Top commander says Afghanistan withdrawal plan does not rely on trusting the Taliban – Washington Examiner

WE DONT NEED TO LIKE THEM: Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of the U.S. Central Command told Congress yesterday that hell be carefully tracking the actions of the Taliban as the United States withdraws roughly 3,400 troops from Afghanistan in the coming months and will recommend ending the drawdown if he doesnt like what he sees.

We're going to go to 8,600 by the summer. Conditions on the ground will dictate if we go below that, McKenzie testified before the House Armed Services Committee. If conditions on the ground are not permissive, my advice would be not to continue that reduction.

That would not be my decision, that would be my advice, he stressed. That will be based on the performance of the Afghan military, their ability to incorporate the Taliban if the Taliban is going to be incorporated at all.

We dont need to trust them. We dont need to like them. We dont need to believe anything they say. We need to observe what they do, and we have the capability to do that, he said.

IT WAS THE PLAN ALL ALONG: At the hearing, Kathryn Wheelbarger, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, confirmed that the Pentagon decided months ago that it had several thousand more troops than needed in Afghanistan, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper was ready to order a drawdown, peace deal or no peace deal.

It was in October that Gen. Scott Miller, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, recommended the force reductions and began quietly sending hundreds of troops home. Based on Millers advice, we were prepared, and then planned, to go to 8,600, Wheelbarger said.

The secretary was prepared to adjust the force posture in the absence of an agreement, if that was in our national security interest, she said, but no decision had been made to do so.

THE SECRET ANNEXES: The Trump administration has provided the Congress side letters that lay out the specific provisions the Taliban have agreed to, including spelling out their responsibility to reduce the level of violence in the country and mitigate the threat from the remnants of al Qaeda.

But the Pentagon said there are legitimate reasons why the annexes, known as military implementation documents, must remain secret. We have some constraints on information we don't want to have out in the full public domain, said spokesman Jonathan Hoffman at yesterdays Pentagon briefing. That would include operationally sensitive information regarding troop movements, information that may be of interest to ISIS and al Qaeda and other entities that are operating in Afghanistan.

Some members of Congress whove reviewed the documents bristled at the classification, insisting theres nothing in them that puts U.S. troops in danger.

I've read the entire agreement, and I see no reason why they could not be released, said Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado. I believe, as do many people on this committee, that the American public deserves to know under what terms we are withdrawing from Afghanistan.

Twenty-four hundred Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan. Over 20,000 had been wounded. This is America's war, not any one administration's war, Crow said.

BUT THE TALIBAN CAN READ THEM: It's an agreement with the Taliban, it makes sense for them to read the documents, said Hoffman at the Pentagon when asked about debate. The agreement with them, it provides information on process and how we will be implementing these.

For example, Hoffman said, with our movement of forces, it's necessary to deconflict that with the Taliban. So there's information that is necessary to be provided, and it's perfectly normal to do that in a diplomatic negotiation.

Good Wednesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyres Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by David Sivak. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesnt work, shoot us an email, and well add you to our list. And be sure to follow us on Twitter: @dailyondefense.

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HAPPENING TODAY: Adm. Craig Faller, commander, U.S. Southern Command, is scheduled to brief reporters at the Pentagon at 2:30 this afternoon, while Esper delivers remarks at the National Defense University's President's Lecture Series at Ft. McNair.

Both events will be streamed live on the Pentagons website. https://www.defense.gov

CORONAVIRUS FENG SHUI: In accordance with the new social distancing protocols, the chairs in the spacious Pentagon briefing room were no longer arranged in rows, but rather spaced 6 feet apart as reporters were updated yesterday on the coronavirus threat.

One wag referred to the arrangement as business class seating.

THE LATEST NUMBERS: While nationwide, the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, the numbers in the military remain low, according to Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul Friedrichs, joint staff surgeon.

Here are the numbers of people who have tested positive:

In addition, six people are currently being evaluated, and 143 have been tested at 13 Department of Defense laboratories.

MARINES IDD: The Pentagon has released the names of two Marine Raiders, who were killed in Iraq Sunday assisting Iraqi forces in clearing an ISIS cave complex.

The Marine Special Operations Forces were Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo, 34, of Simi Valley, California, and Capt. Moises A. Navas, 34, of Germantown, Maryland.

Both were assigned to 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

BEWARE THE BEAR: NORAD reports that the U.S. and Canada intercepted two Russian Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft Monday that were flying off the coast of Alaska and entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone over the Beaufort Sea.

Although the planes did not enter either U.S. or Canadian airspace, at one point, they came as close as 50 nautical miles to Alaskas coast. The aircraft were intercepted by U.S. F-22s and Canadian CF-18 fighters in addition to support aircraft. The Russian aircraft remained within the identification zone for about four hours, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command.

KEANE HONORED: President Trump has bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, on former Army Vice Chief of Staff retired Gen. Jack Keane, who he called a courageous warrior and fearless patriot.

In 2006, Jack helped engineer the surge that stabilized the deteriorating situation in Iraq and allowed Iraqis to finally take charge of their own future, Trump noted at a White House ceremony yesterday. In the years since, Jack has continued to offer his sage counsel to military and policy leaders, and to visit our troops on the frontiers. And Jack, I have to say, has given me a lot of good advice too.

Jack Keane is a visionary, a brilliant strategist, and an American hero, he said. General, you will be remembered as one of the finest and most dedicated soldiers in a long and storied history of the United States military. No question about it.

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WEDNESDAY | MARCH 11

7 a.m. 2425 Wilson Blvd,, Arl Association of the United States Army Breakfast series, with Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, deputy chief of staff of the Army G-2 (intelligence). https://www.ausa.org/events/breakfast-series-berrier

8:30 a.m. 14th and F St. N.W. Woodrow Wilson Center's Africa Program, the Institute for Defense Analyses, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Africa Symposium: Advancing Africa's Governance, Peace, and Security, with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for West Africa and Security Affairs Whitney Baird delivering remarks, Maj. Gen. Christopher Craige, director of strategy, engagement, and programs at U.S. Africa Command. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/africa-symposium

9 a.m. 801 Mt. Vernon Pl. N.W. Access Intelligence LLC Satellite Conference and Exhibition, with Air Force Lt. Gen. David Thompson, vice commander of the Air Force Space Command, Clare Grason, chief of the Air Force Space Command's Commercial Satellite Communications Office; and Derek Tournear, director of the Space Development Agency. https://www.satshow.com/

10 a.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. N.E. Heritage Foundation discussion with White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien. https://www.heritage.org/defense/event

10 a.m. 2118 Rayburn House Armed Services Committee hearing National Security Challenges and U.S. Military Activity in North and South America, with Kenneth Rapuano, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security; Adm. Craig Faller, commander, U.S. Southern Command; Gen. Terrence OShaughnessy, commander, U.S. Northern Command. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

10 a.m. 138, Dirksen Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on the Navy and Marine Corpss FY 2021 budget request, with acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday, and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger. https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings

2 p.m. 2212 Rayburn House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Hearing: Reviewing Department of Defense Science and Technology Strategy, Policy, and Programs for Fiscal Year 2021: Maintaining a Robust Ecosystem for Our Technological Edge, with Michael Griffin, under secretary of defense for research and engineering; Bruce Jette, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology; James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition; William Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

2:30 p.m. Pentagon Briefing Rm. 2D972 Navy Adm. Craig Faller, commander, U.S. Southern Command, briefs reporters at the Pentagon. Streamed live on https://www.defense.gov/Watch/Live

2:30 p.m. 2118 Rayburn House Armed Services Subcommittees on Seapower and Projection Forces and Readiness Joint Hearing: Sealift and Mobility Requirements in Support of the National Defense Strategy, with Gen. Steve Lyons, commander, U.S. Transportation Command; Mark Buzby, U.S. Maritime Administration; Vice Adm. Ricky Williamson, deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Lt. Gen. David Nahom, Air Force deputy chief of staff for plans and programs. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

2:30 p.m. 106 Dirksen Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel hearing on programs in the Department of Defense, with Matthew Donovan, performing the duties of the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness; Virginia Penrod, acting assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs; Thomas McCaffery, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs; Thomas Constable, acting assistant secretary of defense for readiness; Elizabeth Van Winkle, executive director, office of force resiliency. https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings

3 p.m. Ft. McNair Defense Secretary Mark Esper delivers remarks at the National Defense University's President's Lecture Series. Streamed live on https://www.defense.gov/Watch/Live

6 p.m. 1957 E St. N.W. George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs discussion on "The State of the Transatlantic Alliance, with former NATO Deputy Secretary-General Rose Gottemoeller. http://elliott.gwu.edu

THURSDAY | MARCH 12

9 a.m. 2118 Rayburn House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness Hearing: FY21 Navy and Marine Corps Readiness Posture, with James Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy, research, development, and acquisition; Adm. Robert Burke, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; Gen. Gary Thomas, Assistant Marine Corps Commandant. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

9:30 a.m. 2212 Rayburn House Armed Services Subcommittee Strategic Forces hearing: FY21 Priorities for Missile Defense and Missile Defeat Programs, with Gen. Terrence OShaughnessy, commander, U.S. Northern Command; Vice Adm. Jon Hill, director, Missile Defense Agency; Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, commanding general, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command; Rob Soofer, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy; Cristina Chaplain, director, contracting and national security acquisitions team, Government Accountability Office. https://armedservices.house.gov/hearings

10 a.m. 2301 Constitution Ave. N.W. United States Institute of Peace discussion on "A Peace Regime for the Korean Peninsula, with Scott Snyder, director of the Council on Foreign Relations Program on U.S.-Korea Policy; Kathleen Stephens, president and CEO of the Korea Economic Institute; Jacob Stokes, senior policy analyst at USIP; Joseph Yun, senior adviser at USIP; Frank Aum, senior expert on North Korea at USIP; and Patricia Kim, senior policy analyst at USIP. https://www.usip.org/index.php/events/peace-regime-korean-peninsula

2 p.m. 214 Massachusetts Ave. N.E. Heritage Foundation discussion on "Shining a Spotlight on Human Rights in North Korea, with Kwang Cheol-Hwan, founder and chairman of the North Korea Strategy Center; Eiko Kawasaki, chairwoman of Action for Korea United; and Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. http://www.heritage.org

4 p.m. 1521 16th St. N.W. Institute of World Politics lecture on "The Role of the U.S. Military Under the NDS (National Defense Strategy) Over the Next Decade, with Col. Jon Duke, deputy director of operations at the Marine Corps Headquarters. https://www.iwp.edu/events

FRIDAY | MARCH 13

8 a.m. 1135 16th St. N.W. American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security breakfast, with Special Inspector General John Sopko discussing Corruption: A Threat to Rule of Law and Sustainable Peace in Afghanistan. https://www.americanbar.org/news

9:30 a.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion on "Army Air and Missile Defense," with Maj. Gen. Robert Rasch, program executive officer for Army Missiles and Space; Brig. Gen. Brian Gibson, director of the Army Air and Missile Defense Cross-Functional Team; Barbara Treharne, senior analyst at the Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization; Brian Green, nonresident senior associate at CSIS; and Thomas Karako, director of the CSIS Missile Defense Project. http://www.csis.org

10:30 a.m. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discussion on "France's Defense Strategy, with French Ambassador to the U.S. Philippe Etienne; and former Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, president of CEIP. http://carnegieendowment.org/

We dont need to trust them. We dont need to like them. We dont need to believe anything they say. We need to observe what they do, and we have the capability to do that.

Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of the U.S. Central Command testifying before Congress on the withdrawal agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban.

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Top commander says Afghanistan withdrawal plan does not rely on trusting the Taliban - Washington Examiner