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From the SitRoom to the E-Ring, the inside scoop on defense, national security and foreign policy. | | | | |  | | By Alexander Ward and Quint Forgey | With help from Lara Seligman and Daniel Lippman Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Alex | Email Quint
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U.S. House Armed Services Committee Chair Rep. Adam Smith looks at houses that were destroyed by Russian shelling in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, July 23, 2022. | Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo | Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY had an urgent message for the American congressional delegation : We only have only a few weeks left to take back territory Russia seized before it gets much harder to do so. Rep. ADAM SMITH (D-Wash.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, led his colleagues into Kyiv to meet with the Ukrainian leader and get an update on the war. He relayed Zelenskyy’s message and discussed other parts of his trip with NatSec Daily in a Monday afternoon interview. Ukrainian officials said they want to reach a peace agreement with the Russians, but first they must recapture lands the Russians took, particularly in the South, Smith told us in his first print interview since the trip. “Help them now as much as possible. The next three to six weeks are crucial,” he said, conveying the main message he heard from Zelenskyy and others. While it’s still summer, the winter months are fast approaching. The colder temperatures and brutal conditions will slow the fighting to a grinding war of attrition that mainly benefits Russia. More support now — before VLADIMIR PUTIN’s forces lock in their gains — is far preferable to assistance later. What to provide Ukraine remains a major point of contention. The Biden administration has already given $8.2 billion in aid since Russia launched its invasion in February, including a $270 million package announced last Friday featuring four additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, 36,000 rounds of ammunition, and 580 Phoenix Ghost tactical drones, among other capabilities. But the Biden administration doesn’t want to send long-range weapons to Ukraine — like the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) that can hit targets 190 miles away or MQ-1C Gray Grey Eagle drones — for fear of escalating the conflict. A goal for the U.S. is to “ensure we do not end up in a circumstance where we’re heading down the road towards a third World War,” national security adviser JAKE SULLIVAN said last week during the Aspen Security Forum , repeating President JOE BIDEN’s oft-stated position. Smith said “there's pressure mounting from a lot of people to try to get them to change their mind on that.” For example, the chair told us he supports “giving [Ukraine] the ATACMS and some of the longer-range missiles and the longer-range drones.” Others in the CODEL, such as Rep. MIKE WALTZ (R-Fla.), have suggested the U.S. send military advisers to Ukraine to help with planning and logistics. The administration isn’t budging, at least for now. But Smith, who speaks often with Sullivan and other top officials, hinted there are conditions that could lead to a shift. “If the Russians continue to push, to commit what amounts to genocide, forcibly removing children and killing people who don't agree to their rule, that ups the ante and creates a different situation,” he said. “The administration is not prepared to do that at this point, but there are good arguments being made. That could change at some point.”
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F-35 production supports 298,000 advanced manufacturing jobs in America and generates an economic impact of more than $65 billion annually across U.S. communities. Learn more. | | | | | | FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY –– PENTAGON BUNGLES AFGHAN ACCOUNTING: The Defense Department made more than $200 million in salary payments to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense without a clear accounting of where the money went, a U.S. government watchdog will reveal this week. The new report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) shows that from fiscal year 2019 to May 2021, $232 million was dispensed from the Pentagon’s coffers to “suspicious units and non-existent object codes” — and some of the funds “were never delivered to the bank accounts” of Afghan Defense Ministry staff. Those payments were calculated outside of the Afghan Personnel and Pay System (APPS), software developed by Kabul-based tech company Netlinks to automatically sum salaries. The accounting failure occurred “because DOD did not use APPS to manage all aspects of the MOD payroll process, did not create or enforce internal controls, and did not use all of the authorities it was granted to oversee the distribution of salary funds,” JOHN SOPKO, who leads the SIGAR office, wrote in a July 22 letter to Defense Secretary LLOYD AUSTIN and U.S. Central Command chief Gen. MICHAEL KURILLA that was contained within the report. SIGAR sent the report to U.S. government staff and embargoed its contents until Wednesday. But NatSec Daily, which wasn’t subject to any embargo on the information, obtained the document independently. A spokesperson for SIGAR declined to comment. Side note: Our own LARA SELIGMAN asked the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development how it will continue to engage with SIGAR now that America’s involvement in the war is over. A spokesperson replied that State remains “engaged in answering SIGAR's oversight questions about reconstruction-related activities in Afghanistan within its important mandate,” but the spokesperson reiterated the “position that reconstruction in Afghanistan has ended since the end of U.S. operations in the country, and that the nature of and scope of US activities in Afghanistan have dramatically changed to include humanitarian aid and targeted assistance to support basic human needs and avoid economic collapse.” TAIWAN CONDUCTS DRILLS: Ahead of House Speaker NANCY PELOSI’s potential visit to Taiwan next month, the island nation’s capital carried out air raid drills today while its military mobilized for routine defense exercises, report the Associated Press’ HUIZHONG WU and JOHNSON LAI . “In recent years, Chinese military planes have frequently harassed Taiwan, and the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out in February this year,” Taipei Mayor KO WEN-JE told reporters. “All these things make us understand the importance of being vigilant in times of peace and we need to be prepared if there is war.” Per the AP: “Air raid sirens were sounded in the capital Taipei and the military was holding its annual multi-day Han Kuang drills, including joint air and sea exercises and the mobilization of tanks and troops. In Taipei, police directed people to shelters when a siren went off shortly after lunchtime. Streets emptied and shops closed.” MILLEY DEEMS CHINA ‘MORE AGGRESSIVE’: Gen. MARK MILLEY, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, described China as increasingly dangerous during a trip to the Indo-Pacific that included a stop Sunday in Indonesia, reports the Associated Press’ LOLITA C. BALDOR . “The message is the Chinese military, in the air and at sea, have become significantly more and noticeably more aggressive in this particular region,” Milley told reporters. He said the number of intercepts by Chinese aircraft and ships in the Pacific region with U.S. and other partner forces has increased significantly over the past five years, and that the number of unsafe interactions has risen by similar proportions. Milley also expressed worry about China’s recent engagement with the Solomon Islands in the form of a security agreement, which U.S. officials fear could result in a Chinese naval base in the South Pacific. “They’re trying to expand their influence throughout the region. And that has potential consequences that are not necessarily favorable to our allies and partners in the region,” he said. RUSSIA WANTS REGIME CHANGE: Russian Foreign Minister SERGEY LAVROV is now advocating for the toppling of Zelenskyy’s government, an apparent reversal of Moscow’s wartime messaging, reports the Associated Press’ SUSIE BLANN . Speaking Sunday to envoys at an Arab League summit in Cairo, Lavrov said Russia is determined to help Ukrainians “liberate themselves from the burden of this absolutely unacceptable regime” in Kyiv. He also called government Zelenskyy’s government “absolutely anti-people and anti-historical.” Russia in recent months has refrained from calling for Zelenskyy’s ouster. According to TASS, Lavrov himself said in April that Russian officials “are not up for regime change in Ukraine, we have said it repeatedly. We want the Ukrainians themselves [to] decide how they want to live further. … We want the people to be free to decide how they want to live in Ukraine.” IT’S MONDAY: Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily. This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Aim your tips and comments at award@politico.com and qforgey@politico.com , and follow us on Twitter at @alexbward and @QuintForgey . While you’re at it, follow the rest of POLITICO’s national security team: @nahaltoosi , @woodruffbets , @politicoryan , @PhelimKine , @ChristopherJM , @BryanDBender , @laraseligman , @connorobrienNH , @paulmcleary , @leehudson , @AndrewDesiderio and @JGedeon1 — plus our summer interns, @Lawrence_Ukenye and @nicolle_liu .
| | | |   | | | | | | RUSSIAN TANK ATTACK KILLS 2 AMERICANS: Two Americans, a Canadian and a Swedish citizen were killed last week when a Russian tank opened fire on them during an hourslong battle at the frontline in the eastern Donetsk region, reports our own CHRISTOPHER MILLER . RUSLAN MIROSHNICHENKO, the foreign fighters’ commander, said the Americans killed were LUKE “SKYWALKER” LUCYSZYN and BRYAN YOUNG. He said they were killed alongside EMILE-ANTOINE ROY-SIROIS of Canada and EDVARD SELANDER PATRIGNANI of Sweden on July 18. The men were part of a special operations force within the Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Miroshnichenko said. Their unit has been based near Siversk, a town in eastern Donetsk oblast that has been the target of Russia’s invasion force. In an attempt to slow Russia’s advance, the foreign fighters were deployed to the village of Hryhorivka, two miles northeast of Siversk. MYANMAR EXECUTES FOUR MEN: Myanmar’s state-run Mirror Daily newspaper announced today that the government hanged former lawmaker PHYO ZEYA THAW, democracy activist KYAW MIN YU and two other political prisoners — HLA MYO AUNG and AUNG THURA ZAW — accused of a targeted killing after the country’s military takeover last year, reports the Associated Press’ DAVID RISING . Cambodian officials, United Nations experts and other international observers had called for the four men to be granted clemency. The newspaper reported that they were hanged “in accordance with legal procedures” for directing and organizing “violent and inhuman accomplice acts of terrorist killings.” Their executions were the first to take place in Myanmar in nearly 50 years. AUNG MYO MIN , the human rights minister for the shadow civilian administration known as the National Unity Government, rejected the allegations against the four men, arguing that “punishing them with death is a way to rule the public through fear.” The U.S. Embassy in Myanmar also decried the decision to execute them.
| | | MOSCOW’S CYBER MERCENARIES: Experts are sounding the alarm about how private military contractors affiliated with the Russian government are complicating U.S. efforts to counter Russian global cyber interference, reports our own MAGGIE MILLER in “Weekly Cybersecurity.” In a new report , experts from the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative and Digital Forensic Research Lab dive into the world of mercenary groups employed by the Russian government, warning there could be consequences in cyberspace if Moscow continues to “outsource activities” to these private paramilitary groups. “It is likely that market demands for these capabilities … will drive them to increasingly develop or procure newer surveillance and cyber capabilities as well,” the experts concluded in the report, referring to the contractors. They warned that new spyware and ransomware variants could be purchased and used by the contractors, making them an increasingly
| | | DEFENSE OFFICIALS FIGHT OVER NAVY’S FUTURE: At various points this year, the Defense Department and Navy leaders have floated five different numbers as the desired size of the Navy, the result of a high-stakes — and still raging — internal battle among top Navy, Marine Corps and Pentagon officials, report our own LARA SELIGMAN, LEE HUDSON and PAUL McLEARY . At issue is the preferred amount of amphibious warships. Deputy Defense Secretary KATHLEEN HICKS wants to cut the number of traditional, large-deck amphibs and invest in uncrewed ships and other lighter vessels. Navy Secretary CARLOS DEL TORO and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. DAVID BERGER want to keep dozens of the ships they say are a key component to moving Marines and aircraft around the Indo-Pacific. But Navy and Marine Corps officials are at odds on another issue: Berger wants to add 35 new light amphibious warships to allow Marines to move through island chains more quickly while presenting less of a target — a vision Navy leadership has never fully supported. Now, the discord is denying lawmakers a number to shoot for as they figure out how many ships to buy in the fiscal year that starts in October, and beyond. SLOVAKIA TO SEND MIGS TO UKRAINE?: Slovakia is prepared to send 11 MiG-29s to Ukraine, Slovakian Defense Minister JARO NAD said Monday. The planes will be grounded by the end of August, so they can be transferred then. Still, Nad noted that Slovakia would need to make a plan with allies to fill the capabilities gap.
| | | AIPAC MAKES ISRAEL MAJOR MIDTERM ISSUE: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the top spender in Democratic primaries this year, is showering Michigan’s 11th District with ads supporting Rep. HALEY STEVENS (D-Mich.), reports our own ELENA SCHNEIDER . AIPAC’s effort to boost Stevens is notable because — thanks to redistricting — she’s running against fellow Rep. ANDY LEVIN (D-Mich.), who authored legislation to make a two-state solution official U.S. policy and has criticized the “creeping annexation” of Palestinian territory. Levin is from one of the most prominent Jewish families in American politics, the son of former Rep. SANDER LEVIN and nephew of the late Sen. CARL LEVIN. AIPAC has long been an influential force in Washington, traditionally bundling direct donations to candidates in both parties. But its super PAC is a new innovation for the group this year, after decades of making much smaller donations to candidates in both parties. The Levin-Stevens primary is on track to become one of AIPAC’s most expensive investments of 2022 — and, by far, the most personal one. Biden traveled to Israel this month, touting America's commitment to the country as "ironclad" and the relationship between Americans and Israelis as "bone deep."
| | | TRUMP FACES FURY FROM 9/11 FAMILIES: Former President DONALD TRUMP is trying to deflect backlash ahead of the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament scheduled to take place at his Bedminster golf club next week, reports our own MERIDITH MCGRAW . BRETT EAGLESON , a founder of 9/11 Justice, said a representative for Trump called him over the weekend in response to a letter his group sent relaying its “deep pain and anger” over the decision to host two inaugural LIV golf events. 9/11 Justice will hold a press conference Friday morning down the street from Trump’s Bedminster, and more than a hundred victim families and survivors are expected to attend the protest, according to Eagleson. 9/11 Justice also has requested a meeting with Trump. Despite the outreach, the Trump aide’s call was of “little to no value,” Eagleson said, and he questioned why the former president didn’t pick up the phone himself. Eagleson added: “When I pressed on when [the tournament contract] was signed, [the aide] said she didn’t know and just continued to say that the president was flattered with the letter, which was a weird thing to say, since it was not a very flattering letter. It called him a hypocrite essentially.”
| | | — FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY: AMIT MITAL is leaving the National Security Council, where he’s served since April 2021 as special assistant to the president and senior director for cyber policy, two people familiar with the matter told DANIEL LIPPMAN and ERIC GELLER. One of the people said Mital is leaving at the end of the week. Mital, a former cybersecurity startup executive, told Eric that he’s returning to the private sector. — CAMILLE STEWART GLOSTER has been named deputy national cyber director for technology and ecosystem security in the White House’s Office of the National Cyber Director, where she’ll focus on workforce programs and supply chain security issues, reports Axios’ SAM SABIN . She most recently was the global head of product security strategy at Google and previously served as a senior policy adviser at the Department of Homeland Security in the Obama administration. — CHRIS MITCHELL has returned to the National Guard Bureau, where he’ll serve as chief of public affairs plans and policy. Mitchell most recently served as a spokesperson at the Defense Department, where he was the principal press lead for issues related to homeland defense, U.S. Northern Command and counter-WMD. DEVIN ROBINSON has replaced Mitchell and will handle his portfolio. Robinson previously served in the Air National Guard’s public affairs office and is a member of the Maine Air National Guard. — DOMINIC NG, a U.S. member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council, will serve as chair during the United States’ APEC host year in 2023. He also will serve as ABAC co-chair alongside the chair from Thailand for the remainder of Thailand’s APEC host year in 2022. He is chairman and CEO of East West Bank.
| | A message from Lockheed Martin: F-35: Strengthening our supply chain. Securing our future.
The F-35 unites allies and partners, powers small businesses, and creates high-tech jobs. With 1,650 suppliers in 48 states, the F-35 program brings together the best of the industry to drive our competitiveness and help secure our world. Learn more. | | | | | | — CARA ANNA, The Associated Press: “ ‘The Money Is Gone’: Evacuated Ukrainians Forced to Return ” — JANE ARRAF and OLEKSANDR CHUBKO, The New York Times: “ As Ukraine Signs Up Soldiers, Questions Arise About How It Chooses ” — SIOBHÁN O'GRADY and MOHAMED BLIWA, The Washington Post: “ The Law Professor Who Set out to Dismantle Tunisia’s Democracy ”
| | | — The Center for Strategic and International Studies, 9 a.m.: “ Twelfth Annual South China Sea Conference — with NGUYEN THI LAN ANH, SHUXIAN LUO, JUNG PAK, YOHANES SULAIMAN and ROB WITTMAN” — The Defense Department, 9 a.m.: “ RDER Industry Engagement Day ” — Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 10 a.m.: “ Full Committee Hearing: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in U.S. Diplomacy and Development — with GINA K. ABERCROMBIE-WINSTANLEY and NENEH DIALLO” — The Business Council for International Understanding, 10:30 a.m.: “ Roundtable Discussion with MICHAEL LAYCHAK, Director, Defense Technology Security Administration ” — The American Security Project, 12 p.m.: “ NATO’s Next Act: A Conversation with Ambassador DOUG LUTE ” — The Atlantic Council, 12 p.m.: “ A Conversation About Taiwan with the 27th U.S. Secretary of Defense MARK ESPER — with FREDERICK KEMPE, BARRY PAVEL and LINGLING WEI” — The Atlantic Council, 12:30 p.m.: “ Cybersecure the Future: Ransomware — with DAVID BRAY, JOHN SAKELLARIADIS, MICHAEL STAWASZ and TRENT TEYEMA” — The Business Council for International Understanding, 1 p.m.: “ Private Consultations with DAWN BRUNO, Foreign Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy Athens ” — Carahsoft, 1 p.m.: “ Prioritizing Funding: New Efforts to Keeping Cybersecurity Strong — with MIKE LAUER, FERNANDO MAYMÍ and ALEX WHITAKER” — The Heritage Foundation, 2 p.m.: “ What’s Next in Syria: Captagon and Assad’s Booming Drug Empire — with MUHAMMAD BAKR GHBEIS, FRENCH HILL, NICOLE ROBINSON and CAROLINE ROSE” — Senate Intelligence Committee, 2:30 p.m.: “ Full Committee Briefing: Intelligence Matters ” — Washington Post Live, 4:10 p.m.: “ Two Key Senators on Their Legislation to Help the U.S. Semiconductor Sector — with LEIGH ANN CALDWELL, KYRSTEN SINEMA and TODD YOUNG” Have a natsec-centric event coming up? Transitioning to a new defense-adjacent or foreign policy-focused gig? Shoot us an email at award@politico.com or qforgey@politico.com to be featured in the next edition of the newsletter. And thanks to our editor, Dave Brown, who — unlike the Pentagon — never loses track of our salary payments. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |  |
