THE TOPLINE: President Obama on Tuesday night will deliver his penultimate State of the Union address.
Domestic policies are expected to dominate the speech, and help set the agenda for Democrats ahead of the 2016 election cycle. But a host of national security and defense topics are sure to get mentions.
The president will likely bring up the recent terrorist attacks around the globe, including those in France and Yemen. Lawmakers are planning to hold up yellow pencils during the address, in a show of solidarity with the victims of the French attacks.
The speech will also be Obama's first since the U.S. intensified operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The president has said he will send draft language for an authorization of military force against ISIS.
U.S. troops are drawing down in Afghanistan, but 10,000 still remain, amid concerns that local security forces aren't up to the job.
Obama will also likely make the case for nuclear negotiations with Iran as senators weigh new sanctions legislation. The president has vowed to veto that bill, warning it could jeopardize months of talks.
The president has already previewed his cybersecurity agenda, including legislation that will encourage information sharing on cyber threats between the government and business, and enhance protections on personal data.
Obama could also make the case again for shuttering the military prison at Guantanamo Bay. The administration has stepped up efforts to transfer detainees. But Obama has little latitude to unilaterally close the prison, with a number of restrictions from Congress on the books.
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES CHAIR PUTS PENTAGON ON NOTICE. The new chair of the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday made it clear he believes lawmakers can block the Defense Department’s policies if they think the Pentagon is wrong.
"Sometimes the Pentagon is penny-wise, pound-foolish. Sometimes there is parochialism within the Pentagon.
Sometimes the White House tries to slash military capability so they can send money elsewhere in the federal budget. Sometimes their priorities are just plain wrong," Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) said in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute.
He ticked off a list of Pentagon proposals that lawmakers overturned in recent years, including retiring the A-10 "Warthog" aircraft.
Thornberry also ripped the Pentagon over its acquisition process and promised the first set of proposals to revamp DOD’s buying policies would be released this spring.
However, he predicted the recommendations would not be a magic bullet.
"There is not going to be a 2,000-page bill that resolves acquisition. It does not exist. Nobody is that smart," Thornberry said after his speech.
Some experts argue that weapons could be developed and get into the field faster, and at less cost, if the department's buying regulations are overhauled.
Thornberry said he had spoken with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) "several times" and that the issue is "very high" on McCain’s priority list.
YEMENIS ARRESTED FOR TERROR PLOTS: Two Yemeni men werecharged in a New York district court with scheming to attack U.S. troops and helping an American join al Qaeda.
The charges were unveiled in a complaint and arrest warrant unsealed Tuesday against Saddiq Al-Abbadi, 36, and Ali Alvi, 30. If convicted they could face life in prison.
"There is no escape from the reach of our law for violent terrorists, especially if they target our military," said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Loretta Lynch. She is also President Obama’s pick to be the next attorney general.
The men were arrested in Saudi Arabia and sent to the U.S. The complaint says, among other things, that both men are believed to be members of al Qaeda who engaged in attacks on U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said prosecuting the pair in a federal court would be a "huge mistake."
"They should be held as enemy combatants and interrogated under the law of war before we prosecute," he said.
WEDNESDAY’S AGENDA: The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing at 9:30 a.m. on "Global Challenges and U.S. National Security Strategy," with former National Security Advisors Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew K. Brzezinski.
At the same time, Senate Foreign Relations Committee will convene a hearing the status of the Iran nuclear negotiations. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Under Secretary David S. Cohen are set to testify.
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee will come together at 10:00 a.m. for the panel's organizational meeting. Lawmakers will discuss a timeline for taking up legislation known as the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act.
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael Vickers will speak at the Atlantic Council at 10:15 a.m. on the role of defense intelligence.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
-Senator 'concerned' by lack of war authorization draft
-House resolution condemns Paris attacks
-White House condemns new ISIS video
-Senate GOP to Obama: Focus on cyber info sharing
-GOP senator threatens to cut off US aid to Palestinians over ICC
Please send tips and comments to Kristina
Wong, kwong@thehill.com, and Martin
Matishak, mmatishak@thehill.
Follow us on
Twitter: @thehill, @kristina_wong, @martinmatishak
댓글 없음:
댓글 쓰기