| MILLEY BACK IN TRUMP'S CROSSHAIRS: Former President Joe Biden's preemptive pardon of former Joint Chiefs Chairman retired Gen. Mark Milley was intended to shield the barrel-chested former Green Beret from "retribution" from President Donald Trump, who considers Milley a traitor who attempted to undermine his authority as commander in chief. But the pardon does not prevent Trump's defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, from taking other punitive actions, including stripping Milley of his security detail and clearances, removing his portraits from the Pentagon halls, and ordering an investigation to determine if he can be demoted, which would reduce his military pension. "The secretary informed General Milley today that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well," Pentagon Spokesman John Ullyot said in a statement released last night. "The Secretary has also directed the DOD IG to conduct an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen. Milley's conduct so that the secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination." The allegations stem from revelations in the 2021 book Peril, by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, in which Milley — apparently based on the general's recollections — felt that after Trump lost the 2020 election, he was impulsive, unpredictable, and in severe mental decline and feared he might unleash nuclear weapons, or accidentally provoke a war with China. The account of Milley's actions raised questions at the time as to whether he violated the bedrock principle of “civilian control of the military." "Undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trump's leadership," said Hegseth's chief of staff Joe Kasper. THE CASE AGAINST MILLEY: Milley — who in his 2023 retirement ceremony took a swipe at Trump, saying, "We don't take an oath to a king or a queen or to a tyrant or a dictator" — insists his actions before and after the November 2020 election were keeping with his duties and responsibilities as the nation's highest-ranking officer and senior military adviser to the president and the secretary of defense. In a rant posted on his Truth Social network in September of 2023, Trump called Milley a "woke train wreck" and accused him of back-channel communications with the Chinese to "give them a heads up on the thinking of the president of the United States." "This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH!" Trump posted. "A war between China and the United States could have been the result of this treasonous act." In the book Peril, Woodward and Costa recount a call between Milley and his Chinese counterpart Gen. Li Zuocheng, in which Milley is alleged to have said, "Gen. Li, you and I have known each other for now five years. If we're going to attack, I'm going to call you ahead of time. It's not going to be a surprise. It's not going to be a bolt out of the blue." Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who also fell out of favor with Trump and was eventually fired, has disputed the idea that Milley was going rogue or betraying his country. "He was acting on my directive to reach out to his Chinese counterpart," Esper said in a 2023 interview, adding he had done the same thing with his Chinese counterpart a week earlier. "The Chinese were scared, alarmed, uncertain about what was happening in Washington. So, I wanted to send a message to them that everything was OK," Esper said. "Because look, at the end of the day, nobody wants some type of accidental conflict to happen." "The accusation that Milley called the Chinese on his own is simply wrong," Esper said. "And the good news is the Chinese came back and said, 'Thank you very much. We've been very concerned. We appreciate what's going on.'" READ MORE FROM 2021: HOW STRONG IS THE CASE AGAINST GEN. MARK MILLEY? 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 (@chriswtremo). 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: Perhaps the most controversial of President Trump's Cabinet picks, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be Health and Human Services secretary, faces the first of two confirmation hearings at 10 a.m. before the Senate Finance Committee. Kennedy faces a tidal wave of opposition from 17,000 doctors who signed a letter calling him “unqualified" and "actively dangerous" to his cousin, former U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan Caroline Kennedy, who, in a letter to the Senate, which she read online, called Kennedy a predator who "preys on the desperation of parents of sick children," and who advocates against vaccines, while vaccinating his children. ALSO TODAY: The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a markup to vote on the nomination of Pamela Bondi to be attorney general for 9 a.m. AND… Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Katie Britt (R-AL) are holding an 11:30 a.m. news conference on Capitol Hill to introduce legislation to end birthright citizenship, which they call "one of the biggest magnets for illegal immigration into the United States." "The 'Birthright Citizenship Act of 2025' would restrict citizenship from being granted to the children of illegal immigrants born on American soil," Graham and Britt said. "It also stops the practice known as 'birth tourism,' where individuals apply for legal U.S. visas with the sole purpose of having their child in the U.S. so the child can be an American citizen." IRON DOME FOR USA, PIE-IN-THE-SKY? President Trump's "Iron Dome for America" executive order, which calls for "deploying and maintaining a next-generation missile defense shield," has revived the 1980s debate over the expense and technical challenges of constructing a missile defense system capable of protecting the entire nation, especially now that we are in the age of advanced hypersonic cruise missiles. "It remains to be seen exactly what an 'Iron Dome for America' might mean. The conversation to be had now is how to translate that metaphor and these aspirations into concrete programmatic and budgetary reality," said Tom Karako, director of CSIS's Missile Defense Project in an email. "The executive order talks about both space-based sensors and interceptors. This year, 2025, will be the year for a new discussion about space-based missile defenses, as well as systems tailored to hypersonic and cruise missile threats." "The devil will be in the details, and plans are only as good as the budgets behind them. But it is certainly past time to introduce disruptive capabilities into the missile defense enterprise," Karako says. However, as was the case with President Ronald Reagan's aborted effort — dubbed "Star Wars" by critics — there remains a robust debate about whether the idea of an impenetrable "Iron Dome" is simply "pie in the sky." "President Trump's vision of an Iron Dome over America is a fantasy," argued Laura Grego, senior scientist for the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "The apparent successes of Israel's Iron Dome system are not relevant to U.S. homeland defense. Iron Dome defends small areas from short-range nonnuclear missiles. It's a vastly easier task than defending the whole country against missiles that travel 100 times further and seven times faster than those Iron Dome is built for." Missile defense skeptics argue that after 60 years and more than $350 billion, the U.S. has still been unable to develop missile defenses against anything more than a small number of missiles fired from a rogue country. "Russia and China already appear to be building new types of weapons with the purpose of defeating or avoiding missile defenses. Missile defenses are not a useful or long-term strategy for keeping the U.S. safe from nuclear weapons, Grego says. "Invoking Iron Dome is just marketing, trying to manufacture credibility for something that has never worked." TRUMP'S 'IRON DOME FOR AMERICA' EXECUTIVE ORDER CALLS FOR MUCH MORE THAN ISRAELI VERSION MAYBE THEY'LL BELIEVE IT NOW, OR MAYBE NOT: Have you noticed how the mysterious drone sightings over New Jersey last year have faded from the news headlines? The Biden administration investigated the reports and concluded that nothing nefarious was happening; there are just many more drones in the skies today. Lots of skeptics scoffed, including then-President-elect Trump, who suggested there was a cover-up before he took office. "The government knows what is happening,” Trump said. And for some reason, they don’t want to comment. And I think they’d be better off saying what it is. Our military knows, and our president knows. And for some reason, they want to keep people in suspense.” Well, yesterday, at her inaugural briefing as White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt revealed the "truth." "After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons. Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational, and private individuals that enjoy flying drones," Leavitt explained. "In time, it got worse due to curiosity. This was not the enemy." KAROLINE LEAVITT TALKS DRONES, EGG PRICES, AND FUNDING FREEZE: TOP TAKEAWAYS FROM FIRST PRESS BRIEFING DRAMATIC F-35 CRASH: If you're on social media, you've undoubtedly seen the dramatic video of an F-35 fighter jet plummeting to the ground and disappearing into a fireball as the pilot, who ejected, floats down to safety. The cost of a single F-35, listed as roughly $85 million, is actually more than double that when you figure the total cost of development and production. "An F-35 Lightning II aircraft crash occurred at 12:49 p.m. [Tuesday] within the fence line of Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska," the 354th Fighter Wing said in a press release. "I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation into this incident to minimize the chances of such occurrences from happening again," said Col. Paul Townsend, the wing commander. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Trump offering buyouts to nearly all federal workers Washington Examiner: Hegseth removing Milley's security detail and clearance Washington Examiner: LGBT groups sue Trump and Hegseth over transgender troops order Washington Examiner: Trump's 'Iron Dome for America' executive order calls for much more than Israeli version Washington Examiner: Kash Patel's run-ins with the law put under Senate microscope before confirmation hearing Washington Examiner: Kash Patel faces second allegation of endangering hostage swap Washington Examiner: Trump lays groundwork to ax thousands of transgender troops Washington Examiner: Trump ignores Egypt and Jordan objections to taking Palestinian refugees Washington Examiner: Colombian president plays humanitarian as deportees from US arrive Washington Examiner: Why El Salvador is willing to accept deported immigrants from other countries Washington Examiner: Noem's first speech to DHS has unconventional start to tune of 'Hot Mama' Washington Examiner: Federal judge temporarily halts Trump federal aid freeze Washington Examiner: Trump White House clarifies which programs are affected by pause to federal grant funding Washington Examiner: Grassley and Durbin demand Trump explain IG dismissals: 'Law must be followed' Washington Examiner: Senators sound alarm over growing Chinese influence at Panama Canal Washington Examiner: ICC sanctions bill fails to advance in Senate over Democratic opposition Air & Space Forces Magazine: Trump Wants an Iron Dome for America. How the Space Force Is Key to Making It Happen Breaking Defense: Space Force Plans 18 NSSL Launches in 2025, Including on ULA's Vulcan Defense News: Pentagon Says Small Business Programs Not Part of Grant Funding Pause DefenseScoop: Report Finds Large Gap in CMMC Readiness Among Defense Industrial Base Bloomberg: Pentagon Frees More F-35 Payments to Lockheed Martin on Upgrades Citing Progress CNBC: Boeing Is Working with Elon Musk to Deliver Air Force One Replacements Sooner Breaking Defense: MQ-25 Will Fly in 2025, Fly Off Carriers in 2026, Says Navy's Air Boss SpaceNews: Space Force Still Mapping Out Strategy for In-Orbit Logistics and Satellite Services Air & Space Forces Magazine: What Air Force Maintainers Think of the New Force Design Air & Space Forces Magazine: Now CCAs Can Do Things 'We Didn't Think Were Possible' Air & Space Forces Magazine: Pentagon Hands Out $7 Billion for NGAP; RTX Sees 'Tailwind' for Military Propulsion Air & Space Forces Magazine: Two Air Force Leaders Fired This Month in Unrelated Incidents Military.com: Military Families Report No-Shows, Delays Amid Rollout of New Household Goods Shipment System The Free Press: Opinion: Memo to Trump: Beware the 'Reverse Teddy' THE CALENDAR: WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 29 7:15 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia — Association of the U.S. Army "Coffee Series" discussion with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George https://www.ausa.org/events/coffee-series/gen-george 8:30 a.m. 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE — Politico discussion: “The First 100 Days: Immigration," with Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ); and Chad Wolf, former acting Homeland Security secretary and executive director, America First Policy Institute https://playbookfirst100dayimmigration.splashthat.com/Invite 9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “The Future of Uranium to Jumpstart Nuclear Power in the 21st Century,” with Miriam D’Onofrio, acting senior director for energy and investment at the National Security Council; and Gracelin Baskaran, director of the CSIS Critical Minerals Security Program https://www.csis.org/events/future-uranium-jumpstart-nuclear-power 10 a.m. — Chemical Weapons Convention Coalition discussion: “The Future of Syria’s Chemical Weapons Stockpile,” with Natasha Hall, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Middle East Program; and Gregory Koblentz, deputy director, George Mason University Biodefense Graduate Program https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register 11 a.m. 1700 Richmond Hwy., Arlington, Virginia — Air Force Gen. Anthony Cotton, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, delivers remarks at the Exchange Monitor 2025 Nuclear Deterrence Summit https://www.exchangemonitor.com/go/nuclear-deterrence-summit-2025/agenda 3 p.m. Arab Studies Institute and Jadaliyya Reports online discussion: “Syria in Transition: The First 45 Days," with Rabie Nasser, co-founder and the director of the Syrian Center for Policy Research and researcher at the University of Vienna; Katty Alhayek, assistant professor in the School of Professional Communication at Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada; Basileus Zeno, assistant professor in political studies at Trent University in Canada; and Bassam Haddad, founding director of George Mason University’s Middle East and Islamic Studies Program, and associate professor in GMU’s Schar School of Policy and Government https://www.youtube.com/@Jadaliyya/streams THURSDAY | JANUARY 30 9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Trump 2.0 and the Two Koreas,” with Michael Allen, managing director and partner at Beacon Global Strategies; Hans Nichols, political reporter at Axios; and Bruce Klingner, senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation https://www.csis.org/events/trump-20-and-two-koreas-capital-cable-105 9:30 a.m. — Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies virtual book discussion: Russia’s Two-Hundred-Year Quest to Dominate Ukraine, with author Eugene Finkel, professor of international affairs at Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe https://sais.jhu.edu/campus-events 10 a.m. 106 Dirksen Senate— Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence http://intelligence.senate.gov 10 a.m. — Wilson Center Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies virtual discussion: “Belarus After Its Presidential Election,” with Victoria Leukavets, post-doctoral researcher, Stockholm Center for Eastern European Studies; Alesia Rudnik, director, Center for New Ideas; and Artyom Shraibman, founder, Sense Analytics Consultancy https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/belarus-after-its-presidential-election 10 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “AFRICOM at 17: Shaping U.S.-Africa Relations,” with Army Brig. Gen. Rose Lopez Keravuori, director of intelligence, U.S. Africa Command https://www.csis.org/events/africom-17-shaping-us-africa-relations 11:15 a.m. 1777 F St. NW — Council on Foreign Relations discussion: “Securing Ukraine’s Future: What Should the United States Do?” with Karen DeYoung, Washington Post senior national security correspondent; Paul Stares, director, CFR Center for Preventive Action; Heidi Crebo-Rediker, senior fellow, CFR Center for Geoeconomic Studies; Liana Fix, CFR fellow for Europe; and Thomas Graham, CFR distinguished fellow https://www.youtube.com/watch 12 p.m. — RAND Corporation virtual discussion: “Artificial Intelligence and Homeland Security,” with Benjamin Boudreaux, professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School; and Douglas Yeung, associate director of the RAND Homeland Security Research Division’s Management, Technology, and Capabilities Program https://www.rand.org/events/2025/01/ai-and-homeland-security.html 1 p.m. — Georgetown University Center for Contemporary Arab Studies virtual discussion: “In the Aftermath of the Syrian Revolution,” with Muzna Dureid, advocacy and partnership manager at the Nobel Women’s Initiative; and former Syrian political prisoner Yassin al-Haj Saleh https://georgetown.zoom.us/webinar/register FRIDAY | JANUARY 31 10 a.m. — National Institute for Deterrence Studies virtual seminar: “The Middle East Missile Update and the Iranian Nuclear Threat,” with Shoshana Bryen, senior director, Jewish Policy Center; and Ilan Berman, senior vice president, American Foreign Policy Council https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 13 TBA Brussels, Belgium — NATO Defence Ministers meet for two days at NATO Headquarters in Brussels | | | | "DOGE and OMB also found that there was about to be $50 million taxpayer that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer money. So, that's what this pause is focused on, being good stewards of tax dollars." | | White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, making a claim Tuesday that a former Biden administration official dismissed as "outlandish." |
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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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