1 00:00:02,130 --> 00:00:02,960 come in . 2 00:00:10,040 --> 00:00:13,670 Yeah . Okay . As you recall , a little 3 00:00:13,670 --> 00:00:16,930 bit of echo there , huh ? Um , the 26th 4 00:00:16,930 --> 00:00:19,152 of February . The secretary established 5 00:00:19,152 --> 00:00:20,819 the 90 day Independent Review 6 00:00:20,819 --> 00:00:22,819 Commission on sexual assault in the 7 00:00:22,819 --> 00:00:25,041 military to take bold action to address 8 00:00:25,041 --> 00:00:27,097 sexual assault and harassment in the 9 00:00:27,097 --> 00:00:29,319 force . Since then , the Commission has 10 00:00:29,319 --> 00:00:31,319 recruited high level experts in the 11 00:00:31,319 --> 00:00:33,486 areas of accountability , prevention , 12 00:00:33,486 --> 00:00:35,708 climate and culture , as well as victim 13 00:00:35,708 --> 00:00:37,763 care and support . These experts are 14 00:00:37,763 --> 00:00:39,763 going to bring diverse perspectives 15 00:00:39,763 --> 00:00:41,930 with backgrounds and sexual violence , 16 00:00:41,930 --> 00:00:44,208 prevention and response . Legal system , 17 00:00:44,208 --> 00:00:46,374 of course , The military . Today , the 18 00:00:46,374 --> 00:00:48,486 Commission held its inaugural meeting 19 00:00:48,486 --> 00:00:50,597 to kick off their 90 day review Their 20 00:00:50,597 --> 00:00:52,819 deliberations Over the course of that , 21 00:00:52,819 --> 00:00:54,541 those 90 days will help inform 22 00:00:54,541 --> 00:00:56,763 recommendations that they will make the 23 00:00:56,763 --> 00:00:56,550 president and to the secretary of 24 00:00:56,550 --> 00:00:58,730 defense . So I am pleased to welcome 25 00:00:58,730 --> 00:01:00,470 back to the podium . Uh , the 26 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:02,591 commission's chair , Lynn Rosenthal , 27 00:01:02,591 --> 00:01:04,591 is to provide you a little bit more 28 00:01:04,591 --> 00:01:06,702 detail on the commission's membership 29 00:01:06,702 --> 00:01:08,758 and their actions to date as well as 30 00:01:08,758 --> 00:01:11,036 where they're going in the future . Um , 31 00:01:11,036 --> 00:01:10,730 we'll bring her up , she'll have a few 32 00:01:10,730 --> 00:01:12,952 opening comments , and then we'll go to 33 00:01:12,952 --> 00:01:14,730 Q and A for Ms Rosenthal . I'll 34 00:01:14,730 --> 00:01:16,786 moderate that as I did before , Um , 35 00:01:16,786 --> 00:01:18,786 and then , uh , once you've exacted 36 00:01:18,786 --> 00:01:21,119 your pound of flesh from this Rosenthal , 37 00:01:21,119 --> 00:01:23,063 I'll come back up and we'll do our 38 00:01:23,063 --> 00:01:25,063 normal briefing with that , Ma'am , 39 00:01:25,063 --> 00:01:28,640 what are you ? I'd really appreciate 40 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,890 it . Good 41 00:01:31,890 --> 00:01:35,760 afternoon today . As John said , the 42 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:37,927 Independent Review Commission held its 43 00:01:37,927 --> 00:01:40,440 inaugural meeting . We were graciously 44 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:42,570 welcomed by Secretary Austin , Deputy 45 00:01:42,570 --> 00:01:44,810 Secretary Hicks and Chairman Millie . 46 00:01:44,820 --> 00:01:47,042 For the past three weeks , we have been 47 00:01:47,042 --> 00:01:49,098 working on three goals , so since we 48 00:01:49,098 --> 00:01:51,042 spoke last , we've been working on 49 00:01:51,042 --> 00:01:53,320 three goals . First was to identify the 50 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,598 best people to serve on the commission , 51 00:01:55,598 --> 00:01:57,764 bringing diverse views , expertise and 52 00:01:57,764 --> 00:02:00,290 voices to the table . Second , let's to 53 00:02:00,290 --> 00:02:02,480 structure the commission to ensure its 54 00:02:02,490 --> 00:02:05,470 independent deliberations and decision 55 00:02:05,470 --> 00:02:07,780 making , and third , to provide the 56 00:02:07,780 --> 00:02:10,330 flexibility within this structure to 57 00:02:10,330 --> 00:02:12,490 leverage the knowledge and experience 58 00:02:12,490 --> 00:02:14,601 that exists within the department and 59 00:02:14,601 --> 00:02:17,570 across the services . I believe that we 60 00:02:17,570 --> 00:02:19,670 have achieved these goals . The 61 00:02:19,670 --> 00:02:23,290 Executive IRC team is made up of 12 62 00:02:23,300 --> 00:02:25,360 highly qualified experts who you see 63 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:27,510 here This is the group that will 64 00:02:27,510 --> 00:02:29,288 develop recommendations for the 65 00:02:29,288 --> 00:02:31,550 Secretary and the President . I'm happy 66 00:02:31,550 --> 00:02:33,606 to answer questions about them , but 67 00:02:33,606 --> 00:02:35,272 let me just say this group is 68 00:02:35,272 --> 00:02:37,106 impressive . It's made up of two 69 00:02:37,106 --> 00:02:39,161 civilian prosecutors , including one 70 00:02:39,161 --> 00:02:41,217 who served eight years in the Army . 71 00:02:41,217 --> 00:02:43,217 JAG Corps prevention specialists to 72 00:02:43,217 --> 00:02:45,272 West Point grads who have gone on to 73 00:02:45,272 --> 00:02:47,161 have distinguished careers in the 74 00:02:47,161 --> 00:02:49,530 service . Civilian advocates , experts 75 00:02:49,530 --> 00:02:51,530 and gender integration , one of the 76 00:02:51,530 --> 00:02:53,697 first female Super Cobra attack pilots 77 00:02:53,697 --> 00:02:55,863 in the Marine Corps . And experts from 78 00:02:55,863 --> 00:02:58,030 the V A and the C . D . C . So we took 79 00:02:58,030 --> 00:03:00,170 the time to get the right group of 80 00:03:00,170 --> 00:03:02,710 people to engage in these deliberations . 81 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,080 You can find their bios on defense dot 82 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,190 gov . The IRC is standing up a website 83 00:03:08,190 --> 00:03:10,190 that you will find a link to on the 84 00:03:10,190 --> 00:03:12,570 spotlight on defense dot gov the 85 00:03:12,570 --> 00:03:14,930 executive IRC , which are these folks . 86 00:03:14,930 --> 00:03:17,097 So these are the folks who will engage 87 00:03:17,097 --> 00:03:18,986 in the deliberations and make the 88 00:03:18,986 --> 00:03:21,097 recommendations . So these are all of 89 00:03:21,097 --> 00:03:23,041 our independent , highly qualified 90 00:03:23,041 --> 00:03:25,840 experts . The executive IRC is 91 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:28,360 supported by advisory and consultative 92 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,810 teams made up of senior leaders and 93 00:03:30,810 --> 00:03:32,699 subject matter experts within the 94 00:03:32,699 --> 00:03:35,250 department and within the services . 95 00:03:35,250 --> 00:03:37,870 They will help the executive IRC 96 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:40,170 understand the context for their work 97 00:03:40,180 --> 00:03:42,650 and the current situation as it exists 98 00:03:42,650 --> 00:03:45,960 today . But these service 99 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,270 leaders and department officials 100 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,910 will be challenged to think 101 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,010 of new ideas to envision what is 102 00:03:56,010 --> 00:03:58,060 possible to meet the secretary's 103 00:03:58,060 --> 00:04:01,010 directive that all options should be on 104 00:04:01,010 --> 00:04:03,410 the table . As I mentioned , the IRC 105 00:04:03,410 --> 00:04:05,521 has established a website to keep the 106 00:04:05,521 --> 00:04:07,632 public informed and we will routinely 107 00:04:07,632 --> 00:04:09,799 update that website with the I . R . C 108 00:04:09,799 --> 00:04:11,910 s progress . We have also established 109 00:04:11,910 --> 00:04:14,021 an email for stakeholders and service 110 00:04:14,021 --> 00:04:15,910 members to submit information and 111 00:04:15,910 --> 00:04:18,132 recommendations . And I should say that 112 00:04:18,132 --> 00:04:20,132 were particularly interested in the 113 00:04:20,132 --> 00:04:22,243 feedback from junior enlisted service 114 00:04:22,243 --> 00:04:24,299 members who we know face the highest 115 00:04:24,299 --> 00:04:26,077 risk of sexual violence . So we 116 00:04:26,077 --> 00:04:28,460 encourage them to use that process . We 117 00:04:28,460 --> 00:04:30,516 have also created an opportunity for 118 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,240 survivor input through the D . O d safe 119 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,720 helplines website and why we won't be 120 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:37,760 able to respond to every story . We 121 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:40,060 will be analyzing those submissions for 122 00:04:40,060 --> 00:04:42,560 trends that can help inform our efforts . 123 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,270 As I said a month ago or three weeks 124 00:04:45,270 --> 00:04:47,159 ago when I stood here , the lived 125 00:04:47,159 --> 00:04:50,570 experiences of survivors are the very 126 00:04:50,570 --> 00:04:53,970 foundation of the work of the IRC . The 127 00:04:53,970 --> 00:04:56,510 most powerful voices , sadly , come 128 00:04:56,510 --> 00:04:59,240 from trauma and from pain . These are 129 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,018 the voices that we must here in 130 00:05:01,018 --> 00:05:03,129 developing our recommendations and we 131 00:05:03,129 --> 00:05:05,129 are committed to doing so . So with 132 00:05:05,129 --> 00:05:07,184 that , I'm happy to take questions . 133 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,662 Thank you . And we'll start with Leader 134 00:05:09,662 --> 00:05:11,990 Baldur on the phone and associated 135 00:05:11,990 --> 00:05:15,460 press . Hi . Thanks . So , um , you 136 00:05:15,460 --> 00:05:17,516 haven't had any meetings or anything 137 00:05:17,516 --> 00:05:19,460 yet , so you're actually only just 138 00:05:19,460 --> 00:05:21,627 starting . Um , I just wanna make sure 139 00:05:21,627 --> 00:05:23,810 that's accurate and then just sort of 140 00:05:23,820 --> 00:05:26,710 more broadly , this has been a problem 141 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,280 that the services have been attempting 142 00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:32,110 to deal with for decades , including 143 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,450 what one might argue is a very 144 00:05:34,450 --> 00:05:36,506 concerted effort , at least over the 145 00:05:36,506 --> 00:05:39,160 past 10 to 15 years . What questions 146 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,180 can you ask and where can you go that 147 00:05:42,180 --> 00:05:44,530 you believe hasn't already been tapped ? 148 00:05:44,540 --> 00:05:46,762 Aren't you just going to tread over the 149 00:05:46,762 --> 00:05:48,950 same ground that everyone has already 150 00:05:48,950 --> 00:05:52,080 done ? Thank you for the question . And 151 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,247 if I could share with you the words of 152 00:05:54,247 --> 00:05:56,302 Colonel Bridget Bell , who is one of 153 00:05:56,302 --> 00:05:58,302 our highly qualified experts in our 154 00:05:58,302 --> 00:06:00,413 climate and culture pillar , She said 155 00:06:00,413 --> 00:06:03,540 this afternoon Let this be the last IRC 156 00:06:03,540 --> 00:06:05,920 on sexual insult in the military . That 157 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,142 should be our goal . I think what we'll 158 00:06:08,142 --> 00:06:10,540 be asking what hasn't been tried , what 159 00:06:10,550 --> 00:06:13,070 happens in civilian society . That is a 160 00:06:13,070 --> 00:06:15,237 best practice that we could try on the 161 00:06:15,237 --> 00:06:17,740 military side . And then what are the 162 00:06:17,740 --> 00:06:19,870 unique attributes of the military 163 00:06:19,870 --> 00:06:22,100 environment that allows us to do things 164 00:06:22,100 --> 00:06:24,322 that we can't do on the civilian side ? 165 00:06:24,322 --> 00:06:26,700 So I think that comparison is very 166 00:06:26,700 --> 00:06:28,756 important . I think that these folks 167 00:06:28,756 --> 00:06:30,922 that we're bringing in will be looking 168 00:06:30,922 --> 00:06:33,089 at this with fresh eyes . I also think 169 00:06:33,089 --> 00:06:35,089 that what makes this moment in time 170 00:06:35,089 --> 00:06:37,144 different are the words of President 171 00:06:37,144 --> 00:06:39,256 Biden and Secretary Austin , who have 172 00:06:39,256 --> 00:06:41,478 both said that all options should be on 173 00:06:41,478 --> 00:06:43,700 the table and one of those is carefully 174 00:06:43,700 --> 00:06:45,589 examining the role of command and 175 00:06:45,589 --> 00:06:48,020 decisions to refer cases to prosecution . 176 00:06:48,140 --> 00:06:50,420 And we will be assessing that very 177 00:06:50,420 --> 00:06:52,960 carefully , Jack . 178 00:06:54,140 --> 00:06:56,307 So just to follow up with what leaders 179 00:06:56,307 --> 00:06:58,307 said , can you explain how the past 180 00:06:58,307 --> 00:07:00,362 reviews fell short ? What were their 181 00:07:00,362 --> 00:07:02,584 failures and how have you fixed that in 182 00:07:02,584 --> 00:07:04,850 your approach ? This time ? I don't 183 00:07:04,850 --> 00:07:07,017 know that we've had a path review with 184 00:07:07,017 --> 00:07:09,072 this particular group of people . If 185 00:07:09,072 --> 00:07:11,183 you'll note , you will see that there 186 00:07:11,183 --> 00:07:13,406 are more women than men serving on this 187 00:07:13,406 --> 00:07:15,350 panel , that there are experts and 188 00:07:15,350 --> 00:07:17,294 gender integration into the forces 189 00:07:17,294 --> 00:07:19,350 serving on this panel that there are 190 00:07:19,350 --> 00:07:21,294 civilian advocates . For example , 191 00:07:21,294 --> 00:07:23,294 Indira Hennard , who runs the D C . 192 00:07:23,294 --> 00:07:25,461 Rape Crisis Center and is an expert at 193 00:07:25,461 --> 00:07:27,461 innovative , trauma , informed care 194 00:07:27,461 --> 00:07:29,517 that hasn't really been tried within 195 00:07:29,517 --> 00:07:31,572 the services . Chris Rose , who is a 196 00:07:31,572 --> 00:07:33,517 government official who's got many 197 00:07:33,517 --> 00:07:35,628 years of experience in the Department 198 00:07:35,628 --> 00:07:37,628 of Justice but also in the civilian 199 00:07:37,628 --> 00:07:39,850 sector as a victim advocate . She'll be 200 00:07:39,850 --> 00:07:41,794 asking questions that haven't been 201 00:07:41,794 --> 00:07:41,740 asked . Colonel Bridget Bell has never 202 00:07:41,740 --> 00:07:43,740 been asked to serve on one of these 203 00:07:43,740 --> 00:07:45,907 groups . She's an expert in trauma and 204 00:07:45,907 --> 00:07:47,907 suicide prevention and wellness for 205 00:07:47,907 --> 00:07:50,370 service members . So these are folks 206 00:07:50,370 --> 00:07:53,400 that whose views quite honestly haven't 207 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:55,730 really been solicited in this debate . 208 00:07:55,740 --> 00:07:57,629 And I think that's part of what's 209 00:07:57,629 --> 00:07:59,629 different new voices at the table . 210 00:07:59,629 --> 00:08:01,684 Okay , back to the phones will go to 211 00:08:01,684 --> 00:08:03,740 Missy Ryan Washington Post . Hi . 212 00:08:03,740 --> 00:08:05,740 Thanks for doing this . Um , I just 213 00:08:05,740 --> 00:08:07,684 want to , um uh , ask if you could 214 00:08:07,684 --> 00:08:09,900 clarify , um , to the extent you can , 215 00:08:09,900 --> 00:08:12,170 about how just trying to it would be 216 00:08:12,170 --> 00:08:14,640 helpful for us to understand . Um , you 217 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,790 know what the outcome of the , um IRC 218 00:08:17,790 --> 00:08:20,340 is going to be in terms of how detailed 219 00:08:20,350 --> 00:08:22,517 or its conclusion is going to be . And 220 00:08:22,517 --> 00:08:24,360 should we understand these as 221 00:08:24,740 --> 00:08:26,851 recommendations to the DRD leadership 222 00:08:26,851 --> 00:08:28,907 or these things that are going to be 223 00:08:28,907 --> 00:08:31,580 set one once they're there . Um uh , 224 00:08:31,590 --> 00:08:35,360 sort of , um , captured in what you 225 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:37,510 guys think should happen . Um , And 226 00:08:37,510 --> 00:08:39,843 what would be the steps after the after , 227 00:08:39,843 --> 00:08:42,010 um , you guys wrap up ? Thanks for the 228 00:08:42,010 --> 00:08:43,870 question . The the charge of the 229 00:08:43,870 --> 00:08:46,190 Independent Review Commission is to 230 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,440 make this broad assessment and then 231 00:08:48,450 --> 00:08:50,600 make recommendations to the secretary 232 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:52,433 of Defense and ultimately to the 233 00:08:52,433 --> 00:08:54,540 president . So the body are These 234 00:08:54,550 --> 00:08:56,900 people will be deliberating on those 235 00:08:56,900 --> 00:09:00,680 recommendations . I don't expect a in 236 00:09:00,680 --> 00:09:04,140 the weeds view of 100 and 50 policies 237 00:09:04,140 --> 00:09:06,473 that should be tweaked around the edges . 238 00:09:06,473 --> 00:09:08,529 That is not what we're about . We're 239 00:09:08,529 --> 00:09:10,584 about looking at major shifts at big 240 00:09:10,584 --> 00:09:12,751 picture items that could really change 241 00:09:12,751 --> 00:09:15,230 the culture , improve care for victims , 242 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:17,360 bring about evidence based prevention 243 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:19,551 and hold offenders accountable . So I 244 00:09:19,551 --> 00:09:21,551 don't expect that you will see that 245 00:09:21,551 --> 00:09:23,496 sort . Not that all that shouldn't 246 00:09:23,496 --> 00:09:25,607 happen . It absolutely should . And I 247 00:09:25,607 --> 00:09:27,718 think that's a follow up to the IRC . 248 00:09:27,718 --> 00:09:29,718 So there is always a need for these 249 00:09:29,718 --> 00:09:32,540 ongoing bodies to talk about 250 00:09:32,550 --> 00:09:34,106 implementation . How do you 251 00:09:34,106 --> 00:09:37,140 operationalize these major shifts ? But 252 00:09:37,150 --> 00:09:39,570 our commission is about identifying 253 00:09:39,570 --> 00:09:41,792 those major shifts that need to be made 254 00:09:41,792 --> 00:09:43,959 and that this is the moment in time to 255 00:09:43,959 --> 00:09:46,790 make them . Tommy . You know , Senator 256 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,260 Gillibrand has called for these issues 257 00:09:49,260 --> 00:09:51,482 to be removed from the chain of command 258 00:09:51,482 --> 00:09:53,850 and put in the arms of a independent 259 00:09:53,860 --> 00:09:56,193 special prosecutors military experience . 260 00:09:56,193 --> 00:09:58,249 What are your thoughts on that ? And 261 00:09:58,249 --> 00:10:00,260 also isn't the root of this problem 262 00:10:00,740 --> 00:10:02,970 commanders for decades just not taking 263 00:10:02,970 --> 00:10:04,940 this issue seriously . And is that 264 00:10:04,940 --> 00:10:07,107 something you really have to look at ? 265 00:10:07,107 --> 00:10:10,170 If some command has a sharp increase in 266 00:10:10,170 --> 00:10:12,281 sexual assault or sexual harassment , 267 00:10:12,281 --> 00:10:14,281 remove that , commander . There are 268 00:10:14,281 --> 00:10:16,503 really great tools to do exactly as you 269 00:10:16,503 --> 00:10:18,448 just said , and that is commanding 270 00:10:18,448 --> 00:10:20,614 Climate Survey . So we have tools that 271 00:10:20,614 --> 00:10:23,080 can drill down on which commander is 272 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,413 not handling these issues appropriately . 273 00:10:25,413 --> 00:10:27,580 So that's an issue that the department 274 00:10:27,580 --> 00:10:30,940 can certainly look at . I can only 275 00:10:30,940 --> 00:10:33,640 speak for the IRC that's here today and 276 00:10:33,650 --> 00:10:35,650 the leadership that we bring to the 277 00:10:35,650 --> 00:10:37,890 table . Uh , Senator Gillibrand 278 00:10:37,890 --> 00:10:40,001 suggestion . I've spoken with Senator 279 00:10:40,001 --> 00:10:42,223 Gillibrand . I'm very familiar with her 280 00:10:42,223 --> 00:10:44,440 view , and we're very interested in 281 00:10:44,450 --> 00:10:48,320 diving into her recommendations and 282 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,490 to carefully assessing this issue . 283 00:10:51,500 --> 00:10:53,556 I've always believed that this issue 284 00:10:53,556 --> 00:10:55,667 needed to be looked at very carefully 285 00:10:55,667 --> 00:10:57,889 that we will evaluate pros and cons . I 286 00:10:57,889 --> 00:11:00,320 think what's different today , quite 287 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:02,760 frankly , is this is not a closed door . 288 00:11:03,140 --> 00:11:05,690 The secretary and the president have 289 00:11:05,690 --> 00:11:08,120 said all options should be on the table , 290 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:10,231 and that is different today . That is 291 00:11:10,231 --> 00:11:12,342 the kind of leadership that we have , 292 00:11:12,342 --> 00:11:14,830 frankly not heard before . And so that 293 00:11:14,830 --> 00:11:16,941 provides us an opportunity to do just 294 00:11:16,941 --> 00:11:19,219 that . And what's important about that ? 295 00:11:19,219 --> 00:11:21,274 There's so much expertise within the 296 00:11:21,274 --> 00:11:23,497 services . Well , they've now heard the 297 00:11:23,497 --> 00:11:25,719 commander in chief and the secretary of 298 00:11:25,719 --> 00:11:27,830 the department say all options should 299 00:11:27,830 --> 00:11:29,608 be on the table . So we will be 300 00:11:29,608 --> 00:11:31,830 carefully assessing . And we have folks 301 00:11:31,830 --> 00:11:33,941 on our body here who have a diversity 302 00:11:33,941 --> 00:11:36,052 of views on that very topic . Back to 303 00:11:36,052 --> 00:11:38,450 the phones . Barbara Starr , CNN , 304 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:45,840 Barbie there . 305 00:11:48,940 --> 00:11:51,218 Okay , we'll go to Nick Schifrin , PBS . 306 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,620 I'm on , but I think Barb just fixed 307 00:11:55,620 --> 00:11:57,787 her microphone . Can you hear me now ? 308 00:11:57,787 --> 00:12:01,050 I'm having a go ahead , Bob . Mhm . 309 00:12:01,540 --> 00:12:04,170 Um , Dr Rosenthal , the secretary's 310 00:12:04,180 --> 00:12:06,370 February memo called for an evaluation 311 00:12:06,380 --> 00:12:10,280 of high risk installations . Is that 312 00:12:10,290 --> 00:12:12,660 part of what you will be looking at ? 313 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:15,096 He wanted to report on that by March 314 00:12:15,096 --> 00:12:16,818 15th . In terms of actions and 315 00:12:16,818 --> 00:12:19,650 milestones , what is your sense of what 316 00:12:19,650 --> 00:12:22,350 makes a high risk installation ? Will 317 00:12:22,350 --> 00:12:24,461 you eventually come up with a list of 318 00:12:24,461 --> 00:12:26,780 them ? The department has actually been 319 00:12:26,790 --> 00:12:28,846 working quite a bit on this issue of 320 00:12:28,846 --> 00:12:30,957 what makes a high risk installation . 321 00:12:30,957 --> 00:12:33,179 So we have a lot to build on . And , of 322 00:12:33,179 --> 00:12:34,957 course , most importantly , the 323 00:12:34,957 --> 00:12:36,901 Forehead report where we see it in 324 00:12:36,901 --> 00:12:36,890 action . So it's about lack of 325 00:12:36,890 --> 00:12:38,668 leadership . It's about lack of 326 00:12:38,668 --> 00:12:41,160 resources , about lack of priority . 327 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,487 Those are the three issues . How do we 328 00:12:43,487 --> 00:12:45,542 prioritize sexual assault prevention 329 00:12:45,542 --> 00:12:47,598 and response ? How do we ensure that 330 00:12:47,598 --> 00:12:49,431 all the components C I . D . For 331 00:12:49,431 --> 00:12:51,542 example , in the Fort Hood report and 332 00:12:51,542 --> 00:12:53,764 other components that were not properly 333 00:12:53,764 --> 00:12:55,987 resourced ? And we saw the outcome that 334 00:12:55,987 --> 00:12:58,042 we saw decisive action taken . There 335 00:12:58,042 --> 00:12:59,987 are tools within the department to 336 00:12:59,987 --> 00:13:02,153 evaluate high risk installations . And 337 00:13:02,153 --> 00:13:04,431 so it is a question for the commission . 338 00:13:04,431 --> 00:13:06,264 What sort of emphasis will we be 339 00:13:06,264 --> 00:13:08,209 putting on that ? And what kind of 340 00:13:08,209 --> 00:13:10,264 recommendations will we be making to 341 00:13:10,264 --> 00:13:13,160 utilize those tools ? Okay , Ready ? 342 00:13:13,540 --> 00:13:15,762 Yes . I was wondering if you could tell 343 00:13:15,762 --> 00:13:18,240 us how many of these leaders on the 344 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:20,129 commission are active duty versus 345 00:13:20,129 --> 00:13:22,240 civilian Indio , de versus other 346 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:24,407 agencies , the government and what the 347 00:13:24,407 --> 00:13:27,750 thinking was in in that kind of make up 348 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,240 the active duty versus not , uh , and 349 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,990 how you're going to assure members of 350 00:13:32,990 --> 00:13:36,070 military that you're not gonna , uh the 351 00:13:36,070 --> 00:13:38,460 culture will be respected , but the 352 00:13:38,460 --> 00:13:40,349 problem areas will be addressed . 353 00:13:40,349 --> 00:13:42,930 That's exactly what we have worked to 354 00:13:42,930 --> 00:13:45,208 achieve and the structure of the I . R . 355 00:13:45,208 --> 00:13:47,208 C . So I can tell you that first we 356 00:13:47,208 --> 00:13:49,152 looked for people with expertise . 357 00:13:49,152 --> 00:13:50,930 There's actually no one on this 358 00:13:50,930 --> 00:13:53,790 commission that is active duty . So 359 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:55,920 Cindy Dyer , for example , as a 360 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,142 civilian prosecutor and was an official 361 00:13:58,142 --> 00:14:00,510 in the Bush Justice Department general 362 00:14:00,510 --> 00:14:02,677 shrank . Many of you may know who is a 363 00:14:02,677 --> 00:14:05,300 retired former JAG officer . Former 364 00:14:05,310 --> 00:14:07,254 official here at the Department of 365 00:14:07,254 --> 00:14:09,477 Defense . Colonel Bridget Bell is on an 366 00:14:09,477 --> 00:14:11,820 inactive status from the Army because 367 00:14:11,820 --> 00:14:14,550 she is in a PhD program . So she's on 368 00:14:14,550 --> 00:14:16,717 an inactive status , so she's the only 369 00:14:16,717 --> 00:14:19,050 one that it has a slightly different 370 00:14:19,050 --> 00:14:22,060 status . Christopher , as you know , is 371 00:14:22,060 --> 00:14:24,320 an expert in integrating women into the 372 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:26,590 services , but she's a volunteer in 373 00:14:26,590 --> 00:14:28,479 that capacity . Now with the Army 374 00:14:28,479 --> 00:14:31,400 Ranger program and other programs . Uh , 375 00:14:31,410 --> 00:14:33,632 Kai Hunter is a professor and assistant 376 00:14:33,632 --> 00:14:36,400 professor at the Air Force Academy and 377 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,350 also is our Marine Cobra attack pilot 378 00:14:39,350 --> 00:14:41,670 and really highly regarded in her work 379 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:43,569 again of mentoring women into the 380 00:14:43,569 --> 00:14:45,513 services . So you can see by these 381 00:14:45,513 --> 00:14:47,850 people that we're taking a really 382 00:14:47,850 --> 00:14:50,830 direct square on Look at women in the 383 00:14:50,830 --> 00:14:53,920 services and what that means . Uh , 384 00:14:53,930 --> 00:14:55,874 Indira honored as I mentioned as a 385 00:14:55,874 --> 00:14:57,819 civilian sexual assault advocate . 386 00:14:57,819 --> 00:14:59,986 Chris Rose , former Justice Department 387 00:14:59,986 --> 00:15:02,430 official and advocate on the civilian 388 00:15:02,430 --> 00:15:05,350 side , and then Kaya Williams , who is 389 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,260 assistant secretary at the Department 390 00:15:08,260 --> 00:15:10,427 of Veterans Affairs . So none of these 391 00:15:10,427 --> 00:15:12,593 folks are active duty now under them . 392 00:15:12,593 --> 00:15:14,760 It's This is the whole issue . This is 393 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:16,927 why I spend so much time trying to get 394 00:15:16,927 --> 00:15:19,149 this structure right . So these are the 395 00:15:19,149 --> 00:15:21,371 deliberative . This is the deliberative 396 00:15:21,371 --> 00:15:23,093 body . Underneath them are the 397 00:15:23,093 --> 00:15:25,093 consultation teams that are made up 398 00:15:25,093 --> 00:15:26,982 with senior of senior leaders and 399 00:15:26,982 --> 00:15:28,871 subject matter experts within the 400 00:15:28,871 --> 00:15:31,120 department and the services . So they 401 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:32,731 will be participating in the 402 00:15:32,731 --> 00:15:34,731 conversation . But they are not the 403 00:15:34,731 --> 00:15:36,676 decision makers , but they will be 404 00:15:36,676 --> 00:15:38,564 informing what it is we're making 405 00:15:38,564 --> 00:15:40,787 decisions about , so they will be asked 406 00:15:40,787 --> 00:15:42,787 questions like , how do we get from 407 00:15:42,787 --> 00:15:44,842 here to where we want to go ? What's 408 00:15:44,842 --> 00:15:46,676 possible ? How do we vision this 409 00:15:46,676 --> 00:15:48,953 without being constrained by resources ? 410 00:15:48,953 --> 00:15:51,009 Because , as we saw in the Fort Hood 411 00:15:51,009 --> 00:15:52,953 report , the lack of resourcing of 412 00:15:52,953 --> 00:15:54,953 these programs was a critical issue 413 00:15:54,953 --> 00:15:57,231 that was life threatening for soldiers . 414 00:15:57,231 --> 00:15:59,810 So that's how we structured it to do 415 00:15:59,820 --> 00:16:02,160 precisely what you just said . Quick , 416 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,150 follow up . So how many served in the 417 00:16:05,150 --> 00:16:07,372 military from this group ? Right here . 418 00:16:07,372 --> 00:16:09,483 I caught kind of be two or three from 419 00:16:09,483 --> 00:16:11,372 the list . Oh , who served in the 420 00:16:11,372 --> 00:16:13,850 military ? James Swank . Megan Toe Cash . 421 00:16:14,340 --> 00:16:16,690 James Johnson , Colonel Bell , 422 00:16:16,690 --> 00:16:19,280 Kristopher Kris , Kris and Brigitte 423 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:21,490 Bell are West Point grads . Kai Hunter 424 00:16:21,490 --> 00:16:24,920 is our our marine pilots . So of the 425 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,020 and Kyle Williams also served in the 426 00:16:28,020 --> 00:16:30,720 Army . So the majority of these people 427 00:16:30,730 --> 00:16:33,260 served but are not serving now . 428 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:38,390 Okay , Nick , your term . So , um , 429 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,960 I , uh , sent the list to six 430 00:16:41,970 --> 00:16:44,710 very well known advocates this morning , 431 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:47,250 and a couple of them praised your list , 432 00:16:47,250 --> 00:16:49,900 but I got some very specific criticisms 433 00:16:49,900 --> 00:16:52,233 that I'm wondering you could respond to . 434 00:16:52,233 --> 00:16:54,233 There was one criticism that said , 435 00:16:54,233 --> 00:16:56,011 none of the members that you've 436 00:16:56,011 --> 00:16:57,956 appointed have direct knowledge of 437 00:16:57,956 --> 00:16:59,733 current military sexual assault 438 00:16:59,733 --> 00:17:02,200 advocacy protocols . Uh , that they 439 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:04,430 didn't , uh , that that the list 440 00:17:04,430 --> 00:17:07,070 doesn't include any military advocacy 441 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:09,260 organizations that I know you're 442 00:17:09,260 --> 00:17:11,720 familiar with and that there's no male 443 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,980 sexual assault survivors as far as they 444 00:17:13,980 --> 00:17:15,869 knew . Can you respond to those ? 445 00:17:15,869 --> 00:17:17,869 Thanks . Those are That's excellent 446 00:17:17,869 --> 00:17:19,980 feedback . And actually , there are a 447 00:17:19,980 --> 00:17:21,813 couple of people that were still 448 00:17:21,813 --> 00:17:24,036 looking at potentially to serve on this 449 00:17:24,036 --> 00:17:26,147 commission . We had a very short time 450 00:17:26,147 --> 00:17:28,258 frame to onboard people , so I'm very 451 00:17:28,258 --> 00:17:31,450 aware of those categories , and I think 452 00:17:31,450 --> 00:17:33,506 that were quite interested in seeing 453 00:17:33,506 --> 00:17:35,672 what we can do . I will say this issue 454 00:17:35,672 --> 00:17:37,728 of male sexual assault survivors has 455 00:17:37,728 --> 00:17:39,839 been very much on the table , and our 456 00:17:39,839 --> 00:17:41,839 civilian advocates have also raised 457 00:17:41,839 --> 00:17:43,950 that issue . Uh , so , uh , we wanted 458 00:17:43,950 --> 00:17:46,117 to have a body that was the right size 459 00:17:46,117 --> 00:17:48,520 to engage in deliberations and and 460 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,742 bring as many voices to the table as we 461 00:17:50,742 --> 00:17:52,909 could , And there's still we still may 462 00:17:52,909 --> 00:17:55,020 be adding one or two people , right ? 463 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:57,273 So a lot of the progress and the 464 00:17:57,273 --> 00:17:59,273 programs that have been made on the 465 00:17:59,273 --> 00:18:00,829 sapper front have come from 466 00:18:00,829 --> 00:18:02,884 congressional mandate . Um , this is 467 00:18:02,884 --> 00:18:05,107 different . This is d o d Taking a look 468 00:18:05,107 --> 00:18:07,273 at itself . Do you feel confident that 469 00:18:07,273 --> 00:18:06,850 Pentagon leaders will be able to take 470 00:18:06,850 --> 00:18:08,961 on some of those recommendations that 471 00:18:08,961 --> 00:18:10,961 might upend some long held military 472 00:18:10,961 --> 00:18:13,128 traditions without Congress's say so ? 473 00:18:13,128 --> 00:18:15,294 And do you plan to read in Congress so 474 00:18:15,294 --> 00:18:17,650 that they No , uh , you know which of 475 00:18:17,650 --> 00:18:19,761 those recommendations you think maybe 476 00:18:19,761 --> 00:18:21,483 need to be in Allah ? I mean , 477 00:18:21,483 --> 00:18:23,594 certainly the IRC is hopeful that the 478 00:18:23,594 --> 00:18:25,761 secretary of defense and the president 479 00:18:25,761 --> 00:18:27,206 ultimately will adopt our 480 00:18:27,206 --> 00:18:29,317 recommendations , and but I can't say 481 00:18:29,317 --> 00:18:31,483 what the outcome will be , but I think 482 00:18:31,483 --> 00:18:33,650 that there is certainly a desire . I , 483 00:18:33,650 --> 00:18:35,980 uh this morning we met with the 484 00:18:35,980 --> 00:18:38,091 secretary of the deputy Secretary and 485 00:18:38,091 --> 00:18:40,202 chairman Millie , and we heard really 486 00:18:40,202 --> 00:18:43,540 strong words about this issue . And 487 00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:47,130 what I heard at that table that perhaps 488 00:18:47,130 --> 00:18:49,074 was different than what I've heard 489 00:18:49,074 --> 00:18:51,186 before is a really deep understanding 490 00:18:51,186 --> 00:18:52,830 about sexual assault . Uh , 491 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,320 particularly the chairman who expressed 492 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:57,700 an understanding of the predatory 493 00:18:57,700 --> 00:18:59,811 nature of sexual assault . So I think 494 00:18:59,811 --> 00:19:02,660 what we are moving past is this idea 495 00:19:02,660 --> 00:19:04,910 that has been long held not just here 496 00:19:04,910 --> 00:19:06,910 but in civilian society . This long 497 00:19:06,910 --> 00:19:09,021 held idea that sexual assault is just 498 00:19:09,021 --> 00:19:11,350 this confusion between two parties , 499 00:19:11,350 --> 00:19:13,572 and somebody didn't quite understand if 500 00:19:13,572 --> 00:19:15,870 they had consent or not . We we That's 501 00:19:15,870 --> 00:19:18,590 a long held rape myth . It's not just 502 00:19:18,590 --> 00:19:20,757 here . It's long held in our culture . 503 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:22,673 I heard Chairman Millie say this 504 00:19:22,673 --> 00:19:24,870 morning that sexual assault was about 505 00:19:24,870 --> 00:19:27,670 predators , and so that , for me , 506 00:19:27,670 --> 00:19:29,448 creates an opening to have this 507 00:19:29,448 --> 00:19:31,860 conversation . What ultimately happens 508 00:19:31,860 --> 00:19:34,027 with our recommendations will be up to 509 00:19:34,027 --> 00:19:36,360 the Secretary of Defense and ultimately , 510 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:39,870 the president . Back to the phones . 511 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:43,550 Therese . Yes . Um , 512 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:45,727 good afternoon . Thank you so much for 513 00:19:45,727 --> 00:19:47,782 taking my question . Actually , have 514 00:19:47,782 --> 00:19:50,500 three . Um so to start off , in my 515 00:19:50,500 --> 00:19:52,389 experience with the Air Force , I 516 00:19:52,389 --> 00:19:54,720 worked with SAARC and safer , um , to 517 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,170 help survivors of sexual assault . And 518 00:19:57,170 --> 00:20:00,030 I saw a lot of issues within , um , 519 00:20:00,030 --> 00:20:02,440 both programs . Um , and I also spoke 520 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:05,320 with a lot of survivors , um , and got 521 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,790 feedback from them on ways that changes 522 00:20:08,790 --> 00:20:11,068 could be made to help them better . Um , 523 00:20:11,068 --> 00:20:13,346 that being said , my first question is , 524 00:20:13,346 --> 00:20:15,660 are any of the members of this team 525 00:20:15,670 --> 00:20:18,410 survivors and if not , why wouldn't you 526 00:20:18,410 --> 00:20:21,170 find individuals who were survivors , 527 00:20:21,180 --> 00:20:22,791 um , to be able to help make 528 00:20:22,791 --> 00:20:24,680 recommendations ? That's my first 529 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:27,000 question . Um the second one is will 530 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,850 they recommend a formula that will 531 00:20:29,850 --> 00:20:32,300 cover all the branches versus each 532 00:20:32,300 --> 00:20:34,860 branch , having their own way to handle 533 00:20:34,860 --> 00:20:36,900 reports of assault ? And my last 534 00:20:36,900 --> 00:20:38,880 question is , um , will they make 535 00:20:38,890 --> 00:20:42,190 recommendations to the military on 536 00:20:42,190 --> 00:20:44,420 making amends for all those survivors 537 00:20:44,430 --> 00:20:47,490 in the past who dealt with hazing who , 538 00:20:47,500 --> 00:20:49,670 you know , were told they were lying ? 539 00:20:49,740 --> 00:20:51,990 Um , who ended up getting out and , you 540 00:20:51,990 --> 00:20:54,212 know , getting different various mental 541 00:20:54,212 --> 00:20:56,212 health problems because of how they 542 00:20:56,212 --> 00:20:58,323 were treated after they have reported 543 00:20:58,323 --> 00:21:00,820 those instances . Well , ultimately , 544 00:21:00,820 --> 00:21:03,042 to take your last question first . This 545 00:21:03,042 --> 00:21:04,598 is about accountability for 546 00:21:04,598 --> 00:21:07,210 perpetrators . It is about justice and 547 00:21:07,210 --> 00:21:09,730 healing for survivors . And I know our 548 00:21:09,740 --> 00:21:11,920 commission will be looking closely at 549 00:21:11,930 --> 00:21:14,152 that because it's the experience of the 550 00:21:14,152 --> 00:21:16,440 survivors that are the foundation of 551 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:19,850 our work . I would say that we will be 552 00:21:19,850 --> 00:21:21,961 looking closely , and I think it's an 553 00:21:21,961 --> 00:21:23,350 excellent question about 554 00:21:23,350 --> 00:21:25,730 standardisation versus what the 555 00:21:25,740 --> 00:21:28,140 individual branches need to do to 556 00:21:28,150 --> 00:21:30,590 implement these recommendations . I 557 00:21:30,590 --> 00:21:32,868 think that's a good question right now . 558 00:21:32,868 --> 00:21:34,757 I don't have the I don't know the 559 00:21:34,757 --> 00:21:36,757 predetermined outcome of it , but I 560 00:21:36,757 --> 00:21:38,923 think that we have sometimes have seen 561 00:21:38,923 --> 00:21:41,850 really great d o D policies that , 562 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:44,550 uh , translate differently an 563 00:21:44,550 --> 00:21:46,340 implementation than perhaps was 564 00:21:46,340 --> 00:21:48,420 intended within the services . So I 565 00:21:48,420 --> 00:21:50,642 think it's a really critical question . 566 00:21:50,642 --> 00:21:52,809 What's the same and what's different ? 567 00:21:52,809 --> 00:21:52,710 Where should they're very 568 00:21:52,710 --> 00:21:55,910 standardization ? And where should , uh , 569 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,031 there need to be individual attention 570 00:21:58,031 --> 00:22:00,031 to the needs of the services ? So I 571 00:22:00,031 --> 00:22:02,142 think it's a great question . I think 572 00:22:02,142 --> 00:22:04,253 it's That's exactly the kind of thing 573 00:22:04,253 --> 00:22:06,420 that are independent reviewers will be 574 00:22:06,420 --> 00:22:08,380 looking at . Also are any of the 575 00:22:08,380 --> 00:22:11,780 reviewers . Survivors is a survivor who 576 00:22:11,780 --> 00:22:13,891 is serving on one of the consultative 577 00:22:13,891 --> 00:22:16,113 groups , and we're working closely with 578 00:22:16,113 --> 00:22:18,280 her now to determine the parameters of 579 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:19,950 her participation for what is 580 00:22:19,950 --> 00:22:23,050 comfortable for her . Good . 581 00:22:23,740 --> 00:22:26,950 Um , is there any record of men's in 582 00:22:26,950 --> 00:22:29,990 the military being sexual assaults or 583 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,800 only women's ? Oh , no . We have a 584 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:34,800 significant problem with the sexual 585 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:36,911 assault of men in the service is very 586 00:22:36,911 --> 00:22:39,022 significant , and it's an interesting 587 00:22:39,022 --> 00:22:40,967 question about what's the same and 588 00:22:40,967 --> 00:22:43,189 what's different and how tied is sexual 589 00:22:43,189 --> 00:22:45,300 assault of men to bullying and hazing 590 00:22:45,300 --> 00:22:47,467 kind of behavior . Is it the same kind 591 00:22:47,467 --> 00:22:47,290 of thing ? But you know , if you think 592 00:22:47,290 --> 00:22:49,457 about it in that way , it's ultimately 593 00:22:49,457 --> 00:22:51,623 about power and control . Whether It's 594 00:22:51,623 --> 00:22:53,401 power and control from a gender 595 00:22:53,401 --> 00:22:55,623 standpoint , uh , against young women , 596 00:22:55,623 --> 00:22:58,400 predominantly young women . Or is it 597 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:00,330 about bullying ? And is that same 598 00:23:00,330 --> 00:23:02,386 dynamic of power and control what we 599 00:23:02,386 --> 00:23:04,497 see in bullying and hazing situations 600 00:23:04,497 --> 00:23:06,663 where men are sexually assaulted ? But 601 00:23:06,663 --> 00:23:08,774 we absolutely . And it is not only in 602 00:23:08,774 --> 00:23:10,774 the military , although it may have 603 00:23:10,774 --> 00:23:12,997 uniquely military characteristics . The 604 00:23:12,997 --> 00:23:15,274 sexual assault of men is a significant , 605 00:23:15,274 --> 00:23:18,340 uh , problem about which we don't raise 606 00:23:18,340 --> 00:23:20,507 enough awareness or speak enough about 607 00:23:20,507 --> 00:23:22,673 or highlight their voices . But it's a 608 00:23:22,673 --> 00:23:25,740 very significant problem . Okay , to 609 00:23:25,740 --> 00:23:27,560 Jeff Schauble task of purpose . 610 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:35,770 Jeff , you there ? Mhm . 611 00:23:39,740 --> 00:23:41,851 Sounds like somebody's almost there . 612 00:23:41,851 --> 00:23:43,870 Um , I have a question for Dr for 613 00:23:43,870 --> 00:23:47,090 Doctor Rosenthal , the culture which 614 00:23:47,100 --> 00:23:50,920 you are up against , uh is one in which 615 00:23:50,930 --> 00:23:53,320 survivors are rarely believed . And you 616 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:57,260 have this , um , more concerned about 617 00:23:57,260 --> 00:23:59,360 protecting people from false 618 00:23:59,370 --> 00:24:03,330 accusations . And I'm wondering how the 619 00:24:03,340 --> 00:24:06,270 commission can realistically , uh , 620 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,280 come up with solutions that address 621 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:10,980 that I have tremendous faith in our 622 00:24:10,980 --> 00:24:12,924 climate and culture pillar because 623 00:24:12,924 --> 00:24:14,924 that's really where that rest . And 624 00:24:14,924 --> 00:24:16,924 those are those rape myths that are 625 00:24:16,924 --> 00:24:18,924 prevalent here and also in civilian 626 00:24:18,924 --> 00:24:21,091 society . And so we will be turning to 627 00:24:21,091 --> 00:24:23,369 Colonel Bell . Christopher . Dr Hunter , 628 00:24:23,369 --> 00:24:25,202 to really carefully examine that 629 00:24:25,202 --> 00:24:27,369 question . That's exactly right . It's 630 00:24:27,369 --> 00:24:29,647 about climate , culture , rape , mists , 631 00:24:29,647 --> 00:24:33,050 views of women . Uh , and , uh , 632 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:36,760 uh , deliberate misunderstanding about 633 00:24:36,770 --> 00:24:39,270 what sexual assault really is . Mhm . 634 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:42,120 Tara , in the back . Thank you for this . 635 00:24:42,170 --> 00:24:44,450 Uh , to what extent will the commission 636 00:24:44,450 --> 00:24:47,490 look at U C M J enforcement and the 637 00:24:47,500 --> 00:24:49,500 different levels of punishment that 638 00:24:49,500 --> 00:24:51,611 some officers get versus enlisted and 639 00:24:51,611 --> 00:24:53,778 whether the services are applying this 640 00:24:53,778 --> 00:24:55,889 equally ? Because it seems like not a 641 00:24:55,889 --> 00:24:58,056 week goes by that we don't see another 642 00:24:58,056 --> 00:25:00,111 headline about someone being kept in 643 00:25:00,111 --> 00:25:02,370 the service who you know , was involved 644 00:25:02,370 --> 00:25:05,020 in a potential assault . Looking at the 645 00:25:05,020 --> 00:25:07,970 U . C . M . J is the primary task of 646 00:25:07,970 --> 00:25:10,600 our line of effort on accountability . 647 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:12,711 So we will be looking at all of those 648 00:25:12,711 --> 00:25:14,933 issues . What will you be looking at in 649 00:25:14,933 --> 00:25:17,044 that , like , equal application among 650 00:25:17,044 --> 00:25:19,100 the services , or can you describe a 651 00:25:19,100 --> 00:25:21,211 little further ? Well , we'll look at 652 00:25:21,211 --> 00:25:23,156 data that tells us more about this 653 00:25:23,156 --> 00:25:25,378 problem . Well , look at specific cases 654 00:25:25,378 --> 00:25:27,433 that tell us more about this problem 655 00:25:27,433 --> 00:25:29,600 will look at dispositions that tell us 656 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:31,822 more about this problem . So we will be 657 00:25:31,822 --> 00:25:33,822 carefully examining that question . 658 00:25:33,822 --> 00:25:35,933 Sorry . Thank you . Thanks , doctor . 659 00:25:35,933 --> 00:25:38,044 Just by looking at the commission and 660 00:25:38,044 --> 00:25:40,550 you can easily see that . I mean , it's 661 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:43,470 10 women , 2 to 3 men . But when you 662 00:25:43,470 --> 00:25:45,748 look at the leadership in the Pentagon , 663 00:25:45,748 --> 00:25:47,637 you don't see that type of racial 664 00:25:47,637 --> 00:25:49,859 representation . So my question is , is 665 00:25:49,859 --> 00:25:52,310 twofold . First of all , is there , 666 00:25:52,310 --> 00:25:54,670 like a established scientific 667 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,150 correlation between the makeup , gender , 668 00:25:57,150 --> 00:26:00,930 makeup of leadership and sexual assault 669 00:26:00,940 --> 00:26:03,630 within an organization ? And are you 670 00:26:03,630 --> 00:26:05,741 going to be looking at the leadership 671 00:26:05,741 --> 00:26:08,820 makeup as well in order to try to bring 672 00:26:08,820 --> 00:26:12,030 in , uh , better culture or 673 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,330 guidelines or recommendations ? That's 674 00:26:14,330 --> 00:26:16,730 why we brought on our experts in 675 00:26:16,740 --> 00:26:18,462 climate and culture and gender 676 00:26:18,462 --> 00:26:20,550 integration into the services to 677 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,970 exactly to address those questions . So 678 00:26:22,970 --> 00:26:25,250 we will be looking closely at that . I 679 00:26:25,250 --> 00:26:27,417 mean , there . I think it's 20% of the 680 00:26:27,417 --> 00:26:30,680 force are women . Uh , that's not a 681 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:32,680 good mix , and we know that . And I 682 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:34,791 think that's what these folks will be 683 00:26:34,791 --> 00:26:36,680 working on . And I mean , I think 684 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:38,736 what's so important ? As I said last 685 00:26:38,736 --> 00:26:40,680 time when I was here , is that the 686 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:42,736 women and the services when you hear 687 00:26:42,736 --> 00:26:44,624 their stories of sexual assault , 688 00:26:44,624 --> 00:26:47,020 what's so devastating about them is how 689 00:26:47,020 --> 00:26:50,040 proud the women were to serve , how 690 00:26:50,050 --> 00:26:51,772 they felt that they were doing 691 00:26:51,772 --> 00:26:54,770 something important just by being in 692 00:26:54,770 --> 00:26:57,130 the services , that they were a role 693 00:26:57,130 --> 00:26:59,241 model for other young women . To show 694 00:26:59,241 --> 00:27:01,410 that you can do this and that when a 695 00:27:01,410 --> 00:27:03,750 sexual assault occurs where they're 696 00:27:03,750 --> 00:27:06,320 very institution betrays them , it's 697 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:09,360 devastating . And so certainly that's a 698 00:27:09,370 --> 00:27:11,340 very critical issue . And at our 699 00:27:11,350 --> 00:27:14,370 composition here we look first at 700 00:27:14,370 --> 00:27:16,970 expertise and what people brought to 701 00:27:16,970 --> 00:27:19,260 the table . And then we said , Ah , 702 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:22,210 this is predominantly women and isn't 703 00:27:22,210 --> 00:27:24,600 that an okay outcome as well ? I should 704 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:26,711 also say that the men we have at this 705 00:27:26,711 --> 00:27:28,950 table , Neil Irvin is the executive 706 00:27:28,950 --> 00:27:31,010 director of Men can Stop Rape . He's 707 00:27:31,010 --> 00:27:33,300 worked for many years on this whole 708 00:27:33,300 --> 00:27:35,467 question of how can men play a role in 709 00:27:35,467 --> 00:27:37,689 ending violence against women ? How can 710 00:27:37,689 --> 00:27:39,522 we take , for example , what the 711 00:27:39,522 --> 00:27:41,633 chairman said those very strong words 712 00:27:41,633 --> 00:27:43,800 this morning and turn them into action 713 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:45,911 and inspiration for all men to take a 714 00:27:45,911 --> 00:27:48,022 stand ? So that's what Neil brings to 715 00:27:48,022 --> 00:27:50,189 the table . James Johnson is an expert 716 00:27:50,189 --> 00:27:52,244 in prevention , and he will bring be 717 00:27:52,244 --> 00:27:54,133 bringing that to the table and Of 718 00:27:54,133 --> 00:27:56,078 course , General Shrink has a long 719 00:27:56,078 --> 00:27:58,078 history of how you make big changes 720 00:27:58,078 --> 00:28:00,870 within an institution . So we didn't 721 00:28:00,870 --> 00:28:03,092 set out to say there would be this many 722 00:28:03,092 --> 00:28:05,259 women and this many men . We looked at 723 00:28:05,259 --> 00:28:07,426 our chart and said , Ah , that's where 724 00:28:07,426 --> 00:28:10,490 it is That's where it landed or in 725 00:28:10,500 --> 00:28:12,556 reviewing specific cases and looking 726 00:28:12,556 --> 00:28:14,722 back at the past , Are you considering 727 00:28:14,722 --> 00:28:16,944 reopening many cases of re interviewing 728 00:28:16,944 --> 00:28:18,944 witnesses or victims ? You have the 729 00:28:18,944 --> 00:28:20,944 authority to adjudicate differently 730 00:28:20,944 --> 00:28:22,650 based on what you find . No , 731 00:28:22,650 --> 00:28:25,100 absolutely not . We're not . We're not 732 00:28:25,100 --> 00:28:29,000 undertaking individual case reviews for 733 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:31,167 the purposes of changing the outcome . 734 00:28:31,167 --> 00:28:33,389 That's far beyond our scope . Those are 735 00:28:33,389 --> 00:28:35,444 legal matters , not policy matters . 736 00:28:35,444 --> 00:28:37,850 We're looking at cases to look at the 737 00:28:37,850 --> 00:28:39,990 trends and the issues that inform our 738 00:28:39,990 --> 00:28:42,250 policy deliberation So we will not be . 739 00:28:42,250 --> 00:28:44,417 And this is important . We will not be 740 00:28:44,540 --> 00:28:46,484 reopening cases for the purpose of 741 00:28:46,484 --> 00:28:48,484 adjudication . We simply don't have 742 00:28:48,484 --> 00:28:50,680 that authority . What we hope is to 743 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:52,791 learn from those cases so that we can 744 00:28:52,791 --> 00:28:56,260 make a difference going forward . Okay , 745 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:01,110 think that's about it ? I have to tell . 746 00:29:01,110 --> 00:29:04,300 I'm not a doctor . I'm so sorry . My 747 00:29:04,300 --> 00:29:06,467 mother would have been very happy that 748 00:29:06,467 --> 00:29:08,800 you upgraded me . But thank you so much , 749 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:10,744 Lynn . Appreciate it . Thank you . 750 00:29:10,744 --> 00:29:14,410 Thanks , 751 00:29:14,410 --> 00:29:14,950 Lynn . 752 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:20,640 Yeah . 753 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:26,350 Okay . Um , thanks for that . Um 754 00:29:27,540 --> 00:29:31,310 now , look , I know that the one issue 755 00:29:31,310 --> 00:29:34,170 that is I still assume is of 756 00:29:35,140 --> 00:29:37,760 great interest to you is our support to 757 00:29:37,770 --> 00:29:39,937 health and human Services with respect 758 00:29:39,937 --> 00:29:41,937 to military installations . I don't 759 00:29:41,937 --> 00:29:43,937 have a lot to update you on . Aside 760 00:29:43,937 --> 00:29:46,450 from what , uh , what I did yesterday . 761 00:29:46,460 --> 00:29:49,630 Um , but I can tell you a couple of 762 00:29:49,630 --> 00:29:53,150 things . One we're evaluating . As you 763 00:29:53,150 --> 00:29:55,317 would expect , we are this request for 764 00:29:55,317 --> 00:29:57,950 assistance with a measure of alacrity 765 00:29:57,950 --> 00:30:01,610 here . And I would expect decisions out 766 00:30:01,610 --> 00:30:03,832 of the department in days , not weeks . 767 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:07,280 Um , when we talked about Fort Bliss 768 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:09,870 and I mentioned it was a parcel of land 769 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:13,050 that was being looked at for potential 770 00:30:13,060 --> 00:30:16,300 use in this regard . 771 00:30:17,340 --> 00:30:19,260 What ? What I would envision that 772 00:30:19,270 --> 00:30:22,310 looking like is temporary structures on 773 00:30:22,310 --> 00:30:25,120 that on that land , uh , to house these 774 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:27,342 unaccompanied minors . Those structures 775 00:30:27,342 --> 00:30:30,240 would be , uh , of course , funded by 776 00:30:30,250 --> 00:30:34,110 HHS , not the Pentagon . Although , uh , 777 00:30:34,120 --> 00:30:36,150 it's possible that we would help 778 00:30:36,150 --> 00:30:38,372 provide some contracting support . Um , 779 00:30:38,540 --> 00:30:41,150 uh , so that it can be done in an 780 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:44,430 expeditious manner . Um And , 781 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:47,950 uh , there was a site visit today to 782 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,071 Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado . 783 00:30:50,071 --> 00:30:52,210 Another one . So we're looking at a 784 00:30:52,220 --> 00:30:54,442 additional site , Potentially , I don't 785 00:30:54,442 --> 00:30:56,553 know the results of the site visits , 786 00:30:56,553 --> 00:30:58,776 so I don't want to speculate , but just 787 00:30:58,776 --> 00:31:00,942 to let you know that there was another 788 00:31:00,942 --> 00:31:03,053 site looked at , um And then lastly , 789 00:31:03,053 --> 00:31:05,276 I'm sure you're gonna want to know what 790 00:31:05,276 --> 00:31:07,442 other numbers . That HHS is asking the 791 00:31:07,442 --> 00:31:09,664 request . And I am not going to provide 792 00:31:09,664 --> 00:31:11,776 that information . I'm going to refer 793 00:31:11,776 --> 00:31:13,776 you to HHS for that . We will treat 794 00:31:13,776 --> 00:31:15,720 this like every other requests for 795 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:17,942 assistance . Uh , and we'll do it again 796 00:31:17,942 --> 00:31:20,164 with a measure of alacrity here and and 797 00:31:20,164 --> 00:31:22,276 seriousness . But I'm not going to be 798 00:31:22,276 --> 00:31:24,331 able to release the specific numbers 799 00:31:24,331 --> 00:31:27,020 that HHS is asking in terms of numbers 800 00:31:27,020 --> 00:31:28,980 of of minors that each site would 801 00:31:28,980 --> 00:31:31,150 support . We need to work through this 802 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:34,070 process carefully and deliberately . We 803 00:31:34,070 --> 00:31:36,292 need to evaluate the request the way we 804 00:31:36,292 --> 00:31:38,348 would in any other one . And I don't 805 00:31:38,348 --> 00:31:40,459 want to prejudice that process or get 806 00:31:40,459 --> 00:31:42,459 ahead of any decisions that haven't 807 00:31:42,459 --> 00:31:44,910 been made . So with that , Yeah . So 808 00:31:44,910 --> 00:31:47,100 trying plain white sport Lee is no 809 00:31:47,100 --> 00:31:49,060 longer being considered . And what 810 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:52,820 specific challenges does housing miners 811 00:31:52,820 --> 00:31:54,876 at these military bases posed to the 812 00:31:54,876 --> 00:31:57,153 military ? What are the issues for you ? 813 00:31:57,153 --> 00:32:01,030 Challenges ? Well , um , so on Fort Lee , 814 00:32:01,030 --> 00:32:04,480 as I understand it , the infrastructure 815 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:07,810 there just wasn't suitable for the for 816 00:32:07,810 --> 00:32:11,550 Children . So , um , uh , that , uh , 817 00:32:11,560 --> 00:32:13,820 that sites not an active consideration 818 00:32:13,820 --> 00:32:15,931 right now . I mean , you , we've done 819 00:32:15,931 --> 00:32:17,987 this before , As you know , Jen , in 820 00:32:17,987 --> 00:32:21,220 2012 , in 2017 , um , and , uh , that 821 00:32:21,220 --> 00:32:23,442 said we haven't done it in a pandemic . 822 00:32:23,442 --> 00:32:25,664 So one of the challenges is going to be 823 00:32:25,664 --> 00:32:28,700 How do you deal with the potential for 824 00:32:28,710 --> 00:32:32,070 covid and the impact of infections in 825 00:32:32,070 --> 00:32:34,290 the population of the Children , but 826 00:32:34,290 --> 00:32:36,750 also at the installation . So we have 827 00:32:36,750 --> 00:32:39,270 to factor in what's going on with the 828 00:32:39,270 --> 00:32:41,326 pandemic . That's a unique challenge 829 00:32:41,326 --> 00:32:43,600 that we haven't faced before . Uh , 830 00:32:43,610 --> 00:32:45,890 with respect to this , um and then , of 831 00:32:45,890 --> 00:32:48,820 course , the other . It's not really a 832 00:32:48,820 --> 00:32:50,820 challenge , but it's it's something 833 00:32:50,820 --> 00:32:52,931 important for everybody to understand 834 00:32:52,931 --> 00:32:55,153 that the care of these Children will be 835 00:32:55,153 --> 00:32:57,264 under health and human services , not 836 00:32:57,264 --> 00:32:59,487 the military . The military role was to 837 00:32:59,487 --> 00:33:02,060 provide the site , and as I said , 838 00:33:02,060 --> 00:33:04,740 there may be some uh , some contracting 839 00:33:04,740 --> 00:33:06,573 support that we offer again . We 840 00:33:06,573 --> 00:33:08,684 haven't worked our way through that , 841 00:33:08,684 --> 00:33:11,700 but it's not to provide for care or 842 00:33:11,700 --> 00:33:14,320 supervision of the of the Children or 843 00:33:14,330 --> 00:33:16,608 or or their meals , that kind of thing . 844 00:33:17,140 --> 00:33:19,060 Okay , Tom . John , you mentioned 845 00:33:19,070 --> 00:33:21,240 temporary structures . Will you also 846 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:23,407 create recreational facilities of some 847 00:33:23,407 --> 00:33:25,860 kind of like playgrounds ? Soccer field 848 00:33:25,870 --> 00:33:28,092 like that ? I think that's been done in 849 00:33:28,092 --> 00:33:30,148 the past , isn't it ? I don't know , 850 00:33:30,148 --> 00:33:32,370 Tom . I again , I think the focus right 851 00:33:32,370 --> 00:33:34,426 now is on housing structures . But I 852 00:33:34,426 --> 00:33:36,426 would assume , given that these are 853 00:33:36,426 --> 00:33:38,481 Children that should there be a need 854 00:33:38,481 --> 00:33:40,259 for us to , uh , to assist in a 855 00:33:40,259 --> 00:33:42,092 contracting way the provision of 856 00:33:42,092 --> 00:33:45,680 recreational recreational 857 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:47,847 facilities or recreational equipment . 858 00:33:47,847 --> 00:33:50,069 I mean , I think we would be supportive 859 00:33:50,069 --> 00:33:52,069 in terms of looking at that , but I 860 00:33:52,069 --> 00:33:54,124 just don't have that level of detail 861 00:33:54,124 --> 00:33:56,069 right now . I mean , we do need to 862 00:33:56,069 --> 00:33:58,124 remind ourselves that these are that 863 00:33:58,124 --> 00:34:00,236 these are Children . Laura Seligman , 864 00:34:00,236 --> 00:34:04,230 political . Hi . Thanks 865 00:34:04,230 --> 00:34:06,397 for doing this . I wanted to ask you , 866 00:34:06,397 --> 00:34:08,960 um , if you have an update for us about 867 00:34:08,970 --> 00:34:11,860 Afghanistan , um , we're certainly 868 00:34:11,860 --> 00:34:14,600 hearing more today about from from 869 00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:17,230 Chairman Adam Smith about how it would 870 00:34:17,230 --> 00:34:20,060 be really difficult at this point to 871 00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:22,751 withdraw all the troops we have there 872 00:34:22,751 --> 00:34:25,020 by May 1st , can you just give us an 873 00:34:25,030 --> 00:34:28,360 update on whether you , whether you 874 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:30,620 share that assessment and when a 875 00:34:30,620 --> 00:34:32,842 decision is going to be made I actually 876 00:34:32,842 --> 00:34:34,953 don't have an update from yesterday , 877 00:34:34,953 --> 00:34:37,120 Laura . I would point you back to what 878 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:39,064 the secretary said when we were in 879 00:34:39,064 --> 00:34:40,898 Kabul . And that's that . He has 880 00:34:40,898 --> 00:34:43,009 confidence that if a decision is made 881 00:34:43,009 --> 00:34:46,590 to withdraw all American troops from 882 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:48,770 Afghanistan , he's confident that 883 00:34:48,780 --> 00:34:50,836 General Mackenzie and General Miller 884 00:34:50,836 --> 00:34:52,836 will be able to do so in a safe and 885 00:34:52,836 --> 00:34:54,947 orderly , effective way . But I don't 886 00:34:54,947 --> 00:34:57,113 have any specific updates . Yep . Here 887 00:34:58,340 --> 00:35:00,710 a ceasefire has been offered by Saudi 888 00:35:00,720 --> 00:35:02,664 in Yemen . You were always talking 889 00:35:02,664 --> 00:35:04,831 about the mission of the United States 890 00:35:04,831 --> 00:35:07,053 as a counterterrorism and in Yemen Does 891 00:35:07,053 --> 00:35:09,400 this something that you welcome and you 892 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:12,180 think that it will open up for more 893 00:35:12,190 --> 00:35:14,190 focus on your mission of 894 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:16,200 counterterrorism in Yemen ? Doesn't 895 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:18,533 help . Well , so two thoughts there one . 896 00:35:18,533 --> 00:35:21,370 Obviously , we continue to support the 897 00:35:21,370 --> 00:35:23,592 work of our diplomats . And of course , 898 00:35:23,592 --> 00:35:25,648 we're , uh , support the the U . N . 899 00:35:25,648 --> 00:35:28,710 Effort to get at a peace settlement in 900 00:35:28,710 --> 00:35:31,820 Yemen that that's a benefit to not only 901 00:35:31,820 --> 00:35:34,170 the Yemeni people , but the region . Um , 902 00:35:34,170 --> 00:35:36,337 and certainly the United States stands 903 00:35:36,337 --> 00:35:38,250 in support of of finding a way to 904 00:35:38,250 --> 00:35:40,194 reduce the violence and to end the 905 00:35:40,194 --> 00:35:42,528 conflict there . No question about that . 906 00:35:42,528 --> 00:35:44,750 Our mission in Yemen , as you know , is 907 00:35:44,750 --> 00:35:47,620 a raid against Isis . Um , and that 908 00:35:47,620 --> 00:35:51,170 mission continues . Okay . Uh , 909 00:35:52,340 --> 00:35:56,340 Tony carpaccio . Hi , John . 910 00:35:56,340 --> 00:35:58,910 Can you hear me ? Yes , sir . Hey , 911 00:35:58,910 --> 00:36:00,854 John , Uh , the Pentagon Inspector 912 00:36:00,854 --> 00:36:03,880 general today issued a report after a 913 00:36:03,900 --> 00:36:06,450 after a two year investigation and the 914 00:36:06,450 --> 00:36:08,600 Navy's former top auditor . And they 915 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:10,822 concluded the guy had a 20 year history 916 00:36:10,822 --> 00:36:12,878 of sexual harassment against women , 917 00:36:13,130 --> 00:36:15,019 and it called on the Navy to take 918 00:36:15,019 --> 00:36:17,297 appropriate action based on the report . 919 00:36:17,350 --> 00:36:19,406 I asked the Navy for comment today , 920 00:36:19,406 --> 00:36:21,350 and they bounced me The OSD Public 921 00:36:21,350 --> 00:36:23,517 affairs . Are you aware of the audit ? 922 00:36:23,517 --> 00:36:25,628 And will Secretary Austin take a look 923 00:36:25,628 --> 00:36:28,050 at this this audit and press the Navy 924 00:36:28,050 --> 00:36:30,040 to take appropriate action ? The 925 00:36:30,040 --> 00:36:32,040 auditor's name is Ronnie Booth . He 926 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:35,360 retired in September 2019 . Aware 927 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:38,500 of that report . Uh , Tony , I think 928 00:36:38,510 --> 00:36:41,540 hopefully , as you probably surmised , 929 00:36:41,540 --> 00:36:43,540 just from the last 30 minutes , the 930 00:36:43,540 --> 00:36:45,900 secretary takes the issue of sexual 931 00:36:45,900 --> 00:36:47,956 assault . Sexual harassment ? Very , 932 00:36:47,956 --> 00:36:50,820 very seriously . Uh , this has been 933 00:36:50,830 --> 00:36:53,590 referred appropriately to the acting 934 00:36:53,590 --> 00:36:55,534 secretary of the Navy . Uh , and I 935 00:36:55,534 --> 00:36:57,646 won't be offering any further comment 936 00:36:57,646 --> 00:36:59,701 on this particular case . But you're 937 00:36:59,701 --> 00:37:01,868 aware of the report , though , is that 938 00:37:01,868 --> 00:37:03,979 right ? And then the contents of it , 939 00:37:03,979 --> 00:37:06,146 as I said , we are aware of the report 940 00:37:06,146 --> 00:37:08,201 in the context of it , but it's been 941 00:37:08,201 --> 00:37:10,257 referred appropriately to the acting 942 00:37:10,257 --> 00:37:12,312 secretary of the Navy , and I really 943 00:37:12,312 --> 00:37:12,100 don't have any additional comment right 944 00:37:12,100 --> 00:37:14,780 now . Tara . Thanks , John . Back to 945 00:37:14,780 --> 00:37:17,630 the s request . Have they given any 946 00:37:17,630 --> 00:37:20,070 sense of time frame that the D O D 947 00:37:20,070 --> 00:37:21,959 facilities would be needed ? Um , 948 00:37:21,959 --> 00:37:23,959 what's the long term plan for these 949 00:37:23,959 --> 00:37:26,014 kids ? Would they be held for months 950 00:37:26,014 --> 00:37:28,650 for up to a year ? At the basis ? I 951 00:37:28,650 --> 00:37:31,410 don't have a better sense for you , uh , 952 00:37:31,420 --> 00:37:34,450 Tara , in terms of like when , 953 00:37:34,930 --> 00:37:38,390 um , we will begin housing Children 954 00:37:38,390 --> 00:37:40,070 there . As I said , from our 955 00:37:40,070 --> 00:37:42,070 perspective , we're looking at this 956 00:37:42,070 --> 00:37:44,014 request days , not weeks to make a 957 00:37:44,014 --> 00:37:46,390 decision on these . I would expect and 958 00:37:46,390 --> 00:37:48,890 certainly will be transparent with you , 959 00:37:48,890 --> 00:37:52,260 as I understand it . Right now , the 960 00:37:52,270 --> 00:37:54,670 these initial requests are for support 961 00:37:54,680 --> 00:37:56,847 through the end of the calendar year . 962 00:37:56,847 --> 00:37:59,330 Um , that's as it stands now . But 963 00:37:59,330 --> 00:38:01,330 again , I point you to HHS for more 964 00:38:01,330 --> 00:38:03,580 detail on that . Let me go back to the 965 00:38:03,590 --> 00:38:07,530 phones here . Jeff Selden from Vienna . 966 00:38:08,720 --> 00:38:11,030 Thanks very much for doing this . If I 967 00:38:11,030 --> 00:38:13,440 could just ask again about Afghanistan 968 00:38:13,450 --> 00:38:15,506 and the comments made earlier by the 969 00:38:15,506 --> 00:38:17,839 House Armed Services Committee chairman , 970 00:38:17,839 --> 00:38:19,894 Adam Smith , he said that it was his 971 00:38:19,894 --> 00:38:21,950 understanding based on conversations 972 00:38:21,950 --> 00:38:24,117 with , among others , the secretary of 973 00:38:24,117 --> 00:38:26,339 defense , that the May 1st deadline was 974 00:38:26,339 --> 00:38:29,710 simply too soon . Is he accurately 975 00:38:29,720 --> 00:38:32,430 characterizing the thinking from the 976 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:34,580 Pentagon right now ? And if not , can 977 00:38:34,580 --> 00:38:36,950 you update us on what the thinking is 978 00:38:37,720 --> 00:38:39,770 more to offer Jeff than I did to 979 00:38:39,780 --> 00:38:42,350 Laura's question ? Jenny , thank you . 980 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:46,360 It is reported that North Korea is 981 00:38:46,370 --> 00:38:49,810 preparing for the value of type of , 982 00:38:49,820 --> 00:38:53,420 uh , thoroughly fired against South 983 00:38:53,420 --> 00:38:56,850 Korea . Now , shouldn't the United 984 00:38:56,860 --> 00:39:00,330 States takes the diplomatic or , uh , 985 00:39:00,720 --> 00:39:03,800 defensive militarily approached to 986 00:39:03,800 --> 00:39:06,540 North Korea's aggressive actions are 987 00:39:06,550 --> 00:39:09,240 prepared to do what I mean 988 00:39:09,250 --> 00:39:13,140 diplomatic . Uh , 989 00:39:13,270 --> 00:39:16,990 I haven't seen that report , Jenny . Uh , 990 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:19,000 certainly I'd leave the business of 991 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:21,610 diplomacy to the diplomats , Not not 992 00:39:21,610 --> 00:39:23,666 here at the Department of Defense as 993 00:39:23,666 --> 00:39:26,790 we've said all along , we want to see 994 00:39:26,790 --> 00:39:28,957 North Korea denuclearized . We want to 995 00:39:28,957 --> 00:39:31,130 see stability and security on the 996 00:39:31,130 --> 00:39:33,600 peninsula , Uh , and denuclearization 997 00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:35,600 as a key part of that . But I don't 998 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:37,767 have any specific with respect to your 999 00:39:37,767 --> 00:39:40,010 reporting about artillery fires . 1000 00:39:40,020 --> 00:39:42,460 Obviously , we call on Pyongyang not , 1001 00:39:42,470 --> 00:39:46,050 you know , to , uh , to do things that 1002 00:39:46,050 --> 00:39:48,106 would make things less stable on the 1003 00:39:48,106 --> 00:39:50,890 peninsula about the last time . North 1004 00:39:50,890 --> 00:39:53,740 Koreans , uh , decide launches 1005 00:39:54,420 --> 00:39:57,330 when when the United States know about 1006 00:39:57,340 --> 00:40:00,820 North Korea's missile launch movement 1007 00:40:00,840 --> 00:40:04,630 in advance . What actions did you get 1008 00:40:04,630 --> 00:40:08,060 into and they do inform our 1009 00:40:08,070 --> 00:40:10,640 alliance . I mean , our allies , too . 1010 00:40:11,110 --> 00:40:13,930 North Korea is going to be a Miss Arias 1011 00:40:13,940 --> 00:40:16,790 launching . I think twenty's last 1012 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:20,020 twenties . I think the us us find it 1013 00:40:20,020 --> 00:40:22,520 out there . I mean , North Korean's 1014 00:40:22,530 --> 00:40:24,230 missile rights movement . 1015 00:40:26,720 --> 00:40:29,240 Are you speaking to What 1016 00:40:29,610 --> 00:40:33,140 are you speaking to ? Recent events ? 1017 00:40:33,330 --> 00:40:35,640 You're asking if 1018 00:40:36,010 --> 00:40:39,870 we last Sunday I don't have any 1019 00:40:39,870 --> 00:40:42,590 information about notifications that , 1020 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:45,210 uh , that might have been made with 1021 00:40:45,210 --> 00:40:48,130 respect to that . I think you heard 1022 00:40:48,130 --> 00:40:51,960 that , uh , from senior administration 1023 00:40:51,970 --> 00:40:55,770 officials yesterday acknowledging that 1024 00:40:55,770 --> 00:40:58,380 this was for North Korea in the realm 1025 00:40:58,380 --> 00:41:01,380 of normal military activity . Okay , 1026 00:41:01,390 --> 00:41:04,350 military activity . But us . I think 1027 00:41:04,350 --> 00:41:07,030 they intelligence find it out already 1028 00:41:07,030 --> 00:41:10,560 one day before the day before they did 1029 00:41:10,570 --> 00:41:14,210 right ? And what I am , I'm 1030 00:41:14,210 --> 00:41:16,321 certainly I'm not going to talk about 1031 00:41:16,321 --> 00:41:18,266 intelligence matters here from the 1032 00:41:18,266 --> 00:41:20,488 podium . Jenny , I do appreciate the re 1033 00:41:20,488 --> 00:41:22,599 attack , though . Thank you . Want to 1034 00:41:22,599 --> 00:41:24,321 go back to Afghanistan ? And I 1035 00:41:24,321 --> 00:41:26,377 understand that the whole process is 1036 00:41:26,377 --> 00:41:28,543 still under review and no decision has 1037 00:41:28,543 --> 00:41:30,654 been made . But there's an input from 1038 00:41:30,654 --> 00:41:32,877 the d . O . D . And you're dealing with 1039 00:41:33,110 --> 00:41:35,340 different scenarios , but one of them 1040 00:41:35,350 --> 00:41:38,360 is You might need to stay in 1041 00:41:38,360 --> 00:41:41,860 Afghanistan beyond May 1st . Is the 1042 00:41:41,870 --> 00:41:45,450 deal in favour in that case of having 1043 00:41:45,450 --> 00:41:48,630 some sort of understanding with Taliban 1044 00:41:48,900 --> 00:41:52,200 to extend the U . S military presence 1045 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:54,440 in Afghanistan ? Your question gets 1046 00:41:54,440 --> 00:41:57,610 directly to the deliberations that are 1047 00:41:57,620 --> 00:41:59,970 ongoing right now , and I hope you can 1048 00:41:59,970 --> 00:42:02,026 appreciate that . I simply won't get 1049 00:42:02,026 --> 00:42:04,248 ahead of that process . And I certainly 1050 00:42:04,248 --> 00:42:06,414 I'm not going to divulge conversations 1051 00:42:06,414 --> 00:42:08,748 one way or the other here at the podium . 1052 00:42:08,748 --> 00:42:10,526 There's a review going on . The 1053 00:42:10,526 --> 00:42:12,470 secretary is a participant in that 1054 00:42:12,470 --> 00:42:14,637 review . Part of the reason he went to 1055 00:42:14,637 --> 00:42:16,859 Kabul was to help inform his advice and 1056 00:42:16,859 --> 00:42:18,748 counsel to the president and as a 1057 00:42:18,748 --> 00:42:20,803 participant in that review , and I'm 1058 00:42:20,803 --> 00:42:23,026 just not able to get ahead of that . As 1059 00:42:23,026 --> 00:42:25,790 I've said before , uh , in his 1060 00:42:25,790 --> 00:42:27,846 discussions while we were in Kabul , 1061 00:42:27,846 --> 00:42:30,068 but also even before that , um , he has 1062 00:42:30,068 --> 00:42:32,290 confidence that if a decision is made , 1063 00:42:32,800 --> 00:42:35,770 uh , to remove all troops from 1064 00:42:35,770 --> 00:42:38,720 Afghanistan that he's confident General 1065 00:42:38,720 --> 00:42:40,887 Miller can do that in a safe , orderly 1066 00:42:40,887 --> 00:42:42,776 and effective way . And I think I 1067 00:42:42,776 --> 00:42:44,831 really just need to leave it at that 1068 00:42:44,831 --> 00:42:47,230 for for today . Sure , go ahead . 1069 00:42:48,500 --> 00:42:51,280 If there is a decision made and troops 1070 00:42:51,290 --> 00:42:53,710 are withdrawn by first or shortly 1071 00:42:53,710 --> 00:42:55,932 thereafter Well , dear , do you need to 1072 00:42:55,932 --> 00:42:57,988 go to Congress to ask for additional 1073 00:42:57,988 --> 00:43:00,230 funds because flying out equipment can 1074 00:43:00,240 --> 00:43:02,462 be so expensive a rapid drawdown can be 1075 00:43:02,462 --> 00:43:05,010 expensive . Um , are there already 1076 00:43:05,010 --> 00:43:08,260 funds in the current oko to accomplish ? 1077 00:43:08,270 --> 00:43:10,270 I think we've reached that decision 1078 00:43:10,270 --> 00:43:12,310 point right now . Uh , we haven't 1079 00:43:12,310 --> 00:43:15,940 reached the decision point about , uh , 1080 00:43:15,950 --> 00:43:18,006 this The president gets to make that 1081 00:43:18,006 --> 00:43:19,839 decision and he hasn't made that 1082 00:43:19,839 --> 00:43:21,950 decision . Um , so I think we need to 1083 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:25,500 let that process play out , and then I 1084 00:43:25,500 --> 00:43:27,450 won't speculate about a what that 1085 00:43:27,450 --> 00:43:30,400 decision is going to be and be whatever 1086 00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:32,750 the cost might be . Um , that's just a 1087 00:43:32,750 --> 00:43:34,583 bridge that we're not ready . We 1088 00:43:34,583 --> 00:43:36,806 haven't haven't crossed yet , so I just 1089 00:43:36,806 --> 00:43:38,917 It's just premature to even entertain 1090 00:43:38,917 --> 00:43:42,220 that right now . Uh , Tom , talk media . 1091 00:43:42,800 --> 00:43:45,620 Okay . Hello ? 1092 00:43:47,100 --> 00:43:50,510 Hello . I'm here , Tom . Thanks . Hey . 1093 00:43:50,510 --> 00:43:53,360 Over the weekend , the Saudi military 1094 00:43:53,360 --> 00:43:55,304 coalition carried out air raids in 1095 00:43:55,304 --> 00:43:57,471 Yemen , and they hit the port of Sally 1096 00:43:57,471 --> 00:43:59,693 from the Red Sea , among other places . 1097 00:43:59,693 --> 00:44:01,527 That port is part of the U . N . 1098 00:44:01,527 --> 00:44:03,693 Brokered agreement as a neutral zone , 1099 00:44:03,693 --> 00:44:05,693 according to an agreement signed in 1100 00:44:05,693 --> 00:44:07,860 2018 by the Saudis and the Houthi does 1101 00:44:07,860 --> 00:44:10,027 the Pentagon see , this is permissible 1102 00:44:10,027 --> 00:44:12,193 under the ceasefire declared Monday by 1103 00:44:12,193 --> 00:44:14,860 Saudi Arabia , and I know we've reduced 1104 00:44:14,860 --> 00:44:17,170 our supported the Saudis , but could 1105 00:44:17,170 --> 00:44:19,430 you give me what specific support the 1106 00:44:19,430 --> 00:44:21,652 Pentagon is continuing at this point to 1107 00:44:21,652 --> 00:44:23,763 the Saudis ? Thanks a lot , Tom . I'm 1108 00:44:23,763 --> 00:44:25,874 on your first question . I'm going to 1109 00:44:25,874 --> 00:44:27,930 have to take that . That's the first 1110 00:44:27,930 --> 00:44:30,263 I've heard of that report . And I would , 1111 00:44:30,263 --> 00:44:32,374 uh it would be very irresponsible for 1112 00:44:32,374 --> 00:44:34,486 me to , uh , begin to speculate about 1113 00:44:34,486 --> 00:44:36,486 that right now . So let me take the 1114 00:44:36,486 --> 00:44:38,597 question and see what , if anything , 1115 00:44:38,597 --> 00:44:40,763 we can get back to you , John , on the 1116 00:44:40,763 --> 00:44:42,874 second question , Uh , as I've in the 1117 00:44:42,874 --> 00:44:45,097 past , I'm not gonna entertain specific 1118 00:44:45,097 --> 00:44:47,880 details about , uh , the kinds of 1119 00:44:47,890 --> 00:44:50,030 things that we do to support Saudi 1120 00:44:50,030 --> 00:44:52,660 Arabia and , uh , in its self defense . 1121 00:44:52,670 --> 00:44:54,620 But we take that responsibility 1122 00:44:54,620 --> 00:44:57,410 seriously , and and we continue to , uh , 1123 00:44:57,420 --> 00:44:59,650 to execute that responsibility to meet 1124 00:44:59,650 --> 00:45:01,761 that responsibility . But the details 1125 00:45:01,761 --> 00:45:03,928 of it , that's not something I'm gonna 1126 00:45:03,928 --> 00:45:06,039 get too into from the podium . Okay . 1127 00:45:06,039 --> 00:45:07,928 Thanks a lot . You bet . Thanks . 1128 00:45:07,928 --> 00:45:10,730 Questions . One is secretary aware of 1129 00:45:10,730 --> 00:45:13,170 the letter from the congressman from 1130 00:45:13,180 --> 00:45:15,890 California , Panetta to the president 1131 00:45:15,900 --> 00:45:18,280 asking that there be a waiver of 1132 00:45:18,280 --> 00:45:20,447 informed consent for the covid vaccine 1133 00:45:20,447 --> 00:45:22,558 to members of the military . And what 1134 00:45:22,558 --> 00:45:24,724 does he think about that request ? And 1135 00:45:24,724 --> 00:45:26,891 then ? Secondly , there was hearing on 1136 00:45:26,891 --> 00:45:28,836 the House Armed Services Committee 1137 00:45:28,836 --> 00:45:31,002 today as you're aware of extremism and 1138 00:45:31,002 --> 00:45:30,820 the armed forces . And there were some 1139 00:45:30,820 --> 00:45:32,987 concerns from members of Congress that 1140 00:45:32,987 --> 00:45:35,042 there is no definition for extremism 1141 00:45:35,042 --> 00:45:38,490 and no metrics and wonder . And so 1142 00:45:38,490 --> 00:45:40,870 they're concerned that members of the 1143 00:45:40,870 --> 00:45:44,010 military would be targeted . Their 1144 00:45:44,010 --> 00:45:45,788 First Amendment rights would be 1145 00:45:45,788 --> 00:45:48,010 targeted , and especially Catholics and 1146 00:45:48,010 --> 00:45:50,121 evangelicals . I wonder what types of 1147 00:45:50,121 --> 00:45:52,232 guarantees the Secretary is trying to 1148 00:45:52,232 --> 00:45:54,343 put into place so that this extremism 1149 00:45:54,343 --> 00:45:56,343 stand down and review and decisions 1150 00:45:56,343 --> 00:45:58,288 would protect those members of the 1151 00:45:58,288 --> 00:45:58,160 military . In your first question , let 1152 00:45:58,160 --> 00:46:00,400 me take it . Abraham , I I don't know 1153 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:02,456 the answer to the question about the 1154 00:46:02,456 --> 00:46:04,622 letter , so we will . We'll check into 1155 00:46:04,622 --> 00:46:07,030 that and get back to you on the second 1156 00:46:07,030 --> 00:46:10,110 question , as I think we've said many 1157 00:46:10,110 --> 00:46:13,900 times , this isn't about religion , 1158 00:46:14,280 --> 00:46:17,040 and it's not about politics . It's 1159 00:46:17,040 --> 00:46:19,660 about extremist ideology that can 1160 00:46:19,670 --> 00:46:22,570 inspire acts and behavior that actually 1161 00:46:22,570 --> 00:46:24,681 prejudice good order and discipline . 1162 00:46:24,681 --> 00:46:28,150 Uh , and the idea the suggestion that 1163 00:46:28,150 --> 00:46:30,840 this would have anything to do , uh , 1164 00:46:30,850 --> 00:46:34,480 with the God you worship or don't , 1165 00:46:34,490 --> 00:46:37,520 um uh is anathema to the whole effort . 1166 00:46:37,530 --> 00:46:39,660 This is about again ideology that 1167 00:46:39,660 --> 00:46:41,882 inspires conduct that is prejudicial to 1168 00:46:41,882 --> 00:46:43,938 good order and discipline , and puts 1169 00:46:43,938 --> 00:46:46,049 our teammates in harm's way . And the 1170 00:46:46,049 --> 00:46:47,771 secretary have to protect us . 1171 00:46:47,771 --> 00:46:49,938 Secretary said himself , Abraham . And 1172 00:46:49,938 --> 00:46:52,104 you've heard him from this podium that 1173 00:46:52,104 --> 00:46:54,216 he understood , you know , well aware 1174 00:46:54,216 --> 00:46:56,327 of First Amendment rights , uh , free 1175 00:46:56,327 --> 00:46:58,549 speech and freedom of religion and part 1176 00:46:58,549 --> 00:47:01,170 of the whole reason for the military's 1177 00:47:01,170 --> 00:47:03,281 defend this country and to defend the 1178 00:47:03,281 --> 00:47:05,226 ideals upon which this country was 1179 00:47:05,226 --> 00:47:06,710 founded , including those 1180 00:47:07,080 --> 00:47:09,810 constitutional rights , uh , and their 1181 00:47:09,810 --> 00:47:11,810 rights . Oh , by the way , that our 1182 00:47:11,810 --> 00:47:14,370 service members also are entitled to 1183 00:47:14,380 --> 00:47:16,690 because they , too are citizens of this 1184 00:47:16,690 --> 00:47:20,070 country . Yeah , there are a number of 1185 00:47:20,070 --> 00:47:21,681 contracts in Afghanistan and 1186 00:47:21,681 --> 00:47:23,681 contractors obviously working under 1187 00:47:23,681 --> 00:47:25,792 those contracts with completion dates 1188 00:47:25,792 --> 00:47:27,348 past May 1st . Is there any 1189 00:47:27,348 --> 00:47:29,570 communication with those contractors on 1190 00:47:29,570 --> 00:47:31,514 on what may happen under different 1191 00:47:31,514 --> 00:47:33,514 scenarios ? And are those contracts 1192 00:47:33,514 --> 00:47:35,681 simply truncated at some point again , 1193 00:47:35,681 --> 00:47:37,737 I think I I appreciate the back door 1194 00:47:37,737 --> 00:47:40,500 you're trying to open here on . It's a 1195 00:47:41,380 --> 00:47:45,190 I mean , that was creative . Uh , 1196 00:47:45,200 --> 00:47:47,256 but I don't I don't have any updates 1197 00:47:47,256 --> 00:47:49,500 for you on that . Yeah , I don't Yeah . 1198 00:47:49,510 --> 00:47:52,720 Yes , ma'am . Yesterday , Southern 1199 00:47:52,730 --> 00:47:56,630 Africa , they celebrate over 1200 00:47:56,630 --> 00:47:58,700 30 years of the end of one of the 1201 00:47:58,710 --> 00:48:01,850 greatest battle that took place in 1202 00:48:01,860 --> 00:48:03,990 Africa . I don't know . If you're 1203 00:48:03,990 --> 00:48:06,390 familiar with this is called Quito 1204 00:48:06,390 --> 00:48:09,280 Quenneville Barrow . And they just , 1205 00:48:09,290 --> 00:48:11,900 you know , I'm not familiar with okay , 1206 00:48:11,910 --> 00:48:14,050 because I know the U . S . Also was 1207 00:48:14,060 --> 00:48:17,240 sent part of this a little bit . I 1208 00:48:17,240 --> 00:48:19,750 would just ask you your thoughts about 1209 00:48:19,760 --> 00:48:21,871 that , But okay , if you're if you're 1210 00:48:21,871 --> 00:48:23,927 not familiar . My question I think I 1211 00:48:23,927 --> 00:48:26,093 would be . My response would be wholly 1212 00:48:26,093 --> 00:48:28,371 underwhelming for you on that . I mean , 1213 00:48:28,371 --> 00:48:30,538 I can . We can if you want to . We can 1214 00:48:30,538 --> 00:48:32,538 take the question and see if we can 1215 00:48:32,538 --> 00:48:34,760 help , but I'm afraid I couldn't help . 1216 00:48:34,760 --> 00:48:38,120 Today is about the training that U . S 1217 00:48:38,120 --> 00:48:40,190 soldiers are providing to the 1218 00:48:40,200 --> 00:48:43,360 Mozambican soldier . Do you have any 1219 00:48:43,360 --> 00:48:46,080 information how things is going on ? I 1220 00:48:46,090 --> 00:48:48,090 don't have anything on that . We'll 1221 00:48:48,090 --> 00:48:49,979 take that question as well . It's 1222 00:48:49,979 --> 00:48:51,868 probably a better question put to 1223 00:48:51,868 --> 00:48:54,090 Africa command . Um , but we will reach 1224 00:48:54,090 --> 00:48:56,146 out to them and see if they can help 1225 00:48:56,146 --> 00:48:58,312 get you an answer to that . I just I'm 1226 00:48:58,312 --> 00:48:58,130 afraid I'm not prepared for that one 1227 00:48:58,140 --> 00:49:02,060 today . Um , I think that's it . Unless 1228 00:49:02,060 --> 00:49:04,338 there's anything else here in the room . 1229 00:49:04,338 --> 00:49:06,560 All right . Thanks , Everybody . Have a 1230 00:49:06,560 --> 00:49:07,070 great day . Yeah ,