Tag: Defense
Stevenson’s army, December 19
– The new NDAA forbids dishonorable discharges for military personnel who refuse to get vaccinations.
– 3 retired general warn of insurrection in 2024.
-Some Israeli officials doubt ability to strike Iran.
– Major NYT review of airstrike investigations finds undercounts of civilian casualties and reluctance to blame US.
– WaPo says US greatly expanded air attacks in Afghanistan in mid-2021.
From the entrepreneurial NatSecDaily:
FIRST IN NATSEC DAILY — AMERICANS WARY OF GOING TO WAR OVER UKRAINE: A new YouGov poll commissioned by the pro-restraint Charles Koch Institute found that there are more Americans skeptical of going to war with Russia than those who are gung-ho.
In response to the question “If Ukraine is invaded again by Russia, do you favor or oppose the US going to war with Russia to protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity?” 28 percent of respondents said they “strongly oppose” the idea while another 20 percent said they “somewhat oppose” it. By contrast, only 9 percent said they “strongly favor” going to war with Russia and 18 percent said they “somewhat favor” the notion. Meanwhile, 24 percent of the 1,000 internet-using Americans surveyed said they “don’t know.”
That’s not an outright repudiation of the idea of going to war to defend Ukraine from Moscow’s forces, but this one poll indicates a majority of people are at least skeptical.
Importantly, Biden to date has ruled out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine to fight the Russians, were they to invade.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
Stevenson’s army, December 17
– AIPAC will launch its first campaign donation arm.-
– Remember, NDAA doesn’t provide money. Appropriations needed.
-David Ignatius urges use of IAEA to pressure Iran.
– Revolutionary Guard budget to more than double.
– Russia has a negotiation package.
Good reads: Reimagining Arms Control. Prof Brands says US is preparing for wrong war with China.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
Stevenson’s army, December 16
–Congress passed an NDAA for the 61st year in a row, despite never letting it be debated and amended in the Senate. SASC summary is here. Bill text is here. [2,120 pages!]The 670 page statement of managers [explaining provisions and why changed or dropped] is here.
– WSJ has interesting piece on how President Xi micromanages.
–China pressures and punishes Lithuania.
– Karzai says he invited Taliban into Kabul.
-Menendez added State Authorization bill as part of NDAA.
– Congress revised Pacific Deterrence Initiative in NDAA.
-Aussie analyst changes mind on AUKUS.
Worth considering: Space Force needs different personnel system.WOTR author notes good and bad ways for military to dissent. More from Tom Edsall on threats to democracy.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
Stevenson’s army, December 15
Today is Bill of Rights Day: celebrate!
-NDAA should be passed today. No wonder.
– UAE unhappy with US arms sale because of China restrictions.
– Deal in works to end holds on ambassadors.
– Democratic analyst has gloomy political survey.
– 2022 Hill calendar has Senate and House with many different recess days.
-CSIS has new analysis of defense budget.
– Dan Drezner says Iran sanctions have failed. Conservative Max Boot says we should learn to live with a nuclear Iran.
– Mike Mazarr of Rand says US should stop trying to change regimes.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
Stevenson’s army, December 14
– NYT says Israel wants earlier delivery of refueling planes that could be used to attack Iran.
– WaPo says Israel attacked suspected chemical weapons sites in Syria.
– SecState Blinken announced an Indo_Pac strategy. Here’s the text.
– Insider reports on potential conflicts of interest — in this case defense lawmakers. And staff.
Good reads: ISW analysis of Russia’s Ukraine options. WOTR piece questioning “gifts” of weapons to allies.
Politico sums up the plan on debt and defense: DEBT AND DEFENSE, TOGETHER AGAIN — No, they aren’t on the same bill, but the Senate is taking action on both the debt limit and the compromise defense bill today. The chamber will vote this morning on a motion to proceed on the joint resolution to raise the debt ceiling and final passage is expected later in Tuesday’s session. After getting tangled in amendment drama, the National Defense Authorization Act will finally be on the move in the Senate with a cloture vote Tuesday and final passage on track for this week.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
Stevenson’s army, December 9
Charlie, preoccupied with orals the last few days, sent this “catchup” last night:
I’ve been busy with orals the past 3 days. Here’s what I think is happening.
– The armed services committee leaders agreed on a compromise NDAA without ever giving the Senate a chance to vote on amendments or the bill. The House substittuted the NDAA package on a bill originally intended to approve a memorial for a Florida terrorist attack. The important statement of managers is here. A summary here. BTW, included in the NDAA package is the first State Dept authorization bill in 20 years. Fred Kaplan wonders if members even looked at the bill.
This morning he added:
– US will send small arms and ammo to Ukraine.
– WSJ says US will tighten sanctions on Iran.
– Harvard report says China will soon lead US in tech.
– NYT reports problems boosting US R&D.
– Big national and defense strategy documents coming early next year.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).