The President's Daily Brief - November 1st, 2024: Iran Planning Another Major Strike on Israel, Putin’s Military Purge, & North Korea’s Missile Milestone

Episode Date: November 1, 2024

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: We start with a new report from Israeli intelligence indicating that Iran may be preparing for a significant attack on Israel, potentially timed before the U.S. presidential election on November 5th. Next, we dive into Vladimir Putin’s recent shake-up in military leadership, with at least ten Russian generals reportedly arrested on charges of fraud and corruption in recent months. North Korea just set a new record with its longest-ever ballistic missile flight. We’ll break down the details of this missile, which is said to be more agile and capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. And in today’s Back of the Brief: The U.S. Northern Command reports hundreds of unauthorized drone incursions at military sites across the country, raising concerns about potential security threats. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. Email: [e-mail]  Blackout Coffee: https://www.blackoutcoffee.com/PDB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is Euphoria Calvin Klein, the new elixir collection, featuring three perfum intense scents, inspired by a unique orchid accord, paired with vanilla, each with its own distinct attitude, each with its own universe, bold elixir, sensual, woody, addictive, magnetic elixir, sweet and romantic like a lingering touch, solar elixir, a radiant expression of joy, ultra-concentrated for amplified impact and lasting power. Find your euphoria. Discover the Euphoria Elixir Collection by Calvin Klein. Kickstart your day with a delicious cup or two of Blackout Coffee. It's a great company, American and family-owned, and all about producing premium coffee, fresh-roasted,

and shipped out within 48 hours of roasting. Go to blackout coffee.com and use a promo code PDB for 20% off your first-time purchase. It's Friday, 1 November. Well, would you look at that? We've made it to a brand new month. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker. Your eyes and ears on the world stage.

All right, let's get briefed. We're starting today's show with a new report from Israeli intelligence that claims Iran is preparing to carry out another major attack on Israel, possibly before the U.S. presidential elections on 5 November. We'll have the developing details on that. Later, Vladimir Putin, remember him? He's shaking up his military leadership with reports that at least 10 generals have been arrested in recent months on fraud and corruption charges. Hmm, fraud and corruption within the Russian military. Who would have thought it? Plus, North Korea just set a new record with its longest-ever ballistic missile flight,

a missile said to be more agile and, reportedly, capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. And in today's back of the brief, U.S. Northern Command reports hundreds of unauthorized drone incursions over military sites across the country in recent years, posing, of course, potential security risks. that would make sense, is it just me? Or wouldn't it make sense to shoot down any unauthorized drones that are flying over sensitive sites? But first, today's PDB spotlight. According to our report by Axios, Israeli intelligence suggests that Iran is preparing a massive retaliatory attack on Israel in the coming days, possibly before the U.S. presidential election set, of course, for 5 November. Unlike the previous strikes, which hailed from Iranian territory, this one is expected to come

from Iraqi territory. That means it's likely to be carried out by Iranian proxy groups, including Iraq's militias using a large number of drones and ballistic missiles. That is, after all, why the Iranian regime has spent all these years in money and effort to build their various proxy groups, so that they could strike at Israel without drawing return fire directly on to the Iranian regime itself. Although at this stage, following two separate direct attacks on Iran by Israel in retaliation, the regime's concept of hiding behind their proxies might be wearing thin. Along those lines, Axios is reporting that carrying out the attack through pro-Iran militias in Iraq could be an attempt by Tehran to avoid another Israeli attack against

strategic targets in Iran. Meanwhile, two separate rocket barrages. fired from Lebanon, killed seven people in northern Israel on Thursday, hitting agricultural areas along the border, so much for the cautious optimism over possible ceasefire discussions between Israel and Hezbollah. According to the IDF, Hezbollah fired dozens of projectiles into Israel's north throughout the day, targeting the Golan Heights and other parts of northern Israel, including areas surrounding the major port city of Haifa. An Israeli farmer and for foreign agricultural workers were killed when rockets landed near Matula, that's a town on the border with Lebanon. Later, paramedics reported that a woman in her 60s and a man, around 30, were killed near Kabut's

effect on the outskirts of Haifa. The back-to-back attacks represent the deadliest spade of strikes from Lebanon since the Israeli military invaded the country earlier this month. Now, the deaths bring the total number of Israeli civilians killed in the conflict with Chazbalah to 39. Meanwhile, the IDF announced that the deputy commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force was killed in an air strike earlier this week. According to the military, Mustafa Ahmad Shahadi was killed in a strike carried out by fighter jets in southern Lebanon. The IDF said in a statement that Shahadi advanced numerous terror attacks against the state of Israel

and his elimination is, quote, part of the effort to degrade Hezbollah's Radwan force's capabilities to direct and execute terror activities against IDF troops and communities in the northern border. Now, one such terrorist plot, referred to by Hasbullah as the conquest of the Galilee planned, was an October 7-style massacre that Hezbollah had planned to carry out, but ultimately was unable to launch. The surge in violence comes just as Lebanon's acting prime minister expressed some guarded optimism about a potential ceasefire deal being on the horizon. Yesterday, we highlighted a draft agreement released by Israel's public broadcaster that builds on a UN Security Council resolution from the aftermath of the 2006 Lebanon War, Israel's last

major showdown with Hezbollah. The proposal would require Hezbollah to withdraw its forces to the north of the Latani River in southern Lebanon, and that's a move aimed at creating a more secure buffer zone near Israel's border. All right, coming up next, Vladimir Putin purges his top military ranks, with 10 generals arrested on corruption charges. And North Korea tests its longest range missile yet, reportedly capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. I'll have those stories when we come back.

USAA knows dynamic duos can save the day, like superheroes and sidekicks or auto and home insurance. With USAA, you can bundle your auto and home and save up to 10%. Tap the banner to learn more and get a quote at usaa.com slash bundle. Restrictions apply. Choice hotels get you more of what you value. Here's a little tune to help you remember. Same drive, different day.

Don't you wish you were getting away? Pack your bags and come on through. Texas, Ohio, Alaska, we're up there too. Comfort Inn. It's calling your name. Save our own. on the stain. Oh, and free waffles are yours to claim. Well, I hope you like my little song, book direct at storeshiltails.com. Welcome back to the PDB. Let's shift our focus to Russia, where a sweeping

anti-corruption crackdown, at least that's what they're calling it, is targeting military and defense leaders, with arrests shaking Russian President Putin's inner circle and signaling a high-stakes power shift within the Kremlin. On Wednesday, Major General Alexander Ogloblin became the latest to be arrested and held in pretrial detention, accused of accepting bribes totaling some $103,000 U.S. dollars from a telecom manufacturer to secure defense ministry contracts, and that's according to Russia's investigative committee. O'Globelin's arrest is part of a broader sweep aimed at rooting out corruption within Russia's Ministry of Defense. His detention, sparked. discussions on political loyalty and accountability among Russia's military elite, with some observers

drawing parallels to Soviet-era purges. Now, O'Globlin had been sentenced previously to four and a half years for embezzlement, and that was back in February of 2022, on separate charges, but he was released early after testifying against his former superior, Vadim Shemarin, now the deputy chief of Russia's general staff. In a twist, O'Globlen's second arrest followed Shemarin's testimony against him, according to Russian newspaper Commerzant. Guess it comes down to which corrupt Russian general you're going to believe. It's sort of a he-said situation. According to the report, Shemarin accepted kickbacks from a telecom manufacturer, later splitting the bribe with Ogloblin. As part of a plea deal, Shemarin disclosed this information. Which news source and new voice of

Ukraine suggests may have been driven by a desire for revenge against his former subordinate. No, you think so? That same Wednesday, the British Ministry of Defense noted a Globelin's arrest as a sign of Russia's increased scrutiny on current and former defense officials appointed by former defense minister Sergei Shorigou, now the Security Council Secretary. According to John Foreman, a former British defense attache, the FSB, Russia's intelligence agency, has been, in his words, quote, slowly but steadily, working through corruption cases within the defense ministry. Foreman, hints his crackdown, could eventually target Sergei Shogu himself, noting that Shogu, nearing 70 years old, might soon be expendable to Putin.

Foreman stated, quote, next year might be a convenient time for Putin to thank him for his service, end quote. In just five months, at least 10 generals and senior defense ministry officials connected to Shogu have been detained or prosecuted on fraud and corruption charges. Notably, in September, the investigative committee arrested Russia's deputy commander of the Leningrad Military District for allegedly accepting a $203,000 bribe tied to uniform supply contracts. Just days earlier, General Pavel Popov, former deputy defense minister, was arrested on charges of fraud related to the construction of a Kremlin-backed patriotic project. Investigators revealed Popov owns luxury properties, oh, do tell, valued at over.

over $5 million, exposing a lifestyle far beyond his government salary. The investigative committee initiated these arrests following Putin's re-election, and the May appointment, of course, of Andre Belosov as the new defense minister. Known for his integrity, but lacking military experience, meaning he has none, Belosov appears tasked with a clear mission, eliminate corruption within the ministry. Now, this crackdown labeled a, quote, purge by Russian military-focused telegram channels suggests a potential power shift as Belisov seeks to dismantle corruption within the ranks, or consolidate his own power, or both. Shogu's potential downfall mirrors the political trajectory of Dmitri Medvedev, Russia's former

president and prime minister, whose influence waned as his associates faced corruption charges. Shogu possibly appears poised for a similar fate, remaining silent as his once-powerful network unraveled under anti-corruption scrutiny, as the Kremlin recalibrates its inner circle. Now, whether it's Putin or China's Xi Jinping, anti-corruption drives tend to be the favored vehicle of autocratic leaders when tightening their grip on power and purging those whose loyalty may be in question. All right, turning to North Korea, leader Kim Jong-un ordered a bold escalation Thursday, authorizing an intercontinental ballistic missile in the ICBM launch,

marking its longest-ever-recorded flight time, and within potential striking distance of the U.S. The ICBM launch near Pyongyang is North Korea's first since December, remaining airborne for 86 minutes, which is 13 minutes longer than its previous record. This ICBM launch appears to signal Pyongyang's interest in capturing the attention of the U.S. just days before the presidential election. And this is not atypical for Kim Jong-un.

He has a habit of launching a missile anytime he feels ignored or disrespected. This particular launch, this missile, traveled about 620 miles before landing in the Sea of Japan, reaching a peak altitude of some 4,350 miles. It's important to note that although fired at a high angle, the missile's potential range suggests that it could reach Anchorage, Alaska. While Thursday's test posed no immediate threat to the U.S. or its allies, it underscores North Korea's advancing missile capabilities. At the launch, Kim described the missile test as, quote, an appropriate military action against adversaries that he claims pose direct threats to North Korea.

According to North Korea's defense ministry, Kim added that the test was a warning to the regime's rivals and the test exceeded the characteristics of previous launches. Now, South Korea's joint chiefs of staff, identified the weapon as a new solid-fueled ICBM, a potential advancement in Pyongyang's arsenal. Solid-fueled missiles are quicker to launch and harder to detect than their liquid-fueled counterparts, making them a more formidable threat. South Korean intelligence also reports that the missile was launched from a massive 12-axal vehicle, the largest of its kind in North Korea, fueling speculation that Pyongyang could be developing even larger ICBMs. Japanese defense minister General Nakatani echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the missile's

record-breaking flight duration indicates Pyongyang's progress in ICBM technology. However, analysts note the regime faces technical hurdles, particularly in re-entry technology needed for a nuclear strike on the U.S. mainland. The timing of the launch is seen as strategic. South Korean military spokesman Li Song-jun suggested the ICBM test just before the president's election likely is aimed to bolster North Korea's negotiating leverage. In an urgent response, the foreign ministers of the U.S., South Korea, and Japan held a call issuing a joint statement, urging North Korea to halt its, quote, provocative and destabilizing actions. Well, that should do it. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command condemned the test as, quote, unlawful, while White House National

Security Council spokesman Sean Savitt stated the test was, quote, a flagrant violation of United nation's Security Council resolutions. Well, okay. North Korea has yet to meet a UN resolution that it's not willing to flagrantly violate. I mean, it's their signature move. South Korean intelligence suggests additional ICBM tests and potentially a seventh nuclear test may be forthcoming. This escalating military posture heightens tensions, of course, on the Korean Peninsula and raises concerns over North Korea's advancing ICBM capabilities and readiness, particularly given their increasing cooperation with Russia, which undoubtedly includes weapons technology transfer from Moscow to Pyongyang.

Okay, up next in the back of the brief, U.S. Northern Command reports hundreds of unauthorized drone incursions at military sites across the country. Well, that's not good. I'll have the details when we return. It's only getting every customer's order right. It's only a point-of-sale system connected. by Spectrum fiber-powered business internet helping you track hundreds of secure transactions.

And it's all backed by 24-7 U.S.-based customer support and local technicians. It's only everything. Get business internet advantage free forever when you get four mobile lines from Spectrum. Visit Spectrum.com slash free for life to find out how. Restrictions apply. Service is not available in all areas. Some follow the noise.

Bloomberg follows the money. Whether it's the funds fueling AI or crypto, trillion-dollar swings. There's a money side to every story. Get the money side of the story. Subscribe now at Bloomberg.com. In today's back of the brief, reports of hundreds of unauthorized drone flights over U.S. military bases on American soil heightened Pentagon security concerns, but the true extent of these incursions remains unknown. The Defense Department has been particularly alarmed by incursions near sensitive Pentagon installations like Langley Air Force Base. home to the Air Force's F-22 fighter jets, previously reported by the Wall Street Journal.

While Northern American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, data shows unmanned aircraft systems, which are known as UAS sightings, decreasing slightly over the past few years, from 250 in 2022 to 202 in 2023 and so far 163 in 2024, look at me toss all those numbers out at you, the trend isn't entirely reassuring. New detection systems are likely increasing, awareness of drone activity, suggesting that many past events may have slipped under the radar, literally. General Gregory Giel, the commander of U.S. Northern Command, Northcom, and NORAD, speculates that while most are likely the work of local hobbyists, and that's quite the hobby, the proximity to classified programs has spurred speculation about foreign surveillance. Well,

there's a thought, and it's probably a safe bet, despite the clear risks posed by unauthorized drones. regulations governing domestic airspace prevent military personnel. Now, this is interesting, from employing stronger countermeasures, such as shooting down potential threats. Yes, well, that's what you want. You want a regulatory environment that prevents the military from shooting down unauthorized, unidentified aerial systems over sensitive sites. Yes, that makes perfect sense. Gio stated, quote, the threat, and the need to counter these threats is growing fast.

then the policies and procedures that are in place can keep up with." End quote, really. It doesn't seem like a complicated fix. Just change the regulations so that any drone flying over restricted government or military airspace becomes fair game. There, I fixed it for you. Gio envisions Northcom as the, quote, lead synchronizer in counter UAS efforts, exploring the utilization of GPS jamming and spoofing to disable unwanted drones.

However, GPS interference is tricky. It could disrupt civilian travel if not implemented with precision. Well, then you should implement it with precision. By collaborating closely with the Federal Aviation Administration, Northcom could establish preset permissions to engage drones in high-risk scenarios, reducing response times from days to hours. That still doesn't seem appropriate. How about you reduce it from hours to, I don't know, minutes, maybe seconds? While the Pentagon has improved its ability to monitor large drones, smaller systems, classified

as group 1 and 2, are often harder to track because they blend into airspace clutter. For background, the Pentagon classifies drones into five groups. The first group is the smallest. Now, you follow me on this one. And the fifth group is the largest. The challenge isn't solely in identifying these smaller drones, but in distinguishing them from other aerial activities like, well, civilian airliners, yes, it would be important to make that distinction, which can cause

confusion and duplicate sightings among personnel. Well, on that note, that, my friends, is the President's Daily Brief for Friday, one November. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com. And to listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of the President's daily brief by simply visiting pdbpremium.com. Now, I'm sure you You noticed that today is Friday, and no doubt you've marked on your calendars that Fridays mean new episodes of our extended weekend show, the PDB Situation Report. This weekend's episode debuts this evening at 10 p.m. as always on the first TV. It's also available, of course, on our YouTube channel. You can find that at President's Daily Brief, and, of course, again, all podcast platforms.

Our guests include the excellent Ryan Macbeth, Intel analyst, and weapons expert extraordinaire. and the always-informed and interesting Art Arthur from the Center for Immigration Studies. Tune in and learn stuff. I'm Mike Baker. I'll be back later today with the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. Until then, stay informed. Stay safe. Stay cool. Ryan Reynolds here from MintMobil. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same premium wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities, so do like I did and have one of your assistants assistants,

switch you to MintMobile today. I'm told it's super easy to do at mintmobile.com slash switch. Up front payment of $45 for three-month plan, equivalent to $15 per month required. Intro rate first three months only, then full price plan options available. Taxes and fees extra. See full terms at mintmobile.com.