Pentagon Nahil Trump and US Congress
Recently, there has been a peculiar trend in the American policy. US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has repeatedly taken and is taking actions that run counter to the personal policies of US President Donald Trump and the legislative initiatives of the US Congress.
Today, the Russian agency Interfax, citing CNN, reported on the transfer of the first F-35 fighters to Turkey by the US military, despite the provisions of the Pentagon's military budget bill for 2019 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 / NDAA - 2019) According to which, if Turkey acquires the S-400 in Russia, the supply of American fighters will be blocked, and sanctions should be imposed against Ankara.
According to CNN, James Mattis is opposed to blocking shipments of the F-35, and is "actively interacting with members of Congress" on this issue.
The US Secretary of Defense also virtually disavowed Donald Trump's statement that, while negotiations are ongoing with Kim Jong-un and his representatives on the North Korean denuclearization, US forces will not conduct joint exercises with the armed forces of South Korea. Japan was very concerned about the possible decrease in the US military presence in East Asia, and the incident was settled only after Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera received personal assurances from James Mattis that the United States would continue to comply with its defense obligations with respect to Japan.
- said the Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White.
A very fascinating intrigue is also played out around the recent sensational statement by Donald Trump that he is instructing the military department to create a new type of armed forces - the US Space Force.
Donald Trump said on Monday June 18th.
Meanwhile, it seems that Donald Trump is the only person in the United States who is seriously calling for the creation of the US Space Force, and the relevant departments will try to lower the military-space initiative of the president on the brakes.
The Guardian international newspaper, discussing the background of Trump’s assignment to create the Space Forces, gives a skeptical and ironic commentary by Florida Senator Democrat Bill Nelson:
The Guardian also notes that Donald Trump had previously tried to advance his idea of a standalone US Space Force, but met opposition from US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who indicated in a special memorandum the following:
We also note that the leadership of the US Air Force, after the aforementioned "anti-space" memorandum by James Mattis, clearly stated its intention to maintain control over space operations and the budget for military space purposes.
Said General David Goldfein, chief of staff of the US Air Force at a symposium on air operations.
We also note that the catchy statement of Goldfein does not mean that real military operations will actually take place in outer space. This is so far only about the so-called “multi-domain” operations - that is, the receipt and integration of intelligence from all environments (in modern American terminology - “domains”), including air, cyberspace, land, sea and outer space, and the transfer of the mentioned data to units armed forces.
Today, the Russian agency Interfax, citing CNN, reported on the transfer of the first F-35 fighters to Turkey by the US military, despite the provisions of the Pentagon's military budget bill for 2019 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 / NDAA - 2019) According to which, if Turkey acquires the S-400 in Russia, the supply of American fighters will be blocked, and sanctions should be imposed against Ankara.
According to CNN, James Mattis is opposed to blocking shipments of the F-35, and is "actively interacting with members of Congress" on this issue.
The US Secretary of Defense also virtually disavowed Donald Trump's statement that, while negotiations are ongoing with Kim Jong-un and his representatives on the North Korean denuclearization, US forces will not conduct joint exercises with the armed forces of South Korea. Japan was very concerned about the possible decrease in the US military presence in East Asia, and the incident was settled only after Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera received personal assurances from James Mattis that the United States would continue to comply with its defense obligations with respect to Japan.
The United States reaffirmed its indestructible defense obligations to Japan and its determination to maintain the combat readiness of its forces in the region. They [James Mattis and Itsunori Onodera] pledged to continue to work closely in the interests of regional peace and stability.
- said the Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White.
A very fascinating intrigue is also played out around the recent sensational statement by Donald Trump that he is instructing the military department to create a new type of armed forces - the US Space Force.
It is very important. I instruct the Ministry of Defense and the Pentagon to immediately begin the processes necessary to form the sixth branch of the armed forces. We will have both the Air Force and the Space Forces, they will be separate and equal in rights
Donald Trump said on Monday June 18th.
Meanwhile, it seems that Donald Trump is the only person in the United States who is seriously calling for the creation of the US Space Force, and the relevant departments will try to lower the military-space initiative of the president on the brakes.
The Guardian international newspaper, discussing the background of Trump’s assignment to create the Space Forces, gives a skeptical and ironic commentary by Florida Senator Democrat Bill Nelson:
The President instructed the military to create the sixth type of armed forces, but the generals tell me that they do not want this. Fortunately, the president will not be able to realize his idea without Congress, and now is not the time to divide the Air Force into independent parts - they have a lot of important missions and projects.
The Guardian also notes that Donald Trump had previously tried to advance his idea of a standalone US Space Force, but met opposition from US Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who indicated in a special memorandum the following:
I oppose the creation of a new military structure and additional organizational levels at a time when we are focused on reducing overhead costs and integrating joint ones [i.e. in the framework of operational-tactical interaction] combat functions of the armed forces.
We also note that the leadership of the US Air Force, after the aforementioned "anti-space" memorandum by James Mattis, clearly stated its intention to maintain control over space operations and the budget for military space purposes.
I believe that in a few years we will fight from space. And we are the kind of armed forces that should lead joint operations in the disputed environments - space and cyberspace
Said General David Goldfein, chief of staff of the US Air Force at a symposium on air operations.
We also note that the catchy statement of Goldfein does not mean that real military operations will actually take place in outer space. This is so far only about the so-called “multi-domain” operations - that is, the receipt and integration of intelligence from all environments (in modern American terminology - “domains”), including air, cyberspace, land, sea and outer space, and the transfer of the mentioned data to units armed forces.
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