Tag: Defense
Stevenson’s army, April 3
I’m sure Jared Kushner means well. He wants to be the fixer, end-running a clunky bureaucracy to good things for his father-in-law and the country. But NYT reports this is how he does his self-assigned job.Because of his unique status, he has made himself the point of contact for many agency officials who know that he can force action and issue decisions without going to the president. But while Mr. Kushner and his allies say that he has brought more order to the process, the government’s response remains fragmented and behind the curve.Some officials said Mr. Kushner had mainly added another layer of confusion to that response, while taking credit for changes already in progress and failing to deliver on promised improvements. He promoted a nationwide screening website and a widespread network of drive-through testing sites. Neither materialized.In recent days, administration officials said, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which traditionally coordinates the government’s responses to disasters, has received surprise directives from the White House — including to dispatch deliveries of medical equipment to states that had not even submitted formal requests based on which governor got Mr. Trump on the telephone.Mr. Kushner has embedded dozens of political appointees and recruits from the private sector in critical spots like FEMA. His “impact team,” as he calls it, has been nicknamed the Slim Suit Crowd for its sartorial preferences by khaki-wearing FEMA veterans.
In other news, the Navy has relieved of command the captain of the Theodore Roosevelt.
NYT confirms Bloomberg story about CIA report saying China underreported virus info.
WSJ has more on lobbying for pieces of the CARES act.
LA Times says administration cut pandemic alert program just before it was needed.
NSC staff is wearing masks and distancing.
Politico says Congress is struggling to be tech savvy
Prof Gavin says pandemic exposes weaknesses in national security education.
Last year, Congress asked for a report on what was needed to offset China. IndoPaCom’s report is now in.
Outgoing HASC leader Thornberry has ideas for defense reform.
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).
Share this, I'll really appreciate it:
Stevenson’s army, April 2
– WSJ says US intelligence is warning of a serious attack on US forces in Iraq by Iranian-linked forces.
– Bloomberg says US intelligence says China has been underreporting coronovirus data.
-FP warns the pandemic could topple many governments.
– FWIW Reuters says US has doubled military assets near Venezuela.
– A possible SecDef, Michele Flournoy tells how DOD could build trust with Congress
-Politico has an interesting new source on Covid-19 info,
– Rest easy: Politico says Jared Kushner is running another coronavirus task force including FEMA.
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).
Share this, I'll really appreciate it:
Stevenson’s army, April 1
-Josh Rogin reports that NSC staff had numerous meetings on the coronavirus in Jan & Feb and recommended quick action, but met higher level resistance.
-NYT says WH economists warned of economic consequences of a pandemic in 2019, also ignored.
– Some British scientists also downplayed the problem.
-Despite Trump’s reluctance to invoke Defense Production Act as “nationalization,” Trump administration has already invoked it hundreds of thousands of times, both in defense contracts and FEMA.
– WaPo has graphic of president’s changing tune on the pandemic.
-US proposes power sharing plan in Venezuela.
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).
Share this, I'll really appreciate it:
Stevenson’s army, March 25
Not much besides coronavirus news. Stimulus bill details agreed, more info and votes later today.
Schumer brags about one provision:“Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has secured a provision in the
agreement that will prohibit businesses controlled by the President,
Vice President, Members of Congress, and heads of Executive Departments
from receiving loans or investments from Treasury programs. The
children, spouses and in-laws of the aforementioned principals are also
included in this prohibition.” Schumer’s Dear Colleague letter
Steve Walt says crisis exposes America’s diminished competence.
DHS halted pandemic modeling in 2017, doubting its value.
Commission on public service recommends registering women for the draft. Report due out later later.
House Rules Committee opposes remote voting.
Defense News questions two carriers in Arabian Sea.
NYT has more on problems in Afghanistan.
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).
Share this, I'll really appreciate it:
Stevenson’s army, March 24
While nothing’s final until the last vote is cast, it looks like a big bipartisan stimulus/recovery bill is mostly agreed to and ready for unveiling this morning. The Hill had its article on lobbying for inclusion.
As for what the Fed is doing and what it means, NYT has two good explainers, from Neil Irwin and Ben Casselman.
A Cornell prof says to be skeptical about Chinese health data.
SecState Pompeo had a failed mission to Kabul and now wants to cut Afghan aid.
And just in time for next week’s budget topic,WOTR has good piece on understanding the defense budget.
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).
Share this, I'll really appreciate it:
Stevenson’s army, March 9
– DOD has 60 vacancies, about 1/3 of Senate-confirmed positions, and time is running short for filling them. And Politico says WH is resisting Esper nominees.
– Details of the Afghan deal are also missing — and the president even suggests Taliban may take over.
-Lawfare has a legal analysis of the deal.
– Numerous stories tell of the administration’s missed opportunities to deal with the coronavirus. Consider Dan Drezner and Peter Baker of NYT.
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. If you want to get it directly, 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).
RSS - Posts
