The President's Daily Brief: PDB Afternoon Bulletin | November 19th, 2024

Host: Mike Baker, Former CIA Operations Officer
Release Date: November 19, 2024

1. Ukraine Launches First US-Backed Long-Range Strike on Russia

Overview: In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine has conducted its first known use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles against Russian territory. This development comes after receiving approval from the White House on Sunday, marking a pivotal moment in the war dynamics between Ukraine and Russia.

Details of the Missile Strike: On Tuesday morning, Ukraine fired six ballistic missiles at a military facility in the Bryansk region of Russia. These included American-built ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System), supersonic ground-launched tactical ballistic missiles with a range of approximately 190 miles. According to Russian Defense Ministry reports, five of these missiles were intercepted by Russian air defenses, while the sixth was damaged, resulting in fragments striking a military facility and causing a fire. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported.

U.S. Authorization and Kyiv's Confirmation: While Kyiv has not officially commented on the strikes, Mike Baker references an anonymous source from the Ukrainian Military who told the BBC, "Indeed for the first time we used ATACMs to strike Russian territory" (02:45). This action was authorized by President Biden, who relaxed long-standing restrictions on the use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles, allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory.

Implications and Putin's Response: Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded by revising Russia's nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for the possible use of nuclear weapons in response to conventional Western missile strikes. Baker highlights the gravity of this shift, stating, "nuclear annihilation wasn't something I had on my Christmas wish list" (04:15). The revised doctrine now considers an attack on Russia by a non-nuclear power, supported by a nuclear-armed state, as a joint attack warranting a potential nuclear response. Additionally, Russia has specified that attacks on its ally Belarus with conventional Western weapons could also trigger a nuclear response.

Quotes and Reactions:

• Mike Baker: "But first, our afternoon spotlight. It appears that Ukraine is wasting no time employing US Long range missiles inside Russian territory." (01:15)
• Fake Quote Attribution: Baker humorously cites a fabricated quote from President Biden: "come on man, I'm on my way out the door. Good luck with that nuke thing." (03:00) to emphasize the satirical disbelief regarding nuclear threats.
• Russian Lawmaker: "a very big step towards the start of World War 3." (05:30)

Analysis: Baker underscores the precariousness of the situation, noting that while Ukrainian leaders advocate for Western disregard of Putin's nuclear posturing, the potential for miscalculation remains high. He cautions that Putin remains a "wild card," especially with Russia's ongoing production of mobile bomb shelters designed to withstand nuclear attacks.

2. Pentagon Unable to Account for Trillions of Dollars in Assets and Liabilities

Overview: For the seventh consecutive year, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has failed its mandatory annual audit, unable to account for trillions of dollars in assets and liabilities. This persistent issue highlights significant challenges in financial transparency and accountability within the Pentagon.

Audit Failures: The DoD’s inability to pass the annual audit, which has been a requirement since 2018, continues to draw public and congressional criticism. Despite a growing defense budget that has risen to over $824 billion this year, the department struggles to maintain accurate financial records. Mike Baker points out the irony, "They've probably already misplaced" the massive budget allocation (12:00).

Audit Details and Financial Discrepancies: Undersecretary of Defense Michael McCord, Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer, announced that out of 28 entities audited, more than half (15) received disclaimers of opinion due to insufficient data. Only nine entities achieved unqualified or clean opinions, a slight improvement from the previous year. Baker cynically remarks, "Well done. You." in response to these minimal improvements (13:20).

Costs and Resource Allocation: The DoD spent $178 million and utilized 1,700 auditors to audit $4.1 trillion in assets and $4.3 trillion in liabilities, yet failed to achieve a passing grade. In comparison, last year's audit cost $187 million with 1,600 auditors, highlighting the inefficiency and escalating costs without tangible results.

Key Challenges: The primary obstacle remains the accurate accounting of physical assets and property across various branches, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force. McCord acknowledged that without all three branches achieving clean audits, the DoD cannot attain an overall clean audit.

Milestones and Progress: Despite overarching failures, there have been minor successes. The Marine Corps passed its first audit earlier this year, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency also achieved a clean audit. Baker sarcastically congratulates the Marine Corps and Defense Threat Reduction Agency, "Well done, Wethernex." (16:30).

Future Outlook: With Congress mandating a clean audit by 2028 through the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, the DoD faces increased pressure to rectify its financial management issues. Baker expresses skepticism about the Pentagon meeting this deadline, confidently stating, "I'll bet you a trillion dollars that doesn't happen." (18:00).

Quotes and Reactions:

• Mike Baker: "Well, I don't want to minimize fears about nuclear escalation, but we've heard these threats before from the Putin regime." (06:00)
• Michael McCord: "Progress in resolving issues." (14:10)
• Baker on Audit Costs: "Apparently The Pentagon spent $178 million conducting an audit to find out that the Pentagon yet again failed the audit." (15:05)

3. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief, Mike Baker sheds light on two critical and intertwined issues facing the United States and its allies. The first topic delves into the evolving dynamics of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, highlighting the precarious balance of power and the looming threat of nuclear escalation. The second issue underscores the systemic financial management problems within the Pentagon, questioning the efficacy and accountability of one of the largest defense budgets in the world.

Baker effectively uses humor and sharp commentary to underscore the gravity of these issues, urging listeners to remain informed and vigilant about both international conflicts and domestic governance challenges.

Final Quote:

• Mike Baker: "Stay informed, stay safe, stay co." (20:00)

Note: This summary excludes advertisements and non-content sections, focusing solely on the core discussions presented by Mike Baker.