Compilation | Coronavirus 28-29 May 2020 As of 1600
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COMPILATION | CORONAVIRUS 28-29 MAY 2020 AS OF 1600 Overview: Leading coverage today was Pres. Trump’s announcement that he has terminated the U.S. relationship with the WHO, citing China’s “total control” over the organization. With a crowded media environment, defense-related coverage was light and predominantly limited to defense and Hill outlets. DoD-related news: • Politico reported that a federal judge is considering whether to move a prisoner from Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. over concerns he cannot correspond with his lawyers due to the disruptions and restrictions caused by the pandemic. The article also highlighted yesterday’s news that several Democratic senators are concerned about conditions in the prison and the prisoners’ vulnerability to the virus. • Inside Defense reported that DoD “clashed” with Senate Democrats after a group of senators sent a letter to Sec. Esper this week expressing concern that the department has “only” used 23% of the funds allocated to it in the CARES Act. The article included statements from Mr. Hoffman that the Pentagon is being transparent and will be providing an update to Congress today. • The Atlantic Council’s blog, New Atlanticist, published highlights of National Guard chief Gen. Lengyel’s participation in a virtual event yesterday, where he discussed the Guard’s “Swiss Army knife” abilities to assist Americans during the pandemic. • NPR reported on Army Chief of Staff Gen. McConville’s visit to Fort Irwin, where he highlighted the testing and social distancing measures to protect soldiers while they are training at the base. • Inside Defense also reported that the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence raised concerns that during the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, DoD has “circled the wagons” around the traditional defense industrial base, but has not done the same for venture-backed startups working on “dual-use” technologies which can apply to both commercial and national security purposes. • Military Times reported on the Marine Corps’ announcement that it is cancelling the 2020 Warrior Games. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Final SFAB activates with upcoming missions in Asia, as Army plans a Pacific Pathways restart – 5/29 ........................................................................................................................................................2 Army Times | Kyle Rempfer ......................................................................................................................2 2. U.S. cuts World Health Organization ties over virus response – 5/29 ............................................... 3 Associated Press | Not Attributed .............................................................................................................3 3. How the U.S. might distribute a coronavirus vaccine – 5/29 .............................................................. 5 Axios | Eileen Drage O'Reilly ....................................................................................................................5 4. With the coronavirus pandemic entering a new phase in the US, world health experts shift focus to new hot spots – 5/29 ..........................................................................................................................6 CNN | Madeline Holcombe .......................................................................................................................6 5. The Pentagon Versus Public Health: The Race Is On – 5/29 .............................................................. 8 Forbes | William Hartung ..........................................................................................................................8 6. Holding China accountable for attempted coverup of coronavirus – 5/29 ...................................... 10 The Hill | Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) ..........................................................................................................10 7. COVID-19 could erode Pentagon's progress with dual-use technology startups, Silicon Valley warns – 5/29 ...........................................................................................................................................11 Inside Defense | Justin Doubleday .........................................................................................................11 8. DOD clashes with Senate Democrats over COVID-19 spending – 5/29 ........................................... 13 Inside Defense | Tony Bertuca ................................................................................................................13 9. 2020 Warrior Games scrubbed by Marine Corps over COVID-19 concerns – 5/29 ......................... 14 Military Times | Howard Altman ..............................................................................................................14 -1- OSD Public Affairs 10. New coronavirus cases decreasing among troops, but deaths are up across DoD – 5/29 ........... 14 Military Times | Meghann Myers .............................................................................................................14 11. Top General Takes Heat on Commissary Price Hikes, Travel Restrictions – 5/29 ......................... 16 Military.com | Richard Sisk ......................................................................................................................16 12. National Guard’s COVID-19 response combines civilian skillsets with unique military utility – 5/29 17 New Atlanticist (Atlantic Council) | Katherine Walla ................................................................................17 13. As America Socially Distances, The Army ‘Tactically Disperses’ – 5/29 ........................................ 18 NPR | Tom Bowman ...............................................................................................................................18 14. Judge mulls bringing Guantanamo prisoner to U.S. – 5/29 .............................................................. 20 Politico | Josh Gerstein ...........................................................................................................................20 15. Trump courts Africa to counter coronavirus — and China – 5/29 .................................................... 22 Politico | Meridith McGraw ......................................................................................................................23 ****** 1. Final SFAB activates with upcoming missions in Asia, as Army plans a Pacific Pathways restart – 5/29 Army Times | Kyle Rempfer The Army chief of staff and the service’s Pacific-based regional commander hope to complete the remaining Pacific Pathways exercises they have scheduled for the year. The training missions were halted amid the coronavirus pandemic, the two generals said May 20. About a week later, the Army’s 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade out of Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, also activated and announced that it will begin a series of six-month deployments to the Indo-Pacific region following a certification event in November. “With today’s activation of 5th SFAB, the Army can make good on its promise to align each SFAB with a Geographic Combatant Command — and 5th SFAB will align with United States Indo-Pacific Command,” said Army Forces Command leader Gen. Michael Garrett during a ceremony Wednesday. Officials said in a release that the 5th SFAB has hired 90 percent of its required troops. The brigade was also the last of the Army’s six planned SFABs to activate. The milestone comes as the Army tries to not just restart its Pacific Pathways series of exercises, but also expand them. “Our intent is to get back with these exercises as soon as the conditions allow,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville during a virtual Indo-Pacific land power conference that included representatives from 20 armies in the region. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said earlier this year that he wants to send U.S. troops to Asia for two to three months longer than past Pacific Pathways rotations and have the exercises involve more countries. The last U.S. soldiers from 25th Infantry Division to participate in Pacific Pathways departed Thailand in April, several weeks earlier than planned, to get ahead of the growing coronavirus pandemic in the region, unit officials said at the time. “Things will normalize,” said Army Pacific commander Gen. Paul LaCamera during the land power conference last week. “We will either return to a normal or adapt to a new normal, but either way we will figure it out as a team of allies and partners.” The Pacific Pathways iteration that returned a few weeks early was the first of the year. The second iteration start date was intended to coincide with Exercise Balikatan 2020 in the Philippines on May 4. However, that was cancelled in late March by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. -2- OSD Public Affairs An exact date for the 5th SFAB’s Pacific mission hasn’t yet been released. However, the brigade will hold a culminating training event at the Joint Readiness Training Center on Fort Polk, Louisiana, in November. While there, they will be joined by the 2nd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade to simulate advising “a highly-capable and well-trained partner in a conventional fight against a peer adversary,” a 5th SFAB press release reads. That JRTC rotation will serve as the unit’s certification event. Afterwards, 5th SFAB advisers will begin a series of six-month deployments into INDOPACOM area of responsibility and will plan to always maintain