Today's Headlines and Commentary

This week is set to be a busy time for the transition process as Senate Republicans prepare to hold hearings for President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense. Tuesday will also see a rare open hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Russian election interference, and Trump has promised his first press conference since the election for Wednesday.

The Washington Post reports on Exxon Mobil’s push to control Iraqi oil fields under CEO Rex Tillerson, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State. The company moved forward with negotiations over oil fields in 2011 despite State Department requests for Exxon to wait over fear that the company’s activity would further destabilize Iraq. The deal demonstrates Tillerson’s skill at playing politics abroad, but also underlines his and Exxon’s willingness to go against U.S. foreign policy in favor of the company’s gain.

The Post also takes a look at the hard line toward Iran held by Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis. As the Commander of U.S. Central Command, Mattis advocated a U.S. strike against Iran in response to a string of Iranian rocket attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq. Though Mattis’s focus on Iran as a potential threat led to friction with the Obama administration, it is possible that he may serve as a moderating force on foreign policy under Donald Trump—a possibility bolstered by his initial, abortive request that Michèle Flournoy, who likely would have served as Secretary of Defense under Hillary Clinton, work as his deputy.

Rounding out the profiles of cabinet nominees, The New York Times examines the career of General John Kelly, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security. Kelly will likely face a relatively easy confirmation hearing, but Kelly’s antagonism toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and emphasis on an approach to border security beyond the construction of barriers may put him at odds with the President-elect.

Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will serve as the President-elect’s senior advisor, NBC reports. The appointment raises serious legal questions, given anti-nepotism laws that prohibit a President from appointing or employing relatives. Kushner’s role will also add to the existing concerns over Trump’s conflicts of interest, given his business connections and ongoing effort to reach a real estate deal with a Chinese corporation linked to the country’s government. The Times has more.

The Trump transition team has instructed the leadership of the National Nuclear Security Administration, which watches over the United States’ nuclear weapons, to leave their positions by January 20th, Gizmodo reports. Trump has not yet selected replacements to fill the roles, meaning that NNSA will likely be left without a director or deputy for months—a first for the agency.

Friday saw the much-anticipated release of the intelligence community’s declassified report on Russian interference in the U.S. election, which showcased conclusions by the NSA, CIA, and FBI of Kremlin meddling on behalf of Donald Trump. The report includes little to back up the agencies’ overwhelming conclusions on Russian efforts to aid Trump, likely out of concern over revealing valuable sources and methods. The Times notes the slow response of the intelligence community, particularly the FBI, to the Russian hacking and leaking campaign. Notably, British intelligence services were the first to alert U.S. intelligence that the Democratic National Committee’s computer servers had been hacked.

The Marine Corps will send 300 additional troops to Afghanistan’s Helmand province this spring to advise Afghan forces fighting the Taliban, replacing Army forces, The Wall Street Journal writes. The province, where the last Marine combat mission ended in 2014, has seen worsening fighting as Afghan police and security forces struggle to grapple with a resurgent Taliban.

U.S. special operations troops carried out a ground raid in Syria to capture ISIS leaders on Sunday, the Post reports. The soldiers intercepted a vehicle carrying members of the Islamic State and departed the area carrying captives. Local news sources said that 25 ISIS fighters had been killed and that two of the group’s prisoners were freed, though this information has not been confirmed.

Russia has carried out airstrikes around the town of Al-Bab in northern Syria in support of Turkish efforts against ISIS, the Times writes. This activity marks the first use of Russian power to back Turkey’s offensive, though the two governments have previously been working together to establish a ceasefire in Syria. Russia’s effort signals a deepening of ties with Turkey, a NATO member, in a development that will likely be concerning to the United States and other members of the alliance.

Syrian President Bashar al Assad announced his willingness to “negotiate everything” with rebel forces in peace talks scheduled by Russia and Turkey, the AP tells us. Syrian rebels have yet to commit to attending.

Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president of Iran and long an influential political figure within the country, died on Sunday. The Times reports that his death emphasizes the country’s increasing distance from its revolutionary generation and places the Iranian moderates with whom Rafsanjani aligned himself, including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in a difficult political position in the absence of one of their most powerful leaders.

Another skirmish took place between the U.S. and Iran near the Persian Gulf on Sunday after a Navy destroyer fired warning shots at “harassing” Iranian patrol boats. The Post has more.

Four Israeli soldiers were killed and 17 wounded after a truck drove into them in Jerusalem on Sunday, in what the Israeli government has labeled an act of terrorism. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the attacker, a Palestinian man who was shot by police, appeared to have been acting in support of ISIS. Hamas praised the attack but did not take credit for it, the Times writes.

ICYMI: This Weekend, on Lawfare

Quinta Jurecic reviewed the past two weeks on Lawfare.

On the Lawfare Podcast, Susan Hennessey and Matt Tait discussed Russian election interference.

In this week’s Foreign Policy Essay, Joshua Rovner examined the future of intelligence under a Trump presidency.

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