President Trump's Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Daniel Coats became the highest-ranking guest thus far to the Defense Writers Group at a breakfast meeting April 4th. He responded to questions on the U.S. involvement in Syria, the response to the apparent Russian nerve gas attack in Britain, and the arms race in space, among other topics.
Coats gave reporters a heads-up that Mr Trump had made decisions about US military involvement in Syria and about further sanctions following the nerve gas attack in Salisbury, England. Officials soon announced that despite Trump's desire to exit from Syria, US forces would remain for now, and that a group of wealthy oligarchs close to President Putin will be prevented from visiting the U.S. or investing here.
Coats said the Administration is taking steps to prevent Russian interference in the upcoming midterm elections.
"I think we are becoming more and more aware of the potential for Russia to continue to engage in any number of ways relative to our elections and a lot of steps are being taken," he added.
Examples of the coverage:
CNN: US spy chief says more will 'be done' to counter Russian election interference
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/04
CBS News: Trump wants complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria within "months"
Daily Beast: DNI Dan Coats: U.S. Has Reached Decision on Whether to Pull Out of Syria
https://www.thedailybeast.com/
Daily Beast: Trump’s Intel Chief Won’t Pledge ‘Full’ Release of Gina Haspel’s Torture Record
Daily Telegraph: Vladimir Putin timed Salisbury attack to get election boost, top US intelligence official suggests
Inside Defense: White House offers no details on Syria
https://insidedefense.com/insi
Reuters: U.S. makes decision on troops in Syria: intelligence chief
Space News: DNI Coats: Enemies are developing advanced technology, space weapons. ‘We have to up our game’
U.S. News and World Report: U.S. Plans More Responses to Malign Russian Activities: Coats
