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Aaron Mehta Profile picture
Aaron Mehta
@AaronMehta
Deputy editor and Pentagon Correspondent @Defense_News. Shameless Boston sports nerd. The F-22 restart is dumb. EMAIL: amehta at defensenews dot com
Mar 2, 2022 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Bob is the most low-key, humble person I've met in this industry, so he won't go for a big thing about him retiring. Which means the rest of us will get to do it on his behalf. (Sorry, Bob) Here’s a shot from Rumsfeld’s Pentagon briefing on 9/11, just hours after the building was attacked. That’s Bob, front and center. That’s the spot he’d occupy, a few short detours aside, for the majority of the next two decades. Without a doubt, the dean of our press community. Image
Dec 15, 2020 • 16 tweets • 7 min read
FRIENDS, some news:

This weekend, I made and consumed one of only 1,000 Kraft Mac and Cheese Pumpkin Spice kits in existence.

What follows is a thread. #PumpkinSpiceKMC Some background: as many of you know, I have strong, correct opinions about seasonal foods. Specifically, that pumpkin flavored items should not be available before Oct. 1.

This in turn has led to many on this website trolling me for my - I must stress, correct - opinions.
Dec 14, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
If Lloyd Austin becomes Defense Secretary, who is the right person to fill the Pentagon's No. 2 role?

I looked at a few candidates, and more broadly, at what kind of experiences might best fit the requirements.

defensenews.com/smr/transition… Some think the Deputy Secretary job should be cast to best counter the weaknesses of the secretary's experience. Got a policy SecDef? Put in someone who knows how the building works. Got a wonky SecDef? Go for a policy person.
Jul 29, 2020 • 13 tweets • 3 min read
In opening remarks, Esper making the case that moving forces out of Germany is good for the alliance and Russian deterrence. That's a hard sell, given all the feedback from Europe about it.

11,900 troops out of Germany. Still 24,000 in Germany. 6,400 troops return to US, and then begin doing rotational deployments.

2,000 servicemembers to Belgium for HQ stuff.

4,500 2nd Cav returns to US as other Stryker units do rotations in Black Sea region

2,500 airmen in UK will remain there

Fight squadron reposition to Italy
Jul 24, 2020 • 16 tweets • 4 min read
JUST IN: President Donald Trump has officially signed off on new rules making it easier to export military #drones to other countries (as we broke last night.) Details here via @ValerieInsinna , with updates to come defensenews.com/industry/2020/… Our reporting from yesterday previewing this: defensenews.com/industry/2020/…
Sep 3, 2019 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
Former SecDef Jim Mattis, speaking in DC, says while he had major concerns about modernization when he came in, "I left with almost no concerns about the trajectory we were on." Cites 5G, hypersonics as key areas. Mattis says he met Rex Tillerson for the first time in late December 2016 when in DC. Mattis told him "I want the diplomats in charge of foreign policy.... he just reached over that table with that big hand of his and we shook hands." Adds they had weekly breakfasts.
May 14, 2019 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
WOW. Never seen this before. Following today's briefing where the UK's deputy commander of Inherent Resolve said he did not see increased threats from Iran, U.S. Central Command just put out this statement saying that "runs counter" to what the Pentagon sees. To say this is unusual would be an... understatement. Not only does this undercut an allied commander in the battlefield, his comments were made on a Pentagon briefing.
Nov 13, 2018 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
Holy cow. That's a HUGE win for Mattis. He and Ricardel have clashed since day one, and she was seen as someone working behind the scenes to push him out. BACKGROUND: defensenews.com/pentagon/2017/… "The president became involved in that decision at the urging of first lady Melania Trump, whose staff battled with Ms. Ricardel during the first lady’s trip to Africa last month over seating on the plane and requests to use National Security Council resources..."
Jul 5, 2018 • 11 tweets • 4 min read
This is getting a lot of attention, but it is really just another step in a series of policies that the Pentagon has begun using the last six months. Our @TaraCopp has written a ton about similar issues. Some examples, starting here: