JOHNSON: TIME TO ‘DO THE RIGHT THING’: After months of blocking what would have been a quick bipartisan vote to fund critical munitions for Ukraine, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has decided to buck threats from hard-right members of his caucus to remove him as speaker and allow a vote on a series of bills, including one that would provide near $61 billion for Ukraine.
“If I operated out of fear over a motion to vacate, I would never be able to do my job,” Johnson said at a Capitol Hill news conference. “I could make a selfish decision and do something that’s different, but I’m doing here what I believe to be the right thing. … I’m willing to take personal risk for that because we have to do the right thing and history will judge us.”
Several Democrats have said they would vote to save Johnson’s job in return for his allowing the Ukraine aid to get a vote on the floor.
Johnson, who was accused of blocking Ukraine aid at the behest of former President Donald Trump, said that after reviewing classified intelligence that suggests Ukraine is facing defeat without an immediate infusion of ammunition, he’s convinced providing lethal aid now is “critically important.”
“I believe [Chinese President Xi Jinping] and [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and Iran really are an axis of evil. I think they’re in coordination on this. I think that Vladimir Putin would continue to march through Europe if he were allowed. I think he might go to the Balkans next. I think he might have a showdown with Poland or one of our NATO allies,” Johnson said. “To put it bluntly, I would rather send bullets to Ukraine than American boys.”
“My son is gonna begin in the Naval Academy this fall,” Johnson said. “This is a live-fire exercise for me, as it is for so many American families.”
MTG LAYS OUT ‘RESPECTFUL’ PLAN SHE HAS TO BOOT MIKE JOHNSON
BIDEN: ‘I WILL SIGN THIS INTO LAW IMMEDIATELY’: President Joe Biden quickly went all in on Johnson’s plan to have four separate votes on Saturday, which will allow House members the required 72 hours to review bills before having to vote.
“The House must pass the package this week and the Senate should quickly follow,” Biden said in a statement. “I will sign this into law immediately to send a message to the world: We stand with our friends, and we won’t let Iran or Russia succeed.”
“Israel is facing unprecedented attacks from Iran, and Ukraine is facing continued bombardment from Russia that has intensified dramatically in the last month,” Biden noted.
In testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense yesterday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the tide of battle has been turning against Ukraine. “I think we’re already seeing things on the battlefield begin to shift a bit in terms of, in Russia’s favor,” Austin said.
“We’re seeing them make incremental gains. We’re seeing Ukrainians be challenged in terms of holding the line. They’re doing a very good job, a credible job, but in order to continue to do that, they’re going to need the right materials, the right munitions, the weapons to be able to do that. So, passing this supplemental is absolutely critical.”
“I strongly support this package,” Biden said.
BIDEN ‘STRONGLY SUPPORTS’ HOUSE GOP’S UKRAINE AND ISRAEL AID PLANS
WHAT’S INSIDE: Johnson’s strategy, in an attempt to mollify the implacable foes in his own party, is to disassemble the $95 billion aid bill passed by the Senate two months ago, break it into four parts, tweak it here and there, and then put it all back together before sending it back to the Senate for final passage.
The separate bills would cover aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Indo-Pacific allies and would include a final bill containing some border security provisions and other foreign policy initiatives.
The amount of aid for Ukraine is roughly the same, $61 billion, with $50 billion or so staying in the United States to replace weapons and ammunition sent to Kyiv.
“We don’t provide funds to Ukraine, the Department of Defense doesn’t,” Austin testified yesterday. “We provide materials in terms of weapons, vehicles, munitions. And all of those things are replaced by us. And the replacements are designed and built in our industry. And so, that means good jobs — good jobs for people in America. So, if that supplemental was passed, and when it gets passed, some $50 billion or so would flow through some 30 states here in America.”
There is one wrinkle in the Ukraine bill that was first proposed by Trump. Roughly $9 billion in direct financial aid to Kyiv would be in the form of “forgivable loans.” The terms of the loans would be set by the president, who would also have the authority to waive repayment. Congress would need enough votes to override a presidential veto to overturn the president’s decision.
HOUSE GOP RELEASES UKRAINE AND ISRAEL AID PLAN WITH SEPARATE BILL ON BORDER CRISIS
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HAPPENING TODAY: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin welcomes Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Gram to the Pentagon at 11 a.m.
UKRAINE STRIKE: Ukraine claims to have inflicted significant damage on a Russian base in occupied Crimea, hitting both air defenses and military helicopters with long-range missiles.
On the night of April 16, Ukrainian forces targeted the Dzhankoy airport, where Russia’s 39th Helicopter Regiment is based, reportedly taking out at least one S-400 air defense system along with damaging several helicopters. Video posted on social media showed powerful explosions at the base.
“Ukrainian sources posted an image reportedly showing three destroyed S-400 launchers following the strike,” the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said, noting Russia has Mi-8, Mi-25M, Mi-28, and Ka-52 helicopters at the base. “ISW has not yet observed visual evidence of damage to any helicopters as a result of the April 16 strike.”
UKRAINE HAMMERS RUSSIAN BASE IN CRIMEA
THE SEARCH FOR PATRIOTS: At the request of President Volodymyr Zelensky, a special meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council has been called for tomorrow in Brussels.
“I expect there will be a focus on air defense, as we have discussed today, but also on more artillery rounds, following up the Czech initiative supported by Netherlands and Denmark and other allies to purchase more artillery and to get them over to Ukraine as soon as possible,” Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a news conference at NATO Headquarters.
In response to a question about whether there are “hundreds” of Patriot missile systems in Western countries that could be sent to Ukraine, Stoltenberg suggested the number is an exaggeration, but he confirmed the hunt for more air defense systems is on.
“I cannot go into the exact numbers because that’s classified,” Stoltenberg said. “There are less than 100 [Patriot batteries] in Europe. Of course, the whole alliance has a significant number of Patriot batteries, but that’s also reflecting the fact that the United States, which is the ally with the most Patriot batteries, has global responsibilities.”
“But the reality is that of course we have systems available that are big enough to enable us to deliver significantly more to Ukraine when it comes to air defense in general and also when it comes to Patriot batteries, and that’s exactly what we’re working on,” Stoltenberg said.
Meanwhile the Guardian is reporting that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is offering for the Netherlands to buy Patriot air defense systems from allies to send to Ukraine. “We know that many countries are sitting on large piles of Patriot systems, maybe not wanting to deliver it directly,” Rutte said after arriving at the two-day summit of European Union leaders in Brussels. “We can buy it from them. We can deliver it to Ukraine. We have the money available. It’s crucial.”
MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT OVER JUST LIKE THAT: There was never any question whether Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas would survive the Republican attempt to remove him for allegedly mishandling the border crisis. But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he was deeply disappointed that the Democratic-controlled Senate didn’t even hold a trial.
“There should have been a full trial. The American people should have been able to see the evidence and evaluate for themselves what I think they know already intuitively, and that is that Secretary Mayorkas had a fantastical breach of duty,” Johnson said. “He breached his constitutional responsibility. He’s openly defied federal law and immigration and the will of Congress, and in my view, he has lied on multiple occasions to Congress under oath.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) dismissed the impeachment effort as a “nakedly partisan exercise” that “both conservative and liberal legal scholars agree fails to meet the high standard demanded by impeachment.”
“Let’s not kid ourselves about what’s going on today: The impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas has nothing to do with high crimes and misdemeanors and everything to do with helping Donald Trump on the campaign trail,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “Secretary Mayorkas has not been accused of treason or accepting bribes or unlawfully attacking our elections or anything of the sort. He has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing. He did not blackmail a foreign power to dig dirt on a political opponent, nor did he incite a violent mob to wage an insurrection against the peaceful transfer of power.”
“Impeachment should never, never be used to settle policy disagreements,” Schumer said. “That would set a disastrous precedent for the Congress and could throw our system of checks and balances into endless cycles of chaos.”
SCHUMER SUCCEEDS IN KILLING OFF MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL BEFORE IT CAN BEGIN
MTG’S SPACE LASER OBSESSION: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is at it again with the “space lasers,” this time calling for the technology to be deployed on the U.S.-Mexico border to stop migrants crossing illegally into the United States somehow.
“Israel has some of the best unmanned defense systems in the world. I’ve previously voted to fund space lasers for Israel’s defense,” Greene said on X as she posted her proposed amendment that calls for funding for space laser technology to be deployed on the southwestern border. “America needs to take our national security seriously and deserves the same type of defense for our border that Israel has and proudly uses.”
It’s not clear how the lasers would increase border security or whether they would be used to monitor or target migrants.
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: House GOP releases Ukraine and Israel aid plan with separate bill on border crisis
Washington Examiner: Biden ‘strongly supports’ House GOP’s Ukraine and Israel aid plans
Washington Examiner: Mike Gallagher could postpone early retirement for foreign aid vote
Washington Examiner: MTG lays out ‘respectful’ plan she has to boot Mike Johnson
Washington Examiner: Walk on Washington: How Democrats might save Mike Johnson without lifting a finger
Washington Examiner: Ukraine hammers Russian base in Crimea
Washington Examiner: Austin praises ‘quite remarkable’ allied aid to Israel during Iran attack
Washington Examiner: US and allies urge Israeli restraint as Iran warns of significant response
Washington Examiner: Crew of ship Iran seized is ‘safe,’ company says
Washington Examiner: MTG introduces amendment to require House members to enlist in Ukrainian military if they vote for Ukraine aid
Washington Examiner: House Oversight Committee hearing to showcase China’s ‘political warfare’ against US
Washington Examiner: Schumer succeeds in killing off Mayorkas impeachment trial before it can begin
Washington Examiner: House ends FISA saga with passage of Fourth Amendment is Not For Sale Act
Washington Examiner: Senators push for quick action on FISA before surveillance authority lapses
Washington Examiner: Sen. John Kennedy says Mike Johnson ‘p***es excellence’ in defense of House speaker
Washington Examiner: Economic contributions from immigrants released into US from border may come with strings attached, experts warn
Washington Post: Russia Hits Chernihiv, Killing 17 As Ukraine Pleads For Air Defense
Washington Post: Secret Russian foreign policy document urges action to weaken the U.S.
Breaking Defense: As Pentagon Awaits Supplemental Dollars, Its Operational Funding Is $2B In The Hole
New York Times: Rebuffing Allies’ Pleas, Israel Seems Set To Respond To Iran
Washington Post: Defying Niger Exit Order Leaves US Troops Vulnerable, Whistleblower Says
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Upset with Divestment, Congress Impatient for Fighter Recap Strategy
Breaking Defense: HASC Chair Backs Air Force Plan on Space Guard Units
Financial Times: Australia Increases Defence Spending By $32bn In Response To China Build-Up
New York Times: China Could Threaten Critical Infrastructure In A Conflict, N.S.A. Chief Says
Wall Street Journal: China Denounces U.S. Probe Into Shipbuilding Sector
Yonhap: S. Korean Parliamentary Chief Calls For Stronger S. Korea-U.S. Efforts To Address N.K. Threats
DefenseScoop: Pentagon Takes AI Dogfighting To Next Level In Real-World Flight Tests Against Human F-16 Pilot
Aviation Week: US Air Force Still Not Flying V-22s, But US Navy, USMC Are
Air & Space Forces Magazine: DOD Still Has No Plan To Stop Using Russian Gas in Europe
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Q&A: Outgoing AFCENT Boss Grynkewich on the Future of the Middle East
Military.com: Study Indicates Higher Rate of Rare Childhood Brain Cancer at New Mexico Air Force Base
Task & Purpose: Supreme Court Sides with Army Veteran in Overlapping GI Bill Benefits Case
Air & Space Forces Magazine: Rethinking Medical DQ’s
Stars and Stripes: European Air Forces to Train Across Indo-Pacific This Summer
DefenseScoop: CYBERCOM Establishes AI Task Force
Washington Post: Opinion: This defiant Ukrainian general has no smile — and surprising remarks on Trump
THE CALENDAR:
THURSDAY | APRIL 18
9 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Hudson Institute Central and Eastern Europe Strategy Summit with former Vice President Dan Quayle; Valdis Dombrovskis, executive vice president of the European Commission; Kamil Sasko, first state secretary of the Slovakian Ministry of Economy; Jan Ruzicka, chief external affairs officer of the PPF Group; Marcin Piatkowski, World Bank senior economist; Michael Harms, executive director of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy; Jean Froehly, head of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 Task Force; State Department Deputy Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Tyson Barker; Marek Mora, deputy minister of the Czech Republic Ministry of Finance; Sofia, Bulgaria, Mayor Vassil Terziev; Dragos Stefan Roibu, chief of staff of the Romanian Ministry of Energy; and Tibor Toth, state secretary at the Hungarian Ministry of Finance https://www.hudson.org/events/hudson-central-eastern-europe-strategy-summit-2024
9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Unpacking the 2024 South Korean Elections,” with Jiyoon Kim, senior adviser at the Institute of Democracy Studies and Education, and Sue Mi Terry, senior fellow for Korea studies at the Council on Foreign Relations https://www.csis.org/events/unpacking-2024-south-korean-elections
9:30 a.m. 1957 E St. NW — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs Korea Policy Forum: “Dynamics of the Republic of Korea (ROK)-U.S. Alliance: Bridging the Past, Present, and Future,” with Republic of Korea National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/korea-policy-forum
1:30 p.m. Santa Monica, California — Rand Corporation discussion: “How Gendered Perspectives Shape National Security,” with retired Navy Vice Adm. Carol Pottenger; Deborah Avant, professor at the University of Denver; Endy Daehner, Rand senior physical scientist; Kyleanne Hunter, Rand senior political scientist; and Mary Lee, Rand mathematician https://www.rand.org/events/2024/04/how-gendered-perspectives-shape
3:30 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: “An Innovative U.K. Strategic Command,” with Gen. Jim Hockenhull, commander of U.K. Strategic Command; former Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, Atlantic Council board director; Michael Andersson, head of strategic partnerships and international affairs at Saab and Atlantic Council board director; and Clementine Starling, director of the Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/a-conversation-with-general-jim-hockenhull
FRIDAY | APRIL 19
9:30 a.m. 215 Dirksen — U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission hearing: “The National Security Implications of the Economic Relationship between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China” https://www.uscc.gov
10 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Modernizing Army Software Acquisition,” with Margaret Boatner, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for strategy and acquisition reform, and Brig. Gen. Ed Barker, program executive officer for intelligence, electronic warfare, and sensors https://www.csis.org/events/modernizing-army-software-acquisition
11 a.m. North Lacrosse, Wisconsin — House Veterans’ Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee field hearing: “Examining Transitioning Servicemembers Experience” http://veterans.house.gov
2:30 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: “Building a Stronger Relationship with the U.S.,” with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al Sudani https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/iraq-prime-minister
TUESDAY | APRIL 23
2:30 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies “Smart Women, Smart Power” virtual conversation with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Kathleen McInnis, director, Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative https://www.csis.org/events/navigating-seas-admiral-lisa-franchetti
WEDNESDAY | APRIL 24
8:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies International Security Program in-person and virtual discussion: “Global Security Forum 2024: Gathering Strength in a Gathering Storm,” with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. and Avril Haines, director of national intelligence, as well as additional senior national security officials and experts https://www.csis.org/events/global-security-forum
THURSDAY | APRIL 25
11 a.m. 1201 Pennsylvania Ave NW — Hudson Institute in-person and virtual book discussion: “Tackling the China Challenge with Strength,” with Michael Sobolik, author of Countering China’s Great Game and senior fellow of the Indo-Pacific Program at the American Foreign Policy Council, and Olivia Enos, Hudson senior fellow https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-event-tackling-the-china-challenge
MONDAY | APRIL 29
2 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Brookings Institution Governance Studies program and Count Every Hero in-person and virtual panel discussion: “The recent surge in non-federal National Guard deployments and what that means for the U.S. military and the 2024 elections,” with Scott Anderson, fellow, governance studies and general counsel and senior editor, Lawfare; Kyle Miller, Pennsylvania policy strategist, Protect Democracy; retired Gen. Craig McKinley, U.S. Air Force; 26th chief of the National Guard Bureau; Paul Stockton, former assistant secretary of defense, homeland security; retired Gen. Joseph Lengyel, U.S. Air Force; 28th chief of the National Guard Bureau; retired Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, U.S. Air Force, former adjutant general of Nebraska, and immediate past president of the Adjutants General Association of the U.S.; and retired Brig. Gen. Allyson Solomon, U.S. Air Force, former assistant adjutant general of Maryland https://www.brookings.edu/events/domestic-deployment-of-the-national-guard/