Post by oldhippy on Dec 5, 2019 20:17:02 GMT
The agenda for this year's Reagan National Defense Forum is fixed firmly on the future, even as Congress struggles to pass a budget for the fiscal year that began more than two months ago. Meanwhile, its organizers have released their annual national security-themed public-opinion survey.
Perhaps its most eye-popping finding: 28% of Americans surveyed said that Russia is a U.S. ally. Belief in that falsehood is up from 19% last year. Still, 71% called Russia a threat to America, and 25% called it the greatest threat. But more people — 60% of those surveyed, called China the largest threat.
Other highlights:
"Americans identify cyberattacks as the top near-term threat. Almost nine in ten Americans are concerned about cyberattacks on government, and nearly as many are concerned about cyberattacks on personal computers and accounts."
"More Americans are concerned about Russia sponsoring cyberattacks than aiding rogue regimes, interfering in our elections, or invading its neighbors."
"A majority of Americans support an overseas military presence, with 65% saying it is better for the United States to maintain bases around the world and only 28% supporting a reduced military presence overseas."
Forum attendees are slated to include:
Defense Secretary Mark Esper
Robert O'Brien, President Trump's national security advisor
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy; Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett
Joint Chiefs: Gen. James McConville (Army); Gen. David Berger (USMC); Gen. Dave Goldfein (USAF)
Combatant commanders: Adm. Philip Davidson(Indo-Pacom); Gen. Paul Nakasone (Cybercom, NSA)
Other DoD leaders: Dana Deasy (CIO) John Rood (policy) and Ellen Lord (acquisition), Kari Bingen (intelligence)
Industry execs from Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, BAE Systems, Microsoft, Textron Systems, United Launch Alliance, Cubic, AM General, Leonardo DRS, Palantir, Sierra Nevada, Booz Allen Hamilton, Atlas Air, MDBA, Thales USA
More than 30 U.S. lawmakers
The defense ministers of Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Singapore, and Sweden.
I'll be moderating Saturday's 1:40 p.m. panel: "Strengthening Nuclear Deterrence: Modernizing the Triad and Sustaining Arms Control in a Post-INF World." Panelists include Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, National Nuclear Security Administration administrator, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. and Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio. Watch it live, here.
