Mattis Slams Putin; Says No ‘Smoking Gun’ on Khashoggi Murder

Mattis Slams Putin; Says No ‘Smoking Gun’ on Khashoggi Murder
Mattis Slams Putin; Says No ‘Smoking Gun’ on Khashoggi Murder

REAGAN DEFENSE FORUM: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis accused Russia of trying to influence the 2018 midterm elections and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being “duplicitous” in violating international treaties. The secretary’s statements come one day after President Trump chatted on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina with Putin, this after Trump cancelled…

Don’t Expect Any Trump Boost To Defense Spending

Don’t Expect Any Trump Boost To Defense Spending
Don’t Expect Any Trump Boost To Defense Spending

Contrary to the president’s rhetoric, there is no forthcoming Trump buildup, and  the new strategy emphasizing China and Russia is becoming ever more elusive and out of touch with fiscal reality. It is simply unaffordable at this point in time.

Democratic House Hurts Space Corps, Nuke Modernization, & Pentagon Topline

Democratic House Hurts Space Corps, Nuke Modernization, & Pentagon Topline
Democratic House Hurts Space Corps, Nuke Modernization, & Pentagon Topline

WASHINGTON: The Democrats’ recapturing the House means three major impacts on the Defense Department: The odds are that controversial Trump priorities like new nuclear weapons and a Space Force will go nowhere, defense budgets will go down, and oversight will go up, up, up. Program winners and losers The most likely losers are nuclear modernization…

Inhofe Wants 355 Ship Navy, But Headwinds Remain

Inhofe Wants 355 Ship Navy, But Headwinds Remain
Inhofe Wants 355 Ship Navy, But Headwinds Remain

WASHINGTON: President Trump has just issued orders to cut the defense budget, and hasn’t tweeted for a while about his campaign pledge to build a bigger Navy, but the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee wants to get a 355-ship fleet back on the agenda. Jim Inhofe — who’s likely to retain the SASC chairmanship…

Military Cyber Teams On Standby For Elections

Military Cyber Teams On Standby For Elections
Military Cyber Teams On Standby For Elections

“We haven’t deployed anyone, just to be clear,” Edwin Wilson said. “We’ll have a traditional prepare-to-deploy order, (and) the members and teams are on recall ready to go within hours.”

Pence Defends Space Force Costs: ‘What Price Freedom?’

Pence Defends Space Force Costs: ‘What Price Freedom?’
Pence Defends Space Force Costs: ‘What Price Freedom?’

For insights about how the US military currently views the realities of space war, it’s helpful to consider the recently concluded annual Schriever War Game.

Russia’s Real Target Is US Alliances & Ukraine, Not Elections: CIA Veterans

Russia’s Real Target Is US Alliances & Ukraine, Not Elections: CIA Veterans
Russia’s Real Target Is US Alliances & Ukraine, Not Elections: CIA Veterans

“I don’t think that Vladimir Putin, who I think is a realist, wants to destroy us or our democracy, (though) they did meddle… and they will do it again if they can,” Bearden said. “They will continue to stir the pot, (but) I think they’re as amazed by what we’re doing to ourselves as perhaps we are.”

Hill Must Act Now To Protect Elections From Russians: Cyber Commander

Hill Must Act Now To Protect Elections From Russians: Cyber Commander
Hill Must Act Now To Protect Elections From Russians: Cyber Commander

If you want the military to defend this fall’s elections from Russian hackers, military cyber commanders told Congress this afternoon, you need to give it authorities, access and resources soon, military commanders told the Senate today.

US ‘Not Doing Enough’ To Stop Russian Meddling In 2018, Adm. Rogers Tells SASC

US ‘Not Doing Enough’ To Stop Russian Meddling In 2018, Adm. Rogers Tells SASC
US ‘Not Doing Enough’ To Stop Russian Meddling In 2018, Adm. Rogers Tells SASC

WASHINGTON: Under relentless grilling from Democratic senators, the four-star officer who heads both Cyber Command and the NSA said the US government is “not doing enough” to prevent Russia from meddling in the 2018 elections. Could the US keep the Russians from interfering again? asked Sen. Claire McCaskill. “Yes,” Adm. Michael Rogers said at once.…