CD141: Terrorist Gifts & The Ministry of Propaganda (2017 NDAA)

The 2017 National Defense Authorization Act grants permission for next year's wars. In this episode, we look at how the new law, in partnership with a reckless Executive Order, will provide weapons to terrorists and legalize American wars fought with foreign humans. Also in this episode, learn about the new Ministry of Propaganda (the "Global Engagement Center") that the United States will open in July. Please support Congressional Dish: to contribute with PayPal or Bitcoin; click the PayPal "Make it Monthly" checkbox to create a monthly subscription to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: Congressional Dish 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Bill Highlighted in This Episode Title III—Operation and Maintenance Subtitle B—Energy and Environment   The Secretary of Defense can waive that Federal agencies only purchase alternative fuels if the greenhouse gas emissions are equal or lower to the conventional fuel typically used, . “It is the sense of Congress that... "decisions relating to the funding of the Dept. of Defense … should prioritize the support and enhancement of the combat capabilities of the Dept" funds should be allocated among the programs of the Dept in the manner that best serves the national security interests of the US decisions relating to energy efficiency, energy use, and climate change should adhere to the principles described above Title VI—Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits Subtitle A—Pay and Allowances     Effective January 1, 2017, the rates of monthly basic pay for military members is 2.1 percent Gives the Defense Dept one year to report to Congress on a new pay structure: A “ which will take effect on January 1, 2018.   Subtitle E—Commissary and Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentality Benefits and Operations     They are going to test a "” which would price commissary goods “in response to market conditions and customer demand"       Subtitle F—Other Matters     the Secretary of Defense is allowed to waive collections of overpayments to military service members if the collection starts over 10 years after the overpayment occurred. The Defense Department will conduct a of the bonuses paid to California National Guard members from 2004 - 2015, determine how many bonuses were awarded improperly, and determine which ones will be granted a repayment waiver.  only if the board can make an affirmative determination that the member “knew or reasonably should have known that the member was ineligible for the bonus pay”   Title VII—Health Care Provisions Subtitle A—Reform of TRICARE and military health system     Creates : “Eligible beneficiaries will not have restrictions on the freedom of choice of the beneficiary with respect to health care providers.”   Title VIII—Acquisition Policy, Acquisition Management, and Related Matters Subtitle F—Provisions Relating to Commercial Items     the purchase of “commercial items” from a bunch of procurement laws  defense agencies from entering into contracts for services that are NOT commercial services, unless it’s determined in writing that there are no commercial services available. Subtitle G—Industrial Base Matters Orders a to be completed by the end of 2017 to” reduce the barriers to the seamless integration between the persons and organizations that comprise the national technology and industrial base" Entities to be “integrated” include government entities, universities, nonprofits, and private contractors (including weapons manufacturers) operating in the United States, Canada and () the UK, Northern Ireland, and Australia. Title IX—Department of Defense Organization and Management Subtitle B—Organization and Management of the Department of Defense Generally   Repeals that the Secretary of Defense have policies and procedures to determine the most appropriate cost efficient mix of military, civilians, and contractor personnel to perform the mission of the Dept. of Defense.   Title X—General Provisions Subtitle B—Counterdrug Activities   "The Secretary of Defense for the counter drug activities… of any department or agency of the Federal Government or of any State, local, tribal, or foreign law enforcement agency for…: "Training of law enforcement personnel of the Federal Government, of State, local, and tribal governments…" “Intelligence analysis services" “Aerial and ground reconnaissance” Extended through 2019   Subtitle D—Counterterrorism       Specifically prohibits transferring anyone to Libya, Somalia, Syria, or Yemen.     Subtitle G—Other Matters     Secretary of Defense needs to post the costs of each the Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria wars onto a public website. No due date or web address.   Title XII—Matters relating to foreign nations Subtitle A—Assistance and training     Authorizes the amount of money appropriated to the fund to more than double, from $1.07 billion to $2.5 billion. $500 million must be to purchase precision guided munitions for partner and allied forces   The Defense Secretary is allowed to spend to “support foreign forces, irregular forces, groups, or individuals engaged in supporting or facilitating ongoing military operations by United States special operations forces to combat terrorism" The money a that provided $25 million a year for this purpose   Subtitle B—Matters relating to Afghanistan and Pakistan   The United States can use to  that helps our military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, and the United States for “activities meant to enhance the security situation in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region and for counterterrorism"   Subtitle C—Matters relating to Syria, Iraq, and Iran   Extends the authority to “provide assistance to the vetted Syrian opposition” until December 31, 2018. : “Countering the proliferation of Man-Portable Air Defense Systems is a top U.S. national security priority. In the hands of terrorists, criminals, or other non-state actors, MANPADS - also known as shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles - pose a serious threat to passenger air travel, the commercial aviation industry, and military aircraft around the world. The United States is working closely with numerous countries and international organizations to keep the skies safe for all." The 2015 NDAA authorized the transfer of “man-portable air defense system” or “MANPADs” to the “vetted Syrian opposition”. They are so after a 30-day waiting period if a report is submitted to Congress   Subtitle D—Matters relating to the Russian Federation     Amends to extend the authority to pay to train “national security forces” in “multilateral exercises” through 2018. Adds the to the list of authorized activities, although it the “European Deterrence Initiative” This training is allowed to go to NATO countries and “countries that are ” the amount allowed to be spent on “security assistance” to Ukraine by $50 million, up to $350 million MUST be spent on “Lethal assistance” including anti-armor weapon systems, mortars, grenade launchers,  small arms, and ammunition This equipment and technical assistance for a border surveillance network for Ukraine to the list of authorized uses of funding until the Secretary of State certifies that Ukraine has taken steps towards reforms including civilian control of their military and “potential opportunities for privatization in the defense industrial sector”   Subtitle E—Reform of Department of Defense Security Cooperation     the authorization from the 2012 NDAA that allowed civilian employees of the DoD to be “advisors” to foreign defense ministries into law outlining procedures for The training can be for the following : Counterterrorism Counter weapons of mass destruction Counter-drug trafficking operations a limited the support that can be provided to Columbia & Peru Counter organized crime Border security Intelligence “Operations or activities that contribute to an international coalition operation that is determined by the Secretary to be in the national interest of the United States” the that authorizes programs only for counter-terrorism, support of on-going military operations, and border security. The Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State will develop and plan train and equip programs the saying that the Secretary of State will be responsible for coordinating development activities The Secretary of Defense is “from time to time” The will be responsible for “all security cooperation programs" The train and equip programs are “defense articles”, training, “defense services”, supplies, and construction valued The “support” programs are   a for extending it is provided or if to another part of the government or another country. 2017 Funding: : The , the “defense-wide” section and “Defense Security Cooperation” section = $6.6 billion + $621 million = $7.2 billion Funds for “” = $720 million Funds for “” and money for the “Defense Security Cooperation Agency” = $7.1 billion Money appropriated for the “ in Iraq and Syria can be spent in countries other than Iraq and Syria as long as Congress is told = $1.1 billion Funds for “Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense-Wide for overseas contingency operations” = + = $215 million Money made available in previous years = unknown Total = At least $16.3 billion   Subtitle H—Other matters     The Secretaries of Defense and State can enter an to each other’s departments during and up to two years after any “contingency operation" “” = food, transportation, petroleum, oils, communication services, medical services, ammunition, base operations support, use of facilities, spare parts, and maintenance services. Prohibits any funds being used to implement the which is a 2013 UN treaty designed to regulate and limit the international weapons trade. We signed it in September. By mid-June 2017, the : “To lead, synchronize, and coordinate efforts of the Federal Government to recognize, understand, expose, and counter foreign state and non-state propaganda and disinformation efforts aimed at undermining United States national security interests” Track and evaluate stories abroad that threaten the interests of the US and the US allies and partner nations. Support the creation and distribution of “fact-based narratives” to counter propaganda and disinformation directed at the United States, our allies, and partner nations. Promote “fact-based narratives” to audiences outside the United States The head of the Global Engagement Center will be for a maximum of three years. The State Department to work for the Global Engagement Center for a maximum of four years each, with a maximum of 50 employees The Global Engagement Center “civil society groups, media content providers, nongovernmental organizations, federally funded research and development centers, private companies, or academic institutions” to: Collect and store examples in print, online, and on social media of disinformation and propaganda directed at the US, its allies, and partners. To “counter efforts” to use information to influence the policies and stability of the United States, it’s allies and partner nations. The Global Engagement Center will end in December 2024 (   The is a global media agency tasked with “informing” other countries in a way that pursues US national interests (aka: our propaganda networks). BBG networks include: Changes made by NDAA The head of the Broadcasting Board of Governors will be a , instead of a Director who has been appointed by the Board. Extends to all board members at Radio Free Liberty/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, or “any organization that consolidates such entities” The authorized $150 million per year for each Jordan and Lebanon for border security “support" This provision to the list of counties eligible for “support” funding The money is authorized until the Detailed procedures for court martial cases A list of all the offenses eligible for a court martial Executive Order Executive Order: , The White House Office of the Press Secretary, December 8, 2016 Sound Clip Sources Hearing: , Senate Armed Services Committee, January 20, 2016. - Witness Chairman, Former Vice Chief of Staff of the Army during the key Bush years, 1999-2003. Timestamps & Transcripts 27:30 General Jack Keane: Partnering for training and military education is essential to raise the level of operational competence. There is no substitute for an effective ground force supported by air power. Air power is an enabler; it is not a defeat mechanism. This is about alliance members providing the predominant military response. It’s not the United States military. The United States military would provide a certain level of support. Hearing: , House Foreign Affairs Committee, November 4, 2015, Witness Assistant Secretary Department of State->Near Eastern Affairs Ambassador to Columbia during Bush years Ran the drug war for Bush in 2005 Ambassador to Pakistan Bush/Obama Ambassador to Egypt right after the “uprising” Timestamps & Transcripts 16:40 Anne Patterson: We are pursuing four interlinked goals: (1) to defeat ISIS militarily in both Syria and Iraq, (2) to develop a political transition that gives Syria a future without Bashar al-Assad, (3) to ease the suffering of the Syrian people, and (4) to stabilize our allies as they cope with massive refugee outflows. 36:44 Anne Patterson: Patterson: The idea is to have a transitional government, to work on a time table for Assad’s departure—and let me be clear that that’s a critical element of this policy—and then to work on constitutional review, and, ultimately, an election in Syria. That’s the basic outlines of Secretary Kerry’s strategy. Rep. Karen Bass: So, at this point, if there were to be a transitional government, who do you see composing that? Anne Patterson: Well, a number of opposition figures and people already on the ground. It would be key—and this was in the communiqué—that Syria’s institutions—the military, intelligence, police, civil service—would remain intact, so you wouldn’t have a total collapse of state authority. The idea is just to remove Bashar Assad… Rep. Bass: Like that happened in Iraq? Patterson: …and his cronies from power. 1:30:50 Anne Patterson: The president and certainly the secretary has said many times that Assad’s departure is absolutely critical to any future in Syria. 1:32:45 Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: Those allies, do they see Assad’s removal from power as imperative to deal with this situation? Anne Patterson: Currently, our European allies, our Gulf allies, and Turkey do see that. They’re absolutely determined that he will not remain in power. 1:47:30 Anne Patterson: There’s broad consensus in the international community that these institutions in Syria would remain intact—the intelligence; the military; the police; the civil service; the ministerial structures, like health structures; and that the goal is to remove Bashar al-Assad and his closest advisors and have this political process that would lead to a new government. 1:56:10 Anne Patterson: Let me stress that that is our goal, to get Assad out. Press Conference: , US State Department, September 25, 2013 Transcript Secretary of State John Kerry: What this treaty does is simple: It helps lift other countries up to the highest standards. It requires other countries to create and enforce the kind of strict national export controls that the United States already has in place. Additional Reading Article: by Andrew Kramer and Clifford Krauss, New York Times, December 12, 2016. Article: by Robert Burns, Associated Press, December 10, 2016. Press Release: , Senator Rob Portman, December 8, 2016. See See Article: by Craig Whitlock and Bob Woodward, The Washington Post, December 5, 2016. Article: by Julian Pecquet, Al-Monitor, December 2, 2016. Article: by Mike Stone and patricia Zengerie, Reuters, November 9, 2016. Report: by Carla E. Humud, Christopher Blanchard, and Mary Beth Nikitin, Congressional Research Service, September 28, 2016. Article: by C.J. Chivers, New York Times Magazine, August 24, 2016. Blog Post: by Todd Dudley, LinkedIn, February 23, 2016. State Department Cable: , author unknown, November 30, 2015. Report: , January 22, 2015. Article: by Nafeez Ahmed, The Guardian, August 30, 2013. Article: by John Hudson, The Cable, July 14, 2013. Bill provision: , National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. Article: by Hassan Hafidh and Beniot Faucon, The Wall Street Journal, July 25, 2011. Article: by Seymour Hersh, The New Yorker, March 5, 2007. Webpage: , US Department of State Webpage: , National Priorities Project Document: , House Armed Services Committee, December 2017. Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: by (found on by mevio) Cover Art Design by