security Dialogue: "Preserving the Free Flow of Commerce in the Red Sea and Beyond: An Update from 5th Fleet Commander," with Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, retired Rear Adm. Raymond Spicer, CEO and publisher, U.S. Naval Institute; and Seth Jones, CSIS senior vice president https://www.csis.org/events/preserving-free-flow-commerce-red-sea
| | | | "The independent, bipartisan Commission concludes that the United States urgently requires 'substantial and wide-ranging change' to its defense and national security structure. Our current systems are outdated, bureaucratic, and overly political, preventing us from responding with the necessary urgency to the gravest threats our nation has faced since 1945. These include an emerging axis of authoritarianism opposed to U.S. interests and with it the growing potential for major war." | | Thomas Mahnken, president and CEO of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment, and one of eight members of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the United States. |
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