Today's Headlines and Commentary

Today, Secretary of State John Kerry determined that the Islamic State’s actions against Yazidis and other minority groups in Iraq and Syria constitute a genocide. During a press conference at the State Department, Secretary Kerry announced, “My purpose here today is to assert my judgement, ISIS is responsible for genocide against groups in areas under its control including Yazidis, Christians, and Shiite Muslims.” However, the Associated Press suggests that “the declaration, while long sought by Congress and human rights groups, changes little” and does not “obligate the United States to take additional action against IS militants and does not prejudge any prosecution against its members.”

According to a new report issued by IHS Jane’s, the Islamic State has lost 22 percent of its territory in Iraq and Syria. The report indicates that in 2016 alone, the terrorist organization has “seen major losses in the north-east extend south towards Raqqa and Deir al Zour as the mixed sectarian Kurdish and Sunni Syrian Democratic Forces advance under the cover of U.S. and Russian airstrikes.” Read more here.

Agence France-Presse reports that an Iraqi army plane went down on Wednesday near Kirkuk. The Iraqi military is blaming a technical glitch for the downing; however, the Islamic State said that its fighters shot it out of the sky. AFP writes that a high-ranking Iraqi security official stated the the plane crashed during a reconnaissance mission near Kirkuk and that the three crew members were considered missing. The Islamic State issued their own statement on Twitter shortly after the plane crash announcing that it had shot the aircraft down with anti-aircraft artillery. The Islamic State also allegedly released a video claiming to show the footage of the aircraft’s final moments in the sky and also depicts ISIS fighters celebrating around body parts.

The U.S. and its allies last month dropped the fewest bombs on ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria since the campaign began. Bloomberg Business has more.

Yesterday, Syrian government officials firmly rejected direct negotiations with opposition envoys. The Washington Post writes that the move has dampened “hopes of greater compromise at peace talks” after Russia began withdrawing troops from Syria. Meanwhile, following Russia’s unexpected announcement that it will be withdrawing troops from the region, the country's air force commander said today that most of Russia’s remaining military contingent in Syria is expected completely withdraw within the next two or three days, according to Reuters.

The Wall Street Journal suggests that “Russia has accomplished what it set out to do” in Syria. The Journal writes that “a drawdown of Russian forces is a signal that Mr. Putin believes that, for now, Mr. Assad’s future is ensured.” Read more on how Russia tested its hardware and military prowess in Syria here.

The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) claimed responsibility for a suicide blast that killed 37 people in Ankara, Turkey this week. Reuters reports that the group carried out Sunday’s attack and vowed further strikes to “avenge military operations in the largely Kurdish southeast.” In a statement issued on the militant group’s website, the TAK stated “we have hundreds of members ready to conduct suicide attacks.”

European Union leaders met in Brussels today to agree on a package to offer Turkey before Turkey commits to a scheme intended to halt migrant flows to the Greek islands. According to Reuters, European Council President Donald Tusk plans to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in hopes of finalizing the deal, which would “break the business model of the smugglers and to offer migrants an alternative to putting their lives at risk.”

The New York Times shares that Meir Dagan, “the Israeli soldier and spymaster who was widely credited with setting back Iran’s nuclear program through covert and daring operations as the director of the Mossad intelligence agency from 2002 to 2011,” died on Thursday in Tel Aviv. Dagan was 71 years old. Read more on Dagan from the Times.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy wrote an open letter to President Obama expressing House of Representatives national security leaders' concern for the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. In a piece posted on War on the Rocks, Representative McCarthy argued that we are maximizing the chances of failure in Afghanistan. Check that piece out here.

While members in the House of Representatives state their concern for the U.S.'s mission in Afghanistan, the head of NATO has predicted a difficult fight ahead in the region. Voice of America tells us that NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that insurgents would continue to fight against Kabul in what will likely be another tough year for Afghanistan. Stoltenberg also added that “there is going to be continued fighting and we have to expect that there are going to be new attacks on the government forces.”

Yesterday, President Obama authorized new sanctions against North Korea designed to further isolate the country’s leadership in response to Pyongyang’s recent provocative actions. Reuters reports that the president’s executive order “freezes any property of the North Korean government in the United States and prohibits exportation of goods from the United States to North Korea.” The sanctions also allow the U.S. government to blacklist any individuals who deal with North Korea’s economy. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters during a news conference that “the U.S. and the global community will not tolerate North Korea’s illicit nuclear and ballistic missile activities, and we will continue to impose costs on North Korea until it comes into compliance with its international obligations.”

China immediately expressed its oppositions to the sanctions alleging that they could raise tensions. Reuters also tells us that part of the provisions within the sanctions “will compel banks to freeze the assets of anyone who breaks the blockade, potentially squeezing out North Korea’s business ties, including those with China.” China has signed off on the tough new restrictions against Pyongyang but continues to stress that sanctions are not the answer and only a resumptions of talks will resolve the North Korean weapons program dispute.

In Africa, Kenya’s military announced that it had killed 19 al Shabaab militants who were attempting to ambush Somali national troops. According to Kenyan military spokesman Col. David Obonyo, Kenyan troops located the group of militants suspected of preparing an attack against a Somali National Army camp.

Yesterday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that his country would seek a two-year term on the U.N. Security Council starting in 2021. The AP reports that Prime Minister Trudeau cited Canada’s resettlement of Syrian refugees and its desire to take part in peacekeeping efforts as evidence of a renewed commitment to engage in world affairs. Trudeau stated that “it’s time for Canada to step up once again.”

Denmark’s military intelligence wing announced that it will create a “hacker academy” to train IT specialists who, if they graduate, will be offered employment. In an official statement issued by the Danish Defiance Intelligence Service, the agency said that those enrolled in the “academy” were already the brightest in their field. According to the AP, “the academy will not teach them how to hack, but will target their mindset and skills so that they can be used by the agency.”

More than a dozen U.S. military personnel have been disciplined for mistakes that led to the accidental bombing of a Doctors Without Borders hospital that killed 42 people in Afghanistan last year. However, the disciplined military personnel will not face criminal charges. The AP reports that the punishments are largely administrative, but in some cases are tough enough to end further promotion chances.

Yesterday, an Ohio man pleaded guilty to federal charges of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Amir Said Rahman al Ghazi, of Sheffield Lake, Ohio, allegedly swore allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. Al Ghazi was arrested last year after buying an AK-47 from an undercover agent. He faces up to 16 years in prison.

Yesterday on the Hill, top Army and Marine Corps generals warned lawmakers that they would be unable to fight and win another war in the midst of budget cuts, two current wars, and heightened global threats. Defense News shares that Gen. Robert Neller, Marine Commandant, said that his "service is supplying trained and ready troops to regional combatant commanders but would be hard-pressed to rapidly respond to another major crisis.” As Defense News indicates, the statement proves significant as the United States “stares down threats from an aggressive Russia, a rising China, a belligerent North Korea, and an extremist-sponsoring Iran.”

Parting Shot: Ever wonder how many widgets, designed to allow investigators to transfer suspects’ computers to their laboratories for forensic analysis, the Pentagon has in stock? Yeah, we hadn't either. However, one Oregon-based software developer named Martin Peck sent DoD a FOIA request because he was concerned about privacy issues and government secrecy and wanted to know how many of these the Pentagon had in its possession. The simple question was not so simple for the Pentagon. Apparently it would take the Defense Department 15 million labor hours to answer the question and doing so would cost them $660 million. Read the rest on what you could buy with that kind of money here.

ICYMI: Yesterday, on Lawfare

Jack and Ben invited us to the next Hoover Book Soiree, which will feature Adam Segal on his new book, The Hacked World Order: How Nations Fight, Trade, Maneuver, and Manipulate in the Digital Age.

Ben also shared a video of the last Hoover Book Soiree with General Michael Hayden.

Nicholas Weaver examined a FBI hacking warrant and “Network Investigatory Techniques.”

Cody linked us to President Obama’s announcement nominating Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.

Ben shared that Judge Merrick Garland has extensive national security experience and also praised his nomination to SCOTUS.

Timothy Edgar asked Republicans in the Senate if they are sure that they really want to block Garland’s nomination.

Daniel Weitzner stated that the encryption debate has entered its second phase.

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