| SHOWDOWN IN PHILADELPHIA: In what is their first, and may well be their only face-to-face showdown, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will square off at 9 p.m. in a tightly constrained 90-minute debate before an audience-free auditorium in Philadelphia's National Constitution Center. The candidates will answer questions in two-minute increments, and according to the rules, they are not supposed to question each other. The debate comes as the latest New York Times and Siena College poll shows Trump has retaken a narrow but statistically insignificant lead over Harris, 48% to 47%, well with the three-percentage-point margin of error. However, the poll shows that Trump enjoys a clear edge in who voters believe would handle the issues they consider most important — the economy, inflation, and immigration. When asked, "Which candidate do you think would do a better job of handling the issue you think is most important?" 50% said Trump, 45% said Harris. When asked to rank the issues, 22% said the economy, including jobs and the stock market, was the most important factor guiding their vote, with 12% picking immigration. Both were topics where Trump polled stronger. Harris has an edge on abortion, which 15% of voters said would decide who they voted for. Foreign policy ranked ninth, with only 3% of voters surveyed saying it would factor into their decision, 2% citing the war in the Middle East, and fewer than one-half of 1% naming Ukraine’s war with Russia. HARRIS AND TRUMP TO GET CORNERED ON POLICY AT PHILADELPHIA DEBATE BLAMING HARRIS FOR AFGHANISTAN: Republican efforts to hang the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago on Harris seems to be resonating with voters. On Monday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee released a highly critical report which concluded, among other things, "The Biden-Harris administration's failure to plan for all contingencies, the U.S. government conducted an emergency evacuation without the necessary personnel, supplies, and equipment. The administration's dereliction of duty placed U.S. servicemembers and U.S. State Department personnel in mortal danger, where the Taliban – our sworn enemy – became the first line of defense." "Harris has admitted in the past, and has gone on record to say she was the last to actually come into the room with regards to this Afghan botched withdrawal," Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) said on Fox Business News yesterday. "It was also made very clear by Gen. [Frank] McKenzie and former Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, Gen. [Mark] Milley, that President Trump had actually, at the behest of his generals, had recommended for a smaller contingent force to remain behind when he realized that in the event of withdrawing civilians, that we would actually need to maintain a temporary military presence." The New York Times Siena College poll shows 49% of voters believe Harris deserves some or "a lot" of blame for the disastrous withdrawal. The poll also indicates another Harris weakness: 63% of respondents say she shares blame for problems at the border. WHITE HOUSE PUSHBACK: Retired Rear Adm. John Kirby, who was the Pentagon's chief spokesman during the August 2021 withdrawal, delivered the administration's rebuttal to what it characterized as a highly partisan, one-sided account of the events leading up to the chaotic fall of Kabul. "Clearly, there were moments of great violence, and there were moments of mission execution that didn't go exactly the way we wanted it to go,' Kirby said at yesterday's White House briefing. "Nobody has walked away from that. But in the main, we were able to get 120,000-some-odd folks out of there safely with an airplane taking off about once every hour." But he argued the die was cast when the Trump administration signed what amounted to articles of surrender with the Taliban in Qatar in February of 2020. "The Trump administration cut a deal called the Doha Agreement that mandated a complete U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and, yes, that included Bagram Air Base by the end of May 2021. That deal also released 5,000 Taliban fighters from prison — 5,000 fighters," Kirby said. "As General Frank McKenzie, former commander of U.S. Central Command, said himself in testimony, the Doha — Doha deal had a, quote, 'really pernicious effect,' unquote, on the Afghan government and military. As we saw, it demoralized them and disenfranchised them. They knew right then and there that America was on its way out." "Indeed, in October of 2020, then-President Trump ordered his military to rush the exit from Afghanistan and have everybody leave by Christmas of that year," Kirby said. "President Biden, for his part, faced a stark choice when he came to office: abide by the flawed agreement and end America's longest war or blow up the deal, extend the war, and see a much smaller contingent of American troops back in combat with the Taliban. He chose the former, and he was able to buy additional time to prepare for that withdrawal all the way into the summer." WHAT TRUMP AND HARRIS MUST DO TO WIN THE DEBATE Good Tuesday 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 HAPPENING TODAY: This morning, right on time at 5:23 a.m. EDT, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a history-making first commercial flight carrying private citizens as astronauts on a five-day mission dubbed "Polaris Dawn." The crew includes billionaire Jared Isaacman, who is scheduled on Thursday to conduct the first private spacewalk on his second journey into space, as the spacecraft has carried humans farther into space than anyone since NASA's Apollo moonshots. U.S., CHINA COMMANDERS TALKING: President Joe Biden's meeting last November with Chinese President Xi Jinping has produced one tangible result: a slight crack in the icy relations between the two countries' militaries. Yesterday, U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo talked face-to-face via video teleconference with Gen. Wu Yanan, the commander of the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command. "During the call, Paparo underscored the importance of sustained lines of communication between the U.S. military and the PLA, noting that such discussions between senior leaders serve to clarify intent and reduce the risk of misperception or miscalculation," the Indo-Pacific Command said in a press release. "Citing several recent PLA unsafe interactions with U.S. allies, Paparo reinforced the PLA's obligation to comply with international laws and norms to ensure operational safety. Paparo also urged the PLA to reconsider its use of dangerous, coercive, and potentially escalatory tactics in the South China Sea and beyond." "Gen. Wu and Paparo had a constructive and respectful exchange of views between experienced professionals," the release said. "Paparo expressed hope that this discussion with his PLA counterpart would be the first of many such conversations." CHINA HAWKS IN CONGRESS KEEP PRESSURE ON WHILE SPENDING FIGHT DOMINATES DISCUSSIONS THE FUTURE OF US TROOPS IN IRAQ: The U.S.-Iraq Higher Military Commission is charged with determining the future military relationship between the United States and Iraq. Currently, some 2,500 U.S. troops are assisting in the battle against ISIS. U.S. troops remain in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government, which has indicated it might be time for most of those troops to leave. "The US-Iraq Higher Military Commission executive working group continues to have their discussions," spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Monday. "I'm not going to get ahead of the HMC." "As was clearly stated in the joint statement put out by the President and President Sudani, the two leaders reaffirmed that they would review the factors to determine when and how the mission of the global coalition in Iraq would end and transition in an orderly manner to our enduring bilateral security partnership in accordance with Iraq's constitution and the US-Iraq strategic commitment," Ryder said. "We value the work that's being done via the Higher Military Commission process. Those conversations inform senior leader decisions, ultimately which rest at the seat of government, right? So, the president and the Iraqi leadership," Ryder said. "I don't have any announcements to make in terms of any force posture adjustments at this time." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Tuberville blocks Pentagon nominee over role in Lloyd Austin's two-week absence Washington Examiner: 'Terrorgram' leaders indicted over plotting assassinations of public officials Washington Examiner: White House defensive on Israel ceasefire negotiations after Hamas changes terms Washington Examiner: House Democratic leadership blasts CR as those in favor of SAVE Act stay silent Washington Examiner: American once detained in Syria cherishes 'everything that's come from it' Washington Examiner: Florida crackdown on illegal immigrant farm workers hurting agriculture industry: Report Washington Examiner: Mother of daughter killed by MS-13 illegal immigrant brings fight to Washington Washington Examiner: Schumer and Jeffries to attend medal ceremony for 13 service members killed in Afghanistan Washington Examiner: Boeing and union reach tentative deal to avoid labor strike Washington Examiner: China hawks in Congress keep pressure on while spending fight dominates discussions New York Times: Two Ukrainian Villages Reportedly Fall To Russia AP: Iran's Missiles Are A Legitimate Target, Ukraine Official Says AP: A woman is killed near Moscow as over 140 Ukrainian drones target Russia, officials say Wall Street Journal: More Ukrainians Want To Negotiate An End To The War. Soldiers Don't Agree. AP: An Israeli strike on a Gaza humanitarian zone tent camp kills at least 40 people, Palestinians say AP: Yemen's Houthi Rebels Claim They Shot Down Another US MQ-9 Drone Military Times: Decision on Junior Enlisted Pay Boost Not Expected Until November USNI News: New Continuing Resolution Puts Shipbuilding Programs At Risk, SECDEF Austin Warns Marine Corps Times: How The Marines Are Changing Their Conduct And Leadership Guidance Task & Purpose: Four Marines Trained An Air Force Base To Take The Marine Corps Fitness Test. The Air Force Gave Them Medals For It. Air & Space Forces Magazine: Outgoing AMC Boss Minihan Wishes He Could Give Airmen 'Predictability' Air & Space Forces Magazine: New Air Mobility Boss Promises to Continue Command's Transformation Military.com: Newly Trained Air Force Pilots Must Consider Jobs Outside Flying Fighters or Bombers Due to Manning Shortfall Aviation Week: Pentagon NGAD Uncertainty Pressures Adaptive Engine-Makers to 'Adapt' The War Zone: Our Best Look Yet at China's J-20A Fighter with WS-15 Engines Bloomberg: RTX's Long-Delayed $7 Billion GPS-Tracking Network Is Still Troubled, GAO Says Breaking Defense: Jam-Resistant GPS Elusive as M-Code Delays Pile Up: GAO Air & Space Forces Magazine: Space Force Studying How It Will Bolster GPS: Vice Chief Stars and Stripes: Watchdog Challenges SOCOM's Plan to Buy New Armed Aircraft to Watch Over Special Ops Troops Air & Space Forces Magazine: First AC-130J Arrives at Kirtland in New Chapter for Gunship Training AP: A robot begins removal of melted fuel from the Fukushima nuclear plant. It could take a century National Security Journal: It's Time to Say Goodbye to the A-10 Warthog National Security Journal: Los Angeles-Class Attack Submarine: Still One of the Best on Earth National Security Journal: Russia's Su-35 Fighter vs. America's F-16 Fighting Falcon: Who Wins in Ukraine? National Security Journal: Russia's T-72 Tank Is Nothing More Than a 'Coffin on Tracks' THE CALENDAR: TUESDAY | SEPTEMBER 10 8:30 a.m. 740 15th St. NW — New America 2024 Future Security Forum: “Regional Approaches to Indo-Pacific Security," with former Australian Ambassador to the U.S. Kevin Rudd; Philippines Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez; Rear Adm. Takaaki Hayamizu, defense and naval attache at the Embassy of Japan https://www.newamerica.org/future-security/events 9 a.m. Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia — Brookings Institution and Spelman College discussion: “The Promise and Perils of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Issues at Stake in the 2024 Election https://connect.brookings.edu/register-to-watch 10 a.m. 2141 Rayburn — House Judiciary Committee hearing: “The Biden-Harris Border Crisis: Victim Perspectives" http://judiciary.house.gov 11 a.m. Rotunda, U.S. Capitol — U.S. Congress ceremony to present the Congressional Gold Medal to the families of 13 service members killed on August 26, 2021 in the terrorist attack on the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY); House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA); Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT); and Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) 12 p.m. — Foundation for Defense of Democracies virtual discussion: "Strategic Planning in Chaos: The Future of the U.S.-Israel Security Partnership," with retired Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, FDD senior fellow and former director general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense; Eyal Hulata, FDD senior international fellow and former Israeli National Security Adviser and head of Israel's National Security Council; retired Rear. Adm. Mark Montgomery, senior director, FDD Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation; Jonathan Schanzer, FDD senior vice president for research; and moderator Katie Pavlich, editor, Townhall.com and Fox News contributor https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/09/10 2 p.m. 2141 Rayburn — House Judiciary Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee hearing: “The Biden-Harris Border Crisis: Noncitizen Voting” http://judiciary.house.gov 2 p.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: "How to Counter China Global South Strategy in the Indo-Pacific," with John Lee, senior fellow, Hudson Institute; Thomas Duesterberg, senior fellow, Hudson Institute; Aparna Pande, research fellow, India and South Asia, Hudson Institute; and Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific Security Chair, Hudson Institute https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-counter-chinas-global-south-strategy 3:30 p.m. 342 Dirksen — Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Investigations Subcommittee hearing: “The U.S. Companies’ Technology Fueling The Russian War Machine," with testimony from Michelle Stout, vice president for global trade compliance & government affairs at Analog Devices Inc.; Tiffany Scurry, corporate vice president and chief compliance officer at Advanced Micro Devices Inc.; Jeff Rittener, chief trade officer and vice president of the international trade group at the Intel Corporation; and Shannon Thompson, vice president and assistant general counsel for commercial operations at Texas Instruments Incorporated http://www.hsgac.senate.gov 5 p.m. 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW —Carnegie Endowment for International Peace book discussion: “Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia,” with author Stephanie Baker, Bloomberg News investigative reporter https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2024/08/punishing-putin 9 p.m. National Constitution Center, Philadelphia — Presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, sponsored by ABC News, and moderated by World News Tonight anchor and managing editor David Muir and ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis Airs on ABC and streams on ABC News Live, as well as simulcast on other cable channels WEDNESDAY | SEPTEMBER 11 8 a.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “A Next-Generation Agenda: Bridging South Korean and NATO Perspectives on Security,” with Malthe Munkoe, external lecturer at the Copenhagen Business School; Hyunseung David Yu, Master student at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; Julia Dowling, Master student at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; and Jaehyoung Ju, Master student at Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/a-next-generation-agenda 8 a.m. 300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Global Aerospace Summit,” with Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves; Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS); FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel; Space Force Brig. Gen. Brian Denaro, senior military assistant to the Air Force secretary https://events.uschamber.com/globalaerospacesummit 8:30 a.m 180 Greenwich St., New York, NY — National September 11 Memorial and Museum 23rd Anniversary Commemoration https://www.911memorial.org/ 9 a.m. The Pentagon — September 11 anniversary observance ceremony with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in honor of the 184 people killed in the 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. The ceremony is not open to the public, but will be livestreamed at https://www.defense.gov/News/Live-Events/ 9:30 a.m. 1310 Longworth — House Administration Committee hearing: “American Confidence in Elections: Looking Ahead to the 2024 General Election,” with testimony from Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D); Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd (R); Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D); and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose ® https://cha.house.gov 9:45 a.m. 6424 Lincoln Hwy. Stoystown, Pennsylvania — National Park Service moment of remembrance event the Flight 93 National Memorial. 10 a.m. 2172 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing: “Great Power Competition in Africa,” with testimony from John Bass, acting undersecretary of state for political affairs http://foreignaffairs.house.gov 11 a.m. — Brookings Institution virtual discussion: “Afghanistan under the Taliban: Power dynamics, regional relations, and U.S. policy,” with Tricia Bacon, associate professor at American University; Tamin Asey, senior fellow at King College London; Ronald Neumann, president, American Academy of Diplomacy; and Vanda Felbab-Brown, director, Brookings Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors https://www.brookings.edu/events/afghanistan-under-the-taliban 1:30 p.m. — Washington Post Live virtual discussion: "Current threats of domestic and international terrorism,” with Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live/2024/07/24/matt-olsen 2 p.m. 2172 Rayburn — House Foreign Affairs Europe Subcommittee hearing: “Countering Malign PRC Influence in Europe,” with testimony from Ivana Karaskova, China analyst and China team lead at the Association for International Affairs; Dalibor Rohac, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute; and Peter Rough, senior fellow and director, Hudson Institute Center on Europe and Eurasia http://foreignaffairs.house.gov 2 p.m. — National Park Service wreath laying ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial, 6424 Lincoln Hwy., Memorial Plaza, Wall of Names, Stoystown, Pa. 2 p.m. — CQ Roll Call and FiscalNote virtual discussion: “Fall 2024 Legislative Preview: Congress Crunch Time” about legislative priorities and key bills Congress aims to address before the end of the fiscal year, including the National Defense Authorization Act, with Paul Krawzak, senior writer on the budget, appropriations, and tax team at CQ and Roll Call; Briana Reilly, defense and national security reporter for CQ and Roll Call; and Jason Dick, editor-in-chief at CQ and Roll Call https://info.cq.com/resources/fall-leg-preview-webinar/ THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 12 8 a.m. — Atlantic Council and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. virtual seminar: “Narrative Warfare in Taiwan,” with Min Hsuan Wu, co-founder and CEO, Doublethink Lab; Gittipong Paruchabutr, Atlantic Council nonresident senior fellow; Kenton Thibaut, Atlantic Council senior resident China fellow; and Markus Garlauskas, director, Atlantic Council Indo-Pacific Security Initiative https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/a-cross-strait-and-beyond-seminar 10 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “Navigating the National Security Inflection Point,” with Assistant Commerce Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod 10:30 a.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW — Henry L. Stimson Center in-person and virtual "Ground Forces and Great Powers: A Conversation with U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth," with Brian Finlay, president and CEO, Stimson Center https://stimsoncenter.zoom.us/webinar/register 2 p.m. — Brookings Institution virtual discussion: “What We Learned from the First Harris-Trump Presidential Debate,” with Elaine Kamarck, founding director, Brookings Institution Center for Effective Public Management and senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution; William Galston, chair and senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution; Suzanne Maloney, vice president and director, Brookings Institution Foreign Policy Program; and Camille Busette, interim vice president and director, Brookings Institution Governance Studies Program and director, Brookings Institution Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative https://www.brookings.edu/events/what-we-learned 4 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies book discussion: Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir from the Front Lines of Russia War Against the West, with author John Sullivan, former U.S. ambassador to Russia https://www.csis.org/events/midnight-moscow-conversation 4 p.m. 1717 K St. NW — Institute of World Politics lecture: “World in Crisis: National Security Priorities for the Next Administration,” with Noah Rothman, senior writer at the National Review; Michael Brendan Dougherty, senior writer at NationalReview.com; Dan Caldwell, public policy adviser at Defense Priorities; James Robbins, senior fellow in national security affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council; and John Callahan, adjunct professor at IWP https://www.iwp.edu/events/world-in-crisis-national-security-priorities 5 p.m. 390 Cannon — National Defense Industrial Association Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Division fall reception: "The critical role of SO/LIC forces in our national security." https://www.ndia.org/events/2024/9/12/ndia-solic-fall-reception-on-the-hill 5 p.m. — Jews United for Democracy “Israel In Crisis” virtual briefing: “The status and progress of hostage and ceasefire negotiations,” with Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Larry Mantle, host, AirTalk with Larry Mantle https://www.jewsunitedfordemocracy.org/event 7 p.m. Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW — Radio and Television Correspondents Association of Capitol Hill 2024 Congressional Correspondents’ Dinner. https://site.pheedloop.com/event 7:30 p.m. — Brookings Institution, the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, and the Institute for Global Engagement virtual discussion: “American Foreign Policy Toward Ukraine, Russia, and NATO Beyond 2024,” with Fiona Hill, senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution Center on the U.S. and Europe, and former deputy assistant to the president on the National Security Council; David Kramer, executive director, George W. Bush Institute and vice president, George W. Bush Presidential Center; Liz Brailsford, president and CEO, World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth; Adam Wright, president of Dallas Baptist University; Constanze Stelzenmuller, director of and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution Center on the U.S. and Europe; and Rudolph Bush, editorial page editor at the Dallas Morning News https://www.brookings.edu/events/american-foreign-policy-toward-ukraine-russia-and-nato FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 13 11 a.m. 1957 E St. NW — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs discussion: “The U.S., NATO, and the World,” with U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne Smith https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/the-us-nato-and-the-world2 p.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: “Political Violence and the 2024 Elections,” with former Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary McCord, executive director, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection; Eric Ward, executive vice president of Race Forward; and Aaron David Miller, senior fellow at the CEIP American Statecraft Program https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2024/09/political-violence | | | | "All I will say on that is that should Iran ship ballistic missiles of whatever kind, close-range or other kinds, it would be a dramatic escalation of the nature of that defense partnership." | | CIA Director William Burns, speaking in London Saturday, declining to confirm reports Iran has provided Russia with ballistic missiles to replenish its depleted arsenal |
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