| DEFENSE BILL RELEASED: The House Armed Services Committee on Monday released the text of the chairman's mark of the annual defense policy bill. Most of the interesting details were revealed Friday in Republican and Democratic summaries of the bill, as well as a Republican background briefing. But some interesting tidbits emerged Monday: Bill would make White House lead on efforts against 'malign foreign influence': The bill would mandate that the National Security Council coordinate the government's effort to counter "malign foreign influence." While the document does not specifically mention Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, the provision appears to be a direct response to Moscow's influence effort. The proposal would direct President Trump to designate a member of the National Security Council to coordinate the interagency effort against malign foreign influence. Trump would also be required to submit to Congress a strategy for countering malign foreign influence within nine months of the bill's enactment. The proposed legislation would specifically define malign foreign influence operations and campaigns as "the coordinated, integrated, and synchronized application of national diplomatic, informational, military, economic, business, corruption, educational, and other capabilities by hostile foreign powers to foster attitudes, behaviors, decisions, or outcomes within the United States." More details on Turkey concerns: The fact that arms sales to Turkey would be halted pending a Pentagon report on U.S.-Turkish relations was first revealed Friday. But the bill's text provided some new details on lawmakers' concerns. Specifically, House lawmakers are warning against Turkey's potential purchase of a Russian weapons system. "The potential purchase by the Government of Turkey of the S-400 air and missile defense system from the Russian Federation has led to tension with the relationship," the bill reads. "These actions could negatively impact common weapon system development between the United States and Turkey." Turkey on Sunday threatened to "absolutely retaliate" against the U.S. should Congress enact the ban. "If the United States imposes sanctions on us or takes such a step, Turkey will absolutely retaliate," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu told CNN Türk on Sunday, according to Reuters. "What needs to be done is the U.S. needs to let go of this." Top Dem wants independent panel on military aircraft crashes: Monday also brought the first amendment planned for the NDAA. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, is proposing the creation of an independent commission to study military aviation safety. "It is time to establish an independent National Commission on Military Aviation Safety, so that we can understand exactly what causes are contributing to military aviation accidents, how current rates compare to historic averages, and what steps we can take to improve military aviation safety," Smith said in a statement. Smith's amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would create an eight-person commission, with four members appointed by the president and one each appointed by the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services committees. The committee would study aviation accidents from fiscal 2013 to 2018 and compare that to historic accident rates. The commission would also be tasked with assessing causes contributing to the accidents and making recommendations on changes to safety, training, maintenance, personnel or other policies. HASPEL NOMINATION FIGHT UPDATE: Gina Haspel's nomination to be CIA director is moving apace after reports emerged over the weekend that she offered to withdraw over concerns about her role in the so-called enhanced interrogation program. On Monday, the CIA delivered to Congress a tranche of classified documents related to Haspel's controversial undercover background. The delivery -- a single cardboard box marked "hand carry" that was wheeled in on a dolly to a secure facility in the Capitol basement -- comes as the agency is under fierce pressure from Democrats to declassify more information about Haspel's involvement in its now-defunct detention and interrogation program. "As Acting Director Haspel promised, CIA delivered a set of classified documents to the Senate today so that every Senator can review Acting Director Haspel's actual, and outstanding record," a CIA spokesperson said in a statement "These documents cover the entirety of her career, including her time in CIA's Counter Terrorism Center in the years after 9/11. We encourage every Senator to take the time to read the entire set of documents." Another delivery: Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee also received from the Department of Justice the summary of a 2010 report that could shed more light on the role Haspel played in the destruction of videotapes documenting a pair of brutal interrogations. The files from the DOJ's "Durham report" -- named after John Durham, the special prosecutor assigned to the case -- have never been made public or given to Congress. The DOJ delivered the report summary on Monday afternoon, according to a source familiar with the matter, just days before Haspel is set to have her confirmation hearing before the committee. The disclosure stems from a request made by the committee's top Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner (Va.). Haspel drafted the cable ordering the destruction of the tapes in 2005. Although Durham did not recommend charges for Haspel, several lawmakers on the committee have identified the incident as one of their key concerns with her nomination. Trump weighs in: Trump on Monday slammed critics of his nominee to serve as the new CIA director, saying Haspel is "highly respected" and "the most qualified" for the job. "My highly respected nominee for CIA Director, Gina Haspel, has come under fire because she was too tough on Terrorists," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Think of that, in these very dangerous times, we have the most qualified person, a woman, who Democrats want OUT because she is too tough on terror. Win Gina!" ON TAP FOR TOMORROW The Senate Armed Services Committee will receive a closed briefing on the results of the investigation into last year's ambush in Niger at 10 a.m. https://bit.ly/2Il4QWR The House Appropriations Committee will mark up the fiscal 2019 military construction and legislative affairs appropriations bill at 10 a.m. at the Rayburn House Office Building, room 2359. https://bit.ly/2HVYmhC The House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on Iran with testimony from outside experts at 10 a.m. at Rayburn 2172. https://bit.ly/2HJb3fH ICMYI -- The Hill: Appeals court upholds decision barring transfer of US-Saudi citizen detained by military -- The Hill: Trump slams John Kerry for 'shadow diplomacy' on Iran deal -- The Hill: Trump won't attend opening of new US Embassy in Jerusalem -- Reuters: Afghan gunships killed and wounded 107 boys and men in attack last month: U.N. -- Associated Press: US, Philippines launch largest military drills under Duterte | 
