| AND THEY SAID IT WOULD NEVER WORK: For decades, critics of missile defense derided the effort as "a costly boondoggle" and "pie in the sky," but systems fielded by Israel, with an assist from U.S. warships, fired anti-missile interceptors and rendered yesterday's attack by Iran a massive dud. Damage from the 200 missiles was negligible, with the only recorded death being a Palestinian in Jericho. "The attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective, and this is testament to Israeli military capability and U.S. military," President Joe Biden said yesterday afternoon after the damage assessment was in. "Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel." "Israel, with the active support of the United States and other partners, effectively defeated this attack," Secretary of State Antony Blinken added from the State Department. "We have demonstrated, once again, our commitment to Israel's defense." This morning, Israel's Iron Dome and David's Sling systems blunted a Hezbollah attack that saw some 100 rockets fired into its country. Missile defense — it turns out — may be the thing that prevents the conflict from spiraling into a wider war between Israel and Iran, but that may depend on Israel's response IRAN LAUNCHES BALLISTIC MISSILE ATTACK ON ISRAEL AS MIDDLE EAST THREATENS TO EXPLODE INTO ALL-OUT WAR NETANYAHU: 'IRAN MADE A BIG MISTAKE – AND IT WILL PAY': In remarks at the start of a meeting of his security council Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited "Israel's air defense array, which is the most advanced in the world," for thwarting the Iranian missile barrage. "I also thank the U.S. for its support in our defensive effort." "This evening, Iran made a big mistake, and it will pay for it," Netanyahu said. "The regime in Tehran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and to exact a price from our enemies." "We have a bank of potential targets that would inflict pain and pressure on the regime," Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, told CNN this morning. "It would be irresponsible for me to reveal any specific plans, so let's just say the regime in Iran made a poor decision when they decided to launch such a hostile action against Israel and the citizens and people of Israel. Ten million people took shelter yesterday. That cannot be acceptable anywhere." "We have made clear that there will be consequences, severe consequences for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case," national security adviser Jake Sullivan said at a White House briefing. "We will consult with the Israelis on next steps," Sullivan said, "and we will continue to monitor for further threats and attacks from Iran and its proxies. We are particularly focused on protecting U.S. service members in the region." ISRAEL VOWS TO RETALIATE FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE ATTACK: IRAN 'MADE A BIG MISTAKE' THE U.S. ROLE: Because the Iranian attack employed only ballistic missiles and no drones, no U.S. ground-based defenses or airborne fighter jets were used in the destruction of Iranian missiles as they steaked toward Israel. "U.S. Navy destroyers deployed to the Middle East region supported the defense of Israel by firing approximately a dozen interceptors against the incoming Iranian missiles," Maj. Gen. Pat Rider, Pentagon press secretary, told reporters at yesterday's briefing. He identified the American warships as the USS Bulkeley and the USS Cole, both currently in the Mediterranean Sea. "U.S. forces in the Middle East intercepted multiple missiles launched by Iran toward Israel, as we fulfilled our commitment to partner with Israel in its defense," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement released last night. "I am deeply proud of the skill and the bravery of the U.S. troops who helped to save lives today from Iran's assault and who continue to support Israel's defense and to prevent a widening conflict or escalation." "Our forces remain postured to protect U.S. troops and partners in the Middle East, and the Department maintains significant capability to defend our people, provide further support for Israel's self-defense, and deter further escalation," Austin said. "I will continue to monitor the situation closely and to consult with our allies and partners." In April's failed attack, Iran launched some 185 drones, 36 cruise missiles, and 110 ballistic missiles, with a small number fired from Iraq and Yemen. This time nothing was fired from Yemen, which Israel attacked Sunday with long-range strikes against a major port and power station. OPINION: US SHOULD PUSH FOR SHORT BUT SHARP ISRAELI RETALIATION 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 HAPPENING TODAY: President Joe Biden travels to two states in hurricane-ravaged areas of the country today, vowing to get aid to devastated communities "as quickly as possible." Biden will take an aerial tour in South Carolina to survey damage from Hurricane Helene. The tour is expected to include a flyover of Asheville, North Carolina, which was inundated by more than two feet of rainfall. Then he'll visit hard-hit North Carolina, where he will get operational briefings on ongoing federal response, before returning to Washington late tonight. "I've been in frequent contact with the governors and other leaders in the impacted areas, and we have to jump-start this recovery process," Biden said yesterday. "People are scared to death. People wonder whether they're going to make it. We still haven't heard from a whole lot of people. This is urgent." "I think it's going to cost billions of dollars to restore these areas to where they were before," he said in remarks at the White House. "Until the work is done, we're going to stay." Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris is being dispatched to Georgia for more damage inspection and on-the-ground briefing on recovery efforts. She's scheduled to make remarks at 4 p.m. HURRICANE HELENE RANKLES TRUMP AND HARRIS 2024 CAMPAIGN PLANS CALLS FOR CONGRESS TO RECONVENE: "This is a storm of historic proportion. Nothing like this has happened in the region since the turn of the 20th century," Biden said. "Congress needs to make sure that states have every available resource. We have an obligation." A dozen senators have made a bipartisan appeal to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to consider calling the Senate back in session to pass an emergency supplemental aid package to fund recovery efforts, calling the destruction from Hurricane Helene "simply inconceivable." "Although the true level of devastation is still unfolding, it is clear that Congress must act to meet the unmet needs in our states and address the scope and scale of destruction experienced by our constituents," the senators wrote in a letter to Schumer. "This may even require Congress to come back in October to ensure we have enough time to enact legislation before the end of this calendar year." "Tens of millions of Americans were impacted by Hurricane Helene," the senators wrote. "Even preliminary damage assessments indicate that, at a minimum, the total damage and economic loss will be in the tens of billions of dollars." The letter was signed by Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Budd (R-NC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tim Scott (R-SC), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). CONGRESS URGED TO RETURN TO DC TO PASS HURRICANE HELENE AID PENTAGON: THOUSANDS MOBILIZED FOR HURRICANE RESPONSE: The U.S. military is playing a significant role in recovery efforts across the six-state area ravaged by the killer storm, now one of the deadliest in U.S. history with the death toll at 160 and expected to keep rising as more bodies are recovered from knee-deep muck and debris. "More than 6,500 service members actively engaged in relief efforts across six states. Florida has nearly 3,500 guardsmen activated, and Georgia has around 1,400 guardsmen on duty. South Carolina has activated nearly 500 guardsmen along with two helicopters for their recovery efforts," spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said at the Pentagon Tuesday. "Tennessee has around 130 guardsmen and seven helicopters activated, and Virginia has activated nearly 60 guardsmen along with one helicopter and numerous high-water vehicles." "North Carolina has emerged as an area of particular focus after the historical levels of flooding that occurred in the western part of that state," Ryder said. "A multi-state, multi-agency effort is currently underway with more than 80 guardsmen and 13 helicopters from Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio, New York, Southern Carolina and Florida joining more than 800 North Carolina guardsmen in providing support to devastated North Carolina communities." HERE'S WHY ASHEVILLE WAS CAUGHT 'UNPREPARED' BY HURRICANE HELENE A 'VERY CIVIL' DEBATE: For the most part the gloves were on during last night's vice presidential debate between Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), which came across as a smooth, more civil version of the dustup between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris last month. Walz appeared a little nervous as he fielded the first question, which was, "If you were the final voice in the Situation Room, would you support or oppose a preemptive strike by Israel on Iran?" "Israel's ability to be able to defend itself is absolutely fundamental," Walz said before pivoting to obviously prepared talking points criticizing Trump's fitness as a commander in chief. "A nearly 80-year-old Donald Trump talking about crowd sizes is not what we need in this moment," he said. "His chief of staff, John Kelly, said that he was the most flawed human being he'd ever met. And both of his secretaries of defense and his national security advisers said he should be nowhere near the White House. Now, the person closest to them, to Donald Trump, said he's unfit for the highest office. That was Senator Vance." "Governor Walz just accused Donald Trump of being an agent of chaos. Donald Trump actually delivered stability in the world, and he did it by establishing effective deterrence," Vance replied during his two minutes. "People were afraid of stepping out of line … Donald Trump recognized that … you needed peace through strength." As for a preemptive strike on Iran, "It is up to Israel what they think they need to do to keep their country safe," Vance said. "And we should support our allies wherever they are when they're fighting the bad guys." Walz seemed to gain his footing as the 90-minute debate progressed, and Vance proved to be up to his reputation as an adroit debater. His toughest question came near the end when CBS's Nora O'Donnell asked, "Senator Vance, you have said you would not have certified the last presidential election and would have asked the states to submit alternative electors. That has been called unconstitutional and illegal. Would you again seek to challenge this year's election results even if every governor certifies the results?" "What President Trump has said is that there were problems in 2020, and my own belief is that we should fight about those issues, debate those issues peacefully in the public square, and that's all I've said and that's all that Donald Trump has said," Vance replied. "Remember, he said that on January the 6th, the protesters ought to protest peacefully." Walz called Vance's answer "troubling." "I think we need to tell the story. Donald Trump refused to acknowledge this and the fact is, that I don't think we can be the frog in the pot and let the boiling water go up. He was very clear. I mean, he lost his election and he said he didn't," Walz said. "A hundred and forty police officers were beaten at the Capitol that day, some with the American flag, several later died." READ MORE: KEY MOMENTS THAT DEFINED THE VANCE-WALZ DEBATE THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Iran launches ballistic missile attack on Israel as Middle East threatens to explode into all-out war Washington Examiner: Israel vows to retaliate for ballistic missile attack: Iran 'made a big mistake' Washington Examiner: Opinion: US should push for short but sharp Israeli retaliation Washington Examiner: Six killed and nine injured in Tel Aviv shooting in suspected terrorist attack Washington Examiner: Trump seizes on Iran attack against Israel: 'The world is spiraling' Washington Examiner: Trump attorneys urge more redactions ahead of Smith immunity brief unveiling Washington Examiner: Midwestern-nice VP debate yields restrained reactions for Walz and Vance Washington Examiner: Key moments that defined the Vance-Walz debate Washington Examiner: Vance outlines Trump mass deportation plan at debate Washington Examiner: Opinion: JD Vance and Tim Walz restore civility to the stage New York Times: Israel Has Destroyed Half of Hezbollah's Arsenal, US and Israeli Officials Say Politico: US Officials Quietly Backed Israel's Military Push Against Hezbollah Newsweek: U.S. And Ally Double Up Against North Korea Nuclear Submarine Threat Wall Street Journal: Alleged Chinese Spy Was Tracking US Arms Shipments to Israel USNI News: Navy, Marines Exceed Fiscal Year 2024 Recruiting, Retention Goals Marine Corps Times: Marines Barely Meet Annual Recruiting Goals, But See Encouraging Signs Military.com: Air Force Has a Problem Recruiting for Special Warfare Jobs, New Report Finds The Hill: Navy Pushes To Catch Up To China's Superiority At Sea Bloomberg: China's Coast Guard Joined By Russians On First Patrol In Arctic Marine Corps Times: Marines To Receive New System For Zapping Drone Swarms Out Of The Sky DefenseScoop: Pentagon Announces $984M in Loans Available for US Firms Developing 'Critical' Tech Aviation Week: US Starts Flight Testing F-16 EW Upgrade in Budget Limbo Air & Space Forces Magazine: Pratt & Whitney Gets $1.3 Billion to Mature F-35 Engine Core Upgrade SpaceNews: DOD Seeks Innovations in Small-Satellite Propulsion Air & Space Forces Magazine: Anduril, in New Partnership, Takes Aim at Space Air & Space Forces Magazine: Pilot Errors Led to $25 Million Loss of MQ-9 Drone in Africa: New Report National Security Journal: SSN(X): The U.S. Navy's Next Generation Submarine Is in Zombie Land National Security Journal: Could Ukraine Ever Join NATO? THE CALENDAR: WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 2 10 a.m. — Council on Foreign Relations virtual briefing: “Israel, Gaza, and the Middle East a Year After the Hamas Attack,” with Steven Cook, CFR senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies; Farah Pandith, CFR adjunct senior fellow; Ray Takeyh, CFR senior fellow for Middle East studies; and Elliott Abrams, CFR senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies https://cfr.zoom.us 10 a.m. — Wilson Center Polar Institute virtual discussion: “UK and U.S. Antarctic Collaboration: The Cutting Edge of Polar Science and Future Directions,” with Jane Francis, director, British Antarctic Survey; Alex Isern, assistant director for geosciences, National Science Foundation; Kate Hendry, ocean climate scientist, British Antarctic Survey; Henry Burgess, head, NERC Arctic Office; and Theodore Scambos, senior research scientist, University of Colorado Earth Science and Observation Center https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/uk-and-us-antarctic-collaboration 11:15 a.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: "The Biden administration’s approach to foreign policy,” with Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2024/09/a-conversation 11:30 a.m. 1957 E St. NW — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs discussion: “France’s assessment of the geostrategic landscape,” with French Ambassador to the U.S. Laurent Bili https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/a-conversation-with-laurent-bili 12:15 p.m. 1763 N St. NW — Middle East Institute discussion: “U.S. Strategy Since Oct. 7: Assessing the Biden Administration’s Middle East Policy One Year On,” with former Defense Undersecretary for Policy Eric Edelman, counselor, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments; Patricia Karam, senior policy adviser on Iran, Freedom House; Mara Rudman, professor at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center; Rana Abtar, senior Washington correspondent, Asharq Al Awsat; and Brian Katulis, MEI senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy https://www.mei.edu/events/us-strategy-oct-7 1 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Brookings Institution 2024 Knight Forum on Geopolitics, with Arati Prabhakar, director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Mara Karlin, visiting fellow, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Jeffrey Feltman, John C. Whitehead visiting fellow in International Diplomacy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Samantha Gross, fellow and director, Energy, Security, and Climate Initiative, Brookings; Danielle Resnick, nonresident fellow, Global Economy and Development, Brookings; Valerie Wirtschafter, fellow, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative, Brookings; Alexander Noyes, fellow, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Fiona Hill, senior fellow, Center on the U.S. and Europe, Brookings; Colin Kahl, Sydney Stein, Jr. Scholar in Residence, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Lynn Kuok, fellow and Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asia Studies, Brookings; Suzanne Maloney, vice president and director, Foreign Policy, Brookings; Melanie Sisson, fellow, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; retired Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Marine Corps Commandant; and Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow, Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy, and director, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings https://connect.brookings.edu/register THURSDAY | OCTOBER 3 9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “What’s Going on with Japan’s Election?” with Sheila Smith, Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow for Asia-Pacific studies; Yuki Tatsumi, director, Stimson Center’s Japan Program; Victor Cha, CSIS Korea chair; and Mark Lippert, CSIS nonresident senior adviser https://www.csis.org/events/whats-going-japans-election-capital-cable-99 1 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: “The National Reconnaissance Office Story,” with NRO Director Christopher Scolese https://www.csis.org/events/nro-story-conversation-dr-chris-scolese 6:30 p.m. 37th and O Sts. NW — Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service discussion: “Reflections on Running." with former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. and Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley https://www.facebook.com/gupolitics FRIDAY | OCTOBER 4 10 a.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Wilson Center Middle East Program book discussion: The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century, with author retired Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, former commander of U.S. Central Command https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/book-talk-melting-point 11 a.m. 11200 SW Eighth St., Miami, Florida — Brookings Institution discussion: “The U.S. and China in Latin America: Rivalry, Cooperation, or Something In-Between?” with R. Evan Ellis, research professor, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute; Leland Lazarus, associate director of national security policy, Florida International University Institute for Public Policy; Valerie Wirtschafter, fellow, Brookings Institution Foreign Policy Program; Ted Piccone, nonresident senior fellow in the Brookings Institution Foreign Policy Center and Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology; and Arantxa Loizaga, network news anchor for NBCUniversal Telemundo https://www.brookings.edu/events/the-united-states-and-china-in-latin-america SATURDAY | OCTOBER 12 TBA Germany — President Joe Biden hosts a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to coordinate with international partners on additional assistance for Ukraine | | | | "This evening, Iran made a big mistake – and it will pay for it. The regime in Tehran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and to exact a price from our enemies … They will. We will keep to the rule we have determined: Whoever attacks us – we attack them." | | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in remarks before his security council after Tuesday failed attack on Israel with 200 ballistic missiles. |
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