PDB Afternoon Bulletin | November 19th, 2024: Kyiv Launches First US-Backed Long-Range Strike On Russia & Pentagon Unable To Account For Trillions Of Dollars
The President's Daily Brief
Deep Dive
Why did Ukraine launch long-range missiles into Russian territory?
Ukraine launched U.S.-made long-range missiles into Russian territory after receiving approval from the White House, aiming to strike deeper into Russian territory and potentially escalate the conflict.
How did Russia respond to Ukraine's missile launch?
Russia responded by revising its nuclear doctrine, significantly lowering the threshold for the possible use of nuclear weapons, indicating a heightened readiness to use nuclear force in response to conventional attacks.
What is the significance of the Pentagon's failure in its annual audit?
The Pentagon's failure in its annual audit for the seventh consecutive year highlights its inability to account for trillions of dollars in assets and liabilities, raising concerns about financial accountability and transparency despite a growing budget.
What are the primary challenges the Pentagon faces in its audits?
The primary challenges include accounting for physical assets and property, with significant discrepancies in tracking and reporting of military equipment and facilities.
What progress has been made in the Pentagon's audit efforts?
Some progress has been noted with nine entities achieving unqualified or clean opinions, up from eight last year, and the Marine Corps passing its first audit, but overall, the Pentagon still struggles with comprehensive financial accountability.
- Ukraine launches six U.S.-made Atakoms missiles into the Bryansk region.
- Russia's Defense Ministry claims to have shot down five of the missiles and damaged the sixth.
- Putin revises Russia's nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for nuclear use in response to Ukraine's strikes.
- The revised doctrine considers attacks on Russia by non-nuclear powers with nuclear power support as 'joint attacks'.
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