Overnight Defense: White House has 'high confidence' Syrian regime behind chemical attack | New push for vote on war measure | Pacific commander nominee heads before Congress

View in your browser     Happy Friday and welcome to Overnight Defense. We're Rebecca Kheel and Ellen Mitchell, and here's your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.   THE TOPLINE: The world spent much of the past week waiting for a U.S. military strike on Syria... And we're still waiting. The White House and State Department said Friday afternoon the United States has confidence that Syria carried out last week's chemical attack. As of Friday morning, though, President Trump had made no decision on what course of action to take, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley told the body's Security Council. The president's national security team was scheduled for have another discussion on the issue Friday afternoon, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said during Friday's press briefing. But the events of the week point to the likelihood that some sort of military action will happen. Here are the top stories from the week:   Syria watch: The week started with the world reeling from the horrific images that were emerging from Douma after last Saturday's apparent chemical weapons attack. Days earlier, Trump made clear he wanted the United States out of Syria, which some lawmakers argued emboldened Syrian President Bashar Assad to carry out a new chemical attack. But on Monday, Trump vowed swift action in Syria to respond to the attack. By Wednesday, he was tweeting that Assad-backer Russia should "get ready" because missiles "will be coming, nice and new and 'smart!'" The next day, Defense Secretary James Mattis told the House Armed Services Committee no decision had been made on military, and a national security meeting at the White House later that day likewise failed to produce a decision.   The authorization question: The Syria debate has been happening over the backdrop of the Senate potentially taking up a new war authorization -- but not for the civil war. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) said Monday he expected to release a new authorization for the use of military (AUMF) specific to non-state terrorists such as ISIS and al Qaeda by Thursday. When Thursday came, he said he was delaying the release at the request of Democrats, but expected to release it Friday. As of Friday afternoon, he has not released it. Meanwhile, a growing list of Democrats is expressing concern about a lack of authorization for a strike against the Syrian regime. The Trump administration and most Republicans hold that the president has the authority to carry out a "surgical" strike in Syria without congressional authorization. On Friday, a group of Democratic war veterans in the House pushed for a new AUMF to place a check on Trump. Later, a trio of top Senate Democrats sent a letter to Trump asking for his legal justification for a potential Syria strike.   The North Korea-Syria connection: Top GOP senators are pressing the Trump administration to respond to and stop North Korea providing Syria chemical weapon supplies. Experts from the United Nations in February found that North Korea has been shipping Syria supplies that could be used to make chemical weapons, with at least 40 unreported shipments from Pyongyang to Damascus between 2012 and 2017. In a letter to Acting Secretary of State John Sullivan and Treasury Department Secretary Steve Mnuchin, the lawmakers inquire about further sanctions being considered against Pyongyang, Damascus or countries that act as accomplices "to increase pressure and halt the use of chemical weapons."   Pompeo grilled: Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo had his confirmation hearing Thursday, where he was grilled by Democrats on issues ranging from the investigation into Russian election interference to whether he supports war against North Korea to his views on Muslims and LGBT people. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats walked away unsatisfied with his answers, suggesting he faces a precarious path to confirmation. With committee member Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) vowing to vote against Pompeo, the nominee needs at least one Democrat to vote for him to be favorably reported out of committee. Only one Cabinet member, Henry Wallace as commerce secretary in 1945, has ever been confirmed after not being reported favorably out of committee.     WHAT TO WATCH NEXT WEEK: The news cycle next week will likely be dominated by the release of former FBI Director James Comey's book Tuesday, but there are some defense issues that will be in the spotlight. Here are some issues to watch...   A looming Syria strike: Depending on the timing and extent of a Syria strike, the United States could be grappling with a new set of concerns. One of the potential issues with an extensive operation against the Syrian regime is that Russian troops are operating throughout Syria. If the United States kills any Russians in a strike, it could cause the situation to spiral. Russian officials have warned about a response to any U.S. strike, and if the strike inflicts damage on its military, Moscow will be hard-pressed not to respond in some way.   North Korea: Never far from the headlines these days, Pyongyang could also be a focus on Capitol Hill as the new nominee to lead U.S. Pacific Command (Pacom) faces his confirmation hearing. The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing for Adm. Philip Davidson at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Davidson would take command of U.S. forces in the Asia-Pacific at a time of heightened tensions and delicate diplomatic tangoing with North Korea. Testifying alongside Davidson on Tuesday will be Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, who has been nominated to be the new commander of U.S. Northern Command. Questions to him could also touch on North Korea, as his job would include overseeing the homeland ballistic missile defense system that would be used to protect against an incoming nuclear weapon from that country.   ON TAP FOR MONDAY Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein will speak about allied air power at the Mitchell Institute's "Mitchell Hour" at 9:30 a.m. in Arlington. https://conta.cc/2EJTuWv   ICYMI -- The Hill: Watchdog: Fired FBI official McCabe leaked to media to help himself -- The Hill: FBI director officially announces McCabe replacement, other FBI appointments -- The Hill: Trump pardons Scooter Libby, former top Cheney aide -- The Hill: Dem presses Mueller on whether Pompeo barred from discussing interview -- Associated Press: Guard faces tricky dance in California border mission -- Stars and Stripes: Lawmaker: Women could be the answer to military's recruiting woes     Please send tips and comments to Rebecca Kheel, rkheel@thehill.com, and Ellen Mitchell, emitchell@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @thehill, @Rebecca_H_K, @EllenMitchell23         Did a friend forward you this email? 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