Happy Thursday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Ellen Mitchell, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.
THE MAIN LINE: The expansion of NATO troops in Iraq
NATO will expand its security training mission in Iraq by thousands of troops following a deadly rocket attack on a military air base earlier this week.
The 30-member alliance will increase its staff in Iraq from 500 to about 4,000, a move to prevent the war-torn country from becoming a breeding ground for terrorists, the secretary-general announced on Thursday. NATO, Jens Stoltenberg.
“ISIS is still operating in Iraq and we need to make sure they can’t come back,” Stoltenberg told reporters at the end of a two-day virtual meeting of NATO defense ministers.
What does the increase mean: He said NATO’s efforts will now include more Iraqi security institutions and areas beyond Baghdad, although its presence “is based on conditions and the increase in the number of troops will be incremental.”
He added that the Iraqi government had made a request to expand the mission, which will begin in the coming months.
The forces that are already there: NATO has been in Iraq since 2004 to train Iraqi security forces. Its current training mission, which began in 2018, is aimed at helping Iraqi forces prevent ISIS from reappearing.
The increase in NATO troops could ease the pressure on U.S. forces in Iraq, where there are about 2,500 troops for an alliance-independent mission.
Will the United States also increase ?: A senior defense official told reporters earlier this week that the Pentagon “welcomes the increase in NATO’s focus on Iraq,” but would not say whether the U.S. would add more troops to the mission. ‘training.
Response to attack: Plans for an expanded NATO footprint following Monday’s rocket attack on Erbil International Airport, a military air base in northern Iraq, that killed a civilian contractor and injured nine people , including a member of the American service.
Shiite militant group Saraya Awliya al-Dam claimed credit for the attack, although the Biden administration has not publicly confirmed who is responsible for the strike.
The State Department on Wednesday promised “consequences for any group responsible for this attack.”
The suspended head of Army War College faces an investigation into sexual misconduct
The suspended head of the Army of War is investigated for allegations of sexual misconduct, numerous outlets reported on Thursday.
Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith “was suspended from office due to a complaint of inappropriate contacts unrelated to her current position.” he told Military.com in a statement.
Special agents from the Army Criminal Investigation Command are investigating the allegation, Smith added.
More details: Informed task and purpose that Maranian is being investigated for alleged abusive sexual contact with an army civilian and that a military protection order was issued against him on February 9, the day he was suspended.
“No further information will be released at this time to protect the integrity of the investigation process,” Smith said. “These are allegations at the moment and MG Maranian is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.”
A long-term problem: For years, the military has struggled to reduce sexual harassment and assault within ranks, an effort that was expanded after an independent review at Fort Hood in Texas who found leadership failures allowed for uncontrolled and widespread sexual assaults and violence.
New promises: Army Secretary John Whitley, the service’s top civilian leader, last week called on the force to combat “corrosive behavior”, including discrimination, extremist views and sexual harassment.
And Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
Lloyd Austin Night Defense: One-third of service members decline coronavirus vaccine | Biden to take executive action in response to Wind Winds hack US and Japan reach cost-sharing deal Biden talks to Netanyahu for first time since taking office Promotions of female generals curbed fears of response of Trump: Report MORE during his nomination hearing he pledged to “fight hard to end sexual assault.”
Biden shifts to Saudi leaders
President Biden
Joe BidenFeds investigates Cuomo’s handling of nursing home outbreaks Night Defense: One-third of service members decline coronavirus vaccine | Biden to take executive action in response to Wind Winds hack The United States and Japan reach a cost-sharing agreement On The Money: Biden faces left-wing backlash on student loans Where things stand to measure relief of COVID-19 | Retail sales bounce MORE is shifting the U.S. focus toward Saudi Arabia by moving away from the priority diplomatic access granted to certain Saudi officials during the Trump administration, which gave the kingdom a prominent role in US Middle East policy.
Biden is expected to speak at some point with King Salman of Saudi Arabia, noting a decline in relations with the kingdom’s day-to-day ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a large figure on the scene. world.
“Recalibrate” relationship: The emphasis Biden will communicate with the Saudi king, an action described by the White House press secretary Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiOn The Money: Biden faces left-wing backlash over student loans Where are things to the extent of COVID-19 relief | Retail Sales Bounce Overnight Health Care: Biden Officials Announce Funding to Track Virus Variants | Senate Dems presents a public option proposal | White House: No need for vaccines for teachers for schools to reopen Harris, says teachers should be given priority for COVID-19 vaccine MORE as an effort to “recalibrate” the relationship between Washington and Riyadh, it indicates that the president is taking steps toward his commitment to confront Riyadh more strongly for his human rights abuses while working together on shared goals.
How Trump handled it: The Crown Prince played a prominent role in bringing the Trump administration closer to the Middle East, reportedly exchanging WhatsApp messages with former White House senior adviser and son-in-law of Trump Jared Kushner
Jared Corey Kushner LIVE COVERAGE: Democrats focus on Trump’s statements before the attack on the Kushner Capitol, Ivanka Trump reported up to 0 million in foreign revenue during the White House years Can Palestine matter again? MONTH, helping to pave the way for Abraham’s agreements, opening up relations between Israel and the Gulf and African nations.
But the Crown Prince also alienated Washington for his alleged role in ordering the assassination and dismemberment of the U.S.-based Saudi journalist. Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey in October 2018.
Trump remarkably downplayed the role of the Crown Prince in Khashoggi’s assassination in an effort to maintain strong bilateral ties, and wrote in an extraordinary statement that “maybe yes and maybe no” he was aware of the plot against the journalist he wrote for the Washington Post.
Backtrack: Director of National Intelligence at Biden, April Haines
April Haines: Biden Wexton and Speier Cabinet Opportunity Call for Renewal of Approval Process to Examine Extremist Views Hillicon Valley: Senators Express Concern over Response to Russian Pirate | Huawei makes a legal move Twitter sees increased user growth MORE, pledged to declassify the U.S. intelligence report on Khashoggi’s death, which apparently concluded that Crown Prince Muhammad personally ordered the assassination.
Biden administration officials have welcomed the Trump-era Abraham Accords as a positive development, but have already taken steps to back U.S. support for Saudi actions seen as contributions to the atrocities of the United States. human rights.
Read the rest here.
A TAP FOR TOMORROW
The House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security will hold a hearing on “A Path to Peace in Afghanistan: Examining the Findings and Recommendations of the Afghanistan Study Group,” with the former senator. Kelly Ayotte
Kelly Ann Ayotte Night Defense: New START Extended for Five Years | Austin orders “stop” to fight extremism | Group recommends Biden delay withdrawal from Afghanistan Study group recommends Biden delay withdrawal from Afghanistan Defense overnight: Pentagon chief expels hundreds from advisory panels | The defense selection discusses the obstacles to Trump ‘s transition Aircraft carrier returning home after 10 months of deployment MORE (RN.H.), and former Joint Chairman General of Generals Dun Dun, at 10:30 p.m.
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron
Emmanuel Jean-Michel MacronZaid Jilani responds to NYT report on left-wing ideas creating turmoil in France Getting European help on Macron’s “strategic autonomy” won’t happen any longer MORE will take part in a virtual event of the Munich Security Conference on “A new transatlantic agenda” at 11:15 am
The Hudson Institute will hold a virtual debate on “The Future of U.S. Seapower: A Vision from Congress,” with the reception. Joe Courtney
Joseph (Joe) D. Courtney: The South Carolina Republican tested positive for coronavirus hours after speaking in the House. Rep. Rick Allen tested positive for COVID-19 in Connecticut Democrat with diagnosis of COVID-19 MORE (D-Conn.), Chairman of the Marine Power and Projection Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee; and Representative Robert Wittman (R-Va.), a member of the sub-panel ranking, at 12 p.m.
ICYMI
– The hill: Department of Justice charges Navy contractor employees with allegedly dumping contaminated water in Japan
– The Hill: USA, allies warns Iran against blockade nuclear inspections
– The hill: Capitol police we recommend the fence around the Capitol until September: report
– The Hill: American journalist arrested in Syria published by an al-Qaeda-linked group: reports
– The Hill: Senate intelligence panel to be held hearing on SolarWinds non-compliance next week
– The Hill: Traveler Reviews: Biden’s six-step strategy to rejoin Iran’s nuclear deal
– The Hill: Opinion: Defeating Domestic Terror it requires confronting white supremacy all over the world
– The Hill: Traveler Reviews: A worried world wonders if the days of the United States are over
– The Washington Post: The Pentagon awarded a massive contract to Virginia an American senator called “fraudulent”
– Military times: Concern about COVID-19 vaccines reaching the deployed troops