McConnell praises Lankford’s bipartisan deal as ‘best border security policy in 30 years
MCCONNELL: ‘NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON’
In remarks on the Senate floor that alternated between praise for the border security deal being negotiated by Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) and sharp condemnation of President Joe Biden’s ineffective enforcement policies, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) signaled support for the pending deal, which could also unlock vital aid for Ukraine.
“This week, Sen. Lankford and several colleagues will continue their work to finalize the most substantial border security policy in 30 years. This agreement would come not a moment too soon,” McConnell said in a speech that blamed Biden for promoting “open borders” at home and projecting weakness abroad.
“We’re a global superpower with global responsibilities. … That’s reality whether or not our commander in chief acknowledges it,” McConnell said. “America’s allies looked to us to lead by example, to deliver decisive capabilities to Ukraine, and to step up investments in upgrading our arsenal and expanding our capacity to stock it.”
While faulting Biden for halfhearted half-measures that have undermined American deterrence, McConnell nevertheless came around to supporting Biden’s aid package for Ukraine and the compromise border deal being drafted in the Senate.
“Will we act to secure America’s sovereign borders and help our friends fighting for theirs?” McConnell said at the conclusion of his speech. “Very soon, the responsibility to answer these questions will rest on the Senate, and we need to answer in the affirmative.”
SENATE BORDER NEGOTIATIONS ‘WRAPPING UP’ AS LEADERSHIP EYES UKRAINE VOTE
SCHUMER: ‘NOT A DONE DEAL YET’
Democrats seem willing to brush off McConnell’s tongue-lashing so long as it results in an agreement that can break the impasse that has threatened to leave Ukraine in the lurch.
“Ukraine is already running low on armaments and munitions that were in large part provided by the United States. A mere month from now, the tide of the war could turn greatly in Russia’s favor to the detriment of the West, in all probability, for many years to come,” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said, also in remarks on the Senate floor. “The future of the war in Ukraine hangs in the balance. The security of Western democracy hangs in the balance. The safety of our friends in Israel, our partners in the Indo-Pacific, and more humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Gaza all hang in the balance.”
“We remain hopeful, but it’s certainly not a done deal yet. There are a handful of issues that have not yet been agreed to,” Schumer said. “So negotiations are not done yet. Nevertheless, Democrats remain serious about finishing the job.”
BIDEN HAS TOOLS TO SECURE THE BORDER BUT ‘WON’T USE THEM’: MARCO RUBIO
A WAY AROUND JOHNSON:
The biggest roadblock remains the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is effecting under orders from former, and possibly future, President Donald Trump to reject any border deal that isn’t “perfect.”
The Senate deal would easily pass the House with Democratic votes, but Johnson can only bring it to the floor by putting his own job in peril while risking the ire of Trump and the hard-line Freedom Caucus.
One possible workaround would be to bring the national security supplemental bill, or perhaps a Ukraine funding measure, to the House floor for a vote by means of a discharge petition, which would require a simple majority vote.
“A senior House Democratic leadership source tells Fox there are likely enough votes — if and when it comes to that — for approve a discharge petition to go over the head of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and put a Ukraine-only plan on the floor,” Chad Pergram, senior congressional correspondent for Fox News, posted on X. “But it’s unclear how that would ever get 60 yeas in the Senate since GOPers are demanding linkage of the two issues.”
On Fox Business yesterday, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy blamed the Freedom Caucus for the failure of the House to pass any significant legislation, aside from temporary budget extensions that maintain government spending at current levels.
“They’re the ones who have stopped the Republicans from being able to govern. So what they are doing is they’re locking in the Democratic policies, they’re actually spending more money now than if we’d go to the debt ceiling numbers,” McCarthy said. “That would mean government would spend less, we could put Republican policies in. But they continue to stymie this majority to be able to do anything.”
HOUSE REPUBLICANS FEAR REELECTION CHANCES IN WAKE OF CHAOTIC TERM: ‘WE HAVE NOTHING’
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HAPPENING TODAY: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hosts the 18th meeting of the 50-plus nation Ukraine Defense Contact Group this morning and will deliver opening remarks at 8 a.m. from his home in Fairfax County, Virginia, where he is convalescing after prostate surgery. For the first time, Austin will have nothing new to offer Ukraine because Pentagon money has run out, and there is no telling when or if Congress will act.
“It’s not just the United States that has been critical in providing security assistance to Ukraine. Our partners, our allies continue to do that despite the fact that we do not have a supplemental that’s been passed by Congress,” Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, told reporters yesterday. “So it will be another opportunity to touch on, you know, certain milestones that need to be met but also to continue to coordinate on the fact that even though we aren’t able to provide security assistance right now, our partners are continuing to do that.”
MCCONNELL AND SCHUMER STAY UNITED ON SUPPLEMENTAL PUSH AMID BIPARTISAN DEFECTIONS
ALSO TODAY: POSSIBLE TURKEY VOTE ON SWEDEN:
Reports from various news organizations including the BBC and Reuters indicate the Turkish parliament’s general assembly is poised to approve Sweden’s membership in NATO after a long delay.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan succeeded in extracting concessions from Sweden to crack down on members of Turkish opposition groups Erdogan considers terrorists. Erdogan is also banking on getting U.S. F-16s in return for lifting his block on Sweden’s membership bid.
If Erdogan, as expected, signs the final legislation, it will leave Hungary as the last NATO nation needed to approve Sweden’s accession to the 31-nation alliance.
MORE STRIKES IN YEMEN:
Last night, the Pentagon announced the latest round of strikes aimed at degrading and deterring the Houthi militia, which controls western Yemen, from its continuing attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
“The strikes were launched from air, surface, and subsurface platforms targeting eight locations consisting of Houthi missiles, unmanned aerial systems, and weapons storage areas,” a senior military official told reporters on a Zoom call last night. “We conducted the strikes with Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, or TLAMs, and manned aircraft from the United States Navy and the U.K. Armed Forces. Precision-guided munitions were used to destroy the targets and also to minimize collateral damage.”
The strikes were conducted by U.S. and British aircraft and ships, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, and are separate from the multinational Operation Prosperity Guardian.
“Since Nov. 19, 2023, Houthi rebels have launched attacks on at least 33 commercial vessels using a range of weaponry, including anti-ship ballistic missiles, close-range ballistic missiles, land attack cruise missiles, uncrewed aerial vehicles, and unmanned surface vehicles,” a senior defense official who was also on the call told reporters.
“These strikes, while necessary, do not indicate a shift in our approach to the region,” the official said. “We stand ready to take further actions to neutralize threats or respond to attacks, ensuring the stability and security of the Red Sea region and international trade routes.”
US AND UK LAUNCH NEW ROUND OF STRIKES AGAINST HOUTHIS
MORE ATTACKS IN IRAQ, SYRIA:
The Pentagon also said yesterday that there have been 151 attacks by Iranian-back proxy groups against U.S. forces in the Middle East since Oct. 19.
While the attacks, which include the targeting of U.S. bases with ballistic missiles, have not resulted in any U.S. deaths, a number of American troops have suffered traumatic brain injuries of varying degrees.
The Pentagon is not releasing exact numbers, and yesterday Singh told reporters only two U.S. military members have received a diagnosis of TBI. “They have since returned to duty. That number, as you know, can always grow, but right now, it’s just the two.”
But Carla Babb, Pentagon correspondent for Voice of America, posted on X that a U.S. defense official told her that since mid-October, there have been at least 83 American injuries from Iranian-backed proxy attacks and that “all but two have returned to duty.”
US KEEPING ALASKA:
It appears a viral social media post claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an order declaring the 1867 sale of Alaska to the U.S. “illegitimate” was made up. Nevertheless, the State Department yesterday was asked to clear up the U.S. position on Alaska’s status as the 49th state.
“Putin apparently today signed an order declaring a 1983 sale of Alaska to the United States as ‘illegitimate,’ quote/unquote. Do you have any response to that?” spokesman Vedant Patel was asked.
Patel seemed confused. “So let me just understand that. He signed something saying that sale of Alaska is illegitimate? Well, I think I can speak for all of us in the U.S. government to say that, certainly, he is not getting it back.”
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: US and UK launch new round of strikes against Houthis
Washington Examiner: Senate border negotiations ‘wrapping up’ as leadership eyes Ukraine vote
Washington Examiner: Biden has tools to secure the border but ‘won’t use them’: Marco Rubio
Washington Examiner: Tester calls on Congress to find bipartisan solution to ‘unacceptable’ border crisis
Washington Examiner: House Republican tells Texas to ignore Supreme Court ruling, as Biden is ‘staging a civil war’
Washington Examiner: McConnell and Schumer stay united on supplemental push amid bipartisan defections
Washington Examiner: House Republicans fear reelection chances in wake of chaotic term: ‘We have nothing’
Washington Examiner: Republicans losing lead over Democrats as infighting saps majority’s momentum
Washington Examiner: California Senate hopefuls spar over Israel’s war in Gaza at first 2024 debate
Washington Examiner: Trump proposes reviving Reagan-era ‘Star Wars’ missile defense program
Washington Examiner: Navy identifies SEALs presumed dead in Houthi weapons interdiction
AP: 21 soldiers are killed in the deadliest single attack on Israeli forces since the war in Gaza began
Military.com: The Military Recruiting Outlook Is Grim Indeed. Loss of Public Confidence, Political Attacks, and the Economy Are All Taking a Toll.
Air & Space Forces Magazine: With First Flight Achieved, Northrop Grumman Gets B-21 Production Contract
Wall Street Journal: America’s Nuclear Weapons Are Dangerously Out of Date
Space News: Space Race 2024: A Critical Year Ahead for US Space Force
War on the Rocks: A Conversation with Gen. David Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Inside Defense: Initial Reports on New Integrated Air and Missile Defense for INDOPACOM Due Soon
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Two B-1 Bombers Deploy to Indo-Pacific, Train with Singapore and Japan
The War Zone: F-35 To Get Meteor, SPEAR 3 Missiles ‘By End of Decade’
Defense News: South Korean Official Touts Fledgling Drone Command as Global Model
Defense One: The Pentagon Is Already Testing Tomorrow’s AI-Powered Swarm Drones, Ships
DefenseScoop: OSD to Host Industry Confab in Search of High-Tech Solutions for ‘Unleashing Data’
Breaking Defense: NGA to Gather More Unclassified Economic, Military Intel from Commercial Sats
Forbes: Opinion: Pentagon Makes It Official: U.S. Industrial Decline Is Undermining National Defense
THE CALENDAR:
TUESDAY | JANUARY 23
8 a.m. — Virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group hosted by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin https://www.defense.gov/News/Live-Events
9 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute discussion: “A Look at Taiwan’s Election Results,” with Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program, German Marshall Fund; Ryan Hass, chairman in Taiwan studies and director of the Brookings Institution’s China Center; Russell Hsiao, executive director of the Global Taiwan Institute; and Riley Walters, senior fellow, Hudson Institute https://www.hudson.org/events/look-taiwans-election-results
9 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies its virtual U.S.-Vietnam Conference with Andreyka Natalegawa, associate fellow of the CSIS’s Southeast Asia Program; Harrison Pretat, deputy director and fellow, CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative; Murray Hiebert, nonresident senior associate, CSIS Southeast Asia Program; Gregory Poling, senior fellow and director, CSIS Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative; and Erin Murphy, senior fellow, CSIS Asia Program https://www.csis.org/events/us-vietnam-conference-2024
9:30 a.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: “How Can Central Asia Help Break China’s Rare Earth Dominance?” with Yerlan Galiyev, chairman of the board of the National Geological Survey of Kazakhstan; Wesley Hill, international manager of the International Tax and Investment Center’s Energy, Growth, and Security Program; and Wilder Alejandro Sanchez, president of Second Floor Strategies https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event
9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nominations of Melissa Dalton to be Air Force undersecretary, Douglas Schmidt to be director of operational test and evaluation at the Defense Department, and Aprille Ericsson to be assistant Defense secretary for science and technology https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings
11:30 a.m. — Washington Post Live virtual discussion: “Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Against Russia, U.S. Aid, and Her Country’s Future,” with Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live
1 p.m. 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW — Henry L. Stimson Center book discussion: China’s Use of Armed Coercion: To Win Without Fighting, with author retired Navy Adm. James Foggo, dean of the Navy League of the U.S. Center for Maritime Strategy; Ketian Zhang, assistant professor at George Mason University; and Melanie Sisson, fellow, Brookings Institution Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology https://www.stimson.org/event/chinas-use-of-armed-coercion
1 p.m. — National Defense Industrial Association virtual launch of a report: “Directed Energy Weapon Supply Chains: Securing the Path to the Future,” with Frank Peterkin, principal director for directed energy in the Office of the Defense Undersecretary for Research and Engineering. RSVP: [email protected]
3:30 p.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW — Wilson Center Kennan Institute discussion: “Ukraine’s Development and De-oligarchization Dilemma,” with Mykhailo Minakov, senior adviser and editor-in-chief of the Focus Ukraine blog; and William Pomeranz, director of the Wilson Center Kennan Institute https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/ukraines-development
4 p.m. 1957 E St. NW — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs discussion: “Why Ukraine’s Civilians are Integral to the War Effort: Understanding the Roles and Motivations of Wartime Civilian Actors,” with Emma Mateo, postdoctoral research scholar in Ukrainian studies at Columbia University https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/why_ukraines_civilians_are_integral
4 p.m. — Center for the National Interest virtual debate: “Should Washington Talk to Moscow Now?” with Anatol Lieven, director, Eurasia Program, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft; Andrew Kuchins, senior fellow, Center for the National Interest; and Jacob Heilbrunn, the editor of the National Interest https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
8 p.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: “China and the Pacific Islands,” with Denghua Zhang, research fellow, Australian National University Department of Pacific Affairs; Darshana Baruah, director, CEIP Indian Ocean Initiative; and Satyendra Prasad, nonresident senior fellow, CEIP South Asia Program https://carnegieendowment.org/2024/01/23/carnegie-global-dialogue
WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 24
9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen — Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nominations of Melissa Dalton to be Air Force undersecretary; Douglas Schmidt to be director of operational test and evaluation, Defense Department; and Aprille Ericsson to be assistant Defense secretary for science and technology. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings
10 a.m. S-116, U.S. Capitol — Senate Foreign Relations Committee markup of S.2003, to authorize the Secretary of State to provide additional assistance to Ukraine using assets confiscated from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and other sovereign assets of the Russian Federation and to vote on the nominations of Kurt Campbell to be deputy secretary of State, Cardell Richardson Sr. to be inspector general of the State Department, Nicole Shampaine for the rank of ambassador during her tenure of service as U.S. representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Sean Maloney to be representative of the U.S. to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Jeffrey Prescott to be U.S. representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, Charlie Crist to be representative of the U.S. on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Joann Lockard to be ambassador to Burkina Faso, and Robert Gioia to be a commissioner on the part of the U.S. on the International Joint Commission, U.S. and Canada http://foreign.senate.gov
11 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies Aerospace Security Project and Defense Budget Analysis in-person and virtual discussion: “Air Force Priorities in an Era of Strategic Competition,” with Kristyn Jones, performing the duties of the undersecretary of the Air Force; Lt. Gen. Richard Moore, deputy chief of staff for plans and programs; Kari Bingen, director, CSIS Aerospace Security Project; and Seamus Daniels, fellow, Defense Budget Analysis https://www.csis.org/events/air-force-priorities-era-strategic-competition
12 p.m. 208 Massachusetts Ave. NE — Heritage Foundation in-person and virtual discussion: “A Decade of Decline: The Need to Restore America’s Military Power,” with Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS); retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg; noted grand strategist Elbridge Colby, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development; and former Green Beret Joe Kent https://www.heritage.org/defense/event/decade-decline
1 p.m. — Hudson Institute virtual discussion: “Solving Operational Problems with Today’s Technology: Launching the Apex Conference Series,” with Aditi Kumar, deputy director for strategy, policy, and national security partnerships, Defense Innovation Unit; Margaret Palmieri, deputy chief digital artificial intelligence officer, Department of Defense; Shyam Sankar, chief technology officer, Palantir; Scott Forney, president, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems; Thomas Browning, assistant secretary of defense for mission capabilities; Jimmy Jones, STITCHES Warfighter Application team lead, U.S. Air Force; Sally de Swart, managing director, Clarion Defense and Security; Bryan Clark, senior fellow and director, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology; and Vago Muradian, editor, Defense and Aerospace Report https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solving-operational-problems
3 p.m. — Middle East Forum virtual discussion: “Israel Insider,” with Alex Selsky, senior adviser, MEF Israel Victory Project, and lecturer at Hadassah Academic College https://us02web.zoom.us
THURSDAY | JANUARY 25
6:30 p.m. Grand Rapids, Michigan — Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum and Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation book discussion: UFO: The Inside Story of the U.S. Government’s Search for Alien Life Here — and Out There, with author Garrett Graff https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register
FRIDAY | JANUARY 26
12:30 p.m. — Arms Control Association and Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction virtual discussion: “The Sentinel ICBM program: Risks, Costs, and Alternatives,” with Sebastien Philippe, research scholar, Princeton University Program on Science and Global Security; Sharon Weiner, associate professor, American University School of International Service; Frank von Hippel, professor emeritus, Princeton Program on Science and Global Security; and Zia Mian, physicist and co-director, Princeton University Program on Science and Global Security https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register
What is the purpose of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s markup session on the bill regarding additional assistance to Ukraine
MCCONNELL: ‘NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON’
In a recent speech on the Senate floor, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed his support for the border security deal being negotiated by Sen. James Lankford and condemned President Joe Biden’s ineffective enforcement policies. McConnell emphasized the need for a substantial border security policy, stating that it comes “not a moment too soon.” He criticized Biden for promoting open borders and projecting weakness abroad.
McConnell emphasized the global responsibilities of the United States as a global superpower. He highlighted the importance of leading by example, providing decisive capabilities to Ukraine, and investing in upgrading the military arsenal. Despite his criticism of Biden’s policies, McConnell pledged his support for the aid package for Ukraine and the compromise border deal being drafted in the Senate.
On the Democratic side, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recognized the dire situation in Ukraine and the potential ramifications for Western democracy and international security. He expressed hope for a resolution but acknowledged that the deal is not yet finalized and that there are still issues to be addressed. Nevertheless, Schumer reiterated the Democrats’ commitment to finding a solution and finishing the job.
However, the biggest obstacle to the border deal lies in the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson is under pressure from former President Donald Trump to reject any deal that isn’t deemed “perfect.” While the Senate deal could easily pass with Democratic votes, Johnson’s resistance could prevent it from reaching the House floor. A possible workaround could involve bringing a national security supplemental bill or a Ukraine funding measure to the House floor through a discharge petition.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy blamed the Freedom Caucus for hindering the passage of significant legislation in the House. He accused them of blocking Republican policies and preventing the majority from governing effectively. McCarthy voiced concerns over the Republicans’ declining lead over Democrats and the negative impact it could have on their chances of reelection.
In other news, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hosted a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, highlighting the urgent need for security assistance to Ukraine. However, due to the lack of a passed supplemental bill, the Pentagon’s ability to provide assistance is currently limited. The potential approval of Sweden’s membership in NATO by the Turkish parliament and ongoing strikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen and Iranian-backed proxy groups in Iraq and Syria were also reported.
As the situation continues to unfold, McConnell and Schumer remain united in their push for the supplemental bill, despite bipartisan defections. The articles also included discussions on various defense-related topics, including missile defense programs, military recruiting outlook, and recent developments in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to hold a markup session on a bill that would authorize additional assistance to Ukraine using assets confiscated from the Russian Federation. The committee will also vote on several nominations, including Kurt Campbell for deputy secretary of State.
Throughout these developments, the need for bipartisan cooperation and effective governance remains crucial to address the pressing issues at hand. The fate of the pending border deal, aid package for Ukraine, and other defense-related matters will be determined in the coming weeks.
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