Mattis says U.S. hasn’t yet needed to shoot down a North Korean missile Presented by Northrop Grumman

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With Eli Okun, Connor O’Brien, Jacqueline Klimas and Wesley Morgan

LETTING THE NORTH KOREAN MISSILES FLY, via The Associated Press: “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says the U.S. has not attempted to shoot down any of North Korea's missiles — including two that have recently overflown Japan — because they have not posed a direct threat. In remarks to reporters at the Pentagon, Mattis said U.S. and Japanese missile defenses have been ready to respond, but were not needed.

“If a North Korean missile were to threaten U.S. or Japanese territory, he said, ‘that would elicit a different response from us.’”

“He said North Korea is deliberately carrying out tests that come as close as possible to provoking the U.S. without drawing a military response.”

Other secret military options against North Korea exist that won’t put South Korea at grave risk of a counterattack, Mattis added, though he wouldn’t provide details, reports The Wall Street Journal.

One option under consideration remains the reintroduction of tactical nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula, which Mattis confirmed he discussed with South Korea’s defense minister last month, adds The Washington Post.

Meanwhile, Japan is moving a mobile missile-defense system on the northern island of Hokkaido to a base near recent North Korean missile flyover routes, reports the AP.

Additionally, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping confer by phone about keeping up the pressure on North Korea through sanctions, via Reuters.

And Germany’s foreign minister urges direct talks with North Korea about its nuclear and missile programs, via the AP.

MATTIS CONFIRMS AFGHANISTAN TROOP INCREASES, reports Reuters: “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Monday the United States would send over 3,000 troops to Afghanistan and that most were either on their way or had been notified of their deployment.

“‘It is exactly over 3,000 somewhat and frankly I haven’t signed the last of the orders right now as we look at specific, small elements that are going,’ Mattis told reporters.

“Reuters previously reported that the United States would send about 3,500 additional troops to Afghanistan.”

Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, hails the new deployment as the first sign of the Trump administration’s “renewed support and unwavering leadership” on Afghanistan in a commentary for Defense News.

And along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, a suicide attack targeting a paramilitary convoy kills one civilian and wounds 12 others, Pakistani officials say, via the AP.

HAPPY TUESDAY AND WELCOME TO MORNING DEFENSE, where your Morning D correspondent is glad to return after celebrating the weekend nuptials of POLITICO Pro Deputy Health Care Editor Jason Millman and Monica Dean. Congratulations to the happy couple! Email us at [email protected], and follow on Twitter @greg_hellman, @morningdefense and @politicopro.

MD TRIVIA: Andrew Wilhelm was the first person to correctly identify Sgt. Curtis Culin as the inventor of the “Rhino Tank,” a device that helped units overcome the hedgerows in Normandy that were causing casualties and impeding Allied progress.

Tune in Friday for this week’s question.

HAPPENING TODAY — SASC PROBES NAVY COLLISIONS: The Senate Armed Services Committee holds a hearing this morning on two recent deadly destroyer collisions in the Pacific, involving the USS Fitzgerald the USS John McCain. Both Navy Secretary Richard Spencer and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson are scheduled to testify.

With the dismissal of two senior officers Monday, the Navy has now fired at least six officers a result of the accidents in the Pacific, writes The Washington Post.

— ALSO TODAY, AT THE AFA CONFERENCE: Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein highlights the Air Force Association’s annual Air, Space and Cyber Conference at National Harbor, Md.

The full agenda is here.

— TRUMP TO TALK IRAN AND NORTH KOREA AT THE U.N., writes POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi: “ President Donald Trump will give special attention to the Iranian people during his speech Tuesday to the United Nations General Assembly — signaling that he sees them as not only separate from their Islamist government, but as a threat to its survival, a senior administration official said.

“Trump's speech will be his first before the General Assembly and his first face-to-face encounter with a truly global audience. It comes as the president mulls ways to quit the internationally negotiated nuclear deal with Iran.

“According to the official, Trump's speech also will tackle in tough terms the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear program and countries, such as China, that ‘enable’ the regime in Pyongyang; the need for other countries to share more of the burden in dealing with global challenges; and the importance of respecting national sovereignty.”

On his first day at the U.N., Trump urges reform, via Nahal.

Meanwhile, the top U.S. admiral in the Middle East says Iran continues to smuggle illicit weapons and technology into Yemen, threatening Saudi Arabia, via The New York Times.

And France pleas to preserve the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump has criticized as “deeply flawed,” adds Reuters.

SENATE APPROVES THE $692 BILLION NDAA, reports our colleague Connor O’Brien: “The Senate sidestepped controversy Monday and overwhelmingly passed a sweeping $692 billion defense policy bill for the new fiscal year.

“Scrapped without votes were a handful of contentious proposals to prevent transgender troops from being kicked out of the military, eliminate across-the-board budget cuts, bar indefinite detention of U.S. citizens and launch a new round of military base realignments and closures.

“The annual National Defense Authorization Act H.R. 2810 (115) was passed 89-8, setting up what could be contentious negotiations with the House over a series of key policy differences on the must-pass legislation.”

Just before the final vote, the Senate adopted a package of 48 more amendment s. Notably included was an amendment from Sen. Luther Strange (R-Ala.) adding $600 million to procure an extra Littoral Combat Ship.

Georgia Republican Sens. Perdue and Johnny Isakson also included a pair of amendments to prohibit retiring the JSTARS surveillance aircraft and require a report on the capability gaps if the Air Force decides to cancel the JSTARS recapitalization program.

Meanwhile, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson issues sharp warnings about Air Force size and capabilities, especially in the face of uncertain funding from Congress, writes POLITICO Pro’s Wesley Morgan.

TOP DOC — PENTAGON DETAILS INTERIM TRANSGENDER POLICY, via your Morning D correspondent: The Pentagon on Monday released the details of its new interim guidance on transgender troops in the military, while a special panel reviews the issues surrounding President Donald Trump’s directive to ban transgender individuals from the military.

PUTIN OBSERVES RUSSIAN WAR GAMES, writes the AP: “Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday attended the weeklong war games with Belarus that have demonstrated the Russian military's resurgent might and made neighboring countries nervous.

“Putin observed the Zapad (West) 2017 drills - tank attacks, airborne assaults and air raids that got underway Thursday - at the Luzhsky range in western Russia, just over 100 kilometers (about 60 miles) east of Estonia's border. As part of the maneuvers, the Russian military on Monday also test-fired its state-of-the-art cruise missile at a mock target in the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan, showcasing the weapon's extended range and precision strike capability.”

Meanwhile, Russia and China launch separate joint war games in the North Pacific, adds the WSJ.

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WAR REPORT — THE U.S. AND ITS ALLIES DECONFLICT WITH ASSAD’S FORCES, reports the AP: “The spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition says their allies on the ground in Syria are keeping ‘open lines’ of communication with President Bashar Assad's forces to avoid frictions between them as both wage offensives against the Islamic State group in the oil-rich eastern Deir el-Zour province.

“Col. Ryan Dillon says as the two forces approach each other on the ground, ‘de-confliction’ talks with Russia, which backs the Syrian government troops, have increased in frequency. He says the levels of those talks have also varied, with some including ground-level commanders.

“Dillon says the government forces have advanced ‘quickly’ to seize control of Deir el-Zour city, but it remains to be seen if they ‘have what it takes’ to hold the newly liberated territories.”

The deconfliction comes as Syrian troops increase their presence in areas where U.S.-backed forces are operating, Reuters adds.

Both forces are maneuvering for an advantage, the WSJ writes.

And the U.S. and its allies won’t begin rebuilding the war-torn country until a credible political process emerges from negotiations, a senior U.S. official says, via The Washington Post.

— TURKISH TANKS DRILL AHEAD OF IRAQI KURD VOTE, Reuters reports: “Turkish tanks carried out drills at the Iraqi border on Monday, the army said, a week before a referendum across that frontier on Kurdish independence that Ankara has called a threat to its national security.

“The exercises came as Turkey, the central government in Baghdad and their shared neighbor Iran all stepped up protests and warnings about the looming plebiscite in semi-autonomous Kurdish northern Iraq.

“Iran, which like Turkey fears fuelling separatism in its own Kurdish population, warned of unspecified consequences if the vote went ahead.”

Meanwhile, Iraq’s top court temporarily suspends the referendum, the AP reports.

And clashes erupt in Kirkuk in advance of the referendum, the AP adds.

INDUSTRY INTEL — BOEING-SAAB TALKS T-X, via our colleague Wesley Morgan: “Boeing and Saab’s offering for the T-X trainer would be largely produced in the U.S. if the Air Force selects their prototype, including new stateside Saab manufacturing facilities, executives with the two companies announced [Monday].

“Speaking at the Air Force Association’s annual conference at National Harbor, Md., Saab President and CEO Håkan Buskhe said his company was considering three ‘basic setups’ for manufacturing in the U.S.: building a completely new facility, acquiring an existing one or forming a partnership with a U.S.-based sub-supplier.”

— TRUDEAU AND MAY TEAM UP AGAINST BOEING, writes the WSJ: “The prime ministers of the U.K. and Canada vowed Monday to join forces and press Boeing Co. and the Trump administration to bring an end to the aerospace company’s pursuit of a trade complaint against Montreal’s Bombardier Inc.

“The dispute between the North American aircraft makers, over allegations that Bombardier unfairly benefits from Canadian government support, prompted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to issue his most direct threat regarding Boeing’s behavior at a joint press conference involving the two Group of Seven leaders.

“Mr. Trudeau said a failure to resolve the matter could prompt Canada to scrap previously announced plans to buy roughly $5 billion in Boeing jet fighters, as he said he has no intention to do business ‘with a company that’s trying to sue us.’”

MAKING MOVES — FORMER ARMY SECRETARY ERIC FANNING TO HEAD THE AIA, writes your Morning D correspondent: “Former Army Secretary Eric Fanning was named [Monday] as the new president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, effective Jan. 1. The industry association announced in July that its current top executive, David Melcher, was stepping down at year's end.”

SPEED READ

— The U.S.’ aging fleet of ICBMs are ‘pretty damn effective,’ an Air Force general says: POLITICO Pro

— Pentagon reporters are frustrated by the Defense secretary: POLITICO

— The fight against the Islamic State moves into Iraq’s shadows: Vox

— South Korea ponders a draft for women: The Washington Post

— An engineer who tried to sell military secrets to Russians gets five years in prison: Los Angeles Times

— Chelsea Manning defends her conduct: AP

— The U.N. declares Iran’s imprisonment of two Americans illegal: NYT

— Iran accuses the U.S. of violating the nuclear deal: WSJ

— And the U.S. and Israel plan to attack the deal at the U.N.: The Guardian

— The U.S. breaks ground on an Army base in Israel: The Jerusalem Post

— Trump says the U.S. is prepared to take further action in Venezuela: POLITICO

— Trump wants his own military parade after being wowed by France’s: POLITICO

— U.S. special operations forces take on a tough fight in Mali: Military Times

— Suicide bombings kill at least 12 in Nigeria: Reuters

— Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn’s family sets up a legal defense fund for him: POLITICO

— Marines and sailors consider a compact version of the Army’s new handgun: Defense News

— The Marine Corps creates an ammunition-resupply robot: Marine Corps Times

— Army researchers investigate urine as an energy source: Task & Purpose

— Britain considers arming more police in the wake of terrorist attacks: WSJ

— The Rohingya crisis triggers few calls for Myanmar sanctions: NYT

— Remembering the Soviet officer who averted World War III: NPR

— Canada memorializes the U.S. Civil War: BBC

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