PANETTA TO SAUDI ARABIA – The defense secretary departed last night for Saudi Arabia, where he is leading a presidential delegation to offer condolences for the death of Crown Prince Nayif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who was next in line for the Saudi throne.
“We will convey our condolences to King Abdullah, the royal family, and the people of Saudi Arabia,” Panetta said in a statement. “During his nearly four decades as Minister of Interior, Crown Prince Nayif worked tirelessly for the protection of the Kingdom and the Saudi people. His visionary leadership and courage were instrumental to the gains we have made together against terrorism and extremism.”
Members of the delegation include John Brennan, Robert Mueller, George Tenet and Frances Townsend.
THE HILL TODAY –
– HASC meets at 10 a.m. in 2118 Rayburn to discuss military options in Iran. Witnesses include former Sen. Chuck Robb, who’s now with the Bipartisan Policy Center, and David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security.
– The House Homeland Security Committee is holding its fifth hearing on Muslim radicalization, at 10:15 a.m. in 311 Cannon. This time, the committee is directing its attention inward. The purpose is to examine the effects prior hearings have had on the Muslim community.
– HASC’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee meets at 2 p.m. in 2212 Rayburn to discuss the Afghan National Security Forces. The Pentagon is sending two witnesses: David Sedney, DASD for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia, and Maj. Gen. Stephen Townsend, director of the Pakistan/Afghanistan Coordination Cell.
– SASC’s Personnel Subcommittee meets at 2:30 p.m. in 216 Hart to discuss TRICARE and other programs that support military families with special needs.
FLAMEOUT – “U.S., Israel developed Flame computer virus to slow Iranian nuclear efforts, officials say,” by WaPo’s Ellen Nakashima, Greg Miller and Julie Tate: “The United States and Israel jointly developed a sophisticated computer virus nicknamed Flame that collected intelligence in preparation for cyber-sabotage aimed at slowing Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon, according to Western officials with knowledge of the effort. The massive piece of malware secretly mapped and monitored Iran’s computer networks, sending back a steady stream of intelligence to prepare for a cyberwarfare campaign.” http://wapo.st/Nhg2ji
LEAK WATCH — Cited in WaPo’s story:
– “Western officials with knowledge of the effort”
– “A former high-ranking U.S. intelligence official”
– “Several U.S. and Western officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity”
What’s more interesting, the article itself or the fact that it represents yet another national-security leak? You tell us at awright@politico.com. And welcome to Morning Defense, where we’re always on the lookout for tips, pitches and feedback. Follow us on Twitter @morningdefense and @abwrig
TRIVIA TIME — On this day in 1963, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to establish a Moscow-Washington communications system, called the “hot line.” The system would come to be a well-known symbol in pop culture, represented by what object? For the answer, read on.
YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA ANSWER — The feared Confederate ship was the CSS Alabama. Congrats to the first five readers to send us the correct answer (in order): Michael Clauser, Michael Kans, Shelley Stewart, Peter Lejeune and Joe Whited. Questions about the Civil War always prove extremely popular among readers of Morning D, and we received more responses yesterday than we could count. Thanks to all who participated!
U.S., NEW ZEALAND SIGN DEFENSE COOPERATION AGREEMENT – From a Pentagon news release: “The partnership will include security cooperation in areas such as maritime security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and peacekeeping support operations.” http://1.usa.gov/KjIWun
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVES FISA – The committee backed legislation yesterday that would reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which sets rules for the surveillance of foreign terror suspects. Committee chairman Lamar Smith released a statement praising the measure. “This bipartisan bill ensures that our country will be able to monitor threats to our safety and way of life, without sacrificing the civil liberties of American citizens,” he said.
‘LOCKHEED NEEDS U.S. PRESSURE TO HOLD DOWN F-35 COSTS, LEVIN SAYS,’ by Bloomberg’s Tony Capaccio: “The Pentagon and Congress should press Lockheed Martin Corp. to reduce soaring costs of its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said. ‘We have to keep the pressure on,’ Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, said in an interview. ‘We’ve got to have contracts which are fixed-priced. We have to make reductions.’” More here: http://buswk.co/KjO8yr
DESCRIBING THE OUTCOME OF THE IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS — LA Times: “yield no breakthrough.” Wall Street Journal: “Talks fail.” WaPo: “fall short.” CNN: “little headway.” Reuters: “deadlocked.” Guardian: “downgraded.” BBC: “travelling circus of talks.”
What’s next? Technical experts from Iran and the six world powers will meet in Istanbul on July 3.
15,000 — That’s the approximate number of U.S. troops in Kuwait, according to a new Senate report. Reporters yesterday pressed Pentagon Capt. John Kirby on why the number had never been previously released. “Sometimes there are sensitivities that we share with the host nations themselves about how much we’re going to release about what the presence is there,” Kirby said. “It’s about knowing where the limits are and the comfort level of the host nation that’s permitting our presence.”
WHAT IN THE WORLD, PART II — Morning D reached out to Lockheed Martin regarding a satellite image (http://bit.ly/MJSEqn) that went viral yesterday. The image shows a mystery aircraft that’s shaped like Lockheed’s RQ-170 Sentinel, except bigger. Here’s how the company responded, via spokeswoman Melissa Dalton: “Lockheed Martin Skunk Works often experiments with different shapes and materials for both manned and unmanned vehicles. What you see in the satellite image is one of those projects.”
NOT IN (THE SKIES OVER) MY BACKYARD — “UAVs at home raise fear of surveillance society,” by AP’s Joan Lowy: “Thousands of drones patrolling U.S. skies? Predictions that multitudes of unmanned aircraft could be flying here within a decade are raising the specter of a ‘surveillance society’ in which no home or backyard would be off limits to prying eyes overhead. Law enforcement, oil companies, farmers, real estate agents and many others have seen the technology that was pioneered on battlefields, and they are eager to put it to use. It’s not just talk: The government is in the early stages of devising rules for the unmanned aircraft.” More here: http://bit.ly/L3msxz
JULIAN ASSANGE SEEKS ASYLUM — POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein reports: “WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who was facing imminent deportation from England to Sweden, has taken refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London and is seeking political asylum, according to wire reports and the WikiLeaks Twitter feed. British courts have rejected a series of appeals from Assange, who is wanted on sex-related charges in Sweden.” http://politi.co/LemoS3
Salon’s Glenn Greenwald: “Assange’s resolve to avoid extradition to Sweden has nothing to do with a reluctance to face possible sex assault charges there. His concern all along has been that once he’s in Swedish custody, he will far more easily be extradited to the U.S.” http://bit.ly/M5LeCM
‘7 TROOPS MAY FACE DISCIPLINE IN KORAN BURNING,’ by AP’s Lolita C. Baldor: “A U.S. military investigation is recommending that as many as seven U.S. troops face administrative punishments, but not criminal charges, in the burning of Korans at a U.S. base in Afghanistan in February.” More here: http://bit.ly/MfkPBI
WHO’S WHERE WHEN –
8 a.m.: Under Secretary of the Army Joseph Westphal speaks at the 16th Annual Wharton Leadership Conference, in Philadelphia.
10:30 a.m.: Brig. Gen. Richard Cripwell, director of the ISAF Strategic Transition Group, briefs the press via live feed from Kabul.
11 a.m.: Zachary Lemnios, ASD for research and engineering, keynotes the Innovation Summit at the Newseum.
12 p.m.: Odierno speaks at the Center for Foreign Relations, in Washington.
3:50 p.m.: Shinseki speaks at the DOD/VA Suicide Prevention Conference, at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington.
TOP TAKES –
“Obama security record gives GOP few openings,” by AP’s Donna Cassata: “President Obama’s not-so-secret counterterrorism fight against al-Qaida in Yemen and Somalia, the killing of Osama bin Laden and strong hints of a cyber war against Iran give Republicans few openings to challenge the commander in chief. This aggressive national security policy has undercut the derisive label Republicans have successfully attached to Democrats in the past: the soft-on-defense Mommy Party.” http://bit.ly/NQaRJH
– “Egypt’s military takeover,” by the LA Times editorial board: “From the moment it was announced that Egypt’s authoritarian president, Hosni Mubarak, was stepping down, experts in that country and abroad warned that the Egyptian military wouldn’t be content with a limited and transitional role. That prophecy has come to pass, posing a challenge not only for democrats in Egypt and for its newly elected president but for its ally and benefactor, the United States. The Obama administration, which earlier this year waived congressional restrictions in order to keep sending military aid to Egypt, should reconsider that decision if the armed forces continue to thwart democracy.” http://lat.ms/L3xHWJ
TOP TWEET(S) – National Journal’s Kevin Baron: Btw, dr says I have ?#bronchitis and pink eye. So, sorry about that, everyone within a 50 ft radius of me at @LockheedMartin.”
@LockheedMartin: “Oh dear. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.”
TRIVIA ANSWER – The “hot line” communication system between the Soviet Union and the United States would become a well-known symbol in pop culture, represented by a red telephone.
In 2010, President Obama cracked a joke about the “hot line.” Appearing at a joint press conference with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Obama noted that the Russian leader had set up a Twitter account. “I have one also,” Obama said. “So we may be able to throw away those red phones that have been sitting around for so long.” CNN has the story: http://bit.ly/LCRduA
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Article source: http://www.politico.com/morningdefense/0612/morningdefense521.html
