Overnight Defense: Trump tapping Raytheon exec for Army secretary | GOP strips repeal of war authorization from spending bill | Senators get ISIS fight update

THE TOPLINE: The Trump administration is hoping the third time’s the charm as word of the president’s latest choice for Army secretary came out Wednesday.

President Trump will nominate Raytheon lobbyist Mark Esper as the top civilian leader of the Army.

The Washington Examiner first reported the impending nomination.

Esper has served as Raytheon’s vice president of governmental affairs since 2010. Prior to that, he held a number of positions at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

He also brings a wealth of experience in the Army, at the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill.

Read more about Esper here, including how being a Raytheon executive might complicate his confirmation.

 

AUMF REPEAL NO MORE: The House Rules Committee on Wednesday released the so-called “security-bus” that folds in defense appropriations, and one thing was missing — the repeal of the 2001 war authorization that was approved by the House Appropriations Committee.

In its place was language offered by Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) requiring the administration to submit a report to Congress that includes an assessment of the adequacy of the 2001 authorization for the use of military force (AUMF).

{mosads}

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who sponsored the original amendment that surprisingly passed on a bipartisan voice vote, was furious.

“Over the years, I’ve seen Republican leadership deploy every manner of undemocratic, underhanded tactics in Congress,” she said in a statement. “But stripping my bipartisan amendment to repeal the 2001 AUMF – in the dead of night, without a vote – may be a new low from Speaker [Paul] Ryan.”

Read more here.

 

SENATORS GET ISIS UPDATE: The Trump administration on Wednesday gave the full Senate an update of its efforts against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), but lawmakers had a mixed opinion as to whether anything new was said.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford gave a classified briefing to senators for more than an hour at the Capitol.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who left the briefing before it ended, described the presentation as a “very thorough” general layout of the administration’s efforts against ISIS.

“I thought it was very professionally done,” Corker told reporters. “It’s sort of a whole different kind of effort that’s underway and I think people will leave there pretty educated about what’s happening.”

Read the rest here.

 

TURKEY REVEALS SECRET US MILITARY LOCATIONS: Turkey’s state-run news agency on Wednesday leaked the positions of 10 U.S. military posts in northern Syria, drawing swift criticism from the Pentagon.

Anadolu Agency published a map of 10 locations it said were U.S. military posts. The agency said the points are “usually hidden for security reasons,” but then listed the bases, including two airfields and eight military outposts.

The report also lists the specific districts where the U.S. military is stationed. In one case, Anadolu revealed the number of U.S. soldiers and French special forces stationed at a post in Ayn Issah.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Adrian Rankine-Galloway told The Hill that the Defense Department doesn’t disclose the locations where U.S.-led coalition forces are in Syria are “for operational security reasons.”

Read more here.

 

LGBT GROUPS DEFEND GENERAL: A leading LGBT military group is coming to the defense of the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after he made controversial comments about transgender troops.

“Gen. [Paul] Selva has been one of the most pragmatic members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on issues related to the LGBT community in the military and on policies related to accessions of transgender service members,” OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Matt Thorn said in a statement on Wednesday. “Discussing the issue of transgender service can be complex for even the most dedicated advocates and allies. We do not consider anything in Gen. Selva’s commentary to be disqualifying.”

SPARTA, another LGBT military group, likewise said it supports Selva, issuing a similar statement to Thorn’s later Wednesday.

At issue are comments Selva made Tuesday during his confirmation hearing to be reappointed Joint Chiefs vice chairman for another two-year term.

Selva said the policy allowing transgender recruits to enlist was delayed largely due to a “disagreement on the science” of treating transgender people.

Read more here.

 

ON TAP FOR TOMORROW:

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for several ambassadorships, including ambassador to NATO, at 9:30 a.m. at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, room 419. http://bit.ly/2tgCEtr

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee will vote on several nominations, including deputy VA secretary, off the Senate floor during votes, currently scheduled for 12:15 p.m.

 

ICYMI:

— The Hill: Space Corps proponents: ‘Time for study is over’

— The Hill: Dems urge ‘transparent and inclusive’ nuke policy review

— The Hill: Trump shuts down CIA program to arm Syrian rebels: report

— The Hill: US intel shows North Korea prepping for another missile test: report

— Bloomberg: Moon seeks 2020 deal for peace with nuclear-free North Korea

— Associated Press: Iraqi officer seeks vengeance in Mosul, where killings mount

— Washington Post: The Pentagon has tried to get Silicon Valley on its side for years. Now it’s part of the air war against ISIS.

 

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