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Remarks by Secretary Carter, General Robinson and Defence Minister Sajjan in a Press Conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ASH CARTER: -- Good morning everyone. It's a pleasure to be here this morning with Minister Sajjan, Chairman Dunford, General Vance, and of course, General Lori Robinson, our newest combat commander here in NORTHCOM.

I recommended her to the president for this post because she is the most qualified officer for this important assignment. I have complete confidence in her. I've known her and worked with her for quite some time. She has many responsibilities in this important role.

One of them I highlighted this morning and about which we were just conferring was the role that NORAD plays -- I think NORTHCOM and NORAD play in defense of the homeland. We are accelerating the defeat of ISIL overseas. That is necessary. We're getting results there and we expect more. That's necessary, but it's not sufficient.

We also need to defend our people here in the homeland and also our forces, which we know are sometimes particularly targeted by violent extremists. And so that's one of the things that we've been discussing here, the leadership and one of the early priorities that General Robinson will have, among her many other priorities.

But she's a superb officer, and I'm confident is going to do an excellent job also. I welcome her to this role. I very much appreciate the collegiality and strong role that our Canadian partners play here in North America. These are not only colleagues, but friends of mine, very respected friends of mine. I'm glad to have them here with me.

And let me turn things over to my good friend, Minister Sajjan, hear him to make some remarks, and then we'll take some questions from you.

DEFENCE MINISTER HARJIT SAJJAN: Thank you, Secretary Carter.

It's great to be able to be here today. As you know, that the safety of our citizens is always our number one priority, and NORAD plays a significant role in this capacity, and the unique binational relationship that our two countries have is extremely important.

So it's a privilege for me to be here today alongside General Vance as part of this change of command, to say farewell and commend Admiral Gortney for his tremendous work, and also to welcome General Robinson to this command.

I know that when I saw the resume, when Secretary Carter showed me General Robinson, and General Vance had spoken very highly of her, and the prime minister directly was extremely impressed. And as we were saying, "have you seen her resume?" So it's extremely impressive. But it goes to show our great relationship that we do have as nations. We're not just here, but also abroad on the counter-ISIL fight in Iraq and the transnational fight that we're going to be a part of as well.

Thank you.

SEC. CARTER: Okay. Peter?

STAFF: We have time for a few questions here. We'll start with Dan Lamothe..

Q: Yes, good afternoon. Dan Lamothe, Washington Post.

Mr. Secretary, you outlined a couple of measures that are being taken to better protect American troops at home. I'd be interested in your thoughts on whether you think that's sufficient, and whether or not American troops on American bases should have the option to carry their own firearms.

SEC. CARTER: Well, we're constantly assessing the force protection posture here, so we are making adjustments all the time. And local commanders have considerable latitude, which is appropriate, given the enormous number of installations we're talking about, not just bases themselves, but the thousands of off-base DOD installations that we operate.

So in all of those cases, we're assessing them; any possibility of threatening behavior with respect to them. We do that constantly. We're constantly making changes and adjustments. And individual base commanders have substantial ability to make those adjustments.

With respect to armed protection, there are provisions for that. There have been, and we've made some substantial steps to clarify that -- them so that members who are appropriately trained and authorized by the commander of an installation can be armed and are armed right now.

But again, there is substantial commander's discretion in that regard, as is appropriate given the number and variety of installations.

But overall, our posture is one where we strengthen considerably after Chattanooga constantly adjusting it -- continue to constantly adjust it. And one of the things that General Robinson, General Dunford and I were just speaking about was DOD's roles in counter-ISIL protection of the Homeland. Obviously law enforcement and Homeland Security intelligence are the lead agents there but we strongly support them. Obviously, most importantly, by destroying ISIL overseas -- that's necessary but it's not sufficient if we need to protect here at the homeland as well. That's an early priority for General Robinson who’s (biz?) for all of us.

STAFF: Before we take the next question, please stick the microphone up. Tom, you have a question?

Q: Absolutely, and this is for General Robinson. I got to know Taryn with the Air Force Academy. And told me how long you been up. Was she on your mind today?

GENERAL LORI ROBINSON: Yes.

Q: And what would that conversation be today (inaudible)?

GEN. ROBINSON: So, actually I would -- I would tell you that I knew she was peeking over the clouds, and I knew that she was saying, "You go, Mom." And I know that if she was here today, it would have been awesome, but she was here in spirit. And so I said hello to her this morning, and said thanks for the strength.

And so she was here. She was here with us.

STAFF: Next question, Patrick Tucker.

Q: Thank you. Patrick Tucker from Defense One. This is both -- for both General Robinson and the secretary.

STAFF: Can you speak up Patrick --

Q: Sorry about that. Patrick Tucker Defense One. The U.S. has spent more than $108 billion on missile defense. And yet the other day Russia's strategic missile force commander Sergey Karakayev was talking about new ICBMs, terribly capable ICBMs and terribly lethal ICBMs that could penetrate U.S. missile defenses.

In your opinion, is the threat from Russian ICBM's overstated and what can be done to overcome that threat in the time you have left?

SEC. CARTER: Well, I'll say something, and then ask General Robinson to chime in.

Our missile defenses we have designed for Iran and North Korea. They are not designed for, nor are they capable of defending the United States from the very large Russian nuclear force. The United States hasn't had the capability to do that for attacks ordered by Moscow, either Russia or the former Soviet Union, for many decades. Our protection against attack with -- nuclear attack from any nation is deterrence and the threat of retaliation. There we are modernizing and keeping a safe-secured, reliable deterrent.

That's necessary. One of the reasons for that is the Russ -- is Russia's buildup. But our missile defenses are not designed for, and in fact are not capable of defending the United States against a Russian missile attack.

Lori?

GEN. ROBINSON: Yes, sir.

So, I would also add that in my last job, I was paying a lot of attention to North Korea. So this job is an extension of that. And I will begin my deep study and understanding, and pay close attention to Iran to ensure that the homeland is safe.

STAFF: Another question from the local press. (Joanne ?) you have a question?

Q: I do yes. This is for General Robinson. So you have quite the extensive resume -- military background -- but how did it feel today stepping into this new role of commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command?

GEN. ROBINSON: It is humbling. It is an honor. And I can't think of a more sacred responsibility than defense of the homeland. And to be able to do that and be in this level of command is unbelievable.

And I look forward to working for Secretary Carter in this very important job.

STAFF: We've got time for one more.

Q: Dan Elliott with the Associated Press. Secretary Carter why do you think it took until now for a woman to be promoted to a combat command responsibility like we had today?

SEC. CARTER: Well, the fact that General Robinson was the first female Co Com is a good sign because there are women officers of her quality in our officer corp now from whom the president and I can select our senior-most military leader. She was selected because she was the most qualified officer for this job.

I do hope, well, I know that there are more in her wake -- more female officers in her wake -- and I hope the excellence she represents is an inspiration to women to join our armed forces because as you know I believe it's essential to preserve the high quality of a military that we now have in our all-volunteer force.

We reach in to all parts of our population, so it's essential that women who want to participate have every opportunity to do and every other part of our population because I need quality wherever it is found but General Robinson is an officer with just tremendous experience and I said she has it all and she was the clear obvious choice for me -- by far the (way?) the best choice for this job. I'm delighted to have her and working here with her.

STAFF: Thanks everybody. Appreciate it very much.