OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Pentagon braces for CIA report

THE TOPLINE: The Pentagon is telling U.S. military commanders around the world to be on high alert ahead of Tuesday’s release of a Senate Intelligence Committee report on the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” by the CIA.

{mosads}”There’s certainly the possibility that the release of this report could cause unrest and therefore the Joint Staff has directed the combatant commands to take appropriate force protection measures,” said Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren on Monday. 

Warren said the Joint Chiefs issued their notice to commanders on Friday.

The report examining allegations of CIA torture will be released Tuesday, according to the White House, which says U.S. embassies have taken “prudent” steps to brace for possible unrest.

Press secretary Josh Earnest said Monday that the U.S. has “for months” been preparing for the report’s release.

“There are some indications that the release of the report could lead to a greater risk that is posed to U.S. facilities and individuals all around the world, so the administration has taken the prudent steps to ensure that the proper security precautions are in place at U.S. facilities around the globe,” he said. 

The full, 6,800-page report on interrogations under former President George W. Bush is expected to remain classified, but Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is releasing a nearly 500-page redacted summary.

The summary will likely contain new information about techniques used by the CIA. CBS News reported that the committee concluded the CIA went beyond what was “legally allowable” and that the agency deceived the White House, Congress and Department of Justice about the activities.

CIA officials have opposed releasing the summary, arguing it could jeopardize national security, and have worked with the White House on making redactions to the public document.
 
Republicans on the Intelligence Committee have also objected to the report’s findings, and withdrew participation in the investigation shortly after it began. Their dissent is expected to be released alongside the report from Democrats.

The White House said that the Senate Intelligence Committee had decided on the timing of the report’s release, adding that the administration “on principle” supported the dissemination of the declassified summary.

However, Secretary of State John Kerry called Feinstein on Friday, urging her to consider the impact of the summary’s release on the safety of U.S. hostages around the world.

Earnest said Obama shared Kerry’s concerns, resulting in the preparations for potential violence, but added he was not sure there would ever be a “good time” to release the report in a way that would avoid provoking a reaction.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) warned during an appearance on CNN on Monday that “this will cause violence and deaths.”

“I think this is a terrible idea,” Rogers said. “Foreign leaders have approached the government and said, ‘You do this, this will cause violence and deaths.’ Our own intelligence community has assessed that this will cause violence and deaths.”

 

WH: NO REGRETS OVER FAILED RAID: President Obama “does not at all regret” approving the failed mission to save an American hostage held by al Qaeda in Yemen, the White House said Monday.

There were “a few reasons” Obama stood by his decision to order the raid, during which America captive Luke Somers was murdered, according to press secretary Josh Earnest said.

He pointed to a video released by the militant group vowing to kill Somers by Saturday. 

“There was a very limited window for action,” Earnest told reporters. “And that is a testament, more than anything else, I think, to the bravery and skill of our men and women in uniform, who, like I said, for the second time in just a few weeks here put their lives on the line in a very dangerous country in a very dangerous mission to try to secure the safe rescue of Mr. Somers.”

Despite the failure, the effort is a “clear sign of this president’s resolve to do everything possible to rescue Americans who are being held hostage anywhere around the globe,” he added.

“Militants or extremist organizations that decide to take the risk of taking an American hostage are put on notice today,” Earnest said.

The administration received GOP support on the raid from Sen.-elect Tom Cotton (Ark.).

Cotton said the mission was worth the danger and that the soldiers involved had “behaved bravely and competently.”

“And the raid just didn’t go well, and unfortunately Luke Somers was killed in the raid,” he said. “But any time we know where an American’s being held and we have a chance to rescue that American, I think our default position should be we go get our fellow citizens.”

 

TUESDAY’S AGENDA: With days left in the lame duck session, national security looks to dominate the agenda.

House Republicans late Monday night or early Tuesday morning are expected to roll out a spending package designed to fund most of the government, including the Defense Department, through September, while providing short-term funding for the Homeland Security Department.

The “cromnibus” will include money for the military campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Tuesday morning, the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women’s Issues will hold two panels on ISIS and the growing humanitarian crisis in Iraq and Syria caused by months of intense fighting.

The committee will convene Tuesday afternoon to hear from Secretary of State John Kerry. The hearing had originally been slated for Monday afternoon.

A full committee markup on an authorization on the use of military force (AUMF) is expected Thursday.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 

— McCaskill: CIA report ‘would never happen in North Korea or China’

— White House: No sanctions on Israel

— Obama renews NSA spying program after reform bill fails

— A renewed focus on Obama’s foreign policy failures

— North Korea denies hacking Sony over James Franco movie

 

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